This study aims to explore the protective effect of Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction on rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction, and to clarify its possible mechanisms, providing a new basis for basic research on the mechanism of classic Chinese medicinal formula-mediated inflammatory response in preventing and treating heart failure induced by apoptosis after myocardial infarction. A heart failure model after myocardial infarction was established in rats by coronary artery ligation. The rats were divided into sham group, model group, and low, medium, and high-dose groups of Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction, with 10 rats in each group. The low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction were given 6.3, 12.6, and 25.2 g·kg~(-1) doses by gavage, respectively. The sham group and model group were given an equal volume of distilled water by gavage once daily for four consecutive weeks. Cardiac function was assessed using color Doppler echocardiography. Myocardial pathology was detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assay, and mitophagy was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin(IL)-1β, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression of apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), and cleaved caspase-3 was detected by Western blot. Additionally, the expression of phosphorylated nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB) p65(p-NF-κB p65)(upstream) and nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha(IκBα)(downstream) in the NF-κB signaling pathway was assessed by Western blot. The results showed that compared with the sham group, left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular short axis shortening(LVFS) in the model group were significantly reduced, while left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD) and left ventricular end systolic diameter(LVESD) increased significantly. Myocardial tissue damage was severe, with widened intercellular spaces and disorganized cell arrangement. The apoptosis rate was increased, and mitochondria were enlarged with increased vacuoles. Levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and NT-proBNP were elevated, indicating an obvious inflammatory response. The expression of pro-apoptotic factors Bax and cleaved caspase-3 increased, while the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 decreased. The expression of p-NF-κB p65 was upregulated, and the expression of IκBα was downregulated. In contrast, the Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction groups showed significantly improved of LVEF, LVFS and decreased LVEDD, LVESD compared to the model group. Myocardial tissue damage was alleviated, and intercellular spaces were reduced. The apoptosis rate decreased, mitochondrial volume decreased, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and NT-proBNP were lower. The expression of pro-apoptotic factors Bax and cleaved caspase-3 decreased, while the expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 increased. Additionally, the expression of p-NF-κB p65 decreased, while IκBα expression increased. In summary, this experimental study shows that Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction can reduce the inflammatory response and apoptosis rate in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction, which may be related to the regulation of the IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; Myocardial Infarction/physiopathology* ; Male ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Heart Failure/etiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/genetics* ; Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics*

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate long-term survivals and toxicities of early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in endemic area, evaluating the role of chemotherapy in stage II patients. Materials and Methods: Totally 187 patients with newly diagnosed NPC and restaged American Joint Committee on Cancer/ International Union Against Cancer 8th T1-2N0-1M0 were retrospectively recruited. All received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)±chemotherapy (CT) from 2001 to 2010. Results: With 15.7-year median follow-up, 10-year locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were 93.3%, 93.5%, 92.9% and 88.2%, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed cervical lymph nodes positive and pre-treatment prognostic nutritional index ≥ 52.0 could independently predict DMFS (p=0.036 and p=0.011), DSS (p=0.014 and p=0.026), and OS (p=0.002 and p < 0.001); Charlson comorbidity index < 3 points could predict DSS (p=0.011); age > 45 years (p=0.002) and pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 240 U/L (p < 0.001) predicted OS. No grade 4 late toxicity happened; grade 3 late toxicities included subcutaneous fibrosis (4.3%), deafness or otitis (4.8%), skin dystrophy (2.1%), and xerostomia (1.1%). No differences on survivals were shown between IMRT+CT vs. IMRT alone in stage II patients, even in T2N1M0 (p > 0.05). Unsurprising, patients in IMRT+CT had more acute gastrointestinal reaction, myelosuppression, mucositis, late ear toxicity, and cranial nerve injury (all p < 0.05) than IMRT alone group. Conclusion Superior tumor control and satisfying long-term outcomes could be achieved with IMRT in early-stage NPC with mild late toxicities. As CT would bring more toxicities, it should be carefully performed to stage II patients.

