Pathological evaluation of 30 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after two neoadjuvant therapies / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To explore the pathological differences of surgically resected specimens of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to different neoadjuvant therapies (neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy and toripalimab combined with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy).Methods:Thirty patients diagnosed with advanced ESCC who underwent surgical operation after neoadjuvant therapy in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital from October 2020 to September 2021 were included. Among them, 15 patients received neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (radiochemotherapy group) and 15 patients were treated with toripalimab combined with radiochemotherapy (immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group). Surgically resected specimens were collected. The histopathological features of primary esophageal lesions and the responses of involved lymph nodes were analyzed and compared between two groups.Results:The major pathological response (MPR) rate in the radiochemotherapy group was 10/15, and 14/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.17). The pathological complete response (pCR) rate of the primary lesions in the radiochemotherapy group was 7/15, and 10/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.46). In the radiochemotherapy group, the incidence rate of tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) was 7/15, and 12/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.02). The incidence rate of necrosis in the radiochemotherapy group was 6/15, and 1/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.03). In addition, the incidence rate of foam cell infiltration in the radiochemotherapy group was 6/15, and 13/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.01). Furthermore, the pCR rate of involved lymph nodes in the radiochemotherapy group was 7/33, and 11/12 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P<0.001). Conclusion:Compared with the radiochemotherapy group, the incidence of TLS and foam cell infiltration is higher, the incidence of necrosis is lower and clinical efficacy of involved lymph nodes is higher in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group, prompting that toripalimab combined with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy exert higher synergistic immune effect.

Areca catechu L.ameliorates chronic unpredictable mil stress-induced depression behavior in rats by the promotion of the BDNF signaling pathway / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigated the anti-de-pressant effects of the fruit Areca catechu L.(ACL)and elucidated its potential underlying mechanism using a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS).METHODS CUMS was induced in rats to establish a depression animal model for 28 d.According to the baseline sucrose preference,the male rats were divided into six different groups.They were treated with parox-etine hydrochloride,ACL,and water once a day until the behavioral tests were performed.The levels of corticoste-rone(CORT),malondialdehyde(MDA),catalase(CAT),and total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)in serum were de-tected using a commercial kit,and the concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and dopamine(DA)mono-amine neurotransmitters in the brain tissues were detect-ed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Doublecortin(DCX)expression in the hippocampal den-tate gyrus(DG)was determined by immunofluorescence,and the relative abundance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),TrkB,PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,PSD-95,and p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β of brain tissues were assayed by West-ern blotting.RESULTS ACL markedly increased sucrose preference,decreased the immobility time,and short-ened the feeding latency of CUMS-induced rats.CUMS induction resulted in marked changes in the contents of the monoamine neurotransmitters(5-HT and DA)in the hippocampus and cortex of brain tissues and the levels of CORT,MDA,CAT,and T-SOD in serum,whereas ACL administration alleviated these considerable changes.ACL promoted DCX expression in DG and increased the protein levels of BDNF,TrkB,PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,PSD-95,and p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β in the brains of CUMS-induced rats.CONCLUSION Our results indicated that ACL may improve depression-like behaviors in CUMS-induced rats by decreasing the hyperfunction and oxidative stress of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis,stimulating hippo-campal neurogenesis,and activating the BDNF signaling pathway.

