Clinical characteristics of patients with colon complications after necrotizing pancreatitis: a retrospective cohort study / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of colon complications in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis(NP). Methods: The clinical data of 403 patients with NP admitted to the Department of General Surgery,Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2014 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 273 males and 130 females,aged (49.4±15.4) years(range: 18 to 90 years). Among them,there were 199 cases of biliary pancreatitis,110 cases of hyperlipidemic pancreatitis,and 94 cases of pancreatitis caused by other causes. A multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment model was used to diagnose and treat patients. Depending on whether the patients had colon complications,they were divided into colon complications group and noncolon complications group. Patients with colon complications were treated with anti-infection therapy,parental nutritional support,keeping the drainage tube unobstructed,and terminal ileostomy. The clinical results of the two groups were compared and analyzed using a 1∶1 propensity score match(PSM) method. The t test,χ2 test, or rank-sum test was used to analyze data between groups,respectively. Results: The incidence of colon complications was 13.2%(53/403),including 15 cases of colon obstruction,23 cases of colon fistula,and 21 cases of colon hemorrhage. After PSM,the baseline and clinical characteristics at admission of the two groups of patients were comparable (all P>0.05). In terms of clinical outcome,compared to patients with NP without colon complications,the number of patients with colon complications who received minimally invasive intervention(88.7%(47/53) vs. 69.8%(37/53),χ2=5.736,P=0.030),the number of minimally invasive interventions (M(IQR))(2(2) vs. 1(1), Z=4.638,P=0.034),the number of patients with multiple organ failure(45.3%(24/53) vs. 32.1%(17/53),χ2=4.826,P=0.041),and the number of extrapancreatic infections(79.2%(42/53) vs. 60.4%(32/53),χ2=4.476,P=0.034) increased significantly. The time required for enteral nutrition support(8(30)days vs. 2(10) days, Z=-3.048, P=0.002), parental nutritional support(32(37)days vs. 17(19)days, Z=-2.592, P=0.009),the length of stay in the ICU(24(51)days vs. 18(31)days, Z=-2.268, P=0.002),and the total length of stay (43(52)days vs. 30(40)days, Z=-2.589, P=0.013) were also significantly prolonged. However,mortality rates in the two groups were similar(37.7%(20/53) vs. 34.0%(18/53),χ2=0.164,P=0.840). Conclusions: Colonic complications in NP patients are not rare,which can lead to prolonged hospitalization and increased surgical intervention. Active surgical intervention can help improve the prognosis of these patients.

Association between vaccination and the risk of immunoglobulin A vasculitis in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the effect of vaccination on the short-term risk of immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) in children.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was conducted on the general data and the vaccination history within one year prior to onset in children with IgAV hospitalized in the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from November 2021 to January 2023. Vaccine exposure rates in the risk period (3 months prior to IgAV onset) and the control period were compared by autocontrol-case crossover analysis, and the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated. A sensitivity analysis for the one-month and two-month risk periods was conducted.@*RESULTS@#A total of 193 children with IgAV were included, with a median age of 7.0 years. Among the 193 children, 36 (18.7%) received at least one dose of the vaccine within 1 year prior to IgAV onset, and 14 (7.3%) received at least one dose of the vaccine during the 3-month risk period. Compared to the unvaccinated IgAV group, the vaccinated IgAV group had a significantly younger age of onset (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportions of children with gastrointestinal involvement, renal involvement, and joint involvement between the two groups (P>0.05). The odds ratio for developing IgAV after receiving any type of vaccine within 3 months prior to IgAV onset was 2.08 (95%CI: 0.82-5.27, P>0.05). Further sensitivity analysis for the 1-month and 2-month risk periods demonstrated that the odds ratios for developing IgAV after receiving any type of vaccine were 2.74 (95%CI: 0.72-10.48, P>0.05) and 2.72 (95%CI: 0.95-7.77, P>0.05), respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Vaccination dose not increase the risk of IgAV, nor does it exacerbate clinical symptoms in children with IgAV.

