Objective To investigate the value of drug intervention for difficult weaning from mechanical ventilation. Methods A prospective single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. 120 patients with difficult weaning from mechanical ventilation encountered in Department of Critical Care Medicine of Peking University Third Hospital from January 2008 to December 2013 were included,and the patients were divided into treatment group and control group according to random number table,with 60 cases in each group. Patients received furosemide therapy in the treatment group 3 days before weaning up to 48 hours after weaning in order to control negative liquid balance. Enema was given the day before weaning to reduce abdominal pressure. On the weaning day,all of the patients received nitroglycerin and beta blocker or cedilanid to prevent or control elevation of blood pressure and heart rate in the process of weaning. All patients in treatment group received anisodamine in small dosage 2 hours before extubation.The patients in control group received conventional treatment without drug intervention. Baseline indexes of two groups were compared,including the heart rate,respiration rate(RR),mean arterial pressure(MAP),pulse blood oxygen saturation(SpO2),blood gas,hemoglobin(HG),albumin(ALB)and creatinine(Cr). The main reasons of difficulty in weaning,sedative and analgesic drug selection,presence of abdominal discomfort before weaning,interval between sputum suction before extubation,liquid balance at the beginning of the investigation and at time of weaning,24 hours and 48 hours after weaning,failures of spontaneous breathing test(SBT),length of mechanical ventilation,length of ICU stay,and total length of mechanical ventilation and total length of ICU stay during hospitalization. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the heart rate,RR,MAP,SpO2,blood gas,HG,ALB,Cr at the beginning of the investigation between the two groups. The main reasons for difficult weaning in both groups of patients were respiratory dysfunction,cardiac insufficiency,and central nervous system dysfunction. The use of propofol combined dexmedetomidine in the treatment group was more frequent than the control group〔16.7%(10/60)vs. 1.7%(1/60),χ2=8.107,P=0.004〕,and there was no statistically significant difference in the use of other combinations of sedative drugs between the two groups. Abdominal discomfort before weaning was milder in treatment group as compared with control group〔10.0%(6/60)vs. 25.0%(15/60),χ2=4.675,P=0.031〕. The interval between sputum suction before extubation in the treatment group was significantly longer than that of the control group〔hours:1(1,2)vs. 1(1,1),Z=-2.209,P= 0.027〕. SBT failure was less frequent in treatment group compared with control group〔times:0(0,1)vs. 1(1,2),Z=-6.561,P=0.000〕. Liquid balance was better in the treatment group than the control group at time of weaning,24 hours and 48 hours after weaning〔at time of weaning:-567.71 (-755.95,-226.41)vs. 1 256.76(472.48,1 796.63),Z=-9.038,P=0.000;24 hours after weaning:-5.03 (-530.28,245.09)vs. 342.28(125.36,613.25),Z=-4.711,P=0.000;48 hours after weaning:115.50(-450.26, 485.00)vs. 330.00(16.25,575.25),Z=-1.932,P=0.053〕. Compared with control group,length of mechanical ventilation〔days:1.0(1.0,2.0)vs. 2.0(2.0,3.0),Z=-6.545,P=0.000〕,ICU stay time〔days:3.0(3.0,4.0) vs. 4.0(4.0,5.0),Z=-6.545,P=0.000〕,and total length of mechanical ventilation〔days:8.0(6.0,12.0)vs. 11.0(8.0,15.0),Z=-4.091,P=0.000〕and total length of ICU stay during hospitalization〔days:12.5(9.2,19.0) vs. 17.0(12.0,29.5),Z=-2.722,P=0.000〕were all significantly shorter in the treatment group. Conclusions Adjuvant drugs therapy is helpful in patients weaning from the mechanical ventilation,and can shorten length of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay time. Propofol,combined dexmedetomidine,is helpful for weaning.

