Polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） is one of the most prevalent gynecological diseases， and its incidence is increasing year by year， seriously affecting the physical and mental health of female patients. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex and has not been fully clarified. At present， PCOS is mainly treated by Western medicine， which， however， has poor efficacy and induces various adverse reactions. Therefore， developing safe and effective therapies has become a difficult problem that needs to be solved. Studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can regulate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B（PI3K/Akt）， mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （MAPK/ERK）， Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB （TLR4/NF-κB）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）/Smads， secreted glycoprotein/β-catenin （Wnt/β-catenin）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， and advanced glycation endproduct/receptor for advanced glycation endproducts （AGE/RAGE） signaling pathways to ameliorate insulin resistance， inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress， regulate endocrine hormone disorders， and intervene in apoptosis and autophagy， thus alleviating the symptoms， slowing down the disease progression， and improving the ovarian function. The treatment of PCOS with TCM has demonstrated definite effects and high safety. Therefore， exploring this disease from cellular and molecular perspectives can provide a theoretical basis for its clinical treatment and new drug development. However， there is a lack of systematic reviews on the modulation of relevant signaling pathways by TCM in the treatment of PCOS. This article reviews the research progress in the treatment of PCOS with the active ingredients and compound prescriptions of TCM by regulating relevant signaling pathways in recent years， with the aim of providing evidence to support the promotion of TCM for treating PCOS in the future.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of Pangshi antai zhixue decoction in the improvement of spontaneous abortion with heat syndrome by regulating the NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome. METHODS The binding activities of 13 main components in Pangshi antai zhixue decoction with NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein ， containing a CARD （ASC）， and caspase-1 precursor （pro- No.20-21ZY1053） caspase-1） were predicted by molecular docking. Sixty 1-day-old pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， dexamethasone group （0.002 g/kg）， and Pangshi antai zhixue decoction low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （11.025， 22.05， 44.10 g/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Each group was given distilled water/corresponding medicinal solution intragastrically， once a day， for 12 consecutive days. Except for normal group， other groups were given traditional Chinese medicine for warming yang and mifepristone to establish a model of spontaneous abortion with heat syndrome. 24 h after the last medication， serum levels of triiodothyronine （T3）， thyroxine （T4）， interleukin-2 （IL-2）， IL-4， IL-6， IL-10， and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） were all detected； the abortion rate and uterine coefficient were calculated； the pathological morphology of the pregnant uterus was observed； protein expressions of NLRP3， ASC and caspase-1 were detected. RESULTS The molecular docking results showed that the binding energies of 13 main components of Pangshi antai zhixue decoction with NLRP3， ASC， and pro-caspase-1 were all less than －5 kJ/moL. The animal experiment results showed that compared with normal group， the uterine coefficient and serum levels of IL-4， IL-6 and IL-10 were decreased significantly in model group （P＜0.05）； the abortion rate and serum levels of T3， T4， IL-2 and IFN-γ as well as protein expressions of NLRP3， ASC and caspase-1 were increased significantly （P＜0.05）； there were abortion lesions in the pregnant endometrium. Compared with the model group， most of the quantitative indicators mentioned above were significantly reversed in Pangshi antai zhixue decoction groups （P＜0.05）， and the endometrial miscarriage lesions in pregnancy were improved to varying degrees. CONCLUSIONS Pangshi antai zhixue decoction influences the immune balance between mother and fetus by regulating the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome， down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-2， and up-regulating anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4， IL-6 and IL-10， thereby improving spontaneous abortion with heat syndrome.