Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T _NANC), time to symptom improvement (T _SI), and time of hospital stay (T _HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T _NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.

As the brain's resident immune cells, microglia perform crucial functions such as phagocytosis, neuronal network maintenance, and injury restoration by adopting various phenotypes. Dynamic imaging of these phenotypes is essential for accessing brain diseases and therapeutic responses. Although numerous probes are available for imaging pro-inflammatory microglia, no PET tracers have been developed specifically to visualize anti-inflammatory microglia. In this study, we present an ¹⁸F-labeled PET tracer (QTFT) that targets the P2Y₁₂, a receptor highly expressed on anti-inflammatory microglia. [¹⁸F]QTFT exhibited high binding affinity to the P2Y₁₂ (14.43 nmol/L) and superior blood-brain barrier permeability compared to other candidates. Micro-PET imaging in IL-4-induced neuroinflammation models showed higher [¹⁸F]QTFT uptake in lesions compared to the contralateral normal brain tissues. Importantly, this specific uptake could be blocked by QTFT or a P2Y₁₂ antagonist. Furthermore, [¹⁸F]QTFT visualized brain lesions in mouse models of epilepsy, glioma, and aging by targeting the aberrantly expressed P2Y₁₂ in anti-inflammatory microglia. In a pilot clinical study, [¹⁸F]QTFT successfully located epileptic foci, showing enhanced radioactive signals in a patient with epilepsy. Collectively, these studies suggest that [¹⁸F]QTFT could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for imaging various brain disorders by targeting P2Y₁₂ overexpressed in anti-inflammatory microglia.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of modified Gualou Zhishitang combined with piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium on the immune function and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in the patients with stroke-associated pneumonia （SAP， syndrome of phlegm-heat accumulation in lung）. MethodEighty SAP patients with the syndrome of phlegm-heat accumulation in lung were randomized into a control group （40 cases） and a study group （40 cases）. The SAP patients in the control group were treated with piperacillin sodium and tazobtam sodium， while those in the study group were treated with modified Gualou Zhishitang on the basis of the treatment in the control group for 2 consecutive weeks. The clinical therapeutic effects， immune function indexes， inflammation indexes， and lung function of SAP patients in the two groups before and after treatment were determined and compared. ResultAfter treatment， the scores of lesion， pulmonary rales， cough， fever， phlegm color， and constipation in both groups decreased （P<0.05）. After treatment， the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced expiratory volume （FEV₁/FVC） and forced expiratory volume in the first second as percentage of predicted value（FEV₁%） in both groups improved （P<0.05）， and the study group outperformed the control group （P<0.05）. The treatment decreased the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio （NLR） in the two groups （P<0.05）， and the study group had lower NLR than the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. The serum levels of procalcitonin （PCT） and hypersensitive C-reactive protein （hs-CRP） in both groups declined after treatment （P<0.05）， and the declines were more significant in the study group than in the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the study group was better than the control group （P<0.05）. The treatment in both groups elevated the levels of CD3⁺， CD4⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in the peripheral blood and lowered the level of CD8⁺ （P<0.05）， and the changes were more significant in the study group than in the control group （P<0.05）. The total response rate of the study group was 95.00% （38/40）， which was higher than that （80.00%， 32/40） of the control group （χ²=4.114，P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionModified Gualhou Zhishitang combined with piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium demonstrates a significant therapeutic effect on the SAP patients with the syndrome of phlegm-heat accumulation in lung. This therapy can mitigate the clinical symptoms， improve the lung function， lower the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines， and improve the immune capacity， with high safety.

