OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of needle cauterization on vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis. METHODS: A total of 62 patients of vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 31 cases each group.On the basis of 308 nm excimer light irradiation combined with ironing with Chinese medicine, the control group was treated with tacrolimus ointment for external use, twice a day; the observation group was treated with needle cauterization at vitiligo spots, once a week.Both groups were treated for 10 weeks. Before and after treatment, the area of vitiligo spot, TCM syndrome score, serum levels of inflammatory indexes (interleukin[IL]-6 and IL-17) were observed in the two groups, and the clinical effect was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the areas of vitiligo spot, TCM syndrome scores and serum levels of IL-6, IL-17 were decreased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the above indexes in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 93.5% (29/31), which was higher than 77.4% (24/31) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Needle cauterization could reduce the areas of vitiligo spot in patients of vitiligo with deficiency cold and blood stasis, improve the clinical symptoms, its mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum levels of inflammatory indexes.
Humans ; Vitiligo/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Interleukin-17/blood* ; Cautery ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Needles ; Cold Temperature ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveTo reveal the pharmacodynamic substances for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma by structure-activity omics. MethodOn the basis of the previous study about the screening of active components in vitro， this study explored the effects of flavonoids in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in vivo. The flavonoids in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and their direct targets for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）， PharmMapper， Swiss TargetPrediction， DisGeNET， and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM）. STRING and Cytoscape 3.7.2 were employed to establish the protein-protein interaction （PPI） network of key targets. Molecular docking was performed to simulate the binding of five targets with high degrees to flavonoids in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， on the basis of which the key core targets were selected. The targets were used as a bridge to correlate the structures and effects of one or more classes of chemical components in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. According to the binding affinity between flavonoids with different structures in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and targets， the relationships between compound structures and core targets were discussed. ResultThe flavonoids in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma reduced the content of prostaglandin E₂ （PGE₂） in the rat model of pain induced by formalin， demonstrating definite anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Sixty active compounds （flavonoids） with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were obtained. With the total score as the standard， prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 （PTGS2） and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 （MAPK3） were selected as the key core targets of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Except that flavones showed selectivity of binding to MAPK3， the other flavonoids of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma showed strong binding to PTGS2 and MAPK3， and the structures containing glycoside fragments showed stronger binding affinity to the targets. The introduction of chain olefins in the ring of chalcones facilitated the binding to the targets. The isopentenyl fragment in flavonols may cause the difference in binding affinity. The parallel combination of a ring into pyran ring in flavanes was not conducive to the binding to the target. The electric charge， liposolubility， and steric hindrance of the substituent group on the B ring of isoflavones directly affected the binding affinity. ConclusionThis study adopts structure-activity omics to analyze the material basis for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Structure-activity omics provides new ideas and methods for predicting the pharmacodynamic substances of traditional Chinese medicine.

The contents, application progress, application effect and optimization strategy of group pregnancy health care model were reviewed, in order to provide reference for the establishment of standardized intervention and health management practice strategies of rural women′s pregnancy care in line with China′s national conditions.

Objective To analyze the change in levels of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), interleukin-32 (IL-32), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in peripheral blood of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and their values in predicting prognosis. Methods A total of 86 patients with LN from October 2021 to June 2023 were selected and treated with induction therapy for 6 months. Based on remission status of the disease, patients were divided into remission group (n=66) and non-responder group (n=20). Baseline data, change in levels and reduction rates of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1, and the partial correlation of reduction rates of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels in peripheral blood with treatment response as well as their predictive values for treatment response were compared between the two groups. Disease progression was compared between patients with different reduction rates of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1. Results HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels in the remission group decreased significantly at 1 and 3 months after treatment compared to before treatment (P < 0.05); the levels of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 in the remission group were significantly lower than those in the non-responder group at 1 and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05); the reduction rates of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels in the remission group were significantly higher than those in the non-responder group at 1 and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05). Partial correlation analysis showed that the reduction rates of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels were independently significantly correlated with treatment response (P < 0.05). One and three months after treatment, the values of the area under the curve (AUC) for the combined prediction of remission by the reduction rates of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels were 0.910 and 0.932 respectively, with the AUC being the largest at 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05). Patients were divided into high and low reduction rate subgroups based on theoptimal cut-off value from the ROC curve analysis at 3 months after treatment, and the disease progression rate was significantly lower in the high reduction rate subgroup than in the low reduction rate subgroup for HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 (P < 0.05). Conclusion The great change in levels of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 in peripheral blood of LN patients is significantly correlated with treatment response and disease progression, and the combined detections of HMGB1, IL-32 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels at 1 and 3 months after treatment have high value in predicting the treatment response of LN patients.