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role and mechanism of Go-Ichi-Ni-San complex subunit 1 （GINS1） in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and the development of chemotherapy resistance. MethodsThe tumor database GEPIA2 was used to analyze the differential expression of GINS1 between HCC patients and healthy individuals， and pathological tissue samples were collected from 40 HCC patients who were admitted to The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from May 2017 to January 2021. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the difference in the expression of GINS1 between HCC tissue and corresponding adjacent tissue， and the correlation between the expression level of GINS1 and the clinical TNM stage of HCC was analyzed. Western blot was also used to measure the difference in the expression of GINS1 between HCC Huh7/Hep3B/Li-7/MHCC97H cell lines and normal human QSG7701 hepatocytes. The method of lentivirus transfection was used to establish the MHCC97H cell line with stable GINS1 knockdown and its negative control cell line. CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were used to measure cell proliferative capacity； scratch assay was used to measure cell migration ability； Transwell assay was used to measure cell invasion ability； cells were treated with oxaliplatin to measure their sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. Nude mice were used to establish a tumor-bearing model and observe the effect of GINS1 knockdown on the growth of HCC in vivo. Western Blot was used to measure the expression levels of the proteins associated with the Notch pathway and the JAK/STAT pathway. The cells were treated with the Notch receptor agonist Jagged-1 to analyze the association between GINS1 and the Notch/JAK/STAT pathway. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups； a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsThe expression of GINS1 was upregulated in HCC patients， HCC tissue， and HCC cell lines （all P<0.05）， and the expression level of GINS1 was positively correlated with the clinical TNM stage of HCC （r=0.822， P=0.011）. Compared with the negative control cells， the GINS1-knockdown MHCC97H cells showed significant reductions in proliferation， migration， and invasion activities （all P<0.01） and a significantly enhanced sensitivity to oxaliplatin （P<0.01）. Compared with the nude mice in the control group， GINS1 knockdown caused significant inhibition of tumor weight and volume in vivo in nude mice （all P<0.001）. Compared with the negative control cells， the GINS1-knockdown MHCC97H cells showed significant reductions in the expression levels of Notch1， Notch3， p-JAK2， and p-STAT3 （all P<0.05）， while there were no significant differences in the overall expression levels of JAK2 and STAT3 （P>0.05）. After Jagged-1 treatment， the GINS1-knockdown MHCC97H cells showed significant increases in proliferation， migration， and invasion activities and a significant reduction in sensitivity to oxaliplatin， as well as significant increases in the levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 （all P<0.05）. ConclusionGINS1 is upregulated in HCC and can promote HCC progression and chemotherapy resistance through the Notch/JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is indicated as a broad-spectrum medicine for a variety of diseases, including cancer and cardiac disease. While the role of ATO in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of ATO on HIRI. METHODS: In the present study, we established a 70% hepatic warm I/R injury and partial hepatectomy (30% resection) animal models in vivo and hepatocytes anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) models in vitro with ATO pretreatment and further assessed liver function by histopathologic changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell counting kit-8, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was transfected to evaluate the role of ERK1/2 pathway during HIRI, followed by ATO pretreatment. The dynamic process of autophagic flux and numbers of autophagosomes were detected by green fluorescent protein-monomeric red fluorescent protein-LC3 (GFP-mRFP-LC3) staining and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: A low dose of ATO (0.75 μmol/L in vitro and 1 mg/kg in vivo ) significantly reduced tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and hepatocyte apoptosis during the process of hepatic I/R. Meanwhile, ATO obviously promoted the ability of cell proliferation and liver regeneration. Mechanistically, in vitro  studies have shown that nontoxic concentrations of ATO can activate both ERK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) pathways and further induce autophagy. The hepatoprotective mechanism of ATO, at least in part, relies on the effects of ATO on the activation of autophagy, which is ERK-dependent. CONCLUSION Low, non-toxic doses of ATO can activate ERK/PI3K-AKT pathways and induce ERK-dependent autophagy in hepatocytes, protecting liver against I/R injury and accelerating hepatocyte regeneration after partial hepatectomy.
