Objective To explore the safety and effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF). Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was designed (ClinicalTrial.gov registration number NCT03491969). From January 2019 to January 2023, 300 patients with IHF were enrolled in four medical centers in China, and were randomly assigned at a 1∶1 ratio to receive ALA (600 mg daily) or placebo on top of standard care for 24 months. The primary outcome was the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure (HF) or all-cause mortality events. The second outcome included non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), non-fatal stroke, changes of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) from baseline to 24 months after randomization. Results Finally, 138 patients of the ALA group and 139 patients of the placebo group attained the primary outcome. Hospitalization for HF or all-cause mortality events occurred in 32 patients (23.2%) of the ALA group and in 40 patients (28.8%) of the placebo group (HR＝0.753, 95%CI 0.473-1.198, P＝0.231; Figure 1A-1C). The absolute risk reduction (ARR) was 5.6%, the relative risk reduction (RRR) associated with ALA therapy was approximately 19.4% compared to placebo, corresponding to a number needed to treat (NNT) of 18 patients to prevent one event. In the secondary outcome analysis, the composite outcome of the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including the hospitalization for HF, all-cause mortality events, non-fatal MI or non-fatal stroke occurred in 35 patients (25.4%) in the ALA group and 47 patients (33.8%) in the placebo group (HR＝0.685, 95%CI 0.442-1.062, P＝0.091; Figure 1D). Moreover, greater improvement in LVEF (β＝3.20, 95%CI 1.14-5.23, P＝0.002) and 6MWD (β＝31.7, 95%CI 8.3-54.7, P＝0.008) from baseline to 24 months after randomization were observed in the ALA group as compared to the placebo group. There were no differences in adverse events between the study groups. Conclusions These results show potential long-term beneficial effects of adding ALA to IHF patients. ALA could significantly improve LVEF and 6MWD compared to the placebo group in IHF patients.

OBJECTIVES: To study the impact of SURF4 expression level on long-term prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) and biological behaviors of GC cells. METHODS: SURF4 expression level in GC and its association with long-term patient prognosis were analyzed using publicly available databases and in 155 GC patients with low and high SURF4 expressions detected immunohistochemically. The Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze independent prognostic predictors of GC and the 5-year survival rate of the patients with different SURF4 expression levels. Informatics analyses were conducted to explore the correlation of SURF4 expression level with immune cell infiltration in GC, SURF4-related differential genes and their associated pathways. In cultured GC cell line HGC-27, the effects of SURF4 knockdown and overexpression on proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were investigated. RESULTS: Analysis of GEPIA dataset and immunohistochemical results suggested significant SURF4 overexpression in GC (P<0.05), which was associated with shortened 5-year survival time of the patients (χ²=38.749, P<0.001). The prognosis of GC was closely related to tumor stage T3-4, N2-3, CEA≥5 μg/L and CA19-9≥37 kU/L (P<0.05). SURF4 expression level was negatively correlated with activated B cells, NK cells and CD8⁺ effector memory T cells (P<0.05) and positively correlated with CD4⁺ T cells (P<0.05). GO and KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that SUFR4 may participate in GC carcinogenesis by promoting EMT through the tight junction pathway. In HGC-27 cells, SURF4 overexpression significantly decreased E-cadherin expression, increased N-cadherin expression, inhibited ZO-1 and claudin-1 expressions, and promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion. CONCLUSIONS SURF4 is highly expressed in GC, and its overexpression is associated with a shortened 5-year survival of the patients possibly by enhancing tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion via inhibiting tight junction proteins and promoting EMT.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; Tight Junction Proteins/metabolism* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Female ; Male

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of SF3B3 in gastric cancer (GC) progression and prognosis and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: SF3B3 expression levels in pan-cancer and GC were analyzed using TIMER2.0, GEPIA, and UALCAN databases and validated using immunohistochemistry in GC tissues. Survival curves of GC patients were established using Kaplan-Meier Plotter and the data of a patient cohort our hospital. The independent risk factors for 5-year postoperative survival were identified using Cox regression, and their predictive values were evaluated using ROC analysis. SF3B3-associated biological processes were predicted by bioinformatics enrichment analyses. In GC HGC-27 cells, the effects of lentivirus-mediated SF3B3 knockdown and overexpression on cell proliferation and migration were investigated, and the changes in the key glycolytic proteins