Decreased AKAP4/PKA signaling pathway in high DFI sperm affects sperm capacitation / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) is a metric used to assess DNA fragmentation within sperm. During in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), high sperm DFI can lead to a low fertilization rate, poor embryo development, early miscarriage, etc. A kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) is a scaffold protein that can bind protein kinase A (PKA) to subcellular sites of specific substrates and protects the biophosphorylation reaction. Sperm protein antigen 17 (SPA17) can also bind to AKAP. This study intends to explore the reason for the decreased fertilization rate observed in high sperm DFI (H-DFI) patients during IVF-ET. In addition, the study investigates the expression of AKAP, protein kinase A regulatory subunit (PKARII), and SPA17 between H-DFI and low sperm DFI (L-DFI) patients. SPA17 at the transcriptional level is abnormal, the translational level increases in H-DFI patients, and the expression of AKAP4/PKARII protein decreases. H2O2 has been used to simulate oxidative stress damage to spermatozoa during the formation of sperm DFI. It indicates that H2O2 increases the expression of sperm SPA17 protein and suppresses AKAP4/PKARII protein expression. These processes inhibit sperm capacitation and reduce acrosomal reactions. Embryo culture data and IVF outcomes have been documented. The H-DFI group has a lower fertilization rate. Therefore, the results indicate that the possible causes for the decreased fertilization rate in the H-DFI patients have included loss of sperm AKAP4/PKARII proteins, blocked sperm capacitation, and reduced occurrence of acrosome reaction.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of poor prognosis in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical features and risk factors of death in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB).Methods:The clinical data of 219 IPN patients who were managed at the Department of General Surgery of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 142 males, and 77 females, with a median age [ M( Q1, Q3)] of 51(38, 62) years old. Based on the pre-sence or absence of MDRB infection, these patients were divided into the MDRB-infected group ( n=117) and the non-MDRB-infected group ( n=102). Clinical features and outcomes were compared between the two groups, and the risk factors resulting in death in patients with MDRB infection were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with MDRB. Results:There were significant differences in etiologies, distribution characteristics of necrosis and degrees of pancreatic necrosis between the two groups (all P<0.05). When compared with the non-MDRB-infected group, the CT severity index, the levels of procalcitonin and interleukin-6 were significantly higher in the MDRB group on admission, while the hematocrit was significantly lower (all P<0.05). Furthermore, when compared with the non-MDRB infection group, patients with MDRB infection were significantly more likely to have fungal infections [37.6%(44/117) vs. 21.6%(22/102)] and extrapancial infections [75.2%(88/117) vs. 58.8%(60/102)], more patients underwent surgery [89.7%(105/117) vs. 67.6%(69/102)], and more surgical procedures were performed [3(2, 4) times vs. 2(1, 3) times], with a higher incidence of postoperative complications [36.2%(38/117) vs. 18.8%(13/102)], an increase in a new-onset organ failure after surgery [37.1%(39/117) vs. 21.7%(15/102)], a higher in-hospital mortality rate [25.6%(30/117) vs. 10.8%(11/102)], longer hospitalization [39(28, 67) d vs. 29(18, 35) d] and ICU stays [22(10, 42) d vs. 11(6, 18) d], and a longer need for parenteral nutrition [19(9, 37) d vs. 15(7, 25) d, all P<0.05]. On multivariate regression analysis, the risk factor for death in the MDRB-infected group was co-fungal infection ( OR=1.199, 95% CI: 1.025-1.402). On the other hand, receiving therapy containing tigacycline ( OR=0.831, 95% CI: 0.715-0.965) and minimally invasive surgery ( OR=0.698, 95% CI: 0.562-0.868) reduced the risk of death in the MDRB-infected group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:IPN patients with MDRB infection had higher levels of inflammation, more serious pancreatic necrosis, longer treatment time, and increased need for surgical treatment. Measures involving fungal infection control and the use of tigacyclin and minimally invasive surgery reduced the risks of death in patients with MDRB infection.

