OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the correlation among serum hepcidin, ferritin, and q-Dioxn MRI with upgrading, upstaging and biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. METHODS: A total of 103 PCa patients diagnosed by biopsy were selected for this study. All patients underwent q-Dixon MRI prior to biopsy for T2* value measurement. Then serum hepcidin and ferritin were measured before receiving radical prostatectomy. Pathological grading and staging were conducted both preoperatively and postoperatively. The correlations among hepcidin, ferritin, T2* values, and postoperative upgrading, upstaging, biochemical recurrence were subsequently analyzed. RESULTS: The hepcidin level of PCa patients was measured at (123.51 ± 23.03) ng/mL, while the ferritin level was recorded at (239.80 ± 79.59) ng/mL, and the T2* value was (41.07 ± 6.37) ms. A total of 49 and 36 cases were observed with upgrading and upstaging in postoperative pathology, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 28.0 months (6.0－38.0 months), during which biochemical recurrence was observed in 12 cases. For upgrading, hepcidin and ferritin demonstrated the predictive efficacy, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.777 and 0.642, respectively, whereas T2* values did not show sufficient predictive power. For upstaging, hepcidin, ferritin, and T2* exhibited predictive efficacy, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.806, 0.696, and 0.655, respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that hepcidin served as an independent risk factor for both upgrading (OR 1.055, 95%CI 1.027－1.085, P<0.001) and upstaging (OR 1.094, 95%CI 1.040－1.152, P<0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that hepcidin (95%CI 1.000－1.052, P = 0.049) was a significant risk factor for predicting biochemical recurrence. CONCLUSION Hepcidin could serve as a predictor for pathological upgrading, upstaging and biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy, which provides a novel potential index for risk stratification and prognostic evaluation of PCa patients.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Hepcidins/blood* ; Ferritins/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVE: To assess the independent and combined effects of air pollutants, meteorological factors, and greenspace exposure on new tuberculosis (TB) cases. METHODS: TB case data from Shanghai (2013-2018) were obtained from the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental data on air pollutants, meteorological variables, and greenspace exposure were obtained from the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. We employed a distributed-lag nonlinear model to assess the effects of these environmental factors on TB cases. RESULTS: Increased TB risk was linked to PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, and rainfall, whereas NO ₂, SO ₂, and air pressure were associated with a reduced risk. Specifically, the strongest cumulative effects occurred at various lags: PM _2.5 ( RR = 1.166, 95% CI: 1.026-1.325) at 0-19 weeks; PM ₁₀ ( RR = 1.167, 95% CI: 1.028-1.324) at 0-18 weeks; NO ₂ ( RR = 0.968, 95% CI: 0.938-0.999) at 0-1 weeks; SO ₂ ( RR = 0.945, 95% CI: 0.894-0.999) at 0-2 weeks; air pressure ( RR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.447-0.816) at 0-8 weeks; and rainfall ( RR = 1.404, 95% CI: 1.076-1.833) at 0-22 weeks. Green space exposure did not significantly impact TB cases. Additionally, low temperatures amplified the effect of PM _2.5 on TB. CONCLUSION Exposure to PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, and rainfall increased the risk of TB, highlighting the need to address air pollutants for the prevention of TB in Shanghai.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Meteorological Concepts ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Air Pollution ; Middle Aged

