The concept of "qi deficiency with stagnation" refers to a pathological state characterized by the depletion of primordial qi， impaired qi transformation， and the development of internal stagnation. Under the cyclic chemotherapy regimen in oncology， chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression follows a progressive pathological course from qi deficiency to increasing stagnation. This sequential evolution from mild to severe myelosuppression closely aligns with the dynamic syndrome differentiation and treatment framework of "qi deficiency with stagnation". "Qi deficiency" reflects the gradual depletion of qi， blood， and essence， while "stagnation" refers to the accumulation of phlegm， turbid dampness， and blood stasis. These two components interact reciprocally， forming a vicious cycle where deficiency leads to stagnation， and stagnation further damages the healthy qi. In the early stage of mild myelosuppression， chemotoxicity begins to accumulate in the bone marrow， leading to qi consumption， blood deficiency， yin injury， and the gradual formation of turbid phlegm and damp stagnation. In the advanced stage of severe myelosuppression， the accumulation of toxicity causes qi sinking， exhaustion of essence， and marrow depletion， along with blood stasis obstructing the collaterals. Treatment strategies should be based on syndrome differentiation， with an emphasis on assessing the severity of the condition， balancing deficiency and excess， and achieving both symptomatic relief and root cause resolution.

While multiple step saccades (MSS) are occasionally reported in the healthy population, they are more evident in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, MSS has been suggested as a biological marker for the diagnosis of PD. However, the lack of clarity on the neural mechanism underlying the generation of MSS largely impedes their application in the clinic. We have proposed recently that MSS are triggered by the discrepancy between desired and executed saccades. Accordingly, brain regions involved in saccadic planning and execution might play a role in the generation of MSS. To test this hypothesis, we explored the role of the prefrontal (PFC) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in generating MSS by conducting two experiments: electroencephalographic recording and single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation in the PFC or PPC of humans while participants were performing a gap saccade task. We found that the PFC and PPC are involved in the generation of MSS.
Humans ; Parietal Lobe/physiology* ; Saccades/physiology* ; Prefrontal Cortex/physiology* ; Male ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Female ; Electroencephalography ; Adult ; Young Adult

Objective:To determine the motion detection uncertainty of the real-time CybeRay ? imaging system and patient intrafractional motion with thermoplastic mask-based immobilization. Methods:Real-time CybeRay ? imaging system was used for irradiation and treatment for head phantom and patients with brain tumors. All patients were immobilized with thermoplastic masks. Real-time imaging was delivered using kilovoltage projection images during radiotherapy. The detected patient motion data was collected from 5 head phantom measurements and 27 treatment fractions of 9 brain tumor patients admitted to Kaifeng Cancer Hospital. The accuracy and uncertainty of the motion monitoring system were determined. Results:The mean and standard deviation (SD) of the detected motion in the X, Y, and Z directions for phantom were (-0.02±0.41) mm, (-0.05±0.22) mm and (0.01±0.35) mm, respectively. The detected motion in the X, Y and Z directions for patents were (-0.13±0.48) mm, (-0.05±0.48) mm and (0.11±0.36) mm, respectively. After removing the motion detection uncertainty, the actual intrafractional motion of patients were (-0.11±0.25) mm, (0±0.43) mm and (0.10±0.08) mm in three directions, respectively. Conclusions:The uncertainty of real-time imaging-based motion monitoring system of CybeRay ? is less than 0.5 mm. It is feasible to apply thermoplastic masks for brain tumor patients in clinical practice, which can provide steady immobilization and limit the SD of patient intrafractional motion within 0.5 mm. Real-time imaging-based motion monitoring system of CybeRay ? is accurate for patient motion monitoring during frameless stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study examined the association between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus in patients with H-type hypertension and assessed the possible effect modifiers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,255 eligible participants in the ‘H-type Hypertension Management and Stroke Prevention Strategic International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project’ among rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The mean level of total homocysteine (tHcy) in the diabetes mellitus population was 19.37 μmol/L, which was significantly higher than the non-diabetic patients (18.18 μmol/L). When tHcy was analyzed as a continuous variable, the odds ratio (OR) of diabetes was 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.35; per interquartile range). When tHcy was stratified according to the quintile, the ORs for diabetes were 2.86 (95% CI, 1.22–6.69) in the highest quintile (tHcy ≥ 20.60 μmol/L) compared to the reference group (tHcy < 12.04 μmol/L). When tHcy was grouped by 15 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L, patients with tHcy ≥ 20 μmol/L had a significantly (P = 0.037) higher risk of diabetes (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.04–3.96) than in those with tHcy < 15 μmol/L. Subgroup analysis showed that the tHcy-diabetes association was unaffected by other variables. CONCLUSION In this study of rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension, the tHcy levels showed a positive association with diabetes mellitus. This independent association is unaffected by other potential risk factors.

