1.Association of menopausal time and menopausal age with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An analysis based on a restricted cubic spline model
Chenlu ZHAO ; Suping MA ; Dongfang SHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Xiaoyan LIU ; Yuanyuan ZHENG ; Wenxia ZHAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):247-253
ObjectiveTo investigate the association of menopausal time and menopausal age with the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and to provide a basis for the early prevention and treatment of NAFLD in clinical practice. MethodsRelated data were collected from 373 postmenopausal women who attended the outpatient service of Department of Spleen, Stomach, Liver and Gallbladder Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, from January 2017 to December 2021, including general information, menopausal age, menopausal time, and presence or absence of NAFLD. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data; the independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. A Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the association intensity and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of menopausal time and menopausal age for the risk of NAFLD, and the restricted cubic spline (RCS) method was used to investigate the dose-response relationship between menopausal time/age and the risk of NAFLD. ResultsCompared with the women with normal menopause or late menopause, the women with early menopause had a higher prevalence rate of NAFLD and a higher degree of steatosis and fibrosis (all P<0.05). After adjustment for the confounding factors such as age and age of menarche, the risk of NAFLD in women with a menopausal time of >3 years was 4.80 (95%CI: 1.93 — 11.95, P=0.001) times that in women with a menopausal time of ≤3 years, and the risk of NAFLD in women with early or late menopause was 8.14 times (95%CI: 1.77 — 37.58, P=0.007) and 0.09 times (95%CI: 0.03 — 0.32, P<0.001), respectively, that in those with a normal menopausal age. There is a dose-response relationship between menopausal time/age and the risk of NAFLD. Menopausal time is positively correlated with the association intensity of NAFLD, while menopausal age is negatively correlated with the association intensity of NAFLD. ConclusionThe longer the menopause time and the earlier the menopause age, the ligher the risk of NAFLD.
2.Stage-Based Intervention in Atherosclerosis Using the "Attacking,Supplementing,Dispersing,Dissipating" Method Based on the Accumulation Syndrome Theory
Yujie LUAN ; Chenlu YUAN ; Zizhen CHEN ; Yijun LIU ; Yi WEI ; Yuanhui HU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(7):685-689
Atherosclerosis is a complex pathological condition resulting from lipid deposition, chronic inflammatory responses, and fibrosis, with a prolonged disease course and multifactorial etiology. Based on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of accumulation syndrome, atherosclerosis can be classified under this category, with its pathogenesis involving phlegm, blood stasis, deficiency, and accumulation. This paper proposed a stage-based intervention strategy using the four therapeutic principles of "attacking, supplementing, dispersing, dissipating", and divided into six stages based on the pathological progression, including the stage of accumulation before formation, the stage of accumulation already formed, the stage of nucleus accumulation, the stage of nucleus accumulation decay, the stage of nucleus accumulation consolidation, and the stage of severe stenosis of nucleus. At different stages, the intervention focuses on reinforcing healthy qi and consolidating the root, tonifying the kidneys and spleen, dispersing and removing turbidity, removing phlegm stagnation, promoting qi circulation, dispersing accumulations and removing stasis, attacking accumulation and expelling stasis, directing the turbid downward and dispersing accumulation, and treatment would be adjusted based on specific symptoms, which provides a theoretical framework for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis with TCM.
