OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between serum chloride levels and prognosis in patients with hepatic coma in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We analyzed 545 patients with hepatic coma in the ICU from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Associations between serum chloride levels and 28-day and 1-year mortality rates were assessed using restricted cubic splines (RCSs), Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves, and Cox regression. Subgroup analyses, external validation, and mechanistic studies were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 545 patients were included in the study. RCS analysis revealed a U-shaped association between serum chloride levels and mortality in patients with hepatic coma. The KM curves indicated lower survival rates among patients with low chloride levels (< 103 mmol/L). Low chloride levels were independently linked to increased 28-day and 1-year all-cause mortality rates. In the multivariate models, the hazard ratio ( HR) for 28-day mortality in the low-chloride group was 1.424 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.041-1.949), while the adjusted hazard ratio for 1-year mortality was 1.313 (95% CI: 1.026-1.679). Subgroup analyses and external validation supported these findings. Cytological experiments suggested that low chloride levels may activate the phosphorylation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, promote the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and reduce neuronal cell viability. CONCLUSION Low serum chloride levels are independently associated with increased mortality in patients with hepatic coma.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Intensive Care Units ; Prognosis ; Chlorides/blood* ; Aged ; Coma/blood* ; Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with 6 MV and 10 MV X-ray photon energies in patients with cervical cancer. Methods From March 2019 to May 2020, 24 patients with cervical cancer who underwent radiation therapy in the Oncology Radiotherapy Department of our hospital were selected. VMAT plans with 6 MV and 10 MV photon energies were re-designed for each patient. The target parameters (D_98%, D_2%, D_mean), conformal index, and homogeneity index of the two groups were compared. The radiation doses received by the bladder, rectum, small intestine, left femoral head, right femoral head, and normal tissue other than planning target volume (Body-PTV), as well as monitor units and estimated total delivery time, were also compared. Results D_2%, D_mean, homogeneity index, and monitor units were significantly lower in the 10 MV group than in the 6 MV group (50.78 ± 0.33 Gy vs. 50.35 ± 0.29 Gy; 49.05 ± 0.2 Gy vs. 48.93 ± 0.17 Gy; 0.08 ± 0.01 vs. 0.07 ± 0.01; 1179.26 ± 110.55 vs. 1099.3 ± 80.9). Comparison of organs at risk showed that compared with the 10 MV group, the 6 MV group demonstrated significantly lower V_40Gy of the bladder, D_5% of the right femoral head, and D_2% and V_5Gy of Body-PTV (60.37 ± 13.66 vs. 60.84 ± 13.88; 37.09 ± 5.43 Gy vs. 38.03 ± 5.68 Gy; 41.71 ± 1.39 Gy vs. 42.16 ± 1.31 Gy; 47.88 ± 9.75 vs. 48.23 ± 9.74). There were no significant differences in other parameters between the two groups. Conclusion The VMAT plans with 6 MV and 10 MV X-ray photon energies both meet the clinical needs of cervical cancer radiotherapy. The cervical cancer VMAT plan with 6 MV photon energy is recommended due to better protection of the organs at risk.

Objective To investigate the effects of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with 6 MV and 10 MV X-ray photon energies in patients with cervical cancer. Methods From March 2019 to May 2020, 24 patients with cervical cancer who underwent radiation therapy in the Oncology Radiotherapy Department of our hospital were selected. VMAT plans with 6 MV and 10 MV photon energies were re-designed for each patient. The target parameters (D_98%, D_2%, D_mean), conformal index, and homogeneity index of the two groups were compared. The radiation doses received by the bladder, rectum, small intestine, left femoral head, right femoral head, and normal tissue other than planning target volume (Body-PTV), as well as monitor units and estimated total delivery time, were also compared. Results D_2%, D_mean, homogeneity index, and monitor units were significantly lower in the 10 MV group than in the 6 MV group (50.78 ± 0.33 Gy vs. 50.35 ± 0.29 Gy; 49.05 ± 0.2 Gy vs. 48.93 ± 0.17 Gy; 0.08 ± 0.01 vs. 0.07 ± 0.01; 1179.26 ± 110.55 vs. 1099.3 ± 80.9). Comparison of organs at risk showed that compared with the 10 MV group, the 6 MV group demonstrated significantly lower V_40Gy of the bladder, D_5% of the right femoral head, and D_2% and V_5Gy of Body-PTV (60.37 ± 13.66 vs. 60.84 ± 13.88; 37.09 ± 5.43 Gy vs. 38.03 ± 5.68 Gy; 41.71 ± 1.39 Gy vs. 42.16 ± 1.31 Gy; 47.88 ± 9.75 vs. 48.23 ± 9.74). There were no significant differences in other parameters between the two groups. Conclusion The VMAT plans with 6 MV and 10 MV X-ray photon energies both meet the clinical needs of cervical cancer radiotherapy. The cervical cancer VMAT plan with 6 MV photon energy is recommended due to better protection of the organs at risk.

