Clinical features of three children with severe COVID-19 encephalopathy and literature review / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of 3 children with severe COVID-19 encephalopathy, aiming to improve the clinicians′ understanding of the disease.Methods:The clinical features, laboratory examinations, imaging data and diagnosis as well as treatment process of 3 cases of severe COVID-19 encephalopathy admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from December 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 3 patients, 2 were female, age was 2-11 years old, all of them had 2-3 days of medical history.All of them had clinical manifestations of high fever(≥40 ℃), convulsions and consciousness disorders, nucleic acid and antigen tests of SARS-CoV-2 were positive, and mycoplasma pneumonia IgM antibody was positive in 1 case.Within 24 hours after admission, the levels of white blood cells were basically normal, neutrophil fraction was dominant, and procalcitonin was significantly increased.Total T cells and NK cells in the blood of the three patients were significantly decreased, and the levels of blood ammonia, blood glucose and bilirubin were basically normal.During the early stage of the disease, the cell counts of the cerebrospinal fluid was normal in all three patients, the protein level was significantly increased, and there were new symmetrical lesions on head magnetic resonance imaging in 3 patients.After symptomatic treatment and immunotherapy including early use of hormone, human gamma globulin and plasma exchange, all patients were survived, but had different degrees of new dysfunction of the nervous system.Conclusion:Severe COVID-19 encephalopathy can occur in the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, mostly manifested as high fever, convulsions and severe disturbance of consciousness, combining with multiple organ dysfunction and irreversible nervous system damage.Early supportive treatment, brain protective treatment and immunotherapy are helpful to improve the prognosis of the patients.

Clinical features of three children with severe COVID-19 encephalopathy and literature review / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of 3 children with severe COVID-19 encephalopathy, targeted to improve the clinicians′ understanding of the disease.Methods:The clinical features, laboratory examinations, imaging data and diagnosis and treatment process of 3 cases of severe COVID-19 encephalopathy admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from December 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 3 patients, 2 were female, age was 2-11 years old, all of them had 2-3 days of medical history, all of them had clinical manifestations of high fever(≥40 ℃), convulsions and consciousness disorders, nucleic acid and antigen tests of SARS-CoV-2 were positive, and mycoplasma pneumonia IgM antibody was positive in 1 case.Within 24 hours after admission, the levels of white blood cells were basically normal, neutrophil fraction was dominant, and procalcitonin was significantly increased.Total T cells and NK cells in the blood of the three patients were significantly decreased, and the levels of blood ammonia, blood glucose and bilirubin were basically normal.In the early stage of the disease, the cell counts of the cerebrospinal fluid was normal in all the three patients, the protein level was significantly increased, there were new symmetrical lesions on head magnetic resonance imaging in 3 patients.After symptomatic treatment and immunotherapy including early use of hormone, human gamma globulin and plasma exchange, all the patients were survived, but had different degrees of new dysfunction of the nervous system.Conclusion:Severe COVID-19 encephalopathy can occur in the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, mostly manifested as high fever, convulsions and severe disturbance of consciousness, combined with multiple organ dysfunction and irreversible nervous system damage.Early supportive treatment, brain protective treatment and immunotherapy are helpful to improve the prognosis of patients.

