1.Development of a Core Outcome Set for Clinical Evaluation of Chronic Pulmonary Heart Disease Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy
Baihan NIU ; Mingyan ZHANG ; Zhaochen JI ; Bo PANG ; Haiyin HU ; Junhua ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(12):1227-1232
ObjectiveTo construct an outcome set for clinical evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for chronic pulmonary heart disease, and to provide consensus outcomes for the evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of TCM for chronic pulmonary heart disease. MethodsWe searched randomised controlled trials of TCM for chronic pulmonary heart disease on China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (WF), VIP Chinese Science Journals Database (VIP), Chinese Biomedical Literature Service Database (SinoMed), PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. We also searched Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Platform and the U.S. Clinical Trial Registry database to obtain the outcome indicators reported in the clinical research protocols of TCM for chronic pulmonary heart disease. The outcome indicators were also collected through semi-structured interviews of clinicians and patients. Then integrated the outcome indicators collected by the above methods to construct the indicator pool. Through two rounds of Delphi surveys and a consensus conference, the core outcome set for clinical evaluation of TCM for chronic pulmonary heart disease was determined. ResultsAfter screening, there were 1313 literature meeting the criteria, and 595 outcome indicators were extracted, then combined with the outcomes from semi-structured interviews which clinicians and patients concerned, finally an indicator item pool containing 369 outcome indicators were formed. After the initial screening of indicators in the pool by the steering committee, 58 indicators were established into the initial list of indicator entries. In the first round of Delphi survey, the expert coordination coefficient for the results was 0.401, and the Cronbach coefficient was 0.989. A total of 35 indicators that did not meet the criteria [<70% of the participants rated the outcome as 7~9 (critical) and the mean of the expert ratings <7] were deleted, and 23 were retained, with 7 new indicators added that were open to supplementation by the experts, resulting in a total of 30 indicators that were included in the second round of Delphi survey. In the second round of Delphi survey, the expert coordination coefficient was 0.303, and the Cronbach coefficient was 0.974, with a total of 7 indicators that did not meet the criteria being deleted, and 21 indicators being retained for the consensus conference. After the consensus meeting, the core outcome set for clinical evaluation of chronic pulmonary heart disease in two major categories, acute exacerbation stage and stable stage, was finally determined, in which there were four indicators in acute exacerbation stage: N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP), blood qi analysis, all-cause mortality rate, and complication rate; and there were eight indicators in the stable stage: pulmonary function index, six-minute walk test distance, New York cardiac function classification, all-cause mortality rate, re-hospitalisation rate, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT) score, Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and TCM syndrome score. ConclusionThe core outcome sets of TCM clinical evaluation in the acute exacerbation stage and stable stage are constructed, which is helpful to improve the practicability, comparability and transparency of TCM clinical research results in pulmonary heart disease.
2.Effect of high ligation of spermatic vein on leukocytes in expressed prostate secretion of patients with chronic prostatitis and varicocele.
Ji-Yang DING ; Peng ZHANG ; Chun-Hua NIU ; Hai-Yong LI ; Wen-Zhu XU ; Ying-Chen ZHANG ; Gang MA
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(4):319-322
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of laparoscopic high ligation of spermatic cord vein in patients with chronic prostatitis and varicocele prostatitis.
METHODS:
A total of 90 varicocele patients were selected from January 2016 to December 2020, including 33 patients with chronic prostatitis. Changes of white blood cell count, National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI) score and serum testosterone level in the expressed prostate secretion (EPS) were observed before and after the operation of laparoscopic high ligation of spermatic vein.
RESULTS:
All patients were followed up three months after the surgery. There was no significant difference in the white blood cell counts in EPS, NIH-CPSI score, and serum testosterone level in patients with varicocele-only who underwent high ligation surgery after the operation. However, the white blood cell count in the EPS of patients with chronic prostatitis was lower than that before 3 months of operation ( [12.39±4.23]×109/L vs [21.36±5.05]×109/L). The NIH-CPSI score was significantly lower than that before operation ( [12.71±6.21] vs [26.76±8.43]). And the serum testosterone level was higher than that before operation ([4.34±1.77]ng/ml vs [2.36±1.05]ng/ml).
