Objective To investigate the clinical features of chronic hepatitis C(CHC)patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 3(HCV GT3)infection and the risk factors for disease progression.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among 1 002 CHC patients from 11 clinical centers in Northwest China from December 2017 to November 2023,and according to their genotype,they were divided into GT1,GT2,GT3,and GT6 groups.Clinical features were compared between the patients with different genotypes.The one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups,and the Scheffe test was used for further comparison between two groups.The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of data with skewed distribution between groups;the chi-square test or Fisher test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors for the progression of CHC to liver cirrhosis.Results In terms of the genotype,there were 427 patients with GT1 infection,242 with GT2 infection,299 with GT3 infection(210 patients with GT3a infection,87 with GT3b infection,and 2 with unclassified genotype),and 34 with GT6 infection.The patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.2±0.6 years,P<0.05)or GT2 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.7±0.8 years,P<0.05),and for the patients with liver cirrhosis,the patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 59.4±0.9 years,P<0.001)or GT2 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 58.1±1.1 years,P<0.001).Among the patients with GT3 infection,male patients accounted for 77.9%and the patients with liver cirrhosis accounted for 46.2%,which were significantly higher than those among the patients with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection(all P<0.001).At baseline,the patients with GT3 infection had significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)than those with GT1 or GT2 infection,significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and fibrosis-4(FIB4)than those with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly lower platelet count(PLT)than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly higher level of alpha-fetoprotein than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,and a significantly lower level of albumin(Alb)than those with GT6 infection(all P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the patients with GT3a infection and those with GT3b infection in age,sex,the proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis,comorbidities,HCV RNA quantification,PLT,ALT,AST,alkaline phosphatase,Alb,APRI,and FIB-4(all P>0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PLT≤150×109/L(odds ratio[OR]=10.72,95%confidence interval[CI]:5.76-35.86,P<0.001)and Alb≤35 g/L(OR=3.74,95%CI:1.22-11.45,P=0.021)were risk factors for liver cirrhosis.Conclusion Most CHC patients with GT3 infection are male in Northwest China,and compared with the patients with other genotypes,such patients tend to have a younger age of onset and higher degrees of liver inflammation activity and fibrosis.Low PLT and a low level of Alb are risk factors for progression to liver cirrhosis in CHC patients with GT3 infection.

Objective:To identify factors influencing treatment-free remission (TFR) outcomes in children and adolescent patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after imatinib (IM) discontinuation.Methods:This multicenter retrospective study analyzed 36 children and adolescent patients with CML from eight hematology centers in China (December 1, 2016, to September 27, 2024) who discontinued IM therapy with documented post-cessation outcomes. Clinical characteristics and molecular response dynamics were assessed. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to assess factors associated with TFR outcomes.Results:A total of 36 patients were documented, comprising 17 males and 19 females. The median ages at CML diagnosis and IM discontinuation were 11 years ( IQR: 5,16) and 20 years ( IQR: 14,25), respectively. The median time from IM initiation to first deep molecular response (DMR) was 21 months ( IQR: 13, 38). Pre-discontinuation, patients received IM for a median duration of 96 months ( IQR: 84, 121) and maintained DMR for 74 months ( IQR: 63, 89). With a median post-discontinuation follow-up of 38 months ( IQR: 15, 68), cumulative TFR rates at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 74.1%, 60.7%, 60.7%, and 56.0%, respectively, generating an overall TFR rate of 58.3%. Fifteen patients lost major molecular response at a median of 5 months post-discontinuation ( IQR: 3, 11). All 15 patients resumed tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, comprising 13 who restarted IM and 2 who switched to dasatinib. By the last follow-up, 13 (86.7% ) patients regained DMR after a median treatment duration of 5 months ( IQR: 3, 17), and no disease progression occurred in any patient. Withdrawal syndrome occurred in 2 (5.6% ) patients. Univariate analysis revealed significantly higher TFR rates in patients with pre-discontinuation IM duration of ≥100 months vs <100 months (82.4% vs 36.8%, P=0.017) and pre-discontinuation DMR duration of ≥72 months vs <72 months (84.2% vs 29.4%, P=0.003). Multivariate Cox analysis identified pre-discontinuation DMR duration as an independent protective factor for TFR ( HR=5.419, 95% CI: 1.524–19.272, P=0.009) . Conclusion:DMR duration was identified as an independent protective factor influencing TFR outcomes in children and adolescent patients with CML after IM discontinuation. Patients who maintained DMR for ≥72 months before IM discontinuation demonstrated a significantly higher TFR rate.