Efficacy comparison between pneumovesicoscopic Cohen and Politano-Leadbetter technique in transvesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To compare the efficacy of pneumovesicoscopic Cohen and Politano-Leadbetter procedures in the treatment of vesicoureteral junction obstruction (VUJO) in children.Methods:The data of 48 children with VUJO who underwent operations in the Department of Urology, Anhui Provincial Children′s Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the operation time, the patients were divided into the pneumovesicoscopic Cohen group(group C) (28 cases) and pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter group(group P) (20 cases). The operation time, postoperative urinary catheterization duration, hematuria duration, hospitalization time, and the improvement of hydronephrosis, ureteral dilatation, and renal function after surgery were compared between the 2 groups.The enumeration data were compared by the χ2 test or Fisher′ s exact probability method.The measurement data were compared by the t-test. Results:All the 48 children were successfully operated on by the same surgeon, without conversion to open surgery.Six cases in the group C had a megaureter and underwent ureter tailoring.Two cases in the group P had calyceal and ureteral calculi, which were all removed after operation.There was a statistically significant difference in the operation time between group C and group P[(136.5±35.4) min vs.(165.8±33.2) min, t=-3.154, P=0.002]. The patients were followed up for (10.3±2.6) months after operation.There were 8 cases and 6 cases of urinary tract infection in group C and group P within 2 months after the operation, respectively.They all improved after conservative anti-infection treatment, and the infection was well controlled after removal of the D-J tube.Besides, their intravenous pyelography 6 months after operation showed that the ureter was unobstructed.In group C, 6 months after the operation, the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis [(1.62±0.54) cm vs.(2.55±1.24) cm, t=-5.027, P=0.001] and the largest diameter of the ureter [(0.95±0.27) cm vs.(1.51±0.52) cm, t=-8.495, P<0.001] were significantly decreased, compared with those before operation.However, the renal cortex thickness was increased significantly [(1.47±0.25) cm vs.(0.86±0.46) cm, t=2.028, P=0.004], and the renal function (as indicated by the diuretic nephrogram) was notably improved [(46.27±2.16)% vs.(41.83±3.04)%, t=1.647, P=0.030]. In group P, 6 months after operation, the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis[(1.48±0.82) cm vs.(2.68±1.41) cm, t=-2.740, P=0.003] and the maximum diameter of the ureter [(1.05±0.46) cm vs.(1.36±0.27) cm, t=-1.635, P=0.040] were significantly smaller than those before operation.However, the renal cortical thickness was increased [(1.38±0.33) cm vs.(0.74±0.39) cm, t=9.073, P<0.001], and the renal function (as indicated by the diuretic nephrogram) was significantly improved [(45.18±3.35)% vs.(39.55±2.49)%, t=1.277, P=0.030]. Politano-Leadbetter surgery outperformed Cohen surgery in promoting the recovery of the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis [(1.48±0.82) cm vs.(1.62±0.54) cm, t=-1.748, P=0.030]. Conclusions:Pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation can establish a longer submucosal tunnel without changing the ureteral shape and opening position, having good effects in treating VUJO combined with calyceal and ureteral calculi.Pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation can also better improve postoperative recovery from hydronephrosis than Cohen operation.However, the pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation is more difficult and requires longer time.The surgeon should choose a reasonable operation based on his/her own experience.

Safety and efficacy of the early administration of levosimendan in patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and elevated NT-proBNP levels: An Early Management Strategy of Acute Heart Failure (EMS-AHF) / 中华内科杂志

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.

Analysis of the impact of health management measures for entry personnel on imported Dengue fever in Guangdong Province, 2020-2022 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To explore the impact of health management measures for entry personnel (entry management measures) against COVID-19 on the epidemiological characteristics of imported Dengue fever in Guangdong Province from 2020 to 2022. Methods: Data of imported Dengue fever from January 1, 2016 to August 31, 2022, mosquito density surveillance from 2016 to 2021, and international airline passengers and Dengue fever annual reported cases from 2011 to 2021 in Guangdong were collected. Comparative analysis was conducted to explore changes in the epidemic characteristics of imported Dengue fever before the implementation of entry management measures (from January 1, 2016 to March 20, 2020) and after the implementation (from March 21, 2020 to August 31, 2022). Results: From March 21, 2020, to August 31, 2022, a total of 52 cases of imported Dengue fever cases were reported, with an imported risk intensity of 0.12, which were lower than those before implementation of entry management measures (1 828, 5.29). No significant differences were found in the characteristics of imported cases before and after implementation of entry management measures, including seasonality, sex, age, career, and imported countries (all P>0.05). 59.62% (31/52) of cases were found at the centralized isolation sites and 38.46% (20/52) at the entry ports. However, before implementation of entry management measures, 95.08% (1 738/1 828) of cases were found in hospitals. Among 51 cases who had provided entry dates, 82.35% (42/51) and 98.04% (50/51) of cases were found within seven days and fourteen days after entry, slightly higher than before implementation [(72.69%(362/498) and 97.59% (486/498)]. There was significant difference between the monthly mean values of Aedes mosquito larval density (Bretto index) from 2020 to 2021 and those from 2016 to 2019 (Z=2.83, P=0.005). There is a strong positive correlation between the annual international airline passengers volume in Guangdong from 2011 to 2021 and the annual imported Dengue fever cases (r=0.94, P<0.001), and a positive correlation also existed between the international passenger volume and the annual indigenous Dengue fever cases (r=0.72, P=0.013). Conclusions: In Guangdong, the entry management measures of centralized isolation for fourteen days after entry from abroad had been implemented, and most imported Dengue fever cases were found within fourteen days after entry. The risk of local transmission caused by imported cases has reduced significantly.

