OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical efficacy of integrating pharmacists into family health teams （FHTs） for long-term medication therapeutical management （MTM） in stroke patients， and empirically evaluate the service model. METHODS A pharmacist team， jointly established by clinical and community pharmacists from the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University （hereinafter referred to as “our hospital”）， developed a pharmacist-supported MTM model integrated into FHTs. Using a prospective randomized controlled design， 170 stroke patients discharged from our hospital （July 2022-December 2023） and enrolled in FHTs at Suzhou Runda Community Hospital were randomly divided into trial group （88 cases） and control group （82 cases） according to random number table. The control group received routine FHTs care （without pharmacist involvement in the team collaboration）， while the trial group xhz8405@126.com received 12-month MTM services supported by pharmacists via an information platform. These services specifically included innovative interventions such as personalized medication regimen optimization based on the MTM framework， dynamic medication adherence management， medication safety monitoring， a home medication assessment system， and distinctive service offerings. Outcomes of the 2 grousp were compared before and after intervention， involving medication adherence （adherence rate， adherence score）， compliance rates for stroke recurrence risk factors [blood pressure， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）]， and incidence of adverse drug reactions （ADR）. RESULTS After 12 months， the trial group exhibited significantly higher medication adherence rates， improved adherence scores， higher compliance rates for blood pressure and LDL-C targets compared to the control group （P＜0.05）. The incidence of ADR in the trial group （4.55%） was significantly lower than that in the control group （8.11%）， though the difference was not statistically significant （P＞ 0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacist involvement in FHTs to deliver MTM services significantly enhances medication adherence and optimizes risk factor for stroke recurrence， offering practical evidence for advancing pharmaceutical care in chronic disease management under the family doctor system.

Emodin is a hydroxyanthraquinone compound that is widely distributed and has multiple pharmacological activities, including anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, and liver-protective effects. Research indicates that emodin may be one of the main components responsible for inducing hepatotoxicity. However, studies on the mechanisms of liver injury are relatively limited, particularly those related to bile acids(BAs) metabolism. This study aims to systematically investigate the effects of different dosages of emodin on BAs metabolism, providing a basis for the safe clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)containing emodin. First, this study evaluated the safety of repeated administration of different dosages of emodin over a 5-week period, with a particular focus on its impact on the liver. Next, the composition and content of BAs in serum and liver were analyzed. Subsequently, qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of nuclear receptors and transporters related to BAs metabolism. The results showed that 1 g·kg~(-1) emodin induced hepatic damage, with bile duct hyperplasia as the primary pathological manifestation. It significantly increased the levels of various BAs in the serum and primary BAs(including taurine-conjugated and free BAs) in the liver. Additionally, it downregulated the mRNA expression of farnesoid X receptor(FXR), retinoid X receptor(RXR), and sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide(NTCP), and upregulated the mRNA expression of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(CYP7A1) in the liver. Although 0.01 g·kg~(-1) and 0.03 g·kg~(-1) emodin did not induce obvious liver injury, they significantly increased the level of taurine-conjugated BAs in the liver, suggesting a potential interference with BAs homeostasis. In conclusion, 1 g·kg~(-1) emodin may promote the production of primary BAs in the liver by affecting the FXR-RXR-CYP7A1 pathway, inhibit NTCP expression, and reduce BA reabsorption in the liver, resulting in BA accumulation in the peripheral blood. This disruption of BA homeostasis leads to liver injury. Even doses of emodin close to the clinical dose can also have a certain effect on the homeostasis of BAs. Therefore, when using traditional Chinese medicine or formulas containing emodin in clinical practice, it is necessary to regularly monitor liver function indicators and closely monitor the risk of drug-induced liver injury.
