OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of Chinese medicine (CM) Fuzheng Huazhuo Decoction (FHD) in treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who persistently tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Shanghai New International Expo Center shelter hospital in China between April 1 and May 30, 2022. Patients diagnosed as COVID-19 with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results for ⩾8 days after diagnosis were enrolled. Patients in the control group received conventional Western medicine (WM) treatment, while those in the FHD group received conventional WM plus FHD for at least 3 days. The primary outcome was viral clearance time. Secondary outcomes included negative conversion rate within 14 days, length of hospital stay, cycle threshold (Ct) values of the open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) and nucleocapsid protein (N) genes, and incidence of new-onset symptoms during hospitalization. Adverse events (AEs) that occurred during the study period were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 1,765 eligible patients were enrolled in this study (546 in the FHD group and 1,219 in the control group). Compared with the control group, patients receiving FHD treatment showed shorter viral clearance time for nucleic acids [hazard ratio (HR): 1.500, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.353-1.664, P<0.001] and hospital stays (HR: 1.371, 95% CI: 1.238-1.519, P<0.001), and a higher negative conversion rate within 14 days (96.2% vs. 82.6%, P<0.001). The incidence of new-onset symptoms was 59.5% in the FHD group, similar to 57.8% in the control group (P>0.05). The Ct values of ORF1ab and N genes increased more rapidly over time in the FHD group than those in the control group post-randomization (ORF1ab gene: β =0.436±0.053, P<0.001; N gene: β =0.415 ±0.053, P<0.001). The incidence of AEs in the FHD group was lower than that in the control group (24.2% vs. 35.4%, P<0.001). No serious AEs were observed. CONCLUSION FHD was effective and safe for patients with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200063956).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects* ; COVID-19/virology* ; Adult ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome

AIM To investigate the effects of stir-frying,processing with butter and carbonizing by stir-frying on oil components in Gleditsiae sinensis Fructus and Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis.METHODS The volatile oils and fatty oils were extracted by steam distillation method and Soxhlet extraction method,respectively,after which the extraction rates were determined.GC-MS was applied to analyzing the kinds and relative contents of oil components,after which cluster analysis was performed.RESULTS After the processing,the two medicinal materials demonstrated increased extraction rates of fatty oils and decreased extraction rates of volatile oils(except for processing with butter),the extraction rates of oil components in Gleditsiae sinensis Fructus were higher than those in Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis,and the reduced relative contents of toxic olefin benzene components were observable.CONCLUSION The kinds and relative contents of oil components in Gleditsiae sinensis Fructus and Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis exist obvious differences,the former displays better medicinal quality,whose processing mechanism in alleviating dryness and strength may contribute to the reduction of relative contents of toxic olefin benzene components.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of Baxian Xiaoyaotang （BXT） in treating ankylosis of wind-cold-dampness obstruction syndrome after acute Achilles tendon rupture surgery and its effects on transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁）， insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1）， and epidermal growth factor （EGF）. Method:According to the visiting sequence， 66 patients with fresh closed Achilles tendon rupture were included and randomly divided into a treatment group （n=33） and a control group （n=33）. Patients in both groups underwent surgical repair， followed by immobilization in long-leg brace， which was then replaced by the boot brace in the fourth week， with the plantar-flexion angle adjusted correspondingly. Six weeks later， the brace was removed for accelerated functional rehabilitation training. On this basis， patients in the treatment group were further instructed to fumigate and wash the affected Achilles tendon with BXT， twice a day， for 45 d. The Leppilahti Achilles tendon performance scores and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society （AOFAS） ankle-hindfoot scores between the two groups were compared at the time of brace removal and the third， sixth， and twelfth months after surgery. The strength of triceps surae on the affected side was evaluated at the last follow-up visit. The serum TGF-β₁， IGF-1， and EGF levels were detected before and after treatment. The wind-cold-dampness obstruction syndrome scores， symptom scores， the changes in foot dorsiflexion angle， and the overall clinical efficacy were compared. Result:The changes in scores of patients receiving different treatment measures did not synchronize. After the removal of brace， the Leppilahti Achilles tendon performance score and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score determined at three time points in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group （P<0.05）. At the last follow-up visit， the good-to-excellent rate of muscle strength in the treatment group was 93.94% （31/33）， higher than 72.73% （24/33） in the control group （χ²=0.031，P<0.05）， implying that the strength of triceps surae in the treatment group was better recovered. After treatment， the serum TGF-β₁， IGF-1， and EGF levels in both groups were increased in contrast to those before treatment （P<0.05）， and these levels in the treatment group were all higher than those in the control group （P<0.05）. The foot dorsiflexion angle and the wind-cold-dampness obstruction syndrome score in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group （P<0.05）. The overall response rate of the treatment group was 90.91% （30/33）， higher than 75.76% （25/33） of the control group （χ²=6.981， P<0.05）. No adverse reactions occurred during the treatment. Conclusion:The external fumigation and washing with BXT alleviates both the clinical symptoms and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome， improves the joint function score， triceps surae strength， and other indicators， elevates the serum TGF-β₁， IGF-1， and EGF levels， and enhances the strength and toughness of Achilles tendon of patients with ankylosis due to wind-cold-dampness obstruction after the acute Achilles tendon rupture surgery. Its clinical efficacy is better than that of functional rehabilitation training.