CONCLUSION
Laparoscopic high ligation of the spermatic vein in patients with chronic prostatitis and varicocele could effectively reduce the number of white blood cells in the EPS, boost the level of serum testosterone and improves symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
Male
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Humans
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Varicocele/surgery*
;
Prostatitis/blood*
;
Ligation
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Spermatic Cord/blood supply*
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Testosterone/blood*
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Chronic Disease
;
Prostate/metabolism*
;
Veins/surgery*
;
Leukocyte Count
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Leukocytes
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Laparoscopy
;
Adult
3.Ventral Hippocampal CA1 GADD45B Regulates Susceptibility to Social Stress by Influencing NMDA Receptor-Mediated Synaptic Plasticity.
Mengbing HUANG ; Jian BAO ; Xiaoqing TAO ; Yifan NIU ; Kaiwei LI ; Ji WANG ; Xiaokang GONG ; Rong YANG ; Yuran GUI ; Hongyan ZHOU ; Yiyuan XIA ; Youhua YANG ; Binlian SUN ; Wei LIU ; Xiji SHU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(3):406-420
Growth arrest DNA damage-inducible protein 45 β (GADD45B) has been reported to be a regulatory factor for active DNA demethylation and is implicated in the modulation of synaptic plasticity and chronic stress-related psychopathological processes. However, its precise role and mechanism of action in stress susceptibility remain elusive. In this study, we found a significant reduction in GADD45B expression specifically in the ventral, but not the dorsal hippocampal CA1 (dCA1) of stress-susceptible mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GADD45B negatively regulates susceptibility to social stress and NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) in the ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1). Importantly, through pharmacological inhibition using the NMDA receptor antagonist MK801, we provided further evidence supporting the hypothesis that GADD45B potentially modulates susceptibility to social stress by influencing NMDA receptor-mediated LTP. Collectively, these results suggested that modulation of NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity is a pivotal mechanism underlying the regulation of susceptibility to social stress by GADD45B.
Animals
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/antagonists & inhibitors*
;
CA1 Region, Hippocampal/drug effects*
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Male
;
Stress, Psychological/physiopathology*
;
Mice
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Neuronal Plasticity/drug effects*
;
Long-Term Potentiation/drug effects*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Antigens, Differentiation/metabolism*
;
Dizocilpine Maleate/pharmacology*
;
Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists/pharmacology*
;
GADD45 Proteins
4.Modified silicone oil removal combined with scleral buckling for retinal detachment after silicone oil tamponade
International Eye Science 2024;24(5):826-830
AIM: To investigate the efficacy of modified silicone oil removal combined with scleral buckling in the treatment of patients with retinal detachment under silicone oil tamponade.METHODS:The retrospective study included a total of 14 patients(14 eyes)who underwent treatment for retinal detachment with silicone oil tamponade at our hospital between January 2021 and February 2023. The modified silicon oil extraction combined with scleral buckling procedure was employed. A self-made 23-gauge suction device was applied in the silicon oil extraction, which involved removing the needle from a disposable blood transfusion set, trimming it to 2.5-3.0 mm near the beveled end, and connecting the other end to a 10 mL syringe without the plunger. The opposite end of the syringe was connected to the negative pressure system of the vitreous cutter to accomplish the silicon oil removal. Scleral compression blocks in scleral buckling surgery using a homemade composite device. No additional silicon oil was injected after the procedure. Follow-up was conducted for 6 mo, assessing retinal reattachment, best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, and complications.RESULTS: At the 6 mo follow-up, the retina was completely reset in 13 eyes, with a retinal reset rate of 93%, and an improvement in BCVA(LogMAR)compared with the preoperative period(0.95±0.18 vs 1.15±0.21, P=0.002). Transient high IOP occurred in 6 eyes at 1 d postoperatively and returned to normal after medication control. There were no intraoperative complications such as retinal hemorrhage, retinal incarceration, or iatrogenic retinal breaks, and no postoperative complications such as endophthalmitis or choroidal detachment.CONCLUSIONS:Modified silicone oil removal combined with scleral buckling can effectively treat retinal detachment in the silicone oil tamponade and induce retinal reattachment.