Objective:Based on the method of metabonomics, the intervention effect of Dingchuan decoction on neutrophilic asthma and its possible mechanism were analyzed from the changes of endogenous metabolites.Methods:Forty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal group (group A), neutrophilic asthma model group (group B), Dingchuan decoction low dose treatment group (group C), Dingchuan decoction medium dose treatment group (group D), and Dingchuan decoction high dose treatment group (group E), with 8 mice in each group.B/C/D/E group used ovalbumin (OVA) and complete Freund′s adjuvant (CFA) to induce sensitized mice to establish neutrophilic asthma model, and C/D/E group used Dingchuan decoction with different concentrations of crude drugs for intervention treatment.Buxco small animal lung function tester was used to evaluate the airway reactivity of mice; The total number of white blood cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was counted by counting plate, and the number was classified by cell smear staining; The pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.The serum metabolites of mice in each group were detected by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with four pole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). The commonly used principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models were used for statistical analysis of the metabolite profiles in serum. The intervention effect of Dingchuan decoction and its possible mechanism were reflected from the changes of endogenous metabolites.Results:(1) General behavior observation: except mice in group A, mice in other groups showed asthma symptoms of different degrees during the challenge period. The symptoms of mice in each treatment group (group C, D, E) of Dingchuan decoction were less than those in group B. (2) Airway reactivity: the airway reactivity of mice in group B to methacholine (MCh) increased with the inhalation concentration, and the airway resistance at each concentration of MCh was significantly higher than that in group A (all P<0.01); the airway reactivity in group C, D and E was lower than that in group B (all P<0.01); the airway reactivity in group D and E was lower than that in group C (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in airway reactivity between group D and E ( P>0.05). (3) Airway inflammatory cell infiltration: the total number of white blood cells (WBC) and percentage of neutrophil in BALF of group B were significantly higher than those of group A (all P<0.01). The total WBC and percentage of neutrophil in group C, D and E were lower than those in group B (all P<0.01). The total number of WBC and percentage of neutrophil in group D and E were lower than those in group C (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference between group D and group E (all P>0.05). (4) Pathological changes of lung tissues: no pathological changes were observed in the lung tissues of group A mice. In group B, typical pathological changes such as bronchial lumen stenosis, intraluminal mucosal folds hyperplasia, epithelial cell exfoliation, swelling, mucous embolus, alveolar and lung tissue structure destruction, massive inflammatory cell infiltration around bronchus and blood vessels were observed, among which neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration were the most obvious. The damage of lung tissue structure, bronchial mucosa edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in Dingchuan decoction treatment groups were significantly improved compared with group B, and the pathological changes of lung tissue in group D were relatively light. (5) Metabolomics analysis: PCA, PLS-DA and OPLS-DA analysis of serum metabolites in each group showed that serum metabolites in group A and group B were significantly different. The metabolic pathway analysis showed that Dingchuan decoction with different crude drug concentrations could improve the metabolic disorders caused by asthma in different degrees. Conclusions:Dingchuan decoction can effectively reduce airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in mice with neutrophil asthma, and effectively regulate metabolic abnormalities caused by neutrophil asthma.

Objective To investigate the application value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination in the efficacy evaluation of infliximab combined with seton placement for perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (PFCD) and influencing factors of deep remission.Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 57 patients with PFCD who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from August 2010 to October 2017 were collected.There were 39 males and 18 females,aged (24±9)years,with a range of 14-58 years.Patients underwent MRI examination preoperatively and postoperatively.Observation indicators:(1) follow-up situations;(2) influencing factors analysis of deep remission of PFCD.Follow-up using outpatient and inpatient reexamination was performed to detect clinical recovery of patients up to October 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range).Count data were represented as absolute number or percentage.The univariate analysis was performed using the chi-square test.The multivariate analysis was done using the logistic regression model,using P＜0.15 as an inclusion criteria in the univariate analysis.Results (1) Follow-up situations:57 patients with PFCD undergoing inflixmab combined with seton placement were followed up for (40±24)months.During the follow-up,24 of 57 patients had clinical response,33 had long-term clinical healing.The fistulas of 24 patients with clinical response presented as high signal on T2 weighted image (T2WI) of postoperative MRI.Of 33 patients with long-term clinical healing,the fistulas of 16 patients with deep remission presented loss of high signal and replacement of fibrosis tissue on T2WI of postoperative MRI,the fistulas of 17 patients without deep remission presented as high signal on T2WI of postoperative MRI.(2) Influencing factors analysis of deep remission of PFCD:results of univariate analysis showed that extent of fistula was related factors affecting deep remission of PFCD (x2 =4.312,P＜0.05).Results of multivariate analysis showed that a single fistula complicated with branches and times of infliximab maintenance treatment ≤3 were independent risk factors affecting deep remission of PFCD (odds ratio=4.377,4.296,95％ confidence interval:1.124-17.043,1.158-15.940,P＜0.05) and fistula under levator ani muscle was an independent protective factor affecting deep remission of PFCD (odds ratio =0.182,95％ confidence interval:0.041-0.815,P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Partial patients with long-term clinical healing can achieve deep remission after Infliximab combined with seton placement for perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease,requiring MRI examination to further evaluate recovery situations.A single fistula complicated with branches and times of infliximab maintenance treatment ≤ 3 are independent risk factors affecting deep remission of PFCD and fistula under levator ani muscle is an independent protective factor affecting deep remission of PFCD.

