OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Curcuma longa. METHODS: The structures of the compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectral analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR, MS, UV, and CD analysis. RESULTS: Two new sesquiterpene compounds (1S,2R,5R,7S,8R)-2,8-epoxy-5-hydroxybisabola-3,10-dioen-9-one ( 1), (1R,2R,5R,7S,8R)-2,8-epoxy-5-hydroxybisabola-3,10-dioen-9-one ( 2), and a new natural product 6-(4-Hydroxymethylphenyl)-2-methyl-hept-2-ene-4-one ( 3) together with three known compounds ar-turmerone ( 4), 2-methyl-6-(4-hydroxyphenyl-3-methyl)-2-hepten-4-one ( 5) and 2-methyl-6-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hepten-4-one ( 6) were isolated from C. longa root extract with 95% ethanol. CONCLUSION In the study, three new compounds were isolated from C. longa, and their absolute configurations were determined.

Objective:To analyze the value of laminin γ2 (LAMC2) in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the difference in patients with different types of microvascular invasion (MVI).Methods:A cohort of 100 patients with HCC who underwent surgical treatment at the Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2021 to March 2022 were prospectively enrolled. There were 80 males and 20 females, aged (55.7±11.1) years. The data of 17 patients with hepatic hemangioma without cirrhosis who underwent operation at the same hospital during the study period were collected to serve as the control group (6 males, 11 females), aged (42.8±9.8) years. LAMC2 in serum was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and LAMC2 were compared between the two groups, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to compare these two markers in the diagnosis of HCC. The LAMC2 of different MVI patients were compared.Results:The levels of LAMC2 and AFP were 1 334.2(838.9, 2 656.0) pg/ml and 19.0(4.6, 778.6) μg/L in the HCC group, which were significantly higher than 375.2(221.2, 691.7)pg/ml and 3.3(2.5, 3.5) μg/L in the control group ( Z=-4.32, -4.63, both P<0.001). The areas under the ROC curve were 0.829(95% CI: 0.748-0.892) for LAMC2 and 0.852(95% CI: 0.769-0.910) for AFP, and was 0.949(95% CI: 0.911-0.988) for using both in the diagnoses. The diagnostic efficacy of combining LAMC2 and AFP was significantly better than that of LAMC2 alone and AFP alone (area under ROC: Z=3.15, 3.07, P=0.002, 0.002). When the patients were divided into the M0 group (61 patients), the M1 Group (25 patients) and the M2 Group (14 patients) based on MVIs, the concentrations of LAMC2 were 1 168.6(834.3, 2 521.4) pg/ml, 942.2(614.0, 2 056.6) pg/ml and 3 128.4(1 852.7, 7 191.3) pg/ml, respectively. The level of LAMC2 in the M2 group was significantly higher than that in the M0 and M1 groups ( Z=-3.46, -3.32, P=0.001, 0.004). Conclusion:The diagnostic efficacy of LAMC2 combined with AFP for HCC was significantly higher than that of either LAMC2 alone or AFP alone. Serum LAMC2 levels were significant different among the groups of HCC patients with different types of MVI.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA) for detection of Schistosoma japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen in Dongting Lake region, so as to provide insights into improving the schistosomiasis surveillance program among boatmen and fishermen. METHODS: The boatmen and fishermen were detected for S. japonicum infections using IHA and Kato-Katz technique or miracidium hatching test nylon gauze simultaneously at schistosomiasis testing sites in the anchor sites for boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region during the period from 2014 to 2016, and using IHA for serological screening followed by parasitological testing of seropositives during the period from 2017 to 2019. The sensitivity and specificity of IHA were evaluated for detection of S. japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen, with the 2014-2016 parasitological testing results as a gold standard. In addition, the seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections was compared among boatmen and fishermen with different characteristics and among years. RESULTS: A total of 306 schistosomiasis testing sites were assigned for boatmen and fishermen, and a total of 143 360 person-time boatmen and fishermen were tested for S. japonicum infections in the Dongting Lake region from 2014 to 2019. The sensitivity and specificity of IHA were 69.9%, 97.3% and 96.1% (χ² = 74.6, P < 0.05), and 70.9%, 74.5% and 71.9% for detection of S. japonicum infections from 2014 to 2016 (χ² = 29.4, P < 0.05), respectively. The seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced from 30.3% in 2014 to 1.8% in 2019 among boatmen and fishermen, appearing an overall tendency towards a decline (Z = 1 552.4, P < 0.05). In addition, male, individuals at ages of 45 to 60 years, full-time boatmen and fishermen were more likely to be seropositive for S. japonicum infections (all P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections appeared a tendency towards a decline among boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region year by year from 2014 to 2019. IHA presented a high efficacy for screening of S. japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region.