Objective To investigate the dosimetric differences between volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with a flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter-free (FFF) VMAT in fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases. Methods Seventeen patients with brain metastases were divided into FF-VMAT group (VMAT plans with the FF mode) and FFF-VMAT group (VMAT plans with the FFF mode). The two groups were compared in terms of target volume dose parameters (D_98%, D_2% and D_mean), the conformal index (CI), the gradient index (GI), the gradient, normal brain tissue dose parameters (V_5Gy, V_10Gy, V_12Gy and D_mean), monitor units, and beam-on time. Results Compared with the FF-VMAT group, the FFF-VMAT group had significantly lower GI (3.33 ± 0.37 vs 3.27 ± 0.35, P = 0.001), a significantly lower gradient [(0.85 ± 0.20) cm vs (0.84 ± 0.19) cm, P = 0.002], a significantly shorter beam-on time [(177.05 ± 62.68) s vs (142.71 ± 34.59) s, P = 0.001], and significantly higher D_2% [(65.69 ± 2.15) Gy vs (66.99 ± 2.03) Gy, P = 0.001] and D_mean [(58.77 ± 1.60) Gy vs (59.95 ± 1.43) Gy, P <0.001]. There were no significant differences in the CI, the D_98% of the target volume, the V_5Gy, V_10Gy, V_12Gy and D_mean of the normal brain tissue, and monitor units between FFF-VMAT and FF-VMAT. Conclusion FFF-VMAT can better protect the normal tissue around the target volume, reduce the beam-on time, and improve treatment efficiency.

Objective To analyze the basic characteristics, drug features, prescription rules, and drug-symptom relationships of patients in the splenic deficiency and impairment stage, by data mining of medical records under the New Theory on Spleen Dampness Syndrome (Pi Dan Xin Lun, 《脾瘅新论》). Methods Medical records listed in the “New Theory on Spleen Dampness Syndrome – Understanding and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine”, and which were diagnosed with the spleen dampness syndrome at the splenic deficiency and impairment stage, during January 2004 and December 2016 were selected. These patients’ data, including basic information, clinical symptoms, laboratory examination results, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medicine diagnoses, treatment methods, prescriptions, etc., were collected. The collected data were subsequently compiled into a medical record database using the Epidata 3.1 data management software, followed by the use of Apriori algorithm provided in the SPSS Modeler 14.2 statistical software to investigate the association rules between drug-drug, drug-symptom, and drug-western medicine indices. Results (i) A total of 51 medical records were included, involving 17 types of syndromes. Among them, the top three with frequency ≥ 3 included “Phlegm and blood stasis, and thoracic obstruction” “Deficiency-weakness of the spleen Qi, and static blood blocking collaterals”, and “Deficiency-weakness of the spleen Qi, and static blood blocking collaterals”. Alternatively, of the 14 treatment methods, the top three treatments with frequency of ≥ 3 included “Activating Yang and eliminating turbidity, and removing phlegm and dredging channel blockage” “Strengthening the spleen and benefiting Qi, and eliminating phlegm to activate the channels”, and “Warming Yang and benefiting Qi, and expelling cold to remove obstructions”. Among the 15 prescriptions, the top three used with frequency ≥ 3 included Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang (黄芪桂枝五物汤), Gualou Xiebai Banxia Tang (瓜蒌薤白半夏汤), and Ganjiang Huangqin Huanglian Renshen Tang (干姜黄芩黄连人参汤). Lastly, of the 83 drugs used for a total of 476 times, those with frequency ≥ 15 included Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Jiudahuang (Wine-processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Jixueteng (Spatholobi Caulis), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus). (ii) For the drug-drug associations, under the criteria of support ≥ 15% and confidence = 100%, seven second-order association rules, seven third-order rules, and six fourth-order roles were identified. The top-ranking rule of each was “Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) → Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma)” “Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) + Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) → Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma)”, and “Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) + Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) + Jixueteng (Spatholobi Caulis) → Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix)”, respectively. Alternatively, the drug-symptom associations were analyzed under the