Emodin/administration & dosage* ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Animals ; Male ; Liver/injuries* ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Mice ; Rats

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction pieces are a core carrier for the inheritance and innovation of TCM, and their quality and safety are critical to public health and the sustainable development of the industry. Conventional quality control models, while having established a well-developed system through long-term practice, still face challenges such as relatively long inspection cycles, insufficient objectivity in characterizing complex traits, and urgent needs for improving the efficiency of integrating multidimensional quality information when confronted with the dual demands of large-scale production and precision quality control. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, machine learning can deeply analyze multidimensional data of the morphology, spectroscopy, and chemical fingerprints of decoction pieces by constructing high-dimensional feature space analysis models, significantly improving the standardization level and decision-making efficiency of quality evaluation. This article reviews the research progress in the application of machine learning in the processing, production, and rapid quality evaluation of TCM decoction pieces. It further analyzes current challenges in technological implementation and proposes potential solutions, offering theoretical and technical references to advance the digital and intelligent transformation of the industry.
Machine Learning ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Quality Control ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of children with non-Down-syndrome-related acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (non-DS-AMKL). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical data of 17 children with non-DS-AMKL who were admitted to Children's Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2023, and their clinical features, treatment, and prognosis were summarized. RESULTS: Among the 17 children with non-DS-AMKL, there were 8 boys and 9 girls. Fourteen patients had an onset age of less than 36 months, with a median age of 21 months (range:13-145 months). Immunophenotyping results showed that 16 children were positive for CD61 and 13 were positive for CD41. The karyotype analysis was performed on 16 children, with normal karyotype in 6 children and abnormal karyotype in 9 children, among whom 5 had complex karyotype and 1 had no mitotic figure. Detected fusion genes included EVI1, NUP98-KDM5A, KDM5A-MIS18BP1, C22orf34-BRD1, WT1, and MLL-AF9. Genetic alterations included TET2, D7S486 deletion (suggesting 7q-), CSF1R deletion, and PIM1. All 17 children received chemotherapy, among whom 16 (94%) achieved complete remission after one course of induction therapy, and 1 child underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and remained alive and disease-free. Of all children, 7 experienced recurrence, among whom 1 child received HSCT and died of graft-versus-host disease. At the last follow-up, six patients remained alive and disease-free. CONCLUSIONS Non-DS-AMKL primarily occurs in children between 1 and 3 years of age. The patients with this disorder have a high incidence rate of chromosomal abnormalities, with complex karyotypes in most patients. Some patients harbor fusion genes or gene mutations. Although the initial remission rate is high, the long-term survival rate remains low.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute/etiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Down Syndrome/complications*

OBJECTIVES: With the accelerating aging of the population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, the number of patients with pressure injuries (PIs) has increased markedly, prolonging the period of disease-related care. Informal caregivers play a critical role in the daily care of patients with pressure injuries, and their care burden has become increasingly prominent. This study aims to investigate the current status and influencing factors of care burden among informal caregivers of patients with PIs, providing evidence for targeted intervention strategies. METHODS: A total of 170 informal caregivers of patients with PIs were selected by convenience sampling from the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. General demographic and clinical data of both patients and caregivers were collected. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory (ZBI), Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of Patients with PIs, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Family Caregiver Task Inventory (FCTI) were used to assess caregiving burden, knowledge-attitude-practice level, self-efficacy, and caregiving ability, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate relationships among ZBI, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of Patients with PIs, GSES, and FCTI scores. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing caregiving. RESULTS: Among the 170 patients with pressure injuries, the age was (65.52±15.88) years; 118 (69.41%) were male and 52 (30.59%) were female. The duration of PIs was less than 1 month in 108 (63.53%) cases and 1 to 6 months in 40 cases (23.53%). Stage II injuries were predominant (135 cases, 79.41%). A total of 193 pressure injury sites were recorded, most commonly located at the sacrococcygeal region (127 sites, 65.80%), followed by the head (3 sites, 1.55%), shoulder and back (9 sites, 4.66%), feet (24 sites, 12.44%), and other regions (30 sites, 15.55%). Informal caregivers were 48.82% aged 46 to 59 years, 54.71% female, 41.77% primarily spouses and 47.06% children of the patients, and 77.06% lived with the patients. Caregivers who received assistance from others or had higher family per-capita monthly income reported significantly lower caregiver burden scores than those without assistance or with lower income (all P<0.001). The total ZBI score was 50.89±14.95, indicating a moderate burden. The total scores of the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers, GSES, and FCTI were 50.61±7.22, 26.03±7.11, and 14.76±8.70, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that ZBI scores were correlated with scores on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of Patients with PIs (r=-0.543, P<0.001), GSES scores (r=-0.545, P<0.001), and FCTI scores (r=0.800, P<0.001). The scores on Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of patients with PIs were correlated with GSES scores (r=0.500, P<0.001) and FCTI scores (r=-0.461, P<0.001); GSES scores was negatively correlated with FCTI scores (r=-0.415, P<0.001). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that assistance availability, family per-capita monthly income, total scores on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of Patients with PIs, total GSES score, and total FCTI score were the main influencing factors of caregiver burden, jointly explaining 79.38% of its variance. CONCLUSIONS The main factors influencing the caregiving burden of informal caregivers of patients with PIs include the availability of assistance, family per-capita monthly income, total score on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of PI patients, total score on the GSES, and total score on the FCTI. Developing targeted intervention strategies addressing these factors may help alleviate the caregiving burden among informal caregivers of patients with PIs.
