Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Piwei Peiyuan Pill (PPP) combined with moxibustion for treating patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome. Methods: Ninety-six CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled at the Department of Spleen and Stomach Diseases of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from June 2022 to December 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a control, a Chinese medicine, and a combined group using a random number table method, with 32 cases in each group (two cases per group were excluded). The control group was treated with rabeprazole combined with folic acid tablets (both thrice daily), the Chinese medicine group was treated with PPP (8 g, thrice daily), and the combined group was treated with moxa stick moxibustion (once daily) on the basis of the Chinese medicine group for 12 consecutive weeks. Gastric mucosa atrophy in the three groups was observed before and after treatment. The gastric mucosal pathological score was evaluated. The Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) scale was used to evaluate the patients′ physical and mental health status and quality of life.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-37, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels in each group. Real-time fluorescence PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) mRNA in each group. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression levels of proteins related to the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, and the adverse drug reactions and events were recorded and compared. Results: There was no statistical difference in age, gender, disease duration, family history of gastrointestinal tumors, alcohol consumption history, and body mass index among the three groups of patients.The total therapeutic efficacy rates of the control, Chinese medicine, and combined groups in treating gastric mucosal atrophy were 66.67% (20/30), 86.67% (26/30), and 90.00% (27/30), respectively (P<0.05). Compared to before treatment, the pathological and PRO scale scores of gastric mucosa in each group decreased after treatment, and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, and TGF-β levels decreased. The relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, as well as the relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels decreased (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the control group, the pathological score of gastric mucosa, PRO scale score, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, TGF-β content, relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, and relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels in the Chinese medicine and combined groups after treatment were reduced (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the Chinese medicine group, the combined group showed a decrease in relative STAT3, mTOR mRNA expression levels, and STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of PPP and moxibustion may regulate the inflammatory mechanism of the body by inhibiting the abnormal activation of the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, upregulating related anti-inflammatory factor levels, downregulating pro-inflammatory factor expression, and increasing related repair factor expression, thereby promoting the recovery of atrophic gastric mucosa, reducing discomfort symptoms, and improving the physical and mental state of CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Peritoneal dialysis(PD)-associated peritonitis is a common and major complication of PD and the most common cause of technical failure of PD. The presence of bacterial biofilm may be an important factor leading to refractory or recurrence of peritonitis. To investigate the formation and characteristics of bacterial biofilms on PD catheters after peritonitis-associated catheter removal. METHODS: The patients with maintenance PD who were regularly followed up in the Peking University People' s Hospital from June 2007 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients who withdrew from PD because of peritonitis and removed the PD catheter in our hospital and underwent the scanning electron microscope examination of the catheter were selected. The general information of the patients, the electron microscope results of the PD catheter and the bacterial culture results of the PD fluid were summarized. RESULTS: (1) A total of 18 patients were included, 11 were female (accounting for 61.1%). The average age of the patients was (59.1±11.5) years, and the average duration of dialysis was (80.1±47.4) months. Primary kidney diseases were predominantly chronic glomerulonephritis (55.6%), followed by diabetic nephropathy (27.8%), and others (16.6%). The reasons for catheters removal in 18 patients were refractory peritonitis in 11 cases, recurrent peritonitis in 5 cases, and fungal peritonitis in 2 cases. (2) 16 of the 18 patients (88.9%) had catheter bacterial biofilm, and the bacterial biofilm forms were all cocci. Some were arranged in grape-like shapes, and their diameters ranged from about 500 nm to 1 000 nm. The bacterial culture results of peritoneal dialysis fluid showed that the three most common pathogens were Escherichia coli, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and Staphylococcus epidermidis. (3) Among the 18 patients enrolled, 13 patients (72.2%) had peritonitis in the past. The causative bacteria of peritonitis in 9 patients were cocci, including coagulase-negative Staphylococci (Staphylococcus suis, Staphylococcus surface, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus warneri), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus (Streptococcus salivarius and Aerococus viridans). CONCLUSION Bacterial biofilm formation on the inner surface of PD catheter is common in peritonitis-associated catheter removal patients. Not all PD catheters removed due to peritonitis have bacterial biofilms. Bacterial biofilms and peritonitis pathogens may not be consistent.
