By employing the analytic hierarchy process(AHP), the CRITIC method(a weight determination method based on indicator correlations), and the AHP-CRITIC hybrid weighting method, the weight coefficients of evaluation indicators were determined, followed by a comprehensive score comparison. The grey correlation analysis was then performed to analyze the results calculated using the hybrid weighting method. Subsequently, a backpropagation-artificial neural network(BP-ANN) model was constructed to predict the extraction process parameters and optimize the extraction process for Shenxiong Huanglian Jiedu Granules(SHJG). In the extraction process, an L_9(3~4) orthogonal experiment was designed to optimize three factors at three levels, including extraction frequency, water addition amount, and extraction time. The evaluation indicators included geniposide, berberine, ginsenoside Rg_1 + Re, ginsenoside Rb_1, ferulic acid, and extract yield. Finally, the optimal extraction results obtained by the orthogonal experiment, grey correlation analysis, and BP-ANN method were compared, and validation experiments were conducted. The results showed that the optimal extraction process involved two rounds of aqueous extraction, each lasting one hour; the first extraction used ten times the amount of added water, while the second extraction used eight times the amount. In the validation experiments, the average content of each indicator component was higher than the average content obtained in the orthogonal experiment, with a higher comprehensive score. The optimized extraction process parameters were reliable and stable, making them suitable for subsequent preparation process research.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Neural Networks, Computer

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Erzhu Jiedu Decoction (EZJDD) Granules in treating mid-advanced hepatitis B virus-associated primary liver cancer (HBV-PLC) patients with Pi (Spleen)-deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome. METHODS: From January 2021 to June 2023, a cohort of 132 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to a control group or a EZJDD group according to the random numbers, with 66 patients in each group. The patients in the control group received conventional treatment for 3 months, followed by a 3-month follow-up. In addition to the conventional treatment, patients in the EZJDD group were administered EZJDD Granules (10.9 g/pack, 2 packs twice per day) orally for same duration. Progression-free survival (PFS) as primary outcome was evaluated by Kaplan Meier method. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores were used to assess the quality of life in two groups before and after treatment, and survival rates were determined as well. The efficacy of Chinese medicine syndrome was calculated with Nimodipine method. Liver function, tumor indicators and T lymphocyte subsets were measured, respectively. Safety indicators were recorded and assessed. RESULTS: Of the 116 patients who completed the study, 57 were in the control group and 59 in the EZJDD group. The median PFS was 3.53 months (106 days) in the EZJDD group compared to 2.33 months (70 days) in the control group (P=0.005). Six-month survival rate was 52.63% (30/57) in the control group and 69.49% (41/59) in the EZJDD group (P=0.039). The median KPS score in the EZJDD group [70(63, 90)] was higher than that in the control group [70(60, 80)] (P=0.013). The total effective rate of CM syndrome was 52.63% (30/57) in the control group and 77.97% (46/59) in the EZJDD group (P=0.005). The levels of alpha fetoprotein, alpha fetoprotein-L3, alpha-L-fucosidase and protein induced by Vitamin K absence or antagonist- II in the EZJDD group increased less than the control group (P>0.05). CD8⁺ levels were decreased, while CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ levels, as well as CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were significantly increased in the EZZJD group (P<0.05). No treatment-related adverse reactions were observed during the study. CONCLUSION EZJDD Granules significantly prolonged the median PFS and improved 6-month survival rate in patients with mid-advanced HBV-PLC (Registration No. ChiCTR2200056922).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Liver Neoplasms/complications* ; Hepatitis B virus/physiology* ; Hepatitis B/complications* ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Spleen/drug effects* ; Quality of Life ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Aged ; Syndrome

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.03.002.].

