BACKGROUND: The effect of the interval between previous Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and rescue treatment on therapeutic outcomes remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between eradication rates and treatment interval durations in H. pylori infections. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted from December 2021 to February 2023 at six tertiary hospitals in Shandong, China. We recruited patients who were positive for H. pylori infection and required rescue treatment. Demographic information, previous times of eradication therapy, last eradication therapy date, and history of antibiotic use data were collected. The patients were divided into four groups based on the rescue treatment interval length: Group A, ≥4 weeks and ≤3 months; Group B, >3 and ≤6 months; Group C, >6 and ≤12 months; and Group D, >12 months. The primary outcome was the eradication rate of H. pylori . Drug compliance and adverse events (AEs) were also assessed. Pearson's χ2 test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare eradication rates between groups. RESULTS: A total of 670 patients were enrolled in this study. The intention-to-treat (ITT) eradication rates were 88.3% (158/179) in Group A, 89.6% (120/134) in Group B, 89.1% (123/138) in Group C, and 87.7% (192/219) in Group D. The per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were 92.9% (156/168) in Group A, 94.5% (120/127) in Group B, 94.5% (121/128) in Group C, and 93.6% (190/203) in Group D. There was no statistically significant difference in the eradication rates between groups in either the ITT ( P = 0.949) or PP analysis ( P = 0.921). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of AEs ( P = 0.934) or drug compliance ( P = 0.849) between groups. CONCLUSION: The interval duration of rescue treatment had no significant effect on H. pylori eradication rates or the incidence of AEs. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT05173493.
Humans ; Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy* ; Helicobacter pylori/pathogenicity* ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects* ; Adult ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use*

Objective:To observe the effects and safety of dienogest on the volume and symptoms of ovarian endometrioma (OMA).Methods:The clinical data of 75 patients with OMA who underwent treatment with dienogest (2 mg/day) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 1st 2020 to March 31st 2024 were retrospectively analysed, mainly comparing the changes in the volume of OMA and the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of endometriosis-related pain before and after the treatment, as well as observing the changes in the blood biological indicators, liver and kidney function, coagulation function and changes in breast.Results:The median cyst volumes of the OMA patients at 3, 6 and 12 months of dienogest treatment were 13.21 cm 3 (volume reduction rate: 36.00%), 8.33 cm 3 (volume reduction rate: 56.00%) and 4.10 cm 3 (volume reduction rate: 77.62%), respectively, which were all significantly decreased from the pre-treatment period (all P<0.05). The VAS scores of pain of the OMA patients at 3, 6 and 12 months of dienogest treatment all were 0 mm. Blood cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) levels decreased progressively during treatment (all P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in the coagulation indexes, liver and kidney function indexes of the patients during dienogest treatment compared with those before treatment (all P>0.05). During the follow-up period, there were a few patients with changes in the growth sites or lesion category of the breast nodules, but there were no occurrence of breast cancer or precancerous lesions. Conclusion:Dienogest is effective in reducing OMA volume and alleviating endometriosis-related pain with few adverse effects.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of vitamin K 2 on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the relationship with nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes in rats. Methods:Thirty-six SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 280-300 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) by a random number table method: sham operation group (group Sham), group TBI and TBI plus vitamin K 2 group (group TBI+ VK 2). The TBI model was developed using modified Feeney′s method.In TBI+ VK 2 group, vitamin K 2 400 mg/kg (dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide) was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min after developing TBI model.The equal volume of dimethyl sulfoxide was intraperitoneally injected in group Sham and group TBI.The modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was measured and open field tests were performed at 24 h after development of TBI.The rats were sacrificed after the end of behavioral testing, and brains were obtained for measurement of brain water content (by wet-dry weight method), percentage of brain injury volume (by TTC assay), contents of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18 and caspase-1 in cortex on the injured side (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-18 in cortex on the injured side (by Western blot). Results:Compared with group Sham, the mNSS score was significantly increased, the total distance travelled