BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated anemia (CKD-anemia) is associated with poor survival, and hemoglobin targets are often not achieved with current therapies. Phase 3 trials have demonstrated the treatment efficacy of roxadustat for CKD-anemia. This phase 4 study aims to evaluate the long-term (52-week) safety and effectiveness of roxadustat in a broad real-world patient population with CKD-anemia with and without dialysis in China. METHODS: This Phase 4 multicenter, open-label, prospective study, conducted from 24 November 2020 to 11 November 2022, evaluated the long-term safety and effectiveness of roxadustat for CKD-anemia in China. Patients aged ≥18 years with CKD-anemia with or without dialysis were included. The initial oral dose was 70-120 mg (weight-based followed by dose adjustment) over 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was safety based on adverse events (AEs). The secondary endpoints were hemoglobin changes from baseline and the proportion of patients who achieved mean hemoglobin ≥100 g/L. Effectiveness evaluable populations 1 (EE1) and EE2 included roxadustat-naïve and previously roxadustat-treated patients, respectively. The safety analysis set (SAF) included all patients who received ≥1 occasion. RESULTS: The EE1, EE2, and SAF populations included 1804, 193, and 2021 patients, respectively. In the SAF, the mean age was 50 ± 14 years, and 1087 patients (53.8%) were male. Mean baseline hemoglobin was 96.9 ± 14.0 g/L in EE1 and 100.3 ± 12.9 g/L in EE2. In EE1, the mean (95% confidence interval) hemoglobin changes from baseline over weeks 24-36 and 36-52 were 14.2 (13.5-14.9) g/L and 14.3 (13.5-15.0) g/L, respectively. Over weeks 24-36 and 36-52, 83.3% and 86.1% of patients in EE1 and 82.7% and 84.7% in EE2 achieved mean hemoglobin ≥100 g/L, respectively. In the SAF, 1643 (81.3%) patients experienced treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs). Overall, 219 (10.8%) patients experienced drug-related TEAEs. Thirty-eight (1.9%) patients died of TEAEs (unrelated to the study drug). Vascular access thrombosis was uncommon. CONCLUSIONS: Roxadustat (52 weeks) increased hemoglobin and maintained the treatment target in Chinese patients with CKD-anemia with acceptable safety, supporting its use in real-world settings. REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ) ChiCTR2100046322; CDE ( www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn ) CTR20201568.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Anemia/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications* ; Glycine/adverse effects* ; Isoquinolines/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Adult ; Hemoglobins/metabolism* ; Treatment Outcome ; China ; Registries ; East Asian People

Objective To explore the relationship between systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),red blood cell distribution width(RDW),25-hydroxy-vitamin-D[25(OH)D]levels and frailty index in elderly pa-tients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 197 elderly patients with T2DM admitted to the hospital from March 2023 to March 2024 were collected as the research subjects.The patients were divided into the frailty group(106 cases)and the non-frailty group(91 cases)according to the scores of the clinical frailty scale.The clinical data and the levels of SII,RDW and 25(OH)D of the two groups were compared.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between the levels of SII,RDW and 25(OH)D and the frailty index of elderly patients with T2DM.Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of frailty in elderly patients with T2DM.Results Compared with the non-frailty group,the proportion of women,the history of falls within 1 year,and the age of the frailty group increased,while the body mass in-dex and the proportion of men decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The SII and RDW levels in the non-frailty group were lower than those in the frailty group,and the 25(OH)D level was higher than that in the frailty group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that SII and RDW levels were positively correlated with frailty index,and 25(OH)D level was negatively correlated with frailty index in elderly T2DM patients(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that female,age ≥ 74.25 years old,SII≥ 938.36,RDW≥ 15.19％,and 25(OH)D≥48.42 nmol/L were independent risk factors for frailty in elderly T2DM patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion The levels of SII,RDW and 25(OH)D in elderly patients with T2DM are related to the frailty index.

