Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and the effectiveness of surgical treatment of adrenal cysts. Methods: The clinical data of adrenal cysts in Affiliated Zhangye people′s Hospital, Hexi College from May 2005 to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical manifestations, diagnosis, surgical methods, postoperative pathological results and follow-up process. Seventeen patients with adrenal cysts were identified including 10 males and 7 females. The median age was 45.6 ranging from 30 to 75. There were 12 left lesions and 5 right lesions. Only 4 patients (23.5%) had clinical symptoms, including low back pain, abdominal pain and dizziness caused by hypertension. Ultrasound, CT and MRI were the main imaging methods for preoperative diagnosis. Results: All patients underwent surgical treatment. Laparoscopic surgery was adapted in 14 cases. The average operation time was (70.2 ± 18.5) min and the average bleeding was (47.0 ± 12.1) ml. For open surgery in 3 cases, the average operation time was (103.5 ± 25.0) min and the average bleeding was (85.6 ± 20.5) ml. Postoperative pathological results showed endothelial cysts in 11 cases, epithelial cysts in 3 cases and pseudocysts in 3 cases. No recurrence of cysts or hypoadrenalism occurred in 3-75 months′ follow-up. Conclusions Adrenal cysts are relatively rare and generally benign lesions. Imaging examination, especially abdominal enhanced CT is essential for diagnosis. Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method for the treatment of adrenal cysts.

Objective:To assess the role of Delta-RBC parameters in the automated hematocrit analyzer RET channel for the recognition of cold agglutinins (CA) and to explore the value of RET channel optical method parameters in correcting interference with CA.Methods:This is a retrospective study. The Cas group included 68 samples with Cas interference and the control group included 45 samples without CA interference. All specimens were collected from Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University Outpatient Department from January 2022 to January 2023. Specimens in both the CA and Control group were examined using the CBC+RET channel at room temperature. Recorded and calculated the Impedance method test parameters RBC-I, HGB, HCT-I, MCH-I, MCV-I, MCHC-I and the Optical method test parameters RBC-O, HCT-O, MCH-O, R-MFV, MCHC-O, Delta-RBC. Examined the specimens in the CA group using the CBC channel after prewarmed at 37 ℃ for 2 h, and Impedance method parameters RBC-I 37 ℃ 2 h, HGB 37 ℃ 2 h, HCT-I 37 ℃ 2 h, MCH-I 37 ℃ 2 h, MCV-I 37 ℃ 2 h, MCHC-I 37 ℃ 2 h were recorded. The ROC curves were used to analyze the discrimination efficacy of Delta-RBC in identifying CA interference, and the Bland-Altman method was used to analyze the consistency between the results of the optical method RBC parameters at room temperature and the results of the impedance method after prewarming. The correlation analysis was performed using Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis to analyze the results of the RBC parameters before and after prewarming in the CA group. Result:If Delta-RBC was used as diagnostic indicators for the identification of CA interference, the best cut-off value was 1.065, with AUCs of 0.998. In the CA group, the correlation coefficients between RBC-O, HCT-O, R-MFV, MCH-O, MCHC-O, and RBC-I 37 ℃ 2 h, HCT-I 37 ℃ 2 h, MCV-I 37 ℃ 2 h, MCH-I 37 ℃ 2 h, MCHC-I 37 ℃ 2 h were 0.985, 0.981, 0.729, 0.870, and 0.649, respectively. The percentages within the limits of agreement of the percentage differences between the results of the two methods were 95.6%, 92.6%, 95.6%, 94.1%, and 95.6%, respectively. Conclusions:The RBC parameter Delta-RBC from RET channel optical method can be used as an indicator to effectively assist in the clinical determination of the presence of CA. Reporting results using the optical method RBC parameters of the RET channel can correct the interference of CA without specimen pre-treatment and obtain more correct results of complete blood counts.

Objective To investigate the stability of IgE in postmortem plasma and hemolyzed samples under different storage conditions and freezing-thawing. Methods Thirty nine cardiac blood samples were collected from non-frozen corpses with the postmortem interval of less than 48 hours, including 20 plasma samples and 19 hemolyzed samples taken from whole blood. The samples were stored at -20 ℃, 4 ℃ and 25 ℃ for 28 d and at -80 ℃ for 1 year to evaluate the stability of IgE under different storage conditions. Repeated freezing-thawing treatment was conducted for 5 times to explore the stability of IgE in postmortem plasma and hemolyzed samples. IgE concentration in plasma and hemolyzed samples was detected by electroluminescence before and after treatment. Results The degradation rates of IgE in plasma samples under the three storage conditions, -20 ℃, 4 ℃ and 25 ℃ were close. After 28 d, the mean value was about 15%, the degradation speed of IgE in hemolyzed samples was faster than that of plasma under the same condition （P<0.05） and the degradation rate was faster than other two conditions under 25 ℃ （P<0.05）. The differences in the concentration of plasma samples after freezing at -80 ℃ for 1 year and that before freezing had no statistical significance （ P>0.05）, while the concentration of hemolyzed samples was degraded after freezing at -80 ℃ for 1 year （P<0.05）. The differences between the detection results of plasma and hemolyzed samples after repeated freezing-thawing for 5 times and that before freezing-thawing showed no statistical significance （ P>0.05）. Conclusion IgE has good freezing-thawing stability in postmortem plasma and hemolyzed samples. Stability of IgE is better in postmortem plasma samples than hemolyzed samples, thus it is recommended to separate plasma from postmortem blood samples as soon as possible in forensic practice.
Autopsy ; Forensic Medicine ; Freezing ; Immunoglobulin E ; Plasma