Animals ; China/epidemiology* ; Hemagglutination ; Humans ; Lakes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis/epidemiology* ; Schistosomiasis japonica/prevention & control* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

BACKGROUND: Reviving patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (DOCs) has always been focused and challenging in medical research. Owing to the limited effectiveness of available medicine, recent research has increasingly turned towards neuromodulatory therapies, involving the stimulation of neural circuits. We summarised the progression of research regarding neuromodulatory therapies in the field of DOCs, compared the differences among different studies, in an attempt to explore optimal stimulation patterns and parameters, and analyzed the major limitations of the relevant studies to facilitate future research. METHODS: We performed a search in the PubMed database, using the concepts of DOCs and neuromodulation. Inclusion criteria were: articles in English, published after 2002, and reporting clinical trials of neuromodulatory therapies in human patients with DOCs. RESULTS: Overall, 187 published articles met the search criteria, and 60 articles met the inclusion criteria. There are differences among these studies regarding the clinical efficacies of neurostimulation techniques for patients with DOCs, and large-sample studies are still lacking. CONCLUSIONS Neuromodulatory techniques were used as trial therapies for DOCs wherein their curative effects were controversial. The difficulties in detecting residual consciousness, the confounding effect between the natural course of the disease and therapeutic effect, and the heterogeneity across patients are the major limitations. Large-sample, well-designed studies, and innovations for both treatment and assessment are anticipated in future research.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; Consciousness ; Consciousness Disorders/therapy* ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of 100 units of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) intradetrusor injection in patients with overactive bladder.Methods:From April 2016 to December 2018, 17 tertiary hospitals were selected to participate in this prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Two phases of study were conducted: the primary phase and the extended phase. This study enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years who had been inadequately managed by anticholinergic therapy (insufficient efficacy or intolerable side effects) and had spontaneous voiding with overactive bladder. Exclusion criteria included patients with severe cardiac, renal and hepatic disorders, patients with previous botulinum toxin treatment for 6 months or allergic to BTX-A, patients with urinary tract infections, patients with urinary stones, urinary tract tumors, diabetes mellitus, and bleeding tendency. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to BTX-A group and placebo control group in a ratio of 2∶1. Two groups of patients received 20 intradetrusor injections of BTX-A 100U or placebo at the depth of the submucosal muscle layer respectively under cystoscope, including 5 injections at the base of the bladder, 3 injections to the bladder triangle, 5 injections each to the left and right walls and 2 injections to the top, sparing the bladder neck. As a placebo control group, patients received same volume of placebo containing no BTX-A and only adjuvant freeze-dried preparations for injection with the same method. A combination of gelatin, sucrose, and dextran served as adjuvants. Average micturition times per 24 hours, urinary incontinence (UI) episodes per day, average micturition volume per day, OAB symptom score(OABSS), and quality of life (QOL) score were recorded at baseline and the 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week after treatment. The secondary efficacy endpoints included the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week, as well as the change from baseline in the OABSS, QOL score, average frequency of urgency and UI episodes per day, urgency score, average micturition volume per day at 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. Patients were followed for 12 weeks to assess adverse events (AEs). After assessed at week 12, if the micturition times has decreased less than 50% compared to baseline and the patient is willing to receive retreatment, then patients could enter the extended trial phase. In that phase, patients in both groups were injected with 100 units BTX-A from 12th week onwards and then followed up the same indicators for 12 weeks.Results:216 patients were enrolled in this trial (144 cases in the BTX-A group and 72 cases in the placebo control group). Baseline characteristics such as age (47.75±14.20 in the BTX-A group and 46.39±15.55 in the control group), sex (25 male/117 female in the BTX-A group and 10/61 in the control group), and disease duration (0.51 years in the BTX-A group and 0.60 years in the control group) were balanced between the two groups( P>0.05). A marked reduction from baseline in average micturition times per 24 hours was observed in all treatment groups at the 6th week and the reduction of the two groups was statistically different ( P<0.001 and P=0.008 respectively). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week decreased from baseline by 2.40(0.70, 4.60)times for the BTX-A group and 0.70(-1.00, 3.30) times for the placebo control group respectively, and the difference between the two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.003). The change rates of average micturition times per 24 hours from baseline at the 6th week of the two groups were (16±22)% and (8±25)% respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.014). