Intestinal fibrosis is a major complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leading to a high incidence of surgical interventions and significant disability. Despite its clinical relevance, no targeted pharmacological therapies are currently available. This review aims to explore the underlying mechanisms driving intestinal fibrosis and address unresolved scientific questions, offering insights into potential future therapeutic strategies. We conducted a literature review using data from PubMed up to October 2024, focusing on studies related to IBD and fibrosis. Intestinal fibrosis results from a complex network involving stromal cells, immune cells, epithelial cells, and the gut microbiota. Chronic inflammation, driven by factors such as dysbiosis, epithelial injury, and immune activation, leads to the production of cytokines like interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-17, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. These mediators activate various stromal cell populations, including fibroblasts, pericytes, and smooth muscle cells. The activated stromal cells secrete excessive extracellular matrix components, thereby promoting fibrosis. Additionally, stromal cells influence the immune microenvironment through cytokine production. Future research would focus on elucidating the temporal and spatial relationships between immune cell-driven inflammation and stromal cell-mediated fibrosis. Additionally, investigations are needed to clarify the differentiation origins of excessive extracellular matrix-producing cells, particularly fibroblast activation protein (FAP) + fibroblasts, in the context of intestinal fibrosis. In conclusion, aberrant stromal cell activation, triggered by upstream immune signals, is a key mechanism underlying intestinal fibrosis. Further investigations into immune-stromal cell interactions and stromal cell activation are essential for the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent, alleviate, and potentially reverse fibrosis.
Humans ; Fibrosis/metabolism* ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/pathology* ; Animals ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism* ; Intestines/pathology*

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective To summarize the clinical phenotype and gene mutation characteristics of early epileptic encephalopathy caused by STXBP1 gene mutation and the application of second-generation gene sequencing in etiological diagnosis.Methods Retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics,gene test results,treatment and efficacy of 19 children with epileptic encephalopathy with genetic diagnosis of STXBP1 gene mutation who were seen in the Department of Pediatrics of the Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2017 to January 2021.Results The disease started within 1 month after birth in 15 children(78.9%).All 19 children had significant electro-encephalo gram(EEG)changes:13 cases of burst suppression(68.4%)and high arrhythmia in 12 cases(63.2%).A total of 18 pathogenic variants were detected in 19 children,all of them new,of which 7 loci have not been reported so far.Five children were diagnosed with Otahara syndrome,five with infantile spasms,and nine with an epileptic syndrome that could not be classified.At a follow-up of 6 months to 4 years and 5 months,1 case was discontinued,5 cases had complete remission of seizures,6 cases had partial remission,and 7 cases were ineffective.8 of the 12 children with seizure remission or control were treated effectively with combination levetiracetam,4 of the 6 children with spasms responded with the addition of vigabatrin,and 7 presented with drug refractory epilepsy.All 19 children had varying degrees of developmental delay.Conclusion Mental-motor retardation and recurrent seizures are the main,independent phenotypic features of STXBP1-encephalopathy,STXBP1 gene variants are predominantly de novo variants,second-generation gene sequencing diagnosis helps in the early diagnosis of STXBP1-encephalopathy,levetiracetam and aminocaproic acid may be partially effective in controlling seizures in STXBP1-encephalopathy,and ketogenic diet provides new ideas for early-onset epileptic encephalopathy treatment provides a new idea.

Objective:To investigate the surgical techniques and advantages of Ti-Robot-assisted surgery for pelvic fragility fractures in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective review was performed on geriatric patients presenting with pelvic fractures at the Orthopedics Department of Trauma, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University from September 2019 to December 2022. Minimally invasive procedures were executed with the assistance of the Ti-Robot, and the therapeutic outcomes were appraised. The cohort comprised 24 patients aged ≥60 years, consisting of 6 men and 18 women, with a mean age of 66.1±4.9 years (range, 60-77 years). Fourteen patients sustained high-energy trauma, while 10 encountered low-energy trauma. Fracture classification utilized the FFP system proposed by Rommens and Hofmann. The cohort included 20 patients with FFP II fractures (5 males, 15 females; 4 of type IIa, 12 of type IIb, and 4 of type IIc) and 4 patients with FFP III fractures (1 male, 3 females; all type IIIa). The Matta standard assessment scale gauged fracture reduction, while the Gras classification, with Ti-Robot assistance, assessed screw positioning. Postoperative functionality was holistically assessed based on the Majeed quantitative evaluation system, focusing on pain intensity, sitting, standing, walking, and daily activities. The visual analogue scale (VAS) gauged pain levels in patients with type II fractures, pre and 72 hours post-surgery.Results:According to the Matta standard assessment scale, postoperative fracture reduction quality in 24 elderly patients showed 18 as excellent, 4 as good, and 2 as fair, yielding a 92% (22/24) combined excellent and good rate. Based on the Gras classification, 52 screws were rated as excellent and 7 as good, achieving a 100% positive rate. Utilizing Majeed's modified pelvic fracture evaluation system, postoperative functional recuperation revealed 19 patients as excellent and 5 as good. There were no reports of severe internal disease exacerbations, neurological manifestations, infections, or intraoperative extensive hemorrhaging, with all patients remaining stable. Fractures exhibited robust healing during follow-ups, averaging a recovery time of 3.5±0.7 months (range, 3-5 months). The VAS for 20 patients with FFP type II fractures decreased from 6.3±2.0 pre-surgery to 4.1±1.4 post-surgery ( t=6.14, P=0.003), signifying substantial pain mitigation. Conclusion:In the elderly with pelvic fragility fractures, particularly type II, securing with channel screws is viable. The Ti-Robot-assisted minimally invasive approach is advocated due to its potential to diminish surgical risks and expedite postoperative recuperation.

During coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic, the treatment of severe trauma has been impacted. The Consensus on emergency surgery and infection prevention and control for severe trauma patients with 2019 novel corona virus pneumonia was published online on February 12, 2020, providing a strong guidance for the emergency treatment of severe trauma and the self-protection of medical staffs in the early stage of the epidemic. With the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council renaming "novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "novel coronavirus infection" and the infection being managed with measures against class B infectious diseases since January 8, 2023, the consensus published in 2020 is no longer applicable to the emergency treatment of severe trauma in the new stage of epidemic prevention and control. In this context, led by the Chinese Traumatology Association, Chinese Trauma Surgeon Association, Trauma Medicine Branch of Chinese International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, and Editorial Board of Chinese Journal of Traumatology, the Chinese expert consensus on emergency surgery for severe trauma and infection prevention during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic ( version 2023) is formulated to ensure the effectiveness and safety in the treatment of severe trauma in the new stage. Based on the policy of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council and by using evidence-based medical evidence as well as Delphi expert consultation and voting, 16 recommendations are put forward from the four aspects of the related definitions, infection prevention, preoperative assessment and preparation, emergency operation and postoperative management, hoping to provide a reference for severe trauma care in the new stage of the epidemic prevention and control.

The establishment of a nutritional pathway is the premise and basis of nutritional therapy for patients with malignant tumor. The nasogastric tube, nasoenteric tube, and percutaneous endoscopic gastric/jejunostomy are commonly used clinical pathways for enteral nutrition (EN) therapy. However, these EN pathways are often difficult to establish in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) with pyloric or duodenum primary obstruction. For this reason, a new type biliary-intestinal nutrient tube placed through percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography drainage (PTCD) pathway was designed by the medical staff of hepatobiliary surgery department of Yinchuan First People's Hospital, and National Utility Model Patent of China were obtained (ZL 2020 2 0283951.5, ZL 2020 2 0288938.9). The new biliary-intestinal nutrient tube has two types: double-lumen tube and single-lumen tube, which consists of tube head, tube body, tail ring and developing ring. The double lumen tube realizes bile internal drainage and EN simultaneously through the double lumen structure of the tube body. The single-lumen tube is used for nutrient infusion after bile duct metal stent implantation, which is not limited by the type of nutrient solution. The tail ring of the two types of nutrient tube is placed in the upper jejunum to reduce retrograde infection and unexpected extubation. Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the advantages of simple structure, reasonable design, safe and effective placement through PTCD pathway, and opens up a new EN path for MOJ patients.

Tocilizumab has been reported to attenuate the "cytokine storm" in COVID-19 patients. We attempted to verify the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab therapy in COVID-19 and identify patients most likely to benefit from this treatment. We conducted a randomized, controlled, open-label multicenter trial among COVID-19 patients. The patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either tocilizumab in addition to standard care or standard care alone. The cure rate, changes of oxygen saturation and interference, and inflammation biomarkers were observed. Thirty-three patients were randomized to the tocilizumab group, and 32 patients to the control group. The cure rate in the tocilizumab group was higher than that in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (94.12% vs. 87.10%, rate difference 95% CI-7.19%-21.23%, P = 0.4133). The improvement in hypoxia for the tocilizumab group was higher from day 4 onward and statistically significant from day 12 (P = 0.0359). In moderate disease patients with bilateral pulmonary lesions, the hypoxia ameliorated earlier after tocilizumab treatment, and less patients (1/12, 8.33%) needed an increase of inhaled oxygen concentration compared with the controls (4/6, 66.67%; rate difference 95% CI-99.17% to-17.50%, P = 0.0217). No severe adverse events occurred. More mild temporary adverse events were recorded in tocilizumab recipients (20/34, 58.82%) than the controls (4/31, 12.90%). Tocilizumab can improve hypoxia without unacceptable side effect profile and significant influences on the time virus load becomes negative. For patients with bilateral pulmonary lesions and elevated IL-6 levels, tocilizumab could be recommended to improve outcome.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome

Objeetive To analyze the clinical efficacy of liver transplantation (OLT) for patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS).Methods From 2008 to 2013,420 adult patients underwent liver transplantation in our hospital.There were 91 patients with,and 329 patients without,HPS.The 5-year survival and mortality rates after OLT for the two groups were retrospectively analyzed.Results There were no significant differences between patients without and with HPS in age,primary disease,Child-Pugh score,MELD score,cold ischemia time and warm ischemia time.However,the differences on serum albumin [(29.6 ± 1.2) g/L vs.(26.4 ± 1.6) g/L] and blood oxygen pressure [(61.0 ±9.0) mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) vs.(87.0 ± 6.0) mmHg] were significantly different (P ＜ 0.05).The 1-year cure rate was 65.9％ (60/91) in 91 patients with HPS after liver transplantation.The 1,3,5-year cumulative survival rates for patients without HPS were 97.3％,90.9％ and 80.3％,respectively,and the main causes of death were primary graft dysfunction,recurrent cardiovascular events and primary disease recurrence or tumors.The 1,3,5-year cumulative survival rates for patients with HPS were 65.9％,59.3％ and 56.0％,and the main causes of death were multiple-organ failure,pulmonary infection and cerebrovascular events.Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the survival of patients with HPS was significantly lower than that of patients without HPS (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for patients with HPS,but the short-term mortality rate is relatively high.We still need to learn more about HPS to improve the survival rate of patients with HPS after liver transplantation.

Objective To investigate the correlation of incident pneumonia and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D] levels in elderly patients with fragility hip fractures.Methods 132 patients with fragility hip fractures were divided into the pneumonia group [n=43,14 males and 29 females,aged 63-97 years,a mean age of (83.8±7.1) years] and the non-pneumonia group [n=89,28 males and 61 females,aged 60-93 years,a mean age of (77.1±8.1) years].Fasting venous blood samples were taken on the second day after admission.Serum 25 (OH)D levels were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results Vitamin D deficiency was found in 90.7％ of the patients in the pneumonia group,52.8％ in the non-pneumonia group (x2=24.953,P＜0.05).The age and smoking rate were higher in the pneumonia group than in the non-pneumonia group (t=4.661,P＜ 0.05;x2 =4.459,P=0.035).Logistic regression analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D levels,age and smoking were independent impact factors for pneumonia.When serum 25(OH)D levels were less than or equal to 20 g/L,the incidence of pneumonia was increased and the risk of pneumonia was 8.66 times higher than that for patients with normal 25 (OH)D levels.Conclusions The risk of pneumonia in patients with brittle hip fractures is correlated with age,smoking and the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level,with the latter as a major risk factor.Patients with brittle hip fractures should be supplemented with vitamin D as early as possible in order to reduce the risk of incident of pneumonia.

BACKGROUND:StageIorIIKummel’s diseaseisusualy suggested to be treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) orpercutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). Stage IIIKummel’s diseasewith neurologic deficit is treated with open decompression, cement-augmented combined with internalfixation. However, surgical options for stage IIIKummel’s diseasewithdural saccompression butwithnonervous symptoms arein disputeand rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigatethesurgical options of Kummel’s disease with vertebral posterior walcolapse. METHODS:Fourteen patients with Kummel’s disease with vertebral posterior wal colapse wereenroled as experimental groupandtreated with PVP or PKP based on the degree of postural reduction.Another28 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture as control group were treated with PKP. Thenalpatients were folowed up to observe vertebralheight, Cobb angle, visual analog scale and the Oswestry disability index. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After folowed up for 10 to 42 months, therestoredvertebralheight, Cobb angle, visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index were significantly improved inthetwo groups (P<0.05). Thepostoperativevertebralheight intheexperimental group was significantly higher than thatinthe control group(P< 0.05).Butno significant differencesin Cobb angle, visual analog scalescoresand Oswestry disability indexwere found between thetwo groups after operation (P> 0.05). These data suggest that based on the degree of postural reduction, individualizedPVP or PKP for Kummel’s disease with vertebral posterior wal colapsecanattain satisfactoryoutcomes.