OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Soluble programmed cell death 1 ligand 1(PD-L1)in the serum includes exosomal,mi-crovesical and secreted forms of PD-L1.Previous studies have shown that the level of exosomal PD-L1 in the serum significantly correlated with the prognosis of various cancers.However,current analysis detects all forms of PD-L1 in the serum as a whole,without distinguishing exosomal PD-L1 from other forms.In this study,a specific detection method for exosomal PD-L1 was established based on surface plasmon res-onance.This method first captures PD-L1 by antibody recognition and immobilizes it on the surface of the detection chip.Then,α-hemolysin was recruited to form multiple oligomers on the exosomal membrane.This method quantifies the content of exosomal PD-L1 by monitoring the signal change during the binding process of α-hemolysin,effectively reducing background noises and amplifying the signal.The linear range before signal amplification with α-hemolysin was 0.035-2.208 pg/mL,and after signal amplifica-tion,it was 0.004-0.552 pg/mL.Methodological validation showed that this method has good specifici-ty,sensitivity,and repeatability,and has certain clinical application prospects.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of ozone (O₃) concentrations measured with different approaches across different seasons on the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits, as well as the differentiation of such effects across different groups of patients. METHODS: The outpatient data of three grade A tertiary hospitals in Lanzhou City spanning from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2017, as well as air pollution and meteorological data during the same period were collected. Considering the nonlinear relationship between O₃ concentrations and the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits and meteorological factors, a generalized additive temporal sequence model was employed to analyze the short-term association between changes in O₃ concentrations and the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits. Taking into account of the variations in O₃ concentrations within 1 day, this study adopted different measurement approaches to address the three types of O₃ exposures, namely, the maximum 1 h daily concentration (O₃max1h), the maximum 8 h daily concentration (O₃8h) and the mean 24 h daily concentration (O₃24h) as the short term exposure indicators to O₃, followed by a model-based analysis. RESULTS: The increase in short-term exposure levels to O₃ in summer had a significant effect on the increase in the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits. With lag0 for the current day, every 10 μg/m³ increase in atmospheric concentration of O₃max1h was associated with an increase in the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits by 3.351% (95%CI: 1.231%-5.516%); for every 10 μg/m³ increase in O₃8h concentration, the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits increased by 3.320% (95%CI: 0.197%-3.829%); for every 10 μg/m³increase in O₃24h concentration, the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits in summer increased by 6.600% (95%CI: 0.914%-12.607%); moreover, an increase in exposure to O₃max1h also led to a significant rise in the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits among the males. CONCLUSION The increase in short-term exposure levels to O₃ in summer in Lanzhou City has a significant effect on the increase in the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits; O₃max1h is more closely correlated with the increase in the total number of childhood asthma-related clinical visits.
Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Asthma/etiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients ; Ozone/analysis* ; Particulate Matter ; Seasons ; Tertiary Care Centers

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of NRD assisted Ilizarov technique in the treatment of infected bone and soft tissue defect of tibia. METHODS: All 48 patients with infected bone and soft tissue defect of tibia were randomly divided into study group and control group from March 2013 to December 2020. There were 34 males and 14 females, aged from 24 to 55 years old with an average of (40.54±11.64) years old. There were 25 patients in the study group, including 17 males and 8 females, aged from 31 to 55 years old with an average of (41.36±9.69) years old. The study group were treated with NRD assisted with Ilizarov bone transport technique. There were 23 patients in control group, including 17 males and 6 females, aged from 24 to 53 years old with an average of(38.61±8.76) years old. The control group were treated with traditional bone transport technique. The curative rate, recurrence rate, incidence rate of pin track infection, time of using antibiotics, time of wound healing, time of carrying external fixation, time of bone transport, time of bone healing and postoperative function were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the two groups. RESULTS: The follow-up period was from 12 to 62 months with an average of (33.0±7.2) months. At the final follow-up, there was no significant difference in the curative rate between the two groups (P>0.05). The recurrence rate in the study group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05). The incidence of pin track infection in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The time of using antibiotics and wound healing in the study group was shorter than that in the control group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the time of bone transport and carrying of external fixation between the two groups(P>0.05). There was no significant difference in bone healing and postoperative function between the two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION NRD assisted Ilizarov technique can achieve satisfactory results in the treatment of infected bone and soft tissue defect of tibia and shorten the treatment period and the time of using antibiotics. It is worthy of development in clinic.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Ilizarov Technique ; Tibia/surgery* ; Tibial Fractures/surgery* ; Wound Healing ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; External Fixators