Research progress on the relationship between pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and intestinal microbiota in aging individuals / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) refers to insufficient or non-synchronous secretion of trypsin caused by various reasons, resulting in dyspepsia and other symptoms. Intestinal microbiota is a large number of microbiota on the surface of intestinal mucosa. Its main functions include intestinal immune function, forming intestinal biological barrier and participating in the regulation of nutrition and metabolism. Due to aging, some elderly people often have unexplained chronic pancreatic insufficiency, which is often characterized by unexplained weight loss and malnutrition. Several studies have shown that the composition of intestinal microbiota changes significantly with age. This article focuses on aging and its related PEI and then reviews its possible effects on intestinal microbiota, in order to provide a reference basis for individualized prevention and treatment strategies according to the changes of pancreatic exocrine function and microbiota in the elderly.

Expression and significance of microRNA-21 and microRNA-181b in peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the expression and significance of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21) and microRNA-181b (miRNA-181b) in the peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia.Methods:A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia who received treatment in Shaoxing 7 th People's Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were included in the study group. An additional 30 healthy controls who concurrently underwent physical examination were included in the control group. The expression of miRNA-21 and miRNA-181b in peripheral blood was compared between the two groups. The 100 patients with schizophrenia received standardized clinical treatment. Their mental symptoms were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). miRNA-21 and miRNA-181b expression and PANSS scores before and 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment were collected and compared between the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to analyze the value of miRNA-21 and miRNA-181b expression in the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Results:Serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-181b expression in the study group were (2.41 ± 1.12) and (15.62 ± 2.26), respectively, which were significantly higher than (0.73 ± 0.37) and (8.11 ± 0.98) in the control group ( t = 8.07,17.67, both P < 0.05). With the prolongation of treatment time, serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-181b expression and PANSS score in the study group gradually decreased (all P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve plotted for evaluating the value of miRNA-21 and miRNA-181b expression in the diagnosis of schizophrenia was 0.616 and 0.683, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve plotted for evaluating the value of miRNA-21 combined with miRNA-181b expression in the diagnosis of schizophrenia was 0.788, which was markedly higher than that for the detection of miRNA-21 or miRNA-181b expression alone. Conclusion:miRNA-21 and miRNA-181b are abnormally highly expressed in the peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia. Both of them can be used as objective and effective indicators for early diagnosis of schizophrenia. Combined detection of miRNA-21 and miRNA-181b provides higher accuracy in the diagnosis of schizophrenia than the detection of miRNA-21 or miRNA-181b alone.

Biomimetic nanomedicines for precise atherosclerosis theranostics

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of the life-threatening cardiovascular disease (CVD), creating an urgent need for efficient, biocompatible therapeutics for diagnosis and treatment. Biomimetic nanomedicines (bNMs) are moving closer to fulfilling this need, pushing back the frontier of nano-based drug delivery systems design. This review seeks to outline how these nanomedicines (NMs) might work to diagnose and treat atherosclerosis, to trace the trajectory of their development to date and in the coming years, and to provide a foundation for further discussion about atherosclerotic theranostics.