Objective To understand the obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and relative influencing factors among college students with left-behind experience. Methods College students with left-behind experience were selected from three universities in Anhui Province. The Chinese Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and self-edited basic situation questionnaires were used to measure the OCS, self-esteem, depression and left-behind experience. Multivariate logistic regressions model was applied to examine the influential factors of OCS. Results A total of 2 291 college students with left-behind experience were investigated. The detection rate for OCS in college students with left-behind experience were 26.5%. Regarding the OCS in college students with left-behind experience, significant differences were found in the following aspects: frequency of meeting with parents, parenting style, conflicts with caregivers, smoking and drinking (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that caregiver adopts strict parenting style (OR=1.300, 95%CI:1.025-1.649,P=0.030), indulgent parenting style (OR=1.372, 95%CI:1.017-1.852, P=0.038), smoking (OR=1.982, 95%CI:1.305-3.011, P=0.001), depressive symptoms (OR=2.423, 95%CI:1.954-3.005, P<0.001), medium self-esteem (OR=0.604, 95%CI:0.481-0.759, P<0.001) and high self-esteem (OR=0.488, 95%CI:0.362-0.659, P<0.001) were influencing factors of OCS. Conclusions The prevalence rate of OCS among college students with left-behind experience is high. Some interventions should be taken to reduce the OCS among college students with left-behind experience.

Objective A retrospective study to determine the mid-and long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of unilateral instrumented transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with bilateral decompression via unilateral paramedian incision.Methods From J ul.,2007 to J un.,2010,73 patients with single segmental lumbar stenosis were collected in this study.All of 73 patients had bilateral signs and symptoms of stenosis,and accepted the unilateral TLIF with bilateral decompression via unilateral paramedian incision.The oswestry disability index (ODI),Japanese orthopedic association scale (JOA),visual analog scale (VAS),angle of lumbar lordosis (LL) and angle of segmental lordosis (SL) were calculated and compared at pre-operation,six months after operation and last follow up.In addition,the operating time,blood loss,length of hospital stay,complications and fusion rate were also recorded.Results There were 30 males and 43 females in this study.The mean age,mean operation time,mean blood loss and mean length of hospital stay was (57.7 ± 10.1) years,(92.0 ± 26.7)minutes,(150.5 ± 130.3) mL and (12.3 ± 2.7) days,respectively.The follow up was 5 years at least and the mean follow up was (79.4 ± 11.1) months.The ODI,JOA and VAS at six months after operation and last follow up were significantly better than those at pre-operation.As for the sagittal alignment assessment,the LL and SL at six months after operation and last follow up also increased significantly compared with those at pre-operation.All of 73 patients achieved solid interbody fusion.Conclusions Unilateral instrumented TLIF with bilateral decompression via unilateral paramedian incision is an effective innovation.Compared with the traditional TLIF,it could not only reduced the surgical injury and operation cost but also achieve the same ideal effect.