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective To explore the value of automatic segmentation technique combined with neurite dispersion and density imaging(NODDI)for displaying volume and microstructure changes of hippocampal subregion in patients with hippocampal sclerosis medial temporal lobe epilepsy(mTLE-HS).Methods MRI data of 33 patients with left mTLE-HS(mTLE-HS group)and 35 healthy adults(control group)were retrospectively analyzed.The hippocampal subregions were automatically segmented using FreeSurfer software,the volume of cornu Ammonis(CA)1,CA2-3,CA4,granulose cell-dentate gyrus(GC-DG)and subiculum were measured,then the NODDI parameters of each subregion were obtained through post-processing.The intra-and inter-groups hippocampal subregion volumes and NODDI parameters were compared,and the correlations of parameters being significantly different with the onset age and disease courses were analyzed.Results The volume of hippocampal subregions in mTLE-HS group were all lower than those in control group(all P＜0.05).In mTLE-HS group,the neurite density index(NDI)of left CA1 and CA4 subregions were both lower,while the free-water isotropic volume fraction(fiso)of the left CA1 subregion was higher than those of the right side(all P＜0.05).The orientation dispersion index(ODI)of left CA1,CA2-3 and CA4 subregions,as well as NDI of left CA1,CA4 and GC-DG subregions in mTLE-HS group were all lower than those in control group(all P＜0.05),while fiso of left CA1,GC-DG and subiculum subregions in mTLE-HS group were all higher than those in control group(all P＜0.05).The volume of left hippocampal subregions in patients with mTLE-HS were all moderately positively correlated with the onset age(r=0.540-0.667,all P＜0.001)but weakly negatively correlated with disease courses(r=-0.492--0.386,all P＜0.05).NDI of left CA4 and GC-DG subregions in patients with mTLE-HS were both weakly negatively correlated with disease courses(r=-0.418,-0.388,both P＜0.05).Conclusion Automatic segmentation technique combined with NODDI could be used to display the volume and microstructure changes of mTLE-HS.NDI might be a biomarker of mTLE-HS being sensitive to progressive neuronal damage.

Refractory acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), which is characterized by a low sensitivity to conventional induction therapy and poor prognosis, poses significant challenges during treatment. This study reported a case of refractory T-ALL patient with mutations in the JAK1, JAK3, and STAT5B genes from Nanjing University’s Gulou Hospital. Following an unsuccessful course of standard VDLP regimen chemotherapy, the treatment was modified to include ruxolitinib in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine. Subsequent to this therapy, the patient achieved bone marrow minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. Notably, pleural effusion and mediastinal mass significantly improved the post-chest cavity infusion of dexamethasone combined with etoposide at the same stage. The patient also underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation upon achieving bone marrow remission and was followed up until January 2024. Ruxolitinib combined with venetoclax and azacytidine has shown promising efficacy and safety in treating refractory T-ALL harboring the JAK1, JAK3, and STAT5B mutations, providing a novel therapeutic approach for such patients.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal hematopoietic stem cell disease caused by abnormal expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) on the cell membrane due to mutations in the phosphatidylinositol glycan class A(PIGA) gene. It is commonly characterized by intravascular hemolysis, repeated thrombosis, and bone marrow failure, as well as multiple systemic involvement symptoms such as renal dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, swallowing difficulties, chest pain, abdominal pain, and erectile dysfunction. Due to the rarity of PNH and its strong heterogeneity in clinical manifestations, multidisciplinary collaboration is often required for diagnosis and treatment. Peking Union Medical College Hospital, relying on the rare disease diagnosis and treatment platform, has invited multidisciplinary clinical experts to form a unified opinion on the diagnosis and treatment of PNH, and formulated the Expert Consensus of Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (2024), with the hope of promoting the standardization of PNH diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To evaluate the application value of the three-point localization method in improving the quality and efficiency of four-chamber view acquisition in cardiac magnetic resonance(CMR)imaging.Methods A total of 215 patients who underwent four-chamber view in CMR imaging from January 2022 to October 2023 were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups.The control group(n=109)received traditional localization method while the study group(n=106)received three-point localization method.The image quality of mitral valve,tricuspid valve and cruciform structure in four-chamber view images were assessed by two radiologists using a Likert 4-piont scale.The time-consumption from scout imaging to the finish of four-chamber view imaging was recorded.Constituent data and numeral data were compared by Chi-square test and two-sample t test,respectively.Kappa test was used to analyze the inter-observer consistency.Results There were no significant inter-group differences in gender,age,disease profile,or the radiographers'experience.The mean quality scores of the mitral valve,tricuspid valve and cruciform structure in the control group and the study group were 3.44±0.64 and 3.63±0.49(P=0.023),3.43±0.67 and 3.53±0.60(P=0.202),3.71±0.49 and 3.83±0.35(P=0.047),respectively.The image quality score was higher in the study group than in the control group,with the differences in mitral valve and cruciform structure reaching statistical significance.The time-consumption for obtaining four-chamber view for the control group and the study group was 11.67±3.49 minutes and 7.212±1.83 minutes,respectively,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.001).Conclusion Compared with the traditional localization method,the three-point localization method provides better image quality in four-chamber view imaging with shortened imaging time.