criteria of support ≥ 5% and confidence = 100%, which derived eight second-order association rules, 31 third-order rules, and 30 fourth-order rules. The top-ranking association rule of each order was “Huangqi (Astragali Radix) → Limb edema” “Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) + Jixueteng (Spatholobi Caulis) → Limb numbness and pain”, and “Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) + Jixueteng (Spatholobi Caulis) + Huangqi (Astragali Radix) → Limb numbness and pain”, respectively. Similarly, the drug-western medicine index associations were investigated under the criteria of support ≥ 5% and confidence = 100%, and five second-order association rules, 16 third-order rules, and 16 fourth-order rules were identified. In this category, the top-ranking association rule of each order was “Qinpi (Fraxini Cortex) → Uric acid” “Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) + Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) → Glycated hemoglobin”, and “Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) + Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) + Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) → Glycated hemoglobin”, respectively. Conclusion Through association rule mining, this study objectively and quantitatively demonstrated the drug-drug, drug-symptom, and drug-physicochemical index associations of patients with the spleen dampness syndrome at the splenic deficiency and impairment stage treated by Academician TONG Xiaolin. The results indicated that treatment for these patients adopted the “state-target” syndrome differentiation method. The drug combination was characterized by “small prescriptions”, targeting both the patient’s symptoms and signs (syndrome target) and western medicine indices (treatment target). This study could provide references for future research on the academic thoughts and medical experience of Academician TONG Xiaolin.

ObjectiveTo assess the screening ability of two new anthropometric indices： a body shape index （ABSI） and body roundness index （BRI） for metabolic associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） in adults， and to determine the optimal cut-off value. MethodsBased on the valid baseline data collected from March 2018 to October 2019 in Dongguan City， Guangdong Province by South China Cohort （SCC） project， a total of 9 214 adults were included， with physical examination， ultrasound and laboratory tests. MAFLD was diagnosed according to the consensus statement of international experts. Body mass index （BMI）， waist circumference （WC） and waist-height-ratio （WHtR） were used as reference to evaluate the screening ability of ABSI and BRI. Spearman rank test and logistic regression model were used to compare the correlation between each index and MAFLD. The receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC） was used to compare the area under the curve （AUC）. ResultsThe prevalence of MAFLD was 31.41%， which increased linearly across the quartile of each index except ABSI. There was a positive correlation between each index and MAFLD but ABSI was the weakest （r_s=0.069 in males and r_s=0.045 in females） while BRI was stronger （r_s=0.409 in males and r_s=0.413 in females）. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of the presence of MAFLD for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile of each anthropometric measure， showed that ABSI had the lowest OR without statistical significance. The OR and 95%CI was 1.09 （0.85， 1.41） in males and 0.90 （0.74， 1.08） in females， respectively. BRI was similar to WHtR， and BMI had the strongest association whose OR and 95%CI was 61.15 （35.12， 106.47） in males and 20.07 （15.24， 26.43） in females， respectively. ABSI had the lowest AUC for MAFLD （0.55 in males and 0.53 in females） and the cut-off value was respectively 0.080 5 in males and 0.078 2 in females. BRI had a higher AUC （0.77 in males and 0.75 in females）， equal to WHtR and similar to WC （0.79 in males and 0.77 in females） but lower than BMI （0.81 in males and 0.79 in females）. The optimal cut-off value for BRI was 4.10 in males and 4.51 in females. BRI also showed a certain screening ability on MAFLD in lean/normal weight population （0.73 in males and 0.69 in females）， patients with diabetes （0.73 in males and 0.71 in females） and subjects with lean/normal weight and metabolic dysfunction （0.60 in males and 0.55 in females）. ConclusionsBRI can effectively identify MAFLD （AUC>0.7） and the optimal cut-off value is 4.10 for males and 4.51 for females， while ABSI performs poorly. Considering the screening on MAFLD in population with different characteristics， BRI shows a potential for use in early screening of MAFLD.

