OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism by which Guijianyu ameliorates podocyte injury in a mouse model of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) induced by advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). METHODS: Sixty db/db mouse models of DKD were randomized equally into 5 groups for treatment with saline, Guijianyu extract at 3 doses or irbesartan for 12 weeks, and the changes in renal pathology and structure were observed using transmission electron microscopy, and the expressions of related genes and key proteins were detected using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. In cultured MPC-5 cells incubated with 50 mg/L AGEs-BSA for 24 h, the effect of different concentrations of Guijianyu extract on cell viability was examined with CCK-8 assay; Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, TNF-α, NF-κB(p65), IL-6 and caspase-3, and the mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), VEGFA and IL-6 were detected with RT-qPCR. RESULTS: In mouse models of DKD, treatment with high-dose Guijianyu extract significantly reduced renal expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, NF-κB(p65), and IL-6 proteins and the mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB, and IL-6. In MPC-5 cells, exposure to AGEs significantly reduced cell viability and increased the protein expressions of RAGE, NF‑κB (p65), VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6 and caspase-3 (P<0.05) and mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), VEGFA, and IL-6. Treatment with Guijianyu extract obviously improved cell viability and reduced the expressions of RAGE, NF-κB(p65), VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3. Furthermore, Guijianyu extract effectively reversed RAGE agonist-induced elevation of protein expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3 and mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), IL-6, and VEGFA in MPC-5 cells. CONCLUSIONS Guijianyu extract ameliorates AGEs-induced mouse renal podocyte injury in DKD by inhibiting the activation of AGEs-RAGE signaling pathway and reducing the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factors.
Animals ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Podocytes/pathology* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/drug therapy* ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Male

Objective: To establish and validate a whole blood (WB) supply model, thereby providing practical experience for the clinical application of WB in domestic trauma emergency care and informing the development of a wartime blood supply system for the military. Methods: A “10×24” WB supply model was established by formulating blood collection protocols, storage standards, and transfusion criteria. Multiple WB samples were tested under specific storage conditions to assess key indicators at different time points, including red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), and platelet counts, hemoglobin concentration, coagulation parameters (PT, APTT, TT, FIB), coagulation factor activity, thromboelastography (TEG) parameters, and electrolyte levels. Additionally, clinical data from hemorrhagic patients who met the criteria for WB transfusion and were admitted between March and July 2024 were analyzed to evaluate WB transfusion volume. Results: RBC counts and hemoglobin levels remained stable in WB stored at 4℃ for up to 10 days. However, platelet counts and coagulation function (PT, APTT) significantly declined with prolonged storage, while potassium levels increased. From March to July 2024, the model was successfully applied to 23 patients with acute hemorrhage, with a median WB transfusion volume of 543 mL. A detailed case study of a severe traumatic hemorrhagic shock patient was reported, who was successfully treated with 5.5 units of refrigerated WB combined with component blood. Conclusion: The “10×24” WB supply model demonstrated acceptable changes in critical quality parameters under strict management and a 10-day rotation cycle. This model effectively supports the treatment of acute hemorrhage and holds promise for integration into the future wartime blood supply system of the military.

Objective To investigate the relationship between gene mutation characteristics and immunological markers in patients with small cell lung cancer.Methods From January 2019 to 2020,155 patients with small cell lung cancer were admitted.Gene mutations were detected in these patients using target gene capture and sequencing method.Moreover,the tumor mutational burden(TMB)and expression of PD-L1 in some patients were detected.Results A total of 326 gene mutations were detected in the patients,the most significant of which were TP53 and RB1.Among the 8 genes with mutation frequency higher than 15％,patients with KMT2D,KMT2C,FAT1 and NOTCH1 mutations had higher TMB than those without mutation,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The most common mutated genes in patients with small cell lung cancer are TP53 and RB1.KMT2D,KMT2C,FAT1 and NOTCH1 may be potential markers for the efficacy of immunotherapy in small cell lung cancer.

Huntington's disease(HD)is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease,with the main symptoms including chorea-like involuntary movements,psychiatric behavioral abnormalities,and cognitive impairment,which severely affect the lives of patients and consume extensive social and medical resources.Various experimental animal models of HD have been successfully established,to further our understanding of the pathological mechanisms and to explore treatment method of HD.This review outlines the establishment and application of various animal models,ranging from Caenorhabditis elegans,Drosophila melanogaster and zebrafish to mice,rats and miniature pigs,and analyzes the characteristics and advantages of the different models.By reviewing the different animal models and their relevant evaluation indicators,this article emphasizes the importance of utilizing a combination of multiple animal models to promote a deeper understanding of the disease mechanisms and develop effective treatment strategies.

Objective    To explore the short-term efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Methods    The clinical data of 11 male patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent pembrolizumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from December 2019 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age of the patients was 52.0-79.0 (62.0±6.9) years. The imaging data and pathological changes before and after neoadjuvant treatment were compared, and adverse reactions during neoadjuvant treatment were recorded. Objective remission rate (ORR) and main pathological remission rate (MPR) and pathological complete remission rate (pCR) were the main observation endpoints. Results    After preoperative neoadjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab combined with platinum or paclitaxel, all patients successfully underwent thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer. The ORR was 72.7%, and the MPR was 81.8%. Among them, 45.5% of patients achieved pCR. The main adverse reactions were hypoalbuminemia, decreased appetite and nausea. The mortality rate within 30 days after surgery was 0, and no tumor metastasis was observed. Conclusion    Pembrolizumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy is safe and feasible to treat non-small cell lung cancer, and the short-term efficacy is beneficial.

