BACKGROUND: Durvalumab after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) failed to bring survival benefits to patients with epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) mutations in PACIFIC study (evaluating durvalumab in patients with stage III, unresectable NSCLC who did not have disease progression after concurrent chemoradiotherapy). We aimed to explore whether locally advanced inoperable patients with EGFR mutations benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and the optimal treatment regimen. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from inception to December 31, 2022 and performed a meta-analysis based on a Bayesian framework, with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as the primary endpoints. RESULTS: A total of 1156 patients were identified in 16 studies that included 6 treatment measures, including CRT, CRT followed by durvalumab (CRT-Durva), TKI monotherapy, radiotherapy combined with TKI (RT-TKI), CRT combined with TKI (CRT-TKI), and TKI combined with durvalumab (TKI-Durva). The PFS of patients treated with TKI-containing regimens was significantly longer than that of patients treated with TKI-free regimens (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.66). The PFS of TKI monotherapy was significantly longer than that of CRT (HR = 0.66, 95% CI, 0.50-0.87) but shorter than RT-TKI (HR = 1.78, 95% CI, 1.17-2.67). Furthermore, the PFS of RT-TKI or CRT-TKI were both significantly longer than that of CRT or CRT-Durva. RT-TKI ranked first in the Bayesian ranking, with the longest OS (60.8 months, 95% CI = 37.2-84.3 months) and the longest PFS (21.5 months, 95% CI, 15.4-27.5 months) in integrated analysis. CONCLUSIONS: For unresectable stage III EGFR mutant NSCLC, RT and TKI are both essential. Based on the current evidence, RT-TKI brings a superior survival advantage, while CRT-TKI needs further estimation. Large randomized clinical trials are urgently needed to explore the appropriate application sequences of TKI, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. REGISTRATION PROSPERO; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ ; No. CRD42022298490.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy* ; ErbB Receptors/genetics* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Mutation/genetics* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use*

Objective To analyze medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of thyroid nodules based on real-world data mining technology. Methods Chinese medicine prescriptions for patients with thyroid nodules as clinical first diagnosis in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery in Qingdao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2018 to August 2023 were collected, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistant Platform (V3.0) was used to analyze the medication rules. Results A total of 1 206 traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for the treatment of thyroid nodules were screened, involving 291 traditional Chinese medicines; the top five most frequently used drugs were Fritillaria thunbergii, Prunella vulgaris, Bupleurum chinense, Poria cocos, and Pinellia ternata; the main function of drugs were clearing heat, tonifying deficiency, resolving phlegm, activating blood circulation, and regulating qi; the main property of the drugs was cold, the main tastes of drugs were bitter, sweet and spicy, and the meridians involved were mainly the lung, liver and spleen meridians; association rule analysis identified 17 high-frequency drug combinations, with Fritillaria thunbergii-Prunella vulgaris as the most frequently occurring drug pair; among the 16 association rules, Radix Scrophulariae-Fritillaria thunbergii and Rhizoma Cyperi-Bupleurum chinense had the highest confidence level; clustering analysis found 6 core drug combinations. Conclusion The main idea of clinical treatment of thyroid nodules in traditional Chinese medicine is to resolve phlegm and reduce nodules, promote qi circulation and blood circulation, and nourish qi and blood; the common herbal combination of Fritillaria thunbergii and Prunella vulgaris is used to clear heat, resolve phlegm, and reduce nodules, and the basic formula for resolving scrofula is based on Xiaoluo Pills, which resolves phlegm, softens hardened nodules, and reduces nodules.