ObjectiveTo assess the screening ability of two new anthropometric indices： a body shape index （ABSI） and body roundness index （BRI） for metabolic associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） in adults， and to determine the optimal cut-off value. MethodsBased on the valid baseline data collected from March 2018 to October 2019 in Dongguan City， Guangdong Province by South China Cohort （SCC） project， a total of 9 214 adults were included， with physical examination， ultrasound and laboratory tests. MAFLD was diagnosed according to the consensus statement of international experts. Body mass index （BMI）， waist circumference （WC） and waist-height-ratio （WHtR） were used as reference to evaluate the screening ability of ABSI and BRI. Spearman rank test and logistic regression model were used to compare the correlation between each index and MAFLD. The receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC） was used to compare the area under the curve （AUC）. ResultsThe prevalence of MAFLD was 31.41%， which increased linearly across the quartile of each index except ABSI. There was a positive correlation between each index and MAFLD but ABSI was the weakest （r_s=0.069 in males and r_s=0.045 in females） while BRI was stronger （r_s=0.409 in males and r_s=0.413 in females）. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of the presence of MAFLD for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile of each anthropometric measure， showed that ABSI had the lowest OR without statistical significance. The OR and 95%CI was 1.09 （0.85， 1.41） in males and 0.90 （0.74， 1.08） in females， respectively. BRI was similar to WHtR， and BMI had the strongest association whose OR and 95%CI was 61.15 （35.12， 106.47） in males and 20.07 （15.24， 26.43） in females， respectively. ABSI had the lowest AUC for MAFLD （0.55 in males and 0.53 in females） and the cut-off value was respectively 0.080 5 in males and 0.078 2 in females. BRI had a higher AUC （0.77 in males and 0.75 in females）， equal to WHtR and similar to WC （0.79 in males and 0.77 in females） but lower than BMI （0.81 in males and 0.79 in females）. The optimal cut-off value for BRI was 4.10 in males and 4.51 in females. BRI also showed a certain screening ability on MAFLD in lean/normal weight population （0.73 in males and 0.69 in females）， patients with diabetes （0.73 in males and 0.71 in females） and subjects with lean/normal weight and metabolic dysfunction （0.60 in males and 0.55 in females）. ConclusionsBRI can effectively identify MAFLD （AUC>0.7） and the optimal cut-off value is 4.10 for males and 4.51 for females， while ABSI performs poorly. Considering the screening on MAFLD in population with different characteristics， BRI shows a potential for use in early screening of MAFLD.