Humans ; Biofilms/growth & development* ; Peritonitis/etiology* ; Peritoneal Dialysis/instrumentation* ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Catheters, Indwelling/microbiology* ; Device Removal ; Catheter-Related Infections/microbiology* ; Aged ; Adult

Objective To explore the cut-off value of three dimensional(3D)vena contracta area(VCA)in diagnosing severe tricuspid regrugitation(TR)under different etiologies and its accuracy and practicality in clinical application.Methods From Mar 2019 to May 2021,ninety-two patients with confirmed TR underwent two dimensional(2D)and 3D transthoracic echocardiography.The correlation and consistency between 3D VCA 3D calculated based on the proximal isokinetic surface area(PISA)effective regurgitant orifice area(EROA)was calculated.Comprehensive 2D multi-parameter method was used as a reference method to calculate the cut-off value of the diagnosis of severe TR.Results A total of 85 patients were ultimately included.3D VCA and 3D PISA EROA had similar and acceptable correlations in both primary TR and secondary TR(primary TR:r=0.831,P<0.01;secondary TR:r=0.806,P<0.01).Bland-Altman analysis showed that 3D VCA overestimated TR compared with 3D PISA EROA(62%overestimated in the total patient population,51%overestimated in primary TR,and 74%overestimated in secondary TR).In secondary TR,the cut-off value of 3D VCA for diagnosing severe TR was 0.45 cm2(sensitivity 89%,specificity 82%);combining clinical symptoms,positive 2D PISA EROA results and 3D VCA results for severe TR,the chi-square value was higher than those only included clinical symptoms or incorporated clinical symptoms and positive 2D PISA EROA results(42.168 vs.26.059 and 16.759,P<0.01).Conclusion 3D VCA would overestimate TR,and had high and incremental diagnostic value for evaluating severe TR in secondary TR.

Objective To investigate anxious and depressive emotions in patients underwent cervical cancer surgery and to analyze its influencing factors.Methods A total of 304 patients who underwent primary cervical cancer surgery in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University from Oct 2018 to Jun 2021,were recruited to evaluate the clinical effect based on cervical cancer-patient reported outcome 137 scale(CC-PRO137 scale).This study focused on dimensions of depressive and anxious emotions within this scale and explored their influencing factors.Results The average scores of their depressive and anxious emotions within half a year after surgery were 4.141±0.798 and 4.020±0.616,respectively;and the average scores of depressive and anxious emotions more than one year after surgery were 4.250±0.802 and 4.097±0.613,respectively.By using statistical methods including analysis of variance and t test,it was found that there were statistically significant differences in the scores of depression and anxiety among cervical cancer patients under different postoperative adjuvant treatments and at different postoperative time points(P<0.05).However,there were no statistically significant differences in the scores of depression and anxiety among patients with different ages,surgical methods,and clinical stages of cervical cancer(P>0.05).Conclusion Patients underwent cervical cancer surgery may suffer varying degree of depressive and anxious emotions,and the main influencing factors are different adjuvant treatments and the length of time for postsurgical recovery.Medical practitioners should strengthen comfort and care for patients with cervical cancer,especially those who receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments and are in the primary stage after the surgery.Formulating positive intervention measures can effectively reduce the psychological pain of patients and safeguard their physical and mental health.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor de-escalation and nicorandil therapy in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS)after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 300 elderly patients with ACS were selected from the Sixth and Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital and Beijing Chaoyang Integrative Medicine Emergency Rescue and First Aid Hospital from November 2016 to June 2019,including 153 males and 147 females,aged>65 years old.All the patients received PCI,and all had double antiplatelet therapy(DAPT)scores≥2 and a new DAPT(PRECISE-DAPT)score of≥25.All patients were divided into two groups by random number table method before operation:ticagrelor group(n=146,ticagrelor 180 mg load dose followed by PCI,and ticagrelor 90 mg bid after surgery)and ticagrelor de-escalation + nicorandil group(n=154,ticagrelor 180 mg load dose followed by PCI,ticagrelor 90 mg bid+nicorandil 5 mg tid after surgery,changed to ticagrelor 60 mg bid+ nicorandil 5 mg tid 6 months later).Follow-up was 12 months.The composite end points of cardiovascular death,myocardial infarction and stroke,the composite end points of mild hemorrhage,minor hemorrhage,other major hemorrhage and major fatal/life-threatening hemorrhage as defined by the PLATO study,and the composite end points of cardiovascular death,myocardial infarction,stroke and bleeding within 12 months in the two groups were observed.Results The comparison of general baseline data between the two groups showed no statistically significant difference(P>0.05).There was also no significant difference in the composite end points of cardiovascular death,myocardial infarction and stroke between the two groups(P>0.05).The cumulative incidence of bleeding events in ticagrelor de-escalation + nicorandil group was significantly lower than that in ticagrelor group(P<0.05),while the composite end points of cardiovascular death,myocardial infarction,stroke and bleeding were also significantly lower than those in tecagrelor group(P<0.05).Conclusion In elderly patients with ACS,the treatment of ticagrelor de-escalation + nicorandil after PCI may not increase the incidence of ischemic events such as cardiovascular death,myocardial infarction or stroke,and it may reduce the incidence of hemorrhagic events.