Protective effects of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 against cognitive impairment induced by simulated microgravity in rats / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Microgravity exerts several negative effects on the learning and memory of astro-nauts during space flight.Rg1 and Rb1,the key steroidal components of ginseng,have shown potent neuroprotec-tive effects with a high safety profile.The object of the current study is to investigate the influence of Rg1 and Rb1 on simulated microgravity-induced memory and learning dysfunction in the hindlimb suspension(HLS)rat model.METHODS The HLS rats were orally administered Rg1(30 and 60 μmol·kg-1)or Rb1(30 and 60 μmol·kg-1)for four weeks.The Morris water maze test(MWM)and reward operating conditioning reflex test(ROCR)were conducted to evaluate spatial and associative learning and memory.After the behavior tests,the serum and the prefrontal cortex(PFC)were dissected to measure the mechanism.RESULTS Rg1 and Rb1 treatment amelio-rated the cognitive deficits of HLS-exposure rats in MWM and ROCR,reduced reactive oxygen species generation and increased antioxidant enzyme activity.Rg1 and Rb1 also assisted in the recovery of mitochondrial complex Ⅰ(NADH dehydrogenase)activities and Mfn2,and decrea-sed Drp-1 expression.Furthermore,Rg1 and Rb1 reduced the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and the expression of cleaved-cas-pase 3,cytochrome c,increased the levels of SYN,PSD95 and activated BDNF-TrkB/PI3K-Akt pathway in the PFC.CONCLUSION Rg1 and Rb1 treatment attenuated cog-nitive deficits induced by HLS,mitigated mitochondrial dysfunction,attenuated oxidative stress,inhibited apopto-sis,and increased the synaptic plasticity,which was partly mediated by the modulation of the BDNF-TrkB/PI3K-Akt signaling.

Ambient fine particulate matter and cardiopulmonary health risks in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

In China, the level of ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) pollution far exceeds the air quality standards recommended by the World Health Organization. Moreover, the health effects of PM 2.5 exposure have become a major public health issue. More than half of PM 2.5 -related excess deaths are caused by cardiopulmonary disease, which has become a major health risk associated with PM 2.5 pollution. In this review, we discussed the latest epidemiological advances relating to the health effects of PM 2.5 on cardiopulmonary diseases in China, including studies relating to the effects of PM 2.5 on mortality, morbidity, and risk factors for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. These data provided important evidence to highlight the cardiopulmonary risk associated with PM 2.5 across the world. In the future, further studies need to be carried out to investigate the specific relationship between the constituents and sources of PM 2.5 and cardiopulmonary disease. These studies provided scientific evidence for precise reduction measurement of pollution sources and public health risks. It is also necessary to identify effective biomarkers and elucidate the biological mechanisms and pathways involved; this may help us to take steps to reduce PM 2.5 pollution and reduce the incidence of cardiopulmonary disease.

Advances in epidemiology, etiology, and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia / 中华预防医学杂志

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the third leading cause of death worldwide and one of the most commonly infectious diseases. Its epidemiological characteristics vary with host and immune status, and corresponding pathogen spectrums migrate over time and space distribution. Meanwhile, with the outbreak of COVID-19, some unconventional treatment strategies are on the rise. This article reviewed the epidemiological characteristics, pathogen spectrum and treatment direction of CAP in China over the years, and aimed to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of CAP in clinical practice.

Neurovascular coupling responses and cognitive function: The impact of aging and the interventional effect of exercise / 生理学报

Aging is a natural process accompanied with a progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. With an aging population, more and more elderly people are suffering from cognitive impairment. Previous studies have paid more attention to the impact of inflammation and oxidative stress on cognitive function during aging. Recently, it has been discovered that neurovascular coupling (NVC), a mechanism regulating cerebral blood flow, may play a significant role in aging-related cognitive impairment. NVC responses regulate the supply of energy substances and oxygen during brain activity, which in turn enhances cognitive function. However, as people grow older, NVC responses gradually weaken, which may be one of the mechanisms underlying aging-induced cognitive impairment. Given the important role of NVC responses in the brain, it is necessary to search for intervention methods that can improve NVC responses and promote cognitive function. Exercise is an effective means to delay aging and improve cognitive function. It also has a certain promoting effect on NVC responses. This article reviews the regulatory mechanisms of NVC responses, the relationship between NVC responses and cognitive function, and explores the effects of aging and exercise intervention on NVC responses, hoping to provide new research ideas for exercise intervention to improve NVC responses and promote cognitive function in the elderly.