Characteristics of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA in children with primary infection / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To explore the characteristics of plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in primary infection in pediatric cases. Methods: The laboratory and clinical data of 571 children diagnosed with EBV primary infection in Children's Hospital of Fudan University during September 1st, 2017 to September 30th, 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the results of plasma EBV DNA, they were divided into positive group and negative group. According to the EBV DNA, they were devided into high plasma virol load group and low plasma virol load group. The Chi-square test, Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare the differences between groups. Results: Among the 571 children with EBV primary infection, 334 were males and 237 were females. The age of first diagnosis was 3.8 (2.2, 5.7) years. There were 255 cases in positive group and 316 cases in negative group. The percentage of cases with fever,hepatomegaly and (or) splenomegaly, elevated transaminase in the positive group were higher than those in the negative group (235 cases (92.2%) vs. 255 cases (80.7%), χ2=15.22, P<0.001; 169 cases (66.3%) vs. 85 cases (26.9%), χ2=96.80, P<0.001; and 144 cases (56.5%) vs. 120 cases (38.0%), χ2=18.27, P<0.001; respectively).In the positive group, 70 cases were followed up for 46 (27, 106) days, 68 cases (97.1%) turned negative within 28 days, with the exception of 2 cases (2.9%) developed chronic active EBV infection by follow-up revision.There were 218 cases in high plasma viral DNA copies group and 37 cases in low copies group. More cases presented with elevated transaminases in the high plasma viral DNA copies group than those in the low group (75.7% (28/37) vs. 56.0%(116/207), χ2=5.00, P=0.025).Both the positive rate of EBV DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes (84.2% (266/316) vs. 44.7% (255/571), χ2=76.26, P<0.001) and the copies of EBV DNA (7.0×107 (1.3×107, 3.0×108) vs. 3.1×106 (1.6×106, 6.1×106) copies /L, Z=15.23, P<0.001) were higher than that of plasma. Conclusions: In immunocompetent pediatric cases diagnosed as EBV primary infection, cases with positive plasma EBV DNA were prone to have fever, hepatomegaly and (or) splenomegaly, and elevated transaminase than those with negative plasma viral DNA. The plasma EBV DNA usually turns negative within 28 days after initial diagnosis.Most cases with high viral load in plasma showed elevated aminotransferase.

Basic principles,methods and evaluation of minimally invasive treatment for infected pancreatic necrosis / 中华外科杂志

Infected pancreatic necrosis(IPN) is the main surgical indication of acute pancreatitis. Minimally invasive debridement has become the mainstream surgical strategy of IPN,and it is only preserved for IPN patients who are not response for adequate non-surgical treatment. Transluminal or retroperitoneal drainage is preferred,and appropriate debridement can be performed. At present,it is reported that video assisted transluminal,trans-abdominal and retroperitoneal approaches can effectively control IPN infection. However,in terms of reducing pancreatic leakage and other complications,surgical and endoscopic transgastric debridement may be the future direction in the treatment of IPN.

Exosomes secreted from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells promote pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma growth by transferring miRNAs / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To observe the effects of exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, and to analyze the contents of exosomes and explore the mechanisms affecting pancreatic cancer cells. Methods: Exosomes extracted from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were added to pancreatic cancer cells BxPC3, Panc-1 and mouse models of pancreatic cancer, respectively. The proliferative activity and invasion abilities of BxPC3 and Panc-1 cells were measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays. The expressions of miRNAs in exosomes were detected by high-throughput sequencing. GO and KEGG were used to analyze the related functions and the main metabolic pathways of target genes with high expressions of miRNAs. Results: The results of CCK-8 cell proliferation assay showed that the absorbance of BxPC3 and Panc-1 cells in the hucMSCs-exo group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(4.68±0.09) vs. (3.68±0.01), P<0.05; (5.20±0.20) vs. (3.45±0.17), P<0.05]. Transwell test results showed that the number of invasion cells of BxPC3 and Panc-1 in hucMSCs-exo group was significantly higher than that in the control group (129.40±6.02) vs. (89.40±4.39), P<0.05; (134.40±7.02) vs. (97.00±6.08), P<0.05. In vivo experimental results showed that the tumor volume and weight in the exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs-exo) group were significantly greater than that in the control group [(884.57±59.70) mm(3) vs. (695.09±57.81) mm(3), P<0.05; (0.94±0.21) g vs. (0.60±0.13) g, P<0.05]. High-throughput sequencing results showed that miR-148a-3p, miR-100-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-21-5p and miR-92a-3p were highly expressed. GO and KEGG analysis showed that the target genes of these miRNAs were mainly involved in the regulation of glucosaldehylation, and the main metabolic pathways were ascorbic acid and aldehyde acid metabolism, which were closely related to the development of pancreatic cancer. Conclusion: Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can promote the growth of pancreatic cancer cells and the mechanism is related to miRNAs that are highly expressed in exosomes.

