Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion plus tuina in treating 0-grade diabetic foot.Method Seventy patients with 0-grade diabetic foot were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by conventional medication, while the treatment group was by moxibustion plus tuina in addition to the interventions given to the control group. The Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) was observed before intervention and after 2 treatment courses, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The ABI scores were changed significantly after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). After intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the ABI score between the two groups (P<0.05). The total effective rate and recovery rate were respectively 94.3% and 71.4% in the treatment group, versus 74.3% and 20.0% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Moxibustion plus tuina is an effective approach in treating 0-grade diabetic foot.

Acute myocardial infarction(AMI)is a common cardiovascular emergency in clinic.Early reperfusion is a typical and effective method for the treatment of AMI.However,the recovery of blood supply after reperfusion therapy will accelerate the damage of ischemic myocardium and cause myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MI/RI).In recent years,studies have found that TCM has the unique advantages of multi-component,multi-channel and multi-target in the intervention of MI/RI.Janus tyrosine kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK/STAT)signaling pathway is closely related to MI/RI,which can reduce MI/RI process by regulating inflammation,oxidative stress,cell proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis.This article reviewed the mechanism of JAK/STAT signaling pathway in MI/RI and the research of TCM targeting this pathway,in order to provide references for the prevention and treatment of MI/RI and further drug development.

Objective To clarify the intervention effect of Angelica Radix Astragali ultrafiltrate(RAS-RH)on radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis by inhibiting the overexpression of cardiac CILP1.Methods Forty SPF Wistar male rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,Benazepril hydrochloride group,RAS-RH group and Benazepril hydrochloride +RAS-RH group.Cardiomyocytes were induced by X-ray.The rat model of myocardial fibrosis was prepared by injury.The benazepril hydrochloride group was given benazepril hydrochloride 1.0 mg·kg-1 by gavage;the RAS-RH group was given RAS-RH 0.6 g·kg-1 by gavage;benazepril hydrochloride was given by gavage Pril + RAS-RH group was given benazepril hydrochloride 1.0 mg·kg-1 and RAS-RH 0.6 g·kg-1 by gavage;model group and normal group were given equal volume of normal saline by gavage,once a day,After 4 weeks of drug intervention,the serum NT-ProBNP,CTnⅠ and CTnT contents of the rats in each group were detected by ELISA method;HE staining was used to evaluate the pathological changes of myocardial tissue of the rats in each group;Masson staining was used to evaluate the myocardial collagen deposition of the rats in each group and calculated Collagen volume fraction(CVF);immunohistochemistry to detect the expression levels of α-SMA,Col-Ⅰ,Col-Ⅲ protein in myocardial tissue of rats in each group;Western blot method to detect TGF-β1 and smad3 in myocardial tissue of rats in each group,CILP1 protein expression.Results Compared with the blank group,the serum levels of NT-ProBNP,CTnⅠ and CTnT in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.01).Blue-stained fibrous tissue increased significantly,myocardial CVF increased significantly,and myocardial tissue α-SMA,Col-Ⅰ,Col-Ⅲ,TGF-β1,Smad3,CILP1 protein expression increased(P<0.01);Serum contents of NT-ProBNP,cTnⅠ and CTnT in rats in napril group,RAS-RH group and benazepril hydrochloride + RAS-RH group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Sexual cell infiltration was improved,myocardial CVF was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the protein expressions of α-SMA,Col-Ⅰ,Col-Ⅲ,TGF-β 1,Smad3 and CILP1 in myocardial tissue were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Angelica sinensis ultrafiltrate can alleviate X-ray radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats by inhibiting the overexpression of CILP 1 in the heart.