3.Clinical Study on Treatment of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Patients with Dyslipidemia by Dizhuo Huayu Prescription with Catgut Embedding Therapy
Xiaoyan LIU ; Dongfang SHANG ; Lihui ZHANG ; Chenlu ZHAO ; Siying WANG ; Huaxin CHEN ; Wenxia ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(20):152-159
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Dizhuo Huayu prescription combined with catgut embedding therapy in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and dyslipidemia and explore the effect of the combined therapy on inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β. MethodsA total of 82 patients with NASH and dyslipidemia from the Gastroenterology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, with 41 patients in each group. The control group received Polyene Polyenylphosphatidylcholine Capsules, while the treatment group received Dizhuo Huayu prescription granules combined with catgut embedding. The treatment duration was 24 weeks for both groups. At weeks 0, 12, and 24, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, body mass index (BMI), liver fat content assessed by Fibroscan (CAP value), the level of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and free fatty acid (FFA), and the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-18 and IL-1β in serum were observed. Adverse reactions in both groups were recorded. ResultsA comparison of the comprehensive therapeutic effects between the two groups after 24 weeks of treatment revealed that the total effective rate was 62.16% (23/37) in the control group and 85.71% (30/35) in the treatment group, with a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 5.14, P<0.05). At weeks 12 and 24 after treatment, the TCM syndrome score, BMI, CAP value, TC, TG, LDL-C, and FFA were all significantly lower in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels, while the HDL-C level significantly increased (P<0.05). The effect was better at week 24 (P<0.05) than at week 12 (P<0.05), and the treatment group showed better outcomes than the control group at weeks 12 and 24 after treatment (P<0.05). After 24 weeks of treatment, both groups exhibited significant reductions in IL-18 and IL-1β levels (P<0.05). The treatment group demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the control group after treatment (P<0.05). Both groups experienced decreases in ALT, AST, and GGT levels after treatment (P<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the 12-week and 24-week post-treatment values within each group, nor were there significant differences between the two groups. No significant adverse reactions were observed in both groups. ConclusionThe Dizhuo Huayu prescription combined with catgut embedding therapy is safe and effective in treating patients with NASH and dyslipidemia, exhibiting hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, lipid-regulating, and weight-reducing effects.
4.A meta-analysis of effects of combined cognitive intervention and physical intervention on mild cognitive impairment
Guangwen LIU ; Chenlu HONG ; Takching TAI ; Zhaorui LIU ; Yanan LUO
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2024;38(7):591-598
Objective:To evaluate the effect of combined cognitive and physical intervention on mild cogni-tive impairment(MCI)using meta-analysis.Methods:Five databases including CNKI,PubMed,Web of Science,Cochrane and Embase were retrieved.Randomized Control Trials containing the combined cognitive and physical therapies on MCI were included.Statistical analysis,including the evaluation of the effects on global cognition,memory and executive function or attention,as well as the subgroup analysis were conducted using Stata 15.0.Results:A total of 28 articles was eventually included,with 2 796 participants.Results showed that the effec-tiveness of combined intervention on global cognitive function(SMD=0.68,95%CI:0.39-0.97),memory(SMD=0.35,95%CI:0.01-0.68)as well as executive function or attention(SMD=-0.28,95%CI:-0.51--0.05)were significantly better than the control group.Subgroup analysis indicated that the effects of combined intervention on the above domains of cognitive function among the participants were affected by the intervention mode,control type,whether there were other interventions and intervention frequency.Conclusion:Combined cogni-tive and physical intervention could effectively improve mild cognitive impairment.
5.A retrospective cohort study on the short-term clinical efficacy of single-port assisted endoscopic breast conserving surgery versus conventional open approach for breast cancer
Zhihan LIU ; Chenlu LIU ; Jiangtao LI ; Xinyu OU ; Yiwen LU ; Shicheng SU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;39(7):511-515
Objective:To compare the short-term clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction of single-port assisted endoscopic breast-conserving surgery versus open approach in the treatment of female breast cancer patients.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 129 female breast cancer patients admitted to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University from March 2022 to June 2023. In this study, 56 patients underwent breast-conserving surgery assisted by single-port endoscopy (endoscopic group) and 73 patients underwent conventional open breast-conserving surgery (conventional group).Results:Compared to the conventional group (73 cases), the endoscopic group (56 cases) had slightly longer operation time [(200.0±43.2) min vs. (185.3±56.5) min] and intraoperative blood loss [(34.0±25.4) ml vs. (27.2±21.8) ml, P>0.05]. The endoscopic group had a significantly shorter surgical incision length than the conventional group [(4.7±0.7) cm vs. (8.0±1.1) cm, P<0.05], the difference in postoperative tumor margin was not significant (endoscopic group: 3.5% vs. conventional group: 5.7%, P>0.05). In terms of postoperative complications, the endoscopic group had a significantly lower incidence of radiation-related skin reactions than the conventional group ( P<0.05). The endoscopic group had a higher satisfaction rate in terms of postoperative aesthetics (73.2% vs. 56.2%, P<0.05). Conclusions:The short-term clinical efficacy of breast-conserving surgery for female breast cancer by single-port assisted endoscopy is not inferior to that of conventional open breast-conserving surgery, with added better cosmetic results.
