ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to discuss the diagnostic accuracy of nornalized liver ADC using the spleen and renal cortex as reference organs for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis.Methods Forty three patients with liver disease (chronic liver disease group) at compensated stage and 10 healthy volunteers (control group) were retrospectively assessed with diffusion-weighted imaging at a 3.0 T MR unit.Liver ADC,spleen ADC,renal ADC and normalized ADC (defined as the ratio of liver ADC to spleen ADC or renal cortex ADC,S-ADC and R-ADC for short) were measured in patients stratified by fibrosis stage.Spearman analysis was used to see the correlation between fibrosis stages and ADC,one-way ANOVA was used to compare the ADCs in different fibrosis stages.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the performance of ADC for prediction of liver fibrosis,and show the area under the curve ( AUC),sensitivity and specificity choosing the optimal cutoff value that maximized the Youden index.ResultsTen volunteers belonged to SO stage.From SO to S4 stage,there were 2,5,9,12 and 15 patients,correspondingly,liver ADCwere (1.37±0.13) ×10-3,(1.33±0.16) ×10 -3,(1.17±0.16) ×10-3,(1.23±0.14) ×10-3and ( 1.12 ±0.11 ) × 10-3mm2/s,S-ADC were 1.86 ±0.18,1.68 ±0.12,1.34 ±0.14,1.48 ±0.15 and 1.34±0.10,R-ADC were 0.71 ±0.08,0.68 ±0.12,0.61 ±0.09,0.64 ±0.11 and 0.60 ±0.08respectively,and the differences among them were significant ( F =6.48,18.70 and 3.04,P ＜0.05 ).The correlation between fibrosis stage and S-ADC was stronger than between fibrosis stage and liver ADC,R-ADC (r =- 0.71,- 0.51,- 0.41 ;P ＜ 0.01 ).S-ADC was superior to liver ADC and R-ADC for detection of S2,S3 and S4 fibrosis stage (Youden index:0.91,0.58,and 0.59).ConclusionSpleen normalized liver ADC improves diagnostic accuracy for detection of liver fibrosis than liver ADC and renal normalized liver ADC.

Chemotherapy completion rate can reflect the tolerance and compliance of patients to chemotherapy. Poor tolerance may result in delay or suspension of the comprehensive treatment plan, thus affect the efficacy of cancer treatment. Evaluating methods to improve the completion rate of chemotherapy and reduce the occurrence of delayed chemotherapy has gained increasing attention and is the significant area of study in the field of cancer treatment. Studies have shown that Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy could improve the quality of life in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Objective Feitai Capsule,a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine,has been screened and refined repeatedly for many years and shown to have a good anti-tumor effect.Strict quality control and further screening of the efficacious components of the compound are of great clinical significance.The purpose of this study was to establish the methods for determining the isofraxidin content in Feitai Capsule.Methods We determined the content of isofraxidin in Feitai Capsule by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),using the chromatographic column Hypersil ODS-C18 (4.6 mm?150 mm,5 ?m),with the mobile phase as acetonitrile 0.2% phosphoric acid solution (21∶79),the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detective wavelength of 344 nm and the column temperature at 30℃.Results Isofraxidin showed a good linearity,within the range of 2.00-10.80 ?g/ml (y=69 427x+15961,r = 0.999 9),with the average recovery of 97.89% and RSD of 1.64% (n = 6).Conclusion HPLC,accurate and reproducible,is suitable for the determination of the isofraxidin content in Feitai Capsule.

Recently the maintenance therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who completed required treatment cycles has caused widespread interests in the medical field. Traditional Chinese medicine may be a useful complement in maintenance treatment of mid-to-late stage NSCLC.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy on chronic pelvic inflammation between the acupoint embedding therapy and acupuncture, and to compare the efficacy of different patterns/syndroms in differentiation treated with acupoint embedding therapy.

METHODSTwo hundred and eighteen cases were randomized into an embedding therapy group (115 cases) and an acupuncture group (103 cases). In both groups, Shenshu (BL 23), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Qihai (CV 6) were selected as the main points. For qi and blood stagnation pattern/syndrome, Zhongdu (LR 6), Diji (SP 8) and the others were added; for cold and damp stagnation pattern/syndrome, Diji (SP 8) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were added; for stasis and phlegm pattern/syndrome due to spleen deficiency, Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) were added. In the embedding therapy group, the catgut was embedded at 7 - 13 acupoints each time, once every 10 days. In the acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture therapy was applied, once a day. The symptom scores were assessed in the aspects of the lower abdominal pain severity and attack frequency, lumbosacral soreness and distention, abnormality of vaginal discharge and the others. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.0% (107/115) in the embedding therapy group, which was better than 83.5% (86/103) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The symptom scores were all reduced after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.05). In the embedding therapy group, the efficacies were not significantly different among different patterns/syndromes (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint embedding therapy achieves the definite efficacy on chronic pelvic inflammation and obtains the similar efficacies among the different differentiated patterns/syndromes of the disease.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prostheses and Implants ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

