Network Meta-analysis of oral Chinese patent medicines in treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of eight oral Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD) by network Meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trial(RCT) on the treatment of AECOPD with eight oral Chinese patent medicines was retrieved from databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, and Cochrane Library from database inception to August 6, 2022. The information was extracted from the included literature and the quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. The data were analyzed using Stata SE 15.1 and ADDIS 1.16.8 software. Finally, 53 RCTs were included, with 5 289 patients involved, including 2 652 patients in the experimental group and 2 637 patients in the control group. Network Meta-analysis showed that Lianhua Qingwen Capsules+conventional western medicine were optimal in improving clinical effective rate, Shufeng Jiedu Capsules+conventional western medicine in improving FEV1/FVC, Qingqi Huatan Pills+conventional western medicine in improving FEV1%pred, Feilike Mixture(Capsules)+conventional western medicine in improving PaO_2, Lianhua Qingwen Capsules+conventional western medicine in reducing PaCO_2, and Qingqi Huatan Pills+conventional western medicine in reducing C-reactive protein(CRP). In terms of safety, most of them were gastrointestinal symptoms, and no serious adverse reactions were reported. When the clinical effective rate was taken as the comprehensive index of efficacy evaluation, Lianhua Qingwen Capsules+conventional western medicine were the most likely to be the best treatment for AECOPD. There are some limitations in the conclusion of this study. It only provides references for clinical medication.

Serum metabolomic profiling of acute complete spinal cord transection in macaques / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Non-targeted metabolomic profiling is used to uncover metabolic changes and to identify relationships between metabolites and spinal cord injury,which contributes to further understanding the pathophysiological process and mechanisms of secondary spinal cord injury.OBJECTIVE:To detect and analyze the serum metabolite changes after complete spinal cord transaction in macaques,explore its relationship with the pathophysiological progress of spinal cord injury,and screen the potential biomarkers.METHODS:Five adult macaques were selected,in which the models of complete spinal cord transaction were established.The serum metabolic features were detected using a non-targeted metabolic profiling strategy based on gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry at 1 day before modeling,3 hours (superacute phase) and 3 days (acute phase) after modeling.After compared with the spectrometry profiling,recognizing the metabolites,searching for differential metabolites and the related metabolic pathways,the pathophysiological process and mechanisms were analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Three hundred and fifty-eight chromatographic peaks were obtained for subsequent data analysis.Fourteen metabolites,including low-molecular-weight organic acid,amino acids,fatty acid and carbohydrate,were identified as differential metabolites.To conclude,the acute phase of complete spinal cord transection is closely related to some metabolic pathways,such as amino acid metabolism,tricarboxylic acid cycle and pyruvate metabolism.

Applied anatomy for pituitary adenoma resection / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Pituitary adenomas are common intracranial tumors, with a rising incidence in China. Excision is a mainstay therapy for this disease, and is often carried out via transfrontal, transsphenoidal or transpterional approaches. However, few studies have systematically addressed the regional anatomy involved in these microsurgical procedures. The present study attempted to establish some key anatomic measurements relevant to pituitary adenoma resection based on cadaver and computer tomography (CT) image studies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Head specimens from 30 randomly selected formalin-fixed adult cadavers were used for anatomical analysis. Measurements were made on the base of the skull following removal of brain structures above the pituitary gland, and on the mid-sagittal plane of the cranium. Parameters were designed by considering the 3 above-mentioned common microsurgical approaches, and obtained on each head using a sliding caliper. Multi-level CT images from 30 individuals were also used for distance measurements between landmark structures that are relevant to these surgeries. All data were subjected to statistical analysis using the SPSS 11.5 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) of distance measured on cadavers relative to CT images in 3 sets of measurements related to the transfrontal surgical approach, i.e., distances from the midpoint of superciliary arch superior border to the cranial entrance of internal carotid arteries (ICAs), the opposite side entrance of ICA and to the genu of ICA. While regional anatomical analyses were carried out according to the transpterional approach, statistically significant difference was also found in 3 sets of distance measurements between cadaver and CT image data, with regard to the distances between the pterion and some landmark structures around the pituitary.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present study provides key anatomical and CT image measurements involving the 3 conventionally used surgical approaches for pituitary tumor resection. The data implicate that while CT scan results can provide valuable guidelines for operations, cautions and adjustments are needed during surgery for sufficient tumor excision and protection of key blood vessels and nerves in the vicinity of the pituitary gland and around the surgical pathway.</p>