was reduced, the time spent in the central zone was shortened, the brain water content and percentage of brain injury volume were increased, the contents of IL-1β, IL-18 and caspase-1 in cortex on the injured side were increased, and the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-18 was up-regulated in group TBI ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with group TBI, the mNSS score was significantly decreased, the total distance travelled was increased, the time spent in the central zone was prolonged, the brain water content and percentage of brain injury volume were decreased, the contents of IL-1β, IL-18 and caspase-1 in cortex on the injured side were decreased, and the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-18 was down-regulated in group TBI+ VK 2 ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusions:Vitamin K 2 can reduce TBI, and the mechanism may be related to inhibition of the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in rats.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of Ganhai Weikang capsule (GWC) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD).Methods:A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel, multi-center, superiority clinical trial was conducted. From March 2018 to April 2020, totally 324 patients with dyspepsia symptoms, who were diagnosed as chronic non-atrophic gastritis by endoscopy and pathology and met the Rome Ⅳ diagnostic criteria for FD from 7 top hospitals were enrolled, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Heilongjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Capital Medical University and the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The patients were randomly divided into the GWC group and the placebo group according to the ratio of 1∶1. The patients of GWC group were given GWC and the patients of placebo group were given GWC capsule simulant. The patients of both groups orally took capsules before meals, 2.4 g each time and 3 times per day, and the course of treatment was 4 weeks. The main efficacy index was the total clinical effective rate after 4 weeks, and the secondary efficacy index was the changes of clinical symptom scores of upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal burning, postprandial fullness and early satiety. The safety index included laboratory tests and adverse events. Chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 320 FD patients were enrolled in the full analysis set (FAS), which included 161 cases in GWC group and 159 cases in placebo group. A total of 298 cases were in the per-protocol set (PPS), 149 cases each in GWC group and placebo group. The results of FAS and PPS both showed that the total clinical effective rates of the GWC group were higher than those of the placebo group (84.5%, 136/161 vs. 44.0%, 70/159 and 83.9%, 125/149 vs. 46.3%, 69/149), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=57.07 and 46.32, both P<0.001). In addition, the differences of the total score of main symptoms and each symptom (upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal burning, postprandial fullness and early satiety) before and after treatment of GWC group were all higher than those of the placebo group (FAS: 10 (7, 14) vs. 5 (3, 11); 3 (2, 4) vs. 2 (0, 3); 2 (0, 4) vs. 1 (0, 3); 3 (1, 4) vs. 2 (1, 3); 2 (0, 4) vs. 1 (0, 3). PPS: 10 (7, 13) vs. 5 (3, 11); 3 (2, 4) vs. 2 (0, 3); 2 (0, 4) vs. 1 (0, 2); 3 (1, 4) vs. 2 (1, 3); 2 (0, 4) vs.1 (0, 3)), and the differences were statistically significant (FAS: Z=5.80, 5.91, 3.19, 3.72 and 3.30; PPS: Z=5.14, 5.11, 2.86, 3.21 and 2.84; all P<0.01). The results of FAS and PPS indicated that the improvement rates of main symptoms and each symptom (upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal burning, postprandial fullness and early satiety) of GWC group were all higher than those of the placebo group (FAS: 77.8% (54.6%, 91.3%) vs. 42.9% (28.6%, 61.5%); 100.0% (60.0%, 100.0%) vs. 50.0% (25.0%, 60.0%); 100.0% (50.0%, 100.0%) vs. 50.0% (25.0%, 100.0%); 71.4% (33.3%, 100.0%) vs. 41.4% (25.0%, 66.7%); 100.0% (50.0%, 100.0%) vs. 50.0% (20.0%, 100.0%). PPS: 77.8% (54.2%, 89.5%) vs. 44.0% (28.6%, 65.0%); 100.0% (60.0%, 100.0%) vs. 50.0% (25.0%, 100.0%); 100.0% (50.0%, 100.0%) vs. 50.0% (25.0%, 100.0%); 71.4% (33.3%, 100.0%) vs. 46.4% (25.0%, 66.7%); 100.0% (50.0%, 100.0%) vs. 50.0% (20.0%, 100.0%)), and the differences were statistically significant (FAS: Z=8.60, 7.72, 4.98, 4.24 and 5.61; PPS: Z=7.90, 7.03, 4.49, 3.88 and 4.83; all P<0.001). After 2 weeks of treatment, the differences of the total score of main symptoms and score of each symptom (upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal burning and early satiety) before and after treatment of GWC group were all higher than those of the placebo group (5.0 (3.0, 8.0) vs. 4.0 (2.0, 6.0); 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) vs. 2.0 (0.0, 2.0); 1.5 (0.0, 2.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 2.0); 1.5 (0.0, 2.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 2.0)), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=2.95, 3.44, 2.43 and 2.79, all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the GWC group and the placebo group (0.6%, 1/163 vs. 0, 0/159). Conclusion:The clinical total effective rate of GWC in the treatment of FD is superior to that of placebo and it has good safety.

