Objective To analyze the risk of bias during the experimental process and the shortcomings of the research report by evaluating the methodological and reporting quality of animal experimental studies on the prevention and treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer(PLGC)using TCM compounds.To provide reference for improving the quality of animal experimental research on the prevention and treatment of PLGC with TCM compounds.Methods Experimental literature about the prevention and treatment of PLGC with TCM compounds was retrieved from CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,CBM,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of science and Embase from January 1,2014 to February 23,2024.SYRCLE assessment tool and ARRIVE 2.0 guideline were used to score the included literature and calculate the"low-risk"compliance rate for each item.Results Totally 213 articles were finally included,including 189 Chinese articles and 24 English articles.The SYRCLE tool score was(12.86±1.29)points,and the"low risk"compliance rate was 32.79％.The score of the necessary items of the ARRIVE 2.0 guideline was(24.15±2.80)points,and the"low risk"compliance rate was 49.08％;the score of the recommended items was(11.28±3.40)points,and the"low risk"compliance rate was 30.27％.In the SYRCLE tool evaluation,144(67.61％)studies did not elaborate on the method of generating the allocation sequence.All studies did not describe the adequacy of allocation concealment and the blinding method in the implementation of bias.Only 51 studies(23.94％)explicitly proposed the success criteria for PLGC modeling,only 66 studies(30.96％)provided detailed information on the statistical methods used,29 studies(13.62％)provided complete ethical statements,and 22 studies(10.33％)reported conflicts of interest.Conclusion There are many problems in the methodological quality and reporting quality of animal experimental literature on the prevention and treatment of PLGC with TCM compounds published from 2014 to 2024,especially the implementation of the random blinding strategy during the experimental process,the calculation details of the sample size,and the reporting of inclusion and exclusion criteria,etc.There are many deficiencies in this aspect.It is recommended to refer to the SYRCLE evaluation tool and the ARRIVE 2.0 guideline list to design and report the research plan,thereby improving the credibility and standardization of the PLGC animal experimental research results.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between albumin (Alb) combined with diuretic treatment and the mortality risk of septic patients with pre-existing congestive heart failure based on the United States Critical Care Medical Information Database-IV (MIMIC-IV), and to conduct the external validation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of septic patients with pre-existing congestive heart failure admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from 2008 to 2019 in the MIMIC-IV 2.0 were extracted, including demographic characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory indicators on the first day of ICU admission, severity of illness, treatment measures, etc. For external validation, clinical data were collected from septic patients with pre-existing congestive heart failure admitted to the ICU of the Second People's Hospital of Shenzhen from October 2022 to December 2023. The patients were divided into Alb alone group and Alb combined with diuretic group. The ICU mortality was defined as the primary outcome event, and the 30-day and 60-day mortality were defined as the secondary outcomes. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between Alb combined with diuretic treatment and the mortality risk of ICU and 30 days in septic patients with pre-existing congestive heart failure, and subgroup analysis was performed. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted to compared the 60-day cumulative survival rate between the Alb alone group and Alb combined with diuretic group. RESULTS: (1) Analysis results of data from MIMIC-IV: a total 1 754 patients were enrolled, of which 378 in the Alb alone group, and 1 376 in the Alb combined with diuretic group. Compared with the Alb alone group, the patients in the Alb combined with diuretic group had significantly lower ICU, 30-day, and 60-day mortality [ICU mortality: 19.11% (263/1 376) vs. 30.42% (115/378), 30-day mortality: 18.90% (260/1 376) vs. 32.54% (123/378), 60-day mortality: 24.49% (337/1 376) vs. 39.15% (148/378), all P < 0.05]. Based on the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression adjusted models considering demographic characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory indicators, severity of illness, and treatment measures, it was shown that the use of Alb combined with diuretic was significantly associated with a reduced risk death of ICU and 30 days [ICU mortality risk: hazard ratio (HR) = 0.597, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.460-0.774, P < 0.001; 30-day mortality risk: HR = 0.557, 95%CI was 0.433-0.716, P < 0.001]. Subgroup analysis revealed that after adjusting for variables, regardless of gender, age, and whether or not patients had comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, severe liver disease, acute renal insufficiency, and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, the ICU mortality risk was significantly reduced in patients treated with Alb combined with diuretic (all HR < 1, P < 0.05), with no interaction observed (all P > 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed the 60-day cumulative survival rate of patients in the Alb combined with diuretic group was significantly higher than that in the Alb alone group (Log-rank test: χ ² = 49.62, P < 0.05). (2) External validation: a total of 385 patients were enrolled, of which 144 in the Alb alone group, and 241 in the Alb combined with diuretic group. Compared with the Alb alone group, the patients of the Alb combined with diuretic group had significantly lower ICU, 30-day, and 60-day mortality [ICU mortality: 19.92% (48/241) vs. 31.25% (45/144), 30-day mortality: 19.09% (46/241) vs. 28.47% (41/144), 60-day mortality: 24.07% (58/241) vs. 34.03% (49/144), all P < 0.05]. The results of multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis were consistent with the data analysis of the MIMIC-IV database. CONCLUSIONS Combination therapy of Alb and diuretic was associated with reduced mortality risk in septic patients with pre-existing congestive heart failure.