A new germacrene-type sesquiterpenoid from Elephantopus tomentosus L / 药学学报

Fifteen compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the whole plant of Elephantopus tomentosus L. by silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, MCI column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC methods. Their structures were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties, and spectral data (UV, IR, NMR, MS and CD) analysis as tomenlephanlide A (1), molephantinin (2), molephantin (3), 8-O-methacryloylelephanpane (4), apigenin (5), tricin (6), 2-phenyl acetamide (7), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester (8), caffeic acid methyl ester (9), caffeic acid ethyl ester (10), (+)-(4S)-(2E)-4-hydroxy-2-nonenoic acid (11), E-4-hydroxyhex-2-enoic acid (12), 1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid (13), 1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde (14) and isohematinic acid (15). Among them, compound 1 is a new germacrene-type sesquiterpenoid, 5-15 were obtained from E. tomentosus L. for the first time. It was the first time the absolute configuration of compound 2 was reported. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicity against gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901).

Association between semen collection time and semen parameters: an observational study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The process of semen collection plays a key role in the quality of semen specimens. However, the association between semen collection time and semen quality is still unclear. In this study, ejaculates by masturbation from 746 subfertile men or healthy men who underwent semen analysis were examined. The median (interquartile range) semen collection time for all participants was 7.0 (5.0-11.0) min, and the median time taken for semen collection was lower in healthy men than that in subfertile men (6.0 min vs 7.0 min). An increase in the time required to produce semen samples was associated with poorer semen quality. Among those undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART), the miscarriage rate was positively correlated with the semen collection time. After adjusting for confounders, the highest quartile (Q4) of collection time was negatively associated with semen volume and sperm concentration. A longer time to produce semen samples (Q3 and Q4) was negatively correlated with progressive and total sperm motility. In addition, there was a significant negative linear association between the semen collection time and the sperm morphology. Higher risks of asthenozoospermia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-3.25, P = 0.002) and teratozoospermia (adjusted OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.10-3.55, P = 0.02) were observed in Q3 than those in Q1. Our results indicate that a higher risk of abnormal semen parameter values was associated with an increase in time for semen collection, which may be related to male fertility through its association with semen quality.

Research progress of optical motion capture technology in shoulder biomechanics / 中国骨伤

The shoulder joint is the most flexible joint in the body with the largest range of motion, and the movement pattern is more complex. Accurate capture of three-dimensional motion data of the shoulder joint is crucial for biomechanical evaluation. Optical motion capture systems offer a non-invasive and radiation-free method to capture shoulder joint motion data during complex movements, enabling further biomechanical analysis of the shoulder joint. This review provides a comprehensive overview of optical motion capture technology in the context of shoulder joint movement, including measurement principles, data processing methods to reduce artifacts from skin and soft tissues, factors influencing measurement results, and applications in shoulder joint disorders.