6.Modified Weijingtang Regulates Pyroptosis of Macrophages via Caspase-1/GSDMD Pathway
Dongfang SHANG ; Chenlu ZHAO ; Siying WANG ; Cheng ZHOU ; Minghao LIU ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Suping MA ; Wenxia ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(11):27-33
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of modified Weijingtang on the pyroptosis of RAW264.7 macrophages via the cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 (Caspase-1)/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pathway. MethodLipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce pyroptosis of RAW264.7 cells. The blank group was treated with the blank serum, and the intervention groups were treated with the sera containing different doses of modified Weijingtang. After 24 h, the viability of cells in different groups was examined by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The pyroptosis and morphology of cells in each group were observed by a scanning electron microscope and a phase-contrast microscope, respectively. The mRNA and protein levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, and GSDMD in each group were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot, respectively. The levels of interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β in each group were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultUnder the electron microscope, RAW264.7 cells presented the best morphology and structure in the blank group and obvious pyroptosis and leakage of cell contents in the model (LPS) group. Compared with the model group, the intervention groups showed reduced pyroptosis to varying degrees, and the high-dose group had the closest cell morphology and structure to the blank group. Under the optical microscope, RAW264.7 cells were spherical in the blank group and irregular with protrusions in the model group. Compared with the model group, the intervention groups showed improved cell morphology, and the cell morphology in the group with the dose of 20% was the closest to that in the blank group. The mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in the model group were higher than those in the blank group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, each intervention group showed down-regulated expression of the above indicators (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the model group presented elevated levels of IL-18 and IL-1β (P<0.05), which were lowered in the intervention (10%, 20%) groups (P<0.01). ConclusionModified Weijingtang inhibits the pyroptosis of macrophages by down-regulating the Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway and reducing the release of proinflammatory cytokines.
7.Current status and reflection on minimal access breast surgery
Chenlu LIU ; Yiwen LU ; Zhihan LIU ; Xinyu OU ; Shicheng SU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2024;62(2):99-103
Minimal access breast surgery with the assistance of an endoscopy or robot has been an important advancement in surgical treatment in recent years. Compared to conventional open surgery, minimal access breast surgery only requires small incisions in concealed areas such as axillary fossa, avoiding visible scars on the surface of the breast, significantly improving the postoperative aesthetic appearance and patient satisfaction. With the rapid development of minimal access breast surgery, several institutions have established their own distinctive techniques. The concept of membrane anatomy in the breast, for example, has led to more natural-looking breast reconstruction following endoscopic procedures. The adoption of the reverse space dissection technique has greatly optimized the workflow of endoscopic breast cancer resection. Intraoperative navigation system for endoscopic breast-conserving surgery could allow precise localization of excision margins. Furthermore, the widespread use of the cold dissection technique for flap separation has reduced surgical duration and minimized flap damage. The emergence of unique techniques in the field of minimal access breast surgery promises to further advance and promote the adoption of minimal access breast surgery in China.
8.A retrospective cohort study of the postoperative prothesis-related complications of single-port endoscopic assisted versus open surgery on nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prosthesis breast reconstruction
Jiangtao LI ; Zhihan LIU ; Chenlu LIU ; Xinyu OU ; Yiwen LU ; Shicheng SU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2024;62(2):141-146
Objective:To examine the postoperative prosthesis-related complications, short-term surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction between patients who underwent endoscopic assisted versus conventional nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of 104 women with breast cancer who received nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction from August 2021 to August 2022 at the Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University. They were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach. A total of 53 patients, aged (43.3±9.9) years (range: 25 to 66 years), underwent endoscopic nipple sparing mastectomy (E-NSM group) and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction. The other 51 patients aged (39.9±7.8) years (range: 25 to 54 years) underwent conventional open surgery (C-NSM group). Short-term surgical outcomes including operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage volume in 2 days were recorded. Patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction was compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Postoperative prothesis-related complications were investigated to determine the experience to deal with them.Results:No postoperative prosthesis-related infection, prosthesis loss, or necrosis of the nipple-areola complex occurred in the E-NSM group, while 1 patient suffered from hematoma, whose wound was skinned with resuture after disinfection. Five patients in the C-NSM group had prosthesis-related infection, 2 of them received prosthesis removal surgery combined with sufficient antimicrobial agent, another one underwent surgery for subcutaneous placement of the drain, as well as antimicrobial agent therapy, and the rest of them healed up only with antimicrobial agent therapy. All recovered well after treatment. One patient recovered from necrosis of the nipple-areola complex through periodic iodophor disinfection and dressing which ended in improvement of necrotic areas, another patient who had hematoma accepted the same treatment mentioned above and also healed. All the patients mentioned above are now in stable conditions. Patients in the E-NSM group had higher satisfaction with the cosmetic results of the breast prosthesis implant than those in the C-NSM group ( Z=-4.511, P<0.01). Conclusions:Both surgical approaches were proven to be safe and effective with a low rate of postoperative prosthesis-related complications. Patients in the E-NSM group were more satisfied with the cosmetic results of breast reconstruction than those in the C-NSM group.
