To summarize Prof. ZHANG Zhiyuan's clinical experience in using large doses of Fuzi （Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata）. The effect of Fuzi is based on its acrid and hot propoerties， warming and invigorating yang qi and running without guard. The application of large doses of Fuzi can be categorized into raw and processed， with common dosage ranging from 30 g to 60 g of raw Fuzi， and 15 g to 30 g， 30 g to 60 g of processed Fuzi. The quantity-effect relationship of the large dose of Fuzi is summarized as 15 g to 30 g of processed Fuzi could warm water， warm yang and eliminate timidity， as the treatment of asthma with deficiency cold phlegm， edema of yang deficiency， and panic and timidity of yang deficiency； 30 g to 60 g of processed Fuzi could tonify fire， warm the meridians and collaterals， assist yang to dispel cold and relieve pain， as the treatment of coldness in the limbs， abdominal pain， pain in the joints of the limbs， and loose stools due to deficient yang qi and exuberant internal yin cold； 30 g to 60 g raw Fuzi could restore yang to save from collapse， as the treatment of yang depletion after profuse sweating and vomiting. At the same time， different dosages of Fuzi were flexibly paired with other medicines， i.e.， 15 g to 30 g of processed Fuzi was paired with Mahuang （Ephedrae Herba） and Xixin （Asari Radix et Rhizoma） to assist yang to dispel coldness， 30 g to 60 g of processed Fuzi was paired with Baizhu （Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma） or Wuzhuyu （Euodiae Fructus） to warm yang and dispel dampness， and 30 g to 60 g of raw Fuzi was paired with Shanzhuyu （Corni Fructus） to tonify both yin and yang.

Background Manganese is an essential trace element for the human body and maintains normal development of many organs including the brain. However, long-term exposure to a high manganese environment or excessive manganese intake will lead to manganese poisoning and result in neurological diseases, and currently no effective treatment plan is available. Objective To develop an animal model for subchronic manganese exposure and assess the impact of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLA) on manganese associated behavioral and hippocampal effects in rats. Methods Fifty male SPF SD rats were randomly allocated into a control group (0.9% normal saline by intraperitoneal injection), two experimental groups [7.5 mg·kg⁻¹ (low) or 15 mg·kg⁻¹ (high) of MnCl₂·4H₂O by intraperitoneal injection], and two DNLA antagonistic groups [15 mg·kg⁻¹ MnCl₂·4H₂O by intraperitoneal injection then either 20 mg·kg⁻¹ (low) or 40 mg·kg⁻¹ (high) DNLA by oral administration]. All groups of rats were adminaistered 5 d per wek, once a day, for consecutive 13 weeks. Following modeling, neurobehavioral assessments were conducted using open field, Morris water maze, and Y maze. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was utilized to measure manganese levels in the blood and brain tissues of the rats, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to examine neuronal morphological changes in the hippocampal tissues of the rats. Results The neurobehavioral tests revealed that the manganese-exposed rats exhibited decreased total movement distance, prolonged central zone dwelling time, and reduced motor activity in the open field test, indicating tendencies toward depression and anxiety (P<0.05). In the Y-maze test, the mean exploration distance in the novel arm, the number of entries into the novel arm, and the time spent in the novel arm of the managanses-exposed rats were all reduced, while the latency period increased, suggesting impaired spatial exploration and learning-memory functions (P<0.05). In the Morris water maze navigation test, the escape latency was significantly longer in the manganese-exposed rats compared to the control group, and the number of platform crossings decreased in the spatial probe test, indicating a significant decline in spatial learning and memory (P<0.05). The ICP-MS analysis showed elevated manganese concentrations in the blood and hippocampus of the exposed rats (P<0.05), and the histopathological observation revealed hippocampal damage. Following the DNLA intervention, the manganese-exposed rats showed increased total movement distance and reduced central zone dwelling time in the open field test (P<0.05). In the Y-maze test, the mean exploration distance in the novel arm, the number of entries into the novel arm, and the time spent in the novel arm increased, while the latency period decreased, suggesting alleviation of anxiety and improved exploratory behavior (P<0.05). In the Morris water maze test, the escape latency gradually shortened, and both the number of platform crossings and the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant increased, indicating improved spatial learning and memory (P<0.05). Additionally, the manganese levels in the blood and hippocampus decreased (P<0.05), and the hippocampal pathological changes were partially restored. Conclusion DNLA demonstrates the ability to counteract multiple neurotoxic effects following the elevation of manganese levels in the blood and hippocampal tissues of rats induced by subchronic manganese exposure. Specifically, DNLA is shown to ameliorate the behavioral alterations observed in rats after manganese exposure, and mitigate the hippocampal damage in manganese-exposed rats.