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week decreased by 2.00(0.00, 4.00)and 3.30(0.60, 5.03)for the BTX-A group, 1.00(-1.00, 3.00)and 1.70(-1.45, 3.85)for the placebo control group respectively. The difference between two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.038 and P=0.012); the changes of average urgency times per day for the BTX-A group and the control group at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week were 2.00(0.00, 4.30)and 2.40(0.30, 5.00), 3.00(0.30, 5.70)and 0.70(-1.30, 2.70), 0.70(-1.30, 3.00) and 1.35(-1.15, 3.50), respectively. There were significant differences between two groups at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week, ( P=0.010, P=0.003 and P=0.025, respectively). The OABSS of the BTX-A group and the control group at the 6th week decreased by 1.00(0.00, 4.00)and 0.50(-1.00, 2.00) compared with the baseline, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.003). 47 cases of BTX-A group and 34 cases of placebo control group entered the extended trial phase, and 40 and 28 cases completed the extended trial phase, respectively. The average micturition volume per 24 hours changed by -16.60(-41.60, -0.60)ml and -6.40(-22.40, 13.30)ml, (-35.67±54.41)ml and(-1.76±48.69)ml, (-36.14±41.51)ml and (-9.28±44.59)ml, (-35.85±43.35)ml and(-10.41±40.29)ml for two groups at the 12th, 14th, 18th and 24th week, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant at each follow-up time ( P=0.01, 0.006, 0.012 and 0.016, respectively). There was no significant difference in other parameters( P>0.05). However, adverse reactions after intradetrusor injection included increased residual urine volume (27 in the BTX-A group and 3 in the control group), dysuria (21 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), urinary infection (19 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), bladder neck obstruction (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), hematuria (3 in the BTX-A group and 1 in the control group), elevated alanine aminotransferase (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), etc. During the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in the other adverse events between two groups except the increase of residual urine volume( P<0.05). In the primary trial phase, among the 27 cases with increased residual urine volume in BTA group, only 1 case (3.70%) with PVR more than 300 ml; the PVR of 3 patients in the placebo group was less than 100 ml. The increase of residual urine volume caused by the injection could be improved or disappeared with the passage of time. Conclusions:Intradetrusor injection of Chinese BTX-A improved the average micturition times per 24 hours, the average daily urgent micturition times, OABSS, and average micturition volume per time, and reduced the adverse effects in patients with overactive bladder.Chinese BTX-A at dose of 100U demonstrated durable efficacy and safety in the management of overactive bladder.

Objective:To observe the effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) on the prognosis of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) accompanied with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted in Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology when authors worked as medical team members for treating COVID-19. COVID-19 patients with pulse oxygen saturation/fraction of inspiration oxygen (SpO 2/FiO 2, S/F) ratio < 235, managed by medical teams [using S/F ratio instead of oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) to diagnose ARDS] from February to April 2020 were included. The patients were divided into NIPPV group and HFNC group according to their oxygen therapy modes. Clinical data of patients were collected, including general characteristics, respiratory rate (RR), fraction of FiO 2, SpO 2, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), S/F ratio in the first 72 hours, lymphocyte count (LYM), percentage of lymphocyte (LYM%) and white blood cell count (WBC) at admission and discharge or death, the duration of dyspnea before NIPPV and HFNC, and the length from onset to admission. The differences of intubation rate, all-cause mortality, S/F ratio and RR were analyzed, and single factor analysis and generalized estimation equation (GEE) were used to analyze the risk factors affecting S/F ratio. Results:Among the 41 patients, the proportion of males was high (68.3%, 28 cases), the median age was 68 (58-74) years old, 28 cases had complications (68.3%), and 34 cases had multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS, 82.9%). Compared with HFNC group, the proportion of complications in NIPPV group was higher [87.5% (21/24) vs. 41.2% (7/17), P < 0.05], and the value of LYM% was lower [5.3% (3.4%-7.8%) vs. 10.0% (3.9%-19.7%), P < 0.05], the need of blood purification was also significantly lower [0% (0/24) vs. 29.4% (5/17), P < 0.05]. The S/F ratio of NIPPV group gradually increased after 2 hours treatment and RR gradually decreased with over time, S/F ratio decreased and RR increased in HFNC group compared with baseline, but there was no significant difference in S/F ratio between the two groups at each time point. RR in NIPPV group was significantly higher than that in HFNC group after 2 hours treatment [time/min: 30 (27-33) vs. 24 (21-27), P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in rate need intubation and hospital mortality between NIPPV group and HFNC group [66.7% (16/24) vs. 70.6% (12/17), 58.3% (14/24) vs. 52.9% (9/17), both P > 0.05]. Analysis of the factors affecting the S/Fratio in the course of oxygen therapy showed that the oxygen therapy mode and the course of illness at admission were the factors affecting the S/F ratio of patients [ β values were -15.827, 1.202, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were -29.102 to -2.552 and 0.247-2.156, P values were 0.019 and 0.014, respectively]. Conclusion:Compared with HFNC, NIPPV doesn't significantly reduce the intubation rate and mortality of patients with COVID-19 accompanied with ARDS, but it significantly increases the S/F ratio of those patients.

