Early detection and effective monitoring of the risk signals of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are of great importance in the prevention and management of DILI in clinical practice. However, the lack of high sensitivity and strong specificity in the detection of risk signals brings great challenges to the identification and monitoring of risk signals and causes difficulties in establishing the strategies for the prevention and control of DILI. This article analyzes the challenges in the identification of DILI risk signals, summarizes the applicability and limitations of risk signals based on commonly used indices in early recognition, prediction, and early warning of DILI, proposes an identification and monitoring model for DILI risk signals based on specific biomarkers, and elaborates on their potential clinical values, so as to provide a scientific basis for developing targeted strategies for the prevention and control of the risk of DILI.

Objective To analyze the preventive and therapeutic effects of a traditional Chinese medicine Taohe Chengqi decoction on a rat models of hepatic encephalopathy ( HE) induced by thioacetamide ( TAA) .Methods The rat model of HE was established by intraperitoneal injection of TAA,and the effects of Taohe Chengqi decoction were observed by neurobehavioral changes,neurological test,blood ammonia,serum biochemical indexes,and liver and brain pathological examination.Results The rat model of hepatic encephalopathy was successfully established.Low, medium and high dose Taohe Chengqi decoction markedly improved neuro-reflexes and liver and brain pathological damages, and significantly decreased the HE staging and serum biochemical indexes, and the results of high dose group was the best, similar to that of positive drug-treatment group.Conclusions Taohe Chengqi decoction exhibits promising preventive and therapeutic effects on the rat model of TAA-induced hepatic encephalopathy, and these results provide substantial experimetal evidence for its clinical application.

Objective: To explore the utility of circulating tumor DNA detection in early breast cancer by using next-generation sequencing. Methods: This exploratory study of circulating tumor DNA detection is for early invasive breast cancer patients treated in Breast Disease Center, Peking University First Hospital from December 2015 to July 2016. Plasma samples were collected and were used to isolate plasma cell-free DNA.Exons or hotspots of 247 cancer related genes were sequenced by next-generation sequencing. Mutations and their correlation with clinic-pathological factors were analyzed. The correlation between mutations and clinic-pathological factors was evaluated by χ² test or Fisher′s exact test. Results: Seventy-five patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were female and aged from 31 to 88 years with median age of 58 years. All patients′ clinic-pathological records were complete. Sixty-four mutations in 18 genes (ALK, BCR, ERBB2, ROS1, PDGFRA, EGFR, FGFR2, CYP1B1, CALR, CASP7, BRAF, FGFR1, FGFR3, MET, NRAS, PTEN, KIT, SOD2) were detected in 47 (62.7%) among all 75 patients.Exons were captured in 10 genes, and mutations in 2 of 3 genes analyzed were clustered. Gene mutations were not correlated with menopausal status, histological type, primary tumor (T), regional lymph nodes (N), TNM stage, histological grade, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, Ki-67 and molecular subtype (all P>0.05). Conclusion Circulating tumor DNA sequencing by next-generation sequencing was useful for detecting breast cancer-related mutations.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features of patients with Caroli disease. MethodsThe clinical data were collected from 41 patients who were diagnosed with Caroli disease in The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from April 2015 to January 2020, and the patients were divided into type I group with 16 patients and type Ⅱ group with 25 patients. A retrospective analysis was performed for general information, laboratory markers, and clinical features. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data; a Spearman correlation analysis was also performed. ResultsThe type Ⅰ group had a significantly higher level of albumin (Alb) than the type Ⅱ group (t=0.976, P=0.048), and the type Ⅱ group had a significantly higher prothrombin time (PT) than the type I group (Z=3.115, P=0.001). Compared with the type I group, the type Ⅱ group had significantly higher incidence rates of esophageal and gastric varices, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and/or tarry stool, and portal hypertension (χ2=6.077, 5.468, and 2.403, P=0.002, 0.019, and 0.028). In the patients with type Ⅱ Caroli disease, the level of cholinesterase was negatively correlated with the incidence rates of esophageal and gastric varices and portal hypertension (r=-0.468 and -0.436, P=0.018 and 0.029); Alb level was negatively correlated with the incidence rate of esophageal and gastric varices (r=-0.561, P=0.004); red blood cell count was negatively correlated with the incidence rates of esophageal and gastric varices, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and/or tarry stool, and portal hypertension (r=-0.662, -0.566, and -0.436, P＜0.001, P=0.003, and P=0.029); hemoglobin count was negatively correlated with the incidence rates of esophageal and gastric varices, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and/or tarry stool, and portal hypertension (r=-0.605, -0.590, and -0.510, P=0.001, 0.002, and 0.009); PT was positively correlated with the incidence rates of esophageal varices and portal hypertension (r=0.488 and 0.520, P=0.013 and 0.008). ConclusionCompared with the patients with type I Caroli disease, the patients with type Ⅱ Caroli disease have a higher incidence rates of esophageal and gastric varices, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and/or tarry stool, and portal hypertension, with the changes in clinical indicators such as the decrease of Alb level and the increase of PT level, and they tend to have poor prognosis.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and pathogenic distribution of severe pneumonia in adults in order to provide basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:From June 2021 to April 2022, 145 patients with pneumonia admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province. According to whether they meet the diagnostic criteria for severe pneumonia, they were divided into severe ( n=63) and mild ( n=82) groups, and the clinical features between the two groups were compared. At the same time, the role of FilmArray detection in severe pneumonia was discussed. The measurement data were tested using independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test, and the counting data were tested using Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method. Results:The age of the patients in the severe group was (72.67±1.71) years, male patients accounted for 84.1%, and the median hospitalization time was 16 days. Nine patients died in hospital; most of them had fever, shortness of breath, and change of consciousness, accompanied by hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and tumor history. Compared with the mild group, the total number of leukocytes, neutrophil ratio, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein were higher in the severe group, but the CD3 +, CD4 +, and CD8 + cell counts were lower ( P<0.05). The positive rate of FilmArray detection in the severe group was 81%, and the mixed infection of multiple bacteria accounted for 50%, which was higher than that of traditional culture ( P<0.05). The top four pathogens in severe group were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii complex, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus, which were significantly higher than that in the mild group ( P<0.05). Resistance genes were detected in patients with severe disease, which was significantly higher than that in patients with mild disease (70.7% vs. 17.5%, P<0.05). Conclusions:Severe pneumonia is more common in elderly men, with more basic diseases and poor immunity. FilmArray has a high positive rate and can detect multiple pathogens, which may have a role in the rapid diagnosis of severe pneumonia.