Objective To summarize the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of the persistcnt perineal sinus (PPS).Methods The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted.The clinical data of 7 patients with PPS who were admitted to the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between July 2010 and January 2017 were collected.Patients received horizontal,anteroposterior axes and coronal scanning of MRI after abdominoperineal resection (APR) of rectal cancer.Two physicians read collectively films and then achieved consistent results if there was a disputed result.Observation indicators:(1) MRI features;(2) treatment and follow-up situations.Patients underwent resection of PPS according to results of MRI examination,and then regular pathological examination.Follow-up using telephone interview was performed to detect sinus recurrence and reoperation up to April 2017.Results (1) MRI features:① Lesion location:lesions of PPS in 7 patients were located at the presacral areas,top side was up to the third sacral plane,and lower side extended down to the pubic area.② Morphology and signal:sinus tract of 7 patients showed irregular flaky and tubular abnormal signals;fibrotic sinus tract wall showed low signals in T1 weighted imaging (T1WI) and T2WI;contents of sinus tract in 7 patients showed low signal in T1WI and high signals in T2WI and T2WI-fat suppression (T2WI-FS).Of 7 patients,uniform signal and mixed signal were respectively detected in 2 and 5 patients.③ Branches and cystic spaces:1 patient had a branch at the tip of the coccyx,extending to the rear of the sacral vertebra.The top of sinus tract in 4 patients enlarged to form a cavity.④ Signs of infection:signs of infection in 3 patients included blurred and exuded fat gaps around the sinus tract,unclear and partially adhesion with pelvic organ;the pelvic floor muscles in 1 patient were thickened and swollen,with a high signal in T2WI-FS;flaky fluid shadows in 2 patients were seen in the posterior sinus,with a high signal in T2WI-FS,showing a tissue edema of anterior sacrum.⑤ Enhancement features:result of MRI examination of 1 patient showed mild and heterogeneous enhancement of sinus.(2) Treatment and follow-up situations:among 7 patients undergoing sinus resection,2 received curettage of superior sinus due to high location,and 5 received successfully operation.All patients underwent postoperatively regular antibiotic therapy.The healing time was 14-78 days,with an average time of 42 days.The postoperative pathological examination showed different degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration.Seven patients were followed up for 2-74 months,with an average time of 40 months.Of 7 patients,sinus in 6 patients was healed,1 had recurrence of sinus and didn't receive therapy.Seven patients didn't undergo debridement or transposition of skin flap again.Conclusion The MRI imaging features of PPS includes flaky and tubular abnormal signal in the the anterior sacrum,low signal in T1WI,high signals in T2WI and T2WI-FS,and the enhanced scanning of sinus duet shows mild and heterogeneous enhancement.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of infliximab combined with sphincter-sparing surgery in treatment of perianal Crohn's disease.Methods Clinical data of 49 patients with perianal Crohn's disease (3 cases with nonfistulizing perianal Crohn's disease and 46 cases with fistulizing perianal Crohn's disease) receiving infliximab combined with sphincter-sparing surgery in Jiangsu Province Hospital of TCM from May 2010 to June 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.The situation of fistula closure was assessed.C-reactive protein and perianal disease activity index were estimated by Wilcoxon method.Results No patient was failed to respond to primary treatment.patients (26/46) had a complete response to treatment,28.3％ patients (13/46) had a partial response and 15.2％ patients (7/46) had lost response to treatment;2 cases of anal ulcer healing;No other perianal lesion occurred in 1 case of verrucous skin.At final follow-up,CRP was decreased to [4.5 (1.5,15.9)] mg/Lfrom [16.9(6.6,35.6)] mg/L(Z=-3.994,P=0.00);PDAI was decreased to[1(0,4.5)]from [7(4.5,10.5)] (Z=-6.100,P=0.00).Conclusion Infliximab combined with sphincter-sparing surgery is effective for perianal Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical features of perianal Crohn disease (PCD).

METHODSClinical data of 52 PCD patients who were treated at the Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from June 2011 to October 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Montreal classification, clinical symptoms, the subtype of perianal lesions, history of perianal surgery and medical treatment, disease active indexes, serum inflammation markers and nutritional indexes were included.

