This study aims to investigate the polarized microscopic mineral phase characteristics, inorganic element content, and potential health risks associated with the intake of raw and calcined fossil mineral Chinese medicinal material Draconis Os. Microscopy was employed to observe the mineralogical characteristics of Draconis Os and compare the microscopic features and phase composition of raw and calcined Draconis Os under monochromatic and orthogonal polarized light. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) was employed to determine the content of 30 inorganic elements. Health risk assessment was conducted by calculating the single pollution index(P_i), average daily intake of elements for adults(ADI), target hazard quotient(THQ), non-carcinogenic assessment method-hazard quotient(HQ), and the carcinogenic risk of elements(CR). The results indicated that under monochromatic polarized light, the Draconis Os powder sections exhibited light gray-brown to gray-brown irregular fragments, some with undulating textures that were slightly curved. Under crossed polarized light, they appeared dark gray, grayish-white, and yellowish-white. Clear apatite was visible in the ground sections of Draconis Os under crossed polarized light. P_i results indicated that Draconis Os samples were free from contamination and were of good quality. According to the maximum allowable limits of heavy metals stipulated in ISO Traditional Chinese Medicine: Determination of heavy metals in herbal medicines used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, ADI, THQ, HQ, and CR were taken as assessment indicators. Only the THQ value for As(arsenic) in raw Draconis Os was greater than 1, while the THQ values for other heavy metal elements in the Draconis Os samples were all less than 1. The study demonstrates that the primary mineral phase of raw and calcined Draconis Os is apatite, with some samples co-existing with calcite, which can serve as one of the means for quality control of Draconis Os. The elemental analysis results from ICP-MS provide scientific evidence for the safety assessment of Draconis Os, indicating that Draconis Os is safe in clinical application.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Risk Assessment ; Minerals/chemistry* ; Fossils ; Humans ; Drug Contamination ; Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of self-made anatomical tower-shaped pads combined with splint plaster fixation in the treatment of unstable 2nd to 5th metacarpal fractures and to provide a reference for clinical practice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 98 patients with unstable 2nd to 5th metacarpal fractures treated with self-made anatomical tower-shaped pads combined with splint plaster fixation between January 2019 and December 2022. There were 74 males and 24 females, aged from 19 to 63 years old with an average of (41.58±7.23) years old. The total active movement (TAM) score was used to evaluate the metacarpophalangeal joint function. Complications and fracture healing time were recorded. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for a period ranging from 1 to 5 months, with an average duration of (3.45±1.03) months. Among the 98 patients, anatomical alignment was achieved in 75 patients, with 68 patients still maintaining anatomical alignment after fixation removal. Functional alignment was achieved in 23 patients, with 20 patients maintaining functional alignment even after fixation removal. There were 10 patients with displacement after reduction. The average fracture healing time was (5.78±1.14) weeks, and the fracture healed well without any angular or rotational deformities. TAM score was utilized to assess the hand function of patients 3 months post-treatment. The extension range of motion (10.72±1.35)° and flexion range of motion (83.19±4.08)° of the metacarpophalangeal joint were significantly higher than the pre-treatment values of (8.25±0.68)° and (70.35±2.36)°, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). TAM outcomes were excellent in 92 cases, good in 5, fair in 1, and poor in none. CONCLUSION The implementation of self-made anatomical tower-shaped pad combined with splint plaster fixation is effective for the conservative management of unstable 2nd to 5th metacarpal fractures.