5.Constructing a risk prediction model for failure after locking plate fixation for proximal humeral fractures in the elderly by combining the deltoid tuberosity index with preoperative factors
Daxing XU ; Muqiang JI ; Zesong TU ; Weipeng XU ; Weilong XU ; Wei NIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(21):3299-3305
BACKGROUND:Proximal humeral fracture in older adults is one of the three major osteoporotic fractures.Anatomic locking plate fixation is the first choice for most scholars to treat difficult-to-reduce and complex fracture types.However,the probability of reduction failure after the operation is high,which seriously affects patients'quality of life. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the correlation between deltoid tuberosity index and postoperative reduction failure of proximal humeral fractures in the elderly,analyze and filter preoperative independent risk factors for reduction failure of proximal humeral fractures in the elderly,and construct and verify the effectiveness of a clinical prediction model. METHODS:The clinical data of 153 elderly patients with proximal humeral fractures who met the diagnosis and inclusion criteria and received open reduction and locking plate surgery in Foshan Hospital of TCM from June 2012 to June 2021 were collected.The patients were divided into the reduction failure subgroup and the reduction maintenance subgroup.The independent risk factors were selected by multivariate Logistic regression analysis,and the nomogram was constructed by R language.After 1000 times of resampling by Bootstrap method,the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit correlation test,receiver operating characteristic curve,calibration curve,clinical decision,and influence curve were plotted to evaluate its goodness of fit,discrimination,calibration ability,and clinical application value.Fifty-five elderly patients with proximal humeral fractures from June 2013 to August 2021 were selected as the model's external validation group to evaluate the prediction model's stability and accuracy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Of the 153 patients in the training group,44 patients met reduction failure after internal plate fixation.The prevalence of postoperative reduction failure was 28.8%.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified that deltoid tuberosity index[OR=9.782,95%CI(3.798,25.194)],varus displacement[OR=4.209,95%CI(1.472,12.031)],and medial metaphyseal comminution[OR=4.278,95%CI(1.670,10.959)]were independent risk factors for postoperative reduction failure of proximal humeral fractures in older adults(P<0.05).(2)A nomogram based on independent risk factors was then constructed.The Hosmer-Lemeshow test results for the model of the training group showed that χ2=0.812(P=0.976)and area under curve=0.830[95%CI(0.762,0.898)].The calibration plot results showed that the model's predicted risk was in good agreement with the actual risk.The decision and clinical influence curves showed good clinical applicability.(3)In the validation group,the accuracy rate in practical applications was 86%,area under curve=0.902[95%CI(0.819,0.985)].(4)It is concluded that deltoid tuberosity index<1.44,medial metaphyseal comminution,and varus displacement were independent risk factors for reduction failure.(5)The internal and external validation of the risk prediction model demonstrated high discrimination,accuracy,and clinical applicability could be used to individually predict and screen the high-risk population of postoperative reduction failure of proximal humeral fractures in the elderly.The predicted number of patients at high risk is highly matched to the actual number of patients who occur when the model's threshold risk probability is above 65%,and clinicians should use targeted treatment.
6.Machine learning to analyze risk factors for postoperative failure of proximal humeral fractures with medial column instability
Daxing XU ; Muqiang JI ; Zesong TU ; Weipeng XU ; Weilong XU ; Wei NIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;33(33):5295-5301
BACKGROUND:Internal fixation and open reduction with locking plate is the main treatment for proximal humeral fractures with medial column instability.However,reduction failure is one of the main postoperative complications,and accurate risk factor assessment is beneficial for screening high-risk patients and clinical decision selection. OBJECTIVE:To construct four types of prediction models by different machine learning algorithms,compare the optimal model to analyze and sort the risk variables according to their weight scores on the impact of outcome,and explore their significance in guiding clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS:262 patients with proximal humeral fractures with medial column instability,aged(60.6±10.2)years,admitted to Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between June 2012 and June 2022 were included.All patients underwent open reduction with locking plate surgery.According to the occurrence of reduction failure at 5-month follow-up,the patients were divided into a reduction failure group(n=64)and a reduction maintenance group(n=198).Clinical data of patients were collected,and model variables and their classification were determined.The data set was randomly divided into a training set and a test set according to a 7:3 ratio,and the optimal hyperparameters were obtained in the training set according to a 5-fold cross-over test.Four machine learning prediction models of logistic regression,random forest,support vector machine,and XGBoost were constructed,and the performance of different algorithms was observed in the test set using AUC,correctness,sensitivity,specificity,and F1 scores,so as to comprehensively evaluate the prediction performance of the models.The best-performing model was evaluated using SHAP to assess important risk variables and to evaluate its clinical guidance implications. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There were significant differences between the two groups in deltoid tuberosity index,fracture type,fracture end with varus deformity before operation,fragment length of inferior metaphyseal of humerus,postoperative reduction,cortical support of medial column of proximal humerus,and insertion of calcar screw(P<0.05).(2)The best-combined performance of the four machine models was XGBoost.The AUC,accuracy,and F1 scores were 0.885,0.885,and 0.743,respectively;followed by random forest and support vector machine,with both models performing at approximately equal levels.Logistic regression had the worst combined performance.The SHAP interpretation tool was used in the optimal model and results showed that deltoid tuberosity index,medial humeral column cortical support,fracture type,fracture reduction quality,and the status of the calcar screw were important influencing fators for postoperative fracture reduction failure.(3)The accuracy of using machine learning to analyze clinical problems is superior to that of traditional logistic regression analysis methods.When dealing with high-dimensional data,the machine learning approach can solve multivariate interaction and covariance problems well.The SHAP interpretation tool can not only clarify the importance of individual variables but also obtain detailed information on the impact of dummy variables in each variable on the outcome.
