ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Gegen Qinliantang on glucose and lipid metabolism in the rat model of catch-up growth （CUG） induced by a high-fat diet and the underlying mechanism. MethodA total of 60 SD rats were randomized into a normal control group （n=18） and a modeling group （n=42）. The rat model of CUG was established with a restricted diet followed by a high-fat diet， and the changes of general status and body weight were observed. The levels of fasting blood glucose （FBG）， fasting insulin （FINS）， triglyceride （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC） were measured in 6 rats in each group at the end of the 4^th and 8^th week， respectively. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index （HOMA-IR） was calculated， and the insulin sensitivity and body composition changes of CUG rats were evaluated. The successfully modeled rats were assigned into 6 groups： normal control， model， high-， medium-， and low-dose Gegen Qinliantang （2.5， 5， 10 g·kg^-1）， and pioglitazone （3.125 mg·kg^-1）. The rats were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 6 weeks， and the normal control group and model group were administrated with the same amount of normal saline. During the experiment period， the changes of body weight were recorded， and the FBG， FINS， HOMA-IR， TG， and TC were determined at the end of the experiment. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was employed to observe the pathological changes of skeletal muscle in rats. The levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS） and malondialdehyde （MDA） in the skeletal muscle were measured strictly according to the manuals of the reagent kits. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was performed to measure the mRNA levels of silencing information regulator 1 （SIRT1）， peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator1α （PGC1α）， and nuclear respiratory factor 1 （Nrf1） in the skeletal muscle. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess the expression of SIRT1， PGC1α， and Nrf1 in the skeletal muscle. ResultCompared with the normal control group， the model group presented elevated levels of FBG， FINS， TG， and TC （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased HOMA-IR （P<0.01）， increased diameter of muscle fibers and adipocytes between muscle cells in the skeletal muscle， rising levels of ROS and MDA in the skeletal muscle （P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1， PGC1α， and Nrf1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Gegen Qinliantang （especially the medium and high doses） and pioglitazone decreased the body weight， FINS， HOMA-IR， and TG （P<0.05， P<0.01） and reduced interstitial components such as intermuscular fat in the skeletal muscles and the diameter of muscle fibers. Furthermore， the drugs lowerd the levels of ROS and MDA （P<0.05， P<0.01） and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1， PGC1α， and Nrf1 （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the skeletal muscle. ConclusionGegen Qinliantang can ameliorate the glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and insulin resistance in CUG rats by regulating the SIRT1/PGC1α/Nrf1 signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between preoperative frailty and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy.Methods:The elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University were collected.The general data, frailty status, parameters of blood and operation-related parameters were recorded.The patients were divided into PPC group and non-PPC group according to whether PPCs occurred during hospitalization, and the differences between the parameters were compared.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors for PPCs.Stratification analysis and interaction test were used to further analyze the relationship between frailty and PPCs.Results:A total of 298 elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy were included in this study, and the incidence of PPCs was 22.8%.Compared with non-PPC group, the albumin and FEV 1/FVC were decreased, and age, blood creatinine, ratio of diabetes mellitus, ratio of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and rate of preoperative frailty were significantly increased in PPC group ( P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that COPD and preoperative frailty were independent risk factors for PPCs.After adjusting all the risk variables, the frail patients had a 171% increased risk of PPCs compared with non-frail patients ( OR value=2.71, 95%CI: 1.18-4.73, P<0.05). The results of subgroup analysis showed that body mass index and operation time had effect modification on the association between frailty and PPCs (interaction P<0.05). Conclusion:COPD and preoperative frailty are independent risk factors for PPCs in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy, and the frail patients with obesity or long operation time are at higher risk of PPCs.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between preoperative malnutrition and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy.Methods:The elderly patients who underwent elective thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University were enrolled.The general clinical data and nutritional status, Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia (ARISCAT) score, tumor pathological stage and operation-related variables based on the Gobal Leader Initiative on Malnutrition criteria were recorded.The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether PPCs occurred during hospitalization, and the differences between the variables were compared.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for PPCs in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy.The accuracy of the ARISCAT score and ARISCAT score combined with malnutrition in predicting the occurrence of PPCs was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:A total of 256 elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy were included, and the incidence of PPCs was 23.8%.There were no significant differences between patients with and without PPCs in FEV 1/FVC, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ratio, malnutrition ratio and ratio of patients with high ARISCAT score ( P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that increasing age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, malnutrition and high ARISCAT score were independent risk factors for PPCs.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ARISCAT score and malnutrition combined with ARISCAT score in predicting the occurrence of PPCs was 0.722 and 0.777, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative malnutrition is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of PPCs in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy, which is helpful in improving the accuracy of ARISCAT score in predicting the occurrence of PPCs.