Humans ; Heart Failure/mortality* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis/drug therapy* ; Intensive Care Units ; Diuretics/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Hospital Mortality

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the intervention of early traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes after ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) intervention. Methods: From October 2020 to July 2023, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to include 60 patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis, and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD interventional therapy. They were assigned to the Yiqi Tongluo Decoction treatment group (30 cases) and the TCM placebo routine treatment control group (30 cases) according to the randomized block design. Both groups received routine standardized treatment of Western medicine, including dual antiplatelet, lipid regulation, and control of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. The treatment group was treated with Yiqi Tongluo Decoction based on the control group. The course of treatment was 60 days and follow-up was carried out 2 and 6 months after the operation. The improvement of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, phlegm syndrome score and TCM syndrome score, modified Rankin score (mRS), Barthel index (BI) score, Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) level, incidence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke (IS) and incidence of adverse reactions, Head and neck CT angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination were collected. The clinical efficacy of the patients 2 months after the operation was taken as the main outcome index to preliminarily evaluate the early and long-term efficacy of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction after the ICVD intervention. The early and long-term clinical efficacy and safety of Western medicine standardized treatment combined with TCM Yiqi Tongluo Decoction on patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD intervention were evaluated. The safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the treatment of patients after ICVD intervention with white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), plasminogen time (PT), recurrence of cerebral ischaemia and restenosis in patients at 2 and 6 months after treatment were evaluated. Results: Compared to the control group, the TCM syndrome scores for qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm syndrome in the treatment group reduced significantly, the clinical efficacy improved significantly, the mRS score and FABP4 were reduced, and the BI score was increased. Adverse events such as cerebral ischaemia were fewer in the treatment group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant; levels of CRP, WBC and PT were reduced, and levels of FIB were reduced at 6 months post-treatment, all P<0.01, and images were intuitively compared. The treatment group was superior to the control group. Conclusion Yiqi Tongluo Decoction combined with Western medicine standard treatment can improve the early clinical efficacy of ICVD patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after interventional surgery, improve neurological impairment and daily living ability, reduce the state of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome and phlegm syndrome after interventional surgery, and improve the clinical efficacy of TCM. At the same time, it can reduce the level of FABP4, the target of atherosclerosis and restenosis after interventional surgery, reduce the level of inflammation after interventional surgery in patients with ICVD, regulate coagulation function, and reduce the incidence of long-term recurrence of cerebral ischemia after interventional surgery, with good safety.