Objective:To observe the effect of combining scalp acupuncture with hyperbaric oxygen on serum homocysteine and highly-sensitive c-reactive protein levels and functional recovery after cerebral infarction.Methods:A total of 101 survivors of cerebral infarction were divided randomly into a scalp acupuncture group ( n=33), a hyperbaric oxygen group ( n=34) and a combined treatment group ( n=34). All received routine treatment plus the appropriate supplementary treatment once a day for 10 days. The subjects were evaluated before the experiment as well as 10 and 90 days afterward. The National Institutes of Health′s stroke scale (NIHSS) was used to quantify neurological deficits and the Barthel Index quantified ability in the activities of daily living. Ninety days after the treatment, modified Rankin scale scores were also assigned. The levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy) and highly-sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) before and after 10 days of treatment were also compared among the 3 groups. Results:The average NIHSS and Barthel Index scores of all three groups had improved significantly after 10 days of treatment and the improvements persisted at the follow-up 3 months later. Both results were significantly better in the combined treatment group than in the scalp acupuncture group at the 90-day follow-up evaluation. The average Rankin score of the combined treatment group was lower at the last follow-up. Compared with before the intervention, the average Hcy of the scalp acupuncture group, the average hs-CRP of the hyperbaric oxygen group, as well as the average Hcy and hs-CRP of the combined treatment group were significantly lower after 10 days of treatment. Compared with the scalp acupuncture group, the average Hcy [(11.68±2.6) μmol/L] of the combined treatment group was significantly lower after the 10 days of treatment.Conclusions:Supplementing scalp acupuncture with hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the long-term outcomes of cerebral infarction, reducing the level of serum Hcy.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of iron deficiency(ID)and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women in urban areas of China. Methods The study was a national cross-sectional survey conducted from September 19th, 2016 to November 20th, 2016. According to the classification of the National Bureau of Statistics, all survey sites were set up in 6 regions of the country. Pregnant women were continuously selected using multistage stratified sampling. A total of 12 403 pregnant women were collected and examined for serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels. Results The median serum ferritin level during pregnancy was 20.60 μg/L(11.78-36.98 μg/L), the hemoglobin level was(118±12)g/L. With the progress of pregnancy, the levels of serum ferritin and hemoglobin decreased gradually. The median serum ferritin levels in the first, second trimester and third trimester were 54.30 μg/L(34.48-94.01 μg/L), 28.60 μg/L(16.40-50.52 μg/L), and 16.70 μg/L(10.20-27.00 μg/L)respectively(P<0.01). The mean hemoglobin levels were(127 ± 10)g/L,(119 ± 11)g/L and(117 ± 11)g/L respectively(P<0.01). The prevalence of ID in urban pregnant women was 48.16%(5 973/12 403), and IDA prevalence was 13.87% (1 720/12 403). The prevalence of IDA in the first, second trimester and third trimester were 1.96% (20/1 019), 8.40%(293/3 487)and 17.82%(1 407/7 897), respectively(P<0.01). The prevalence of standardized ID and IDA were significantly different in various regions of China(P<0.01). The standardized prevalence of ID were relatively higher in East China and Northeast China, 57.37% and 53.41% respectively, while it was the lowest in Southwest China, 30.51%. The standardized prevalence of IDA in South Central, Northwest, and East China were relatively high, 21.30%, 16.97% and 17.53% respectively, and the standardized prevalence of IDA in Southwest China was the lowest, 5.44%,the differents in various regions were significant(all P<0.01). Conclusion The current phenomenon of ID and IDA in pregnant women is still very common,and nutrition and health care during pregnancy should be strengthened.