Objective To explore the difference in gut microbiota composition between patients with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)and healthy individuals and the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of OSA.Methods Thirty-nine patients with OSA admitted to our hospital between May and December,2022 and 20 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study.Stool samples were collected from all the participants for analysis of microbiome composition using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing analysis.The alpha diversity,beta diversity,and species difference were determined between the two groups and marker species analysis and metabolic pathway function prediction analysis were performed.Results The species diversity(Shannon and Simpson)indexes,richness(observed species)and evenness(Pielou)of gut microbiota were significantly lower in OSA patients than in the healthy individuals(P<0.05).The OSA patients had also a significantly lowered community diversity(P<0.05)with different gut microbial communities from those of the healthy individuals shown by increased relative abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Monocytogenes(P<0.05).LEfSe analysis showed that the abundance of 23 species of gut microbiota differed significantly between the two groups and the OSA patients had significant increases in the abundance of Pseudomonas,Meganomonas,and Fusobacterium(P<0.05).The differential marker flora affected host homeostasis.Random Forest and ROC curve analyses confirmed that Pseudomonas could be used as important biomarkers for a differential diagnosis.Metabolic pathway function prediction analysis showed that biosynthesis function had the greatest contribution to maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis,and Pseudomonas affected the occurrence and progression of OSA by participating in aromatic bioamine degradation and ketogluconic acid metabolic pathway.Conclusion OSA patients have obvious gut microbiota disturbances,and Pseudomonas may affect the development of OSA by participating in substance metabolism to serve as the potential target gut bacteria for OSA treatment.

Objective:To construct a new thrombus risk assessment model and evaluate its predictive ability for venous thromboembolism(VTE)in the patients with malignant tumors,and to provide the basis for the early predition of the malignant tumor patients with high risk for VTE.Methods:A total of 128 untreated malignant tumor patients were included,of which 40 were diagnosed with VTE within 2 months of malignant tumor diagnosis and categorized as VTE group.A total of 88 patients who did not develop VTE were categorized as non-VTE group.The clinical risk factors and laboratory indicators of the patients in two groups were compared and analyzed;the types of thrombotic events of the patients were analyzed;the diagnostic values of thrombin-antithrombin-complex(TAT),α2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex(PIC),D-dimer(D-dimer),and fibrin degradation products(FDP)in malignant tumors complicated by VTE were assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis;Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlations of the clinical risk factors and biomarkers with the malignant tumors complicated with VTE.A new thrombus risk assessment model was constructed,consisting of TAT≥0.70 μg·L-1,poor differentiation,and cardiovascular risk factors.The predictive probability of the model for malignant tumors complicated by VTE was evaluated based on the significance,goodness of fit,calibration curve,and C value of the model.The clinical application value of the new thrombus risk assessment model,COMPASS-CAT risk score(CRS),and Khorana risk score(KRS)in assessing malignant tumor patients complicated by VTE was compared using the C value and decision curve analysis(DCA).Results:The plasma levels of TAT(P＜0.001),PIC(P＜0.001),D-dimer(P＜0.05),and FDP(P＜0.01)of the patients in VTE group were higher than those in non-VTE group.Compared with the patients without cardiovascular risk factors,poor differentiation,and lymphatic metastasis,the malignant tumor patients with cardiovascular risk factors(P＜0.001),poor differentiation(P＜0.001),and lymphatic metastasis(P＜0.05)were more likely to develop VTE.Most VTE events(65％)were isolated deep vein thromboembolism(DVT).The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity of TAT and PIC were higher than those of D-dimer and FDP.TAT≥0.70 μg·L-1(P＜0.05),poor differentiation(P＜0.01),and cardiovascular risk factors(P＜0.01)were the independent risk factors for VTE in the malignant tumor patients.A new thrombus risk assessment model consisting of TAT≥0.70 μg·L-1,poor differentiation,and cardiovascular risk factors was constructed.The new risk assessment model had a high goodness of fit(P=0.805)and good predictive ability during internal validation(x2=75.266,P＜0.001).The ROC curve analysis results showed that the C values for the new thrombus risk prediction model,CRS,and KRS were 0.908,0.676,and 0.541,respectively.The DCA curve analysis results showed that the new thrombus risk assessment model had a higher net benefit rate compared with CRS and KRS.Conclusion:TAT and PIC have greater diagnostic efficiency than D-dimer in the early prediction of the malignant tumor patients with high-risk VTE.For the patients included in this study,the new thrombus risk assessment model,constructed from TAT≥0.70 μg·L-1,poor differentiation,and cardiovascular risk factors,has superior diagnostic efficiency and clinical predictive value compared with CRS and KRS.