Objective: To investigate the current status and influencing factors of sleep disorders among pregnant women, so as to provide insights into health management during pregnancy. Methods: Pregnant women who underwent prenatal checkups at Hangzhou Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from January to October 2023 were selected as subjects, and general data including age, pregnancy period and exercise were collected through questionnaire surveys. Sleep quality, pregnancy stress, anxiety and depression were evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale, Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, respectively. Factors affecting sleep disorders among pregnant women were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 386 pregnant women was surveyed, with a mean age of (30.28±4.65) years, including 20.47% in the first trimester, 47.93% in the second trimester and 31.61% in the third trimester. Women with anxiety and depression accounted for 14.51% and 21.76%, respectively. Pregnancy stress was mainly moderate, accounting for 51.04%. There were 106 pregnant women with sleep disorders, accounting for 27.46%. Mutivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age (≥35 years, OR=1.656, 95%CI: 1.094-2.503), pregnancy period (third pregnancy, OR=2.097, 95%CI: 1.213-3.621), regular exercise in the past 6 months (OR=0.376, 95%CI: 0.210-0.670), anxiety (OR=2.794, 95%CI: 1.545-5.048), depression (OR=3.501, 95%CI: 1.877-6.529) and pregnancy stress (moderate, OR=1.355, 95%CI: 1.018-1.801; severe, OR=2.538, 95%CI: 1.417-4.540) were the factors affecting sleep disorders among pregnant women. Conclusions Sleep disorders of pregnant women is influenced by age, pregnancy period, pregnancy stress, anxiety, depression and exercise. It is necessary to identify high-risk individuals with sleep disorders early, and to provide psychological intervention and prenatal health guidance.

BACKGROUND:Inflammation,oxidative stress and bacterial infection are the main causes of delayed wound healing in diabetes.In recent years,various inorganic nanomaterials have been widely used in the treatment of skin wound healing due to their antibacterial activities,but their effects on anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation are limited. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Prussian blue nanoparticles on the wound repair of diabetes in terms of antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and photothermal antibacterial activities. METHODS:Prussian blue nanoparticles were prepared and characterized.(1)In vitro:The biocompatibility of Prussian blue nanoparticles with different concentrations was detected by MTT assay.The cytoprotective effect of Prussian blue nanoparticles and the intracellular reactive oxidative species level were examined under the condition of hydrogen peroxide.The ability of Prussian blue nanoparticles to decompose hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion radicals was tested;the effect of Prussian blue nanoparticles on lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage inflammation was investigated.The photothermal antibacterial activity of Prussian blue nanoparticles was detected by the plate colony counting method.(2)In vivo:ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin to establish a diabetes mouse model.After the model was successfully established,a 6 mm wound was created on the back with a hole punch.There were the control group(no treatment),the Prussian blue group and the Prussian blue with light group.The wound healing and histomorphological changes were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In vitro:Prussian blue nanoparticles in 25-200 μg/mL were non-toxic to cells.Prussian blue nanoparticles had the extremely strong antioxidant capacity and mitigated the intracellular reactive oxidative species at a high oxidative stress environment,resulting in a pronounced cytoprotective effect.The Prussian blue nanoparticles not only exhibited hydrogen peroxide degradation activity but also showed strong superoxide scavenging ability.Prussian blue nanoparticles also displayed significant anti-inflammatory activity and extremely strong antibacterial ability after light irradiation.(2)In vivo:After 14 days,the wound sizes of the Prussian blue group and Prussian blue with light group were significantly reduced,and the healing speed of Prussian blue with light group was the fastest.Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining showed a lot of granulation tissue formation and collagen deposition in the Prussian blue group and the Prussian blue with light group,of which the Prussian blue with light group was the most.Immunofluorescence staining displayed that,compared with the control group,the expressions of α-SMA and CD31 were increased significantly in Prussian blue group and Prussian blue with light group(P<0.05),but F4/80 expression was decreased significantly in Prussian blue group and Prussian blue with light group(P<0.05),indicating more obvious improvement in the Prussian blue with light group.(3)These results showed that Prussian blue nanoparticles could promote the skin wound healing of the diabetes mouse model by exerting anti-inflammatory,antioxidant and antibacterial effects.

