Objective: To investigate the objective characteristics of tongue manifestation in different stages of damp-heat syndrome in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 134 patients with DKD G3-5 stages who met the diagnostic criteria for damp-heat syndrome in DKD. The patients were treated at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, from May 2023 to January 2024. The patients were divided into three groups: DKD G3, DKD G4, and DKD G5 stage, with 53, 33, and 48 patients in each group, respectively. Clinical general data (gender, age, and body mass index) and damp-heat syndrome scores were collected from the patients. The YZAI-02 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) AI Tongue Image Acquisition Device was used to capture tongue images from these patients. The accompanying AI Open Platform for TCM Tongue Diagnosis of the device was used to analyze and extract tongue manifestation features, including objective data on tongue color, tongue quality, coating color, and coating texture. Clinical data and objective tongue manifestation characteristics were compared among patients with DKD G3-5 based on their DKD damp-heat syndrome status. Results: No statistically significant difference in gender or body mass index was observed among the three patient groups. The DKD G3 stage group had the highest age (P<0.05). The DKD G3 stage group had a lower score for symptoms of poor appetite and anorexia(P<0.05) than the DKD G5 group. No statistically significant difference was observed in damp-heat syndrome scores among the three groups. Compared with the DKD G5 stage group, the DKD G3 stage group showed a decreased proportion of pale color at the tip and edges of the tongue (P<0.05). The DKD G4 stage group exhibited an increased proportion of crimson at the root of the tongue, a decreased proportion of thick white tongue coating at the root, a decreased proportion of pale color at the tip and edges of the tongue, an increased hue value (indicating color tone) of the tongue color in the middle, an increased brightness value (indicating color lightness) of the tongue coating color in the middle, and an increased thickness of the tongue coating (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in other tongue color proportions, color chroma values, body characteristics, coating color proportions, coating color chroma values, and coating texture characteristics among the three groups. Conclusion Tongue features differ in different stages of DKD damp-heat syndrome in multiple dimensions, enabling the inference that during the DKD G5 stage, the degree of qi and blood deficiency in the kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and stomach is prominent. Dampness is more likely to accumulate in the lower jiao, particularly in the kidneys, whereas heat evil in the spleen and stomach is the most severe. These insights provide novel ideas for the clinical treatment of DKD.

The modernization and development of traditional Chinese medicine has led to higher standards for the quality of traditional Chinese medicine products. The extraction process is a crucial component of traditional Chinese medicine production, and it directly impacts the final quality of the product. However, the currently relied upon methods for quality assurance of the extraction process, such as simple wet chemical analysis, have several limitations, including time consumption and labor intensity, and do not offer precise control of the extraction process. As a result, there is significant value in incorporating near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the production process of traditional Chinese medicine to improve the quality control of the final products. In this study, we focused on the extraction process of Xiao'er Xiaoji Zhike oral liquid (XXZOL), using near-infrared spectra collected by both a Fourier transform near-infrared spectrometer and a portable near-infrared spectrometer. We used the concentration of synephrine, a quality control index component specified by the pharmacopoeia, to achieve rapid and accurate detection in the extraction process. Moreover, we developed a model transfer method to facilitate the transfer of models between the two types of near-infrared spectrometers (analytical grade and portable), thus resolving the low resolution, poor performance, and insufficient prediction accuracy issues of portable instruments. Our findings enable the rapid screening and quality analysis of XXZOL onsite, which is significant for quality monitoring during the traditional Chinese medicine production process.