BACKGROUND:Currently,hormone replacement therapy is the main treatment in Western medicine for patients with decreased ovarian function,but these patients are not sensitive to exogenous hormones,leading to unsatisfactory therapeutic effect.Zishen-Yutai pills can nourish the blood and calm the fetus,tonify the kidney and spleen,invigorate qi and strengthen the body.Studies have confirmed that Zishen-Yutai pill is effective in reducing follicle-stimulating hormone index and improving traditional Chinese medicine symptoms in patients with diminished ovarian reserve.However,few studies have been conducted to improve the implantation rate of patients by improving endometrial receptivity. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of Zishen-Yutai pills on the clinical outcome of patients with diminished ovarian reserve undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer again. METHODS:A total of 300 patients with diminished ovarian reserve who underwent frozen-thawed embryo transfer to assist pregnancy after the first failure in the Center of Reproductive Medicine,Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects.Subjects were randomly treated with a placebo or Zishen-Yutai pills in a ratio of 1:2,with 100 cases in the treatment group and 200 cases in the control group.However,13 patients fell off due to lack of contact,refusal to take medicine or other reasons.Finally,90 cases in the treatment group and 197 cases in the control group were included in the study.Oral medication was administered 7 days before frozen-thawed embryo transfer transplantation at a dose of 5 g/time,3 times/day.To investigate whether taking Zishen-Yutai pills could improve the clinical outcome of patients with diminished ovarian reserve after frozen-thawed embryo transfer again,the primary outcome measures included clinical pregnancy rate,implantation rate,abortion rate,live birth rate,offspring birth weight and birth defects. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the clinical pregnancy rate(P<0.05)and implantation rate(P=0.009)were significantly increased after the oral administration of Zishen-Yutai pills.Correlation analysis showed that taking the Zishen-Yutai pill was positively correlated with the number of implanted embryos(r=0.200,P=0.001)and clinical pregnancy(r=0.235,P=0.000).There was no correlation between taking Zishen-Yutai pills and indexes of endometrial thickness and blood flow.It is indicated that Zishen-Yutai pills can improve the clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate of frozen-thawed embryo transfer recurrence in patients with diminished ovarian reserve.

Objective:To explore the relationship between periprosthetic infection and preoperative serum levels of human β-defensin 3 (HBd-3) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) in patients with femoral neck fracture after hip replacement surgery.Methods:A prospective study was conducted to 268 patients with femoral neck fracture who underwent hip replacement surgery at Chengde Central Hospital from April 2020 to April 2022. They were divided into an infected group and an uninfected group based on whether they had periprosthetic infection within 2 weeks after surgery. The baseline data and preoperative laboratory indicators of the two groups were compared, and the relationship between preoperative serum HBd-3 and IL-12 levels and postoperative periprosthetic infection in patients was mainly analyzed.Results:Seventeen out of 268 patients with femoral neck fractures experienced periprosthetic infections after hip replacement surgery, with an infection rate of 6.34%(17/268). The body mass index, operation time, postoperative drainage time and IL-12 in the infected group were higher than those in the uninfected group: (23.75 ± 2.18) kg/m 2 vs. (21.86 ± 1.95) kg/m 2, (124.82 ± 15.93) min vs. (116.92 ± 14.75) min, (57.41±7.81) min vs. (49.65 ± 5.73) min, (64.82 ± 11.59) ng/L vs. (54.23 ± 9.55) ng/L, the preoperative albumin and HBd-3 were lower than those in the uninfected group: (32.56±4.63) g/L vs. (37.25 ± 5.81) g/L, (38.03 ± 6.74) μg/L vs. (46.84 ± 8.93) μg/L, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that high body mass index, long surgical and postoperative drainage time, and high preoperative IL-12 levels were risk factors for periprosthetic infection after hip replacement surgery in patients with femoral neck fractures ( OR>1, P<0.05), while preoperative serum albumin and HBd-3 levels were protective factors ( OR<1, P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve results showed that preoperative serum HBd-3 and IL-12 alone and in combination predict AUC>0.70 for periprosthetic infection in patients with femoral neck fracture after hip replacement surgery, which had certain predictive value. The restricted cubic spline method combining spline function and Logistic regression was used for analysis, and the results showed a linear dose-response relationship between the levels of HBd-3 and IL-12 and the strength of the association with periprosthetic infection after hip replacement surgery in patients with femoral neck fracture ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative serum HBd-3 and IL-12 levels are associated with periprosthetic infection in patients with femoral neck fracture after hip replacement surgery, and can serve as predictive indicators for infection occurrence.