Bletilla striata polysaccharide improves toxic and side effects induced by 5-FU: an untargeted metabolomics study / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to analyze the effect of Bletilla striata polysaccharide(BSP) on endogenous metabolites in serum of tumor-bearing mice treated with 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) by untargeted metabolomics techniques and explore the mechanism of BSP in alleviating the toxic and side effects induced by 5-FU. Male BALB/C mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a 5-FU group, and a 5-FU + BSP group, with eight mice in each group. Mouse colon cancer cells(CT26) were transplanted into the mice except for those in the normal group to construct the tumor-bearing mouse model by subcutaneous injection, and 5-FU chemotherapy and BSP treatment were carried out from the second day of modeling. The changes in body weight, diarrhea, and white blood cell count in the peripheral blood were recorded. The mice were sacrificed and sampled when the tumor weight of mice in the model group reached approximately 1 g. TUNEL staining was used to detect the cell apoptosis in the small intestine of each group. The proportions of hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid progenitor cells in bone marrow were measured by flow cytometry. Five serum samples were selected randomly from each group for untargeted metabolomics analysis. The results showed that BSP was not effective in inhibiting colon cancer in mice, but diarrhea, leukopenia, and weight loss caused by 5-FU chemotherapy were significantly improved after BSP intervention. In addition, apoptotic cells decreased in the small intestinal tissues and the percentages of hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid progenitor cells in bone marrow were significantly higher after BSP treatment. Metabolomics results showed that the toxic and side effects of 5-FU resulted in significant decrease in 29 metabolites and significant increase in 22 metabolites in mouse serum. Among them, 19 disordered metabolites showed a return to normal levels in the 5-FU+BSP group. The results of pathway enrichment indicated that metabolic pathways mainly involved pyrimidine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Therefore, BSP may ameliorate the toxic and side effects of 5-FU in the intestinal tract and bone marrow presumably by regulating nucleotide synthesis, inflammatory damage, and hormone production.

The effect of BMI and age on the outcomes of microsurgical vasoepididymostomy: a retrospective analysis of 181 patients operated by a single surgeon / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

To design a treatment plan for patients with epididymal obstruction, we explored the potential impact of factors such as body mass index (BMI) and age on the surgical outcomes of vasoepididymostomy (VE). In this retrospective study, 181 patients diagnosed with obstructive azoospermia (OA) due to epididymal obstruction between September 2014 and September 2017 were reviewed. All patients underwent single-armed microsurgical intussusception VEs with longitudinal two-suture placement performed by a single surgeon (KH) in a single hospital (Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China). Six factors that could possibly influence the patency rates were analyzed, including BMI, age, mode of anastomosis, site of anastomosis, and sperm motility and quantity in the intraoperative epididymal fluid. Single-factor outcome analysis was performed via Chi-square test and multivariable analysis was performed using logistic regression. A total of 159 (87.8%, 159/181) patients were followed up. The follow-up time (mean ± standard deviation [s.d.]) was 27.7 ± 9.3 months, ranging from 12 months to 48 months. The overall patency rate was 73.0% (116/159). The multivariable analysis revealed that BMI and age significantly influenced the patency rate (P = 0.008 and 0.028, respectively). Younger age (≤28 years; odds ratio [OR] = 3.531, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.397-8.924) and lower BMI score (<26.0 kg m-2; OR = 2.352, 95% CI: 1.095-5.054) appeared to be associated with a higher patency rate. BMI and age were independent factors affecting the outcomes of microsurgical VEs depending on surgical expertise and the use of advanced technology.

Progress in arthroscopic surgery for injury of superior labrum anterior posterior of shoulder joint / 中国骨伤

Superior labrum anterior posterior (SLAP) injury is a major challenge for orthopedic surgeons, due to the poor healing ability of the injured labrum. Although arthroscopic surgery is the gold standard for the treatment of SLAP injury, there are still disputes about the adaptation of different surgical techniques, the choice of anchors during operation, knotted or knotless anchors, and fixation methods. The authors believe that arthroscopic repair of SLAP lesions is effective for young patients with intact glenoid labrum(<35 years old) or with extensive activity, where single and knotless anchor is preferred. For the older patients(≥35 years old) with degeneration and wear of glenoid labrum, biceps tenodesis is more preferable, and interference screw fixation technique is recommended. As for patients with failed SLAP repair, biceps tenodesis can achieve a high success rate as a revision surgery. By review of the relevant literature in recent years, this paper summarizes the adaptation of different surgical methods of arthroscopic treatment of SLAP injury, intraoperative anchoring techniques, fixation methods and other improved surgical techniques.