Objective To study the effects and mechanism of Glyphosate induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in mouse spermatogenic cells(GC-2).Methods Morphology of the GC-2 cells was observed by optical microscope and Transmission Electron Microscopy.Flow cytometry were used to detect cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.Cell cycle arrcst and apoptosis related proteins were detected by Western blot.Results Glyphosate could inhibit cell proliferation and impair endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria significantly,which was associated with G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in GC-2 cells.Glyphosate lead to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by regulating the expressions of G1/S phase checkpoint regulatory factor proteins such as p21,CyclinD1,CyclinE and activating caspase3.Conclusion Glyphosate has adverse effects on male germ cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

BACKGROUNDColorectal serrated polyp is considered as histologically heterogeneous lesions with malignant potential in western countries. However, few Asian studies have investigated the comprehensive clinical features of serrated polyps in symptomatic populations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the features of colorectal serrated polyps in a Chinese symptomatic population.

METHODSData from all consecutive symptomatic patients were documented from a large colonoscopy database and were analyzed. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis were used for the data processing.

RESULTSA total of 9191 (31.7%) patients were detected with at least one colorectal polyp. The prevalence of serrated polyps was 0.53% (153/28,981). The proportions of hyperplastic polyp (HP), sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P), and traditional serrated adenoma (TSA) of all serrated polyps were 41.2%, 7.2%, and 51.6%, respectively, which showed a lower proportion of HP and SSA/P and a higher proportion of TSA. Serrated polyps appeared more in males and elder patients while there was no significant difference in the subtype distribution in gender and age. The proportions of large and proximal serrated polyps were 13.7% (21/153) and 46.4% (71/153), respectively. In total, 98.9% (89/90) serrated adenomas were found with dysplasia. Moreover, 14 patients with serrated polyps were found with synchronous advanced colorectal neoplasia, and large serrated polyps (LSPs) (odds ratio: 3.446, 95% confidence interval: 1.010-11.750, P < 0.05), especially large HPs, might have an association with synchronous advanced neoplasia (AN).

CONCLUSIONSThe overall detection rate of colorectal serrated polyps in Chinese symptomatic patient population was low, and distribution pattern of three subtypes is different from previous reports. Moreover, LSPs, especially large HPs, might be associated with an increased risk of synchronous AN.

Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Colonic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo analysis the molecular interaction network of 14-3-3 sigma in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.

METHODSEstablished stable over-expressed 14-3-3 sigma protein PG cells, MTT assay was used to assess the growth rate of PG cells. Though stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and Mass spectrometry (MS) technology, to identify difference expressed proteins caused by over expressed 14-3-3 sigma. The protein expressed >2 or <0.5 times was termed as the differential protein. By searching Human protein reference database (HPRD) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), established the molecular interaction network of tumor suppressor gene 14-3-3 sigma.

RESULTSThe growth rate of over-expressed 14-3-3 sigma PG cell was obviously slower down compared to vector PG cells. A database including 147 differential protein was established. And a molecular interaction network of 14-3-3 sigma containing 26 protein was constructed.In this network, the expression of CSNK2A1 (casein kinase II subunit alpha), involved in numerous cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression, apoptosis and transcription, was the most significantly increased. A DNA repair protein, MEN1 (Menin) which functions as a transcriptional regulator was the most significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONAfter stable transfected with 14-3-3 sigma gene, growth rate of PG cells was inhibited, the proteins associated with cell cycle, DNA damage repair mechanisms were significantly changed, and constructed the molecular interaction network.

14-3-3 Proteins ; genetics ; Amino Acids ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Exoribonucleases ; genetics ; Humans ; Isotope Labeling ; methods ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Mass Spectrometry ; Transfection