Objective:To analyze the occurrence of and risk factors for skin and mucosal infections after primary tumor resection in patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus, and to summarize relevant nursing experience.Methods:Clinical characteristics and postoperative skin and mucosal infections were retrospectively analyzed in patients with confirmed paraneoplastic pemphigus, who underwent primary tumor resection in Department of Dermatology, Peking University First Hospital between January 1999 and January 2021. Common infectious agents were analyzed, and infection-related risk factors were identified by logistic regression analysis.Results:A total of 44 patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus were included in this study, including 25 (56.8%) males and 19 (43.2%) females, and their age were 33.8 ± 15.4 years. Postoperatively, 21 (47.73%) patients developed skin and mucosal infections, and their postoperative hospital stay (median [ Q1, Q3]) was 38 (25, 60) days, which was significantly longer than that in patients without skin and mucosal infections (21 [12, 23] days, Z = -4.08, P < 0.001) . The most common pathogen was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (15 cases, 34.09%) . High glucocorticoid dosage per kilogram of body weight ( OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.46, P = 0.047) and receiving assisted ventilation therapy ( OR = 9.20, 95% CI: 2.01 - 42.13, P = 0.004) were independent risk factors for postoperative skin and mucosal infections. After active treatment and care, 37 (84.1%) patients recovered well at discharge. Conclusion:Skin and mucosal infections are a common postoperative complication in patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus, and the pathogens are mostly drug-resistant bacteria, which can lead to prolonged hospital stay, so attention should be paid to postoperative skin care; high postoperative glucocorticoid dosage per body weight and respiratory support may be associated with postoperative skin and mucosal infections.

Objective To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of Xerostomia Questionnaire ( XQ-C) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy. Methods XQ-C was translated according to the International Quality of Life Assessment project approach. Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in different radiotherapy stages were enrolled in this study and assessed by using the XQ-C. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire results were evaluated. The content validity was assessed by experts grading method. The construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis. The discriminant validity was determined by non-parametric method. The reliability was evaluated by Cronbach′s α and split-half reliability to assess the internal consistency. Results A total of 212 questionnaires were completely filled out. Content validity showed that the item content validity index ( I-CVI) ≥0.80, Scale-CVI/Ave=0.97, and P value of Kendall′s W test was 0.701. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that XQ-C was a unidimensional scale. The scale scores of patients at different stages of radiotherapy significantly differed, suggesting that the discriminant validity was good. Cronbach′s α of the scale was 0.951 and Guttman′s semi-reliability coefficient was 0.940. Conclusion The XQ-C is valid and reliable, which can be widely applied in the clinical diagnosis, treatment and research of xerostomia in Chinese nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of foscarnet sodium in the treatment of severe chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSTwo hundred and eight patients were enrolled in a multicenter, double-blind, controlled study. The patients received foscarnet sodium (foscarnet group) or saline (control group) injections for 4 weeks, and were then followed for 24 weeks.

RESULTSHBV DNA negative rate was 12.8% in the foscarnet group and 7.1% in the control group at the end of treatment; and it was 5.5% and 3.0% at the end of the follow-up period respectively (P > 0.05). The rate of HBV DNA decrease of more than 2 log copies/ml was 53.2% in the foscarnet group and 16.2% in the control group at the end of treatment, and 23.9% and 8.1% (P < 0.01) respectively at the end of the follow-up period. The rate of HBV DNA < 10(5) copies/ml was 64.2% and 30.3% at week 4 in the two groups respectively, and 40.4% and 22.2% (P < 0.01) at the end of the follow-up period. HBeAg negative rate was 17.3% and 5.8% at the end of the treatment, and 22% and 5.4% at the end of the follow-up period (P < 0.01). The rate of HBeAg seroconversion was 12.7% and 3.7% at week 4, and 16.7% and 1.5% at the end of the follow-up period. Response rate was 60.6% and 21.2% at the end of week 4 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFoscarnet sodium injection has a good effect on severe chronic hepatitis B patients and it is safe to use on them.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Foscarnet ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Twelve anaerobic fungal strains isolated from rumen and faeces of ruminants were screened for xylanase prodution. Isolate A4 strain identified as Neocallimastix had the highest xylanase activity among all isolates. With rice straw, corn straw , peanut straw and filter paper as fermentation substrates, the activities of xylanase by A4 were14.31 U/mL, 11.39 U/mL, 6.99 U/mL, 13.38 U/mL, respectively. The effect of cell-free rumen fluid and yeast extract on xylanase production was tested. The results showed that the concentration level of cell-free rumen fluid had no significant effect on xylanase production. However as yeast extract concentration decreased from 1.0 g/L to 0,5 g/L , the enzyme activity decreased significantly ( P