BACKGROUND: The effect of intra-operative chemotherapy (IOC) on the long-term survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the independent effect of intra-operative infusion of 5-fluorouracil in combination with calcium folinate on the survival of CRC patients following radical resection. METHODS: 1820 patients were recruited, and 1263 received IOC and 557 did not. Clinical and demographic data were collected, including overall survival (OS), clinicopathological features, and treatment strategies. Risk factors for IOC-related deaths were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. A regression model was developed to analyze the independent effects of IOC. RESULTS: Proportional hazard regression analysis showed that IOC (hazard ratio [HR]=0.53, 95% confidence intervals [CI] [0.43, 0.65], P  < 0.001) was a protective factor for the survival of patients. The mean overall survival time in IOC group was 82.50 (95% CI [80.52, 84.49]) months, and 71.21 (95% CI [67.92, 74.50]) months in non-IOC group. The OS in IOC-treated patients were significantly higher than non-IOC-treated patients ( P  < 0.001, log-rank test). Further analysis revealed that IOC decreased the risk of death in patients with CRC in a non-adjusted model (HR=0.53, 95% CI [0.43, 0.65], P  < 0.001), model 2 (adjusted for age and gender, HR=0.52, 95% CI [0.43, 0.64], P  < 0.001), and model 3 (adjusted for all factors, 95% CI 0.71 [0.55, 0.90], P  = 0.006). The subgroup analysis showed that the HR for the effect of IOC on survival was lower in patients with stage II (HR = 0.46, 95% CI [0.31, 0.67]) or III disease (HR=0.59, 95% CI [0.45, 0.76]), regardless of pre-operative radiotherapy (HR=0.55, 95% CI [0.45, 0.68]) or pre-operative chemotherapy (HR=0.54, 95% CI [0.44, 0.66]). CONCLUSIONS: IOC is an independent factor that influences the survival of CRC patients. It improved the OS of patients with stages II and III CRC after radical surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR 2100043775.
Humans ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use* ; Leucovorin/therapeutic use* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop a comprehensive instrument for evaluating and ranking clinical practice guidelines, named Scientific, Transparent and Applicable Rankings tool (STAR), and test its reliability, validity, and usability. METHODS: This study set up a multidisciplinary working group including guideline methodologists, statisticians, journal editors, clinicians, and other experts. Scoping review, Delphi methods, and hierarchical analysis were used to develop the STAR tool. We evaluated the instrument's intrinsic and interrater reliability, content and criterion validity, and usability. RESULTS: STAR contained 39 items grouped into 11 domains. The mean intrinsic reliability of the domains, indicated by Cronbach's α coefficient, was 0.588 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.414, 0.762). Interrater reliability as assessed with Cohen's kappa coefficient was 0.774 (95% CI: 0.740, 0.807) for methodological evaluators and 0.618 (95% CI: 0.587, 0.648) for clinical evaluators. The overall content validity index was 0.905. Pearson's r correlation for criterion validity was 0.885 (95% CI: 0.804, 0.932). The mean usability score of the items was 4.6 and the median time spent to evaluate each guideline was 20 min. CONCLUSION The instrument performed well in terms of reliability, validity, and efficiency, and can be used for comprehensively evaluating and ranking guidelines.
Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Humans

Objective:To compare the efficacy of modified single-incision and traditional double-incision for flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer in the treatment of Myerson type III chronic Achilles tendon ruptures in the middle-aged and elderly patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 106 patients with Myerson type III chronic Achilles tendon ruptures admitted to Ningbo No.6 Hospital from January 2015 to May 2021, including 54 males and 52 females; aged 48-82 years [(67.2±8.4)years]. Flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer was assigned to 60 patients using modified single-incision (modified single-incision group) and to 46 patients using traditional double-incision (traditional double-incision group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss as well as American foot and ankle society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS), visual analogue score (VAS) before operation, at postoperative 12 months and at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. Time to recover walking and self-care ability, and incidence of complications were compared as well.Results:All patients were followed up for 16-52 months [(37.4±9.5)months]. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were (51.6±7.4)minutes and (16.6±3.9)ml in modified single-incision group compared to (72.8±7.5)minutes and (32.9±5.2)ml in traditional double-incision group (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, FAOS and VAS between the two groups before operation (all P>0.05). At postoperative 12 months and at the last follow-up, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and VAS were not significantly different between the two groups (all P>0.05), but FAOS in modified single-incision group [(112.6±3.0)points, (114.4±3.1)points] was improved significantly compared with traditional double-incision group [(110.8±4.1)points, (112.7±4.3)points] ( P<0.05 or 0.01). At postoperative 12 months and at the last follow-up, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, FAOS and VAS in both groups were improved or decreased significantly compared with those before operation (all P<0.05). All patients recovered their pre-injury daily activities. The time to recover walking and self-care ability were (9.6±2.0)weeks and (12.7±1.7)weeks in modified single-incision group compared to (10.8±1.8)weeks and (13.7±1.9)weeks in traditional double-incision group (all P<0.01). In modified single-incision group, superficial incision infection ( n=1) was found and cured after oral antibiotics. In traditional double-incision group, superficial incision infection ( n=2), deep incision infection ( n=1), deep venous thrombosis ( n=1) and medial plantar nerve injury ( n=1) were found and cured after symptomatic internal medical therapy; claw toe deformity ( n=2) was found and relieved after wearing customized insoles and functional exercise. The incidence of complications was 1.7% (1/60) in modified single-incision group compared to 15.2% (7/46) in traditional double-incision group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:In contrast with traditional double-incision surgery, modified single-incision for flexor longus tendon transfer in the treatment of Myerson type III chronic Achilles tendon ruptures in the middle-aged and elderly patients has advantages such as shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, better functional recovery, faster postoperative recovery and less complications.

