Objective:To investigate perspectives and changes in treatment selection by Chinese surgeons since introduction of the watch-and-wait approach after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire distributed through the "Wenjuanxing" online survey platform. The survey focused on the recognition and practices of Chinese surgeons regarding the strategy of watch-and-wait after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer and was disseminated within the China Watch-and-Wait Database (CWWD) WeChat group. This group targets surgeons of deputy chief physician level and above in surgical, radiotherapy, or internal medicine departments of nationally accredited tumor-specialist or comprehensive hospitals (at provincial or municipal levels) who are involved in colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment. From 13 to 16 December 2023, 321 questionnaires were sent with questionnaire links in the CWWD WeChat group. The questionnaires comprised 32 questions encompassing: (1) basic physician characteristics (including surgical volume); (2) assessment methods and criteria for clinical complete response (cCR); (3) patients eligible for watch-and-wait; (4) neoadjuvant therapies and other measures for achieving cCR; (5) willingness to implement watch-and-wait and factors influencing that willingness; (6) risks and monitoring of watch-and-wait; (7) subsequent treatment and follow-up post watch-and-wait; (8) suggestions for development of the CWWD. Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis, with intergroup comparisons conducted using the χ 2 or Fisher's exact probability tests. Results:The response rate was 31.5%, comprising 101 responses from the 321 individuals in the WeChat group. Respondents comprised 101 physicians from 70 centers across 23 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions nationwide, 85.1% (86/101) of whom represented provincial tertiary hospitals. Among the respondents, 87.1% (88/101) had implemented the watch-and-wait strategy. The approval rate (65.6%, 21/32) and proportion of patients often informed (68.8%, 22/32) were both significantly higher for doctors in oncology hospitals than for those in general hospitals (27.7%, 18/65; 32.4%, 22/68) (χ 2=12.83, P<0.001; χ 2=11.70, P=0.001, respectively). The most used methods for diagnosing cCR were digital rectal examination (90.1%, 91/101), colonoscopy (91.1%, 92/101), and rectal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (86.1%, 87/101). Criteria used to identify cCR comprised absence of a palpable mass on digital rectal examination (87.1%, 88/101), flat white scars or new capillaries on colonoscopy (77.2%, 78/101), absence of evident tumor signals on rectal T2-weighted sequences or T2WI low signals or signals equivalent to the intestinal wall (83.2%, 84/101), and absence of tumor hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted imaging with no corresponding hypointensity on apparent diffusion coefficient maps (66.3%, 67/101). As for selection of neoadjuvant regimen and assessment of cCR, 57.4% (58/101) of physicians preferred a long course of radiotherapy with or without induction and/or consolidation capecitabine + oxaliplatin, whereas 25.7% (26/101) preferred immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy. Most (96.0%, 97/101) physicians believed that the primary lesion should be assessed ≤12 weeks after completion of radiotherapy. Patients were frequently informed about the possibility of achieving cCR after neoadjuvant therapy and the strategy of watch-and-wait by 43.6% (44/101) of the responding physicians and 38.6% (39/101) preferred watch-and-wait for patients who achieved cCR or near cCR after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer. Capability for multiple follow-up evaluations (70.3%, 71/101) was a crucial factor influencing physicians' choice of watch-and-wait after cCR. The proportion who patients who did not achieve cCR and underwent surgical treatment was lower in provincial tertiary hospitals (74.2%, 23/31) than in provincial general hospitals (94.5%, 52/55) and municipal hospitals (12/15); these differences are statistically significant (χ 2=7.43, P=0.020). The difference between local recurrence and local regrowth was understood by 88.1% (89/101) of respondents and 87.2% (88/101) agreed with monitoring every 3 months for 5 years. An increase in local excision or puncture rates to reduce organ resections in patients with pCR was proposed by 64.4% (65/101) of respondents. Conclusion:Compared with the results of a previous survey, Chinese surgeons' awareness of the watch-and-wait concept has improved significantly. Oncologists in oncology hospitals are more aware of the concept of watch-and-wait.