Purpose To evaluate the consistency and repeatability of cerebral blood flow(CBF)values measured by automatic segmentation of region of interest(ROI)and arterial spin labeling(ASL)functional image fusion in hippocampal sclerosis patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy.Materials and Methods From January 2021 to October 2022,a total of 52 patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy confirmed by MRI or pathology in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University were retrospectively collected.All subjects were scanned on 3.0T MRI to obtain axial T1 weighted three-dimensional magnetization reserve gradient echo(3D-T1W1-MPGAGE)sequence and three-dimensional pseudo continuous ASL sequence.The 3D-T1W1-MPGAGE imaging were automatically segmented.Two physicians used the freeview visualization interface of freeSurfer software to fuse the ROI and ASL functional images of the hippocampal subregions and to measure the CBF values.The intra-observer and inter-observer consistency and repeatability were evaluated and analyzed.The consistency analysis and repeatability evaluation were performed via intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC),Bland-Altman diagram and Wilcoxon rank sum test.Results The ICC of CBF values measured by two physicians were all>0.750,with an average of 0.868±0.095.The ICC of left and right hippocampal subregions were as follows:subiculum(SUB):0.818/0.801,cornu ammonis(CA)1:0.920/0.907,CA2-3:0.759/0.978,CA4:0.757/0.758 and dentate gyrus(DG):0.990/0.991;The ICC delineated by the same physician's ROI were all>0.990 with an average of 0.994±0.002.The ICC of left and right hippocampal subregions were as follows:SUB:0.993/0.993,CA1:0.996/0.995,CA2-3:0.989/0.994,CA4:0.992/0.995 and DG:0.993/0.996.The Bland-Altman diagram showed the scatter distribution and consistency,and the coefficient of repeatability was obtained.The same observer had certain repeatability for the fusion measurement of automatic segmentation ROI and ASL functional images.Conclusion The CBF values measured by fusing ROI and ASL functional images of automatically segmented hippocampal subregion have higher consistency and repeatability.

Purpose To explore the predictive value of nomogram model for invasive breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastasis.Materials and Methods Retrospective analysis was made on 122 patients suspected to be breast cancer in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from September 2020 to March 2022.According to whether there was axillary lymph node metastasis,all subjects were divided into 57 patients in the metastasis group and 65 patients in the non-metastasis group.All lesions were pathologically confirmed by surgery.The two groups received synthesis of magnetic resonance imaging(syMRI),dynamic contrast enhancement magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)and diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)scans.The syMRI parameters[including T1,T2,proton density(PD)],DCE-MRI time signal intensity curve,apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)value of breast lesions were measured.Compared the difference of parameters between the two groups,and screened the independent risk factors of invasive breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastasis.Results Logistic regression results showed that Ki-67(OR=2.971,95%CI 1.306-6.762,P=0.009),lesion size(OR=1.652,95%CI 1.067-2.556,P=0.024),ADCratio(OR=1.685,95%CI 1.014-2.801,P=0.044),T2ratio(OR=3.015,95%CI 1.433-6.340,P=0.003),PDratio(OR=2.782,95%CI 1.471-5.262,P=0.002)were independent risk factors for invasive breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastasis.The comparison of the five models showed that the Logistic regression model had the best performance,with the area under curve of 0.729(95%CI 0.621-0.789),the accuracy,specificity and sensitivity were 70.65%,62.79%and 77.55%,respectively.The accuracy of the nomogram model was tested,and C-index=0.844,the accuracy of the nomogram model established was good,cut-off risk was 0.468,and the cut-off score was 143.50,which means that when the total score exceeds 143.50,the risk of axillary lymph node metastasis would be higher than 46.8%.Conclusion Nomogram model has a good predictive ability for invasive breast cancer patients with axillary lymph node metastasis.