BACKGROUND: Due to adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) being easy to obtain, their rapid proliferation rate, and their multidirectional differentiation capabilities, they have been widely used in the field of regenerative medicine. With the progress of decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) and adipose tissue engineering research, the role of DAT in promoting angiogenesis has gradually been emphasized. METHODS: We examined the biological characteristics and biosafety of DAT and evaluated the stem cell maintenance ability and promotion of growth factor secretion through conducting in vitro and in vivo studies. RESULTS: The tested ASCs showed high rat:es of proliferation and adhered well to DAT. The expression levels of essential genes for cell stem maintenance, including OCT4, SOX2, and Nanog were low at 2–24 h and much higher at 48 and 96 h. The Adipogenic expression level of markers for ASCs proliferation including PPARγ, C/EPBα, and LPL increased from 2 to 96 h. Co-culture of ASCs and DAT increased the secretion of local growth factors, such as VEGF, PDGF-bb, bFGF, HGF, EGF, and FDGF-bb, and secretion gradually increased from 0 to 48 h. A model of full-thickness skin defects on the back of nude mice was established, and the co-culture of ASCs and DAT showed the best in vivo treatment effect. CONCLUSION The application of DAT promotes wound healing, and DAT combined with ASCs may be a promising material in adipose tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

BACKGROUND: Due to adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) being easy to obtain, their rapid proliferation rate, and their multidirectional differentiation capabilities, they have been widely used in the field of regenerative medicine. With the progress of decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) and adipose tissue engineering research, the role of DAT in promoting angiogenesis has gradually been emphasized. METHODS: We examined the biological characteristics and biosafety of DAT and evaluated the stem cell maintenance ability and promotion of growth factor secretion through conducting in vitro and in vivo studies. RESULTS: The tested ASCs showed high rat:es of proliferation and adhered well to DAT. The expression levels of essential genes for cell stem maintenance, including OCT4, SOX2, and Nanog were low at 2–24 h and much higher at 48 and 96 h. The Adipogenic expression level of markers for ASCs proliferation including PPARγ, C/EPBα, and LPL increased from 2 to 96 h. Co-culture of ASCs and DAT increased the secretion of local growth factors, such as VEGF, PDGF-bb, bFGF, HGF, EGF, and FDGF-bb, and secretion gradually increased from 0 to 48 h. A model of full-thickness skin defects on the back of nude mice was established, and the co-culture of ASCs and DAT showed the best in vivo treatment effect. CONCLUSION The application of DAT promotes wound healing, and DAT combined with ASCs may be a promising material in adipose tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Objective: To understand the association between body fat distribution and calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing. Methods: Children and adolescents were selected in 30 schools (8 primary schools, 21 middle schools and one 12-year education school) from Dongcheng, Tongzhou, Fangshan and Miyun districts of Beijing by using a stratified cluster sampling method from November 2017 to January 2018. A total of 15 030 students in grade 1 to 4 of primary school, grade 1 of junior and senior middle school were enrolled after excluding subjects who were not able to participate into this study due to trauma or other uncomfortable physical conditions or with missing key values or with diabetes and kidney diseases. Questionnaire survey, body composition and calcaneus bone mineral density were conducted. The relation of fat mass percentage (FMP), trunk to total fat ratio (TrTFR), trunk to limb fat ratio (TrLFR), limb to total fat ratio (LTFR) and viscera to total fat ratio (VTFR) with calcaneus BMD were assessed using the multivariate linear regression models after adjusting for possible confounding effects. The central fat distribution types were divided into 4 groups including type 1: both trunk fat and visceral fat greater than the sex-and age-specific internal P₇₅; type 2: barely trunk fat greater than P₇₅; type 3: barely visceral fat greater than P₇₅; type 4: both trunk fat and visceral fat greater than P₇₅. The central fat distribution types were included into the model in the form of dummy variables to analyze its relationship with calcaneal BMD. The sex-and age-specific z-scores of fat distribution indicators and BMD were calculated. Results: A total of 15 030 participants aged (11.4±3.3) years (50.2% boys) were involved in the analysis. In both genders, after adjusting for age, height, lean mass index, smoking, drinking, physical activity, milk intake, vitamin D and calcium supplementation, FMP, TrTFR, TrLFR and VTFR were negatively correlated with calcaneal BMD (all P value<0.05), while LTFR was positively associated with calcaneal BMD (all P values<0.05). Compared to the central fat distribution type 1, the regression coefficients (95% CI) of type 2, 3 and 4 were -0.253 (-0.418, -0.087), -0.385 (-0.567, -0.204) and -0.428 (-0.487, -0.369) in boys, respectively; the regression coefficients (95% CI) of type 3 and 4 were -0.158 (-0.301, -0.015) and -0.226 (-0.290, -0.163), respectively. Conclusion Body fat distribution and central fat distribution in children and adolescents were correlated with calcaneus bone mineral density.