【Objective】 To investigate the situation of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae(CRE) colonization in patients undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT). 【Methods】 A total of 241 consecutive patients who underwent haplo-HSCT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June 1, 2021 to June 1, 2022 were enrolled. Anal swab screening was performed within 48 hours of admission and blood cultures were taken when the patient developed fever. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to analyze the colonization rate, distribution, risk factors and the correlation between CRE colonization and post-transplant bloodstream infection(BSI). 【Results】 Among 241 patients with haplo-HSCT, there were 90 cases in CRE colonization positive group, with a colonization rate of 37.3% (90/241). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.38-4.22, P<0.05) and history of infection within 30 days before transplantation (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.59-7.17, P<0.05) may be independent risk factors for CRE intestinal colonization. Of the 95 CRE strains, the top five species were carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (38/95, 40.0%), carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (29/95, 30.5%), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae (13/95, 13.6%), carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella acidophilus (6/95, 6.3%) and carbapenem-resistant Proteus mirabilis (3/95, 3.1%). The incidence of post-transplant BSI was 12.0% (29/241) in the CRE-colonized group and 3.3% (8/241) in the non-colonized group. In the colonization group, 100% of the pathogens of BSI were identical with those of CRE colonization. 【Conclusion】 Bacterial culture of anal swab during haplo-HSCT is helpful for detection of CRE colonization in intestinal tract, which provides some clinical basis for active monitoring of key flora, prevention and control of infection.

Objective:To investigate the etiological characteristics of nasal bacterial infection in patients with nasal lymphoma. Methods:The results of bacterial culture of nasal secretions from 39 healthy people and 86 patients with nasal lymphoma in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2019 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the differences in nasal bacteria distribution between nasal lymphoma and healthy people were analyzed and compared. Results:Corynebacterium（38.90%） was the most common bacteria in the nasal cavity of healthy people, followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus（31.95%）, Staphylococcus epidermidis（15.28%） and Staphylococcus aureus（6.95%）. The most common bacteria in nasal lymphoma patients was Staphylococcus aureus（30.37%）, followed by Corynebacterium（9.63%）, Staphylococcus epidermidis（7.41%） and coagulase negative Staphylococcus（6.67%）. A total of 81 nasal lymphoma patients were detected with bacteria, positive rate is as high as 94.19%（81/86）. Conclusion:Staphylococcus aureus is the main pathogenic bacteria in nasal secretion of patients with nasal lymphoma, which provides guiding significance for the clinical prevention and treatment of nasal lymphoma complicated with infection or not.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Coagulase ; Nasal Cavity ; Bacteria ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Rhinitis/complications* ; Staphylococcal Infections

Objective:To investigate whether silencing signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) with siRNA can inhibit eosinophilic inflammation of sinonasal mucosa in a mouse model of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS).Methods:The study was conducted from March to September in 2022. Forty-eight female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the Vehicle (transfection reagent)-treated group, the Scramble siRNA (Control siRNA)-treated group, and the STAT6 siRNA-treated group, with twelve mice in each group. An ovalbumin (OVA)-staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced ECRS murine model was established. SiRNA prepared in Lipofectamine was locally administered to the nasal cavity. After administration, samples of the peripheral blood and sinonasal mucosa were collected. Eosinophils in peripheral blood were detected by hematology analyzer. Total and OVA-specific IgE (OVA-sIgE) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mucosal levels of cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin (IL)-5, IL-17A, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and eotaxin-1, were also measured using ELISA. Mucosal histological changes of eosinophil infiltration were examined using hematoxylin, and eosin staining, and tissue eosinophil count was performed using a microscope under a high-power field (HPF). Tissue expression of STAT6 and phosphorylated STAT6 (p-STAT6) was detected with the western blot method. Immunofluorescence staining was used to localize the expression of p-STAT6 in sinonasal mucosa. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 18.0 software.Results:Peripheral blood eosinophil count, percentage of peripheral blood eosinophil, total serum IgE level, and serum OVA-sIgE level in the STAT6 siRNA-treated group [(0.318±0.045)×10 3/μl, (3.667±0.479)%, (102.070±13.205) ng/ml, and (38.870±7.352) ng/ml] were significantly different from those of the Vehicle-treated group [(0.532±0.049)×10 3/μl, (6.710±1.061)%, (203.102±29.653) ng/ml, and (74.575±6.432) ng/ml, Z value was -2.56, -2.24, -2.40, and -2.56, respectively, all P<0.05] and Scramble siRNA-treated group [(0.493±0.036)×10 3/μl, (5.858±0.872)%, (189.964±30.042) ng/ml, and (80.935±8.358) ng/ml, Z value was -2.17, -2.08, -2.24, and -2.72, respectively, all P<0.05]. Besides, IL-5 and eotaxin-1 levels in the STAT6 siRNA-treated group [(312.279±34.281) pg/ml and (25.297±4.323) pg/ml] were significantly lower than those in the Vehicle-treated group [(689.667±31.905) pg/ml and (68.278±6.485) pg/ml, Z value was -2.73 and -2.88, respectively, both P<0.01] and Scramble siRNA-treated group [(661.783±42.094) pg/ml and (63.015±7.416) pg/ml, Z value was -2.72 and -2.81, respectively, both P<0.01]. Tissue eosinophil count in sinonasal mucosa was (29.132±4.163)/HPF in the STAT6 siRNA-treated group, and were significantly less than those in the Vehicle-treated group [(78.050±7.912)/HPF, Z=-2.88, P<0.01] and Scramble siRNA-treated group [(73.864±8.671)/HPF, Z=-2.72, P<0.01]. The expression level of STAT6 protein (0.105±0.021) was significantly decreased in the mice treated with STAT6 siRNA compared with PBS, Vehicle, and Scramble siRNA (0.232±0.037, 0.243±0.039, and 0.228±0.032, Z value was -2.25, -2.49, and -2.56, respectively, all P<0.05). Corresponding, p-STAT6 protein level (0.292±0.038) was markedly decreased by the introduction of STAT6 siRNA, the difference was statistically significant as compared with the Vehicle-and Scramble siRNA-treated groups (0.613±0.046 and 0.641±0.050, Z value was -2.81 and -2.88, respectively, both P<0.01). Immunofluorescence staining showed that p-STAT6 was mainly located in the nucleus of nasal epithelial cells and inflammatory cells. The green fluorescence of p-STAT6 expression in sinonasal mucosa in the STAT6 siRNA-treated group was weaker than that in the Vehicle-and Scramble siRNA-treated groups. Conclusion:Intranasal administration of STAT6 siRNA can significantly downregulate STAT6 expression, decrease p-STAT6 level, and prohibit the development of Th2-skewed ECRS.