Animals ; Arsenic Trioxide ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/physiology* ; Arsenicals/therapeutic use* ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

As the search for effective treatments for COVID-19 continues, the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) presents a profound challenge. This study explores the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a supplementary treatment for severe COVID-19. A total of 110 critically ill COVID-19 patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vulcan Hill Hospital between Feb., 2020, and April, 2020 (Wuhan, China) participated in this observational study. All patients received standard supportive care protocols, with a subset of 81 also receiving TCM as an adjunct treatment. Clinical characteristics during the treatment period and the clinical outcome of each patient were closely monitored and analysed. Our findings indicated that the TCM group exhibited a significantly lower mortality rate compared with the non-TCM group (16 of 81 vs 24 of 29; 0.3 vs 2.3 person/month). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, TCM treatment was associated with improved survival odds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that TCM treatment could partially mitigate inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and contribute to the recovery of multiple organic functions, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Critical Illness ; Treatment Outcome

Critically ill patients are at high risk for hospital acquired infections, which can significantly increase the mortality rate and treatment costs for these patients. Therefore, in the process of treating the primary disease, strict prevention and control of new hospital infections is an essential component of the treatment for critically ill patients. The treatment of critically ill patients involves multiple steps and requires a concerted effort from various aspects such as theory, management, education, standards, and supervision to achieve effective prevention and control of hospital infections. However, there is currently a lack of unified understanding and standards for hospital infection prevention and control. To address this, in March 2024, a group of experts in critical care medicine, infectious diseases, and hospital infection from China discussed the current situation and issues of hospital infection control in the intensive care unit together. Based on a review of the latest evidence-based medical evidence from both domestic and international sources, 2024 Expert Consensus on Hospital Acquired Infection Control Principles in the Department of Critical Care Medicine was formed, aiming to provide a basis for the development of hospital infection prevention and control strategies in the field of critical care medicine.

Objective To investigate the risk factors affecting the malignancy of amorphous calcifications in the breast and to establish a predictive nomogram.Methods Patients with amorphous calcifications detected by mammography were retrospectively collected,clinical data were obtained from electronic medical record(EMR),and the mammographic features of the patients were assessed by diagnostic physicians.The risk factors affecting the malignancy of amorphous calcifications were analyzed to develop a predictive model and to assess the performance of the model.Results A total of 153 amorphous calcifications in 144 patients were included in the study,and the overall malignancy rate of calcifications was 20.92％.Patient's age ≥45 years,linear distribution of calcifications,unilateral single or unilateral multiple calcifications,and a larger maximum ratio of calcification extent all predicted a higher probability of malignancy,establishing a nomogram based on these 4 risk factors,with a 3.65％predicted probability of malig-nancy as the cut-off,33.99％(52/153)of patients were allowed to be spared biopsy.Conclusion Patient's age and the distribution,number,and maximum ratio of calcifications may be the risk predictors of malignancy for amorphous calcifications,with nomogram con-struction for distinguishing benignity from malignancy of amorphous calcifications via combining with mammographic features and clinical data.

Objective:To propose a novel refined subtyping of Neer type Ⅵ proximal humerus fracture-dislocation and explore its clinical application.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 36 patients who had been admitted to Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Friendship Hospital between January 2018 and December 2022 for surgical treatment with proximal humeral internal locking system (PHILOS) for Neer type Ⅵ proximal humerus fracture-dislocation. There were 25 males and 11 females with an age of (46.1±4.7) years. According to the fracture-dislocation and the separation between the humeral head and the stem, the patients with Neer type Ⅵ proximal humerus fracture-dislocation were further subdivided into 3 subtype groups (known as STAB subtypes): subtype-T group (dislocation of the shoulder joint with macro-capitellar fracture, n=14), subtype-A group (proximal humerus fracture-dislocation without separation of the humeral head from the humeral stem, n=12), and subtype-B group (dislocation of the proximal humerus fracture with separation of the humeral head from the humeral stem, n=10). STAB subtyping was performed on the same imaging data from all the patients at admission and 2 weeks later by 4 surgeons with different qualifications. Interobserver and intraobserver agreements of the STAB typing were verified. The operation time, fracture healing time, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, Constant-Murley