Objective To investigate the value of split-bolus dual-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in preoperative staging of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), and to analyze its effect on radiation dose. Methods From June 2021 to July 2024, 118 patients with suspected renal space occupying lesions admitted to Changsha Fourth Hospital were initially selected. Using a random number table, these patients were assigned to a single-bolus group (single-bolus three-phase enhancement program) and a split-bolus group (split-bolus dual-phase enhancement program), with 59 patients in each group. According to the postoperative pathological results, 100 patients with ccRCC were selected as the study subjects, including 48 patients in the single-bolus group and 52 patients in the split-bolus group. The CT values of ccRCC tissues in various phases were compared between the two groups. The accuracy of preoperative ccRCC staging was analyzed using postoperative pathological staging as the gold standard, and the effective dose (ED) was compared between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference in ccRCC staging between the two groups (P > 0.05). The CT value in the parenchyma-excretion phase of the split-bolus group was (88.24 ± 18.34) HU, which was lower than that of the single-bolus group in the parenchyma phase [(102.43 ± 20.66) HU, P < 0.05]. The accuracy of preoperative staging of ccRCC was 86.54% in the split-bolus group, which was not significantly different from 87.50% in the single-bolus group (P > 0.05). The mean ED was (14.54 ± 1.42) mSv in the split-bolus group, which was lower than (20.43 ± 1.18) mSv in the single-bolus group (P < 0.05). Compared with the single-bolus group, the ED of the split-bolus group decreased by 28.83%. Conclusion Split-bolus dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT provides similar accuracy compared to single-bolus CT in evaluating the preoperative staging of ccRCC, and can reduce the radiation dose.

Objective To establish a high-performance liquid chromatography method to detect the purity of human epidermal growth factor(hEGF),to compare the stability of the products of different enterprises by purity results,and to provide technical support for improving quality control and unified monitoring of hEGF based on national drug sampling and testing.Methods Agilent 300SB C8 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)was used.Mobile phase A was 7.5 mmol·L-1 sodium phosphate buffer(pH 6.8),and mobile phase B was acetonitrile,the column temperature was 30℃,the flow rate was 0.6 mL·min-1 with gradient elution,and the detector wavelength was set at 280 nm.Results The resolution between the main peak of hEGF and the adjacent impurity peak was more than 1.5,with a detection limit of 6 ng.This method has been successfully applied to determine the purity of the bulk and final products.The results showed that the purity of the final products decreased compared with the bulk.The maximum impurity that increased significantly was the deamidation impurity identified by the mass spectrometry.Conclusion Based on the typical sample of the full chain and multi-dosage form,the established method had good specificity and resolution for the preliminary identification and purity determination of hEGF bulk and final products.

Aim To investigate the antidepressant mechanism of hyperforin via the utilization of single-cell sequencing technology.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group,depres-sion model group,and hyperforin intervention group.The chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)model was induced and drug interventions were administered for 28 d.Behavioral experiments were conducted to as-sess depressive symptoms,and hippocampal tissue was collected for single-cell RNA sequencing.Key cell populations and differentially expressed genes across groups were identified,followed by PPI network,GO,and KEGG enrichment analysis.Results Behavioral experiments indicated that CUMS successfully induced depressive symptoms in mice,while hyperforin im-proved depressive behavior.In the depression model group,the proportion of brain perivascular macrophages(PVM)increased,and this proportion decreased after hyperforin intervention,approaching the level seen in the control group.The top 20 common differentially ex-pressed genes in the PVM subpopulation were Saa3,Hbb-bs and Ccl24.PPI network analysis identified core targets,including Ccl2,Dhx9,C3,Msr1,Cxcl2 and Cx3cr1.KEGG enrichment analysis revealed pathways related to chemokines,phagosome formation,and inosi-tol phosphate metabolism.Conclusion The antide-pressant mechanism of hyperforin may be related to the regulation of Ccl24 and its related chemokine signaling pathway by PVM.