Objective:To investigate the influences of morphological characteristics of skull base ovale foramen in the puncture difficulty of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC), surgical efficacy and postoperative complications in patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN).Methods:One hundred and twenty-seven patients with ITN, admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to January 2021, were collected. Dyna-CT three-dimensional imaging of the oval foramen at the skull base and PBC treatment were performed on the included patients, and the morphological data of the oval foramen were measured. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used to assess pain degrees before and after surgery. The differences of cross-sectional area and exposure Angle, puncture difficulty and time, NRS scores before and after surgery and incidence of complications were compared in patients with ovale foramen at different forms. The correlations of puncture time with puncture difficulty and cross-sectional area of ovale foramen in skull base were analyzed.Results:The foramen ovale in skull base of 127 patients included standard oval shape ( n=82), almond shape ( n=9), narrow and long shape ( n=13), fissure shape ( n=8) and irregular shape ( n=15). Different morphological characteristics of the skull base ovale foramen could lead to significant differences in the difficulty of puncture, exposure angle, cross-sectional area and puncture time ( P<0.05). Puncture time was positively correlated with puncture difficulty and cross-sectional area ( r=0.359, P<0.001; r=0.280, P=0.007). The patients with skull base ovale foramen of different forms showed no significant differences in the differences of NRS scores before and after PBC and occurrence of postoperative complications ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Dyna-CT three-dimensional imaging can visually display the morphological characteristics of the oval foramen at the skull base; this technique can be used to guide the puncture of the oval foramen and effectively evaluate the difficulty of puncture in PBC, but it does not affect the postoperative pain improvement and complication incidences.

Objective:There are a variety of minimally invasive interventional treatments for trigeminal neuralgia,and the efficacy evaluation is different.The preferred treatment scheme is still controversial.This study aims to investigate the differences in treatment effects between patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia(PTN)treated with percutaneous balloon compression(PBC)for the first intervention and patients with pain recurrence after radiofrequency thermocoagulation(RT)who then received PBC for PTN,and to offer clinicians and patients more scientifically grounded and precise treatment alternatives. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 103 patients with PTN admitted to the Department of Pain Management of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021,including 49 patients who received PBC for the first time(PBC group)and 54 patients who received PBC for pain recurrence after RT(RT+PBC group).General information,preoperative pain score,intraoperative oval foramen morphology,oval foramen area,balloon volume,duration of compression,and postoperative pain scores and pain recurrence at each time point on day 1(T1),day 7(T2),day 14(T3),1 month(T4),3 months(T5),and 1 year(T6)were collected and recorded for both groups.The differences in treatment effect,complications and recurrence between the 2 groups were compared,and the related influencing factors were analyzed. Results:The differences of general information,preoperative pain scores,foramen ovale morphology,foramen ovale area,T1 to T3 pain scores between the 2 groups were not statistically different(all P>0.05).The balloon filling volume in the PBC group was smaller than that in the RT+PBC group,the pain scores at T4 to T6 and pain recurrence were better than those in the RT+PBC group(all P<0.05).Pain recurrence was positively correlated with pain scores of T2 to T6(r=0.306,0.482,0.831,0.876,0.887,respectively;all P<0.01). Conclusion:The choice of PBC for the first intervention in PTN patients is superior to the choice of PBC after pain recurrence after RT treatment in terms of treatment outcome and pain recurrence.