Objective:To identify factors influencing treatment-free remission (TFR) outcomes in children and adolescent patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after imatinib (IM) discontinuation.Methods:This multicenter retrospective study analyzed 36 children and adolescent patients with CML from eight hematology centers in China (December 1, 2016, to September 27, 2024) who discontinued IM therapy with documented post-cessation outcomes. Clinical characteristics and molecular response dynamics were assessed. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to assess factors associated with TFR outcomes.Results:A total of 36 patients were documented, comprising 17 males and 19 females. The median ages at CML diagnosis and IM discontinuation were 11 years ( IQR: 5,16) and 20 years ( IQR: 14,25), respectively. The median time from IM initiation to first deep molecular response (DMR) was 21 months ( IQR: 13, 38). Pre-discontinuation, patients received IM for a median duration of 96 months ( IQR: 84, 121) and maintained DMR for 74 months ( IQR: 63, 89). With a median post-discontinuation follow-up of 38 months ( IQR: 15, 68), cumulative TFR rates at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 74.1%, 60.7%, 60.7%, and 56.0%, respectively, generating an overall TFR rate of 58.3%. Fifteen patients lost major molecular response at a median of 5 months post-discontinuation ( IQR: 3, 11). All 15 patients resumed tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, comprising 13 who restarted IM and 2 who switched to dasatinib. By the last follow-up, 13 (86.7% ) patients regained DMR after a median treatment duration of 5 months ( IQR: 3, 17), and no disease progression occurred in any patient. Withdrawal syndrome occurred in 2 (5.6% ) patients. Univariate analysis revealed significantly higher TFR rates in patients with pre-discontinuation IM duration of ≥100 months vs <100 months (82.4% vs 36.8%, P=0.017) and pre-discontinuation DMR duration of ≥72 months vs <72 months (84.2% vs 29.4%, P=0.003). Multivariate Cox analysis identified pre-discontinuation DMR duration as an independent protective factor for TFR ( HR=5.419, 95% CI: 1.524–19.272, P=0.009) . Conclusion:DMR duration was identified as an independent protective factor influencing TFR outcomes in children and adolescent patients with CML after IM discontinuation. Patients who maintained DMR for ≥72 months before IM discontinuation demonstrated a significantly higher TFR rate.

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture at Neiguan(PC6)combined with Buyang Huanwu Decoction on myocardial edema-related proteins and its cardioprotective role in mice with acute high-altitude hypoxic myocardial injury,and to explore the potential mechanisms by which this combined therapy ameliorates acute hypoxic myocardial damage.Methods Mice were randomly divided into control,hypoxia model,electroacupuncture at Neiguan,Buyang Huanwu Decoction,and electroacupuncture at Neiguan+Buyang Huanwu Decoction groups.Except for the normal control group,all other groups were subjected to the establishment of an acute high-altitude hypoxia-induced myocardial injury model.Four days before entering the low-pressure hypoxia animal simulation chamber,the electroacupuncture at Neiguan group was treated with bilateral electroacupuncture at Neiguan,the Buyang Huanwu Decoction group was treated with Buyang Huanwu Decoction by gavage,and the electroacupuncture at Neiguan+Buyang Huanwu Decoction group was treated with a combination of electroacupuncture at Neiguan and Buyang Huanwu Decoction.The intervention lasted for 7 days.The normal control group and the hypoxia model group were handled normally without any other treatment.Myocardial pathology and ultrastructure were evaluated using HE staining and transmission electron microscopy.Serum levels of creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB)and cardiac troponin I(cTn-I)were measured by ELISA.Western blot was performed to quantify β1-AR,cAMP,PKA,and AQP1 protein expression.Results Compared with normal control group,the hypoxia model group exhibited significant myocardial damage,elevated cardiac biomarkers,and upregulated β1-AR/cAMP/PKA pathway proteins with increased AQP1 expression(all P<0.01).The electroacupuncture at Neiguan+Buyang Huanwu Decoction group demonstrated attenuated myocardial injury,reduced biomarker levels,and downregulated target proteins(all P<0.01)versus the hypoxia model group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Neiguan combined with Buyang Huanwu Decoction alleviates myocardial edema and injury in acute hypobaric hypoxia by reducing vascular permeability,potentially via suppression of the β1-AR/cAMP/PKA pathway and subsequent inhibition of AQP1 expression.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of chronic hepatitis C(CHC)patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 3(HCV GT3)infection and the risk factors for disease progression.