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Metacarpal Bones/surgery* ; Splints ; Retrospective Studies ; Fractures, Bone/therapy* ; Casts, Surgical ; Young Adult ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the measures to improve the follow-up rate of preterm infants after discharge, and to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures using quality improvement methodology. METHODS: The follow-up status of preterm infants discharged from March to May 2017 was used as the baseline before quality improvement, and a specific quality improvement goal for the follow-up rate was proposed. The Pareto chart was used to analyze the causes of follow-up failure, and a key driver diagram was constructed based on the links involved in improving follow-up rate. The causes of failure were analyzed to determine the key links and intervention measures for quality improvement, and the follow-up rate was monitored weekly using a control chart until the quality improvement goal was achieved. RESULTS: The follow-up rate of preterm infants after discharge was 57.92% (117/202) at baseline before quality improvement, and the quality improvement goal was set to increase the follow-up rate of preterm infants from baseline to more than 80% within 12 months. The Pareto chart analysis showed that the main causes of follow-up failure were deficiencies in follow-up file management and irregular follow-up times (33.70%, 31/92), insufficient follow-up education and poor communication (25.00%, 23/92), and the inability to meet the diverse needs of parents (18.48%, 17/92). Based on the key links for quality improvement and the main causes of follow-up failure, the following intervention measures were adopted: (1) strengthen follow-up publicity and education; (2) build a follow-up team; and (3) establish a follow-up platform and system. The control chart indicated that with the implementation of the above intervention measures, the weekly follow-up rate increased to 74.09% (306/413) in July 2017 and 83.09% (511/615) in December 2017, finally achieving the quality improvement goal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the follow-up rate of preterm infants fluctuated between 23.54% (460/1 954) and 70.97% (1 931/2 721), and subsequently, it returned to pre-pandemic levels starting in February 2023. CONCLUSIONS The application of quality improvement methodology can help to formulate intervention measures based on the main causes of follow-up failure, thereby improving the follow-up rate of preterm infants after discharge. This quality improvement method is feasible and practical and thus holds promise for clinical application.
Humans ; Quality Improvement ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Patient Discharge ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic of venetoclax (VEN) combined targeted therapy in acute leukemia (AL) patients with PICALM∷MLLT10 fusion gene positivity. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 16 PICALM∷MLLT10-positive AL patients treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2021 to August 2024. These patients were diagnosed by targeted RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) or reverse transcription multiplex PCR, including newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory (R/R) cases. The immunophenotypes, genetic features, gene mutations, and the efficacy of VEN combination targeted therapy of patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 16 cases, 3 were confirmed by reverse transcription multiplex PCR, and 13 were detected through targeted RNA-seq among 528 AL patients, with a detection rate of 2.46%. The averge age of patients was (28.0±8.58) years. Patients exhibited diverse immunophenotypes, including 7 cases of acute myeloid leukemia, 5 of acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia, 1 of acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia, 1 of acute undifferentiated leukemia, and 2 of mixed-phenotype acute leukemia. Among them, 11 had extramedullary disease (EMD), 14 expressed CD7, and 12 expressed CD33. Major co-occurring mutations included PHF6 (6 cases), NOTCH1 (5 cases), and 7 cases with complex karyotypes. Of the 12 patients who received standard induction therapy, 7 did not achieve remission (PR+NR). All 4 patients treated with VEN combination therapy achieved complete remission (CR). Among the 7 induction failure cases, 4 achieved CR upon re-induction with VEN, while the remaining 3 re-induced with standard therapy, did not achieve CR. Thirteen patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including 6 who received maintenance therapy with hypomethylating agents (HMA) alone or in combination with VEN, and seven were followed up. Survival analysis showed that the overall survival was better in the maintenance therapy group (P =0.044). CONCLUSION PICALM∷MLLT10-positive AL involves multiple lineages and demonstrates poor response to conventional chemotherapy. VEN combination therapy shows promising efficacy in both newly diagnosed and R/R patients. Post-transplant maintenance therapy with HMA alone or combined with VEN may extend survival; however, further clinical validation is required.
