The Huangdi Neijing proposes the " using bitter herbs to nourish or purge" theory to guide clinical prescription and formulation of herbal remedies based on the physiological characteristics and functions of the five zang viscera, along with the properties and flavors of medicinal herbs. This study explored diabetic kidney disease pathogenesis and treatment based on the " using bitter herbs to nourish or purge" theory. Kidney dryness is a key pathological factor in diabetic kidney disease, and the disharmony of kidney dryness is an essential aspect of its pathogenesis. Strengthening is the primary therapeutic principle, and kidney dryness is a persistent factor throughout the occurrence and progression of diabetic kidney disease. In the early stage, the pathogenesis involves heat-consuming qi and injuring yin, leading to kidney dryness. In the middle stage, the pathogenesis manifests as qi deficiency and blood stasis in the collaterals, resulting in turbidity owing to kidney dryness. In the late stage, the pathogenesis involves yin and yang deficiency, with kidney dryness and disharmony. This study proposes the staging-based treatment based on the " need for firmness" characteristic of the kidney. The aim is to provide new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine by rationally using pungent, bitter, and salty medicinal herbs to nourish and moisturize the kidney. This approach seeks to promote precise syndrome differentiation and personalized treatment for different stages of diabetic kidney disease, thereby enhancing clinical efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical experience of using Ilizarov wrist joint distraction technique in the treatment of a case of rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist. METHODS: In January 2019, a 49-year-old female patient with rheumatoid arthritis of the left wrist, complicated by ulnar impaction syndrome, was admitted for treatment. Preoperatively, the active range of motion of the left wrist was as follows: extension 0°-flexion 0°, pronation 65°-supination 35°, and grip strength of 4.0 kg. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 9, and the Cooney wrist function score was 15, indicating poor function. As conservative treatment failed to achieve symptom relief, Ilizarov wrist joint distraction surgery was performed. Postoperatively, joint distraction was applied at 2 mm increments on postoperative days 2 and 7, in 4 separate sessions. RESULTS: Postoperative X-ray film examination at 7 days revealed a distraction of 3.6 mm in the affected wrist joint compared to the contralateral side. The external fixator was removed 2.5 months postoperatively. At 22 months postoperatively, X-ray film and MRI examinations revealed that the joint space of the left wrist had returned to near-normal, with significant reduction in joint effusion and synovial proliferation. The active range of motion of the left wrist improved to extension 15°- flexion 30°, pronation 90°-supination 90°, with a grip strength of 18.0 kg. The wrist pain VAS score decreased to 0, and the Cooney wrist function score improved to 90, indicating excellent function. At 50 months postoperatively, follow-up X-ray film, MRI, and functional assessments showed the results similar to those at 22 months. CONCLUSION Ilizarov wrist joint distraction may be a viable treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Wrist Joint/physiopathology* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/physiopathology* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Ilizarov Technique ; Treatment Outcome ; Osteogenesis, Distraction/methods*

Obesity usually exacerbates the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME), hindering CD8⁺ T cell infiltration and function, which further represents a significant barrier to the efficacy of immunotherapy. Herein, a multifunctional liposomal system (CR-Lip) for encapsulating celastrol (CEL) was utilized to remodel obesity-related ITME and improve cancer immunotherapy, wherein Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) was detected interspersed in the phospholipid bilayer and its glycosyl exposed on the surface of the liposome. CR-Lip had a relatively uniform size (116.5 nm), facilitating favorable tumor tissue accumulation through the interaction between Rg3 and glucose transporter 1 overexpressed in obese tumor cells. Upon reaching the tumor region, CR-Lip was found to induce the immunogenic cell death (ICD) of HFD tumor cells. Notably, the level of PHD3 in HFD tumor cells was effectively boosted by CR-Lip to effectively block metabolic reprogramming and increase the availability of major free fatty acids fuel sources. In vivo, experiments studies revealed that the easy-obtained nano platform stimulated enhanced the production of various cytokines in tumor tissues, DC maturation, CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration, and synergistic anticancer therapeutic potency with aPD-1 (tumor inhibition rate = 82.1%) towards obesity-related melanoma. Consequently, this study presented an efficacious approach to tumor immunotherapy in obese mice by encompassing tumor eradication, inducing ICD, and reprogramming metabolism. Furthermore, it offered a unique insight into a valuable attempt at the immunotherapy of obesity-associated related tumors.