Objective     To investigate the safety and feasibility of day surgery for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis based on the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Methods     We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from March 2020 to December 2021. Patients were divided into a day surgery group and a conventional group according to their perioperative management methods. The patients in the day surgery group underwent an optimized perioperative procedure under the guidance of ERAS, and were ventilated with a laryngeal or face mask during the operation. The patients in the conventional group completed the preoperative examination, operation and postoperative observation according to the conventional procedures, and were intubated with a single-lumen endotracheal tube. The demographic characteristics, operation time, hospital stay, postoperative complications, and hospitalization cost were compared between the two groups. Results     Finally 172 patients were collected, including 90 males and 82 females, with an average age of 25.97±7.43 years. There were 86 patients in each group. All patients ceased suffering from palmar sweating after surgery. No patient experienced massive bleeding or conversion to thoracotomy. There was no statistical difference in operation time between the two groups (P=0.534). Patients in the day surgery group were discharged within 24 hours. The average hospital stay in the conventional group was 2.09±0.41 days. Incidence of postoperative respiratory complications, and the hospitalization cost of the day surgery group were significantly lower than those of the conventional group (P<0.001). The satisfaction rate in both groups was greater than 95%. Conclusion     Day surgery for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis based on the principles of ERAS is safe and feasible, which can reduce postoperative complications, shorten the length of hospital stay and save the cost of hospitalization.

Surgery is a classic traditional method for the treatment of early-stage esophageal cancer, and it is also recognized as an effective first-choice method in the medical community. With the development of endoscopic technology, esophagus-preserving comprehensive treatment of esophageal cancer has almost the same or even better effects in some aspects in the treatment of early esophageal cancer than surgery. Many clinical guidelines have also recommended it as the first-choice treatment for early esophageal cancer. The room for surgical treatment of esophageal cancer has been further compressed. This article discusses the comprehensive treatment model of esophageal cancer from the perspective of thoracic surgery, aiming to find a new position of thoracic surgery in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Magnetic anchoring and traction technique is one of the core technologies of magnetic surgery. With the "non-contact" traction force of the outer magnet on the inner magnet, we can drive the inner magnet and the gripper to multiple directions, and pull tissue or organ to required position in operations, so as to get a clearer surgical field of view. On the basis of the previous animal experiments, we applied magnetic anchoring and traction device in 3 human (males aged 63-71 years) thoracoscopic esophagectomies. Using the magnetic anchoring device, we could pull the esophagus dorsally or ventrally to assist in exposing the anatomical plane without special equipment or pleural puncture for retraction of the esophagus. The interference between operating instruments reduced. The mean blood loss in operation was 83 mL, the mean total operation time was 253 min and the mean length of hospital stay was 10 d. Postoperative follow-up showed that all 3 patients had good short-term prognosis. There was no swellling or pain in magnetic anchoring zone of chest wall.

Objective    To verify the feasibility of a self-designed magnetic anchoring and traction device (MATD) for assisting two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Methods    Three Beagle dogs were selected as animal models with age ranging from 1-6 years and weight ranging from 8-12 kg, and they underwent two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy after general anesthesia. We used the MATD to retract the esophagus to different directions, which assisted mobilizing esophagus, detecting the nerves along esophagus and dissecting paraesophagus lymph nodes. The operation time, blood loss and feasibility of the MATD were recorded. Results    With the aid of the MATD, we successfully retracted and mobilized the esophagus, detected the nerves and dissected the lymph nodes in three Beagle dog models. During the operation, the MATD provided sufficient and steady traction of esophagus to achieve a good exposure of the operative field, effectively decreasing the interference between working instruments. The MATD worked well. The mean operation time was 30 min, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was about 10 mL. Conclusion    It is effective to use the MATD to assist retracting esophagus during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy. The magnetic anchoring and traction technique can assist to expose the surgical field, decrease the interference between the working instruments and have the potential clinical application.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer has the highest mortality in China. Different treatments are of great significance to the prognosis of patients. By comparing stage Ia non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients' survival rates for ablation and for sub-lobectomy, we studied the difference in the effects of the two treatments on patient prognosis. METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we screened eligible patients with stage Ia NSCLC from January 2004 to December 2015. Then, 228 patients treated with ablation and 228 patients treated with sub-lobotomy were then selected based on propensity score matching. After stratification, matching, and adjustment the Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to compare the overall survival rates of patients treated with the two procedures. RESULTS: The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that there is a significant difference between the ablation group and the sub-lobectomy group (P<0.05). In the univarlable analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) of sub-lobotomy group was 0.571 (95%CI: 0.455-0.717) compared with the ablation group. Patients treated with sub-lobectomy had a 0.571 times greater risk of adverse outcomes than those treated with ablation. In the multivariable analysis, the HR for sub-lobectomy group was 0.605 (95%CI: 0.477-0.766) compared with the ablation group. Patients treated with sub-lobectomy had a 0.605 time greater risk of adverse outcomes than those treated with ablation. The results suggested that the overall survival rate of patients with stage Ia NSCLC treated with sub-lobotomy was higher than that of patients treated with ablation. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that there is a significant difference in overall survival of stage Ia NSCLC patients treated with ablation and with sub-lobotomy. Patients treated with sub-lobotomy for stage Ia NSCLC had higher overall survival than those treated with ablation.