Humans ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Mutation ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy*

Patients suffering from nerve injury often experience exacerbated pain responses and complain of memory deficits. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), a well-defined region responsible for learning and memory, displays maladaptive plasticity upon injury, which is assumed to underlie pain hypersensitivity and cognitive deficits. However, much attention has thus far been paid to intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Emerging evidence has shown that nerve injury alters the microarchitecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and decreases ECM rigidity in the dHPC. Despite this, it remains elusive which element of the ECM in the dHPC is affected and how it contributes to neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits. Laminin, a key element of the ECM, consists of α-, β-, and γ-chains and has been implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed that peripheral nerve injury downregulates laminin β1 (LAMB1) in the dHPC. Silencing of hippocampal LAMB1 exacerbates pain sensitivity and induces cognitive dysfunction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of hippocampal LAMB1 causes dysregulated Src/NR2A signaling cascades via interaction with integrin β1, leading to decreased Ca²⁺ levels in pyramidal neurons, which in turn orchestrates structural and functional plasticity and eventually results in exaggerated pain responses and cognitive deficits. In this study, we shed new light on the functional capability of hippocampal ECM LAMB1 in the modulation of neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits, and reveal a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified hippocampal LAMB1/integrin β1 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and related memory loss.
Animals ; Laminin/genetics* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Pyramidal Cells/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Objective To investigate an automated pretreatment technology for detecting levels of free silica in workplace dust. Methods An fully automated pretreatment workstation for detecting free silica levels in workplace dust was developed by integrating graphite-controlled digestion temperature, online-controlled dilution of digestion solutions, and filtration endpoint recognition based on monitoring technology, combined with multi-channel synchronous measurements. Results The fully automatic pretreatment workstation was used to digest and filter 14 standard samples of free silica produced by three institutions, and then detected by pyrophosphate method. The result range of high-, medium-, and low-level free silica standard samples detection was 66.5%-84.8%, 40.0%-44.5%, and 2.1%-24.8%, respectively. The mean relative standard deviations were 3.9%, 1.4% and 1.5%. Conclusion The fully automated pretreatment workstation produced results that met relevant requirements. It can effectively replace the manual digestion and filtration steps of the pyrophosphate method to measure free silica levels in workplace dust and enable rapid detection of free silica in dust samples.

Objective To explore accuracy and clinical effect of robot-assisted implantation of sacroiliac penetrating screw in orthopedic surgery for posterior pelvic ring fracture.Methods The clinical data of 24 patients with posterior pelvic ring frac-ture treated with robot-assisted sacroiliac penetration screws from August 2022 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,including 10 males and 14 females;aged from 21 to 73 years old with an average of(49.29±14.48)years old;according to Tile pelvic fractures,13 patients were type B and 11 were type C.The effect of screw placement was evaluated according to Gras criteria based on postoperative CT scan results.At the final follow-up,fracture healing was evaluated according to Matta score,and functional recovery was evaluated by Majeed score.Results All patients were followed up for 3 to 13 months with an aver-age of(6.00±3.28)months.Totally 36 sacroiliac penetrating screws,18 S1 penetrating screws,18 S2 penetrating screws were inserted,a total of 29 were excellent and 7 good according to Gras standard.Screw adjustment times was 0.00(0.00,0.75)times.At the final follow-up,Matta score was excellent in 18 patients,5 good and 1 moderate,and the maximum displacement distance was 2.55(0.00,5.65)mm.Majeed score was 84.37±8.38,15 patients were excellent,7 good and 2 moderate.Con-clusion Robot could accurately and safely assist in the placement of sacroiliac joint screws for the treatment of posterior pelvic ring fractures,and promote postoperative functional recovery of patients.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia(T-ALL)in children and explore the prognostic risk factors.Methods:The clinical data of 127 newly diagnosed children with T-ALL admitted to five hospitals in Fujian province from April 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed,and compared with children with newly diagnosed acute precursor B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia(B-ALL)in the same period.Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the overall survival(OS)and event-free survival(EFS),and COX proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the prognostic factors.Among 116 children with T-ALL who received standard treatment,78 cases received the Chinese Childhood Leukemia Collaborative Group(CCLG)-ALL 2008 protocol(CCLG-ALL 2008 group),and 38 cases received the China Childhood Cancer Collaborative Group(CCCG)-ALL 2015 protocol(CCCG-ALL 2015 group).The efficacy and serious adverse event(SAE)incidence of the two groups were compared.Results:Proportion of male,age ≥ 10 years old,white blood cell count(WBC)≥ 50 × 109/L,central nervous system leukemia,minimal residual disease(MRD)≥ 1％during induction therapy,and MRD ≥ 0.01％at the end of induction in T-ALL children were significantly higher than those in B-ALL children(P＜0.05).The expected 10-year EFS and OS of T-ALL were 59.7％and 66.0％,respectively,which were significantly lower than those of B-ALL(P＜0.001).COX analysis showed that WBC ≥ 100 x 109/L at initial diagnosis and failure to achieve complete remission(CR)after induction were independent risk factors for poor prognosis.Compared with CCLG-ALL 2008 group,CCCG-ALL 2015 group had lower incidence of infection-related SAE(15.8％vs 34.6％,P=0.042),but higher EFS and OS(73.9％vs 57.2％,PEFS=0.090;86.5％vs 62.3％,PoS=0.023).Conclusions:The prognosis of children with T-ALL is worse than children with B-ALL.WBC ≥ 100 × 109/L at initial diagnosis and non-CR after induction(especially mediastinal mass has not disappeared)are the risk factors for poor prognosis.CCCG-ALL 2015 regimen may reduce infection-related SAE and improve efficacy.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the composition characteristics and problems of basic medical insurance policies for traditional Chinese medicine in various provinces of China,providing reference for optimizing and improving subsequent basic medical insurance policies for traditional Chinese medicine.Methods:Based on the perspective of policy instrument,combined with two dimensions of policy instrument types and policy development process,the content analysis method is used to quantitatively analyze the content of the basic medical insurance policies for traditional Chinese medicine released at the provincial level from 2011 to 2023.Results:The 93 included policy documents were coded and sorted,with a cumulative total of 487 codes.From the perspective of policy instrument dimensions,subcategories of policy instruments involve diverse themes,but there are differences in the level of attention paid to each policy tool.From the perspective of policy development process,each link also presents a discrete trend,indicating a dominant feature of policy planning and implementation.Conclusion:To improve the basic medical insurance policy system of traditional Chinese medicine in China,it is necessary to optimize the combination of policy instrument and construct a coordinated and balanced policy instrument framework;Overall planning of the development process of traditional Chinese medicine medical insurance policies,highlighting the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine;Emphasize policy synergy between dimensions and strengthen the implementation of traditional Chinese medicine medical insurance policies.

Background::Although some well-established oncogenes are involved in cancer initiation and progression such as prostate cancer (PCa), the long tail of cancer genes remains to be defined. Goosecoid ( GSC) has been implicated in cancer development. However, the comprehensive biological role of GSC in pan-cancer, specifically in PCa, remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of GSC in PCa development. Methods::We performed a systematic bioinformatics exploration of GSC using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression, Gene Expression Omnibus, German Cancer Research Center, and our in-house cohorts. First, we evaluated the expression of GSC and its association with patient prognosis, and identified GSC-relevant genetic alterations in cancers. Further, we focused on the clinical characterization and prognostic analysis of GSC in PCa. To understand the transcriptional regulation of GSC by E2F transcription factor 1 ( E2F1), we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Functional experiments were conducted to validate the effect of GSC on the tumor cellular phenotype and sensitivity to trametinib. Results::GSC expression was elevated in various tumors and significantly correlated with patient prognosis. The alterations of GSC contribute to the progression of various tumors especially in PCa. Patients with PCa and high GSC expression exhibited worse progression-free survival and biochemical recurrence outcomes. Further, GSC upregulation in patients with PCa was mostly accompanied with higher Gleason score, advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Mechanistically, the transcription factor, E2F1, stimulates GSC by binding to its promoter region. Detailed experiments further demonstrated that GSC acted as an oncogene and influenced the response of PCa cells to trametinib treatment. Conclusions::GSC was highly overexpressed and strongly correlated with patient prognosis in PCa. We found that GSC, regulated by E2F1, acted as an oncogene and impeded the therapeutic efficacy of trametinib in PCa.