Progress on surgical treatment in gastric cancer / 国际外科学杂志

There are high burden of disease including a high incidence, relatively high proportion of late stage when diagnosed and poor overall prognosis in China regarding to the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. Surgery remains as the major treatment for gastric cancer. Based on the latest guidelines, endoscopic surgery or gastrectomy is performed for early gastric cancer, and the standard surgery for locally advanced gastric cancer is D2 lymphadenectomy. Besides, this article will discuss about other research hotspots, such as expansion of lymph node dissection in selected patients, construction methods of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, especially Siewert type Ⅱ, minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopic gastrectomy and robotic gastrectomy), the surgical treatment for elderly patients with gastric cancer will be discussed also.

CHINA PH ARMACY Volume 33，Number 13，July 15，2022 Semimonthly Table of Contents Discussion on development difficulties and countermeasures of complex preparations in China / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To discuss the difficulties in t he development of complex preparations and puts forward solutions ，in order to provide some reference for the development and preparation of complex preparations. METHODS Based on the development status of complex preparations ，the challenges faced by the development of complex preparations were analyzed ，and the countermeasures for the development of complex preparations were proposed. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The development of complex preparations required high quality of personnel ，and was limited by pharmaceutical excipients ，delivery devices and pharmaceutical equipment. The preparation process was complex ，there were many quality control parameters and patent barriers. Complex preparation development enterprises need to pay more attention to talents ，pharmaceutical excipients ，delivery devices and pharmaceutical equipment ，and clarify the impact of key technology on preparation production and quality characteristics ；in addition，they need to strengthen independent research and development ，crack the patent layout of original research enterprises and protect their own innovative achievements. Domestic complex preparation development enterprises can combine imitation and innovation to develop complex preparation products with independent brands to better meet the needs of patients.

Laparoscopic transgastric necrosectomy in treatment of wall-off pancreatic necrosis / 中华外科杂志

Mini-invasive surgical or endoscopic step-up approach is the first choice of pancreatic necrosectomy for infected wall-off necrosis. Surgical debridement has the advantage of high efficiency,low cost and good accessibility,while the complication rate of pancreatic fistula and incision hernia after endoscopic necrosectomy is low.Laparoscopic transgastric necrosectomy(LTGN) can combine the advantages of surgical and endoscopic debridement,and may become one of the important methods for the surgical treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis in the future. This paper focuses on the technical advantages,surgical points,indications and application status of LTGN,so as to provide reference for the technical promotion.

Cardiometabolic disease patterns among elderly patients with colorectal cancer in China / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To explore the distribution patterns of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in elderly patients with colorectal cancer, and provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular metabolic diseases in these patients. Methods: Clinical data of 3 894 elderly patients with colorectal cancer from January 2008 to March 2018 admitted in the Chinese PLA General Hospital were recruited and the incidence rate of CMD was retrospectively analyzed. The influence factors of elderly patients with colorectal cancer combined with CMD were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression model. Results: The morbidity rate of CMD in elderly patients with colorectal cancer is 33.4% (1 301/3 894), among them, the morbidity rate of the male was 31.9% (768/2 409), and that of the female was 35.9% (533/1 485). There was not significant difference between these two sex (P=0.074). The morbidity rates of CMD in patients of 65-74 years, 75-84 years and ≥85 years were 30.6% (754/2 462), 37.0% (479/1 294) and 49.3% (68/138), respectively, with significant differences (P<0.001). Multiple Logistic regression analysis revealed that female (OR=1.213, 95%CI: 1.056-1.394), age (75-84 years group: OR=1.344, 95%CI: 1.164-1.552; ≥85 years group: OR=2.345, 95%CI: 1.651-3.331) and body mass index (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) group: OR=1.319, 95%CI: 1.065-1.638; ≥25 kg/m(2) group: OR=2.041, 95%CI: 1.627-2.561) were independent risk factors for elderly colorectal cancer patients with CMD. Conclusion: The morbidity rate of CMD in elderly patients with colorectal cancer increases with age and it is urgent to strengthen multidisciplinary cooperation and develop reasonable treatment plans to extend the survival and life quality of these patients.