Objective To study the bioequivalence of test and reference olmesartan tablet in Chinese healthy subjects after single dose under fasting and fed conditions.Methods A single-center,random,open,single-dose,two-preparations,double-period,crossover study was adopted.A total of 48 healthy adult male and female subjects(24 cases of fasting test and 24 cases of fed test)were included in the random crossover administration.Single oral dose 20 mg of test and reference were taken under fasting and postprandial conditions,respectively.Plasma concentration of olmesartan in plasma were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.The main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Phoenix WinNonlin 8.0 software.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of the test and reference preparations of olmesartan tablets in the fasting group were as follows:Cmax were(653.06±133.53)and(617.37±151.16)ng·mL-1,AUC0-t were(4 201.18±1 035.21)and(4 087.38±889.99)ng·mL-1·h,AUC0-∞ were(4 254.30±1 058.90)and(4 135.69±905.29)ng·mL-1·h.The main pharmacokinetic parameters of the test and reference preparations of olmesartan tablets in the postprandial group were as follows:Cmax were(574.78±177.05)and(579.98±107.74)ng·mL-1,AUC0-t were(3 288.37±866.06)and(3 181.51±801.06)ng·mL-1·h,AUC0-∞ were(3 326.11±874.26)and(3 242.01±823.09)ng·mL-1·h.Under fasting and postprandial conditions,the 90％confidence intervals of the main pharmacokinetic parameters of the test and reference preparations are both 80.00％-125.00％.Conclusion Under fasting and postprandial conditions,a single oral dose of test and reference preparations olmesartan tablets in Chinese healthy adult volunteers showed bioequivalence.

Objective:To investigate the effect of safflower yellow pigment injection combined with alprostadil on patients after coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).Methods:A total of 92 patients with coronary heart disease who received CABG in Department of Cardiovascular Surgery,Handan Central Hospital between September 2018 and September 2020 were selected.According to order of admission,they were divided into control group(n=46,from September 2018 to Sep-tember 2019,routine therapy+alprostadil after CABG)and study group(n=46,from October 2019 to September 2020,safflower yellow pigment injection based on control group),both groups were treated for 28d.On 3d after drug withdraw-al,therapeutic effect,cardiac function indexes,four myocardial enzyme spectrum and perioperative indexes were compared between two groups.Results:On 3d after drug withdrawal,compared with control group,patients in study group had sig-nificant higher total effective rate(73.9％vs.91.3％),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)[(55.77±4.48)％vs.(62.18±4.21)％](P=0.028,＜0.001),and significant lower left atrial diameter(LAD)[(36.83±3.45)mm vs.(32.09±3.23)mm],left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDd)[(49.04±4.65)mm vs.(43.83±5.24)mm],levels of creatine kinase(CK)[(125.13±14.21)U/L vs.(62.56±8.42)U/L],lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)[(203.58±31.63)U/L vs.(156.07±22.26)U/L],aspartate aminotransferase(AST)[(44.25±12.98)U/L vs.(35.41±12.37)U/L]and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB(CK-MB)[(28.11±9.84)U/L vs.(17.59±7.41)U/L](P＜0.001 all).Conclusion:The combination of safflower yellow pigment injection and alprostadil can improve the thera-peutic effect and heart function,and reduce myocardial injury in patients after CABG.

Abstract: Objective To explore the threshold of ALT for initiating antiviral therapy in HBV infected patients, and to provide a basis for initiating antiviral therapy in chronic HBV-infected patients. Methods This retrospective cohort study recruited 707 consecutive treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing diagnostic liver biopsy in the department of infectious diseases of the Affiliated Hospital of Yan′an University from October 2013 to August 2018. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained under ultrasound guidance using Menghini 16G disposable needles. The METAVIR scoring system, which is commonly used internationally, was used to divide the patients into the group with mild liver tissue injury and the group with significant liver tissue injury, and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured separately. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Mann-Whitney U test were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of ALT for significant liver tissue injury under different demographic characteristics. Results Of 707 patients, 292 (41.30%) had significant liver tissue injury confirmed by liver biopsy (METAVIR ≥A2 and/or F2). When the ULN of ALT was set to NICE criteria (30 U/L for males, 19 U/L for females), AASLD criteria (35 U/L for males, 25 U/L for females) and EASL or APASL criteria (40 U/L for males and females), CHB patients with 30 years olds, 22 U/L for HBeAg negative and 31 U/L for HBeAg positive patients. Conclusions The threshold of ALT for initiating antiviral therapy in chronic HBV patients should be individualized, especially should be down-regulated for the females, olders and HBeAg-negative patients.