Objective:To understand the genetic characteristics of human adenovirus (HAdV) in severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases in Luohe city, Henan province, China.Methods:After viral isolation of HAdV-positive specimens identified in SARI cases from October 2017 to February 2019, the Loop2 region of the Hexon gene was amplified and determined to initially identify the virus type. Then, based on the preliminary screening result, the full length of the sequences of the three target genes (Penton base, Hexon and Fiber) of the viral strains were amplified using specific primers for each HAdV type, and phylogenetic and sequence homology analyses were performed with the prototype strains and the representative strains of the corresponding types at home and abroad to identify the types of viral strains and understand their genetic characteristics.Results:A total of 18 viral isolates were obtained from 27 HAdV-positive throat swab specimens from 783 SARI cases in Luohe city, Henan province, and the molecular typing result showed that these strains belonged to species B (HAdV-3, HAdV-7 and HAdV-55), species C (HAdV-1, P1H2F2, Px1/Ps3H5F5, P89H5F5 and HAdV-6) and species E (HAdV-4). Among them, the highest positive detection rate was found for species C HAdV-1 isolates (33.3%), followed by species B HAdV-3 (22.2%) and species C P1H2F2 (11.1%). The four HAdV strains in this study (HAdV-3, HAdV-4, HAdV-7 and HAdV-55) were characterized by significantly conserved and stable in time and space; while three patterns of genetic recombination (P1H2F2, Px1/Ps3H5F5 and P89H5F5) were identified for HAdV-C strains in this study, and their potential public health significance needed to be confirmed by further studies.Conclusions:The HAdV infection of SARI cases in Luohe city, Henan province during 2017-2019 was dominated by species C, followed by species B and species E. These data provided a scientific basis for the prevention and control of local adenovirus-associated infectious diseases.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) as adjuvant on immune response induced by inactivated human adenovirus (HAdV)-55 antigen in BALB/c mice.Methods:HAdV-55 virus QS prototype strain was purified by plaque to construct a seed bank of vaccine candidate strain. The amplified product of vaccine candidate strain was inactivated by 0.05%β-propiolactone, and purified to prepare perfect virus particle antigen. The purified HAdV-55 antigen was mixed with the same volume CPG-ODN and aluminum hydroxide adjuvant in low-dose group (0.2 mg/ml) and high-dose group (1 mg/ml), respectively, and inoculated BALB/c mice after emulsification. Meanwhile, the control group was set with PBS, and the immunization was enhanced once every 21 days. Respectively on primary immune 21 and 35 days after collecting venous blood in mice and separation of serum, serum was collected at the end of the time of separating spleen lymphocytes in mice. The levels of HAdV-55 specific IgG antibody and neutralization antibody in serum of immunized mice were observed by ELISA and micro-neutralization test, and the levels of lymphocytes secreting IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines were detected by ELISpot.Results:No matter with or without adjuvant, along with the increase of the number of immunization and vaccination dose of inactivated HAdV-55 antigen induced BALB/c mice virus specific IgG antibody was also significantly increased. However, neutralizing antibody can reach detectable level only after enhanced immunity, and the geometric mean titer (GMT) of neutralizing antibody is between 1: 11 and 1: 23. Different adjuvants have significant effects on the immune response of mice. Low dose antigen combined with CPG-ODN and aluminum hydroxide mixed adjuvant can induce higher humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, and the levels of specific IgG antibody and neutralizing antibody are 2.2 and 1.8 times higher than those in the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant group, respectively. The number of lymphocytes secreting IFN-γ was 2.3 times that of the group immunized with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.Conclusions:The novel CPG-ODN adjuvant significantly increased the immunogenicity of the inactivated HAdV-55 whole virus antigen in BALB/c mice and directed the cellular immune response toward Th1 type.

Objective:The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China.Methods:This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems.Results:According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%).Conclusion:Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.