Investigation on quality of disinfection in the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid sampling sites in Shanghai， 2022 / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo investigate the quality of disinfection in the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid sampling sites in Shanghai. MethodsSwab samples of medical staff’ hands and environments of different SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid sampling sites were collected from July to September 2022， with the total number of bacterial colonies cultured and counted. ResultsA total of 728 swab samples were collected from 69 sampling sites. The median total number of bacterial colonies on hand surface， object surface and air samples were 0 CFU·cm-2， 0 CFU·cm-2， and1 CFU·（petri dish∙5 min）-1， respectively， and P95 was 13 CFU·cm-2， 5.3 CFU·cm-2， and 17.8 CFU·（culture vessel∙5 min）-1， respectively. According to the GB 15982‒2012 Hygienic Standard for Disinfection in Hospitals class Ⅳ environment， 680 samples met the standard （93.4%）. Furthermore， 96.9%， 92.0%， and 92.2% of the samples in the sampling sites of tertiary/secondary hospitals， community health centers， and community convenience sampling sites met the standard， respectively. Quality of disinfection did not differ significantly across these sampling sites. ConclusionThe quality of disinfection in the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid sampling sites in Shanghai is generally good. Additionally， hand hygiene of medical staff and disinfection on object surface in some sampling sites need to be strengthened.

Rare tumors: a blue ocean of investigation / 医学前沿

Advances in novel drugs, therapies, and genetic techniques have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, substantially improving cancer patients' prognosis. Although rare tumors account for a non-negligible number, the practice of precision medicine and development of novel therapies are largely hampered by many obstacles. Their low incidence and drastic regional disparities result in the difficulty of informative evidence-based diagnosis and subtyping. Sample exhaustion due to difficulty in diagnosis also leads to a lack of recommended therapeutic strategies in clinical guidelines, insufficient biomarkers for prognosis/efficacy, and inability to identify potential novel therapies in clinical trials. Herein, by reviewing the epidemiological data of Chinese solid tumors and publications defining rare tumors in other areas, we proposed a definition of rare tumor in China, including 515 tumor types with incidences of less than 2.5/100 000 per year. We also summarized the current diagnosis process, treatment recommendations, and global developmental progress of targeted drugs and immunotherapy agents on the status quo. Lastly, we pinpointed the current recommendation chance for patients with rare tumors to be involved in a clinical trial by NCCN. With this informative report, we aimed to raise awareness on the importance of rare tumor investigations and guarantee a bright future for rare tumor patients.

A reinforced suture method for stapled gastrointestinal anastomosis to reduce gastrointestinal hemorrhage during Whipple operation in laparoscopy

Purpose@#Laparoscopy is being increasingly accepted for pancreaticoduodenectomy. Stapled anastomosis (SA) is used extensively to facilitate laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD); however, the incidence of anastomotic bleeding after stapled gastrointestinal anastomosis is still high. @*Methods@#One hundred and thirty-nine patients who underwent LPD using Whipple method were enrolled in our study. We performed the SA with our reinforced method (n = 68, R method) and without the method (n = 71, NR method). We compared the clinical characteristics and anastomosis methods of patients with or without gastrointestinal-anastomotic hemorrhage (GAH), and operative parameters were also compared between the anastomotic methods. @*Results@#Of the 139 patients undergoing LPD, 15 of them developed GAH. The clinical characteristics of patients with or without GAH were not significantly different except in the anastomotic method (P < 0.001). In the univariate logistic regression analyses, only the anastomotic method was associated with GAH. Furthermore, patients with the NR method had significantly higher incidences of GAH (P < 0.001) and Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III complications (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Our retrospective analysis showed that the SA performed with reinforced method might be a reform of SA without the reinforcement, as indicated by the lower incidence of GAH. However, further research is necessary to evaluate the utility of this reinforced method.

Research progress of circumferential tracheal reconstruction via tissue-engineered trachea / 中华外科杂志

Tissue engineering, as a new technology, provides a new avenue for the reconstruction of circumferential tracheal defects, which has always been a tremendous challenge for surgeons around the world. Recently, technologies such as decellularization, 3-dimensional printing, electrospinning and cell sheet have significantly enhanced the chondrification. Implantation of epithelial cells or transplantation of epithelial cell sheets also has accelerated the process of epithelialization. And pedicle muscle flap proved to be a reliable strategy for vascularization of tissue-engineered trachea. But it is still a huge challenge to achieve circumferential tracheal functional reconstruction. The key difficulty lies in how to simultaneously realize the functional regeneration of cartilage, blood vessels and epithelial tissues of tissue-engineered trachea. Therefore, how to integrate the above schemes and finally realize segmental tracheal reconstruction needs further research. This article reviews the research progress of repairing circumferential tracheal defects based on tissue engineering technology.