Fortify clinical advantages and promote innovative development: comparison of the Chinese Colorectal Cancer Surgery Database with foreign databases / 中华外科杂志

With the continuous development of evidence-based medicine, increasing attention has been paid to the construction of a large medical database to ensure a source of high quality real-world data. The Chinese Medical Association Colorectal Surgery Group created the Chinese Colorectal Cancer Surgery Database (CCCD), whose objective is to promote the development of colorectal surgery and improve patient prognosis with evidence-based medicine theory. Compared to major databases around the world, CCCD contains more comprehensive information on colorectal cancer surgical cases, recording the main epidemiological characteristics and detailed surgical information, but perioperative treatment data still need to be strengthened. It is necessary to continuously expand the coverage, enrich perioperative data and strengthen data, quality control. In the future, CCCD is expected to play a role in promoting homogenization of medical services, promoting smooth and effective graded diagnosis and treatment, giving full role to the characteristics of each center to achieve integrated development, and connecting real-world data and artificial intelligence.

Current application and prospect of accurate navigation technology in orthopaedic trauma / 中华外科杂志

In the past decades,a dramatic development of navigation technology in orthopaedic surgery has been witnessed. By assisting the localization of surgical region,verification of target bony structure,preoperative planning of fixation,intraoperative identification of planned entry point and direction of instruments or even automated insertion of implants,its ability and potential to reduce operation time,intraoperative radiation,surgical trauma,and improve accuracy has been proved. However,in contrast to the widespread use of navigation technology in arthroplasty,orthopaedic tumor,and spine surgery,its application in orthopaedic trauma is relatively less. In this manuscript,the main purpose is to introduce the technical principles of navigation devices,outline the current clinical application of navigation systems in orthopaedic trauma,analyze the current challenges confronting its further application in clinical practice and its prospect in the future.

Observation on clinical effect of fire needling for mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia with kidney yang deficiency / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of fire needling on prostate symptoms, quality of life, average daily number of nightly urination, urine flow rate and prostat volume in patients with mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of kidney yang deficiency.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with mild to moderate BPH of kidney yang deficiency were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 4 cases dropped off). The observation group was treated with fire needling at Guanyuan (CV 4), Shuidao (ST 28) and Qugu (CV 2) twice a week (2-3 d interval between each treatment), continuous treatment for 4 weeks. The control group received lifestyle advice and education, once a week for 4 weeks. In the two groups, the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), the quality of life (QoL) score and the average daily number of nightly urination were observed before treatment, after treatment and during the follow-up of the 4th week; the urinary maximum flow rate (Qmax), the average flow rate (Qave), and the prostate volume were assessed before and after treatment in the two groups. The safety was observed in the observation group.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and during follow-up, the IPSS scores, QoL scores, and the average daily number of nightly urination in the observation group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, there was no significant difference in Qmax, Qave and prostate volume between the two groups and within the each group (P>0.05). There were no fire needling-related adverse reactions, and no obvious abnormality was found in urine routine and coagulation function tests before and after treatment in the observation group.@*CONCLUSION@#Fire needling can improve lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life, reduce frequency of nightly urination in patients with mild to moderate BPH of kidney yang deficiency, and has good safety.