Recent studies revealed the relationship among homologous recombination repair (HRR), androgen receptor (AR), and poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP); however, the synergy between anti-androgen enzalutamide (ENZ) and PARP inhibitor olaparib (OLA) remains unclear. Here, we showed that the synergistic effect of ENZ and OLA significantly reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in AR-positive prostate cancer cell lines. Next-generation sequencing followed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses revealed the significant effects of ENZ plus OLA on nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and apoptosis pathways. ENZ combined with OLA synergistically inhibited the NHEJ pathway by repressing DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and X-ray repair cross complementing 4 (XRCC4). Moreover, our data showed that ENZ could enhance the response of prostate cancer cells to the combination therapy by reversing the anti-apoptotic effect of OLA through the downregulation of anti-apoptotic gene insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor ( IGF1R ) and the upregulation of pro-apoptotic gene death-associated protein kinase 1 ( DAPK1 ). Collectively, our results suggested that ENZ combined with OLA can promote prostate cancer cell apoptosis by multiple pathways other than inducing HRR defects, providing evidence for the combined use of ENZ and OLA in prostate cancer regardless of HRR gene mutation status.
Male ; Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Receptors, Androgen/genetics* ; Nitriles ; Apoptosis

Objective: To explore the promotion effect of laparoscopic standardized surgery for gastric cancer observational in some regional medical centers in Shanghai. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Eleven regional medical centers in Shanghai received the promotion program of laparoscopic standardized surgery for gastric cancer, which was led by Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (Shanghai Minimally Invasive Surgery Center) from January to December 2020. Clinicopathological data of gastric cancer patients treated at these 11 regional medical centers before and after the promotion program were collected. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients undergoing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy; gastric cancer confirmed by pathology; without distant metastasis or peritoneal metastasis. Patients who did not undergo laparoscopic D2 radical resection, or received neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery, or without complete clinical data were excluded. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery from January to December 2019 were included in the pre-promotion group (46 cases). Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery from January to December 2021 were included in the post-promotion group (102 cases). In addition, patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery at Ruijin Hospital from January 2021 to December were included in the control group (138 cases). The baseline data, perioperative measurements postoperative complications, and pathological results of the three groups were analyzed and compared. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among the three groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the pre-promotion group, the operation time in post-promotion group was significantly shorter [(207.3±36.0) minutes vs. (254.2±47.1) minutes, t=7.038,P<0.001], and the number of harvested lymph node was significantly more (24.4±12.2 vs. 18.9±5.5, t=2.900, P=0.004). However, there were no significant differences in the extent of resection, time to fluid intake, and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the operation time [(207.3±36.0) minutes vs (172.6±26.0) minutes, t=8.281, P<0.001], time to fluid intake [(6.3±3.2) days than (5.5±3.0) days, t=2.029, P=0.044], and the postoperative hospital stay [(14.3±5.6) days vs. (10.1±4.8) days, t=6.036, P<0.001] in the post- promotion group were still longer. Total gastrectomy was less common in the post-promotion group compared with the control group [18 cases (17.6%) vs. 41 cases (29.7%), χ²=7.380, P=0.007]. However, there was no significant difference in the number of harvested lymph node between the two groups (P>0.05). The morbidity of postoperative complication in the post-promotion group (9.8%, 10/102) was significantly lower than that in the pre-promotion group (23.9%, 11/46) (χ²=5.183, P=0.023), while above morbidity was not significantly different between the post-promotion group and the control group [9.8% vs. 6.5% (9/138), χ²=0.867, P=0.352]. Conclusion: After the promotion of laparoscopic standardized surgery for gastric cancer in regional medical centers, the standardization degree of surgery has been improved, and the morbidity of postoperative complication decreases. Laparoscopic standardized surgery for gastric cancer can be promoted to more regional medical centers.
China ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Node Excision/methods* ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the effect of magnetic rewarming on the morphology and biomechanical properties of vitrified umbilical artery. Methods The vitrified umbilical artery was rewarmed by magnetothermal method and traditional water bath. The temperature distribution and stress in the solution system were analyzed, and the rewarming effect was evaluated by tissue staining and mechanical test. Results Compared with water bath rewarming, the temperature gradient and thermal stress generated by magnetic rewarming were smaller, which could effectively reduce the thermal stress damage during the rewarming stage and achieve rapid and uniform rewarming. Magnetic rewarming could effectively avoid umbilical artery fractures and micro-cracks. After rewarming, the extracellular matrix, collagen fibers, elastic fibers and muscle fibers of the umbilical artery were evenly distributed, which preserved the macro and micro structures of the umbilical artery. The umbilical artery showed different degrees of hardening after water bath and magnetic rewarming, but the elastic modulus and limit stress of the latter were not significantly different from those of fresh umbilical artery, and the latter had unidirectional stretching characteristics similar to that of fresh umbilical artery, showing good elasticity and toughness. Conclusions Compared with water bath rewarming, magnetothermal method can effectively reduce the damage of rewarming stage, ensure the macroscopic, microscopic structure integrity of umbilical artery and better biomechanical properties. The research findings provide important references for cryopreservation of large tissues or organs such as umbilical artery.

