OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a hospital-made resuscitation pack, a Chinese medicinal herbal compound formula designed to enhance recovery in post-bronchoscopy patients. METHODS: In this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, eligible patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to either the treatment or control groups. The patients in the treatment group applied the resuscitation pack, which contained aromatic compounded Chinese herbs. The patients in the control group applied a hospital-made, single herb placebo pack. Packs were placed on the Tiantu (CV 22) acupuncture point for 4 h as soon as the bronchoscopy finished. Efficacy indicators, such as recovery time, patients' symptoms including nausea and dizziness, and adverse events (AEs) were observed and compared. The outcome indices were evaluated at baseline, 1 and 24 h after the bronchoscopy. Subgroup analysis was further performed by patients' age and depth of sedation. RESULTS: When applying generalized estimating equations (GEE) to evaluate the intensity of post-bronchoscopy nausea and vomiting, the intensity was lower in the treatment group (163 cases) compared with the control group (162 cases; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.099, P=0.03]. Also, significantly lower intensity of nausea was observed in the 60-70 years of age subgroup (95% CI: 0.029, 0.169, P=0.006) and deep sedation subgroup (95% CI: 0.002, 0.124; P=0.04). There was no significant difference in dizziness between two groups by GEE (95% CI: -0.134, 0.297; P=0.459). In addition, no serious AEs were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS Our study found that the resuscitation pack markedly improved patients' symptoms by reducing nausea and vomiting after bronchoscopy without AEs, compared with placebo in the perioperative period. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR2000038299).
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Bronchoscopy/adverse effects* ; Single-Blind Method ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Treatment Outcome ; Resuscitation ; Adult ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Dental age estimation is a crucial aspect and one of the ways to accomplish forensic age estimation,and imaging technology is an important technique for dental age estimation.In recent years,some studies have preliminarily confirmed the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in evaluating dental development,providing a new perspective and possibility for the evaluation of den-tal development,suggesting that MRI is expected to be a safer and more accurate tool for dental age estimation.However,further research is essential to verify its accuracy and feasibility.This article re-views the current state,challenges and limitations of MRI in dental development and age estimation,offering reference for the research of dental age assessment based on MRI technology.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is one of the most important complications of diabetes.In recent years,domestic and foreign studies have found that mammalian target protein of rapamycin(mTOR)related signaling pathway is a classic pathway involved in the regulation of autophagy,which can achieve the therapeutic effect of DKD by targeting the autophagy pathway,and plays a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of DKD.In this paper,we reviewed the mechanism of mTOR-related signaling pathway targeted autophagy in the prevention and treatment of DKD,in order to provide a new reference and basis for clinical prevention and treatment of DKD.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe in promoting ferroptosis of tumor cells and inhibi-ting the growth of transplanted tumors in hepatocellular carcinoma mice by proteomics method.METHODS C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into,model group,low-and high-dose groups of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe,Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe combined with ferropto-sis inhibitor group,ferroptosis inhibitor group and cisplatin group.The H22 mouse transplantation tumor model was constructed and the drug administration interventions were as follows:the low-and high-dose groups of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe were given Xiaoai Jiedu Reci-pe by gavage at the doses of 10 and 20 g·kg-1·d-1;the ferroptosis inhibitor group was given Liproxstatin-1 by intraperitoneal injec-tion at the dose of 10 