Uniportal thoracoscopic decortication for stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema of 158 cases / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To examine the safety and feasibility of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) decortication in patients presenting with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema. Methods: From August 2017 to July 2020, 158 patients of stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema underwent uniportal VATS decortication with partial rib resection and customized periosteal stripper in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. There were 127 males and 31 females, aged (M(IQR)) 32(28) years (range:14 to 78 years). Follow-up was performed in the outpatient clinic or via social communication applications, at monthly thereafter. If there was no air leak and chest tube drainage was less than 50 ml/day, a chest CT was performed. If the lung was fully re-expanded, chest tubes were removed. All patients received a follow-up chest CT 3 to 6 months following their initial operations which was compared to their preoperative imaging. Results: There was one conversion to open thoracotomy. The operative time was 2.75 (2.50) hours (range: 1.5 to 7.0 hours), and median blood loss was 100 (500) ml (range: 50 to 2 000 ml). There were no perioperative mortalities. There were no major complications except 1 case of redo-VATS for hemostasis due to excessive drainage and 1 case of incision infection, The incidence of prolonged air leaks (>5 days) was 80.3%(126/157). The postoperative hospital stay was 5.00 (2.25) days (range: 2 to 15 days). All patients were discharged with 2 chest tubes, and the median duration drainage was 21.00 (22.50) days (range: 3 to 77 days). Follow-up was completed in all patients over a duration of 20 (14) months (range: 12 to 44 months). At follow-up, 149 patients(94.9%) recovered to grade Ⅰ level, 7 patients to grade Ⅱ level, and 1 patient to grade Ⅲ level. Conclusion: Uniportal VATS decortication involving partial rib resection and a customized periosteal stripper is safe and effective for patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema.

Interleukin-1β mediates the effect of macrophage androgen receptor on hyperphosphate-induced vascular smooth muscle cell calcification / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To investigate whether it is by regulating interleukin 1β ( IL-1β) gene expression that androgen receptor (AR) in macrophages affects hyperphosphate-induced vascular smooth muscle cell calcification. Methods:The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiment was used to determine whether AR was bound to the androgen receptor element (ARE) sequence of IL-1β promoter in THP-1 cells. Whether the AR regulated IL-1β gene expression was detected by luciferase assay experiments. AR of THP-1 cells was silenced and transfected by lentivirus with vector or shRNA. Flow cytometry was used to select positive transfected cells THP-1ARsc (control) and THP-1ARsi (AR silencing) with fluorescent markers. Western blotting was used to detect AR protein levels of THP-1ARsc (control) and THP-1ARsi cells (AR silencing in monocytes). Macrophages MФARsc (control) or MФARsi (AR silencing) were induced by 50 ng/ml phorbol ester. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IL-1β expression levels of MФARsc or MФARsi conditioned medium. The human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) were cultured in MФARsc or MФARsi conditioned medium with phosphate (2.5 mmol/L final concentration of sodium dihydrogen phosphate), and Alizarin red S staining was used to analyze HASMC calcification degree. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of RUNX2 (osteoblast marker) and SM22α (HASMC marker), and neutralization assay was performed to test IL-1β-mediating effect of macrophages AR on HASMC calcification. Results:AR was bound to ARE sequence of IL-1β promoter and regulated IL-1β gene expression. The expression level of IL-1β protein in conditioned medium of MФARsi cells decreased significantly compared to MФARsc cells ( P<0.001). Compared with MФARsc conditioned medium group, HASMC calcium deposition in MФARsi conditioned medium group decreased significantly, RUNX2 protein decreased and SM22α protein increased (all P<0.05). The degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsi conditioned medium+IgG antibody group decreased than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IgG antibody group significantly, and the degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group decreased significantly than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IgG antibody group; while the degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsi conditioned medium+IgG antibody group and MФARsi conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group decreased than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Macrophage AR regulates IL-1β expression by binding to ARE sequence within IL-1β promoter, and IL-1β mediates the effect of macrophage AR on hyperphosphate-induced HASMC calcification.