BACKGROUND: Compared to adult studies, studies which involve the treatment of pediatric congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) are limited and no universal treatment regimen is available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)/human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) therapy for treating male adolescents with CHH. METHODS: Male adolescent CHH patients were treated with hCG/hMG (n = 20) or a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pump (n = 21). The treatment was divided into a study phase (0-3 months) and a follow-up phase (3-12 months). The testicular volume (TV), penile length (PL), penis diameter (PD), and sex hormone levels were compared between the two groups. The TV and other indicators between the groups were analyzed using a t-test (equal variance) or a rank sum test (unequal variance). RESULTS: Before treatment, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of the biochemistry, hormones, and other demographic indicators. After 3 months of treatment, the TV of the hCG/hMG and GnRH groups increased to 5.1 ± 2.3 mL and 4.1 ± 1.8 mL, respectively; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05, t = 1.394). The PL reached 6.9 ± 1.8 cm and 5.1 ± 1.6 cm (P < 0.05, t = 3.083), the PD reached 2.4 ± 0.5 cm and 2.0 ± 0.6 cm (P < 0.05, t = 2.224), respectively, in the two groups. At the end of 6 months of treatment, biomarkers were in normal range in the two groups. Compared with the GnRH group, the testosterone (T) level and growth of PL and PD were significantly greater in the hCG/hMG group (all P < 0.05). While the TV of both groups increased, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05, t = 0.314). After 9 to 12 months of treatment, the T level was higher in the hCG/hMG group. Other parameters did not exhibit a statistical difference. CONCLUSIONS: The hCG/hMG regimen is feasible and effective for treating male adolescents with CHH. The initial 3 months of treatment may be a window to optimally observe the strongest effects of therapy. Furthermore, results from the extended time-period showed positive outcomes at the 1-year mark; however, the long-term effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses of the hCG/hMG regimen require further research. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02880280; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02880280.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Chorionic Gonadotropin/therapeutic use* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Hypogonadism/drug therapy* ; Male ; Menotropins/therapeutic use* ; Spermatogenesis ; Testosterone

Objective:To investigate the possible mechanism of Xieheyin in alleviating obese polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance（PCOS-IR）and reducing inflammatory response. Method:Ten of sixty SPF femlae C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected as the normal group，and the rest mice were given letrozole 0.002 g·kg^-1 combined with fecal suspension 2 g·kg^-1 for 28 consecutive days to establish model of PCOS-IR.The mice that were successfully modeled were randomized into the model group，metformin group（0.25 g·kg^-1），and low（10 g·kg^-1），medium（20 g·kg^-1），and high-dose（40 g·kg^-1）Xieheyin groups，and administered with the corresponding drugs by gavage，once a day，for four consecutive weeks. Except the normal control group， the mice in the other groups were continuously given fecal suspension combined with letrozole solution to maintain the model during the treatment. The mice were weighed once a week.Levels of fasting blood glucose （FBG） were detected by blood glucose test strips.And enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） method was used to detect serum testosterone（T），follicle stimulating hormone（FSH），luteinizing hormone（LH），fasting insulin（FINS）level，and LH/FSH and Homeostasis model assesment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） were calculated．The uterus and ovaries were weighed and fixed.Hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining was used to observe ovarian tissue pathology morphology. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of tight junction key molecular zonula occludens 1（ZO-1），occludin in colon tissues，and the expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa B/Nod-like receptor protein 3（TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3）signaling pathway and inflammation associated proteins cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1（Caspase-1） and interleukin-1β（IL-1β） in colon tissues. Result:Compared with normal control group，the body weight of mice in the model control group increased significantly（P<0.01）. Serum FINS，FBG，HOMA-IR，T，LH/FSH were significantly increased（P<0.05，P<0.01）. The uterine organ ratio were decreased significantly（P<0.01），while the ovarian organ ratio were significantly increased（P<0.01）. The number of atresia follicles and cystic dilatation follicles increased significantly，and the number of corpus luteum significantly decreased，the thickness of follicular granulosa cells also decreased，while the white membrane thickness of the ovary increased. Tight junction related ZO-1，occludin proteins in colon tissues were all decreased（P<0.01）.The relative expression levels of inflammation-related protein IL-1β，Caspase-1 and TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 target protein signaling pathway were significantly increased（P<0.05）.Compared with model control group， the body weight of mice in the low，middle and high dose Xieheyin group decreased significantly（P<0.01）. The serum T，LH/FSH，FINS，FBG，HOMA-IR were significantly decreased（P<0.05，P<0.01）. The uterine organ ratio were increased（P<0.05），while the ovarian organ ratio were decreased（P<0.05）. The number of cystic follicles decreased and corpus luteum increased，the thickness of follicular granulosa cells increased and be arranged normally，while the white membrane thickness of the ovary increased slightly. The expressions of ZO-1，occludin proteins were increased（P<0.01）. The expression levels of IL-1β，Caspase-1 and TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 target protein in the high dose group were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. Conclusion:Xieheyin could activate intestinal TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway，inhibit pro-inflammatory factor secretion，improve obesity and IR，which was correlated with rebuilding intestinal mucosal barrier and inhibiting intestinal inflammation．