7.Prevalence of cataracts and the coverage rate of cataract surgery in Ningxia region
Jinjin ZHANG ; Lin CHEN ; Tian TIAN ; Haijun LIU ; Wei NIU ; Xue ZHANG ; Mengli JI ; Wenjuan ZHUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2024;42(3):279-284
Objective:To investigate the prevalence of cataracts, the surgical coverage, and postoperative visual acuity of adults in Ningxia.Methods:A cross-sectional study using multistage cluster random sampling was conducted.Ten survey sites in Ningxia were selected and the population aged 18 years and over was surveyed with questionnaire, height and weight measurements, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, fundus photography and slit-lamp examinations.Cataract prevalence and its influencing factors were analyzed.Cataract prevalence, surgical coverage and presenting visual acuity (PVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after surgery were investigated in different age groups of the examined population.The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (No.[2023]-LL-010).Participants signed informed consent prior to the examination.Results:A total of 6 145 people should be examined, and 5 721 people were actually examined, with an examination rate of 93.10%.The study population consisted of 2 558 males, accounting for 44.71%, and 3 163 females, accounting for 55.28%, with ages ranging from 18 to 93 years old and an average age of (64.27±13.48) years.Among them, 1 180 patients diagnosed with cataract, with a cataract prevalence of 20.62%.The prevalence of cataract increased with age and decreased with education level, showing statistically significant differences ( χ2=1 091.32, 581.92; both at P<0.01).The prevalence of cataract was significantly higher among people with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and coronary heart disease than those without these diseases ( χ2=274.65, 118.15, 78.05, 182.71; all at P<0.01).Cataract surgery was performed in 245 cases in the cataract patient population, with a surgical coverage rate of 20.76%.Of the 245 cases, 229 cases were implanted with IOLs, with an implantation rate of 93.40%.The social burden rate of cataract blindness was 2.29%, and increased with age.Of the 339 eyes that underwent cataract surgery, 241 had a PVA≥0.3, accounting for 71.09%, and 272 had a BCVA≥0.3, accounting for 80.24%. Conclusions:In Ningxia, cataracts are still the main cause of vision impairment and blindness in the elderly, and the social burden rate of cataract blindness is high.Moreover, the coverage rate of cataract surgery is low, so both the coverage and quality of surgery need improvement.