The expression and function of PD-L1 in CD133(+) human liver cancer stem-like cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To investigate the expression of programmed death protein-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in liver cancer stem-like cells (LCSLC) and its effect on the characteristics of tumor stem cells and tumor biological function, to explore the upstream signaling pathway regulating PD-L1 expression in LCSLC and the downstream molecular mechanism of PD-L1 regulating stem cell characteristics, also tumor biological functions. Methods: HepG2 was cultured by sphere-formating method to obtain LCSLC. The expressions of CD133 and other stemness markers were detected by flow cytometry, western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the expressions of stemness markers and PD-L1. The biological functions of the LCSLC were tested by cell function assays, to confirm that the LCSLC has the characteristics of tumor stem cells. LCSLC was treated with cell signaling pathway inhibitors to identify relevant upstream signaling pathways mediating PD-L1 expression changes. The expression of PD-L1 in LCSLC was down regulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA), the expression of stem cell markers, tumor biological functions of LCSLC, and the changes of cell signaling pathways were detected. Results: Compared with HepG2 cells, the expression rate of CD133 in LCSLC was upregulated [(92.78±6.91)% and (1.40±1.77)%, P<0.001], the expressions of CD133, Nanog, Oct4A and Snail in LCSLC were also higher than those in HepG2 cells (P<0.05), the number of sphere-formating cells increased on day 7 [(395.30±54.05) and (124.70±19.30), P=0.001], cell migration rate increased [(35.41±6.78)% and (10.89±4.34)%, P=0.006], the number of transmembrane cells increased [(75.77±10.85) and (20.00±7.94), P=0.002], the number of cloned cells increased [(120.00±29.51) and (62.67±16.77), P=0.043]. Cell cycle experiments showed that LCSLC had significantly more cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase than those in HepG2 [(54.89±3.27) and (32.36±1.50), P<0.001]. The tumor formation experiment of mice showed that the weight of transplanted tumor in LCSLC group was (1.32±0.17)g, the volume is (1 779.0±200.2) mm(3), were higher than those of HepG2 cell [(0.31±0.06)g and (645.6±154.9)mm(3), P<0.001]. The expression level of PD-L1 protein in LCSLC was 1.88±0.52 and mRNA expression level was 2.53±0.62, both of which were higher than those of HepG2 cells (P<0.05). The expression levels of phosphorylation signal transduction and transcription activation factor 3 (p-STAT3) and p-Akt in LCSLC were higher than those in HepG2 cells (P<0.05). After the expression of p-STAT3 and p-Akt was down-regulated by inhibitor treatment, the expression of PD-L1 was also down-regulated (P<0.05). In contrast, the expression level of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in LCSLC was lower than that in HepG2 cells (P<0.01), there was no significant change in PD-L1 expression after down-regulated by inhibitor treatment (P>0.05). After the expression of PD-L1 was knockdown by siRNA, the expressions of CD133, Nanog, Oct4A and Snail in LCSLC were decreased compared with those of siRNA-negative control (NC) group (P<0.05). The number of sphere-formating cells decreased [(45.33±12.01) and (282.00±29.21), P<0.001], the cell migration rate was lower than that in siRNA-NC group [(20.86±2.74)% and (46.73±15.43)%, P=0.046], the number of transmembrane cells decreased [(39.67±1.53) and (102.70±11.59), P=0.001], the number of cloned cells decreased [(57.67±14.57) and (120.70±15.04), P=0.007], the number of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase decreased [(37.68±2.51) and (57.27±0.92), P<0.001], the number of cells in S phase was more than that in siRNA-NC group [(30.78±0.52) and (15.52±0.83), P<0.001]. Tumor formation in mice showed that the tumor weight of shRNA-PD-L1 group was (0.47±0.12)g, the volume is (761.3±221.4)mm(3), were lower than those of shRNA-NC group [(1.57±0.45)g and (1 829.0±218.3)mm(3), P<0.001]. Meanwhile, the expression levels of p-STAT3 and p-Akt in siRNA-PD-L1 group were decreased (P<0.05), while the expression levels of p-ERK1/2 and β-catenin did not change significantly (P>0.05). Conclusion: Elevated PD-L1 expression in CD133(+) LCSLC is crucial to maintain stemness and promotes the tumor biological function of LCSLC.