Application of different posture fixation methods in radiotherapy of breast cancer / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective:To study the inter-fraction setup errors, intra-fraction movement of patients and its influence on dosimetry, position repeatability of the supraclavicular area, and the plastic stability of the vacuum cushion and styrofoam when one of the three fixation method are applied in the clinical radiotherapy of breast cancer. The three fixation method include acuum negative pressure pad (VP), acuum negative pressure pad combined with a breast bracket (VB), and polyurethane styrofoam combined with a breast bracket (PB).Methods:A total of 96 breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy at Jiangsu Cancer Hospital during 2019-2021 were collected prospectively for study. They were randomly divided into three groups (VP, VB, and PB). Cone-Beam CT and a planning system were used to obtain inter-fraction setup errors, intra-fraction movement of patients and its influence on dosimetry, position repeatability of supraclavicular area, and the plastic stability of vacuum pad and polyurethane tyrofoam.Results:In the left-right (LR) direction, there were no statistical differences in the inter-fraction setup errors among the three groups. In the superior-inferior (SI) direction, inter-fraction setup errors of the PB group were smaller than those of the VB group (3.02 ± 2.04, 3.65 ± 2.64, t=2.35, P=0.031). In the anterior-posterior (AP) direction, the inter-fraction setup errors of both the VB and PB groups were smaller than those of the VP group (3.36 ± 2.93, 3.14 ± 0.98, 4.03 ± 2.55, t=2.29, 3.11, P< 0.05). In the AP direction, the intra-fraction movement of patients of the VP and PB groups were less than that of the VB group (1.31 ± 0.95, 1.24 ± 0.89, 1.88 ± 1.33, t=-2.04, -2.31, P< 0.05). Moreover, the intra-fraction movement of patients had no statistical effect on the dosimetric distribution ( P> 0.05), and the breast bracket did not improve the position repeatability of the supraclavicular region ( P>0.05). In addition, the plastic stability of polyurethane styrofoam was significantly better than that of the acuum negative pressure pad ( t=2.43-5.63, P< 0.05). Conclusions:The inter-fraction setup errors and intra-fraction movement of patients with breast cancer can be reduced by using PB. Compared to an acuum negative pressure pad, polyurethane styrofoam can keep plastic stability throughout the treatment of the patients.

Effect of Qinggan Zishen Prescription on Metabolic Disorder in Obesity-related Hypertension and Its Mechanism Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Qinggan Zishen prescription on metabolic disorders in obesity-related hypertension （OBH） patients and analyze the potential pharmacological mechanism based on network pharmacology. MethodA total of 85 eligible OBH patients who were treated in the outpatient or wards of Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese medicine from September 2018 to January 2020 were selected and randomized into the observation group （45 cases） and control group （40 cases）. All patients were treated with western medicine during a four-week introduction period， and then the observation group was treated with Qinggan Zishen prescription on the basis of western medicine. The study lasted 6 months， and indicators， such as triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c）， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， fasting insulin （FINS）， waist circumference （W）， hip circumference （H） were detected and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR），body mass index （BMI）， waist-hip ratio （WHR） were calculated before and after intervention. At the same time， the regulation network of the Qinggan Zishen prescription was visualized and the protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed. The core targets of the network were obtained for Gene Ontology （GO） term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis. ResultAfter intervention for 6 months， the levels of W， H， WHR， FINS， and HOMA-IR in the observation group were reduced as compared with those in the control group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. According to network pharmacology， the main components of Qinggan Zishen prescription in treating OBH were luteolin， quercetin， and berberine and the key targets were amyloid precursor protein （APP）， vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGFA）， and estrogen receptor 1 （ESR1）. Moreover， the key biological pathway was advanced glycation end product （AGE）/advanced glycation end product receptor （RAGE） signaling pathway. ConclusionQinggan Zishen prescription can improve the metabolic disorder of OBH patients through multiple components， multiple targets， and multiple pathways， which provides new mindset for follow-up studies.