Objective:To investigate perspectives and changes in treatment selection by Chinese surgeons since introduction of the watch-and-wait approach after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire distributed through the "Wenjuanxing" online survey platform. The survey focused on the recognition and practices of Chinese surgeons regarding the strategy of watch-and-wait after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer and was disseminated within the China Watch-and-Wait Database (CWWD) WeChat group. This group targets surgeons of deputy chief physician level and above in surgical, radiotherapy, or internal medicine departments of nationally accredited tumor-specialist or comprehensive hospitals (at provincial or municipal levels) who are involved in colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment. From 13 to 16 December 2023, 321 questionnaires were sent with questionnaire links in the CWWD WeChat group. The questionnaires comprised 32 questions encompassing: (1) basic physician characteristics (including surgical volume); (2) assessment methods and criteria for clinical complete response (cCR); (3) patients eligible for watch-and-wait; (4) neoadjuvant therapies and other measures for achieving cCR; (5) willingness to implement watch-and-wait and factors influencing that willingness; (6) risks and monitoring of watch-and-wait; (7) subsequent treatment and follow-up post watch-and-wait; (8) suggestions for development of the CWWD. Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis, with intergroup comparisons conducted using the χ 2 or Fisher's exact probability tests. Results:The response rate was 31.5%, comprising 101 responses from the 321 individuals in the WeChat group. Respondents comprised 101 physicians from 70 centers across 23 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions nationwide, 85.1% (86/101) of whom represented provincial tertiary hospitals. Among the respondents, 87.1% (88/101) had implemented the watch-and-wait strategy. The approval rate (65.6%, 21/32) and proportion of patients often informed (68.8%, 22/32) were both significantly higher for doctors in oncology hospitals than for those in general hospitals (27.7%, 18/65; 32.4%, 22/68) (χ 2=12.83, P<0.001; χ 2=11.70, P=0.001, respectively). The most used methods for diagnosing cCR were digital rectal examination (90.1%, 91/101), colonoscopy (91.1%, 92/101), and rectal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (86.1%, 87/101). Criteria used to identify cCR comprised absence of a palpable mass on digital rectal examination (87.1%, 88/101), flat white scars or new capillaries on colonoscopy (77.2%, 78/101), absence of evident tumor signals on rectal T2-weighted sequences or T2WI low signals or signals equivalent to the intestinal wall (83.2%, 84/101), and absence of tumor hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted imaging with no corresponding hypointensity on apparent diffusion coefficient maps (66.3%, 67/101). As for selection of neoadjuvant regimen and assessment of cCR, 57.4% (58/101) of physicians preferred a long course of radiotherapy with or without induction and/or consolidation capecitabine + oxaliplatin, whereas 25.7% (26/101) preferred immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy. Most (96.0%, 97/101) physicians believed that the primary lesion should be assessed ≤12 weeks after completion of radiotherapy. Patients were frequently informed about the possibility of achieving cCR after neoadjuvant therapy and the strategy of watch-and-wait by 43.6% (44/101) of the responding physicians and 38.6% (39/101) preferred watch-and-wait for patients who achieved cCR or near cCR after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer. Capability for multiple follow-up evaluations (70.3%, 71/101) was a crucial factor influencing physicians' choice of watch-and-wait after cCR. The proportion who patients who did not achieve cCR and underwent surgical treatment was lower in provincial tertiary hospitals (74.2%, 23/31) than in provincial general hospitals (94.5%, 52/55) and municipal hospitals (12/15); these differences are statistically significant (χ 2=7.43, P=0.020). The difference between local recurrence and local regrowth was understood by 88.1% (89/101) of respondents and 87.2% (88/101) agreed with monitoring every 3 months for 5 years. An increase in local excision or puncture rates to reduce organ resections in patients with pCR was proposed by 64.4% (65/101) of respondents. Conclusion:Compared with the results of a previous survey, Chinese surgeons' awareness of the watch-and-wait concept has improved significantly. Oncologists in oncology hospitals are more aware of the concept of watch-and-wait.

OBJECTIVE To establish the quality control method for the roots and rhizoma of Toricellia angulata. METHODS The properties of the roots and rhizoma of T. angulata were observed and microscopic identification was conducted. The moisture， total ash， acid-insoluble ash and ethanol-soluble extract were examined according to the method stated in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia （part Ⅳ）. HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of the roots and rhizoma of T. angulata were established， common peaks were identified and the similarity was evaluated by using the Similarity Evaluation System of Chromatographic Fingerprint of TCM （2012 edition）. The contents of coniferin， syringin， chlorogenic acid， （+）-syringaresinol-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and syringaresinol were determined by HPLC. RESULTS The properties and microscopic identification of the roots and rhizoma of T. angulata were obvious. The average contents of moisture， total ash， acid-insoluble ash and ethanol-soluble extract were 7.54%， 2.18%， 0.15% and 7.81%， respectively. There were 16 common peaks marked in the HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of the roots and rhizoma of T. angulata， with similarities of 0.856-0.960； five of them were identified， such as coniferin， syringin， chlorogenic acid， （+）-syringaresinol-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and syringaresinol. The contents of the above five components were 0.047 2-0.401 6， 0.836 8-8.697 9， 1.245 3-10.950 0， 0.139 0-0.437 8 and 0.016 4-0.635 3 mg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established method is stable and accurate， which can be used for the quality control of the roots and rhizoma of T. angulata. It is preliminarily proposed that the moisture in the roots and rhizoma of T. angulata is not more than 11.0%， the total ash is not more than 4.0%， the ethanol-soluble extract is not less than 5.0%， the contents of coniferin， syringin， chlorogenic acid， （+）-syringaresinol-O-β-D- glucopyranoside and syringaresinol are not less than 0.04，0.83， 1.24， 0.13， 0.01 mg/g， respectively.