Analysis of risk factors of radiation-induced toxicity in limited-stage small cell lung cancer treated with hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To compare the incidence of radiation-related toxicities between conventional and hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and to explore the risk factors of hypofractionated radiotherapy-induced toxicities. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from consecutive limited-stage SCLC patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from March 2016 to April 2022. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups according to radiation fractionated regimens. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, version 5.0) was used to evaluate the grade of radiation esophagus injuries and lung injuries. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with radiation-related toxicities in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group. Results: Among 211 enrolled patients, 108 cases underwent conventional IMRT and 103 patients received hypofractionated IMRT. The cumulative incidences of acute esophagitis grade ≥2 [38.9% (42/108) vs 35.0% (36/103), P=0.895] and grade ≥ 3 [1.9% (2/108) vs 5.8% (6/103), P=0.132] were similar between conventional and hypofractionated IMRT group. Late esophagus injuries grade ≥2 occurred in one patient in either group. No differences in the cumulative incidence of acute pneumonitis grade ≥2[12.0% (13/108) vs 5.8% (6/103), P=0.172] and late lung injuries grade ≥2[5.6% (6/108) vs 10.7% (11/103), P=0.277] were observed. There was no grade ≥3 lung injuries occurred in either group. Using multiple regression analysis, mean esophageal dose ≥13 Gy (OR=3.33, 95% CI: 1.23-9.01, P=0.018) and the overlapping volume between planning target volume (PTV) and esophageal ≥8 cm(3)(OR=3.99, 95% CI: 1.24-12.79, P=0.020) were identified as the independent risk factors associated with acute esophagitis grade ≥2 in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group. Acute pneumonitis grade ≥2 was correlated with presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, P=0.025). Late lung injuries grade ≥2 was correlated with tumor location(P=0.036). Conclusions: Hypofractionated IMRT are tolerated with manageable toxicities for limited-stage SCLC patients treated with IMRT. Mean esophageal dose and the overlapping volume between PTV and esophageal are independently predictive factors of acute esophagitis grade ≥2, and COPD and tumor location are valuable factors of lung injuries for limited-stage SCLC patients receiving hyofractionated radiotherapy. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

Prognostic value of perioperative change of neutrophil elastase and myeloperoxidase in coronary circulation on perioperative myocardial injury and clinical outcome of patients underwent surgical valve replacement / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of observing perioperative changes of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE) in coronary artery circulation in patients underwent valve replacement surgery. Methods: This perspective cohort study was performed in patients who underwent valvular surgery in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Fuwai Hospital from June 2021 to June 2022. Patients were divided into perioperative myocardial injury group and age-, sex- and type of cardiac procedure-matched non-perioperative myocardial injury control group in the ratio of 1∶1. Perioperative myocardial injury was defined as cardiac troponin T (cTnT)>0.8 μg/L on the first postoperative day (POD), and the cTnT level on the second POD increased by more than 10% compared with the cTnT level on the first POD. During the operation, blood samples were collected from the coronary sinus before clamping ascending aorta, and within 5 minutes after de-clamping ascending aorta. Then, the levels of MPO and NE on coronary sinus were continuously measured. The death, severe ventricular arrhythmia, pneumonia, re-intubation, repeat cardiac surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), mechanical ventilation time and the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) were recorded. The levels of MPO and NE and the incidence of clinical outcomes were compared between the myocardial injury group and the control group. The independent risk factors of myocardial injury were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 130 patients were enrolled, aged (60.6±7.6) years old, with 59 males (45.4%). There were 65 patients in the myocardial injury group and 65 patients in the control group. During hospitalization, there was no death, ECMO, IABP and CRRT cases in both groups. Compared with the control group, the incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmia (13.8%(9/65) vs. 3.1%(2/65), P=0.03), pneumonia (20.0%(13/65) vs. 3.1%(2/65), P=0.03), re-intubation (6.2%(4/65) vs. 0, P=0.04) was significantly higher in myocardial injury group. The mechanical ventilation time (16.8(10.7, 101.7) h vs. 7.5(4.7, 15.1) h, P<0.01), and the duration of ICU (3.7(2.7, 18.9) vs. 2.7(1.8, 6.9)d, P<0.01) were significantly longer in myocardial injury group compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in the levels of MPO and NE in coronary sinus blood between the two groups before aortic clamping (all P>0.05). However, MPO ((551.3±124.2) μg/L vs. (447.2±135.9) μg/L, P<0.01) and NE ((417.0±83.1)μg/L vs. (341.0±68.3)μg/L, P<0.01) after 5 min aortic de-clamping were significantly higher in myocardial injury group than in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of NE (OR=1.02, 95%CI: 1.01-1.02, P<0.01), MPO (OR=1.00, 95%CI: 1.00-1.01, P=0.02) and mechanical ventilation time (OR=1.03, 95%CI: 1.01-1.06, P=0.02) were independent risk factors of myocardial injury in patients after surgical valvular replacement. Conclusion: Perioperative myocardial injury is related poor clinical outcomes, perioperative NE and MPO in coronary artery circulation are independent risk factors of perioperative myocardial injury in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Development and characteristics of automatic ash-removal heat-sensitive moxibustion device / 中国针灸