Aim To investigate the antidepressant mechanism of hyperforin via the utilization of single-cell sequencing technology.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group,depres-sion model group,and hyperforin intervention group.The chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)model was induced and drug interventions were administered for 28 d.Behavioral experiments were conducted to as-sess depressive symptoms,and hippocampal tissue was collected for single-cell RNA sequencing.Key cell populations and differentially expressed genes across groups were identified,followed by PPI network,GO,and KEGG enrichment analysis.Results Behavioral experiments indicated that CUMS successfully induced depressive symptoms in mice,while hyperforin im-proved depressive behavior.In the depression model group,the proportion of brain perivascular macrophages(PVM)increased,and this proportion decreased after hyperforin intervention,approaching the level seen in the control group.The top 20 common differentially ex-pressed genes in the PVM subpopulation were Saa3,Hbb-bs and Ccl24.PPI network analysis identified core targets,including Ccl2,Dhx9,C3,Msr1,Cxcl2 and Cx3cr1.KEGG enrichment analysis revealed pathways related to chemokines,phagosome formation,and inosi-tol phosphate metabolism.Conclusion The antide-pressant mechanism of hyperforin may be related to the regulation of Ccl24 and its related chemokine signaling pathway by PVM.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of loganin on inflammatory response and intestinal barrier damage in septic rats by regulating the Ras homolog gene family member A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1 （ROCK1） signaling pathway. METHODS A sepsis rat model was established by cecal ligation and puncture， and randomly divided into sepsis group， loganin low-dose group （50 mg/kg loganin， gavage）， loganin high-dose group （200 mg/kg loganin， gavage）， positive control group （0.2 mg/kg atorvastatin， intraperitoneal injection）， and loganin high-dose + lysophosphatidic acid （LPA） group （200 mg/kg loganin gavage and intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg RohA activator LPA）. An additional sham surgery group was established. Each group consisted of 10 rats， and medications were administered once every 6 hours for 4 times. After 24 hours of the last intervention， the levels of serum inflammatory factors interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and IL-1β were detected. The pathological changes of ileal tissue were observed and Chiu’s intestinal mucosal injury score was also performed. The levels of intestinal function-lactate dehydrogenase （D-lactate）， D-amino acid oxidase （DAO） and endotoxin， the percentages of zonula occludens-1 protein （ZO-1） and Occludin positive staining area， as well as protein expressions of RhoA， and ROCK1 were all detected. com RESULTS Compared with the sepsis group， the percentages of ZO-1 and Occludin positive areas increased significantly in loganin low-dose and high-dose groups； while the levels of IL-6， TNF-α， IL-1β， DAO， D-lactate and endotoxin， Chiu’s intestinal mucosal injury score as well as protein expressions of RhoA and ROCK1 decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； the destruction of rat ileal tissue was alleviated， and tissue edema and inflammatory infiltration were significantly reduced； moreover， the improvement effect in loganin high-dose group was superior to that in loganin low-dose group （P＜0.05）. Compared with loganin high-dose group， RhoA activator LPA reversed the trend of changes in the above indicators （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Loganin can alleviate inflammatory response and intestinal barrier damage in septic rats， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the intervention of early traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes after ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) intervention. Methods: From October 2020 to July 2023, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to include 60 patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis, and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD interventional therapy. They were assigned to the Yiqi Tongluo Decoction treatment group (30 cases) and the TCM placebo routine treatment control group (30 cases) according to the randomized block design. Both groups received routine standardized treatment of Western medicine, including dual antiplatelet, lipid regulation, and control of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. The treatment group was treated with Yiqi Tongluo Decoction based on the control group. The course of treatment was 60 days and follow-up was