Objective To analyze the risk of bias during the experimental process and the shortcomings of the research report by evaluating the methodological and reporting quality of animal experimental studies on the prevention and treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer(PLGC)using TCM compounds.To provide reference for improving the quality of animal experimental research on the prevention and treatment of PLGC with TCM compounds.Methods Experimental literature about the prevention and treatment of PLGC with TCM compounds was retrieved from CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,CBM,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of science and Embase from January 1,2014 to February 23,2024.SYRCLE assessment tool and ARRIVE 2.0 guideline were used to score the included literature and calculate the"low-risk"compliance rate for each item.Results Totally 213 articles were finally included,including 189 Chinese articles and 24 English articles.The SYRCLE tool score was(12.86±1.29)points,and the"low risk"compliance rate was 32.79％.The score of the necessary items of the ARRIVE 2.0 guideline was(24.15±2.80)points,and the"low risk"compliance rate was 49.08％;the score of the recommended items was(11.28±3.40)points,and the"low risk"compliance rate was 30.27％.In the SYRCLE tool evaluation,144(67.61％)studies did not elaborate on the method of generating the allocation sequence.All studies did not describe the adequacy of allocation concealment and the blinding method in the implementation of bias.Only 51 studies(23.94％)explicitly proposed the success criteria for PLGC modeling,only 66 studies(30.96％)provided detailed information on the statistical methods used,29 studies(13.62％)provided complete ethical statements,and 22 studies(10.33％)reported conflicts of interest.Conclusion There are many problems in the methodological quality and reporting quality of animal experimental literature on the prevention and treatment of PLGC with TCM compounds published from 2014 to 2024,especially the implementation of the random blinding strategy during the experimental process,the calculation details of the sample size,and the reporting of inclusion and exclusion criteria,etc.There are many deficiencies in this aspect.It is recommended to refer to the SYRCLE evaluation tool and the ARRIVE 2.0 guideline list to design and report the research plan,thereby improving the credibility and standardization of the PLGC animal experimental research results.

Objective To observe the changes in functional connectivity(FC)of raphe nucleus in patients with first-episode depression complicated with suicidal ideation(SI).Methods Ninety-eight first-episode depression patients were prospectively enrolled and assigned into SI group(n=56)or non SI group(n=42)based on complicated with SI or not,while 47 healthy volunteers were recruited as control group.Resting-state functional MRI was performed.FC between dorsal raphe nucleus(DRN),median raphe nucleus(MRN)and the whole brain were analyzed and compared among 3 groups and between each 2 groups,and the correlations of FC of different brain regions with clinical data of SI group were explored.Results Compared with control group,FC between DRN and left cerebellum and left putamen in SI group and non SI group decreased(all P＜0.05),between MRN and right inferior temporal gyrus increased but between MRN and left inferior frontal gyrus,right superior occipital gyrus,left inferior parietal lobule,left putamen decreased(all P＜0.05).FC between DRN and left putamen in SI group was higher than that in non SI group(P＜0.05).FC between MRN and right central posterior gyrus of SI group increased compared with that in the rest 2 groups(both P＜0.05).FC between MRN and left putamen in SI group was positively correlated with body mass score of Hamilton depression scale-24(HAMD-24)(rs=0.297,P=0.026).Conclusion Abnormal changes of FC between raphe nucleus and cortex,also between raphe nucleus and subcortical area occurred,and FC between MRN and left putamen positively correlated with body mass score of HAMD-24 in patients with first-episode depression complicated with SI.

The angiogenic microenvironment is a new blood vessel with different molecular and functional characteristics that sprouts on the original blood vessels through different mechanisms,which directly affects the process of tumor cell growth,proliferation,and migration and has an important impact on the occurrence and development of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer.Correa mode has shown that precancerous lesions of gastric cancer is the key pathological stage before the occurrence of gastric cancer,and it is of great significance to advance the prevention and treatment strategy to this stage.TCM believes that qi deficiency and blood stasis is the key pathogenesis of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer,and its basic treatment is to replenish qi and remove blood stasis,and based on the syndrome differentiation,drugs with the efficacy of nourishing yin and tonifying stomach,soothing the liver and regulating qi,resolving phlegm and dispersing lumps,and clearing heat and dampness for treatment.This article discussed the correlation between precancerous lesions of gastric cancer and angiogenic microenvironment and its regulatory pathways,and summarized the methods and mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer from the perspective of regulating angiogenic microenvironment-related pathways,in order to provide a reference for the treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer with TCM.