Objective:This study aimed to analyze the infection status of viral viruria within one year after kidney transplantation, its impact on renal allograft function, and associated risk factors.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted, involving 370 patients who underwent allogeneic kidney transplantation at Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Urinary viral loads of BK virus (BKV), JC virus (JCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were detected using PCR fluorescent probe assays. Patients were categorized into infection and non-infection groups. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and tacrolimus trough concentration was measured during infections, and clinical data were collected. Univariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for viral viruria.Results:The 1-year patient survival rate and graft survival rate were both 98.6%. The incidence rates of viral viruria were as follows: JCV (42.7%), BKV (29.7%), CMV (11.6%), and EBV (2.9%), with statistically significant differences among viruses ( P<0.001). Single viral infection accounted for 48% of cases, while co-infections were predominantly BKV+JCV (9%). JCV infection rates remained consistently high throughout the year (22.4%-28.9%), whereas BKV infections peaked at 3 months postoperatively (20.5%). Co-infection with low-load JCV (>2 000 copies/ml) and CMV (>6 000 copies/ml) led to a significant decline in GFR at 6 months post-transplantation [median difference: 16.7 ml/(min×1.73 m2), P=0.019]. Univariate analysis revealed that elevated tacrolimus trough concentration was independent risk factor for BKV (4.90 vs. 4.30 ng/ml, Z=4.29, P<0.001) and JCV infections (5.30 vs. 4.80 ng/ml, Z=4.25, P<0.001). Conclusion:High incidences of JCV and BKV infections were observed post-kidney transplantation. Co-infection with low-load JCV and CMV accelerates renal function impairment, highlighting the critical role of tacrolimus concentration management in reducing viral infection risks.

Objective To analyze temporal trends in infectious disease burden among Chinese elderly(≥60 years)using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study(GBD 2021),evaluate age-period-cohort effects on disease burden,predict trends through 2045,and propose evidence-based medication management strategies.Methods We conducted a threefold analysis of infectious disease burden from 1990 to 2021 using Joinpoint regression to identify temporal trends,Age-Period-Cohort(APC)modeling to disentangle epidemiological effects,and Nordpred projections for 2045 disease burden estimates.Results Over 32 years,all infectious disease categories except HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections demonstrated significant declines.Enteric infections showed the most rapid reductions in mortality(AAPC=-7.85,P﹤0.001)and disability-adjusted life year rates(DALYR;AAPC=-7.18,P﹤0.001).We also found a significant decrease in the incidence of tropical diseases and malaria(AAPC=-6.77,P﹤0.001).APC analysis found that the age effect was mostly negative in terms of the annual percentage change in mortality and DALYR for each disease,except for HIV/AIDS,with an overall decline in period risk over time,and a generally higher risk of morbidity and mortality for the early birth cohort,and an overall decline in the risk of each disease as the year of birth progressed,but the risk of HIV/AIDS death and DALY period and cohort risks trended upward.While the overall risk for certain diseases was slightly higher in males compared to females,the trends were largely consistent across both sexes.In terms of projections,the absolute prevalence of respiratory infections and tuberculosis in terms of number of cases and age-standardized rates,and the growth of the disease burden of HIV/AIDS were particularly prominent,making them important health challenges for the future.The burden of disease in the elderly often results in issues such as potential polypharmacy,which must be addressed to improve medication management.Conclusions China has achieved remarkable progress in reducing infectious disease burdens among older adults,though HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections present an escalating public health threat.These findings advocate for enhanced surveillance systems,age-specific prevention strategies,and precision medication protocols to optimize therapeutic outcomes in geriatric populations.

