Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine turbid phlegm obstructing lung decoction on patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)and its influence on laboratory indexes.Methods A total of 191 patients with AECOPD who were hospitalized in the First People's Hospital of Changde from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected.Patients were divided into observation group(96 cases)and control group(95 cases)according to their treatment intention.The control group received conventional treatment of western medicine,and the observation group received oral administration of traditional Chinese medicine turbid phlegm obstructing lung decoction for one week.TCM symptom scores,COPD assessment test(CAT),lung function,laboratory indicators and efficacy were compared between two groups.Results The total effective rate of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group(χ2=4.573,P=0.030).After treatment,TCM symptom score,CAT score,hypersensitive C-reaction protein(hsCRP)and interleukin-6(IL-6)of patients in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment,percentage of forced vital capacity to predicted value(FVC%)and percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second to predicted value(FEV1%)were significantly higher than before treatment(P<0.05),arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO2)of observation group was lower than before treatment,and arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PaO2)was higher than before treatment(P<0.05).The TCM symptom score,CAT score,hsCRP and IL-6 of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group,while FVC%,FEV1%and PaO2 were significantly higher than those of control group(P<0.05).Conclusion On the basis of western medicine treatment,traditional Chinese medicine turbid phlegm obstructing lung decoction can more effectively improve clinical symptoms of AECOPD patients,relieve the inflammation in the body,contribute to the recovery of lung function and improve the quality of life of patients.

The UK screening and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)updated 2022 guidelines were developed by a multidisciplinary guideline development group from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists,following the standards of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.They were published on the websites of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in March 2022,and formally published in Early Human Development in March 2023.The guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the screening and treatment of ROP.The most significant change in the 2022 updated version compared to the previous guidelines is the lowering of the gestational age screening criterion to below 31 weeks.The treatment section covers treatment indications,timing,methods,and follow-up visits of ROP.This article interprets the guidelines and compares them with ROP guidelines/consensus in China,providing a reference for domestic peers.

From 2015 to 2019, the annual average incidence rate of scarlet fever was 7.80/100 000 in Yantai City, which showed an increasing trend since 2017 (χ²_trend=233.59, P<0.001). The peak period of this disease was from April to July and November to January of the next year. The ratio of male to female was 1.49∶1, with a higher prevalence among cases aged 3 to 9 years (2 357/2 552, 92.36%). Children in kindergartens, primary and middle school students, and scattered children were the high risk population, with the incidence rate of 159.86/100 000, 25.57/100 000 and 26.77/100 000, respectively. The global spatial auto-correlation analysis showed that the global Moran's I index of the reported incidence rate of scarlet fever in Yantai from 2015 to 2019 was 0.28, 0.29, 0.44, 0.48, and 0.22, respectively (all P values<0.05), suggesting that the incidence rate of scarlet fever in Yantai from 2015 to 2019 was spatial clustering. The local spatial auto-correlation analysis showed that the "high-high" clustering areas were mainly located in Laizhou City, Zhifu District, Haiyang City, Fushan District and Kaifa District, while the "low-high" clustering areas were mainly located in Haiyang City and Fushan District.
Child ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Scarlet Fever/epidemiology* ; Spatial Analysis ; Cities/epidemiology* ; Seasons ; Risk Factors ; Incidence ; Cluster Analysis ; China/epidemiology*

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile disease mainly observed in children aged <5 years, with medium- and small-vessel vasculitis as the main lesion. Although KD has been reported for more than 50 years and great progress has been made in the etiology and pathology of KD in recent years, there is still a lack of specific indicators for the early diagnosis of KD, especially with more difficulties in the diagnosis of incomplete Kawasaki disease (IKD). At present, there are no clear diagnostic criteria for IKD, which leads to the failure of the timely identification and standardized treatment of IKD in clinical practice and even induce the development of coronary artery lesion. This article reviews the concept, epidemiological features, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up management of IKD, in order to deepen the understanding of IKD among clinical workers and help to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of KD in China.
Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/therapy* ; Coronary Vessels ; China