Humans ; Caregivers/psychology* ; Pressure Ulcer/nursing* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Cost of Illness ; Adult ; Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Self Efficacy ; Caregiver Burden ; China

OBJECTIVE: Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections. Clinical laboratories must ensure the quality of blood culture processes from receipt to obtaining definitive results. We examined laboratory analytical indicators associated with positive blood culture results. METHODS: Blood cultures collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The mode of transportation (piping logistics delivery vs. staff), source of blood cultures (outpatient/emergency department vs. inpatient department), rotation of personnel, and time of reception (8:00-19:59 vs. 20:00-07:59) were compared between blood culture-positive and -negative results. RESULTS: Between 2020 and 2022, the total positive rate of blood culture was 8.07%. The positive rate of blood cultures in the outpatient/emergency department was significantly higher than that in the inpatient department (12.46% vs. 5.83%; P < 0.0001). The time-to-detection of blood cultures was significantly affected by the delivery mode and personnel rotation. The blood culture positive rate of the total pre-analytical time within 1 h was significantly higher than that within 1-2 h or > 2 h ( P < 0.0170). CONCLUSION Laboratory analytical indicators such as patient source, transportation mode, and personnel rotation significantly impacted the positive detection rate or time of blood culture.
Blood Culture/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data*

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) comes from tumor, reflecting the genetic information of the tumor well, and will change with the progress of tumor. In recent years, the unique capabilities of ctDNA have attracted much attention and been widely studied. In this paper, based on the summary of the source, properties and sample processing of ctDNA, its detection technology and application in cancer diagnosis and treatment are reviewed. The roles and importance of ctDNA reference material in second-generation sequencing are described. The urgency of establishing uniform standards and specifications of ctDNA in various processes, such as samples collection, storage, quantitative testing and data analysis, has been pointed out.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of astragaloside Ⅳ on systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)mice.Methods A total of 40 female spontaneous MRL/lpr SLE model mice were randomly divided into five groups:model group,Prednisone group,astragaloside Ⅳ group,astragaloside Ⅳ+CHPG[nuclear factor KappaB(NF-κB)pathway activator]group and astragaloside Ⅳ+Nigerian[NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing protein 3(NLRP3)activator]group,with eight mice in each group.Eight female MRL/MpJ mice were used as normal group.During the administration,the body mass was weighted.After administration,the spleen,thymus and kidney were weighted,and the organ index was calculated.The 24-hour urinary protein level in urine samples,the biochemical indexes of creatinine(SCr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),autoantibodies[antinuclear antibody(ANA),anti-double-stranded DNA(dsDNA)antibody,anti-snRNP/Sm antibody]and inflammatory mediators[interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-18]in blood samples were detected.The pathological damage of renal tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,and the fibrosis of renal tissue was observed by Masson staining.The expressions of NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway-related proteins in kidney and spleen tissues were detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the model group,the body mass of mice in prednisone group and astragaloside Ⅳ group increased,the spleen index,thymus index and kidney index were decreased,the serum levels of ANA antibody,anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-snRNP/Sm antibody were decreased,the levels of SCr,BUN and 24-hour urine protein were decreased,the levels of IL-1 βand IL-18 wrere decreased,the ratios of p-p65/p65,p-IKBα/IKBα,cleaved caspase-1/pro caspase-1 and the relative expression of NLRP3 protein in kidney and spleen tissues were decreased(all P＜0.05),and the pathological damage and fibrosis of renal tissue in SLE mice