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among 1 002 CHC patients from 11 clinical centers in Northwest China from December 2017 to November 2023,and according to their genotype,they were divided into GT1,GT2,GT3,and GT6 groups.Clinical features were compared between the patients with different genotypes.The one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups,and the Scheffe test was used for further comparison between two groups.The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of data with skewed distribution between groups;the chi-square test or Fisher test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors for the progression of CHC to liver cirrhosis.Results In terms of the genotype,there were 427 patients with GT1 infection,242 with GT2 infection,299 with GT3 infection(210 patients with GT3a infection,87 with GT3b infection,and 2 with unclassified genotype),and 34 with GT6 infection.The patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.2±0.6 years,P<0.05)or GT2 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.7±0.8 years,P<0.05),and for the patients with liver cirrhosis,the patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 59.4±0.9 years,P<0.001)or GT2 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 58.1±1.1 years,P<0.001).Among the patients with GT3 infection,male patients accounted for 77.9%and the patients with liver cirrhosis accounted for 46.2%,which were significantly higher than those among the patients with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection(all P<0.001).At baseline,the patients with GT3 infection had significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)than those with GT1 or GT2 infection,significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and fibrosis-4(FIB4)than those with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly lower platelet count(PLT)than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly higher level of alpha-fetoprotein than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,and a significantly lower level of albumin(Alb)than those with GT6 infection(all P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the patients with GT3a infection and those with GT3b infection in age,sex,the proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis,comorbidities,HCV RNA quantification,PLT,ALT,AST,alkaline phosphatase,Alb,APRI,and FIB-4(all P>0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PLT≤150×109/L(odds ratio[OR]=10.72,95%confidence interval[CI]:5.76-35.86,P<0.001)and Alb≤35 g/L(OR=3.74,95%CI:1.22-11.45,P=0.021)were risk factors for liver cirrhosis.Conclusion Most CHC patients with GT3 infection are male in Northwest China,and compared with the patients with other genotypes,such patients tend to have a younger age of onset and higher degrees of liver inflammation activity and fibrosis.Low PLT and a low level of Alb are risk factors for progression to liver cirrhosis in CHC patients with GT3 infection.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the epidemiological trend of children with lower gastrointestinal bleeding in recent 10 years,and investigate the change of their disease burden,so as to provide a theoretical basis for the accurate prevention and control of children's lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods A total of 671 children with "lower gastrointestinal bleeding" who were diagnosed in our hospital from 2012 to 2021 were collected as research subjects. To analyze the microscopic examination rate and common etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children in the past 10 years,as well as the epidemiological characteristics of different age groups, different regions and different basic diseases; Calculate and compare the rate of disability life lost (YLD), early death life lost (YLL) and disability adjusted life year (DALY) of children with lower gastrointestinal bleeding within 10 years, and calculate the annual change percentage (AAPC) to analyze the change trend of disease burden. Results The microscopic examination rate of children with lower gastrointestinal bleeding showed a trend of increasing in the past 10 years (P<0.001). Among them, the most common causes are Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and chronic colitis. The proportion of children with lower gastrointestinal bleeding was higher in boys, >18 years old, hypertension and gastroenteritis. The DALY rate, YLL rate and YLD rate caused by lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the past 10 years showed an upward trend (P<0.05). Conclusion The microscopic examination rate of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children was graduallyincreasing,and the prevalence rate of basic diseases such as boys,hypertension and gastroenteritis was increasing;in addition,the disease burden caused by children's lower gastrointestinal bleeding was also increasing year by year and should be protected.

OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel oral anticoagulants （NOAC） in the treatment of cancer-related venous thromboembolism （VTE） patients. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， Cochrane Library， Embase， Web of Science， CNKI， and Wanfang database from the establishment of each database to August， 2023， randomized controlled trials （RCTs） about the efficacy of low-molecular-weight heparin （LMWH， control group） versus NOAC （trial group） in the treatment of cancer-related VTE patients were collected. After extracting the data from included clinical studies， meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.0 statistical software. RESULTS A total of 7 RCTs were included， with a total of 3 790 patients. Compared with the control group， the recurrence rate of VTE in the trial group was significantly reduced （RR＝0.65， 95%CI 0.51-0.82， P＝0.000 4）， while the incidence of major bleeding was slightly higher than in the control group， but the difference was not statistically significant （RR＝1.13， 95%CI 0.83-1.53， P＝0.45）. The incidence of clinically relevant non-major bleeding （RR＝1.69， 95%CI 1.34-2.13， P＜0.000 01） and gastrointestinal bleeding （RR＝1.96， 95%CI 1.15-3.34， P＝0.01） in the trial group was significantly higher than in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage， all-cause mortality， and fatal pulmonary embolism between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS For cancer-related VTE patients， NOAC is superior to LMWH in preventing venous thrombosis recurrence， and is not inferior to LMWH in terms of major bleeding， intracranial hemorrhage， all-cause mortality， and fatal pulmonary embolism.