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of reinforced radiculoplasty in the treatment of symptomatic sacral Tarlov cysts (TCs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data and follow-up data of 71 patients with symptomatic sacral TCs who underwent reinforced radiculoplasty in the Neurosurgery Department of Peking University Third Hospital from June 2018 to March 2021. All the operations were performed under neuroelectrophysiological monitoring. Intraoperative cyst exploration, partial resection of the cyst wall, narrowing of the leak, nerve root sleeve radiculoplasty and artificial dural reinforcement were performed. The incidence of postoperative complications and new neurological dysfunction was analyzed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the changes of pain before and after surgery. The Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) low back pain score was used to evaluate the changes in nerve function before and after surgery. RESULTS: In the study, 71 patients had 101 TCs, 19 (18.8%) TCs originated from the left S1 nerve, 26 (25.7%) originated from the left S2 nerve, 3 (3.0%) originated from the left S3 nerve, 14 (13.9%) originated from the right S1 nerve, 33 (32.7%) originated from the right S2 nerve, 6 (5.9%) originated from the right S3 nerve, all the TCs underwent reinforced radiculoplasty. Deep infection (1 case), subcutaneous effusion (1 case), fat li-quefaction (1 case) and urinary tract infection (4 cases) were recorded postoperatively. The patients were followed up for 12-43 months (median, 26 months). Two cases had new urinary retention after operation, and the catheter was removed at the end of the first and second months respectively. One case had new fecal weakness, which improved after 3 months. Compared with preoperation, VAS decreased significantly at the last follow-up [median, 6 (4-9) vs. 1 (0-5), Z=-7.272, P < 0.001], JOA score increased significantly [median, 20 (16-25) vs. 27 (18-29), Z=-7.265, P < 0.001]. There were 18 cured cases (25.4%), 41 excellent cases (57.7%), 8 effective cases (11.3%), and 4 invalid cases (5.6%). The total efficiency was 94.4% (67/71). Two (1.98%) cysts recurred. CONCLUSION For patients with symptomatic sacral TCs, reinforced radiculoplasty can significantly improve the pain and nerve function, which is safe and reliable.
Humans ; Tarlov Cysts/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/complications* ; Cysts/surgery* ; Pain

Objective:To provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis by analyzing the clinical characteristics of these patients.Methods:Clinical data of 15 patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis hospitalized in the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from April 22, 2019 to March 5, 2022 were collected. The general data, clinical manifestations, abdominal imaging results, treatment and outcome of the included patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results:The age of 15 patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis ranged from 39 to 78 years, with a median age of 51 years. Among the 15 patients, 12 were farmers, two were freelance workers, and one was unknown. Eleven patients presented with abdominal pain and fatigue, one patient presented with obstructive jaundice, and three patients whom were found by physical examination did not complain of obvious discomfort. Echinococcoid cysts were located at the right lobe of the liver in eight patients, at the left lobe of the liver in five patients, and with multiple lesions in the left and right lobes of the liver in two patients. Two patients received conservative therapy. All the 13 patients who received surgical treatment recovered without complications, such as biliary fistula and subphrenic infection. The clinical symptoms including abdominal pain and fatigue were relieved significantly after surgery. The hospital stay were four to 23 days. All patients were administrated with albendazole (400 mg once daily).Conclusions:Hepatic cystic echinococcosis is more common in the right lobe of the liver, with atypical clinical symptoms. Preoperative imaging diagnosis and postoperative pathological examination are necessary for diagnosis. Surgery is the most effective treatment at present, and albendazole should be taken regularly in all patients.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of amygdalin on liver fibrosis in a liver fibrosis mouse model, and the underlying mechanisms were partly dissected in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Thirty-two male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, including control, model, low- and high-dose amygdalin-treated groups, 8 mice in each group. Except the control group, mice in the other groups were injected intraperitoneally with 10% carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-olive oil solution 3 times a week for 6 weeks to induce liver fibrosis. At the first 3 weeks, amygdalin (1.35 and 2.7 mg/kg body weight) were administered by gavage once a day. Mice in the control group received equal quantities of subcutaneous olive oil and intragastric water from the fourth week. At the end of 6 weeks, liver tissue samples were harvested to detect the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp). Hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red staining were used to observe the inflammation and fibrosis of liver tissue. The expressions of collagen I (Col-I), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), CD31 and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway were observed by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The activation models of hepatic stellate cells, JS-1 and LX-2 cells induced by TGF-β1 were used in vitro with or without different concentrations of amygdalin (0.1, 1, 10 µmol/L). LSECs. The effect of different concentrations of amygdalin on the expressions of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) dedifferentiation markers CD31 and CD44 were observed. RESULTS: High-dose of amygdalin significantly reduced the Hyp content and percentage of collagen positive area, and decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of Col-I, α-SMA, CD31 and p-Smad2/3 in liver tissues of mice compared to the model group (P<0.01). Amygdalin down-regulated the expressions of Col-I and α-SMA in JS-1 and LX-2 cells, and TGFβ R1, TGFβ R2 and p-Smad2/3 in LX-2 cells compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, 1 and 10 µmol/L amygdalin inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of CD31 in LSECs and increased CD44 expression compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Amygdalin can dramatically alleviate liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄ in mice and inhibit TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, consequently suppressing HSCs activation and LSECs dedifferentiation to improve angiogenesis.
Rats ; Male ; Mice ; Animals ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism* ; Amygdalin/therapeutic use* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Olive Oil/therapeutic use* ; Rats, Wistar ; Smad Proteins/metabolism* ; Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism* ; Liver ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Collagen Type I/metabolism* ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Hepatic Stellate Cells