Objective:To explore the status quo of self-management ability in young and middle-aged patients with gout and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:Totally 225 patients with gout admitted in the Department of Rheumatology and the Department of Endocrinology at a ClassⅢ Grade A hospital in Jilin Province from September 2020 to March 2021 were selected by convenient sampling and investigated with the general information questionnaire, Gout Patient Self-Management Assessment Scale, and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire.Results:The total score of self-management ability in young and middle-aged patients with gout was (127.29±22.42) , including (41.15±7.38) in disease treatment management, (37.41±7.20) in diet management, (27.42±5.62) in lifestyle management, and (21.31±5.06) in psychosocial management. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the education level, course of illness, smoking, facing and avoiding coping styles were the influencing factors of the self-management ability of gout patients ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The self-management ability of young and middle-aged gout patients is the best in disease treatment management and the worst in psychosocial management in all dimensions, but the overall level is at a medium level and needs to be improved. Clinical medical staff should take targeted health education strategies based on its influencing factors to improve the self-management level of disease in young and middle-aged gout patients.

Pancreatic lipase (PL), a crucial enzyme in the digestive system of mammals, has been proven as a therapeutic target to prevent and treat obesity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and characterize the PL inhibition activities of the major constituents from Fructus Psoraleae (FP), one of the most frequently used Chinese herbs with lipid-lowering activity. To this end, a total of eleven major constituents isolated from Fructus Psoraleae have been obtained and their inhibition potentials against PL have been assayed by a fluorescence-based assay. Among all tested compounds, isobavachalcone, bavachalcone and corylifol A displayed strong inhibition on PL (IC < 10 μmol·L). Inhibition kinetic analyses demonstrated that isobavachalcone, bavachalcone and corylifol A acted as mixed inhibitors against PL-mediated 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate (4-MUO) hydrolysis, with the K values of 1.61, 3.77 and 10.16 μmol·L, respectively. Furthermore, docking simulations indicated that two chalcones (isobavachalcone and bavachalcone) could interact with the key residues located in the catalytic cavity of PL via hydrogen binding and hydrophobic interactions. Collectively, these finding provided solid evidence to support that Fructus Psoraleae contained bioactive compounds with lipid-lowering effects via targeting PL, and also suggested that the chalcones in Fructus Psoraleae could be used as ideal leading compounds to develop novel PL inhibitors.