In this paper, the micro-video teaching mode was explored in the course construction of . The micro-video teaching contents include the academic thought, experience in diagnosis and treatment, characteristic technology and clinical manipulation of famous acupuncture experts in the Henan University of CM. Each micro-video film is designed within 15-18 min, including three sections of knowledge, i.e. basic theory, technological application and clinical manipulation. Each section is designed within 5-6 min. The construction of the teaching course of is the innovation of practice mode of TCM and the new approach to the inheritance of the experience of experts. The construction of micro-video teaching course propels the reform of teaching mode, improves the learning initiative of students and clinical manipulative ability so as to improve the teaching effect and quality.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Learning ; Moxibustion ; Students ; Teaching

Objective: To optimize the extraction conditions of baicalin from Scutellariae Radix by electromagnetic pyrolysis. Method: Based on single factor experiments, taking extraction time, material size and liquid-material ratio as factors, yield of baicalin as index, extraction parameters were optimized by response surface methodology, and compared with ultrasonic method, ethanol refluxing method and decoction method. Result: The optimal extraction conditions were as follows:extraction time of 2.41 min, material size of 100 mesh, liquid-material ratio of 33 mL·g^-1. Under these conditions, the yield of baicalin was 12.21%. The yields of baicalin by ethanol refluxing method, decoction method and ultrasonic method were 12.91%, 12.62% and 11.61%, respectively. The yield of baicalin by electromagnetic cracking extraction was close to several other conventional extraction methods, and the extraction time was significantly shortened. Conclusion: As a novel extraction technology of traditional Chinese medicine, electromagnetic cracking extraction has the advantages of high efficiency, energy and time saving, green environmental protection, etc. And it can provide a new method for the industrial extraction of baicalin.

Objective To compare the approaches used for the assessment of disability adjust life years (DALYs) for advanced schistosomiasis japonica, so as to provide scientific evidence for accurate assessment of the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica. Methods The patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica receiving treatment and assistance programs in Hunan Province in 2017 were enrolled, and the years lived with disability (YLD) for the patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica was calculated using the common global burden of disease (GBD) estimation method, the modified GBD method with addition of common syndromes of advanced schistosomiasis japonica, and the quality of life assessment method. Results The YLDs of patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica, the mean YLDs per capita, and the percentages of YLD were 673.94, 728.77 person-years and 1 761.99 person-years; 0.181, 0.196 person-years and 0.474 person-years; and 10.61, 11.48 person-years per 100 thousand persons and 27.75 person-years per 100 thousand persons with the common GBD method, modified GBD method and the quality of life method, respectively. The YLDs of the patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica in Hunan Province estimated with the modified GBD method and the quality of life method were 8.14% and 2.61 times higher than that with the common GBD method. Of the major symptoms included in the calculation, the 5 symptoms with the greatest contribution to the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica included ascites, moderate anemia, severe anemia, diarrhea and hematochezia. Conclusion The quality of life method may more comprehensively assess the YLDs in patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica than the common and modified GBD methods.