Purpose To explore the diagnostic efficacy of texture analysis in grading multiple ligament injuries of the knee Joint.Materials and Methods MRI images of 203 patients with knee injuries in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University School of Medicine from June 2018 to September 2020 were retrospectively collected,and then graded the injuries of multiple ligaments.Extraction of texture features and discriminant analysis were accomplished by MaZda software.Spearman correlation analysis and LASSO penalized Logistic regression analysis were used to further explore the differential diagnostic efficacy of each texture parameter for grading knee ligament injuries.Results(1)MaZda software was found to have the highest diagnostic efficacy for patellar ligament injury grading by using different texture feature screening methods in combination with discriminant analysis.Non-linear discriminant analysis had the lowest misclassification rate of 4.43%.(2)The texture parameters that were ultimately included in the analysis of the subjects'work characteristic curves appeared more frequently in the gray level co-occurrence matrix and the run length matrix.(3)The area under the curve of the texture parameters finally included in the analysis were 0.870-0.975,0.772-0.912,0.836-0.929 and 0.766-0.920,respectively in patellar ligament,anterior cruciate ligament,posterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament for the diagnosis of knee ligament injury grading.The diagnostic efficacy for patellar ligament injury grading was the highest,which was consistent with the lowest misclassification rate for patellar ligament in the discriminant analysis of texture features.And the texture parameters ultimately included in patellar ligament were all highly correlated with its injury grading.Conclusion The texture analysis technique has high diagnostic efficacy for grading knee ligament injuries,and can provide a more accurate diagnostic imaging basis for the clinic.

OBJECTIVE: Paridis Rhizoma (Chonglou in Chinese), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been shown have strong anti-tumor effects. Paris saponin VII (PSVII), an active constituent isolated from Paridis Rhizoma, was demonstrated to significantly suppress the proliferation of BxPC-3 cells in our previous study. Here, we aimed to elucidate the anti-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) effect of PSVII and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Cell viability was determined by CCK-8, colony formation, and cell migration assays. Cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured by flow cytometry with annexin V/propidine iodide (Annexin V/PI) and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), respectively. Pyroptosis was evaluated by morphological features, Hoechst 33342/PI staining assay, and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). JC-1 fluorescent dye was employed to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to determine the levels of proteins or mRNAs. The effect in vivo was assessed by a xenograft tumor model. RESULTS: PSVII inhibited the viability of PDAC cells (BxPC-3, PANC-1, and Capan-2 cells) and induced gasdermin E (GSDME) cleavage, as well as the simultaneous cleavage of Caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP). Knockdown of GSDME shifted PSVII-induced pyroptosis to apoptosis. Additionally, the effect of PSVII was significantly attenuated by Z-Asp(OMe)-Glu(OMe)-Val-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (Z-DEVD-FMK), on the induction of GSDME-dependent pyroptosis. PSVII also elevated intracellular ROS accumulation and stimulated Bax and Caspase-3/GSDME to conduct pyroptosis in PDAC cells. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) suppressed the release of LDH and inhibited Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and GSDME cleavage in PDAC cells, ultimately reversing PSVII-induced pyroptosis. Furthermore, in a xenograft tumor model, PSVII markedly suppressed the growth of PDAC tumors and induced pyroptosis. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that PSVII exerts therapeutic effects through Caspase-3/GSDME-dependent pyroptosis and may constitute a novel strategy for preventing chemotherapeutic resistance in patients with PDAC in the future.

Objective:To investigate whether intermittent fasting alleviates insulin resistance in a polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) mouse model through the regulation of autophagy.Methods:Fifty 3-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into the following groups using a random number table: normal control(NC) group( n=10), maintained on a standard chow diet; high-fat diet(HFD) group( n=10) fed a diet with 60% of calories derived from fat; and PCOS model group( n=30), established by combining a HFD with dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) administration. Successful modeling was confirmed by disrupted estrous cycles, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology. The PCOS model mice were further divided into three groups: PCOS group( n=9), PCOS with intermittent fasting group(PCOS+ IF, n=9), and PCOS with intermittent fasting plus the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA) group(PCOS+ IF+ 3-MA, n=9). Autophagy levels were assessed by detecting markers LC3 and p62 and observing autophagosomes via transmission electron microscopy. Glucose tolerance test(GTT) and insulin tolerance test(ITT) were performed, and the area under the curve(AUC) was calculated to evaluate insulin resistance. Western blotting was used to detect phosphorylation levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B(Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), and p70S6 kiase(p70S6K). Results:Compared with the NC group, the PCOS model group showed absent estrous cycles, significantly elevated serum testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and luteinizing hormone(LH) levels( P<0.001), and polycystic ovarian changes on hematoxylin-eosin staining, confirming successful model establishment. Immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blotting demonstrated that autophagy levels were increased in the PCOS+ IF group compared with the PCOS group, while 3-MA administration reduced the intermittent fasting - induced autophagy. The AUC values for both GTT and ITT were significantly lower in the PCOS+ IF group than those in the PCOS group( P<0.001, P=0.003), but increased in the PCOS+ IF+ 3-MA group compared to the PCOS+ IF group( P<0.001, P=0.020). Western blotting analysis showed that phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K were significantly decreased in the PCOS+ IF group compared with the PCOS group( P=0.002, P=0.001, P=0.001, and P<0.001, respectively), and increased in the PCOS+ IF+ 3-MA group compared with the PCOS+ IF group( P=0.021, P=0.041, P=0.047, and P=0.024, respectively). Conclusions:Intermittent fasting alleviates insulin resistance in a PCOS mouse model through inhibitiing PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and promoting autophagy.

