BACKGROUND: Liver inflammation is the main cause of severe liver diseases, including liver fibrosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell therapy topics are receiving increasingly more attention. The therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have become one of the most discussed issues. While other stem cells have therapeutic effects, they have only one or two clinical applications. MSCs are responsible for repairing a variety of tissue injuries. Moreover, MSCs could be derived from several sources, including adipose tissue. MSCs are usually more abundant and easier to obtain compared to other stem cells. METHODS: To prove the concept that MSCs have homing ability to the injured tissue and assist in tissue repair, we examined the effects of intravenous injected adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in a N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced liver injury rat model. RESULTS: The significant repairing ability of ADSCs was observed. The levels of fibrosis, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis in the DEN-injured liver tissues all decreased after ADSC treatment. Furthermore, to enhance the therapeutic effects of ADSCs, we pretreated them with L-theanine, which promotes the hepatocyte growth factor secretion of ADSC, and therefore improved the healing effects on injured liver tissue. CONCLUSION ADSCs, especially L-theanine-pretreated ADSCs, have anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and anti-tumorigenesis effects on the N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced liver injury rat model.

To validate the use of the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON) in assessing orthodontic treatment need among 12-13 year-olds in southern China, we determined the threshold value of ICON based on Chinese orthodontists' judgments. The samples consisted of 335 students in grade 7 from 16 randomly selected middle schools in Chengdu, China. Three associate professors provided ICON scores for each participant and the results were compared with the gold standard judgments from 25 experts on treatment needs. Based on the gold standard, 195 casts belonged to the treatment category, while the rest 140 belonged to the no-treatment category. With the international cutoff point of 43, the sensitivity and specificity of the ICON score were 0.29 and 0.98.The best compromise between sensitivity and specificity in Chengdu, compared with the gold standard, was found at a cutoff point of 29, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.88 and 0.83. When used to evaluate the treatment need of 12-13 year-olds in southern China, the international ICON cutoff value did not correspond well with Chinese orthodontists' judgments; a lower cutoff value of 29 offered a greater sensitivity and specificity with respect to expert orthodontists' perception of treatment need.
Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; Data Collection ; Dental Health Surveys ; methods ; standards ; Female ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Needs Assessment ; statistics & numerical data ; Observer Variation ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; standards ; statistics & numerical data ; Reference Values ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective The treatment methods for blood blister-like aneurysm remain controversial due to its special patholog-ical structure,the risk of post-operative rebleeding and the high rate of recurrence. The arm of this paper is to access the feasibility and effectiveness of overlapping stent-assisted coiling in the treatment of blood blister-like aneurysms of the internal carotid artery. Methods Form January 2014 to December 2016,we treated 15 patients with blood blister-like aneurysm of the internal carotid artery by stent-assisted coiling in the Department of Neurosurgery,5 with two Enterprise tents,3 with three Enterprise tents,4 with Enter-prise+LVIS tents,and 3 with two LVIS tents. We determined the rate of immediate embolization of aneurysms by Raymond-Roy Occlu-sion Classification(RROC)and analyzed the clinical characteristics,postoperative complications,and follow-up data. Results All the coils and stents were successfully implanted. RROC showed 9 cases of gradeⅠ(60%),4 cases of gradeⅡ(27%),and 2 cases of gradeⅢimmediate occlusion(13%),with the parent arteries unobstructed in all the cases. Thrombosis in the stent was found in 2 cases intraoperatively,slight stent migration in 1 case,and internal carotid artery dissection in the petrous segment in another,but no cer-ebral vasospasm or aneurysm rupture in any case.Delayed cerebral in-farct was observed in 2 cases postoperatively. The patients were fol-lowed up for 2 weeks to 28 months,which showed that 11 of them were cured,2 remained stable and 2 developed further thrombosis,with an MRS score of 0-2 in 12 cases,4 in 1 case,5 in 1 case, and 6 in 1case. Conclusion Overlapping stent-assisted coiling is effective for the treatment of blood blister-like aneurysm by reduc-ing the risks of rebleeding and recurrence.

OBJECTIVETo report the modified technique and the short-term results of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) with the enteric drainage (ED) of exocrine secretions.

METHODSFrom June 2000 to August 2006, thirty-eight patients with diabetes complicated with uremia underwent SPK. The pancreas graft was placed intraperitoneally with exocrine secretions drained into the proximal jejunum without Roux-en-Y procedure. The mean cold ischemic times of pancreas and kidney were (10 +/- 2.0) h and (7 +/- 2.0) h, respectively. Quadruple immunosuppressive therapy with antilymphocyte globulin or anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids was adopted except one patient.