This study aimed to obtain the first national estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Chinese children. We targeted the population of 6 to 12-year-old children for this prevalence study by multistage convenient cluster sampling. The Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale was used for the screening process. Of the target population of 142,086 children, 88.5% (n = 125,806) participated in the study. A total of 363 children were confirmed as having ASD. The observed ASD prevalence rate was 0.29% (95% CI: 0.26%-0.32%) for the overall population. After adjustment for response rates, the estimated number of ASD cases was 867 in the target population sample, thereby achieving an estimated prevalence of 0.70% (95% CI: 0.64%-0.74%). The prevalence was significantly higher in boys than in girls (0.95%; 95% CI: 0.87%-1.02% versus 0.30%; 95% CI: 0.26%-0.34%; P < 0.001). Of the 363 confirmed ASD cases, 43.3% were newly diagnosed, and most of those (90.4%) were attending regular schools, and 68.8% of the children with ASD had at least one neuropsychiatric comorbidity. Our findings provide reliable data on the estimated ASD prevalence and comorbidities in Chinese children.

Objective: To analyze the high risk factors and prognosis of patients with ventilator associated pneumonia(VAP) treated with mechanical ventilation(MV) in Intensive Care Unit(ICU), and to provide theoretical evidence for effective treatment and prevention. Methods: From January 2015 to January 2017, 156 MV patients treated in ICU of Shaoxing Municipal Hospital were enrolled retrospectively.According to the occurrence of VAP, the patients were divided into VAP group(76 cases) and non-VAP group(80 cases). The data including sex, age, ICU time, MV time, cases of withdrawing machine failure, prognosis, serum albumin, blood glucose levels, APACHE Ⅱ score, types of antibiotics and days of continuous applying were recorded.Single factor χ² test and multiple factor logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the high-risk factors and prognosis related to occurrence of VAP. Results: Univariate analysis showed that the age, mortality, serum albumin and blood glucose levels, MV time, weaning failure rate, APACHE Ⅱ score, antibiotic combination type and days of continuous use, application of H₂ receptor antagonists time between, the VAP group and non-VAP group had statistically significant differences (χ²=6.568, 16.558, 5.132, 5.896, 27.043, 15.018, 48.863, 46.752, 27.431, 3.981, P=0.010, 0.000, 0.023, 0.015, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.046). After age adjustment, logistic regression analysis showed that serum albumin <30g/L, blood glucose ≥7.8mmol/L, MV time >5 days, APACHE Ⅱ score>15 points, antibiotics continuous use>3 days, and antibiotic combination type>2 were independent risk factors for VAP(χ²=5.115, 5.984, 21.252, 18.043, 9.008, 14.545, P=0.030, 0.026, 0.000, 0.000, 0.007, 0.001). Compared with surviving patients with VAP, death patients lived longer in ICU and MV, and APACHE Ⅱ scores were higher(t=4.136, 6.382, 7.312, P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000). Conclusion There are multiple high-risk factors of VAP in patients treated with MV in ICU.The death demonstrated longer ICU time, MV time and higher APACHE Ⅱ score, need to be strengthened monitoring, early prevention and treatment.