Investigation and analysis of anxiety/depression in patients with asthma-COPD overlap / 中国医师杂志

Objective:We aimed to estimate the incidence of anxiety or depression in asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) patients and explore its related factors.Methods:Stable patients who were treated or followed up in the outpatient department of respiratory medicine in the First Hospital of China Medical University from March 2018 to March 2019 were enrolled, including 53 ACO patients, 74 asthma patients, and 138 patients with COPD. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to evaluating the anxiety and depression status of the three groups of patients, and the risk factors of anxiety and/or depression in ACO patients were analyzed.Results:There were 33 cases (62.3%), 35 cases (47.3%) and 69 cases (50.0%) combined with anxiety in ACO, asthma and COPD group; there were 29 cases (54.7%), 25 cases (33.8%) and 58 cases (42.0%) combined with depression in ACO, asthma and COPD group, respectively. The patients with depression in ACO were significantly higher than those in asthma group ( P<0.05). There were 28 patients (52.8%), 24 patients (32.4%) and 52 patients (37.7%) combined with anxiety and depression in ACO, asthma and COPD group, respectively, with significant difference in ACO group and asthma group ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT) score≥10 was associated with anxiety ( OR=15.00, P<0.01) or depression ( OR=8.667, P<0.01) in patients with ACO. Conclusions:Anxiety/depression is common in chronic airway disease. Compared with asthma, anxiety and/or depression is more frequent in the patients with ACO. ACO patients with high CAT scores should pay attention to screening for anxiety/depression.

Discussion on COPD Intestinal Dysfunction and Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

In China， about 100 million people currently have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. At the same time， COPD is a multisystem disease， not only affecting the function of musculoskeletal， cardiovascular， kidney and immune systems in patients， but also causing intestinal dysfunction as its extrapulmonary manifestations. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， after COPD is formed， deficiency， phlegm stasis and toxicity were accumulated in the lungs， which leads to dysfunction of lung in dispersing and descending， and eventually causes ascending and descending disorder of Qi activities， disorder of fluid supply and distribution， and stagnation of blood stasis. The viscera disease would affect the bowels， and the large intestine is thus affected. Modern medical discovers that， the lungs and intestines have common origins and similar physiological structures， in pathological circumstances， their common mucosal immune system may lead to similar immune factors and inflammatory manifestations in the lungs and intestines. At the same time， the studies have confirmed that there is also a close relationship between intestinal flora and lung， that is "lung-gut axis". These theories partially illustrate the mechanism of COPD in inducing intestinal injury. The specific manifestations of COPD intestinal dysfunction， ① Flora disorder， with increased abundance of intestinal gram-negative bacilli， and inhibited reproduction of Bifidobacterium， Lactobacillus and short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria. ② Intestinal barrier damage： characterized by the destruction of intestinal epithelium tight connectivity， increased intestinal permeability， and thinning of the mucus layer. ③ Intestinal motility disorder： mostly manifested as weight loss and malnutrition. At present， for the intestinal dysfunction in COPD patients， most of the relevant discussions and targeted treatment methods in TCM are scattered and unsystematic. Guided by the idea of treating different diseases with the same treatment， we summarized the etiology and pathogenesis of COPD intestinal dysfunction by learning from the experience of TCM in treating intestinal flora disorders and inflammatory bowel disease， and proposed preliminary formulation with Tiaoqi Qushi，Tongfu Tongluo as its basic treatment principles in this paper， hoping to provide new ideas for the treatment of COPD.