Objective To study the effect of curcumin on wound healing in diabetic mice.Methods The effect of curcumin on fibroblast activity was examined by the MTT assay,and the ROS detection kit was used to detect the effect of curcumin on the hydrogen peroxide-induced scavenging effect of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in fibroblasts.Q-PCR was used to detect the effects of curcumin on the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors CD86,CD206,IL-6 and ARG1 in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7macrophage.The wound model of diabetes was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Masson staining were used to evaluate wound healing and histomorphological changes,and immunofluorescence staining was used to determine skin tissue α-smooth muscle actin,CD86 and CD206 expression.Results Curcumin had no significant effect on fibroblast activity at concentrations less than 20 mol·L-1;curcumin scavenged hydrogen peroxide-induced intracellular ROS in fibroblasts;curcumin decreased the mRNA expression of CD86 and IL-6 while increasing CD206 and ARG1 in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages.After in vivo administration,compared with the control group,wound healing was significantly faster in the curcumin(15,30 mg·mL-1)group after 7 d and 14 d of wound perforation(P＜0.01).Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Masson staining results confirmed a significant increase in granulation tissue and a significant increase in collagen deposition in the curcumin(15,30 mg·mL-1)group.Immunofluorescence assay showed significantly higher expression of CD206(P＜0.01)and significantly reduced expression of CD86(P＜0.01)in the skin wounds of curcumin(15,30 mg·mL-1)for 14 d.In addition,the expression of α-SMA in the wound of the high-dose curcumin(30 mg·mL-1)group was significantly higher than that of the low-dose curcumin group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Curcumin accelerates diabetic wound healing by promoting granulation tissue proliferation and collagen deposition in refractory diabetic wounds in mice through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Objective To construct machine learning models that can be used to predict AUC fold change(FC)using a database of existing pharmacokinetic(PK)and drug-drug interaction(DDI)information,which can be used to explore the possibility of predicting existing drug interactions and to provide certain rational recommendations for clinical drug use.Methods PK data of DDIs and AUC fold change data were extracted from FDA-approved drug labels.Peptide and pharmacodynamic(PD)information related to drug interactions were retrieved through DrugBank,and PPDT identification of relevant peptide IDs was performed using Protein Resource(UniProt),and a matrix normalization code was used to generate multidimensional vector data that were easy to analysis.The effect of PPDT on the AUC,and the resulting multiplicity change was used as the dependent variable for machine learning model construction.The model with the smallest root mean square error(RMES)value was used for model construction to train a bagged decision tree(Bagged)prediction model.The models were tested using the trained models for some of the drug tests.The models were evaluated by reviewing the available literature findings on detection of drug interaction pairs and analyzing and comparing the predicted values.Results A total of 16 pairs of model drug pairs were tested for the effects of 16 drugs on tacrolimus,and it was found that the accuracy of the prediction of the presence or absence of drug interactions was 81.25％;the prediction results were classified according to the FDA standard classification of the strong and weak for the strength of drug interactions,and the results showed that the prediction of the strength of drug interactions,with a large deviation from the larger prediction was less.Conclusion The evaluation of the model to predict the presence or absence of drug interactions was general;however,after classifying the strengths and weaknesses of drug interactions,the prediction of drug interactions was better,and the prediction results indicated that the model prediction performance has a certain reference value for potential DDI assessment before clinical trials.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of artificial liver support therapy with an Evanure-4A selective membrane plasma separator and its influence on platelet count in the treatment of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF)patients with different platelet counts.Methods A total of 302 patients with ACLF who were hospitalized in Department of Hepatology,Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center,from January 2021 to May 2023,were enrolled,and according to the platelet count(PLT),they were divided into group A(25×109/L—50×109/L)with 101 patients,group B(51×109/L—80×109/L)with 98 patients,and group C(81×109/L—100×109/L)with 103 patients.In addition to medical treatment,all patients received different modes of artificial liver support therapy based on their conditions,including plasma perfusion combined with plasma exchange,double plasma molecular adsorption combined with plasma exchange,and bilirubin system adsorption combined with plasma exchange.The paired t-test was used for comparison of continuous data before and after treatment in each group;an analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups,and the SNK-q test was used for further comparison between two groups;the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between multiple groups.Results Of all 302 patients,268(88.74%)achieved varying degrees of improvement in clinical symptoms after artificial liver support therapy.After treatment,all three groups had varying degrees of reductions in alanine aminotransferase(t=14.755,21.614,and 15.965,all P＜0.001),aspartate aminotransferase(t=11.491,19.301,and 13.919,all P＜0.001),total bilirubin(t=19.182,17.486,and 21.75,all P＜0.001),and international normalized ratio(INR)(t=3.497,3.327,and 4.358,all P＜0.05).After artificial liver support therapy with an Evanure-4A selective membrane plasma separator,PLT in group A decreased from(37.73±6.27)×109/L before treatment to(36.59±7.96)×109/L after treatment,PLT in group B decreased from(66.97±7.64)×109/L before treatment to(62.59±7.37)×109/L after treatment,and PLT in group C decreased from(93.82±5.38)×109/L before treatment to(85.99±12.49)×109/L after treatment;groups B and C had significant reductions in PLT after treatment(t=12.993 and 8.240,both P＜0.001),but there was no significant difference in group A(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions during artificial liver support therapy between the three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Artificial liver support therapy can improve liver function and INR in patients with ACLF.The use of Evaure-4A selective membrane plasma separator during artificial liver support therapy has little influence on platelets,and it is safe in the treatment of ACLF patients with a significantly lower level of platelets.