RESULTSAmong 52 patients, there were 40 males and 12 females with a mean age of (27.9±9.1) years. According to Montreal classification, 51.9%(27/52) of patients had ileocolic involvement and 75.0%(39/52) had inflammatory disease behavior. Thirteen (25.0%) and 15(28.8%) patients had abdominal pain and diarrhea respectively at admission. With respect to the subtype of perianal lesions, there were 32(61.5%) cases of anal fistula and 16(30.8%) cases of perianal abscess. Thirty-nine(75.0%) and 33(63.5%) patients had a history of perianal surgery and medical treatment before admission resepectively. Laboratory findings revealed high C-reaction protein level in 63.5%(33/52), high erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 61.5%(32/52), elevated platelet in 32.7%(17/52), low body weight in 44.2%(23/52), low albumin in 26.9%(14/52) and anemia in 42.3%(22/52) of patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical features of PCD patients include male predominant, early onset disease, high prevalence of ileocolic involvement and inflammation disease behavior. Features prompting underlying PCD diagnosis include characteristic gastrointestinal symptoms, requiring multiple perianal surgery, and abnormality of inflammation markers and nutritional indexes.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of perianal Crohn's disease (CD) with or without proctitis and compare the treatment effect of surgery combined with biological preparation.Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinical data of 52 patients with perianal CD who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2011 to October 2014 were collected.Thirty patients with inflammation involvement of the rectum and 22 patients without inflammation involvement of the rectum were respectively divided into the proctitis group and non-proctitis group.All the 52 patients underwent surgery combined with infliximab therapy.Observation indicators included:(1) clinical characteristics:gender,age,body mass index (BMI),lesion location,disease behavior,type of perianal lesions,history of perianal surgeries,CD activity index (CDAI),perianal disease activity index (PDAI),C-reactive protein (CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),white blood cell (WBC),platelet (PLT) and albumin (Alb),(2) treatment and follow-up.Follow-up using outpatient examination was performed to evaluate the perianal lesions up to December 2015.Measurement data with normal distribution were described as-x ± s and comparison between groups was analyzed by the t test.Count data were described as the percentage,and comparison between groups was analyzed by the chi-square test and Fisher's exact probability.Results (1)Clinical characteristics:number of patients with BMI ＜ 18.5 kg/m2 and with normal BMI were respectively 17,13 in the proctitis group and 6,16 in the non-proctitis group.Lesions located at ileum,colon and ileocolon were respectively detected in 3,9,18 patients in the proctitis group and 9,4,9 patients in the non-proctitis group.CDAI≥ 150 and ＜ 150,CRP≥8 mg/L and ＜ 8 mg/L,ESR ＞ normal level and =normal level,Alb ＜ 35 g/L and between 35 g/L and 50 g/L were respectively detected in 23,7,25,5,24,6,12,18 patients in the proctitis group and 8,14,8,14,8,14,2,20 in the non-proctitis group,with statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (x2 =4.446,6.855,8.563,12.076,10.211,6.163,P ＜ 0.05).(2) Treatment and follow-up:all the 52 patients underwent more than 3 times infliximab therapies and perianal surgeries within 1 week after infliximab therapy.All the patients were followed up for a median time of 28 months (range,8-52 months).Thirty-four patients still underwent maintenance therapy of immunosuppressive agents and 18 didn't undergo maintenance therapy up to the end of follow-up.Twenty-two patients in the proctitis group and 12 patients in the non-proctitis group underwent maintenance therapy,with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (x2 =1.979,P ＞ 0.05).The total healed rate,improvement rate and unhealed rate of perianal lesion were 55.8％ (29/52),34.6％ (18/52) and 9.6％ (5/52),respectively.The number of patients with healed,improved and unhealed perianal lesions were 16,11,3 in the proctitis group and 13,7,2 in the non-proctitis group,respectively,showing no significant difference in treatment effects between the 2 groups (x2 =O.173,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Patients with perianal CD combined with proctitis have higher activity of intestinal inflammation and worse nutritional status compared with patients without proctitis.However,there is no significant difference in the type and activity of perianal lesion between patients with or without proctitis.Surgery combined with biological preparation could render better clinical outcomes in treatment of perianal CD with proctitis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) in the treatment of complex fistula-in-ano.

METHODSClinical data of 24 patients with complex fistula-in-ano who treated with LIFT in the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from September 2009 to February 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. The operative efficacy and postoperative continence were evaluated.

RESULTSThe prime success rate of fistula healing was 66.7% (16/24) after the LIFT procedure. Two patients presented with intersphincteric incision infection which was successfully treated with topical of silver nitrate. Four patients had intersphincteric fistula with infection and managed with the complete laying open approach. The total clinical healing rate was 91.7% (22/24). Another 2 patients had persistent external opening with discharge. During follow-up of 6 to 44 (median 16) months, The Cleveland Clinic Florida Fecal Incontinence score revealed that no patient developed decreased continence.

CONCLUSIONLIFT is a safe and effective sphincter-preserve procedure for complex fistula-in-ano.