and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were detected. The influence of SF3B3 expression level on tumorigenesis and glycolytic protein expression in vivo were evaluated in a nude mouse xenograft model. RESULTS: High expression of SF3B3 in GC was associated with poor patient prognosis (P<0.05). The factors affecting 5-year survival outcomes following gastric oncological resection included high SF3B3 expression, a CEA level ≥5μg/L, a CA19-9 level ≥37 kU/L, tumor stage T3-4, and lymph node metastasis stage N2-3 (P<0.05). Bioinformatics analysis showed significant enrichment of SF3B3 in glycolysis. In HGC-27 cells, SF3B3 knockdown significantly inhibited while SF3B3 overexpression enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. SF3B3 knockdown obviously decreased the expressions of HK2, PKM2 and LDHA proteins and ECAR in HGC-27 cells, whereas SF3B3 overexpression produced the opposite effect. In nude mouse xenograft models, SF3B3 knockdown significantly reduced tumor mass and downregulated expression of HK2, PKM2 and LDHA proteins, and SF3B3 overexpression induced the opposite changes. CONCLUSIONS SF3B3 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis of GC patients and promotes GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion possibly by enhancing glycolysis.
Stomach Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Cell Proliferation ; Prognosis ; Animals ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; Cell Movement ; Male ; Female

Objective:To study the correlation between osteoporosis and the joint of small articular process of lumbar vertebra,and the correlation between bone mineral density(BMD)and various parameters of small joint based on quantitative computed tomography(QCT),so as to provide scientific basis for formulating clinically treatment strategies.Methods:This study included 63 patients who admitted to orthopedics of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2023 to March 2024 due to waist discomfort and lower limb pain.According to BMD standard of CT examination for lumbar vertebra,these patients were divided into normal BMD group(31 cases),osteopenia group(21 cases)and osteoporosis group(11 cases).All patients underwent CT scan on lumbar vertebra.The mode with body membrane were adopted to measure BMD,the area of left and right articular process,CT value,height after the scan was completed.Whether existed osteophytes,endplate inflammation and intervertebral disc herniation in each group were checked.Univariate Analysis of Variance(ANOVA)was employed to assess the differences among different BMD groups in age,gender,area of articular process,CT value and height.The Pathria grading system was adopted to assess the degeneration degree of intervertebral joint,and the Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the differences in degeneration scores of articular process among three groups.At the same time,the pairwise comparison between groups also was conducted.Spearman's rank correlation analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between BMD and the degeneration degree of intervertebral joint.Results:The BMD value of normal BMD group was(165.14±30.11)mg/cm3,and that of osteopenia group was(98.98±10.14)mg/cm3,and that of osteoporosis group was(58.62±18.73)mg/cm3.There was a statistically significant difference in BMD value among three groups(F=103.121,P＜0.001),and there was a statistically significant difference in BMD value between normal BMD group and osteopenia group as the result of pairwise comparison between groups(t=10.018,P＜0.001).There was statistically significant difference in BMD value between normal BMD group and osteoporosis group(t=12.989,P＜0.001),and there was statistically significant difference in BMD value between osteopenia group and osteoporosis group(t=4.641,P＜0.001).The areas of left and right upper articular process of normal BMD group were less than that of other two groups,and the differences of CT value and height of left and right upper articular process among three groups were significant(F=27.350,24.458,P＜0.05),respectively.The CT value of normal BMD group was higher than that of other two groups,and CT values of right upper articular process of osteopenia group was significantly lower than that of osteoporosis group,and the difference was statistical significance(t=2.191,P＜0.05).The heights of left and right upper articular processes of normal BMD group were lower than those of osteoporosis group,and the height of right upper articular process was lower than that of osteopenia group(t=2.331,-2.798,-2.618,P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation between osteoporosis degree and the degeneration of articular process joints(r=-0.745,P＜0.001).With the decreasing of BMD value,the degeneration of articular process joint gradually aggravated,and the ratios of osteophytes,endplate inflammation and intervertebral discs increased.Conclusion:There is a certain correlation between the osteoporosis and the degeneration of articular process joints of lumbar intervertebral disc.The ratios of osteophytes,endplate inflammation and intervertebral disc herniation increase,and both the area and height of the left and right articular process increase when the reduction of bone mass reaches to a serious degree.