BACKGROUND: While emotional distress, encompassing anxiety and depression, has been associated with negative clinical outcomes, its impact across various clinical departments and general hospitals has been less explored. Previous studies with limited sample sizes have examined the effectiveness of specific treatments (e.g., antidepressants) rather than a systemic management strategy for outcome improvement in non-psychiatric inpatients. To enhance the understanding of the importance of addressing mental health care needs among non-psychiatric patients in general hospitals, this study retrospectively investigated the impacts of emotional distress and the effects of early detection and management of depression and anxiety on hospital length of stay (LOS) and rate of long LOS (LLOS, i.e., LOS >30 days) in a large sample of non-psychiatric inpatients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 487,871 inpatients from 20 non-psychiatric departments of a general hospital. They were divided, according to whether they underwent a novel strategy to manage emotional distress which deployed the Huaxi Emotional Distress Index (HEI) for brief screening with grading psychological services (BS-GPS), into BS-GPS ( n = 178,883) and non-BS-GPS ( n = 308,988) cohorts. The LOS and rate of LLOS between the BS-GPS and non-BS-GPS cohorts and between subcohorts with and without clinically significant anxiety and/or depression (CSAD, i.e., HEI score ≥11 on admission to the hospital) in the BS-GPS cohort were compared using univariable analyses, multilevel analyses, and/or propensity score-matched analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The detection rate of CSAD in the BS-GPS cohort varied from 2.64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.49%-2.81%) to 20.50% (95% CI: 19.43%-21.62%) across the 20 departments, with a average rate of 5.36%. Significant differences were observed in both the LOS and LLOS rates between the subcohorts with CSAD (12.7 days, 535/9590) and without CSAD (9.5 days, 3800/169,293) and between the BS-GPS (9.6 days, 4335/178,883) and non-BS-GPS (10.8 days, 11,483/308,988) cohorts. These differences remained significant after controlling for confounders using propensity score-matched comparisons. A multilevel analysis indicated that BS-GPS was negatively associated with both LOS and LLOS after controlling for sociodemographics and the departments of patient discharge and remained negatively associated with LLOS after controlling additionally for the year of patient discharge. CONCLUSION Emotional distress significantly prolonged the LOS and increased the LLOS of non-psychiatric inpatients across most departments and general hospitals. These impacts were moderated by the implementation of BS-GPS. Thus, BS-GPS has the potential as an effective, resource-saving strategy for enhancing mental health care and optimizing medical resources in general hospitals.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Psychological Distress ; Inpatients/psychology* ; Aged ; Anxiety/diagnosis* ; Depression/diagnosis*

Objective To explore the predictive value of pulse pressure variation(PPV),stroke volume variation(SVV)and their changing values after tidal volume increase from 6 mL/kg to 8 mL/kg predicted body weight(PBW)on the volumetric responsiveness in the patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Methods A prospective study was conducted.Twenty-three ARDS patients with acute circulatory failure treated in the intensive care unit(ICU)of this hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were se-lected.The indicators such as PPV,SVV and cardiac index were recorded at the tidal volume of 6 mL/kg PBW,1 min after tidal volume challenge(tidal volume instantly increased to 8 mL/kg PBW),the tidal volume re-reduced to 6 mL/kg PBW,and after fluid bolus(FB),respectively.The cardiac index increase(ΔCI)≥15％served as the volumetric responsiveness positive when the tidal volume was re-reduced to 6 mL/kg PBW and after giving FB.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of PPV,SVV and their changing values for the volumetric responsiveness after the tidal volume increase from 6 mL/kg to 8 mL/kg PBW.Results A total of 42 measurements were performed in 23 patients.Among them,24 set of measurements were volumetric responsiveness positive(group R),and 18 set of measurements were volumetric responsiveness negative(group NR).The absolute values(ΔPPV6-8,ΔSVV6-8)and percentage(％ΔPPV6-8,％ΔSVV6-8)of PPV and SVV in tidal volume increase from 6 mL/kg to 8 mL/kg PBW had statisti-cal differences between the two groups(P＜0.05).ΔPPV6-8 and ΔSVV6-8 could predict the volumetric respon-siveness in the patients with ARDS.The area under the ROC curve(AUC)and its 95％CI were 0.92(0.84-1.00)and 0.90(0.81-0.99),and the optimal cut off values were 2.5％and 3.5％,respectively.When the tid-al volume was 6 mL/kg PBW,the PPV,SVV and central venous pressure(CVP)could not effectively predict the volumetric responsiveness in the patients with ARDS.Conclusion The efficiency of PPV or SVV changing values after tidal volume challenge for predicting the volumetric responsiveness of ARDS patients during low tidal volume ventilation is superior to PPV and SVV.