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is the sixth most common cancer in the world. In recent years， the clinical early diagnosis and treatment protocols of HCC have been improved， whereas the prognosis of patients is still not satisfactory， which is due to the fact that the mechanism of HCC development has not been fully elucidated. Therefore， it is of great significance to explore the molecular mechanisms and key regulatory links of hepatocellular carcinoma development to further improve the diagnosis and treatment of HCC in China. Epigenetics has become a research hotspot because of its reversibility and easy regulation. According to relevant studies， HCC involves the accumulation of multiple genetic and epigenetic changes during the initiation， promotion， and progression stages. HCC is categorized as infantile malnutrition with accumulation， hypochondriac pain， tympan ites， and abdominal mass in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. In the treatment of HCC， TCM with low toxicity， multi-targets， and multi-mechanisms can inhibit tumor growth， alleviate the clinical symptoms， and enhance the quality of life of the patients. Chinese medicines and their active ingredients exert anti-HCC effects through epigenetic regulation of DNA methylation， histone modification， and non-coding RNA. Abnormal gene expression due to epigenetic regulation disorders is involved in all stages of HCC development. There are few studies on epigenetic regulation in TCM treatment of HCC， and there is still much room for development in basic and clinical trials. This paper reviews the mechanism of epigenetic regulation in HCC and summarizes the experimental results of TCM research on the related mechanism， with a view to providing a theoretical basis for future research on the mechanism of HCC development and clinical diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with TCM.

Objective:To compare and analyze the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic microwave ablation and laparoscopic hepatectomy in the treatment of hepatic hemangioma.Methods:The clinical data of 98 patients with hepatic hemangioma admitted to the Hepatobiliary Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June 2019 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including 20 males and 78 females, aged 24-69 years. According to the surgical method, they were divided into two groups: laparoscopic microwave ablation group (ablation group) with 34 cases, and laparoscopic hepatectomy group (resection group) with 64 cases. The differences in intraoperative and postoperative recovery related indicators, follow-up and prognosis between the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results:The operative time and blood loss in the ablation group were (90.6±21.8) min and (60.3±40.8) ml, respectively, which were lower than those in the resection group (128.7±30.0) min and (165.8±212.7) ml, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-6.54, -2.86, P<0.001, P=0.005). There were 5 cases (14.71%) of residual lesions in the ablation group and none in the resection group, with a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.01, P=0.003). The ablation group was superior to the resection group in hospital stay, drainage tube removal time and postoperative pain, with statistical significance (all P<0.05). On the 1st and 3rd day after surgery, the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin in ablation group were lower than those in resection group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). In the ablation group, there were 14 cases of hemoglobinuria (41.2%), 2 cases of abdominal hemorrhage (5.9%), 0 cases of bile leakage and 6 cases of pleural effusion (17.7%), while in the resection group, these complications were 2 cases (3.1%), 18 cases (28.1%), 11 cases (17.2%) and 32 cases (50.0%), respectively, and there were statistical significance between the two groups (all P<0.05). In terms of prognosis, there was both one recurrence in each group (2.9% vs. 1.6%), with no significant difference ( χ2=1.00, P=0.653). Conclusion:Compared with laparoscopic hepatectomy, laparoscopic microwave ablation has obvious advantages in terms of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, postoperative pain and complications.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by acute lung injury (ALI) is the main cause for the high mortality of corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Huashi Baidu formula (HSBD) with the effects of eliminating dampness, clearing heat, ventilating lung, and removing toxin has been proven to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19, especially in severe cases. However, the underlying mechanism and target proteins of HSBD remain unclear. Objective: To provide evidence and decipher the mechanism of HSBD in alleviating inflammation and ALI. Materials and methods: A mouse model of ALI was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to examine the protective effects of HSBD on the model mice. The cellular thermal shift assay and proteomics analysis were used to predict the target proteins. Furthermore, the A549 cells with peroxiredoxin 5 (PRDX5) knockdown were established to validate the predicted proteins. Results: Huashi Baidu formula treatment mitigated ALI and inflammatory cytokine dysfunction in LPS-induced mice, thus exerting a therapeutic effect on COVID-19. Huashi Baidu formula could serve as a therapeutic agent to alleviate inflammation and lung injury via nuclear factor k B and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling and interleukin 17 inhibition as well as targeting PRDX5, which could be one of the promising targets for treating inflammation. In the A549 cell line with PRDX5 knockdown (si-PRDX5), the anti-inflammation effects of HSBD, including reversing LPS-induced increase in the nitric oxide level and reduction in the hydrogen peroxide content, were attenuated. Thus, HSBD protected A549 cells from LPS-induced inflammation mainly by targeting PRDX5. Conclusions: Huashi Baidu formula alleviates ALI by targeting nuclear factor κB/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and PRDX5, as well as inhibiting the immune response induced by IL-17.