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs), describe a group of nanoparticles released by plants. These particles are characterized by a lipid bilayer structure containing various proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and unique metabolites. Although the study on PDEVs is relatively new, having only been around for ten years, they have shown promising development prospects in both basic research and clinical transformation areas. Evidence suggests that PDEVs have excellent application prospects in regulating inflammation and treating tumors. Their distinctive, vesicle-mimicking architecture and stellar biocompatibility render them prime candidates for ferrying various anti-cancer agents, including RNA, proteins, and conventional chemotherapy drugs. Increasingly, studies have shown that PDEVs can be engineered as an innovative platform for combination cancer immunotherapy. Consequently, this paper provides an extensive summary of current developments in engineering methods and strategies for PDEVs in cancer treatment and combined cancer immune therapeutics. The essential characteristics of PDEVs, including the biogenesis process and components, as well as their anti-tumor activity and mechanism, are summarized. Finally, the in vivo safety of PDEVs as delivery vectors and the challenges of scale-up production and clinical transformation are discussed.

OBJECTIVE: Coptis chinensis (Huanglian in Chinese, HL) is commonly utilized in clinical settings to counteract dyslipidemia in patients with hot syndrome. Its lipid-reducing efficacy has been consistently demonstrated in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic animal models. However, whether HL's efficacy differs in HFD-fed animals with hot or cold syndromes remains unclear. This study aims to discern the variations in the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of HL in HFD-fed mice with hot or cold syndromes. METHODS: HFD-induced C57BL/6 mice were subjected to cold or hot syndrome via two weeks of ice water (0 °C) and levothyroxine sodium (240 µg/kg) treatment, respectively. Then, an aqueous extract of HL was administered to the mice via oral gavage over the following four-week period. Lipid levels in the serum and liver were gauged to determine the lipid-reducing effects of HL. Furthermore, gut microbiota composition was elucidated using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: HL notably reduced lipid levels in HFD-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Its efficacy was amplified in hyperlipidemic mice with a hot syndrome but was markedly reduced in those with a cold syndrome. HL treatment led to a decline in alpha-diversity (characterized by ACE, Chao1, Shannon and Simpson index) of the gut microbiota in both sets of mice but affected specific microbial populations based on the syndrome. Specifically, while HL led to a notable increase in Eubacterium, Robinsoniella, and Lachnoclostridium genera, along with the enhancement of Clostridium innocuum and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron species across all conditions, it syndrome-dependently stimulated Romboutsia ilealis and Parabaceroides_sp_HGS0025 species in mice with hot syndrome. CONCLUSION HL shows stronger lipid-lowering effect on hyperlipidemic mice with hot syndrome, which is in accordance with its traditional usage in clinic. The therapeutic outcomes of HL are intrinsically tied, at least in part, to its modulatory effects on the gut microbiota, offering fresh insights into the foundational principles of traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To investigate the value of extracellular volume fraction(ECV)based on CT for predicting macrotrabecular-massive hepatocellular carcinoma(MTM-HCC).Methods Data of 23 MTM-HCC(MTM-HCC group)and 56 non-MTM-HCC(nMTM-HCC group)patients were retrospectively analyzed,and CT manifestations were compared between groups.CT values of abdominal aorta(P-CTabdominal aorta,E-CTabdominal aorta),tumors(P-CTtumor,E-CTtumor)and non-tumor liver parenchyma(P-CTliver,E-CTliver)in plain phase(P)and enhancement equilibrium phase(E)CT were measured,then ECV of tumors and liver parenchyma were calculated,and ECV-related parameters were compared between groups.Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn,and area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the predictive efficacy of ECV-related parameters for predicting MTM-HCC.Results No significant difference of CT manifestations was found between groups(all P＞0.05).E-CTtumor,Δltumor(absolute enhancement CT value of the tumor area)and ECVtumor in MTM-HCC group were all lower than those in nMTM-HCC group(all P＜0.01).The AUC of E-CTtumor,Δtumor and ECVtumor for predicting MTM-HCC was 0.74,0.77 and 0.87,respectively,and the AUC of ECVtumor was higher than that of E-CTtumor and Δtumor(Z=2.271,2.557,P=0.023,0.011).Conclusion ECV based on CT could be used to effectively predict MTM-HCC.

Objective:To summarize the best evidence of medication adherence interventions for patients with multiple chronic conditions.Methods:According to the "6S" evidence model, literature on medication adherence in patients with multiple chronic conditions was retrieved from BMJ Best Clinical Practice, UpToDate, Medlive, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang data and so on. The search period was from establishing the database to August 30, 2023.Results:A total of 16 articles were included, including three guidelines, four expert consensus, seven systematic reviews, and two meta-analyses. Twenty-seven pieces of evidence were summarized from six aspects of compliance assessment, educational intervention, behavioral intervention, optimized treatment program, technical reminder intervention, and social-psychological-emotional intervention.Conclusions:The best evidence of medication adherence interventions for patients with multiple chronic conditions summarized provides a reference for medical and nursing staff to develop medication adherence interventions.