Objective To explore the correlation between spinal sagittal balance and quality of life after the treatment of percutaneous kyphoplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compressive fractures. Methods We retrospec-tively enrolled and screened 85 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCF),treated by per-cutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP)in spinal surgery department of Shanghai East Hospital from January 2012 to Decem-ber 2016. The full length of the spine X-ray examinations had been taken preoperatively,pre-discharge and during the follow-up and spine-pelvis sagittal parameters included C7 sagittal vertical axis(C7SVA),thoracic kyphosis (TK),lumber lordosis(LL),pelvic incidence(PT)and sacral slope(SS). Shot Form 36 Health Survey Question-naire(SF-36)was used for the scoring. Results In the last follow-up,C7SVA decreased from(35.9 ± 17.1)mm to(30.8 ± 12.8)mm(P=0.002)and SF-36 scores varied significantly(P<0.01). Before the surgery,follow-up 3 days,6 months and 12 months after the surgery,C7SVA was negatively correlated with the general health status in each period of SF-36(r=-0.343,-0.264,-0.272,-0.258;P=0.001,0.015,0.012,0.017). Conclusions PKP has a significant effect on OVCFs and changes the spine-pelvic sagittal balance in patients with OVCF. Spinal-pel-vic sagittal balance is closely related to the quality of life of these patients.

Investigating the influence of acupuncture on cellular signal transduction is an efficient pathway to reveal the action mechanism of acupuncture on spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, the experiment research literature regarding acupuncture for SCI during past 10 years was reviewed and analyzed. As a result, it was found that acupuncture could regulate the expression of the first intercellular messenger as well as the second signal molecules including cyclic adenosine monophosphate, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, Ca2+, nitric oxide to intervene the apoptotic signaling pathway, Rho/Rock signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, etc., which could improve regeneration and repair of SCI. In conclusion, in future researches more attention should be paid to the cellular signal transduction networks and different effects among various acupoint combinations and acupuncture modalities on cellular signal transduction, which have an essential role for revelation of clinical application rules and optimization of clinical treatment protocol.

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on Caspase-9, cytochrome C (Cyt-C) and apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) protein in rats with neurogenic bladder after complete spinal cord injury. Methods A total of 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats were involved, in which 36 rats were randomly selected to establish the neurogenic bladder model with T10 spinal cord transected. 24 successful models selected were randomly divided into model group (n=12) and electroacupuncture group (n=12). The other 24 rats were also randomly divided into sham group (n=12) and blank group (n=12). The electroacupuncture group was electroacupunctured on Ciliao (BL32), Zhongji (RN3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Dazhui (GV14) for seven days. All of them were assessed with urodynamic test, TUNEL method was used to determine the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord, and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein. Results Compared with the blank group and the sham group, the maximum bladder capacity and compliance decreased (P<0.01), the urinary bladder pressure and leakage point pressure increased (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord increased (P<0.001); the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein increased (P<0.05) in the model group and the electroacupuncture group. Compared with the model group, the maximum bladder capacity and compliance increased (P<0.01), the urinary bladder pressure and leakage point pressure decreased (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord decreased (P<0.05); the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein decreased (P<0.05) in the electroacupuncture group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture on Ciliao, Zhongji, Sanyinjiao and Dazhui could improve the bladder function after spinal cord injury in rats. The mechanisms may be related with the down-regulation of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein to reduce apoptosis.