Perioperative blood loss in pediatric cardiac surgery is related to the significant increase of blood transfusion,which leads to adverse events of blood transfusion and worsens the prognosis.Perioper-ative blood protection has important clinical significance in reducing adverse reactions to blood transfusion and alleviating blood supply tension.Cardiopulmonary bypass plays an important role in the management of perioperative blood protection practices.This article reviews the latest progress for blood protection in perfu-sion and blood product infusion strategies during cardiopulmonary bypass,providing reference for physicians to transfuse blood in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass during pediatric heart surgery.

Taking into consideration the characteristics and current development status of air medical rescue,an analysis is conducted from the perspective of hospitals to examine the focal points and challenges in establishing the capability of hospital air medical rescue.A capability framework comprising five modules,namely planning system,service model,professional teams,hardware platform,and operational procedures,is proposed.The key tasks for each module are sorted out.Furthermore,the ex-ploration and practical experience of The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University are shared,with the aim of providing a reference for the construction of hospital air medical rescue capabilities in the modern era.

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy of β-blocker in pediatric patients with congestive heart failure and congenital heart disease,and to provide evidence for clinician.Methods Before-and-after self-control study and randomized controlled trials were retrieved from PubMed,EMbase,the Cochrane Library,CNKI,WanFang,VIP databases,and the search time was from the establishment of the database to October 31,2023.All outcomes included left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular fraction shortening,LVFS),left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVDD),Left ventricular end-systolic dimension(LVSD),N-terminal proB brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),heart rate,blood pressure and cardiac function improvement.Results A total of 20 trials involving 1 068 children with heart failure(dilated cardiomyopathy and endocardial fibroelastosis were included.Meta-analysis results showed that the addition of β-blockers(metoprolol succinate,bisoprolol and carvedilol)on the basis of conventional drug therapy for heart failure had significant effects on LVEF[MD=13.06,95%CI(11.67,14.45),P<0.001],LVFS[MD=6.96,95%CI(6.54,7.37),P<0.001],LVDD[MD=-6.43,95%CI(-7.58,-5.28),P<0.001]and LVSD[MD=-8.30,95%CI(-8.83,-7.76),P<0.001]were significantly improved.In addition,blood pressure,heart rate,NT-proBNP and cardiac function could also be improved.Conclusion The combination regimen of β-blockers on the basis of conventional drug therapy for heart failure can improve cardiac function and symptoms of heart failure in children with congestive heart failure.Therefore,it is recommended that β-blockers should be actively used in the conventional treatment regimen for children with congestive heart failure.