carried out 2 and 6 months after the operation. The improvement of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, phlegm syndrome score and TCM syndrome score, modified Rankin score (mRS), Barthel index (BI) score, Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) level, incidence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke (IS) and incidence of adverse reactions, Head and neck CT angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination were collected. The clinical efficacy of the patients 2 months after the operation was taken as the main outcome index to preliminarily evaluate the early and long-term efficacy of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction after the ICVD intervention. The early and long-term clinical efficacy and safety of Western medicine standardized treatment combined with TCM Yiqi Tongluo Decoction on patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD intervention were evaluated. The safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the treatment of patients after ICVD intervention with white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), plasminogen time (PT), recurrence of cerebral ischaemia and restenosis in patients at 2 and 6 months after treatment were evaluated. Results: Compared to the control group, the TCM syndrome scores for qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm syndrome in the treatment group reduced significantly, the clinical efficacy improved significantly, the mRS score and FABP4 were reduced, and the BI score was increased. Adverse events such as cerebral ischaemia were fewer in the treatment group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant; levels of CRP, WBC and PT were reduced, and levels of FIB were reduced at 6 months post-treatment, all P<0.01, and images were intuitively compared. The treatment group was superior to the control group. Conclusion Yiqi Tongluo Decoction combined with Western medicine standard treatment can improve the early clinical efficacy of ICVD patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after interventional surgery, improve neurological impairment and daily living ability, reduce the state of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome and phlegm syndrome after interventional surgery, and improve the clinical efficacy of TCM. At the same time, it can reduce the level of FABP4, the target of atherosclerosis and restenosis after interventional surgery, reduce the level of inflammation after interventional surgery in patients with ICVD, regulate coagulation function, and reduce the incidence of long-term recurrence of cerebral ischemia after interventional surgery, with good safety.

BACKGROUND: Poly adenosine-diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) have been approved to act as first-line maintenance (FL-M) therapy and as platinum-sensitive recurrent maintenance (PSR-M) therapy for ovarian cancer in China for >5 years. Herein, we have analyzed the clinical-application characteristics of olaparib and niraparib in ovarian cancer-maintenance therapy in a real-world setting to strengthen our understanding and promote their rational usage. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified patients with newly diagnosed or platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer, who received olaparib or niraparib as maintenance therapy at Sichuan Cancer Hospital between August 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021. Patient medical records were reviewed. We grouped and analyzed patients based on the type of PARPi they used (the olaparib group and the niraparib group) and the line of PARPi maintenance therapy (the FL-M setting and the PSR-M setting). The primary endpoint was the 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. RESULTS: In total, 131 patients (olaparib: n = 67, 51.1%; niraparib: n = 64, 48.9%) were enrolled. Breast cancer susceptibility genes ( BRCA ) mutations ( BRCA m) were significantly less common in the niraparib group than in the olaparib group [9.4% (6/64) vs . 62.7% (42/67), P <0.001], especially in the FL-M setting [10.4% (5/48) vs . 91.4% (32/35), P <0.001]. The 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) rates in the FL-M and PSR-M settings were 60.4% and 45.7%, respectively. In patients with BRCA m, the 24-month PFS rates in the FL-M and PSR-M settings were 62.2% and 72.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Olaparib and niraparib were effective in patients with ovarian cancer without any new safety signals except for skin pigmentation. In patients with BRCA m, the 24-month PFS of the PARPi used in the PSR-M setting was even higher than that used in the FL-M setting.