Previous studies have shown that postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is related to multiple factors including age, postoperative trauma, inflammation, postoperative pain, and anesthesia, among which postoperative pain is thought to play an important role in the development of POCD. This review summarizes the recent findings in the study of the role of postoperative pain in the pathogenesis of POCD in light of nerve injuries, neural remodeling and stress, and the progress in the prevention and treatment of POCD in elderly patients. It is of vital important to assess the postoperative pain and formulate adequate analgesic regimens for effective prevention and management of POCD to protect the brain functions of elderly patients.
Aged ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Pain, Postoperative ; complications ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of vitamin E on the respiratory function impairment in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after exposed to high temperature and PM. METHODS: Fifty-four 7-week-old SPF male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 9 experimental groups (n=6). The rat COPD model was established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and smoke exposure. After modeled, the rats were tracheal instilled with PM (0 mg/ml, 3.2 mg/ml) and intraperitoneally injected with vitamin E at the dose of 40 mg/kg (20 mg/ml). Part of rats (high temperature groups) were then exposed to high temperature (40℃), once (8 h) a day for three consecutive days. After the last exposure, the lung function of rats was detected. The expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) were detected by corresponding ELISA kits. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, exposure of high temperature and PM could inhibit the lung function of COPD rats significantly (P＜0.05); the level of MCP-1 was increased significantly in PM-exposure groups (P＜0.05); iNOS was increased significantly in the groups of high temperature (P＜0.05). Compared with the single-PM exposure groups, TNF-α in lung was decreased in the normal temperature health group and high temperature COPD group (P＜0.05) after treated with vitamin E; MCP-1 was decreased in all vitamin E-treated groups (P＜0.05); the decreased iNOS only appeared in the group of high temperature with vitamin E treatment. CONCLUSION High temperature and PM could aggravate the inflammation of COPD rats. As an antioxidant, vitamin E may protect the lung from the damage effects.
Animals ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; adverse effects ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Particulate Matter ; adverse effects ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is the common pathological process of various chronic liver diseases and is associated with the progression of liver diseases, and it is also a key factor affecting the outcome of liver diseases and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The early process of HF is reversible, but without timely intervention and treatment, HF may gradually aggravate and progress to liver cirrhosis and even HCC, which will endanger people's health. Therefore, it is of great significance to actively prevent and treat HF; however, due to the complex pathogenesis of HF, Western medicine treatment is limited and there is still a lack of effective and widely accepted anti-fibrotic drugs, and thus there is a huge demand for medical treatment. With the efforts of scholars in China and globally, traditional Chinese medicine treatment has become a hotspot and a key breakthrough point in reversing HF and preventing its progression, with the advantages of multiple targets and pathways. This article elaborates on the advantages and characteristics of TCM treatment of HF from the aspects of syndrome differentiation, method of treatment, drug compatibility, and modern molecular mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of Bushen Yiqi Huoxue Decoction BYHD) in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: A total of 180 patients with DOR diagnosed from December 2013 to December 2014 were equally assigned into progynova and duphaston (E+D) group, Zuogui Pill group and BYHD group with 60 cases in each by computerized randomization. Patients received E+D, Zuogui Pill or BYHD for 12 months, respectively. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E₂), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian volume, endometrial thickness, and the resistance indices (RIs) of ovarian arteries and uterine arteries were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: Nine women (4 from the E+D group, 3 from the Zuogui Pill group, and 2 from the BYHD group) withdrew from the study. After 6 months, Zuogui Pill and BYHD significantly decreased FSH and LH and increased endometrial thickness and AMH (all P<0.01). BYHD also resulted in E₂ elevation (P<0.05), ovary enlargement (P<0.05), AFC increase (P<0.01), and RI of ovarian arteries decrease (P<0.05). After 12 months, further improvements were observed in the Zuogui Pill and BYHD groups (all P<0.01), but BYHD showed better outcomes, with lower FSH, larger ovaries and a thicker endometrium compared with the Zuogui Pill group (all P<0.01). However, E+D only significantly increased endometrial thickness (P<0.01) and no significant improvements were observed in the RI of uterine arteries in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS BYHD had a favorable therapeutic effect in patients with DOR by rebalancing hormone levels, promoting ovulation, and repairing the thin endometrium. The combination of tonifying Shen (Kidney), benefiting qi and activating blood circulation may be a promising therapeutic strategy for DOR.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone/pharmacology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Ovarian Reserve

Congenital hydrocephalus is a major neurological disorder with high rates of morbidity and mortality; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Reproducible animal models mirroring both embryonic and postnatal hydrocephalus are also limited. Here, we describe a new mouse model of congenital hydrocephalus through knockout of β-catenin in Nkx2.1-expressing regional neural progenitors. Progressive ventriculomegaly and an enlarged brain were consistently observed in knockout mice from embryonic day 12.5 through to adulthood. Transcriptome profiling revealed severe dysfunctions in progenitor maintenance in the ventricular zone and therefore in cilium biogenesis after β-catenin knockout. Histological analyses also revealed an aberrant neuronal layout in both the ventral and dorsal telencephalon in hydrocephalic mice at both embryonic and postnatal stages. Thus, knockout of β-catenin in regional neural progenitors leads to congenital hydrocephalus and provides a reproducible animal model for studying pathological changes and developing therapeutic interventions for this devastating disease.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hydrocephalus/genetics* ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurons ; beta Catenin/genetics*