Objective To review the research of safe injection protocols for peripheral norepinephrine(pNE),to make clear the main contents of safe injection protocols and the compliance of clinical implementation protocols,and to provide reference for clinical nurses to use drugs safely.Methods Systematic searches were conducted in the PubMed database,the Embase database from the Netherlands,the Web of Science,the Cochrane library,CNKI,Wanfang database,VIP,and the China biomedical literature database for studies related to safe injection protocols for pNE.The search period extended from the establishment of the databases to April 30,2024.Two researchers conducted data extraction and summary analysis of the included literature.Results A total of 10 articles were incorporated,including 2 guidelines,4 observational retrospective cohort studies,2 observational prospective cohort studies,2 ambispective cohort study.All documents provide a complete safe injection scheme of pNE,and its main contents were as follows:the drug concentration should be diluted to 8～64 mg/L;the injection dose should be small,and the maximum dose should not exceed 0.5 μg·kg-1·min-1 or 25 μg/min;a short infusion time was appropriate,among which 4 schemes require≤24 hours;intravenous catheters should be large-bore models,mainly 16,18 and 20 G;selection of infusion sites with favorable venous conditions of upper limb should be selected for injection;during infusion,regular and effective monitoring was required,and the frequency of monitoring should be once an hour,not exceeding a maximum of 2 hours;observation of the puncture site,and must assess whether there was blood return to the venous pathway,develop an emergency plan for drug extravasation.Several studies provided the compliance analysis of the protocol.The items with the highest compliance were using the drug concentration specified in the protocol,with the highest implementation rate of 100.0%.The items with low compliance were:using ultrasonic catheterization or evaluation,with minimum 26.6%;monitor according to the specified time frequency,with a minimum of 36.0%;selection of infusion sites,with a minimum of 65.0%.Conclusion The pNE is safe and feasible in emergency situations,but it comes with numerous risks and limitations.Norepinephrine(NE)should be administered at low concentrations and small doses,using large-caliber venous indwelling needles,and choosing optimal injection sites.Ultrasound assessment and localization can be used if conditions permit.Short-term infusion is preferred,and effective monitoring should be conducted at regular intervals during the infusion.Emergency plans for drug extravasation should be established.Developing safe injection protocols can reduce the incidence of adverse events such as extravasation.