Accumulating studies have demonstrated that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), functioning as important regulators of transcription and translation, are involved in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, especially the maternal immune adaptation process. The endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), trophoblast cells, and decidua immune cells that reside at the maternal-fetal interface are thought to play significant roles in normal pregnancy and pregnancy-associated diseases. Here, we reviewed the up-to-date evidence on how microRNA, long non-coding RNA, and circular RNA regulate ESCs, trophoblast cells, and immune cells and discussed the potential applications of these ncRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic markers in pregnancy complications.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; RNA, Circular/genetics* ; Trophoblasts ; Pregnancy Complications/genetics*

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of modified Gegen Qinliantang on the expression levels of proteins related to the farnesoid X receptor/small heterodimer partner/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α （FXR/SHP/PPARα） signaling pathway in the liver tissue of db/db model mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） and explore the underlying mechanism of action of modified Gegen Qinliantang. MethodThirty db/db mice were randomly divided into model group， metformin group （0.2 g·kg^-1）， and high-， medium-， and low-dose modified Gegen Qinliantang groups （31.9， 19.1， 6.4 g·kg^-1）， with 6 mice in each group. An additional six m/m mice were assigned to the blank group. Respective drugs were administered via oral gavage for 12 weeks. Mouse body weight， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） levels were measured. Oil red O staining was used to observe hepatic lipid accumulation and periodic acid-schiff （PAS） staining was used to assess hepatic glycogen deposition. Ammonium ferric sulfate staining was used to observe cholesterol deposition in intestinal tissues. Western blot was employed to detect the expression of FXR， cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase （CYP7A1）， SHP， and PPARα proteins in liver tissues， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure serum free fatty acid （FFA） levels. ResultAt the end of the treatment， compared with the blank group， the model group exhibited significant increases in mouse body weight， FBG， FFA， TC， TG， and LDL-C levels （P<0.01）， along with significant hepatic lipid droplets， reduced hepatic glycogen， noticeable cholesterol accumulation in intestinal tissues， significantly decreased expression of FXR， SHP， PPARα proteins， and significantly increased expression of CYP7A1 protein in liver tissues （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the metformin group and the high- and medium-dose modified Gegen Qinliantang groups demonstrated significant reductions in mouse body weight， FBG， FFA， TC， TG， LDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significant increases in HDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased hepatic lipid accumulation， increased hepatic glycogen， reduced intestinal cholesterol accumulation， significantly increased expression of FXR， SHP， PPARα proteins， and significantly decreased expression of CYP7A1 protein in liver tissues （P<0.01）. ConclusionModified Gegen Qinliantang may regulate the FXR/SHP/PPARα signaling pathway to suppress FFA levels and improve lipid metabolism in T2DM mice.