Protective Effect of Total Ginsenoside Ginseng Root on Learning and Memory Impairment and Anxiety in Rats Induced by Hindlimb Suspension / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of total ginsenoside ginseng root on the learning and memory impairment and anxiety of hindlimb suspension rats by detecting the performance of rats in the water maze， elevated plus maze， and the expression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis， inflammatory factors and tryptophan pathway related factors through the intervention of ginsenosides in hindlimb suspension rats. Method:The Wistar male rats were divided into normal group， hindlimb suspension model group， Huperzine A group （0.1 mg·kg^-1）， and total ginsenoside ginseng root low and high dose groups （100， 200 mg·kg^-1）， with 8 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， the rats in the other groups maintained a -30° hindlimb suspension state for 24 h. The normal group and the model group received intragastric administration of 10 mL·kg^-1 pure water . After 28 days of continuous administration， the water maze and elevated plus maze behavioral tests were performed. After the tests， blood was taken from the abdominal aorta， and the rat brain cortex was peeled off on ice， quenched with liquid nitrogen， and stored at -80 ℃ for later use. LC-MS/MS was used to detect neurotransmitter levels of dopamine， acetylcholine， glutamate， <italic>γ</italic>-aminobutyric acid and tryptophan pathway metabolites （tryptophan， 5-hydroxytryptamine， 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid， kynurenine， 3-hydroxykynurenine， and kynurenine） in rat brain cortex. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） kit was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-10 （IL-10， the HPA axis-related hormone corticotropin （ACTH）， and the level of corticosterone （CORT）. Result:Compared with the normal group， the escape latency in the water maze significantly increased， the number of crossings was significantly reduced， and the number of open-arm entry and the percentage of open-arm entry were significantly reduced in the elevated plus maze in model group （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic> P</italic><0.01）， the content of dopamine， acetylcholine， glutamic acid， and <italic>γ</italic>-aminobutyric acid in the cortex decreased， kynurenine and kynurenic acid showed an upward trend， 3-hydroxykynurenine， 5-hydroxytryptamine， 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid showed a downward trend， and the levels of IL-6， IL-10， ACTH， and CORT in the serum significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group of rats， total ginsenoside ginseng root low and high dose groups group reduced the avoidance latency in the water maze， and increased the number of crossings and the number of open arms of the elevated plus maze， dopamine， acetylcholine， glutamate， and <italic>γ</italic>-aminobutyl content increased， while kynurenine and kynurenic acid showed a downward trend， 3-hydroxykynurenine， serotonin， and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid showed an upward trend， and IL-6， IL-10， ACTH， and CORT factor levels were down-regulated（<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:Hindlimb suspension for 28 days in simulated microgravity can impair the learning and memory ability of rats and cause anxiety-like behaviors. Total ginsenoside ginseng root can improve their learning and memory impairment and anxiety-like behaviors. The mechanism may be mainly related to inhibiting body inflammation and regulating HPA axis imbalance.

Initial application experience of six-step method high power side-emitting greenlight laser transurethral anatomical vapor incision technique for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of transurethral anatomical vapor incision technique of prostate (VIT) with six-step method high power side-emitting greenlight laser in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods:A retrospective analysis of 82 patients with BPH who used high power side-out green laser in the treatment from October 2018 to June 2020 in Gongli Hospital of Naval Medical University was performed. Among them, 40 patients were treated with six-step method VIT, and 42 patients were treated with photoselective vaporization of prostate (PVP). The two groups of patients were compared in age [(71.1±8.7)years vs.(72.1±7.0)years], prostate volume [75 (68.25, 89.00) ml vs. 73 (63.25, 85.00) ml], and peak urinary flow rate (Q max) [6.20 (5.20, 8.20) ) ml/s vs. 5.9 (4.75, 7.50) ml/s], post-void residual volume (PVR) [74.00 (42.50, 103.75) ml vs. 67.00 (58.00, 84.50) ml], international prostate symptom score (IPSS) [(21.2±5.2) vs. ( 21.0±3.9)], quality of life score (QOL) [5 (4, 6) vs. 5 (4, 6) ], prostate specific antigen (PSA) [6.20 (4.12, 8.43) ng/ml vs. 5.40 (3.88, 7.13) ng/ml ]. In general, there was no statistical difference ( P>0.05). The VIT group adopts the six-step method of marking, removing film, grooving, excision, trimming and crushing. In the PVP group, the prostate tissue was uniformly vaporized layer by layer from the inside to the outside. Perioperative indexes and complications were compared between the two groups. The Q max, IPSS, QOL, PVR and PSA between the two groups before and 3 months after surgery were compared. Results:All patients in the VIT group and PVP group successfully completed the surgery, and there was no case of transfer to TURP or open surgery. The average operation time was [60.00(50.00, 73.75)min vs. 70.00(50.00, 73.75)min] ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the amount of postoperative hemoglobin decline[15.00(10.00, 17.75)g/L vs. 16.00(14.00, 19.25)g/L], average bladder irrigation time[1(1, 1)d vs. 1(1, 1)d], indwelling catheterization time[3(3, 3)]d vs. 3(3, 3)d] and hospitalization time in patients after operation[4(3, 4)d vs. 4(4, 4)d] ( P>0.05). All patients had no blood transfusion, second bleeding, readmission, TURS, urethral stricture and urinary incontinence.There were 2 cases (5.0%) of postoperative urinary tract infection in the VIT group and 9 cases (21.4%) of postoperative urinary tract infection in the PVP group ( P<0.05), and they were cured after anti-inflammatory treatment. Three months after operation, Q max, IPSS, QOL, PVR and PSA in the two groups were significantly improved compared with preoperatively. Among them, the differences of IPSS [(5.7±2.5) points vs. (7.5±2.8) points] and PSA [2.65(2.10, 3.90)ng/ml vs. 4.00(2.45, 4.45)ng/ml] in the VIT group and PVP group after operation were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Applying the six-step method high power side-emitting greenlight laser transurethral anatomical VIT to treat BPH, there is less intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, short operation time, significant decrease in PSA, and fewer complications. It is a safe and effective minimally invasive technology for the treatment of BPH.