Objective To achieve the goal of standardized use of surgical consumables and reasonable cost control by the diagnosis-intervention packet(DIP)total control combined with clinical pathways.Methods Four DIP clinical groups implementing clinical pathways were selected as pilot disease groups.Cases from 2019 to 2020 served as control group,develop a diagnosis and treatment plan based on clinical pathways and pathway form combined with the actual situation of the hospital.Cases from 2021 to 2023 formed experimental groups:experimental group 1(added control measures of the inventory of surgical consumables on the basis of the control group),and experimental group 2(added total DIP control measures to the experimental group 1).The average hospitalization costs and average costs of disposable surgical consumables were compared to evaluate the practical outcomes.Results There were significant differences in the average hospitalization costs and average costs of disposable surgical consumables among the three groups(P<0.05).Further pairwise comparisons showed that the average hospitalization costs and average costs of disposable surgical consumables in experimental group 2 were significantly lower than those in experimental group 1 and the control group(P<0.05).The average hospitalization costs in all pilot disease groups except the group undergoing transurethral ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy in the experimental group 1 were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the average costs of disposable surgical consumables in all pilot disease groups in the experimental group 1 were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion The management plan based on DIP combined with clinical pathways can improve the management effect of surgery-related consumables and effectively reduce the costs.

This paper highlights the specific nursing experiences in an early inflammatory bowel obstruction of a patient after the surgery for abdominal cocoon syndrome.Immediately after the surgery,the nursing care focused on prevention of postoperative metabolic disorders,including dynamic monitoring and correction of refeeding syndrome and goal-oriented sequential nutritional support management.Over the period of postoperative recovery,the nursing care shifted to prevention and treatment of early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction,including dynamic monitoring and identification of an early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction,goal-oriented early postoperative inflammatory small bowel obstruction(EPISBO)fluid therapy together with the traditional Chinese medicine to promote bowel movement and control inflammation,the auricle copper-blade Gua Sha combined with auricular point sticker compression to regulate qi and reduce bowel flatulence,as well as a goal-oriented early mobilisation to prevent a re-obstruction of bowel.The patient discharged at 28 days after surgery without an event.At the 6 months of postoperative follow-up,the patient was found in continuous improvement of relevant indicators and increase of body weight.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of the mini-fluid challenge test in elderly orthope-dic patients for post-spinal anesthesia hypotension.Methods Seventy-two elderly patients who underwent elective hip or knee replacement surgery were rigorously screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.All patients were scheduled for subarachnoid block anesthesia.Subjects were grouped based on changes in blood pressure within 15 minutes of assuming a supine position following single-shot lumbar anesthesia.According to previ-ously established definitions of hypotension,they were categorized into either the hypotension group(H group)or the normal blood pressure group(N group).Prior to spinal anesthesia,a mini-fluid challenge test was conducted using noninvasive cardiac output monitoring to measure the change in stroke volume index(ΔSVI),and baseline circulatory data were recorded.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors influencing outcomes in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic joint replacement surgery.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves for ΔSVI were constructed,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate its predic-tive performance.Results After spinal anesthesia,29 patients(40.27%)experienced hypotension.Compared with Group N,patients in Group H who experienced hypotension within 15 minutes while in a supine position were signifi-cantly older,had a higher proportion of ASA grade III,and a higher prevalence of hypertension(P<0.05).The analysis results indicated that ΔSVI was an independent influencing factor for post-lumbar anesthesia hypotension in elderly patients.