Objective: To compare clinical and laboratory features between JAK2 exon12 and JAK2 V617F mutated polycythemia vera (PV) . Method: We collected data from 570 consecutive newly-diagnosed subjects with PV and JAK2 mutation, and compared clinical and laboratory features between patients with JAK2 exon12 and JAK2 V617F mutation. Results: 543 (95.3%) subjects harboured JAK2 V617F mutation (JAK2 V617F cohort) , 24 (4.2%) harboured JAK2 exon12 mutations (JAK2 exon12 cohort) , and 3 (0.5%) harboured JAK2 exon12 and JAK2 V617F mutations. The mutations in JAK2 exon12 including deletion (n=10, 37.0%) , deletion accompanied insertion (n=10, 37.0%) , and missense mutations (n=7, 25.9%) . Comparing with JAK2 V617F cohort, subjects in JAK2 exon12 cohort were younger [median age 50 (20-73) years versus 59 (25-91) years, P=0.040], had higher RBC counts [8.19 (5.88-10.94) ×10(12)/L versus 7.14 (4.11-10.64) ×10(12)/L, P<0.001] and hematocrit [64.1% (53.7-79.0%) versus 59.6% (47.2%-77.1%) , P=0.001], but lower WBC counts [8.29 (3.2-18.99) ×10(9)/L versus 12.91 (3.24-38.3) ×10(9)/L, P<0.001], platelet counts [313 (83-1433) ×10(9)/L versus 470 (61-2169) ×10(9)/L, P<0.001] and epoetin [0.70 (0.06-3.27) versus 1.14 (0.01-10.16) IU/L, P=0.002] levels. We reviewed bone marrow histology at diagnosis in 20 subjects with each type of mutation matched for age and sex. Subjects with JAK2 exon12 mutations had fewer loose megakaryocyte cluster (40% versus 80%, P=0.022) compared with subjects with JAK2 V617F. The median follow-ups were 30 months (range 4-83) and 37 months (range 1-84) for cohorts with JAK2 V617F and JAK2 exon12, respectively. There was no difference in overall survival (P=0.422) and thrombosis-free survival (P=0.900) . Conclusions: Compared with patients with JAK2 V617F mutation, patients with JAK2 exon12 mutation were younger, and had more obvious erythrocytosis and less loose cluster of megakaryocytes.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow/pathology* ; Exons ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Polycythemia Vera/genetics* ; Young Adult

Objective:To establish the normal reference value of lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) under quantitative CT (QCT) in Chinese healthy adult females and to explore the regional differences.Methods:Total of 35 431 healthy women who met the inclusion criteria of Chinese health quantitative CT big data program were selected in this study. The BMD of the central plane of L 1 and L 2 vertebrae was measured by Mindways′s QCT system, and the mean value was taken. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the BMD differences of lumbar vertebrae in women of different ages and regions. The subjects were grouped by an age interval of 10 years, and the level of BMD in different regions of the same age group were compaired. Results:The peak BMD of Chinese healthy adult women appeared in the age group of 20-29 years (Northeast China(183.01±24.58) mg/cm 3, North China (188.93±24.80) mg/cm 3, East China (187.54±27.71) mg/cm 3, South China (186.22±33.72) mg/cm 3, Central China (176.33±24.91) mg/cm 3, Southwest China(182.25±28.00) mg/cm 3), and then it decreased with age. The level of BMD in different regions decreased with the age. Before the age of 70 years, BMD in Central and Southwest China was always at a low level((176.23±24.91) to (90.38±28.12) mg/cm 3, 182.25±28.00 to (88.55±25.68) mg/cm 3), lower than those in Northeast China ((183.01±24.58) to (99.69±27.85) mg/cm 3), North China ((188.93±24.80) to (95.89±26.12) mg/cm 3), East China ((187.54±27.71) to (95.65±27.86) mg/cm 3). After 70 years of age, BMD tended to be the same in different regions ( P>0.05). The BMD values in Central China and Southwest China were similar in the age group of 40-60 years ( P>0.05). The BMD values in the health adult femles in the age group of 60 years in different regions of Chinawere all lower than those of bone mass abnormality (all P<0.05). The detection rate of osteoporosis in females over 50 years was the highest in Southwest China (25.65%) and it was the lowest in North China (17.30%). Conclusions:This study establishes reference values of BMD under QCT in healthy Chinese women, which can be used as a reference basis for identifying women with low BMD who are at risk of osteoporosis. The BMD value is the lowest in Southwest China and the highest in South China.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of improving diatom DNA extraction by glass bead - vortex oscillation method. METHODS: The DNeasy PowerSoil Pro kit was used as control, two plant DNA extraction kits with different principles (New Plant genomic DNA extraction kit and Plant DNA Isolation kit) and one whole blood DNA extraction kit (whole blood genomic DNA extraction kit) were selected to extract diatom DNA from lung tissue and water sample of the same drowning case. The combination of mass ratio of glass beads with different sizes and vortex oscillation time was designed, and the optimal DNA extraction conditions were selected with the addition of glass beads oscillation. The extracted products of the conventional group and the modified group were directly electrophoretic and detected by diatom specific PCR. Finally, all the extracts were quantified by qPCR, and the Ct values of different groups were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: When the frequency of vortex oscillation was 3 000 r/min, the optimal combination of DNA extraction was vortex oscillation for 4 min, and the mass ratio of large glass beads to small glass beads was 1∶1. The DNeasy PowerSoil Pro kit was used as a reference, and the Ct value of 10 mL water sample was greater than that of 0.5 g tissue. The Ct values of the other three kits used for plant DNA extraction decreased after the glass beads-vortex oscillation method was used, and the Ct values of the tissues before and after the improvement were statistically significant (P<0.05). The whole blood genomic DNA extraction kit used in this study could successfully extract diatom DNA, the extraction of water samples was close to DNeasy PowerSoil Pro kit, after the modified method was applied to tissue samples, the difference in Ct value was statistically significant (P<0.05). However, when the three kits were used to extract diatom DNA from water samples, Ct values before and after the improvement were only statistically significant in New Plant genomic DNA extraction kit group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The improved glass bead-vortex oscillation method can improve the extraction efficiency of diatom DNA from forensic materials, especially from tissue samples, by plant and blood DNA extraction kits.
DNA, Plant/genetics* ; Diatoms/genetics* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Water