mg·kg-1·d-1;the cisplatin group was given cisplatin by intraperitoneal injection at the dose of 10 mg·kg-1·d-1;the Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe combined with ferroptosis inhibitor group was given a gavage dose of 20 g·kg-1·d-1of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe and an intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 of the ferroptosis inhibitor Liproxstatin-1;the model group was given an equal amount of saline by gavage.The drugs were administered for 11 d continuously.The tumors were stripped to calcu-late tumor inhibition rate.Pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE).Mitochondrial structural changes were ob-served by transmission electron microscopy.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were detected by flow cytometry.Serum was pre-pared and analysed by TMT peptide labelling combined with LC-MS/MS to find differential protein expression profiles,applying IPA software.Serum iron ions,glutathione(GSH)and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels were measured biochemically.Protein expression levels of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2),heme oxygenase-1(HMOX1),cystine/glutamate reverse transporter protein(SLC7A11)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)were measured by protein Western blot.RESULTS The tumor growth was inhibi-ted in the low-and high-dose groups and the cisplatin group,with inhibition rates of 36.12%,51.63%and 57.43%,respectively,while the tumor growth was promoted in the ferroptosis inhibitor group,with an inhibition rate of-45.56%,and the tumor size was re-duced in the Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe combined with ferroptosis inhibitor group compared with the ferroptosis inhibitor group,with an inhi-bition rate of 18.11%.HE staining showed that apoptotic cells and a large number of vacuoles accumulated in the tumor tissues of the high-dose group and the cisplatin group.Transmission electron microscopy showed that the mitochondrial atrophy and membrane densi-ty increased to a certain extent in the low and high-dose groups of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe.Flow cytometry results showed that ROS levels were significantly increased after the intervention of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe(P<0.01).Proteomic tests showed that there were 129 differ-ential proteins,including 62 down-regulated proteins and 67 up-regulated proteins,in the high-dose group of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe compared with the model group,and these differential expressions were involved in lipid metabolism,et al.The results of biochemical tests showed that the intervention of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe increased the serum iron and MDA levels,and decreased the GSH level in mice.Western blot results showed that the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HMOX1 increased,and those of SLC7A11 and GPX4 decreased after the intervention of the high-dose group of Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Xiaoai Jiedu Recipe pro-motes ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inducing the Nrf2/HMOX1 signaling pathway,regulating oxidative stress and ele-vating the level of lipid peroxidation,which may be one of its mechanisms of action in inhibiting the growth of transplanted tumors.

Sodium salicylate is an anti-inflammatory medication with a side-effect of tinnitus. Here, we used mouse cochlear cultures to explore the effects of salicylate treatment on cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs). We found that IHCs showed significant damage after exposure to a high concentration of salicylate. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings showed that 1-5 mmol/L salicylate did not affect the exocytosis of IHCs, indicating that IHCs are not involved in tinnitus generation by enhancing their neuronal input. Instead, salicylate induced a larger peak amplitude, a more negative half-activation voltage, and a steeper slope factor of Ca²⁺ current. Using noise analysis of Ca²⁺ tail currents and qRT-PCR, we further found that salicylate increased the number of Ca²⁺ channels along with Ca_V1.3 expression. All these changes could act synergistically to enhance the Ca²⁺ influx into IHCs. Inhibition of intracellular Ca²⁺ overload significantly attenuated IHC death after 10 mmol/L salicylate treatment. These results implicate a cellular mechanism for tinnitus generation in the peripheral auditory system.