Objective:To study the effects of modified citrus pectin (MCP) on the viability and gene expressions of synovial fibroblasts (SF) as well as SF treated by galectin-3 (Gal-3).Methods:Rabbit SF was isolated and cultured in vitro. Then SF was treated with different concentrations of MCP (0, 250, 500, and 750 mg/L). In addition, SF was further treated with the same different concentrations of MCP after treatment with 10 μg/ml Gal-3 for 24 h. The viability of SF was detected by CCK-8 on the first, third, and fifth day after treatment. The mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), type I collagen (COL1A2), and Gal-3 in SF was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The synthesis of type I collagen in SF was investigated by immunofluorescence staining. Results:MCP, especially at a concentration of 500 mg/L can inhibit the proliferation of SF significantly (all P < 0.05) on the first, third, and fifth day after treatment. Compared with the control group, MCP at different concentrations induced different gene expression profiles. In particular, MCP at high concentrations can upregulate the expression of TGF-β1, COL1A2 and Gal-3 in SF. However, MCP shows no significant effect on the synthesis of type I collagen in SF. MCP can down-regulate the expression of TGF-β1, COL1A2, and significantly reduce the synthesis of type I collagen in SF after Gal-3 treatment. Particularly, the effect of MCP at a concentration of 500 mg/L on inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1, COL1A2, and Gal-3 in SF is significant. Conclusions:MCP can inhibit the excessive proliferation of SF and regulate gene expression in SF.

Objective:To investigate the effects of intravenous thrombolysis combined with Xingnaojing injection on hemodynamic indexes and neurological function in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods:A total of 142 patients with cerebral infarction who were treated in Xing An Meng Hospital from April 2020 to May 2021 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into a control group ( n = 71, intravenous thrombolysis) and a Xingnaojing injection group ( n = 71, intravenous thrombolysis + Xingnaojing injection). Intracranial arterial hemodynamic indexes, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale score, serum inflammatory factors, oxidative stress indexes, brain injury markers, and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, serum levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly lower in the Xingnaojing injection group than the control group [interleukin-1β: (4.05 ± 0.83) ng/L vs. (6.85 ± 1.02) ng/L, interleukin-6: (43.61 ± 5.14) ng/L vs. (60.31 ± 7.04) ng/L, tumor necrosis factor-α: (35.93 ± 4.25) ng/L vs. (20.93 ± 3.11) ng/L, t = 17.94, 16.14, 15.37, all P < 0.001]. After treatment, the mean blood flow velocities of the anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral artery in the Xingnaojing injection group were significantly higher than those in the control group [anterior cerebral artery: (49.36 ± 5.28) cm/s vs. (41.15 ± 5.12) cm/s, middle cerebral artery: (61.27 ± 7.02) cm/s vs. (50.19 ± 6.08) cm/s, posterior cerebral artery: (44.92 ± 5.63) cm/s vs. (37.26 ± 4.93) cm/s, t = 9.40, 10.05, 8.62, all P < 0.001]. After treatment, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale score in the Xingnaojing injection group were superior to those in the control group [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score: (10.36 ± 1.52) points vs. (14.62 ± 2.05) points, Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale score: (76.19 ± 8.08) points vs. (65.28 ± 7.14) points, t = 14.06, 8.52, both P < 0.05]. After treatment, the serum level of malondialdehyde in the Xingnaojing injection group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(6.35 ± 1.02) μmol/L vs. (10.05 ± 1.63) μmol/L), t = 16.21, P < 0.001]. The serum level of superoxide dismutase in the Xingnaojing injection group was significantly lower than that in the control group [(114.31 ± 13.69) U/L vs. (92.25 ± 10.16) U/L), t = 10.90, P < 0.001]. Serum levels of neuron-specific enolase and S100β in the Xingnaojing injection group were significantly lower than those in the control group [neuron-specific enolase: (24.01 ± 3.24) IU/L vs. (30.31 ± 4.02) IU/L, S100β: (0.73 ± 0.17) ng/L vs. (1.13 ± 0.22) ng/L, t = 10.28, 12.12, both P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:Intravenous thrombolysis combined with Xingnaojing injection for the treatment of cerebral infarction can improve intracranial hemodynamics, reduce the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, and alleviate brain tissue injury. The combined therapy is beneficial to protect the neurological function of patients with cerebral infarction and is highly safe.