Humans ; Female ; Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Piperazines/therapeutic use* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Phthalazines/therapeutic use* ; Piperidines/therapeutic use* ; Indazoles/therapeutic use* ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy* ; Progression-Free Survival

OBJECTIVE: As an age-related neurodegenerative disease, the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) increases with age. Within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine, spleen-kidney deficiency syndrome (SKDS) is recognized as the most frequent MCI subtype. Due to the covert and gradual onset of MCI, in community settings it poses a significant challenge for patients and their families to discern between typical aging and pathological changes. There exists an urgent need to devise a preliminary diagnostic tool designed for community-residing older adults with MCI attributed to SKDS (MCI-SKDS). METHODS: This investigation enrolled 312 elderly individuals diagnosed with MCI, who were randomly distributed into training and test datasets at a 3:1 ratio. Five machine learning methods, including logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), naive Bayes (NB), support vector machine (SVM), and gradient boosting (GB), were used to build a diagnostic prediction model for MCI-SKDS. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1 score, and area under the curve were used to evaluate model performance. Furthermore, the clinical applicability of the model was evaluated through decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: The accuracy, precision, specificity and F1 score of the DT model performed best in the training set (test set), with scores of 0.904 (0.845), 0.875 (0.795), 0.973 (0.875) and 0.973 (0.875). The sensitivity of the training set (test set) of the SVM model performed best among the five models with a score of 0.865 (0.821). The area under the curve of all five models was greater than 0.9 for the training dataset and greater than 0.8 for the test dataset. The DCA of all models showed good clinical application value. The study identified ten indicators that were significant predictors of MCI-SKDS. CONCLUSION The risk prediction index derived from machine learning for the MCI-SKDS prediction model is simple and practical; the model demonstrates good predictive value and clinical applicability, and the DT model had the best performance. Please cite this article as: Ai YT, Zhou S, Wang M, Zheng TY, Hu H, Wang YC, Li YC, Wang XT, Zhou PJ. Development of a machine learning-based risk prediction model for mild cognitive impairment with spleen-kidney deficiency syndrome in the elderly. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 390-397.
Humans ; Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnosis* ; Aged ; Male ; Female ; Machine Learning ; Spleen ; Aged, 80 and over ; Kidney ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVE: Human brucellosis is a serious public health concern in the Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia; however, the epidemic trends are unclear. METHOD: In this study, Joinpoint regression analysis and spatiotemporal analysis were applied to investigate the epidemic evolution of human brucellosis. RESULT: From 2004 to 2023, a total of 35,747 cases were reported, with an annual average of 1787.35 cases and an annual average incidence rate of 176.04/100,000. The incidence increased from 173.96/100,000 in 2004 to 500.71/100,000 in 2009 and fluctuated to 61.43/100,000 in 2023. Three epidemic join points were observed in which the disease experienced an alternative rise and fall, peaking in 2009 (APC = 21.73, P > 0.001) and 2020 (APC = 21.51, P > 0.001). The disease showed a persistent decline trend in lentitude (AAPC = -5.30, P > 0.001), suggesting challenges in disease control and a higher risk of rebound. The most cases were reported in Xilinhot City ( n = 4,777), followed by 4,391 in Sonid Left Banner, and 4,324 in Abaga Banner. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed two high clusters (CI and CII) from 2005 to 2012, the high cluster encompassing eight counties and shifting from north to south. CONCLUSION The present analysis highlights that human brucellosis has decreased significantly in the Xilingol League, but the epidemic is still severe; further implementation of a strict control program is necessary.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Brucellosis/epidemiology* ; Epidemics ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Incidence ; Cluster Analysis

Formate is an important solar fuel, with large application potential in bioconversion. Especially, the win-win collaboration is achieved when formate is applied to the cultivation of microalgae, which combines the advantages from both artificial and natural photosynthesis. However, the inhibition of formate on the photosynthetic electron transport hinders the application of formate at high concentrations. The engineering or directed evolution of the regulation pathway is a case-by-case and time-consuming strategy. Here, we developed a new strategy by introducing a Stenotrophomonas sp. strain which was isolated and identified from the long-term self-evolution process of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for adapting to high concentrations of formate. The co-culture with the strain or the fermentation broth relieved the inhibition of formate (50 mmol/L) on C. reinhardtii and promoted the growth of the microalga. Especially, the protein content increased significantly to nearly 50% of the dried weight. In addition, the co-culture also benefited the growth of both Chlorella pyrenoidesa and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 exposed to formate, which indicated broader applicability of this strategy. This strategy provides the opportunity to overcome the bottleneck in the formate-mediated artificial-natural hybrid photosynthesis and to aid the development of technologies for solar energy-driven production of bulk biomass, including proteins, by carbon dioxide reduction.
Photosynthesis/physiology* ; Formates/pharmacology* ; Stenotrophomonas/growth & development* ; Microalgae/metabolism* ; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/growth & development*