From the perspective of academic history, the paper reviews systematically the background and evolution of the understanding of "Fengshi (GB 31) for treating wind disorders". In the ancient literature, there are no direct relevant statement for the indication of Fengshi (GB 31) associated with "wind", and the consensus on "Fengshi for treating wind disorders" has not been made yet. Under the influence of acupoint theory in recent era and the syndrome differentiation for acupuncture treatment in modern time, this statement becomes a conventional understanding and acceptable gradually. Meanwhile, the understanding for Fengshi (GB 31) treating wind disorders tends to be generalized. Practically, Fengshi (GB 31) is applicable for the various disorders in the local and adjacent areas. It is necessary for modern acupuncture researchers to systematically collate, investigate and identify the knowledge content with a sense of familiarity so that the contemporary inheritance, development and application of traditional theoretical knowledge of acupuncture can be enhanced.
Wind ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Consensus ; Knowledge

Proportion and rate have multiple and overlapping meanings, which blur their concepts. Based on the existence of the states and the occurrence of the events and their measuring process, we first put forward the concept of "cumulative number of states in point time". Considering the general meaning of "rate" in mathematics and the units of the elements in indexes, this paper puts forward the concept of "the change of cumulative number of states in point time", which is equal to the commonly acknowledged concept "number of incident event within observation period" or "absolute rate", and further constructs relative rate and proportion. Proportions can be classified into three types: time-point (or rate-type) constitutional proportion, time-period incidence proportion and their synthesis, time-period constitutional proportion. The essential difference between relative rate and time-period proportions is whether the observation period is regarded as a one-unit-length fixed period which would be further moved to the description of the indexes. Furthermore, the sources populations of relative rate and proportions are exclusively those at the beginning of the observation period. Thus, we established a unified identification route about ratios, proportions, and rates, the basic indicators of categorical data in populations. These are applicable to both fixed and dynamic populations. The paper aims to clarify the connotation of the indexes and the feasible understanding route and provide some reference for the population researchers.
Humans ; Incidence

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of very well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (VWDA) of the stomach. Methods: The clinicopathological data of 12 cases of VWDA of the stomach were collected retrospectively at the People's Liberation Army Joint Logistics Support Force 989 Hospital (formerly 152 Hospital), Pingdingshan, China, from January 2013 to May 2021. The histological characteristics and immunophenotypes were observed and analyzed with review of current literature. Results: There were 8 males and 4 females with a median age of 63 years (range 47 to 80 years). The tumor involved in the upper part of the stomach in 6 cases, the middle part in 2 cases, and the lower part in 4 cases. The median diameter of the tumors was 17 mm (range 5-65 mm). The tumor cells were similar to absorbent cells, Paneth cells, foveolar epithelial cells, and goblet cells. The cells were arranged in a single layer, and the nuclei were slightly enlarged and located at the base. The nuclei were fusiform to slightly irregular, with loss of nuclear polarity. Early tubular VWDA was found in 9 cases, and the tumor glands were similar to intestinal metaplasia. In two cases the tumors infiltrated into the submucosa. The lesions in the mucosa and submucosa showed the glands with cystic expansion, bending, branching, spiky and abortive growth pattern. One case of early papillary tubular VWDA was confined to the mucosal layer and composed of foveolar-type epithelial cells. There were two cases of advanced papillary tubular VWDA, which consisted of foveolar-type epithelial, pyloric glands, or mucinous neck cells and were associated with intra-lymphatic cancer embolus and lymph node metastases. Background mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were observed in all cases. Immunohistochemical staining showed intestinal type VWDA in 1 case, mixed gastrointestinal type VWDA in 9 cases, and gastric type VWDA in 2 cases. The Ki-67 proliferation index of 8 cases limited to the mucosa was 40%-70%, 2 cases of infiltration into the submucosa and 2 cases of advanced carcinoma was 10%-25%. All the tumors showed a wild type of p53 protein expression pattern and negative HER2. Adenocarcinoma or high-grade dysplasia was diagnosed on preoperative biopsy in 5 cases, and chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia in 7 cases. The median follow-up time was 28 months (range 12-72 months). No recurrence was found in the 10 patients with early cancer. Of the two patients with advanced carcinoma, one patient had lung metastases and the other died. Conclusions: Gastric VWDA is a rare low-grade malignancy with structural features of highly differentiated adenocarcinoma and extremely low cytological atypia. The diagnostic value of structural abnormality is significantly greater than cytological atypia. The invasive growth of irregular glands in the deep mucosa and submucosa is reliable evidence for diagnosis. The diagnosis of intramucosal VWDA is challenging and very difficult in some biopsy specimens.
Adenocarcinoma/pathology* ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia/pathology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*