RESULTSThe 6-month survival rates of patients and grafts were both 97.4% after transplantation. All patients achieved insulin-free euglycemia at (7 +/- 6.9) d postoperative except one. For preoperative patients, mean fasting insulin and C-peptide values were (9 +/- 8.1) mU/L and (6 +/- 4.5) mU/L. After operation, fasting insulin and C-peptide values of patients were (12 +/- 5.8) mU/L and (6 +/- 4.7) mU/L, respectively, which peaked to an insulin level of (57 +/- 43.0) mU/L and a C-peptide level of (11 +/- 6.8) mU/L with stimulation. There were eight cases of delayed renal graft function. All other patients achieved immediate renal graft function. No graft losses occurred due to leakage or intra-abdominal infection. The most common surgical complications were wound infection (n = 12), enteric anastomostic hemorrhage (n = 5) and perirenal hemorrhage (n = 2). Three patients (7.9%) had been reoperated for the reasons of intra-abdominal hemorrhage and perirenal hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONSSPK is an effective treatment option for selected patients with diabetes mellitus and approaching end-stage renal disease. Enteric exocrine drainage by direct side-to-side anastomosis (without Roux-en-Y) seems to be a simple and reliable technique.

Diabetes Mellitus ; surgery ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Jejunum ; surgery ; Kidney Transplantation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas Transplantation ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome ; Uremia ; surgery

Qizhu, the dried rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala in Compositae family, is the representative wild variety of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) with modern excellent quality. Through textual research of materia medica works and modern studies, the medication methods between Qizhu and ancient Baizhu were systematically compared. Focusing on seven key issues, this paper systematically summarized the medicinal history, characters, cultivation and other related contents of Qizhu, in order to provide a basis of Qizhu in the recovery and development of its own Daodi-status, and further serve the industrial development of this herb. The name, harvesting time, processing method and other issues had undergone a relatively complicated evolution process. At present, acknowledged points are as following：①The distribution areas of Qizhu include southern areas of the Yangtze River in Anhui province and its surrounding regions. ②Harvesting time is late October. ③Qizhu can be dried in the shade or micro-hot dried after being wrapped with absorbent paper, later it can be divided into two commercial specifications. ④In addition to cutting, there is still a lack of other processing methods. ⑤The superior characters of Qizhu contain white, less oil, fragrant smell and sweet taste and so on. ⑥The history of Qizhu as a genuine medicinal material can be traced back to the Ming dynasty.

To scientifically evaluate the intervention effect of Chinese medicine preventive administration(combined use of Huo-xiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) on community population in the case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), a large cohort, prospective, randomized, and parallel-controlled clinical study was conducted. Total 22 065 subjects were included and randomly divided into 2 groups. The non-intervention group was given health guidance only, while the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) intervention group was given two coordinated TCM in addition to health guidance. The medical instructions were as follows. Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid: oral before meals, 10 mL/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days. Jinhao Jiere Granules: dissolve in boiling water and take after meals, 8 g/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days, followed up for 14 days, respectively. The study found that with the intake of medication, the incidence rate of TCM intervention group was basically maintained at a low and continuous stable level(0.01%-0.02%), while the non-intervention group showed an overall trend of continuous growth(0.02%-0.18%) from 3 to 14 days. No suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case occurred in either group. There were 2 cases of colds in the TCM intervention group and 26 cases in the non-intervention group. The incidence of colds in the TCM intervention group was significantly lower(P<0.05) than that in the non-intervention group. In the population of 16-60 years old, the incidence rate of non-intervention and intervention groups were 0.01% and 0.25%, respectively. The difference of colds incidence between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). In the population older than 60 years old, they were 0.04% and 0.21%, respectively. The incidence of colds in the non-intervention group was higher than that in the intervention group, but not reaching statistical difference. The protection rate of TCM for the whole population was 91.8%, especially for the population of age 16-60(95.0%). It was suggested that TCM intervention(combined use of Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) could effectively protect community residents against respiratory diseases, such as colds, which was worthy of promotion in the community. In addition, in terms of safety, the incidence of adverse events and adverse reactions in the TCM intervention group was relatively low, which was basically consistent with the drug instructions.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior stroke history have a high risk of cardiovascular events despite anticoagulation therapy. It is unclear whether catheter ablation (CA) has further benefits in these patients. METHODS: AF patients with a previous history of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) from the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study between August 2011 and December 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio to CA or medical treatment (MT) based on propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke (IS)/SE. RESULTS: During a total of 4.1 ± 2.3 years of follow-up, the primary outcome occurred in 111 patients in the CA group (3.3 per 100 person-years) and in 229 patients in the MT group (5.7 per 100 person-years). The CA group had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to the MT group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < 0.001]. There was a significant decreasing risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001), IS/SE (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97, P = 0.033), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.54, P < 0.001) and AF recurrence (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.37, P < 0.001) in the CA group compared to that in the MT group. Sensitivity analysis generated consistent results when adjusting for time-dependent usage of anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS In AF patients with a prior stroke history, CA was associated with a lower combined risk of all-cause death or IS/SE. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the benefits of CA in these patients.