Objective To compare the operative-postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic and robotassisted partial nephrectomy (LPN and RAPN) for patients with T1 b renal masses.Methods A total of 169 T1 b renal mass patients receiving LPN (n =69) or RAPN (n =100) in our center between October 2009 and October 2017 were retrospectively collected.There were 46 males and 23 females in LPN group,with a mean age of (55.0 ± 11.9) years.The mean tumor size was (5.09 ± 0.76) cm,and mean R.E.N.A.L score was 6.36 ± 1.53.49 procedures (71％) were performed via a retroperitoneal approach in LPN group.There were 59 males and 41 females in RAPN group with a mean age of (52.9 ± 11.7) years.The mean tumor size was(4.95 ±0.66) cm,and mean R.E.N.A.L score was 8.17 ± 1.50.31 procedures (31％)were performed via a retroperitoneal approach in RAPN group.There was statistical significance between two groups in R.E.N.A.L score and surgery approach (P ＜ 0.001).The group covariates were balanced through propensity score matching (PSM) using 1∶ 1 nearest neighbor matching method.After PSM,operating time,estimated blood loss,warm ischemia time,incidence of complications,hospital stay and postoperative follow-up status were compared between LPN(n =36)and RAPN(n =36)group.Results After PSM,patient distributions were closely balanced.In the LPN vs the RAPN group,there were significant different in warm ischemia time [(23.9 ± 7.3) min vs.(20.4 ± 6.7) min,P ＜ 0.05],estimated blood loss [(136.9 ± 80.2) ml vs.(136.9 ± 80.2) ml,P ＜ 0.05],incidence of complications (8.7％ vs.1.0％,P ＜0.05),and hospital stay [(11.5 ±3.8)d vs.(9.8 ± 1.80)d].There was no significant differences resulted regarding operating time [(164.5 ± 64.4) min vs.(169.0 ± 42.5) min,P ＞ 0.05],variation of estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline [(9.97 ± 8.98)％ vs.(9.27 ± 9.19)％,P ＞ 0.05],positive surgical margin rate (1.4％ vs.0,P ＞ 0.05) and rate of recurrence or metastasis (1.4％ vs.1.4％,P ＞ 0.05) between groups.Conclusion Considering operative,functional and oncologic outcomes,both RAPN and LPN performed by an experienced surgeon were acceptable for patients with T1b renal masses.If available,robotic approach may reduce operative trauma and complications.

Objective To investigate the psychological experiences of young uremic patients during different periods waiting for renal donor .Methods The phenomenology study method was adopted to conduct the semi-structure interviews in young uremic patients waiting for renal donor .Results The four themes were summarized:(1) having hope at the early stage (0—6 months);(2) ineffective coping at the middle stage(7—12 months);(3)uncertainty at the late stage(13—24 months);(4)serious negative emo-tion(more than 2 years) .Conclusion The young uremic patients patients waiting for renal donors have complex and changeable psychological experience .Medical staff should provide the pertinent professional support for promoting the living quality of patients by aiming at the psychological characteristics in young uremic patients .

Objective To evaluate prognostic significance of early lactate clearance rate for cardiogenic shock patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO).Methods Forty-seven patients with cardiogenic shock supported by venoarterial ECMO were prospectively enrolled from May 2010 to May 2013.Arterial blood lactate at pre-ECMO support(0 h),at post-ECMO 6 hours(6 h) were measured and then 6 h lactate clearance rate was calculated.90 days after admission was the endpoint of research.Patients were divided into the survival group(n =25) and the death group(n =22).6 h lactate clearance rate was compared between groups.The 6 h lactate clearance rate for predicting death was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves.The surviving curve was drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival of the patients was analyzed by the Log-rank test.Factors influencing the prognosis were analyzed by applying the multiplelogistic regression analysis.Results The 6 h lactate clearance rate was higher in survivors than in nonsurvivors [(38.6 ± 15.1) ％ vs.(14.4 ± 13.8) ％,P ＜ 0.05].The area under the ROC curve of 6 h lactate clearance rate for predicting death was 0.869 ± 0.075 (95％ CI:0.753-0.991).The best cutoff point was 20.0％ with a sensitivity of 92.0％ and specificity of 85.0％.KaplanMeier survival analysis showed that 90 days survival rate of high lactate clearance rate group and low lactate clearance rate group were 66.7％ and 35.0％,with significant difference between the two groups(Log-rank test,P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that 6 h lactate clearance rate (OR =3.156,95 ％ CI:2.326-7.253,P ＜ 0.05) was one of the independent risk factors associated with mortality of patients on ECMO.Conclusion Early lactate clearance rate could be used as an important maker for evaluating the prognosis of cardiogenic shock patients on ECMO.