Clinical features and risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 patients in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread throughout the world. In this study, we aimed to identify the risk factors for severe COVID-19 to improve treatment guidelines.@*METHODS@#A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on 313 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients were classified into two groups based on disease severity (nonsevere and severe) according to initial clinical presentation. Laboratory test results and epidemiological and clinical characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to detect potential risk factors associated with severe COVID-19.@*RESULTS@#A total of 289 patients (197 nonsevere and 92 severe cases) with a median age of 45.0 (33.0, 61.0) years were included in this study, and 53.3% (154/289) were male. Fever (192/286, 67.1%) and cough (170/289, 58.8%) were commonly observed, followed by sore throat (49/289, 17.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that patients who were aged ≥ 65 years (OR: 2.725, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.317-5.636; P = 0.007), were male (OR: 1.878, 95% CI: 1.002-3.520, P = 0.049), had comorbid diabetes (OR: 3.314, 95% CI: 1.126-9.758, P = 0.030), cough (OR: 3.427, 95% CI: 1.752-6.706, P < 0.001), and/or diarrhea (OR: 2.629, 95% CI: 1.109-6.231, P = 0.028) on admission had a higher risk of severe disease. Moreover, stratification analysis indicated that male patients with diabetes were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (71.4% vs. 28.6%, χ2 = 8.183, P = 0.004).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The clinical characteristics of those with severe and nonsevere COVID-19 were significantly different. The elderly, male patients with COVID-19, diabetes, and presenting with cough and/or diarrhea on admission may require close monitoring to prevent deterioration.

An Evaluation of Lower Limb Motor Ability Based on Xception-LSTM / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To establish an algorithm to quantitatively evaluate the lower limb motor ability. Methods:From August, 2016 to March, 2017, 40 subjects were divided into young healthy group (n = 20), middle-aged group (n = 10) and elderly group (n = 10). The gait video, knee angle and ground reaction force of the subjects were collected, and the gait contour was extracted from the gait video by using the ViBe algorithm. The gait image feature was extracted by Xception-LSTM, and fused it with the knee joint angle and the ground reaction force in the feature layer. The fusion features were reduced in dimension by kernel principal component analysis, and the gait ability score (GAS) was established. All the subjects were assessed with Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS). Results:GAS was less in middle-aged group and elderly group than in the young healthy group (t > 4.164, P < 0.01), and was less in the elderly group than in the middle-aged group (t = 7.338, P < 0.01). GAS was negative correlated with the score of WGS (r = -0.91, P < 0.01). Conclusion:The lower limb exercise ability could be quantified with GAS, which may be applied in developing rehabilitation and fitting walking aids.