Objective: To investigate the potential efficacy and safety of Lutai Danshen Baishao granules (LDBG) for treating female melasma associated with kidney deficiency and blood stasis patterns. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at the Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, China from March to December 2023. A total of 110 female patients with melasma linked to kidney deficiency and blood stasis were enrolled and treated with either LDBG or a placebo twice daily for 60 days. Efficacy was assessed through measures such as the total melasma area, reduced melasma area, reduction rate of melasma area, melasma color score, Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score scale. Safety assessments included routine blood and biochemical tests. Results: Participants in both groups were aged 52–63 years, with no significant differences. After the 2-month intervention, the total melasma area decreased in both groups; however, a greater reduction was observed in the test group [462.50 mm2 (12.81%) vs. 100.00 mm2 (3.11%), P < .001]. Moreover, LDBG treatment significantly reduced the MASI and melasma color scores in the test group (P < .05). The total TCM symptom evaluation score significantly decreased (test group: 6.00 vs. placebo group: 7.00, P = .001), with significant relief in symptoms such as improvement in dark lips, nails, and waist soreness in the test group, compared with that in the placebo group (P < .05). Within-group comparisons revealed that TCM syndrome was significantly alleviated in the test group (P < .05). Conclusion LDBG intervention shows promising effectiveness in reducing female melasma and alleviating TCM syndromes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of GSTP1， XRCC1， ABCB1， MTHFR gene polymorphisms on efficacy and toxic effect of chemotherapy regimen containing oxaliplatin in patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ colorectal cancer patients. METHODS Clinical data of 76 patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ colorectal cancer who received chemotherapy regimen containing oxaliplatin （XELOX，FOLFOX） were collected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from September 2018 to March 2020. The correlation of genotypes with progression-free survival （PFS） and toxic effect was analyzed by using univariate and multivariate COX regression model. RESULTS Carriers of the ABCB1 3435T＞C locus C allele （TC/CC） had a significantly higher risk of progression compared to TT genotype patients [HR＝2.39， 95%CI （1.05，5.50）， P＝0.038]. The risk of progression in patients at stage Ⅳ was significantly higher than those at stage Ⅲ [HR＝8.11， 95%CI（3.39，19.40）， P＜0.001]. Chemotherapy regimen， Karnofsky performance status score and tumor site had no significant effect on disease progression （P＞0.05）. Mutations in gene loci were not correlated with adverse reactions （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Patients carrying ABCB1 TC/CC and receiving chemotherapy regimen containing oxaliplatin have a higher risk of disease progression， which may be associated with longer PFS in patients （TT genotype） with stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer receiving the chemotherapy， while GSTP1， XRCC1， and MTHFR gene polymorphisms have no significant impact.

