OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To integrate the qualitative study on the coping strategies and needs of intestinal symptoms in patients with rectal cancer after sphincter-preserving surgery, so as to provide a theoretical basis for formulating personalized nursing interventions.Methods:Qualitative studies on coping strategies and needs of bowel symptoms in patients after rectal cancer surgery was electronically retrieved from the China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, Embase, Wiley, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. The search period was from database establishment to October 31, 2024. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the 2016 version of the Joanna Briggs Institute Center for Evidence-Based Health Care Quality Assessment Criteria for Qualitative Research. The aggregative integration method was used for synthesis.Results:A total of 13 studies were included. Seventy-seven complete research findings were synthesized into four integrated outcomes, including coping with anxiety and stress in adversity, developing proactive coping strategies, psychological adaptation and spiritual reconstruction, and unmet needs within multidimensional support systems.Conclusions:Patients who have undergone rectal cancer surgery cope with bowel symptoms through various methods and demonstrate multifaceted needs during symptom management. Healthcare providers should address patients' multidimensional needs, provide personalized, ongoing guidance to help them effectively manage symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Cryopreservation is the primary technique for in vitro preservation of allogeneic tissue. However, its success is often hindered by factors such as low temperature, ischemia, and hypoxia. This study investigated the potential of Sini Decoction, known for its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, to reduce cryopreservation-induced injury in rats' sciatic nerves. Sini Decoction was prepared according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and its cytotoxicity on Rsc96 cells was assessed by using the CCK-8 method. Sini Decoction at concentrations of 4, 8, and 16 mg·mL~(-1), termed as low-(SL), medium-(SM), and high-(SH) doses group, was used for cryopreservation of rats' sciatic nerves. A normal control(NC) group and a fresh nerve control(fresh) group were set. Flow cytometry and TUNEL staining were used to detect the apoptosis of neural tissue cells after cryopreservation. Western blot was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins(Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-8) and nerve regeneration proteins(NGF and BDNF) in vitro after cryopreservation. Oxidative damage of neural tissue after cryopreservation was evaluated by measuring levels of GSH, SOD, MDA, ROS, and ATP. Cryopreserved nerves were then used for allogeneic transplantation. One week after transplantation, CD4~+ and CD8~+ fluorescent double staining assessed inflammatory cell invasion in the transplanted nerve segment, and ELISA evaluated the expression of serum inflammatory factors(IL-1, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) in recipients. Twenty weeks after transplantation, electrophysiology and NF200 neurofilament staining were used to evaluate nerve regeneration. RESULTS:: showed that Sini Decoction at concentrations of below 32 mg·mL~(-1) exhibited no cytotoxicity to Rsc96 cells. During in vitro nerve cryopreservation, Sini Decoction significantly reduced cell apoptosis, ROS, and MDA production compared to the NC group. In the SH group, the protein expression of NGF and BDNF in vitro, as well as ATP, SOD, and GSH production, were significantly increased. In the rejection reaction one week after transplantation, compared to the fresh nerve transplantation group, the SL and SM groups showed reduced CD4~+ and CD8~+ T cell invasion in the transplanted nerve segment and down-regulated IL-1, IFN-γ, and TNF-α expression in recipient serum. Twenty weeks after transplantation, the electrophysiological test results of CMAP, NCV, and NF200 neurofilament protein fluorescent staining in the SM and SH groups were superior to those in the NC and fresh groups. These findings indicate that Sini Decoction offers protective benefits in the cryopreservation of rats' sciatic nerves and holds significant potential for the in vitro preservation of tissue and organs.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Rats ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Sciatic Nerve/cytology* ; Cryopreservation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Protective Agents/pharmacology*