Objective To investigate the behavioral characteristics of circadian rhythm disturbance in 3xTg-AD mice.Methods The free-running period,average activity per hour,total amount of exercise and circadian amplitude were examined with voluntary wheel-running test in 3-to 9-month-old C57BL/6 and 3xTg-AD mice under 12 h light/12 h dark cycle and constant darkness environment.Results In constant darkness environment,the free-running period in 3-month-old 3xTg-AD mice was (23.2±0.4) h,and shorter than the period((23.5±0.2) h) in C57BL/6 mice.In 6-and 9-month-old 3xTg-AD mice,activity pattern was disorganized,without clear boundary between activity and rest phase.The free-running period was unavailable.The circadian amplitude and total exercise amount were(40.6± 11.5) counts/5 min and(2.6±0.1) × 104 counts/d,(37.0±20.8) counts/5 min and(2.3±0.4) × 104 counts/d,(29.3± 11.0) counts/5 min and(1.6± 0.9) × 104 counts/d in 3-,6-and 9-month-old 3xTg-AD mice,respectively,which was significantly lower than that in age-matched C57BL/6 mice.In 12 h light/12 h dark cycle,the circadian amplitude and total exercise amount of 3-,6-and 9-month-old 3xTg-AD mice were (87.0 ± 37.8) counts/5 min and (2.2 ± 0.8) × 104 counts/d,(25.9± 6.3) counts/5 min and (1.1 ± 0.2) × 104 counts/d,(14.3 ± 5.7) counts/5 min and (0.6 ± 0.3)× 104 counts/d respectively,and with a significant decrease from the age of 6 months.Meanwhile,the locomotor activity decreased at night and increased during the day.Conclusion The endogenous circadian rhythm disturbance emerges in 3xTg-AD mice at 3-month-old,while the exogenous circadian rhythm disorder appears at 6-month-old;the degree of disorder in circadian rhythm is gradually aggravated with the increase of age in of the AD mice.

Objective To investigate the effect of pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of COOK cervical dilatation balloon and Dinoprostone Suppositories on the gestation effect and safety of induction.MethodsThe research object from June 2013 to June 2015 in our hospital for pregnant women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in 68 cases (all patients with gestational hypertension and mild preeclampsia) were randomLy divided into the observation.Group and control group, 34 cases in each group.The observation group received COOK cervical dilatation balloon induced labor, the control group to implement Dinoprostone Suppositories induction, comparative analysis of observation group and control group, maternal and perinatal situation, mode of delivery, the cervical Bishop score, the degree of pain.Resultsabnormal fetal heart and uterine hyperstimulation, uterine tonic contraction rate of observation group were significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05).The cesarean section rate in the observation group and the control group had no significant difference.After placement, the cervical Bishop score of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.05).The pain degree of observation group was significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05).ConclusionCOOK balloon dilatation of the cervix and Dinoprostone Suppositories, fewer complications, can significantly improve maternal, perinatal and cervical ripening score of Bishop.

Cytotoxic substances and ionizing radiation can easily induce DNA damage, and double strand breaks (DSBs) are the main form of DNA damage. DNA damage can activate intracellular DNA damage responses and further induce related biological effects, such as DNA damage repair and cell cycle arrest. Homologous recombination (HR) is the primary DSB repair mechanism in eukaryotes. Abnormal expression of Rad51C, which is a key factor in the HR pathway, may result in DNA repair disorder, genomic instability, and eventually lead to tumor formation. In recent studies, researchers considered Rad51C as a potential target for cancer treatment. We reviewed the research progress on Rad51C in DNA damage repair and radiotherapy.

The endogenous microorganism in paridis rhizoma mainly includes bacteria and fungi,and shows different physiological activities,such as microorganism inhibition and anti-tumor activity. The principal active substance steroid saponin in paridis rhizoma can be generated from the fermentation liquor of some endogenous bacteria,and the chemical structure of vancomycin and progesterone can be transformed by the endophyte. It is supposed that paridis rhizoma may benefit from the attributions of the endogenous bacteria against illness and environment changes. It would also benefit in productivity, transformation and modification of the other active sub-metabolites and compounds in paridis rhizoma. Thus,it is valuable in drug development and source insufficiency alleviation of Chinese medicines through separation,identification,screening and clone of the endogenous microorganism in paridis rhizoma.