Inhibition of Escherichia coli nitroreductase by the constituents in Syzygium aromaticum / 中国天然药物

Gut bacterial nitroreductases play an important role in reduction of various nitroaromatic compounds to the corresponding N-nitroso compounds, hydroxylamines or aromatic amines, most of which are carcinogenic and mutagenic agents. Inhibition of gut nitroreductases has been recognized as an attractive approach for reducing mutagen metabolites in the colon, so as to prevent colon diseases. In this study, the inhibitory effects of 55 herbal medicines against Escherichia coli(E. coli) nitroreductase (EcNfsA) were examined. Compared with other herbal extracts, Syzygium aromaticum extract showed superior inhibitory potency toward EcNfsA mediated nitrofurazone reduction. Then, the inhibitory effects of 22 major constituents in Syzygium aromaticum against EcNfsA were evaluted. Compared with other tested natural compounds, ellagic acid, corilagin, betulinic acid, oleanic acid, ursolic acid, urolithin M5 and isorhamnetin were found with strong to moderate inhibitory effect against EcNfsA, with IC50 values ranging from 0.67 to 28.98 mol·L-1. Furthermore, the inhibition kinetic analysis and docking simulation demonstrated that ellagic acid and betulinic acid potently inhibited EcNfsA (Ki < 2 μmol·L -1) in a competitively inhibitory manner, which created strong interactions with the catalytic triad of EcNfsA. In summary, our findings provide new scientific basis for explaining the anti-mutagenic activity of Syzygium aromaticum, where some newly identified EcNfsA inhibitors can be used for developing novel agents to reduce the toxicity induced by bacterial nitroreductase.

Efficacy of different nutritional therapentic methods on nutritional improvement for pancreatitis patients intolerant to oral feeding / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of providing nasogastric (NG), nasojejunal (NJ), and parenteral nutrition (PN) support to pancreatitis patients who were intolerant to oral feeding.Methods:One hundred pancreatitis patients who were intolerant to oral feeding treated at the Xuanwu Hospital of the Capital Medical University from October 2018 to September 2020 were retrospectively studied. They were divided into three groups based on the nutritional support given to them: the NG group, NJ group, and PN group. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ), nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002), hemoglobin, albumin, pre-albumin and other clinical data were recorded and compared among the three groups.Results:After nutrition support treatments, the hemoglobin, albumin and pre-albumin levels were significantly better than before giving nutrition support, and the APACHE Ⅱ scores were significantly improved in all the groups. The NRS2002 scores were significantly better in the NJ group ( Z=2.28, P=0.023) and the NG group ( Z=1.99, P=0.046). With compared to the PN group, the albumin and pre-albumin levels were significantly higher in the NG and NJ groups, and the NRS2002 score after giving nutrition support treatment was significantly lower ( P<0.05). Compared with the PN group, the APACHE Ⅱ score ( t=2.18) and the hemoglobin levels ( t=2.04) were significantly better in the NJ group ( P<0.05). The overall incidence of complications in the NJ group was 41.2% (14/34), which was significantly lower than the NG group [78.8%(26/33), χ 2=5.41, P=0.020] and the PN group [66.7% (22/33), χ 2=4.35, P=0.037]. Conclusion:Enteral nutrition support through NG and NJ are better than PN in acute pancreatitis patients who were intolerant to oral feeding.