Objective To explore the difference in gut microbiota composition between patients with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)and healthy individuals and the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of OSA.Methods Thirty-nine patients with OSA admitted to our hospital between May and December,2022 and 20 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study.Stool samples were collected from all the participants for analysis of microbiome composition using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing analysis.The alpha diversity,beta diversity,and species difference were determined between the two groups and marker species analysis and metabolic pathway function prediction analysis were performed.Results The species diversity(Shannon and Simpson)indexes,richness(observed species)and evenness(Pielou)of gut microbiota were significantly lower in OSA patients than in the healthy individuals(P<0.05).The OSA patients had also a significantly lowered community diversity(P<0.05)with different gut microbial communities from those of the healthy individuals shown by increased relative abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Monocytogenes(P<0.05).LEfSe analysis showed that the abundance of 23 species of gut microbiota differed significantly between the two groups and the OSA patients had significant increases in the abundance of Pseudomonas,Meganomonas,and Fusobacterium(P<0.05).The differential marker flora affected host homeostasis.Random Forest and ROC curve analyses confirmed that Pseudomonas could be used as important biomarkers for a differential diagnosis.Metabolic pathway function prediction analysis showed that biosynthesis function had the greatest contribution to maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis,and Pseudomonas affected the occurrence and progression of OSA by participating in aromatic bioamine degradation and ketogluconic acid metabolic pathway.Conclusion OSA patients have obvious gut microbiota disturbances,and Pseudomonas may affect the development of OSA by participating in substance metabolism to serve as the potential target gut bacteria for OSA treatment.

Humans ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; HIV-1/genetics* ; Tenofovir/therapeutic use* ; Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use* ; RNA ; Drug Combinations

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of measuring the soft tissue height of bone cristae around implant by digital method. METHODS: A total of 36 patients with dental implants were selected from the Dental Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital) from August 2022 to December 2022. A total of 43 dental implants were enrolled. All postoperative cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging data and intraoral digital impressions obtained before surgery were immediately obtained by the patients on the day of completion of oral implant surgery and they were imported into oral implant surgery planning software for image fitting. Then, virtual implants of the same specification were placed in the planting area, and the implant position was adjusted to overlap with the implant shadow in the CBCT image. Supracrestal tissue height (STH) was measured at the implant view interface (digital group). During the operation, implant holes were prepared step by step in accordance with the standard preparation method, and implants were implanted. The upper edge of the implant was flushed with the crest of the alveolar ridge. STH was measured by perio-dontal probing (periodontal probe group). Paired t-test was used to compare the STH differences between the digital and periodontal probe groups. Bland-Altman test was used to analyze the consistency of the two methods. Intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to verify the reliability of the results measured by different surveyors using di-gital methods. RESULTS: No statistical significance was observed in the STH difference between the two methods (P>0.05). Bland-Altman test showed good consistency between the two methods, but the measurement of mandibular posterior teeth showed that the results of periodontal probe were greater than those of digital method. The ICC and 95%CI of the STH results measured digitally by different surveyors are 0.992 (0.986-0.996). CONCLUSIONS The digital me-thod is in good agreement with the periodontal probe method in measuring the soft tissue height of the bone cristae around the implant.
Humans ; Alveolar Process/diagnostic imaging* ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography/methods* ; Dental Implants ; Feasibility Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tooth/diagnostic imaging*

A new class of potent liver injury protective compounds, phychetins A-D ( 1- 4) featuring an unique 6/6/5/6/5 pentacyclic framework, were isolated and structurally characterized from a Chinese medicinal plant Phyllanthus franchetianus. Compounds 2- 4 are three pairs of enantiomers that were initially obtained in a racemic manner, and were further separated by chiral HPLC preparation. Compounds 1- 4 were proposed to be originated biosynthetically from a coexisting lignan via an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction as the key step. A bioinspired total synthesis strategy was thus designated, and allowed the effective syntheses of compounds 2- 4 in high yields. Some of compounds exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activities in vitro via suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Notably, compound 4, the most active enantiomeric pair in vitro, displayed prominent potent protecting activity against liver injury at a low dose of 3 mg/kg in mice, which could serve as a promising lead for the development of acute liver injury therapeutic agent.