Objective:To integrate the qualitative study on the coping strategies and needs of intestinal symptoms in patients with rectal cancer after sphincter-preserving surgery, so as to provide a theoretical basis for formulating personalized nursing interventions.Methods:Qualitative studies on coping strategies and needs of bowel symptoms in patients after rectal cancer surgery was electronically retrieved from the China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, Embase, Wiley, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. The search period was from database establishment to October 31, 2024. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the 2016 version of the Joanna Briggs Institute Center for Evidence-Based Health Care Quality Assessment Criteria for Qualitative Research. The aggregative integration method was used for synthesis.Results:A total of 13 studies were included. Seventy-seven complete research findings were synthesized into four integrated outcomes, including coping with anxiety and stress in adversity, developing proactive coping strategies, psychological adaptation and spiritual reconstruction, and unmet needs within multidimensional support systems.Conclusions:Patients who have undergone rectal cancer surgery cope with bowel symptoms through various methods and demonstrate multifaceted needs during symptom management. Healthcare providers should address patients' multidimensional needs, provide personalized, ongoing guidance to help them effectively manage symptoms and improve their quality of life.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role and possible mechanism of action of rhubarb decoction （RD） retention enema in improving inflammatory damage of brain tissue in a rat model of mild hepatic encephalopathy （MHE）. MethodsA total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into blank group （CON group with 6 rats） and chronic liver cirrhosis modeling group with 54 rats using the complete randomization method. After 12 weeks， 40 rats with successful modeling which were confirmed to meet the requirements for MHE model by the Morris water maze test were randomly divided into model group （MOD group）， lactulose group （LT group）， low-dose RD group （RD1 group）， middle-dose RD group （RD2 group）， and high-dose RD group （RD3 group）， with 8 rats in each group. The rats in the CON group and the MOD group were given retention enema with 2 mL of normal saline once a day； the rats in the LT group were given retention enema with 2 mL of lactulose at a dose of 22.5% once a day； the rats in the RD1， RD2， and RD3 groups were given retention enema with 2 mL RD at a dose of 2.5， 5.0， and 7.5 g/kg， respectively， once a day. After 10 days of treatment， the Morris water maze test was performed to analyze the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats. The rats were analyzed from the following aspects： behavioral status； the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and the level of blood ammonia； pathological changes of liver tissue and brain tissue； the mRNA and protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， protein kinase B （AKT）， and mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） in brain tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the MOD group， the RD1， RD2， and RD3 groups had a significantly shorter escape latency （all P<0.01）， significant reductions in the levels of ALT， AST， IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， and blood ammonia （all P<0.05）， significant alleviation of the degeneration， necrosis， and inflammation of hepatocytes and brain cells， and significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression levels of PI3K， AKT， and mTOR in brain tissue （all P<0.05）， and the RD3 group had a better treatment outcome than the RD1 and RD2 groups. ConclusionRetention enema with RD can improve cognitive function and inflammatory damage of brain tissue in MHE rats， possibly by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of flumatinib mesylate produced in China in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase(CML-CP).Methods:32 newly diagnosed CML-CP patients admitted to the Hematology Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from March 1,2020 to March 31,2022,who had never received any tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI)were included in the study.The patients were treated by flumatinib mesylate 600mg once daily.The hematologic,cytogenetic and molecular responses were assessed at 3-,6-and 12-month,and adverse effects of the drug were evaluated.Results:31 patients were treated with flumatinib for≥3 months,of which 24 patients were treated for ≥ 6 months and 14 patients were treated for ≥ 12 months.At 3rd month of treatment,30 out of 31 patients achieved complete hematologic response(CHR);24 patients underwent cytogenetic testing and 22 cases achieved major cytogenetic response(MCyR),of which 21 cases achieved complete cytogenetic response(CCyR);Among 25 patients who underwent molecular testing,22 patients had BCR-ABLIS ≤ 10％,including 10 patients with BCR-ABLIS ≤ 0.1％,and 6 patients with BCR-ABLIS≤0.01％.At 6th month of treatment,23 out of 24 patients achieved CHR;17 patients underwent cytogenetic testing and all achieved CCyR;Among 23 patients who underwent molecular testing,20 patients had BCR-ABLIS ≤1％,including 16 patients with BCR-ABL1S≤0.1％and 12 patients with BCR-ABLIS ≤ 0.01％.At 12nd month of treatment,all 14 patients achieved CHR and CCyR;Among them,10 patients had BCR-ABLIS ≤ 0.1％,including 9 patients with BCR-ABLIS ≤ 0.01％.The grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ leukopenia,thrombocytopenia and anemia rates in the patients were 13.3％,20.0％and 3.3％,respectively.One patient stopped flumatinib therapy due to severe and persistent hematologic toxicity.The major non-hematologic adverse events were abnormal liver function(20％),diarrhea(10％),bone/joint pain(10％),muscle spasm(10％),rash(6.7％),acute kidney injury(6.7％)and nausea(3.3％),most of which were grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ.No patient experienced grade Ⅳnon-hematologic adverse events.No drug toxicity-related death occurred.Conclusion:Flumatinib mesglate,as the first-line treatment for newly diagnosed CML-CP,can enable the patients to achieve early and deep molecular and cytogenetic responses,and shows good safety.

Objective To analyze the influencing factors for the knowledge level,cognition willingness and atti-tude of health care workers(HCWs)towards monkeypox.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted,from January to April 2023,700 HCWs were randomly selected from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai.Based on a self-de-signed questionnaire,the survey was conducted anonymously through the online platform"Wenjuanxing".Results A total of 612 questionnaires were collected,581 were valid,with a response rate of 87.43％and an effective rate of 94.93％.The mean score of the questionnaire was(128.80±27.70)points,with a score rate of 58.54％.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the knowledge level of mon-keypox among HCWs of different ages,occupations,departments,educational levels,years of working experience,professional titles,initiative cognition on monkeypox,and participation in monkeypox-related lectures organized by the units(all P＜0.05).Conclusion HCWs'cognition on monkeypox is at a moderate level.The training of HC-Ws on monkeypox knowledge should be strengthened to improve the emergency response capabilities during mon-keypox outbreaks.