AIM: To analyze the value of blue-on-yellow perimetry(B/Y)combined with macular ganglion cells inner plexiform layer(GCIPL)detection in the early diagnosis of open angle glaucoma.METHODS: A prospective case-control study was conducted to collect 100 patients(174 eyes)from May 2023 to May 2024 in Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University as the case group, and 20 healthy volunteers(40 eyes)as the control group. The case group was divided into high intraocular pressure group, suspected glaucoma group, and early glaucoma group based on the examination results. All study subjects underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination, white-on-white perimetry(W/W)and B/Y examination, and swept source optical coherence tomography(SS-OCT)was used to scan the optic disc and macula to obtain relevant parameters. The value of B/Y combined with macular GCIPL in the diagnosis of open angle glaucoma was analyzed.RESULTS: In the case group, 30 cases(52 eyes)were diagnosed with early primary open angle glaucoma, 46 cases(82 eyes)were suspected of open angle glaucoma, and 24 cases(40 eyes)were diagnosed with high intraocular pressure. The W/W mean defect(MD)and B/Y-MD values in the early glaucoma group were lower than those in the control group, high intraocular pressure group, and suspected glaucoma group. The W/W pattern standard deviation(PSD)and B/Y-PSD values were higher than those in the control group, high intraocular pressure group, and suspected glaucoma group(all P<0.05). The W/W-MD and B/Y-MD values in the suspected glaucoma group were lower than those in the control group and the high intraocular pressure group(all P<0.05). The B/Y-MD values in the high intraocular pressure group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). The parameters of GCIPL in the macular area of the early glaucoma group were lower than those of the control group, high intraocular pressure group, and suspected glaucoma group(all P<0.05). The minimum GCIPL in the macular area of the suspected glaucoma group, as well as the upper and lower temporal areas, were lower than those of the control group and the high intraocular pressure group(all P<0.05). The average, upper, lower, temporal, 5:00, 6:00, and 12:00 positions of the retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)parameters around the optic disc in the early glaucoma group were lower than those in the control group, high intraocular pressure group, and suspected glaucoma group(all P<0.05). The average and upper RNFL parameters in the suspected glaucoma group were lower than those in the control group and high intraocular pressure group. The rim area of the optic nerve head(ONH)parameters in the early glaucoma group was smaller than that in the control group, high intraocular pressure group, and suspected glaucoma group, while the horizontal and vertical cup-to-disc ratio was higher than those in the control group, high intraocular pressure group, and suspected glaucoma group; the rim area of the suspected glaucoma group was smaller than that of the control group and high intraocular pressure group, and the horizontal and vertical cup-to-disc ratio were higher than those of the control group and high intraocular pressure group(all P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn, and the results showed that visual field parameters, macular GCIPL parameters, and RNFL parameters had certain diagnosibility for early open angle glaucoma and suspected glaucoma. Decision curve was drawn, and the results showed that when the threshold was between 0 and 1.0, the net return rate of diagnosing early open angle glaucoma with the combination of B/Y and macular GCIPL parameters was higher than the individual diagnostic efficacy of each indicator.CONCLUSION: The combination of B/Y and macular GCIPL detection can be an important means for the early diagnosis of glaucoma.

Objective To detect the association between rs4646999 polymorphisms in the promoter region of the c-Jun and the prognosis of sporadic colorectal cancer. Methods rs4646999-673C>T genetypes were deter-mined by Taqman-MGB probes in 436 colorectal cancer cases. The survival curve was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression.Western blot was used to analyze the expression levels of c-Jun protein in different gen-otypes. Results Univariate analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate of patients with rs4646999TT geno-type was significantly higher than that of patients with CT and CC genotype. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the differentiation,lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,TNM stage and rs4646999 genetypes were prognostic factors.Compared with the carriers of TT genotype,CT/CC complex genotypes were associated with poor prognosis of colorectal cancer(P<0.05).Protein expression analysis showed that the expression of c-Jun pro-tein in CC genotype was increased.In contrast,the TT genotype was decreased.Conclusions This study provided the evidence that rs4646999-673C>T genetic variant in c-Jun promoter regions is associated with the poor survival prognosis of colorectal cancer,possibly by elevating the protein expression levels that appeared to up-regulate activ-ity of c-Jun thus tumorigenesis.

ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanisms of Tongfengning （痛风宁， TFN） in treating hyperuricemia （HUA） of spleen deficiency with exuberance of dampness syndrome. MethodsTen of 60 mice were randomly selected， and were fed with regular diet as the control group， while the remaining 50 mice were fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with excessive exercise and potassium oxonate-allopurinol suspension to establish an HUA animal model of syndrome of spleen deficiency with exuberance of dampness. After the successful modeling， in order to better observe the effects of TFN on the intestinal microbiota of the model mice， a mixed antibiotic suspension was administered by gavage to induce further dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota in the model mice. Fifty sucessfully modeled mice were randomly divided into model group， TFN group， allopurinol group， probiotics group， and an allopurinol + probiotics group， 10 in each group. The TFN group was administered TFN liquid at a dosage of 19.11 g/（kg·d） by gavage. The allopurinol group was administered allopurinol suspension at a dosage of 78 mg/（kg·d） by gavage. The probiotics group was administered live combined Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus tablets suspension at a dosage of 3 g/（kg·d） by gavage. The allopurinol + probiotics group was administered allopurinol at a dosage of 78 mg/（kg·d） and live combined Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus tablets suspension at a dosage of 3 g/（kg·d） by gavage. The control group and model group were administered normal saline at a dosage of 19.11 ml/（kg·d） by gavage. The interventions were continued for 21 days. In order to maintain a stable high blood uric acid state， all groups but the control group continued modeling while receiving drug intervention. The changes in spleen deficiency syndrome scores， blood uric acid levels， microbial community structure， acetic acid and butyric acid content in intestinal lavage fluid， adenosine deaminase （ADA） and xanthine oxidase （XOD） content in small intestine tissue， as well as ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 （ABCG2）， glucose transporter 9 （GLUT9） protein and mRNA expression in the small intestine tissue were compared among the groups of mice. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed increased spleen deficiency syndrome scores， blood uric acid levels， relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes， Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio， abundance of Bacteroides genus， Klebsiella genus， and Enterococcus genus， acetic acid content in intestinal lavage fluid， ADA and XOD content in small intestine tissue， as well as GLUT9 protein and mRNA expression （P<0.05）. The number of operational taxonomic units （OTUs） of intestinal microbiota， relative abundance of Bacteroidetes phylum， abundance of Lactobacillus genus and uncultured Bacteroides genus， butyric acid content in intestinal lavage fluid， and ABCG2 protein and mRNA expression in small intestine tissue were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， in the group treated with TFN， probiotics， and allopurinol + probiotics， the spleen deficiency syndrome score， blood uric acid level， relative abundance of Firmicutes， acetic acid content in intestinal lavage fluid， ADA and XOD content in small intestine tissue， GLUT9 protein and mRNA expression significantly decreased. The number of gut microbiota OTUs， relative abundance of proteobacteria， butyric acid content in intestinal lavage fluid， ABCG2 protein and mRNA expression in small intestine tissue significantly increased （P＜0.05）. In the probiotics group， the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes decreased. In the TFN group， the abundance of Lactobacillus and uncultured Bacteroidetes significantly increased， while the abundance of Parabacteroides， Klebsiella， and Enterococcus significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Compared with the TFN group， allopurinol group and the probiotics group showed elevated blood uric acid levels， abundance of Bacteroidetes， ADA and XOD levels in intestinal tissue， and GLUT9 mRNA expression. The relative abundance of Firmicutes， abundance of lactobacilli， and ABCG2 mRNA expression significantly decreased. The probiotics group showed elevated GLUT9 protein expression in intestinal tissue. The probiotics group and the allopurinol plus probiotics group showed significantly higher scores for spleen deficiency syndrome in mice， and lower levels of butyric acid in mouse intestinal lavage fluid. The allopurinol group showed decreased numbers of OTUs in mouse intestinal flora， decreased abundance of proteobacteria， and butyric acid levels in intestinal lavage fluid. The allopurinol group also showed decreased ABCG2 protein expression in intestinal tissue， increased acetic acid levels in intestinal lavage fluid， increased abundance of Klebsiella， and significantly elevated GLUT9 protein expression （P＜0.05）. ConclusionsThe treatment of HUA with TFN may be associated with the regulation of intestinal probiotics （such as lactobacilli） and pathogenic bacteria （such as Klebsiella）， as well as the production of bacterial metabolites such as acetic acid and butyric acid. It may also involve reducing the expression of ADA and XOD in the intestines， decreasing intestinal uric acid production， upregulating the expression of intestinal epithelial urate transporter ABCG2， downregulating GLUT9 expression， and promoting intestinal uric acid excretion. These factors are related to the syndrome of spleen deficiency with exuberance of dampness.