Influence of infection complications on the prognosis of patients with severe acute pancreatitis / 国际外科学杂志

Objective:To analyze the effects of infectious complications [infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) and extra-pancreatic infection (EPI)] on the outcomes of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and evaluate the differences in infection time, infection site and infecting species between SAP patients with infections complications.Methods:The clinical data of 66 SAP patients with combined infectious complications admitted to Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2014 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and SAP patients were divided into IPN group ( n=7), EPI group ( n=14) and co-infection (EPI+ IPN) group ( n=45) according to the type of infection. Whether the study data conformed to a normal distribution was assessed by the Shapiro-Wilk test, normally distributed measures were expressed as mean ± standard deviation ( ± s), and ANOVA was used for comparison between groups; skewed measures were expressed as median (interquartile range) [ M ( Q1, Q3)], and the rank-sum test was used for comparison between groups. Bonferroni correction was used for multiple group comparisons ( P value significance level reduced to 0.017). Quantitative data were compared between groups using the χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method. Results:There were no statistical differences between the three groups in terms of baseline data at admission (gender, age, etiology, modified CTSI score, degree of pancreatic necrosis, and number of organ failure) ( P>0.05), patients in the EPI group were referred earlier than the other two groups ( P<0.05). In clinical treatment, patients in the IPN group and co-infection group required multiple minimally invasive interventions compared with those in the EPI group ( P<0.05), and the number of patients requiring combined nutritional support, length of intensive care unit stay, and total length of hospital stay were higher in the co-infection group than in the other two groups ( P<0.05). In addition, 360 strains of pathogenic bacteria were cultured in this study, with Gram-negative bacteria being the most common, and patients with SAP were more likely to have EPI in the early stage of disease onset, with bacteremia and respiratory tract infections in the early stage (≤14 d), and bacteremia, urinary tract infections, and catheter-associated infections in the late stage (>14 d). Conclusions:Among patients with SAP, patients in the co-infection group had higher surgical intervention, nutritional support and length of hospital stay than those in the single infection group. It is advisable to prioritize EPI in SAP patients with suspected infections, and the common infectious strains in SAP patients are still predominantly Gram-negative bacteria, and clinicians need to adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner according to the changes in patients′ conditions.

Biocompatibility of extracellular matrix hydrogel with human iPSCs differentiated cardiomyocytes / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To observe the biocompatibility of porcine omental derived extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and the feasibility of ECM hydrogel as a delivery vector of cell transplantation. Methods: A series of chemical, physical and enzymatic methods were applied to acellularize the porcine omentum. Subsequently, the extracted ECM was prepared into thermosensitive hydrogel. The biochemical composition of the hydrogel was identified by histological staining. The microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The hydrogel was then injected into the myocardium of mice to observe its in situ gelation ability. Differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes was achieved by small molecule induction, and then the obtained hiPSC-CMs were cultured. hiPSC-CMs cultured onto the prepared hydrogel were defined as the hydrogel group, while conventionally cultured hiPSC-CMs were defined as the control group. Cardiomyocyte viability and growth patterns were detected using live/dead staining, CCK-8 and phalloidin staining. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot of cardiomyocytes were used to determine the survival and phenotypic maintenance markers of cardiomyocytes in materials. Results: The results of HE staining, oil red O staining and DAPI fluorescence staining showed that there was no significant cell debris, nucleus and lipid residue in the prepared ECM hydrogel. The Sirius red staining and Alcian blue staining showed that the hydrogel retained collagen and glycolaminoglycan, which were the main components of ECM. The prepared hydrogel behaves as a viscous liquid at 4 ℃ and as a gel state at 37 ℃. Scanning electron microscope results showed that the microstructure of the hydrogel was composed of irregular fibers and pores of different sizes. Under the guidance of ultrasound, the prepared ECM hydrogel could be successfully injected into the myocardium of mice. Immediately after the injection, the hyperechoic signal could be observed under ultrasound, suggesting that the hydrogel remained in the myocardium. HE staining of myocardial tissue evidenced that there was lump of gel in the injection area. The differentiated hiPSC-CMs were co-cultured with the prepared ECM hydrogel, and the results of live/dead staining showed that most of the hiPSC-CMs in the hydrogel group and the control group were alive, dead cells were scanty. The results of CCK-8 test showed that the absorbance values of the two groups were similar (P>0.05). The results of phalloidin staining showed that hiPSC-CMs could extend normally when co-cultured with ECM hydrogel. The cell morphology of the hydrogel group was similar with that of the control group, and there was no statistically significant difference in the F-actin coverage area per cell between the two groups (P>0.05). Immunofluorescence staining of cardiomyocyte markers showed that there was no significant difference in the coverage area of α-actinin and connexin-43 (Cx-43) per field between the hydrogel group and the control group (both P>0.05), the quantitative results of DAPI staining showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the number of cells between the two groups (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the results of Western blot showed that the expression levels of α-actinin and Cx-43 in cardiomyocytes in the hydrogel group were similar as those in the control group (both P>0.05). Conclusions: These results show that preparation of the ECM hydrogel from porcine omentum is successful. The hydrogel has good biocompatibility and no obvious cytotoxicity. Besides, the hydrogel can support the survival of hiPSC-CMs in vitro and maintain its phenotype. These properties make it a promising injectable cardiac tissue engineering material.