Objective:To investigate whether intermittent fasting alleviates insulin resistance in a polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) mouse model through the regulation of autophagy.Methods:Fifty 3-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into the following groups using a random number table: normal control(NC) group( n=10), maintained on a standard chow diet; high-fat diet(HFD) group( n=10) fed a diet with 60% of calories derived from fat; and PCOS model group( n=30), established by combining a HFD with dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) administration. Successful modeling was confirmed by disrupted estrous cycles, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology. The PCOS model mice were further divided into three groups: PCOS group( n=9), PCOS with intermittent fasting group(PCOS+ IF, n=9), and PCOS with intermittent fasting plus the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA) group(PCOS+ IF+ 3-MA, n=9). Autophagy levels were assessed by detecting markers LC3 and p62 and observing autophagosomes via transmission electron microscopy. Glucose tolerance test(GTT) and insulin tolerance test(ITT) were performed, and the area under the curve(AUC) was calculated to evaluate insulin resistance. Western blotting was used to detect phosphorylation levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B(Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), and p70S6 kiase(p70S6K). Results:Compared with the NC group, the PCOS model group showed absent estrous cycles, significantly elevated serum testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and luteinizing hormone(LH) levels( P<0.001), and polycystic ovarian changes on hematoxylin-eosin staining, confirming successful model establishment. Immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blotting demonstrated that autophagy levels were increased in the PCOS+ IF group compared with the PCOS group, while 3-MA administration reduced the intermittent fasting - induced autophagy. The AUC values for both GTT and ITT were significantly lower in the PCOS+ IF group than those in the PCOS group( P<0.001, P=0.003), but increased in the PCOS+ IF+ 3-MA group compared to the PCOS+ IF group( P<0.001, P=0.020). Western blotting analysis showed that phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K were significantly decreased in the PCOS+ IF group compared with the PCOS group( P=0.002, P=0.001, P=0.001, and P<0.001, respectively), and increased in the PCOS+ IF+ 3-MA group compared with the PCOS+ IF group( P=0.021, P=0.041, P=0.047, and P=0.024, respectively). Conclusions:Intermittent fasting alleviates insulin resistance in a PCOS mouse model through inhibitiing PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and promoting autophagy.

Objective:To investigate the changes in and correlations between melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and androgen levels in the serum of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), aiming to provide a novel research perspective for its diagnosis.Methods:A cross-sectional study. A total of 307 subjects were enrolled from the physical examination center and endocrinology clinic of the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from June 2023 to June 2024. The cohort comprised 114 healthy controls and 193 patients with PCOS, diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria. The patients were grouped into four phenotypes: Phenotype A (hyperandrogenemia [HA]+ovulatory dysfunction [OA]+polycystic ovarian morphology [PCOM], n=44), Phenotype B (HA+OA, n=50), Phenotype C (HA+PCOM, n=46), and Phenotype D (OA+PCOM, n=53). Clinical data were collected for all subjects. Serum MCH levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between MCH and androgen-related risk factors for PCOS was analyzed using Spearman partial correlation analysis and stepwise multiple linear hierarchical regression. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze factors influencing PCOS onset. The diagnostic value of MCH for PCOS was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:There were no significant differences in age and height between the healthy control group and the PCOS phenotypic groups (both P>0.05). MCH levels [17.63 (12.69, 22.00), 17.31 (11.05, 20.09), 17.82 (11.47, 19.40), 16.50 (11.14, 19.41) μg/L vs. 12.14 (9.78, 15.05) μg/L], homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum lisulin, body mass index, and weight were significantly higher across all four PCOS phenotypes (A, B, C, and D) than in healthy controls (all P<0.05), whereas sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) contents were significantly lower ( P<0.05). Free androgen index (FAI), total testosterone (TES) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels were significantly higher in PCOS phenotypes A, B, and C than in the control group and PCOS phenotype D (all P<0.05). Spearman partial correlation analysis revealed no significant correlation between MCH and TES, DHEA, or FAI in healthy controls and patients with non-HA PCOS (all P>0.05). However, in PCOS patients with HA, MCH showed a significant positive correlation with TES and DHEA ( r=0.227 and 0.196, respectively; both P<0.05), but not FAI ( P>0.05). Stepwise multiple linear hierarchical regression analysis showed that MCH was positively correlated with TES, DHEA and luteinizing hormone and negatively correlated with SHBG (all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression indicated that an increase in MCH may be a potential risk factor for PCOS occurrence ( OR=1.113, 95% CI 1.012-1.224, P=0.028). ROC analysis showed that MCH has diagnostic value for PCOS ( P<0.05), with an area under the curve of 0.713. Conclusion:Serum MCH is closely related to FAI, TES, and DHEA levels in PCOS patients and may play an important role in the etiology and progression of the syndrome.