Mitophagy is a process by which cells selectively eliminate damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria through the autophagy-lysosomal pathway under the regulation of mitophagy-related proteins to maintain mitochondrial quality and cellular homeostasis,and it is closely related to the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors.Increasing studies have shown that mitophagy plays a dual role in breast cancer progression.① Mitophagy promotes breast cancer cell survival and invasion by triggering energy metabolic reprogramming,reducing ROS accumulation and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis.②Mitophagy leads to death or apoptosis of breast cancer cells by attenuating inflamma-tory responses and triggering mitochondrial damage.The relevant mechanisms include①PTEN induced kinase 1,PINK1(PINK1)/Parkin pathway;② autophagy receptor-associated protein pathway(including BNIP3,BNIP3L and FUNDC1);③ mitochondrial division pathway.This review summarizes the role and mechanism of mitophagy in the hopes of providing reference for research and treatment of breast cancer.

To fulfill the calibration requirements for absorbed dose to water in external beam radiotherapy,the summary offers a streamlined calibration procedure and recommendations in accordance with TRS-398(version 7)published by International Atomic Energy Agency in 2024.It addresses various considerations for reference measurement conditions in external beam radiotherapy and defines the appropriate scope for ionization chambers.In terms of ionization chamber measurements,it elaborates on the methods for measuring various correction factors and provides a table of beam quality conversion factors.The calibration uncertainty is examined by comparing the contributions of different factors before and after the update.The results demonstrate that using IBA FC65-G ionization chamber to calibrate high-energy photon beams,high-energy electron beams,proton beams and light ion beams results in relative deviations of-0.4％,0.5％,-1.7％and-1.3％as compared with the earlier versions,with relative standard uncertainties of 1.0％,1.1％,1.7％and 2.6％,respectively.The guideline which is tailored to the national radiotherapy dose calibration standards and practices presents an optimized calibration approach for TRS-398,allowing clinicians to conduct absolute dose calibration more efficiently and accurately.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of the application of microwave ablation assisted clamp-less suture-less nephron sparing surgery technique in the management of cystic renal cell carcinoma.Methods:The data of 21 consecutive patients with cystic renal cell carcinoma who underwent microwave ablation assisted clamp-less suture-less laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery (MACS-LNSS) in Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2017 to December 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males and 4 females with a mean age of (58.0±2.6) years old. There were 19 cases with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score 0 and 2 with score 1. The mean diameter of the tumor was (3.6±0.4) cm, and the mean distance from the collecting system was (10.7±0.9) mm with 12 located on the left and 9 on the right side. There were 5 cases of Bosniak Ⅲ with mean CT value (27.6±4.6) HU and 16 of Bosniak Ⅳ and the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) was (84.1±4.1 ) ml/(min·1.73 m 2). The American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) graded 17 cas as grade 1, 3 cases as grade 2 and 1 cases as grade 3. MACS-LNSS was performed for all patients. The microwave ablation probe was introduced via the laparoscopic trocar and inserted into the tumor. Then all tumors were resected after microwave ablation was performed for 1 to 3 cycles lasting 2 to 5 minutes for each tumour with a power output of 60 to 100 W using an MTC-3C microwave ablation system. Results:MACS-LNSS was successfully performed in 20 cases. Another one converted to conventional laparoscopic partial nephrectomy because of intraoperative bleeding with 14 min renal artery branch clamped. No case converted to open surgery or radical nephrectomy. The mean operative time was (92.0±6.3) min, with a mean estimated blood loss of (60.0±7.2) ml. The mean length of postoperative hospital stay was (2.7±0.1) d. No case required perioperative transfusion. One case with fever and one case with urine leakage were observed postoperatively and recovered after conservative treatment. Pathologic results revealed 18 cases of clear cell carcinoma, 3 of low grade malignant potential multilocular cystic renal cell tumors. The median eGFR at 6 months postoperative was (82.9±3.8) ml/(min·1.73 m 2).No local recurrence and distant metastasis was observed with a mean follow-up of (41.3±1.5)(range from 32 to 58) months. Conclusions:MACS-LNSS which has the advantages of controllable complications is an alternative, safe and feasible technique for cystic renal cell carcinoma less than 7 cm, with regular tumor base, and the distance from the collecting system more than 5 mm.