ObjectiveTo discuss the effect of modified Gegen Qinliantang （MGQT） on blood glucose and lipids and Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 （TGR5）-related pathways in pancreatic tissue of obese type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） mice. MethodA total of 10 male specific pathogen free （SPF） m/m mice （7 weeks old） and 50 male SPF （7 weeks old） were adaptively fed for one week in SPF laboratory. The m/m mice were included in the blank group. T2DM was induce d in the 50 db/db mice. The model mice were randomized into the model group， metformin group （0.2 g·kg^-1）， high-dose， medium-dose， and low-dose （31.9， 19.1， 6.4 g·kg^-1） MGQT groups， with 10 in each group， and the drug dose was10 mL·kg^-1. The model group and the blank group received distilled water of the same volume. The administration lasted 12 weeks （once/day）. Fasting blood glucose （FBG） was detected regularly. After 12 weeks of administration， serum levels of glycated serum protein （GSP）， serum glucose （GLU）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） were detected. Pathological changes in the pancreatic tissue were based on hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression of TGR5， protein kinase A （PKA）， phosphorylated （p）-PKA， cyclic-AMP response element binding protein （CREB）， p-CREB， proprotein convertase 1/3 （PC1/3）， and glucagon-like peptide-1 （GLP-1） in pancreatic tissues. The level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP） in pancreatic tissue was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group had pathological changes in pancreatic tissue， high levels of FBG， GSP， GLU， TC， TG， and LDL-C （P<0.01）， low level of HDL-C （P<0.05）， low protein expression of TGR5， p-PKA （Thr197）/PKA， p-CREB （Ser133）/CREB， PC1/3， and GLP-1 in pancreatic tissue （P<0.01）， and low content of cAMP in the pancreas （P<0.01）. Pancreatic tissue lesion in the treatment groups were milder than that in the model group. Both the high-dose MGQT and metformin can reduce the levels of FBG， GSP， GLU， TC， TG， and LDL-C in db/db mice （P<0.05， P<0.01） and increase the level of HDL-C （P<0.01）. Except the GLP-1 protein in the medium-dose MGQT group， the protein expression of TGR5， p-PKA （Thr197）/PKA， p-CREB （Ser133）/CREB， PC1/3， and GLP-1 in the high-dose and medium-dose MGQT groups and the metformin group increased compared with that in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The content of cAMP in the pancreatic tissue of the high-dose and medium-dose MGQT groups and the metformin group was raised compared with that in model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionMGQT can improve the glucose homeostasis in db/db mice with T2DM by regulating TGR5/cAMP/GLP-1 signaling pathway-related protein expression.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 levels and clinical prognosis in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.Methods:Ninety-two patients with severe acute pancreatitis who received treatment in The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng from August 2018 to July 2021 were included in this study. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 levels were detected. The Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) score was evaluated. Clinical interventions were performed. The relationship between serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels and the clinical prognosis of severe acute pancreatitis was investigated.Results:Serum IL-6 level [(103.75 ± 15.53) ng/L] was highest in patients who died. Serum IL-10 level [(97.33 ± 13.06) ng/L] was highest in patients with local complications. The highest number of patients with a prognostic outcome of death [26 (37.14%)] was found in patients with a BISAP score ≥ 3. Serum IL-6 level in patients with severe acute pancreatitis was positively correlated with the BISAP score ( r = 0.62, P < 0.05), and serum IL-6 level and BISAP score were negatively correlated with serum IL-10 level ( r = -0.57, -0.61, both P < 0.05). Conclusion:Increased or decreased serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels in patients with severe acute pancreatitis indicate that the patient's condition tends to worsen, and timely intervention according to serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels can improve the clinical prognosis of severe acute pancreatitis.

Glycolysis is an important biological event in the metabolic reprogramming process of primary liver cancer.Its is mainly regulated by key rate-limiting enzymes in the glycolysis pathway,including hexokinase(HK),pyruvate kinase(PK),phosphofructokinase(PFK),and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH).Moreover,it can also be regulated by multiple mechanisms such as glucose transporters(GLUTS),monocarboxylic acid transporters(MCT),PI3K/AKT/mTORC signaling pathway and hypoxia induction factor(HIF).More and more studies have proved that key glycolytic enzymes and regulatory factors play important roles in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cell proliferation,invasion,metastasis,immune escape,and drug resistance.Currently,with the continuous in-depth research on the mechanism of glycolysis,clinical therapies targeting glycolysis has become a new therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.This article aims to summarize the research progress of key glycolytic enzymes and regulatory factors in the occurrence and development of primary liver cancer,hoping to provide help for the prevention and treatment of liver cancer.

Objective:To investigate the effects of rhubarb combined with acupuncture treatment on plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and T and B lymphocyte subsets in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.Methods:A total of 112 patients with severe traumatic brain injury who received treatment in The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng from September 2020 to August 2022 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group ( n = 56 per group). Both groups were given routine treatment. Additionally, the control group was treated with rhubarb, while the observation group was treated with rhubarb and acupuncture. The ratios of T lymphocyte subsets to B lymphocyte subsets, IL-6 levels, and prognoses were compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 89.29% (50/56), which was significantly higher than 73.21% (41/56) in the control group ( χ2 = 4.75, P = 0.029). At 7 days after treatment, IL-6 level in each group was significantly decreased compared with that before treatment ( P < 0.05). At 7 days after treatment, IL-6 level in the observation group was (469.60 ± 196.54) mg/L, which was significantly lower than (695.25 ± 277.67) mg/L in the control group ( t = 4.96, P < 0.05). The ratios of T lymphocyte subsets (CD 4+, CD 8+, CD 4+/CD 8+) to B lymphocyte subsets (CD 19+, CD 20+) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group and were closer to the normal ratios (all P < 0.05). At 3 months after treatment, the Glasgow Outcome Scale scores in each group were significantly increased compared with those at 1 month after treatment (both P < 0.05). At 1 and 3 months after treatment, the Glasgow Outcome Scale scores in the observation group were (2.94 ± 0.53) points and (4.06 ± 0.53) points, respectively, which were significantly higher than (2.63 ± 0.58) points and (3.72 ± 0.48) points in the control group ( t = 2.95, 3.56, both P < 0.05). Conclusion:Rhubarb combined with acupuncture can greatly reduce serum IL-6 level in patients with severe traumatic brain injury, regulate the ratio of T lymphocyte subsets to B lymphocyte subsets, reduce inflammatory reactions, and improve prognosis.