Objective:To investigate the chain mediating role of psychological resilience and coping styles between social support and psychological distress in elderly stroke patients.Methods:Using convenience sampling, 245 elderly stroke patients with their first episode, admitted to the Neurology Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from June to July 2023, were recruited as study subjects. A questionnaire survey was conducted using a General Information Questionnaire, Distress Thermometer for Stroke Patients, Perceived Social Support Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale Short Form, and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between psychological distress, social support, psychological resilience, and coping styles in elderly stroke patients. Harman's single-factor test was employed to detect common method bias among variables. The PROCESS macro in SPSS software was utilized to test the chain mediation effects.Results:A total of 245 questionnaires were distributed, with 230 valid responses collected, yielding a response rate of 93.9%. Among the 230 elderly stroke patients, the incidence of psychological distress was 23.9% (55/230). Significant correlations were observed among psychological distress, social support, psychological resilience, and coping styles ( P<0.05). Social support influenced psychological distress through the mediation of psychological resilience and confrontational coping, with a total indirect effect of -0.098. The same relationship existed for social support through psychological resilience and avoidant coping, with a total indirect effect of -0.058. Additionally, social support influenced psychological distress through psychological resilience and submissive coping, with a total indirect effect of -0.113. Avoidant coping had a suppressing effect on the influence of social support on psychological distress. Conclusions:Elderly stroke patients experienced moderate to low levels of psychological distress. Psychological resilience and coping styles played a chain-mediating role between social support and psychological distress. Special attention should be given to elderly stroke patients with low levels of social support.

Objective: To investigate the role of JAZF1 gene rearrangement in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of endometrial stromal sarcomas by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Methods: JAZF1 gene rearrangement was analyzed by FISH in 129 cases of ESS diagnosed from January 2008 to December 2016 including 105 cases of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS), 21 cases of high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (HG-ESS) and 3 cases of undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (UUS). Sixteen cases of the related tumours in uterus were also collected as control group. The results were compared with our previous studies of JAZF1/JJAZ1 fusion gene in ESS by RT-PCR. Results: Detection of JAZF1 gene rearrangement by FISH was successfully analyzed in 144 cases. JAZF1 gene alteration was detected in 63 cases, all of which were LG-ESS, with an overall positivity of 60.6% (63/104), while no JAZF1 gene rearrangement was found in all other cases. JAZF1 gene rearrangement was present in LG-ESS with classic histology (69.3%, 52/75), smooth muscle differentiation (2/10), sex cord-like differentiation (4/5), fibromyxoid change (1/5), clear cell change (0/1), skeletal muscle differentiation (0/1), and schwannoma-like palisading pattern (0/1). The different components in all the cases of LG-ESS with variant histology had the clonal origin, with or without JAZF1 gene alteration. Compared to the results of JAZF1/JJAZ1 fusion gene by RT-PCR, the positive rate of JAZF1 gene rearrangement in LG-ESS by FISH (61.9%, 26/42) was significantly higher than that of RT-PCR (30.0%, 12/40; P<0.01). Conclusions JAZF1 gene rearrangement is present only in LG-ESS, but not in HG-ESS, UUS or other related tumours in uterus. The frequency of JAZF1 gene rearrangement varies between classic LG-ESS and different morphologic variants. It is frequently, but not consistently, present in classic LG-ESS and less often positive in variant cases. The results of JAZF1 gene alterations in LG-ESS with different morphologic variants support the contention that the endometrial stromal and their variant morphologic components have the same clonal origin. Detection of JAZF1 gene rearrangement by FISH is very useful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ESS.