ObjectiveTo investigate the features and changing trend of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in the elderly from 2009 to 2019, and to provide a reference for clinical prevention and treatment of DILI in the elderly. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 2107 elderly patients, aged ≥60 years, who were diagnosed with DILI in The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2009 to December 2019, and they were divided into groups according to age. Related clinical data were analyzed, including age, sex, clinical features, prognosis, and regional distribution. The Chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. ResultsAmong the 2107 patients with DILI, there were 802 male patients and 1305 female patients, with a male/female ratio of 1∶1.63. Cholestasis type was the most common clinical type and was observed in 1439 patients (68.3%). There was the highest number of patients in the 60-64 years group (942 patients, 44.7%), among whom 618(65.6%) were female, 589(62.5%) had cholestasis type, 471(50.0%) had chronic DILI, 421(44.7%) had drug-induced liver cirrhosis, and 25(2.7%) had drug-induced liver failure. There were 187 patients in the 75-79 years group, among whom 110 (58.8%) patients were male, 137(73.3%) had cholestasis type, 114(60.9%) had liver cirrhosis, 4(2.1%) had drug-induced liver failure. The results showed that chronic DILI was more common in the 60-64 years group, and liver cirrhosis was more common in the 75-79 years group. As for prognosis, in the 60-64 years group, 27 patients (2.9%) were cured, 885 (93.9%) were improved, 30(32%) had no response or died; in the 65-69 years group, 16 (2.8%) were cured, 528 (92.0%) were improved, and 30(5.2%) had no response or died; in the 70-74 years group, 9(2.8%) were cured, 305(94.1%) were improved, and 10 (3.6%) had no response or died. The results showed that there was no significant difference in mortality rate between the different age groups (P＞0.05). The proportion of elderly DILI patients among hospitalized DILI patients increased from 15.90% in 2009 to 22.05% in 2013 and 27.51% in 2019, with a 1.73-fold increase in 11 years. As for regional distribution, the patients in North China accounted for the highest proportion of 47.08% (the patients from Hebei, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia accounted for 24.92%, 10.96%, and 10.25%, respectively), followed by those in Northeast China who accounted for 17.85%. The patients in Beijing accounted for 11.53%. ConclusionThe proportion of elderly DILI patients among hospitalized DILI patients tends to increase in these years. Cholestasis type is the most common clinical type, and most of the patients with this clinical type progress to chronic DILI and drug-induced liver cirrhosis. Early diagnosis, early intervention, and standardized treatment of elderly DILI should be taken seriously.

ObjectiveTo compare the brain imaging characteristics in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and low back pain (LBP) based on amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) of functional magnetic resonance imaging. MethodsFrom August, 2015 to September, 2021, 16 KOA patients and 16 healthy subjects (controls 1) with similar age and gender were recruited from the communities of Fuzhou, Fujian. Other 27 patients with LBP and 32 healthy subjects (controls 2) with similar age and gender were obtained from the Openpain database. The ALFF were analyzed. KOA patients were assessed the pain with Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and LBP patients were assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The correlation between ALFF and pain scores was analyzed. ResultsCompared with their own controls, the ALFF decreased in the left anterior insula for both KOA and LBP patients. The ALFF decreased in the hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex in KOA patients, while increased in LBP patients. ALFF in the left precuneus, left middle cingulate cortex and right periaqueductal gray matter decreased in KOA patients, and ALFF increased in the right precentral/postcentral gyrus. ALFF of bilateral anterior cingulate cortex, bilateral orbital anterior frontal cortex, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right medial prefrontal cortex decreased in LBP patients, and ALFF increased in the right parahippocampal gyrus and right amygdala. ALFF of the left middle cingulate cortex negatively correlated with BPI score in KOA patients (r = -0.73, P = 0.003), and ALFF of the right hippocampus/amygdala positively correlated with VAS score in LBP patients (r = 0.73, P = 0.003). ConclusionThere are common and specific brain imaging features in different types of chronic pain. The alteration in the left anterior insula, hippocampus and posterior cingulate gyrus may be the common mechanism for KOA and LBP.