In the intermediate cutting intensity experiment of a Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation for 20 years, the changing pattern of natural thinning in these stands, with different intermediate cutting intensities, was studied. The relationship between the number of trees removed by natural thinning and stand density and site conditions was explained. The mathematical equation M 5 K 1 ?K 2 of natural thinning lines of C. lanceolata stand density management maps was tested and the relationship of diameter, height and canopy structure of stands with different intermediate cutting intensities are proposed. Our study of natural thinning in these stands indicates that the starting and peak periods of natural thinning in the check and slightly thinned plots were both early. The amount of thinned wood was large and the course of thinning proceeded continuously. The three levels of thinning: the slight thinning period, the intensive thinning period and the continued thinning period could be divided on the basis of the amount of thinned wood. Natural thinning would be a very long process without artificial interference. The starting and peak periods of thinning in the middle and strong intermediate felling are both late and present intermittence. Their thinning stages were not clearly evident. Through our studies, we also discovered that stand density and site conditions had important effects on the number of dead and dying trees, but that density was more important than site conditions. By way of tests, the relative error of the mathematical equation of natural thinning lines of C. lanceolata stand density management maps was 3.91% and the precision was relatively high. The practical test results of the stands, given different intermediate cutting intensities and different site indices, show that the relative error of the check plots was 5.23%, while the relative errors of the other tested items were all , 5%, well within the allowable experimental error. The mathematical equation was comparatively practical. The study demonstrated the distribution laws of diameter and height classes of the stand at different intermediate cutting intensities. From this study we also obtained the growth differences and changing dynamics of the height to the first branch, canopy length and relative canopy height of the stand at different intermediate cutting intensities and various related patterns with an increase of stand age and proposed a mathematical model relating stand age and the single-tree periodic volume increment.

Objectives To compare the predictive ability of six pre-endoscopic scoring systems (ABC, AIMS65, GBS, MAP(ASH), pRS, and T-score) for outcomes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in elderly and younger patients. Methods A retrospective study of 1260 patients, including 530 elderly patients (age $$\ge$$ ≥ 65) and 730 younger patients (age < 65) presenting with UGIB, was performed at Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, from January 2015 to December 2020. Six scoring systems were used. Results ABC had the largest areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.827 (0.792–0.858), and 0.958 (0.929–0.987) for elderly and younger groups for predicting mortality respectively. The differences of the AUCs for predicting the outcome of mortality and rebleeding between the two groups were significant for ABC and pRS (p < 0.01). For intervention prediction, significant differences were observed only for pRS [AUC 0.623 (0.578–0.669) vs. 0.699 (0.646–0.752)] (p < 0.05) between the two groups. For intensive care unit (ICU) admission, the AUC for MAP (ASH) [0.791 (0.718–0.865) vs. 0.891 (0.831–0.950)] and pRS [0.610 (0.514–0.706) vs. 0.891 (0.699–0.865)] were more effective for the younger group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). For comparison of scoring systems in the same cohort, ABC was significantly higher than pRS: AUC 0.710 (0.699–0.853, p < 0.05) and T-score 0.670 (0.628–0.710, p < 0.01) for predicting mortality in the elderly group. In the younger group, ABC was significantly higher than GBS and T-score (p < 0.01). MAP(ASH) performs the best in predicting intervention in both groups. Conclusions ABC and pRS are more accurate for predicting mortality and rebleeding in the younger cohort, and pRS may not be suitable for elderly patients. There was no difference between the two study populations for GBS, AIMS65, and T-score. Except for ICU admission, MAP(ASH) showed fair accuracy for both cohorts.

Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common and highly heterogeneous malignancies worldwide. Increasing studies have proven that hypoxia and related long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) are involved in the occurrence and prognosis of HNSCC. The goal of this work is to construct a risk assessment model using hypoxia‐related lncRNAs (hrlncRNAs) for HNSCC prognosis prediction and personalized treatment. Methods Transcriptome expression matrix, clinical follow‐up data, and somatic mutation data of HNSCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We used co‐expression analysis to identify hrlncRNAs, then screened for differentially expressed lncRNAs (DEhrlncRNAs), and paired these DEhrlncRNAs. The risk model was established through univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and stepwise multivariate Cox regression. Finally, we assessed the model from multiple perspectives of tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor immune infiltration, chemotherapeutic sensitivity, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), and functional enrichment. Results The risk assessment model included 14 hrlncRNA pairs. The risk score was observed to be a reliable prognostic factor. The high‐risk patients had an unfavorable prognosis and significant differences from the low‐risk group in TMB and tumor immune infiltration. In the high‐risk patients, the common immune checkpoints were down‐regulated, including CTLA4 and PDCD1, and the sensibility to paclitaxel and docetaxel was higher. The functional enrichment analysis suggested that the low‐risk group was accompanied by activated immune function. Conclusions The risk assessment model of 14‐hrlncRNA‐pairs demonstrated a promising prognostic prediction for HNSCC patients and can guide personalized clinical treatment.

Objectives. To compare the ability of six preendoscopic scoring systems (ABC, AIMS65, Glasgow Blatchford score (GBS), MAP(ASH), pRS, and T -score) to predict outcomes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in older adults. Methods. This was a retrospective study of 602 older adults ( age ≥ 65 ) presenting with UGIB at Zhongda Hospital Southeast University from January 2015 to June 2021. Six scoring systems were used to analyze all patients. Results. ABC had the largest area under the curve (AUC) (0.833; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.801–0.862) and was significantly higher than pRS 0.696 (95% CI: 0.658–0.733, p < 0.01 ) and T -score 0.667 (95% CI: 0.628–0.704, p < 0.01 ) in predicting mortality. MAP(ASH) (0.783; 95% CI: 0.748–0.815) performs the best in predicting intervention and was similar to GBS, T -score, ABC, and AIMS65. The AUCs for MAP(ASH) (0.732; 95% CI: 0.698–0.770), AIMS65 (0.711; 95% CI: 0.672–0.746), and ABC (0.718; 95% CI: 0.680–0.754) were fair for rebleeding, while those of GBS (0.662; 95% CI: 0.617–0.694), T -score (0.641; 95% CI: 0.606–0.684), and pRS (0.609; 95% CI: 0.569–0.648) were performed poorly. MAP(ASH) performs the best in predicting ICU admission (0.784; 95% CI: 0.749–0.816). All the five scores were significantly higher than pRS ( p < 0.05 for ABC, AIMS65 and T -score, p < 0.01 for GBS and MAP). Conclusions. Mortality, intervention, rebleeding, and ICU admission in UGIB for older adults can be predicted well using MAP(ASH). ABC is the most accurate for predicting mortality. Except for rebleeding, GBS has an acceptable performance in predicting ICU admission, mortality, and intervention. AIMS65 and T -score performed moderately, and pRS may not be suitable for the target cohort.

Objective. To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Huangqin Tang (HQT) combined with mesalazine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods. The China Knowledge Network, Wanfang Data, VIP, PubMed, SinoMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of UC with HQT in Chinese and English. The search time was from the establishment of the database to October 2021. The included literature was evaluated for data extraction and risk of bias, efficacy and safety were evaluated using the RevMan5.3 software, and the quality of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. Results. Six studies with a total of 565 subjects were included, and a meta-analysis showed that HQT combined with mesalazine for UC significantly improved the cure rate (RR = 1.56, 95% CI [1.23, 1.98), P = 0.0003 ) and overall efficacy rate (RR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.14, 1.35], P = 0.00001 ), which significantly reduced the clinical symptom scores; however, all had high heterogeneity. HQT combined with mesalazine modulated the patients’ serum IL-6, IL-10, IgA, and IgG levels. HQT combined with mesalazine for UC tended to reduce adverse effects; however, the difference was not statistically significant. All GRADE ratings of the quality of evidence were of low quality. Conclusions. HQT combined with mesalazine in the treatment of UC significantly improved the cure rate and overall treatment efficiency and regulated the expression levels of serum IL-6, IL-10, IgA, and IgG.