9.Current status and reflection on minimal access breast surgery
Chenlu LIU ; Yiwen LU ; Zhihan LIU ; Xinyu OU ; Shicheng SU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2024;62(2):99-103
Minimal access breast surgery with the assistance of an endoscopy or robot has been an important advancement in surgical treatment in recent years. Compared to conventional open surgery, minimal access breast surgery only requires small incisions in concealed areas such as axillary fossa, avoiding visible scars on the surface of the breast, significantly improving the postoperative aesthetic appearance and patient satisfaction. With the rapid development of minimal access breast surgery, several institutions have established their own distinctive techniques. The concept of membrane anatomy in the breast, for example, has led to more natural-looking breast reconstruction following endoscopic procedures. The adoption of the reverse space dissection technique has greatly optimized the workflow of endoscopic breast cancer resection. Intraoperative navigation system for endoscopic breast-conserving surgery could allow precise localization of excision margins. Furthermore, the widespread use of the cold dissection technique for flap separation has reduced surgical duration and minimized flap damage. The emergence of unique techniques in the field of minimal access breast surgery promises to further advance and promote the adoption of minimal access breast surgery in China.
10.A retrospective cohort study of the postoperative prothesis-related complications of single-port endoscopic assisted versus open surgery on nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prosthesis breast reconstruction
Jiangtao LI ; Zhihan LIU ; Chenlu LIU ; Xinyu OU ; Yiwen LU ; Shicheng SU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2024;62(2):141-146
Objective:To examine the postoperative prosthesis-related complications, short-term surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction between patients who underwent endoscopic assisted versus conventional nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of 104 women with breast cancer who received nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction from August 2021 to August 2022 at the Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University. They were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach. A total of 53 patients, aged (43.3±9.9) years (range: 25 to 66 years), underwent endoscopic nipple sparing mastectomy (E-NSM group) and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction. The other 51 patients aged (39.9±7.8) years (range: 25 to 54 years) underwent conventional open surgery (C-NSM group). Short-term surgical outcomes including operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage volume in 2 days were recorded. Patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction was compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Postoperative prothesis-related complications were investigated to determine the experience to deal with them.Results:No postoperative prosthesis-related infection, prosthesis loss, or necrosis of the nipple-areola complex occurred in the E-NSM group, while 1 patient suffered from hematoma, whose wound was skinned with resuture after disinfection. Five patients in the C-NSM group had prosthesis-related infection, 2 of them received prosthesis removal surgery combined with sufficient antimicrobial agent, another one underwent surgery for subcutaneous placement of the drain, as well as antimicrobial agent therapy, and the rest of them healed up only with antimicrobial agent therapy. All recovered well after treatment. One patient recovered from necrosis of the nipple-areola complex through periodic iodophor disinfection and dressing which ended in improvement of necrotic areas, another patient who had hematoma accepted the same treatment mentioned above and also healed. All the patients mentioned above are now in stable conditions. Patients in the E-NSM group had higher satisfaction with the cosmetic results of the breast prosthesis implant than those in the C-NSM group ( Z=-4.511, P<0.01). Conclusions:Both surgical approaches were proven to be safe and effective with a low rate of postoperative prosthesis-related complications. Patients in the E-NSM group were more satisfied with the cosmetic results of breast reconstruction than those in the C-NSM group.

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