8.HUVEC-Based OGD/R Injury Model to Study the Effect of Danggui-Chuanxiong Herb Pair Medicine on the Main Pharmacological Components on VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Qiuru JI ; Wenjuan NI ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Shuqi ZHANG ; Yali WU ; Lu NIU ; Kun LI ; Weixia LI ; Jinfa TANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;26(3):691-703
Objective To study the effects of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair medicine on vasoactive substances,adhesion factors,inflammatory factors,and VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways,in order to elucidate the mechanism of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair on the treatment of ischemic stroke(IS).Methods The oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)was constructed,and the cell viability was detected by cell proliferation kit(CCK-8 method)to explore the optimal modeling time of seven components;The release of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)was detected by cytotoxicity kit;The expression of related cytokines was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);The mRNA expression of key proteins in the signaling pathway was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Reoxygenation after 6 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation of HUVEC is the best modeling time.High-dose chlorogenic acid group,ferulic acid group,senkyunolide H,low-dose and medium-dose butylidenephthalide group,medium-dose and high-dose senkyunolide A and ligustilide groups significantly decreased LDH leakage rate(P<0.05,P<0.01);The expression of IL-6 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,caffeic acid,butenylphthalide,senkyunolide H and senkyunolide A was significantly increased,the expression of IL-1 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid and senkyunolide A was significantly decreased,the expression of VEGF,ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid and senkyunolide H was significantly decreased,the expression of NF-κB in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid,senkyunolide H and ligustilide was significantly decreased,the expression of PAI-1 in the cells of ferulic acid and senkyunolide H partial dose group decreased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01);The mRNA relative expression levels of ERK,VEGF,NF-κB,VEGFR2 and MMP9 were significantly down-regulated in the cells of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid,caffeic acid,butylidenephthalide and senkyunolide A partial dose group,while the mRNA relative expression levels of AKT were significantly up-regulated in the cells of senkyunolide H and senkyunolide A partial dose groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion The medicinal components of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair may play a role in IS by inhibiting the mRNA expression of adhesion factor,inflammatory factor and key protein of VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in HUVEC.
9.Exploration of the antioxidant role and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus based on a glucose-induced Caenorhabditis elegans model
Mei-mei YANG ; Han-ying LIU ; Mei-zhong PENG ; Pan MA ; Yi-ting NIU ; Teng-yue HU ; Yu-xing JI ; Gai-mei HAO ; Jing HAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(9):2556-2563
The objective of this study was to
10.Health risk assessment of inhalation exposure to metallic elements in PM2.5 in four cities of the Pearl River Delta in 2022
Jiwei NIU ; Suli HUANG ; Xiaoheng LI ; Zhen ZHANG ; Jiajia JI ; Ning LIU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(4):393-398
ObjectiveTo understand the characteristics of PM2.5 pollution in the air of Pearl River Delta city in Guangdong Province under the COVID-19 epidemic and the health risks of inhaling elements in PM2.5. MethodsIn 2022, 10 PM2.5 monitoring points were set up in 10 districts in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan and Zhuhai, and air samples were collected for 7 consecutive days every month to analyze the concentration of PM2.5 and the 12 elements in PM2.5. The classic "four-step" method was used to evaluate the carcinogenic risk and chronic non-carcinogenic risk of the elements in air PM2.5 on health. The age-sensitive characteristics of metal elements were combined in the carcinogenic risk assessment, and age-sensitive factors were introduced to analyze the impact of air pollution on population health. ResultsA total of818 samples were collected. and the average annual PM2.5 concentration in the four cities of the Pearl River Delta was 30.17 (1.00-166.00, s=21.06) μg·m-3, which was lower than the concentration limit of the secondary standard of the Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012). The difference of PM2.5 concentration in the four cities was statistically significant. The PM2.5 concentrations in Zhuhai and Shenzhen, which were located near the sea, were lower than those in Guangzhou and Foshan. The monthly mean concentration of PM2.5 in the four cities was the lowest at 13.70 (4.00-34.00, s=5.93) μg·m-3 in July and the highest at 57.73 (14.00-146.00, s=27.96) μg·m-3 in January, showing a low concentration from May to October and a high concentration from November to April of the following year. The average daily PM2.5 concentration exceeded the secondary standard for 29 days, mainly distributed in January and November. The average annual mass concentration of elements in PM2.5 in the four cities was Al>Mn>Pb>As>Ni>Cr>Se>Sb>Cd>Tl>Be>Hg. AS and Mn have chronic non-carcinogenic risk in population, while Cr, AS, Cd, Be and Ni have carcinogenic risk in population. ConclusionThe PM2.5 pollution levels of the four cities in the Pearl River Delta are low and variable. Coastal cities are lower than non-coastal cities, which shows the characteristics of first decreasing and then increasing throughout the year. The order of mass concentration of metal elements of PM2.5 in four cities is basically the same except Be and Ni. As and Mn in PM2.5 show a certain degree of chronic non-carcinogenic risk, and As, Cr, Cd, Ni and Be have a certain degree of carcinogenic risk. The four cities need to take effective intervention measures to continue to strengthen the pollution control and health protection of Cr, As, Cd and Mn in the air, and control the health burden caused by air pollution.

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