score, and complications were recorded for patients in the 3 subtype groups. Results:The differences in the preoperative general data were not statistically significant between the 3 subtype groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for (11.2±4.2) months. The inter-observer and intra-observer Kappa values for STAB subtyping were 0.94 and 0.95, respectively. For subtype-T group, subtype-A group, and subtype-B group, respectively, the operation time was (68.9±5.6) min, (90.0±5.2) min, and (113.0±9.2) min; the fracture healing time was (9.0±0.8) weeks, (10.3±1.2) weeks, and (11.8±0.9) weeks; the VAS scores at the last follow-up were 1.0(1.0, 2.0) points, 2.0(1.0, 2.0) points, 2.0(2.0, 3.0) points; the Constant-Murley scores at the last follow-up were (83.6±2.8) points, (74.5±3.0) points, and (62.7±5.5) points. The differences between the 3 subtype groups in the above items were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The overall success rate of closed reduction was 61.1% (22/36). In subtype-T, subtype-A, and subtype-B groups, respectively, the number of patients with successful closed reduction was 13, 7, and 2, while complications occurred in 2, 3, and 6 patients. The differences in closed reduction and complications among the 3 groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The STAB subtyping proposed in this study demonstrates strong intra- and inter-group consistency. Because the refined STAB subtyping can reveal differences among all the Neer type Ⅵ proximal humeral fractures and dislocations, it may provide more precise guidance for personalized clinical decision-making.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) at 36.5 Gy in 10 fractions for the chest wall and reginal lymph nodes following modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer.Methods:This was a prospective, single-arm, phase Ⅱ clinical study. A total of 85 patients who received HFRT at 36.5 Gy in 10 fractions to the chest wall ± supraclavicular region following modified radical mastectomy for locally advanced breast cancer from March 2014 to December 2015 were included. The primary endpoint was radiotherapy toxicities. The secondary endpoints were locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).Results:The median follow-up period was 98 (94.0-109.0) months. Radiotherapy toxicities were mild. The incidence rates of grade 1 acute cutaneous and pulmonary toxicities were 52.9% and 40%, and those of grade 1 late cutaneous, pulmonary, and cardiac toxicities and upper extremity edema were 10.6%, 29.4%, 2.4%, and 21.2%, respectively. Only 1 (1.2%) patient suffered from grade 2 radiation-induced brachial plexus injury. Of the 85 patients, one patient had regional recurrence (supraclavicular lymph nodes), six patients had distant metastasis, and six patients died of breast cancer. The 9-year LRFFS, DFS, and OS were 97.7%, 91.8%, and 92.8%, respectively.Conclusions:HFRT at 36.5 Gy in 10 fractions following modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer is associated with mild toxicities. A phase Ⅲ study is necessary for validating HFRT's clinical efficacy.

This study aimed to explore key quality control factors that affected the prognosis of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Chinese mainland over six years (2015-2020). The data for this study were from 31 provincial and municipal hospitals (3425 hospital ICUs) and included 2 110 685 ICU patients, for a total of 27 607 376 ICU hospitalization days. We found that 15 initially established quality control indicators were good predictors of patient prognosis, including percentage of ICU patients out of all inpatients (%), percentage of ICU bed occupancy of total inpatient bed occupancy (%), percentage of all ICU inpatients with an APACHE II score ⩾15 (%), three-hour (surviving sepsis campaign) SSC bundle compliance (%), six-hour SSC bundle compliance (%), rate of microbe detection before antibiotics (%), percentage of drug deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis (%), percentage of unplanned endotracheal extubations (%), percentage of patients reintubated within 48 hours (%), unplanned transfers to the ICU (%), 48-h ICU readmission rate (%), ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) (per 1000 ventilator days), catheter related blood stream infection (CRBSI) (per 1000 catheter days), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) (per 1000 catheter days), in-hospital mortality (%). When exploratory factor analysis was applied, the 15 indicators were divided into 6 core elements that varied in weight regarding quality evaluation: nosocomial infection management (21.35%), compliance with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines (17.97%), ICU resources (17.46%), airway management (15.53%), prevention of deep-vein thrombosis (14.07%), and severity of patient condition (13.61%). Based on the different weights of the core elements associated with the 15 indicators, we developed an integrated quality scoring system defined as F score=21.35%xnosocomial infection management + 17.97%xcompliance with SSC guidelines + 17.46%×ICU resources + 15.53%×airway management + 14.07%×DVT prevention + 13.61%×severity of patient condition. This evidence-based quality scoring system will help in assessing the key elements of quality management and establish a foundation for further optimization of the quality control indicator system.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross Infection/epidemiology* ; Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data* ; Quality Control ; Quality Indicators, Health Care/statistics & numerical data* ; Sepsis/therapy* ; East Asian People/statistics & numerical data*