were alleviated,there being no significant difference between the two administration groups(P＞0.05).NF-κB activator and NLRP3 inflammasome activator eliminated the improvement of astragaloside Ⅳ on the above indexes in SLE mice to a certain extent.Conclusion Astragaloside Ⅳ can improve the immune function of SLE mice,reduce renal injury and inflammatory response,and its mechanism may be related to its inhibition of the activation of NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Objective:There is a lack of scientifically validated tools to measure the knowledge attitude and practice(KAP)of informal caregivers for patients with pressure injury(PI).This study aims to develop a KAP Scale for Informal Caregivers of PI Patients and to evaluate its reliability and validity. Methods:Based on the KAP theory framework and relevant literature,an initial pool of items was created through expert brainstorming sessions.The initial scale was formed after a Delphi expert consultation and a preliminary survey.From April to October 2023,a convenient sample of informal caregivers for PI patients was recruited from an inpatient department of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University,as well as its associated community and nursing homes.The first round included 186 participants,and the second round included 213 participants,who were used for item analysis and reliability and validity testing.After a 3-week interval,20 participants from the initial group were randomly selected for a retest to assess the test-retest reliability of the scale. Results:The KAP Scale for informal caregivers of PI patients consists of 3 dimensions with 19 items.The overall internal consistency(Cronbach's α)of the scale was 0.916.The item-level content validity index(I-CVI)ranged from 0.826 to 1.000,and the scale level-content validity index/average(S-CVI/Ave)was 0.94.Exploratory factor analysis extracted 3 common factors,accounting for 64.643％of the total variance.Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fit the data well,with x2/df=2.54,root mean square error of approximation(RMSEA)=0.085,comparative fit index(CFI)=0.920,and standardized root mean square residual(SRMR)=0.059. Conclusion:The KAP scale for informal caregivers of PI patients demonstrates good reliability and validity and can be used to assess the KAP levels of informal caregivers regarding PI.

Objective To establish a risk model for lactate metabolism-related genes in soft tissue sarcomas,and to explore their correlation with tumor mutational burden,immune cells,immune related functions and immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment.Methods The differentially expressed genes associated with lactate metabolism in soft tissue sarcoma were obtained after intersecting the differentially expressed genes extracted by TCGA and GTEx database with lactate metabolism-related gene sets from the Msigdb database.The pathway enrichment analysis was carried out by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.By the univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator to construct a risk score model,and divided the soft tissue sarcomas samples into high-risk and low-risk groups.Finally,the differences of the tumor mutational burden and immunity in the tumor microenvironment between the two groups were analyzed.Results A total of 29 differentially expressed genes associated with lactate metabolism were screened,and the results of pathways enrichment analysis showed that they were mainly related to metabolic processes.By constructing a predictive risk score model,soft tissue sarcoma samples were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups.Tumor mutational burden analysis showed that the first mutated gene was tumor protein p53 in all soft tissue sarcoma samples.Missense mutation was the most common type of somatic mutations,and the frequency of mutation was higher in the high-risk group than that in the low-risk group.The analysis of tumor microenvironment indicated that the infiltration of M0 and M2 macrophage was more in the high-risk group,while the low-risk group had a higher percentage of infiltrating CD8+T cells and monocytes.The immune related functional response and immune checkpoints expression was higher in the low-risk group.Conclusion The lactate metabolism scoring model can better evaluate the prognosis of patients with soft tissue sarcoma and reflect the state of tumor microenvironment.