Radiotherapy is beneficial for long-term survival of patients with stage Ⅳ B thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at initial diagnosis / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To investigate the value of radiotherapy in patients with stage Ⅳ B thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) at initial diagnosis. Methods:A total of 199 patients with stage Ⅳ B thoracic ESCC at initial diagnosis (according to UICC/AJCC Eighth Edition Esophageal and Esophagogastric Junction Cancer TNM Staging) who were treated in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 2010 to December 2016 were recruited. Winthin the whole group, 130 patients (65.3%) had distant lymph node metastases alone, 51 cases (25.6%) of solid organ metastases alone and 18 cases (9.0%) of solid organ complicated with distant lymph node metastases. Among them, 16 patients (8.0%) were treated with chemotherapy alone, 50 cases (25.1%) of radiotherapy alone, 133 cases (66.8%) of radiochemotherapy (81 patients treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy and 52 patients treated with sequential radiochemotherapy). The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and the difference was analyzed by log-rank test. Clinical prognosis was assessed by multivariate Cox regression model. Results:The median overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was 12.3 months (95% CI: 10.6-15.4m), and the 1-, 2-, 3-and 5-year OS rates were 52.1%, 25.2%, 19.1%, and 11.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor length, the number of metastatic organs, and treatment modalities were the independent prognostic factors for OS. There was no significant difference in OS between concurrent radiochemotherapy and sequential radiochemotherapy ( P=0.955). The OS of patients in the radiotherapy dose of ≥6000 cGy group was significantly longer than that of their counterparts in the 4500-5039 cGy and 5040-6000 cGy groups (both P<0.001). Conclusions:For stage Ⅳ B thoracic ESCC patients at initial diagnosis, tumor length ≤3cm, single organ metastasis, and radiochemotherapy strategy are significantly correlated with longer OS. For stage Ⅳ ESCC patients with good physical status, radiotherapy can be supplemented on the basis of systemic chemotherapy. Concurrent or sequential radiochemotherapy needs to be individualized. If patients are tolerable, radiochemotherapy is recommended to the primary tumor or non-regional metastatic lymph nodes, aiming to prolong the OS of patients.

Research progress of tumor derived exosomes in clinical diagnosis and treatment / 国际外科学杂志

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles containing DNA, RNA and protein. They participate in intercellular communication and play an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. Exosomes exist in a variety of body fluids. Blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid can be separated and extracted. Exosomes derived from tumor cells have the characteristics of tumor cells. Studies have shown that exosomes are involved in many processes of tumorigenesis and development, including information transmission between tumor cells, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Exosomes can also be used as carriers to deliver drugs to target cells, which has the potential of targeted therapy. In the process of tumor treatment, drugs can be designed based on the targeted recognition characteristics of exosomes, so as to improve the bioavailability of anti-tumor drugs, reduce adverse reactions and enhance the therapeutic effect. The research and application of exosomes are very challenging. There is a huge heterogeneity in the types, sizes and sources of exosomes, and the production mechanism is also very complex. This paper reviews the extraction and identification methods of exosomes, and reviews the clinical application of tumor derived exosomes.