To investigate the effect of Zhiwei Fuwei Pills (ZWFW) on the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/autophagy key molecule yeast Atg6 homologue (Beclin1)/microtubuleassociated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) signaling axis key molecules in gastric antrum tissue of rats with precancerous gastric lesions (PLGC). METHODS: SPF SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, folic acid group, ZWFW low-dose, medium-dose, high-dose group. In addition to the normal group, the model group, folic acid group, ZWFW low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups, were used to establish the PLGC rat model by five factors compound modeling methods: N-methyl-N ' - nitro-n-nitroguanidine (MNNG) combined with hunger and satiation, ethanol intragastric administration, free drinking of ammonia and ranitidine feed. The rats were treated with normal saline, folic acid tablet aqueous solution (0.002 g/kg), ZWFW low-dose, medium-dose, high-dose aqueous solution (0.42, 0.84, 1.67 g/kg) for 4 weeks, and the stomach was removed by laparotomy. Hematoxylineosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the antrum of rats, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to detect the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin mTOR, yeast Atg6 homologue 1 (Beclin1), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3β (LC3B) mRNA and protein in the antrum of rats. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the Gastric antrum tissue of the model group was distended, thinner gastric wall, palegastric mucosa, atrophic and flat folds, disordered course and nodules and vegetations were visible. HE staining showed that compared with the normal group, the gastric mucosal glands in the model group were crowded and disordered, and the cell morphology was different, including a large number of goblet cells, basophilic cytoplasm, large, hyper-chromatic and irregular nuclei, and mucosal muscle infiltration and destruction. Compared with the model group, treated by ZWFW can significantly improve the pathological manifestations of gastric mucosal gland structure disorder and cell atypia. Compared with the normal group, mTOR mRNA and protein expression were significantly increased (P< 0.05) and Beclin1 and LC3B mRNA and protein expression were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the antral tissue of rats in the model group; compared with the model group, mTOR mRNA and protein expression were decreased (P<0.05) in the medium and high dose groups of ZWFW, Beclin1 and LC3B protein expression in the antral tissue of rats in the low dose group of ZWFW and Beclin1 and LC3B mRNA and protein expression were increased (P<0.05) in the medium and high dose groups. CONCLUSION: Zhiwei Fuwei Pills can significantly improve the abnormal histopathological findings of gastric mucosa in PLGC model rats, and the mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of mTOR expression, up-regulation of Beclin1 and LC3B expression and then promoting autophagy.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy using shrinking field for patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS), mainly focusing on the local control rate and adverse events.Methods:Clinical data of 49 extremity STS patients who received postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy in the First Hospital of Tsinghua University from October 2017 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Target volumes were contoured on CT and MRI fusion images. The tumor bed was defined as GTV tb, with 3 cm expansion in the longitudinal direction and 1.5 cm expansion in the radial direction to construct CTV (the target volume should be properly repaired according to the anatomical barrier, and the edema area around the tumor should be included). GTV tb and CTV were expanded in all directions by 0.5 cm to construct PTV1 and PTV2 respectively, at a dose of 95%PTV1 63-66 Gy, 95%PTV2 50-56 Gy,1.8-2.0 Gy/f. The dose of surgical volume should be given at 70 Gy for patients who had a microscopic positive margin. Results:The median follow-up time was 32.1 months (7.9-45.6 months). The 3-year local failure-free survival (LFFS), overall survival (OS)and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were 91.7%,77.6% and 71.5%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that patients with a microscopic positive margin were more likely to develop local recurrence ( P<0.05). The incidence of grade 2 or above wound complications, joint stiffness, fracture, edema and skin fibrosis were 2%, 4.1%, 2%, 8.2% and 26.5%, respectively. Conclusion:Postoperative radiotherapy with shrinking field provides excellent local control rate and low incidence of late adverse events in patients with extremity STS.