As an ancient parasitic disease, schistosomiasis has been endemic in Dongting Lake areas for more than 2 100 years. In the early 20th century, the first human case of schistosomiasis in China was reported in Dongting Lake areas, which was paid extensive attention. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, large-scale schistosomiasis control activities were launched promptly in Dongting Lake areas, and great successes have been achieved following the three stages of control efforts, including the snail control-based stage, synchronous chemotherapy for humans and livestock-based control stage and infectious source control-based control stage. In 2015, transmission control of schistosomiasis was achieved in Hunan Province. This paper comprehensively describes the discovery and control of schistosomiasis, analyzes the challenges for the current schistosomiasis control programs and proposes the emphasis for future control activities in Dongting Lake areas, so as to provide insights into the schistosomiasis control program in this area.

Objective:To propose a Chinese diagnostic criterion for rosacea on the basis of clinical feature analysis of rosacea, and to assess its sensitivity and specificity.Methods:A total of 3 350 Chinese patients with newly diagnosed rosacea were collected from Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between December 2017 and July 2018, their phenotypes and clinical features were retrospectively analyzed, and a Chinese modified diagnostic criterion for rosacea was put forward. A national multi-center clinical observational trial, which included 2 269 patients with rosacea and 2 408 patients with other facial skin diseases from 28 centers, was conducted to verify this diagnostic criterion. Then, the sensitivity and specificity of the modified diagnostic criterion were evaluated by comparing with the 2017 standard classification of rosacea developed by the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee (NRSEC) .Results:Fixed centrofacial erythema occurred in 3 350 (100%) patients with rosacea. Flushing occurred before or simultaneously with fixed erythema in 1 850 (99.4%) of the 1 861 patients with erythema on the cheeks; among the 1 489 patients with erythema on the nose or perioral area, only 52 (3.5%) had flushing; all the 342 patients presenting with phymatous changes had fixed erythema before phymatous changes. Based on the above clinical findings, it was proposed that patients with periodically aggravated fixed erythema on the cheeks accompanied with flushing could be diagnosed with rosacea; patients with fixed erythema on the nose and perioral area accompanied with at least one of selective phenotypes (flushing, telangiectasia, papules and pustules, phymatous changes, or ocular manifestations) could be diagnosed with rosacea. The national multi-center clinical observational trial revealed that the sensitivity of the Chinese modified diagnostic criterion for rosacea was 99.6%, which was close to the sensitivity (100%) of the NRSEC standard, and its specificity was 91.9%, higher than the specificity (73.3%) of the NRSEC standard.Conclusion:The Chinese modified diagnostic criterion for rosacea has good sensitivity and specificity, and can facilitate the early diagnosis of phymatous rosacea.

BACKGROUND:The research and application of platelet-rich plasma in tissue regeneration and restoration have always been an issue of concern in the medicine and bioengineering fields.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the effects of platelet-rich plasma in combination with tendon stem cells on histomorphology change and matrix metalloproteinase 1 expression of the tendon tissues in a rabbit model of Achilles tendinopathy.METHODS:Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into model group (n=32) and blank control group (n=8).In the model group,the animals were injected about 2 cm distant to the attachment point of the left calcaneus with prostaglandin E2 (once a week,for totally 4 weeks) to make the animal model of tendinopathy.The rabbits in the blank control group were injected the equal amount of normal saline.After 4 weeks,model rabbits were randomly divided into four subgroups:combination group,tendon stem cell group,platelet-rich plasma group and model control group,with eight rabbits in each group.Platelet-rich plasma and tendon stem cells,alone or in combination,and normal saline were injected into the corresponding group,twice with an interval of 3 weeks.At 6 weeks after injection,the tendon tissue was collected and stained for histological examination and detection of matrix metalloproteinasa 1 expression.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Hematoxylin-eosin staining:the tendon fibers in the combinationgroup were intact and arranged orderly;in the tendon stem cell group,the tendon fibers were almost arranged orderly despite some fractured fibers;in the platelet-rich plasma group,fiber breakage and loose fiber structure were observed;in the model control group,there were no intact tendon fibers,with the presence of inflammatory cell filtration.(2) Masson staining:The tendon fibers in the combination group had slight wave-shaped changes but the fibers were not cut off;in the tendon stem cell group,the tendon fibers were slightly in disorder,but with the intact structure,and obvious inflammatory cell filtration was observed;in the platelet-rich plasma group,fiber breakage,reduced collagen fibers and inflammatory cell filtration were obviously observed;in the model control group,there were no intact tendon fibers,and inflammatory cell filtration was clearly visible.(3) The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1:Compared with the blank control group,the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 was significantly higher in the other groups except the combination group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 between the combination group and blank control group (P ＞ 0.05).To conclude,the combination of platelet-rich plasma and tendon stem cells can inhibit the vicious cycle of degeneration of collagen and extracellular matrix,reduce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in tenocytes,and delay inflammation responses and degeneration due to tendinopathy.