ΔSVI demonstrated a sensitivity of 82.8%and a specificity of 81.4%in predicting post-spinal anes-thesia hypotension(PSAH)at a cut-off value of 0.805 or greater.There was a moderate positive linear correlation between the maximum decrease in systolic blood pressure(SBP)and ΔSVI(r=0.562,P<0.01).Conclusion The mini-fluid challenge test is an effective method for predicting hypotension in elderly orthopedic patients following spinal anesthesia.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICI)are monoclonal antibodies that could restore and improve the ability of T lymphocytes to specifically recognize and kill tumor cells by inhibiting immune checkpoint activity,this therapeutic strategy is a breakthrough in the treatment of malignant solid tumors in recent years.ICI-associated myocarditis(ICI-M)is one of the immune-related adverse events with rapid onset,severe symptoms and rapid progression.However,the clinical understanding of ICI-M is insufficient at present.This article reviews current research progress on epidemiology,pathogenic mechanism,diagnosis and treatment of ICI-M.

This paper highlights the specific nursing experiences in an early inflammatory bowel obstruction of a patient after the surgery for abdominal cocoon syndrome.Immediately after the surgery,the nursing care focused on prevention of postoperative metabolic disorders,including dynamic monitoring and correction of refeeding syndrome and goal-oriented sequential nutritional support management.Over the period of postoperative recovery,the nursing care shifted to prevention and treatment of early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction,including dynamic monitoring and identification of an early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction,goal-oriented early postoperative inflammatory small bowel obstruction(EPISBO)fluid therapy together with the traditional Chinese medicine to promote bowel movement and control inflammation,the auricle copper-blade Gua Sha combined with auricular point sticker compression to regulate qi and reduce bowel flatulence,as well as a goal-oriented early mobilisation to prevent a re-obstruction of bowel.The patient discharged at 28 days after surgery without an event.At the 6 months of postoperative follow-up,the patient was found in continuous improvement of relevant indicators and increase of body weight.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of the mini-fluid challenge test in elderly orthope-dic patients for post-spinal anesthesia hypotension.Methods Seventy-two elderly patients who underwent elective hip or knee replacement surgery were rigorously screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.All patients were scheduled for subarachnoid block anesthesia.Subjects were grouped based on changes in blood pressure within 15 minutes of assuming a supine position following single-shot lumbar anesthesia.According to previ-ously established definitions of hypotension,they were categorized into either the hypotension group(H group)or the normal blood pressure group(N group).Prior to spinal anesthesia,a mini-fluid challenge test was conducted using noninvasive cardiac output monitoring to measure the change in stroke volume index(ΔSVI),and baseline circulatory data were recorded.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors influencing outcomes in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic joint replacement surgery.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves for ΔSVI were constructed,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate its predic-tive performance.Results After spinal anesthesia,29 patients(40.27%)experienced hypotension.Compared with Group N,patients in Group H who experienced hypotension within 15 minutes while in a supine position were signifi-cantly older,had a higher proportion of ASA grade III,and a higher prevalence of hypertension(P<0.05).The analysis results indicated that ΔSVI was an independent influencing factor for post-lumbar anesthesia hypotension in elderly patients.ΔSVI demonstrated a sensitivity of 82.8%and a specificity of 81.4%in predicting post-spinal anes-thesia hypotension(PSAH)at a cut-off value of 0.805 or greater.There was a moderate positive linear correlation between the maximum decrease in systolic blood pressure(SBP)and ΔSVI(r=0.562,P<0.01).Conclusion The mini-fluid challenge test is an effective method for predicting hypotension in elderly orthopedic patients following spinal anesthesia.