Objective To improve the understanding of hypereosinophilic syndrome(HES)complicated with pe-ripheral arterial embolism through analyzing the clinical features and therapeutic effect.Methods Among 176 inpa-tients with peripheral arterial embolism in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from April 2012 to October 2021,13 patients complicated with HES were involved according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.All patients were diagnosed with peripheral arterial embolism by imaging examination.After gender and age matching,39 HES patients who were hospitalized in the same period but without peripheral arterial embolism were selected as the control with the ratio of 1:3.Clinical features,therapy response and prognosis were compared between the two groups.Results Eleven of the 13 patients were male.The main involved arteries included popliteal artery,dorsalis pedis artery,ulnar artery and radial artery.The proportion of peripheral nerve involvement in case group was significantly higher than in the control group(P＜0.05);and the proportion of gastrointestinal involvement(P＜0.05)and eosinophil level(P＜0.05)were significantly lower than that of control group.There were 92.3％,61.5％and 76.9％of the patients in case group received anticoagulant therapy,antiplatelet therapy and immunosuppressive therapy respectively,the percentages were significantly higher than that in control group(P＜0.01).According to eosinophil counts before and after therapy,84.6％and 56.5％of the patients in the case and control groups achieved complete remission and the partial remission rates were 15.4％and 25.6％re-spectively.Conclusions Patients with hypereosinophilia syndrome and peripheral arterial embolism commonly ex-perience involvement of the peripheral nerves and skin.Vascular embolism is mainly caused by arterial emboliza-tion of the extremities.After treatment with hormones,immunosuppressants,anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet therapy,this group of patients has a good prognosis.

Objective:To explore the impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic on career choosing perspective among medical students and to analyze the related factors.Methods:Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted during March 1-25 2020 among 19 medical students of 8-year program from Peking Union Medical College. The grounded theory and thematic analysis were applied to code the data and identify categories and factors.Results:Among the 19 respondents aged 19-26 years, 9 were males and 10 were female; 10 were at the clinical stage, and 9 were at the premedical stage; 3 respondents had family members involved in medical profession. Thematic analysis identified 6 main categories that affect the variability of medical students' career prospects under the COVID-19 pandemic. The 6 themes were individual characteristics of students; occupational characteristics; systemic factors; COVID-19 events; stressors of physicians and influence of job satisfaction.The outbreak affected everyone's mind of future career to varying degrees. The participants had been exposed to more negative aspects, while only one participant changed her career intention. There were conflicting views on whether to choose some specialties in future, such as respiratory medicine, infectious disease and critical care medicine. The participants feel more pressure as a doctor from the attitude of the public. Almost all participants mentioned feeling unsafe due to the high risk of occupational exposure and doctor-patient relationships. Most valued the support from their family, faculty, classmates, and volunteers. Many participants expressed their hope to improve the medical policies and systems.Conclusions:The influence of COVID-19 outbreak on medical students' career choosing can be positive as well as negative in different degrees. However, we found no evidence that it altered their perspectives substantially.

Objective:To analyze the clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, treatment and prognosis of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) in single center of Chinese population.Methods:The clinical data of 75 cases of CVID, diagnosed according to European Society for Immunodeficiency (ESID) criteria and admitted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1983 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:The main clinical manifestations of CVID were respiratory abnormality (68.0%,51/75), blood system abnormality (66.7%,50/75), liver and spleen involvement (66.7%,50/75), gastrointestinal abnormality (46.7%,35/75), autoimmune abnormality (29.3%,22/75). Immunoglobulin decreased significantly (median IgG 2.4 g/L, median IgA 0.1 g/L, median IgM 0.1 g/L). Lymphocyte subsets indicated that CD4 +T cells decreased (median 471/μl), CD8 +T cells increased (median 620/μl), CD4 +/CD8 +T calls proportion inverted (median 0.7), and NK cells and B cells decreased (median 44/μl, 115/μl, respectively). During hospitalization, their conditions were improved after IgG replacement therapy, supplemented with anti-infection and nutritional support therapy. Forty seven discharged patients were followed up, and only 16 patients insisted on regular IgG replacement therapy after discharge. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of CVID are varied, and multiple systems may be involved, including autoimmune abnormalities. The treatment based on IgG replacement has a certain curative effect.