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features and treatment strategies of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 40 patients with IPNB who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2000 to April 2020 were collected. There were 19 males and 21 females,aged (60±14) years. Patients underwent preoperative imaging examination and blood test for evaluation of tumor location, range and resectability. The treatment strategies of patients depended on preoperative examination and their own willingness. Observation indicators: (1) preoperative examinations and tests; (2) treatment; (3) pathological examination; (4) follow-up. Follow-up using outpatient examination, telephone interview and online diagnosis was performed to detect tumor recurrence and survival of patients up to April 2021. Count data were represented as absolute numbers and percentages. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative survival rate and draw survivla curve. Results:(1) Preoperative examinations and tests: 40 patients received preoperative imaging examination and blood test. Of 40 patients, 33 cases underwent abdominal ultrasonography, 31 cases underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) examina-tion, 21 cases underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 15 cases underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), 8 cases underwent position emission tomography CT examination, 6 cases underwent endoscopic ultrasonography; some patients underwent multiple examinations. The main imaging features of IPNB were bile duct dilatation, and intraluminal tumor. Enhanced CT scan showed tumor reinforcement. Preoperative blood tests showed of the 40 patients, 21 cases with abnormal liver function, 17 cases with increased bilirubin, 9 cases with increased carcinoembryonic antigen, and 24 cases with increased CA19-9. (2) Treatment: 35 of 40 patients underwent surgery, 5 patients underwent ERCP and biopsy and didn′t undergo surgery based on their willings. Of 35 patients with surgeries,20 cases underwent hemihepatectomy or lobectomy, 8 cases underwent pancreatico-duodenectomy, 7 cases underwent bile duct tumor resection. The operation time was (262±91)minutes, and volume of intraoperative blood loss was 300 mL(range, 50?2 000 mL). Postopera-tive complications occurred in 6 of 35 patients, including 3 cases with Grade Ⅰ complications and 3 cases with Grade Ⅱ complication according to Clavien-Dindo classi-fication system. (3) Pathological examination: 40 patients were diagnosed as IPNB by pathological examinations. There were 19 and 21 patients with extrahepatic and intrahepatic lesions, respectively. There were 20 benign lesions (15 cases of low or intermediate-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and 5 cases of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) and 20 malignant lesions of invasive carcinoma. There were 18 cases with mucus secretion and 22 cases without mucus secretion or information. Five of 35 patients with surgeries had positive margin and the rest of 30 patients had negative margin. A total of 154 lymph nodes were dissected in 21 patients, including 3 positive lymph nodes. (4) Follow-up: 35 of 40 patients were followed up for (53±35)months. Seventeen of 35 patients survived without tumor, and 3 patients survived with tumor of which the time to tumor recurrence were 12, 17, 37 months. Fifteen patients died, with the time interval to death of (30±19)months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates of 35 patients were 88.6%, 73.6%, and 50.7%, respectively.Conclusions:IPNB is rare, with the main imaging features as bile duct dilatation, and intraluminal tumor. The tumor is reinforce-ment after enhanced scan. Surgery is the main treatment for IPNB and lymph node metastasis is rare.

Objective To investigate the incidence of surgical site infection(SSI)following conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy and to analyze the related risk factors. Methods The clinical data of 179 patients who had experienced conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2014 to August 2019 were analyzed retrospectively.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between clinical variables and SSI. Results The incidence of SSI was 19.0%(34/179)after conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy.The multivariable analysis demonstrated that preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)(
Cholecystectomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Wound Infection/etiology*

TORCH, which is considered as a series of pathogens, including the Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus or Herpes simplex virus, often infects the pregnant women to induce the the fetus or newborn infection by transplacental infection or exposure to contaminated genital tract secretions at delivery. Increasing evidence have been confirmed that the infection of TORCH may cause the miscarriage, premature birth, malformed fetus, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation, neonatal multiple organ dysfunction and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. For most TORCH-infections cases may lacking the effective treatments during pregnancy, and it is important to achieve the effacing monitoring of TORCH infections before and during pregnancy. The laboratory testing of TORCH has the great significance. However, the consensus opinions still need to improve the the standardization of TORCH testing process and the correct interpretation. Based on the characteristics of the TORCH detection method, this article gives a consensus opinion on the standardized detection and clinical application of TORCH from the laboratory perspective according to the characteristics and types of infection of different pathogens.