An automatic ash-removal heat-sensitive moxibustion device was developed, which could keep relatively constant temperature of heat-sensitive moxibustion, and realize the automatic ignition and automatic ash removal of moxa sticks during heat-sensitive moxibustion. The automatic ash-removal heat-sensitive moxibustion device comprises a bracket and a moxibustion box fixed on the top of the bracket; the bracket is composed of a base and a movable telescopic arm. This device can solve the problems of temperature instability, moxa ash blocking heat transfer and moxa ash falling during heat-sensitive moxibustion, avoiding the scalding caused by moxa ash falling, and reduce the workload of medical staff.

Effect of Wine Processing on Odour Formation of Polygonatum cyrtonema Rhizoma by GC-MS / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveBy exploring the volatile components， polysaccharide composition and changes in the contents of five carbohydrate components of Polygonatum cyrtonema rhizoma before and after processing， and then the effect of yellow rice wine on the odour formation of P. cyrtonema rhizoma was investigated. MethodThe volatile components of P. cyrtonema rhizoma before and after processing were detected by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-GC-MS）， and sample data were subjected to principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） using SIMCA 14.1， then the differences between these components of P. cyrtonema rhizoma before and after processing were screened according to the principle of variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1. Crude carbohydrate components in raw and wine-processed P. cyrtonema rhizoma were subjected to oxime and silylation， the carbohydrate components were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（GC-MS/MS）， and the relative contents of various components were calculated by peak area normalization， then quantitative analysis of four carbohydrate components was also carried out. ResultA total of 23 volatile components were identified from the raw products and the wine-processed products， including 15 components in raw products and 20 components in wine-processed products. Among them， 2-methylbutyraldehyde and isovaleraldehyde had a sweet odor and their contents increased after processing， but the contents of hexanal and caproic acid decreased， new components such as 2-acetylfuran and 5-methylfuranal were produced after processing. PCA and OPLS-DA results showed that there were significant differences between raw products and the wine-processed products， a total of 13 differential compounds were screened out， of which 7 showed an upward trend in relative content and 6 showed a downward trend. A total of 7 carbohydrate components， including 5 monosaccharides and 2 disaccharides， were identified in raw products and the wine-processed products. The results of determination showed that the contents of fructose， glucose， mannose and sucrose in P. cyrtonema rhizoma increased after wine-processing， and their increases were 4.54， 1.51， 2.93， 3.66 times， respectively. ConclusionAfter processing， the increase of aromatic flavor of P. cyrtonema rhizoma may be related to the increase of the contents of aldehydes such as 2-methylbutyraldehyde and isovaleraldehyde， while the decrease of raw flavor may be related to the decrease of the contents of volatile components such as hexanal and hexanoic acid， the increase of sweet flavor may be related to the increase of the contents of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides such as fructose and sucrose.

Effect and mechanism of gerbeloid J from Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass. on cycle and apoptosis of breast cancer cells / 药学学报

Breast cancer has become the most prevalent malignant tumor among women, putting the health of women at serious risk. Screening for lead compounds in the active ingredients of plant that are effective and less toxic continues to be an important strategy for treating breast cancer. Gerbeloid J, a coumarin isolated from Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass., showed significant anti-cancer activity. But there is no report on the effect and mechanism of gerbeloid J on cycle and apoptosis of breast cancer. By using the CCK-8, clone formation, and PI staining assays, the effects of gerbeloid J on the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were assessed in this study. The effects of gerbeloid J on the apoptosis and mitochondrial function of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were assessed using DAPI, Annexin V/TO-PRO-3, Rhod-2 AM, TMRM, DCFDA staining assays, and Western blot. The results demonstrated that gerbeloid J regulated the P21/CDC25C/CDK-1/cyclin B1 pathway and arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phase to suppressed the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, gerbeloid J induced apoptosis through the stimulation of mitochondrial calcium excess, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, and promotion of ROS generation, and its mechanism was related to the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, by regulating the P21/CDC25C/CDK-1/cyclin B1 pathway and activating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, gerbeloid J could cause breast cancer cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which might offer a promising candidate for the creation of new drugs against breast cancer.