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic and genetic features, pathologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of angiofibroma of soft tissue(AFST). Methods: The clinicopathologic characteristics of 24 cases diagnosed at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from 2011 to 2017 were analyzed; immunohistochemical staining and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed, and the literatures were also reviewed. Results: There were 15 male and 9 female (male∶female=1.7∶1.0) patients with age of onset ranging from 8 to 68 years (mean, 45 years). Fourteen cases occurred in extremities, including upper limbs (n=3) and lower limbs (n=11); seven cases were in the trunk, and 1 case each was in the temporal region, retroperitoneum and liver, respectively. Clinically, the tumors usually presented as a slowly growing painless mass. Tumor sizes ranged from 0.8 to 14 cm (mean 4.6 cm). Microscopically, most lesions were well-circumscribed, with fibrous capsules. Few cases infiltrated the surrounding fibrofatty tissue focally. The tumors were mainly composed of sparse short spindle cells and numerous small, branching, thin-walled blood vessels distributed in amyxoid, fibromyxoid or collagenous matrix, often accompanied by medium-sized, round or irregular and ecstatic vessels at the tumor periphery.By immunohistochemistry, all tested cases expressed vimentin (5/5), and showed variable positivity for EMA (2/4), ER (1/2), PR (2/3), α-SMA (1/18)and desmin (1/10). Ki-67 proliferation index were all less than 5%. CD34, CD31 and ERG staining clearly outlined the contours of blood vessels in the stroma. Four cases were tested for NCOA2 gene rearrangement by FISH, of which three were positive. Follow-up data was available in 17 patients (range, 3 to 69 months; mean, 30 months) were all free of disease. Conclusions Soft tissue angiofibroma is a benign fibroblastic neoplasm characterized by a prominent and complex vasculature set in a myxoid-to-collagenous stroma, and cytogenetically a distinctive NCOA2 gene rearrangement. Caution should be exercised for the possibility of potentially misinterpretation of AFST as vascular tumors and other myxoid soft tissue tumors.

Aim The key genes for necroptosis in atherosclerosis were screened by bioinformatics methods and verified with the help of in vitro experiments to provide new strategies for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis from the perspective of necroptosis.Methods Genes related to atherosclerotic plaques were downloaded from GEO da-tabase,and genes related to necroptosis were downloaded from GeneCards database and intersected to obtain atherosclerotic necroptosis genes,and the mechanism of action and signalling pathways of the genes were further analysed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis,and the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and screened for key genes.Finally,macrophages were treated with oxidized low density lipoprotein(oa-LDL)at a final concentration of 100 mg/L,and the expression of key genes was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results A total of 81 atherosclerotic nec-roptosis genes were obtained.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that they were mainly enriched in the positive regulation of endopeptidase activity,IκB kinase(IKK)/nuclear factor-KB(NF-κB)signalling,and autophagy signalling pathway.Five key genes including HSPA8,STAT3,HMOX1,SQSTM1 and FAS were obtained by using five computa-tional methods of Cytoscape software cytoHubba plug-in.Compared with the normal control group,the HMOX1 gene was highly expressed in THP-1 macrophages treated with ox-LDL(P＜0.05),while the expression of the HSPA8,STAT3,SQSTM1 and FAS genes showed no significant changes(P＞0.05);the HMOX1 and SQSTM1 genes were highly expressed in RAW264.7 macrophages treated with ox-LDL(P＜0.05),while HSPA8,STAT3 and FAS genes showed no significant changes(P＞0.05).The expression of HMOX1 protein in THP-1 macrophages was also increased.Conclusion HMOX1 may be the key gene of atherosclerotic necroptosis,and it is expected to become a new target for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.