Purpose: Protective ileostomy and colostomy are performed in patients undergoing low anterior resection with a high leakage risk. We aimed to compare surgical, medical, and daily care complications between these 2 ostomies in order to make individual choice. Methods: Patients who underwent low anterior resection for rectal tumors with protective stomas between January 2011 and September 2018 were enrolled. Stoma-related complications were prospectively recorded by wound, ostomy, and continence nurses. The cancer stage and treatment data were obtained from the Taiwan Cancer Database of our Big Data Center. Other demographic data were collected retrospectively from medical notes. The complications after stoma creation and after the stoma reversal were compared. Results: There were 176 patients with protective colostomy and 234 with protective ileostomy. Protective ileostomy had higher proportions of high output from the stoma for 2 consecutive days than protective colostomy (11.1% vs. 0%, P<0.001). Protective colostomy resulted in more stoma retraction than protective ileostomy (21.6% vs. 9.4%, P=0.001). Female, open operation, ileostomy, and carrying stoma more than 4 months were also significantly associated with a higher risk of stoma-related complications during diversion. For stoma retraction, the multivariate analysis revealed that female (odds ratio [OR], 4.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13–7.69; P<0.001) and long diversion duration (≥4 months; OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.22–4.43; P=0.010) were independent risk factors, but ileostomy was an independent favorable factor (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.22–0.72; P=0.003). The incidence of complication after stoma reversal did not differ between colostomy group and ileostomy group (24.3% vs. 20.9%, P=0.542). Conclusion We suggest avoiding colostomy in patients who are female and potential prolonged diversion when stoma retraction is a concern. Otherwise, ileostomy should be avoided for patients with impaired renal function. Wise selection and flexibility are more important than using one type of stoma routinely.

Purpose: Protective ileostomy and colostomy are performed in patients undergoing low anterior resection with a high leakage risk. We aimed to compare surgical, medical, and daily care complications between these 2 ostomies in order to make individual choice. Methods: Patients who underwent low anterior resection for rectal tumors with protective stomas between January 2011 and September 2018 were enrolled. Stoma-related complications were prospectively recorded by wound, ostomy, and continence nurses. The cancer stage and treatment data were obtained from the Taiwan Cancer Database of our Big Data Center. Other demographic data were collected retrospectively from medical notes. The complications after stoma creation and after the stoma reversal were compared. Results: There were 176 patients with protective colostomy and 234 with protective ileostomy. Protective ileostomy had higher proportions of high output from the stoma for 2 consecutive days than protective colostomy (11.1% vs. 0%, P<0.001). Protective colostomy resulted in more stoma retraction than protective ileostomy (21.6% vs. 9.4%, P=0.001). Female, open operation, ileostomy, and carrying stoma more than 4 months were also significantly associated with a higher risk of stoma-related complications during diversion. For stoma retraction, the multivariate analysis revealed that female (odds ratio [OR], 4.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13–7.69; P<0.001) and long diversion duration (≥4 months; OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.22–4.43; P=0.010) were independent risk factors, but ileostomy was an independent favorable factor (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.22–0.72; P=0.003). The incidence of complication after stoma reversal did not differ between colostomy group and ileostomy group (24.3% vs. 20.9%, P=0.542). Conclusion We suggest avoiding colostomy in patients who are female and potential prolonged diversion when stoma retraction is a concern. Otherwise, ileostomy should be avoided for patients with impaired renal function. Wise selection and flexibility are more important than using one type of stoma routinely.

Objective Studies on the relationship between iodine,vitamin A(VA),and vitamin D(VD)and thyroid function are limited.This study aimed to analyze iodine and thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH)status and their possible relationships with VA,VD,and other factors in postpartum women. Methods A total of 1,311 mothers(896 lactating and 415 non-lactating)from Hebei,Zhejiang,and Guangxi provinces were included in this study.The urinary iodine concentration(UIC),TSH,VA,and VD were measured. Results The median UIC of total and lactating participants were 142.00 μg/L and 139.95 μg/L,respectively.The median TSH,VA,and VD levels in all the participants were 1.89 mIU/L,0.44 μg/mL,and 24.04 ng/mL,respectively.No differences in the UIC were found between lactating and non-lactating mothers.UIC and TSH levels were significantly different among the three provinces.The rural UIC was higher than the urban UIC.Obese mothers had a higher UIC and a higher prevalence of excessive TSH.Higher UICs and TSHs levels were observed in both the VD deficiency and insufficiency groups than in the VD-sufficient group.After adjustment,no linear correlation was observed between UIC and VA/VD.No interaction was found between vitamins A/D and UIC on TSH levels. Conclusion The mothers in the present study had no iodine deficiency.Region,area type,BMI,and VD may be related to the iodine status or TSH levels.