We wished to summarize the clinical features of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) complicated by non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) and to deepen our understanding of it. The case data of CVID complicated with NCPH admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1983 to May 2021 were analyzed retrospectively to summarize their clinical characteristics. Six patients with CVID combined with NCPH (three of each sex; 16-45 years) were assessed. Four patients had portal hypertension. All patients had anemia, splenomegaly, a normal serum level of albumin and transaminases, and possibly increased levels of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Two patients were diagnosed with esophagogastric fundic varices by gastroscopy. Two patients underwent splenectomy (which improved hematologic abnormalities partially). Four patients had autoimmune disease. Two cases were diagnosed with nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) upon liver biopsy. Six patients were administered intravenous immunoglobulin-G (0.4-0.6 g/kg bodyweight) once every 3-4 weeks as basic therapy. Often, CVID complicated with NCPH has: (1) The manifestations of portal hypertension as the primary symptom. (2) Autoimmune-related manifestations. Imaging can provide important diagnostic clues. The etiology may be related to hepatic NRH and splenomegaly due to recurrent infections.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (ISCLS).Methods:This retrospective case series analysis included 10 patients with confirmed ISCLS who were hospitalized at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1983 to August 2023. Data collected encompassed general information, symptoms, laboratory results, treatment, and prognosis.Results:Among 10 ISCLS patients, 8 were males and 2 were females. The age of onset ranged from 29 to 63 years, and it was ≥40 years in 6 cases. Nine patients had nonspecific prodromal symptoms. All 10 experienced hypotension, hemoconcentration, hypoalbuminemia, and acute kidney injury during the leakage phase, with hemodynamic recovery in the subsequent phase. Neurological abnormalities were observed in 6 patients. Three patients had coagulation disorders, and 4 showed elevated levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. M protein was found in all patients, with 8 showing IgGκ and 2 IgGλ. Acute-phase treatment primarily involved fluid resuscitation and vasopressors. In the stable phase, 4 patients had fewer episodes with anti-plasma cell therapy; 2 continued to have episodes despite intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); 2 had poor outcomes with theophylline; 1 improved without treatment; and 1 was lost to follow-up.Conclusions:ISCLS is a rare disease with adult-onset, presenting nonspecific prodromal symptoms and marked hypotension during episodes. All patients had monoclonal gammopathy. Effective treatment for the stable phase is lacking, though anti-plasma cell therapy may offer some benefit.

Myocardial infarction （MI） is a common cardiovascular disease in clinical practice and one of the main causes of cardiovascular mortality. Its pathogenesis is complex and associated with oxidative stress reactions. Nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2） is a key factor in regulating oxidative stress reactions. It can regulate the expression of heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， playing a role in maintaining the oxidative-reductive homeostasis in the body. During the course of MI， the biological activity and levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 decrease， leading to weakened tissue antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities， endothelial damage in myocardial blood vessels， release of vascular cell adhesion factors， and impaired endothelial function. In recent years， many basic research studies have explored the role and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in treating MI by modulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. The results have indicated that the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway is an important potential target for TCM in the treatment of MI. This article reviewed the mechanism of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in MI and the research progress of TCM in targeting and regulating this pathway， aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of MI and further drug development.

Self-organized blastoids from extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells possess enormous potential for investigating postimplantation embryo development and related diseases. However, the limited ability of postimplantation development of EPS-blastoids hinders its further application. In this study, single-cell transcriptomic analysis indicated that the "trophectoderm (TE)-like structure" of EPS-blastoids was primarily composed of primitive endoderm (PrE)-related cells instead of TE-related cells. We further identified PrE-like cells in EPS cell culture that contribute to the blastoid formation with TE-like structure. Inhibition of PrE cell differentiation by inhibiting MEK signaling or knockout of Gata6 in EPS cells markedly suppressed EPS-blastoid formation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that blastocyst-like structures reconstituted by combining the EPS-derived bilineage embryo-like structure (BLES) with either tetraploid embryos or tetraploid TE cells could implant normally and develop into live fetuses. In summary, our study reveals that TE improvement is critical for constructing a functional embryo using stem cells in vitro.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Animals ; Mice ; Tetraploidy ; Blastocyst ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Cell Differentiation ; Embryonic Development