OBJECTIVE: Antiretroviral drugs covered by medical insurance have been gradually used by people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) in recent years in China. This study aimed to analyze their willingness to pay (WTP) for antiretroviral drugs. METHODS: A mixed-methods study design involving a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews was conducted. A cross-sectional survey was performed to collect data on the general characteristics, economic status, antiretroviral therapy (ART) status, and WTP of PLWH in 18 Chinese cities from August 2022 to February 2023. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with WTP. Representatives of PLWH were interviewed via in-depth interviews, and the data were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 941 PLWH, 271 (28.80%) were willing to pay for antiretroviral drugs covered by medical insurance. For basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents, PLWH with the following characteristics were more willing to pay: an educational level of senior high school or technical secondary school, having an undergraduate degree or higher, frequently working away from their hometowns, and homosexual transmission. Off-farm workers and recipients of government medical aid were more unwilling to pay. For basic medical insurance for urban employees, PLWH with the following characteristics were more willing to pay: frequently working away from their hometowns; homosexual transmission; personal annual income ≥ 100,000 CNY; and adverse events of antiretroviral drugs. The main reasons for PLWH's WTP for antiretroviral drugs covered by medical insurance were that the drugs had fewer adverse events and were easier to administer. The main reasons for PLWH's unwillingness to pay were financial difficulties and privacy concerns. CONCLUSION Nearly one-third of PLWH are willing to pay for antiretroviral drugs covered by medical insurance. In the future, PLWH with a high WTP can be guided to use these drugs.
Humans ; HIV Infections/economics* ; China ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Middle Aged ; Anti-Retroviral Agents/economics* ; Cities ; Insurance, Health/economics* ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the value of CT features in predicting visceral pleural invasion (VPI) in clinical stage ⅠA peripheral lung adenocarcinoma under the pleura.Methods:The CT signs of 274 patients with clinical stage ⅠA peripheral lung adenocarcinoma under the pleura diagnosed in Changzheng Hospital of Naval Medical University from January 2015 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the ratio of 6∶4, 164 patients collected from January 2015 to August 2019 were used as the training group, and 110 patients collected from August 2019 to November 2021 were used as the validation group. The maximum diameter of the tumor (T), the maximum diameter of the consolidation part (C), and the minimum distance between the lesion and the pleura (DLP) were quantitatively measured, and the proportion of the consolidation part was calculated (C/T ratio, CTR). The CT signs of the tumor were analyzed, such as the relationship between the tumor and the pleura classification, the presence of a bridge tag sign, the location of the lesion, density type, shape, margin, boundary and so on. Variables with significant difference in the univariate analysis were entered into multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore predictors for VPI, and a binary logistic regression model was established. The predictive performance of the model was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve in the training and validation group.Results:There were 121 cases with VPI and 153 cases without VPI among the 274 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. There were 79 cases with VPI and 85 cases without VPI in the training group. Univariate analysis found that the maximum diameter of the consolidation part, CTR, density type, spiculation sign, vascular cluster sign, relationship of tumor and pleura and bridge tag sign between patients with VPI and those without VPI were significantly different in the training group( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found the relationship between tumor and pleura [taking type Ⅰ as reference, type Ⅱ (OR=6.662, 95%CI 2.364-18.571, P<0.001), type Ⅲ (OR=34.488, 95%CI 8.923-133.294, P<0.001)] and vascular cluster sign (OR=4.257, 95%CI 1.334-13.581, P=0.014) were independent risk factors for VPI in the training group. The sensitivity, specifcity, and area under curve (AUC) for the logistic model in the training group were 62.03%, 89.41% and 0.826, respectively, using the optimal cutoff value of 0.504. The validation group obtained an sensitivity, specifcity, and AUC of 92.86%, 47.06%, and 0.713, respectively, using the optimal cutoff value of 0.449. Conclusion:The relationship between the tumor and the pleura and the vascular cluster sign in the CT features can help to predict visceral pleural invasion in the clinical stage ⅠA peripheral lung adenocarcinoma under the pleura.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of abdominal infection after orthotopic liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 284 recipients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. All recipients were divided into the infection group (n=51) and non-infection group (n=233) according to the incidence of postoperative abdominal infection. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors of abdominal infection. Nomogram prediction models were constructed and the prediction efficiency of these models was evaluated. The predictive value of continuous variables for abdominal infection was assessed. Results Among 284 recipients, 51 developed abdominal infection with an incidence of 18.0%. Diabetes mellitus before surgery[odds ratio (OR) 2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-6.14, P=0.013], long operation time (OR 1.98, 95%CI 1.03-3.57, P=0.038), low prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (OR 2.18, 95%CI 1.06-4.44, P=0.023), high systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (OR 2.21, 95%CI 1.06-4.78, P=0.012) and high C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) (OR 1.90, 95%CI 1.05-3.49, P=0.029) were independent risk factors for abdominal infection after liver transplantation. The area under curve (AUC) of nomogram model for predicting abdominal infection after liver transplantation was 0.761. The standard model yielded high consistency. CAR, PNI and SII were all predictors of abdominal infection after liver transplantation (all P < 0.05), with AUC of 0.648, 0.611 and 0.648, and cut-off values of 2.75, 43.15 and 564.50, respectively. Conclusions CAR, SII and PNI are predictors of abdominal infection after liver transplantation. The nomogram model based on PNI, SII and CAR may effectively predict the incidence of abdominal infection after liver transplantation.

In recent years,a considerable number of epidemiological investigations and animal studies have confirmed that metabolic diseases, such as obesity,type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, have adverse effects on brain functions,inducing mood disorders and cognition impairment. Brain dysfunctions induced by obesity and related complications are associated with numerous central abnormalities,involving brain shrinkage and neurotrophic function impairment,brain insulin resistance, brain oxidative stress,and brain leptin resistance,as well as dysfunctioned dopamine motivation and the reward system. Moreover,these brain dysfunctions are mediated by several peripheral factors, such as triglycerides/free fatty acids,proinflammatory cytokines,and corticosterone/glucocorticoid. On the other hand,metabolic disturbances correlated with emotional-cognitive disorders are evident,but the mechanisms remain obscure. Because of the drawbacks of animal models, the majority of researches focus on the impact of mental stress on the metabolism of lipid and glucose. The interrela?tionship between metabolic diseases and brain functions has become one of the hot spots for research. In this review,we mainly discussed the potential mechanisms underlying mood disorders and cognition impairment induced by obesity and related complications.

Objective To explore the adverse effects of recurrence of acute ischemic stroke at discharge.Methods Continuously including 3 440 acute ischemic stroke patients from June 1,2009 to May 31, 2012 in Department of Neurology of the People's Hospital of Xinganmeng of Inner Mongoha Autonomous Region were esearch objects.Poor outcome was defined as the occurrence of disability or death at discharge.Disability was defined as the Modified Rankin ' s Scale (MRs), when MRs was 3 or more.Binary logistic regression was used to analysis the risk factors ,calculated the odds ratios(OR) and 95％ confidence interval (95％CI).Results A total of 359 (10.44％) patients occurred poor outcomes, of whom 136 (37.88％) patients occurred the recurrence of ischemic stroke.Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=1.24,95％CI 1.09-1.41), body temperature (OR =1.92,95 ％ CI 1.43-2.57), hypertension (OR =1.73,95 ％ CI 1.33-2.24), high blood sugar (OR=1.67,95％CI 1.26-2.20) ,glycerin trilaurate(OR=0.41,95％CI0.27-0.62) ,smoking (OR =1.37,95％CI 1.01-1.85) and recmrrence(OR=1.49,95％CI 1.15-1.95) were independent risk factors of poor outcome at discharge.The recurrence of acute ischemic stroke can increase the risk of the occurrence of poor outcome at discharge up to 49％.Conclusion Recurrence is an independent risk factor for the poor outcome of acute ischemic stroke, we should focus on secondary prevention of stroke patients at the clinical work and health education to reduce the recurrence of ischemic stroke.