Objective To assess inter-observer variations(IOV)in the delineation of target volumes and organs-at-risk(OAR)for intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)among physicians from different levels of cancer centers,thereby providing a reference for quality control in multi-center clinical trials.Methods Twelve patients with NPC of different TMN stages were randomly selected.Three physicians from the same municipal cancer center manually delineated the target volume(GTVnx)and OAR for each patient.The manually modified and confirmed target volume(GTVnx)and OAR delineation structures by radiotherapy experts from the regional cancer center were used as the standard delineation.The absolute volume difference ratio(△V_diff),maximum/minimum volume ratio(MMR),coefficient of variation(CV),and Dice similarity coefficient(DSC)were used to compare the differences in organ delineation among physicians from different levels of cancer centers and among the 3 physicians from the same municipal cancer center.Furthermore,the IOV of GTVnx and OAR among physicians from different levels cancer centers were compared across different TMN stages.Results Significant differences in the delineation of GTVnx were observed among physicians from different levels of cancer centers.Among the 3 physicians,the maximum values of △V_diff,MMR,and CV were 97.23%±83.45%,2.19±0.75,and 0.31±0.14,respectively,with an average DSC of less than 0.7.Additionally,there were considerable differences in the delineation of small-volume OAR such as the left and right optic nerves,chiasm,and pituitary,with average MMR>2.8,CV>0.37,and DSC<0.51.However,relatively smaller differences were observed in the delineation of large-volume OAR such as the brainstem,spinal cord,left and right eyeballs,and left and right mandible,with average△V_diff<42%,MMR<1.55,and DSC>0.7.Compared with the differences among physicians from different levels cancer centers,the differences among the 3 physicians from the municipal cancer center were slightly reduced.Furthermore,there were also differences in the delineation of target volumes for NPC among physicians from different levels cancer centers,depending on the staging of the disease.Compared with the delineation of target volumes for earlier stage patients(stages I or II),the differences among physicians in the delineation of target volumes for advanced stage patients(stages III or IV)were smaller,with average △V_diff and DSC of 98.31%±67.36%vs 69.38%±72.61%(P<0.05)and 0.55±0.08 vs 0.72±0.12(P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion There are differences in the delineation of GTVnx and OAR in radiation therapy for NPC among physicians from different levels of cancer centers,especially in the delineation of target volume(GTVnx)and small-volume OAR for early-stage patients.To ensure the accuracy of multicenter clinical trials,it is recommended to provide unified training to physicians from different levels of cancer centers and review their delineation results to reduce the effect of differences on treatment outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors for total number, total volume, and total iron burden of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and the relationship between CMBs with cognitive impairment in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) using semi-automatic quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. Clinical and imaging data of 46 ESRD patients with≥1 CMBs who attended Tianjin First Central Hospital from November 2018 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 26 males and 20 females, aged 42-75 years. All patients underwent susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) scanning, then SWI data was post-processed to obtain QSM. The semi-automatic dynamic programming algorithm was used to get the volume and mean susceptibility value of each CMB by sketching the boundary of CMBs. The CMBs iron load total volume were calculated. Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to explore independent influencing factors for the number, total volume, and total iron burden of CMBs in ESRD patients. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between CMBs and cognitive impairment with the other signs of cerebral small vessel diseases as covariates.Results:In patients with ESRD, CMBs were located in the frontal lobe in 19 cases, parietal lobe in 9 cases, temporal lobe in 19 cases, occipital lobe in 14 cases, basal ganglia in 27 cases, dorsal thalamus in 15 cases, centrum semiovale in 14 cases, cerebellum in 14 cases, and brainstem in 13 cases. C-reactive protein levels (95% CI 101.81-157.85, r=0.96, P=0.001) and creatinine levels (95% CI 5.32-29.61, r=0.71, P=0.010) were influencing factors for the total iron burden of CMBs. C-reactive protein levels (95% CI 0.72-1.15, r=0.99, P=0.001) and creatinine levels (95% CI 0.03-0.22, r=0.89, P=0.014) were influencing factors for the total volume of CMBs. C-reactive protein levels (95% CI 0.10-0.12, r=0.96, P=0.001) and alkaline phosphatase levels (95% CI 0.16-0.38, r=0.59, P=0.001) were influencing factors for the number of CMBs. The total volume ( r=-0.61, P=0.009) and total iron burden ( r=-0.71, P=0.002) of CMBs in the frontal lobe were negatively correlated with cognitive function. However, although the number of CMBs in the frontal lobe was negatively correlated with cognitive function, the statistics analysis was insignificant ( r=-0.53, P=0.063). Conclusions:C-reactive protein and creatinine are influencing factors for CMBs′ total volume and total iron burden; C-reactive protein levels and alkaline phosphatase are influencing factors for the number of CMBs. The total iron burden and total volume of CMBs in the frontal lobe may be the biomarkers of cognitive impairment in patients with end-stage renal disease.