Animals ; Calcium ; Exocytosis ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner ; Mice ; Sodium Salicylate/pharmacology* ; Tinnitus/chemically induced*

BACKGROUND: Since 2019, a novel coronavirus named 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has emerged worldwide. Apart from fever and respiratory complications, acute kidney injury has been observed in a few patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Furthermore, according to recent findings, the virus has been detected in urine. Angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) has been proposed to serve as the receptor for the entry of 2019-nCoV, which is the same as that for the severe acute respiratory syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the possible cause of kidney damage and the potential route of 2019-nCoV infection in the urinary system. METHODS: We used both published kidney and bladder cell atlas data and new independent kidney single-cell RNA sequencing data generated in-house to evaluate ACE2 gene expression in all cell types in healthy kidneys and bladders. The Pearson correlation coefficients between ACE2 and all other genes were first generated. Then, genes with r values larger than 0.1 and P values smaller than 0.01 were deemed significant co-expression genes with ACE2. RESULTS: Our results showed the enriched expression of ACE2 in all subtypes of proximal tubule (PT) cells of the kidney. ACE2 expression was found in 5.12%, 5.80%, and 14.38% of the proximal convoluted tubule cells, PT cells, and proximal straight tubule cells, respectively, in three published kidney cell atlas datasets. In addition, ACE2 expression was also confirmed in 12.05%, 6.80%, and 10.20% of cells of the proximal convoluted tubule, PT, and proximal straight tubule, respectively, in our own two healthy kidney samples. For the analysis of public data from three bladder samples, ACE2 expression was low but detectable in bladder epithelial cells. Only 0.25% and 1.28% of intermediate cells and umbrella cells, respectively, had ACE2 expression. CONCLUSION This study has provided bioinformatics evidence of the potential route of 2019-nCoV infection in the urinary system.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism* ; COVID-19 ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Kidney/metabolism* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Urinary Bladder/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels to the prognosis of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients, and to explore related factors affecting the prognosis of the patients. METHODS: The clinical pathological data of 180 newly diagnosed MM patients treated in our hospital from March 2013 to February 2015 were collected, and the patients were divided into high and low Hcy groups based on the median Hcy. The survival curves of the patients in the two groups were drawn to compare the differences of the survival; univariate and multivariate survival analysis was used to observe the influence of serum cysteine to the prognosis of newly diagnosed MM patients; the clinicopathological data of the patients with high and low Hcy in the two groups was compared, Pearson test was used to further analyzes the relationship between Hcy and different factors, and explores the related factors of Hcy affecting the prognosis of the patients. RESULTS: The median survival times of patients in the high and low Hcy groups were 32 (5-59) and 41 (7-71) months, respectively. The 3-year survival rate of the patients in high Hcy group was significantly lower than those in low Hcy group, and the difference shows statistically significant (P<0.05). The results of univariate survival analysis showed that the OS of newly diagnosed MM patients whom with advanced age, high bone disease grade, high-level bone marrow plasma cell count, LDH, C-reactive protein, Cr, β CONCLUSION Serum Hcy level has a correlation trend with the survival of newly diagnosed MM, which is affected by factors such as Hb.
Bone Marrow Cells ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experiences and outcomes of 108 robot-assisted laparoscopic upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries conducted by a single surgeon. METHODS: We consecutively and retrospectively reviewed 108 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries by a single surgeon from November 2018 to January 2020. The patient demographics, perioperative variables, postoperative complications and follow-up data were recorded. Fifty-three modified dismembered pyeloplasties (MDP), 11 spiral flap pyeloplasties (SFP), 11 ure-teroureterostomies (UUT), 4 lingual mucosal onlay graft ureteroplasties (LMU), 5 appendiceal onlay flap ureteroplasties (AU), 11 ureteral reimplantations (UR), 6 Boari flap-Psoas hitch surgeries (BPS) and 7 ileal ureter replacements (IUR) were enrolled finally. The success was defined as the improvement in subjective pain levels, and the improvement in the degree of hydronephrosis at ultrasound. RESULTS: All the surgeries were successfully completed without open or laparoscopic conversion. The median operative time was 141 min (range: 74-368 min), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-350 mL) and median hospital stay was 4 d (range: 3-19 d) in MDP group, with the success rate of 94.3%. The median operative time was 159 min (range: 110-222 min), median blood loss was 50 mL (range: 20-150 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 3-8 d) in SFP group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 126 min (range: 76-160 d), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-50 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 4-9 d) in UUT group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 204 min (range: 154-250 min), median blood loss was 30 mL (range: 10-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 6 d (range: 4-7 d) in LMU group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 164 min (range: 135-211 min), median blood loss was 75 mL (range: 50-200 mL) and median hospital stay was 8.5 d (range: 6-12 d) in AU group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 149 min (range: 100-218 min), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-50 mL) and median hospital stay was 7 d (range: 5-10 d) in UR group, with the success rate of 90.9%. The median operative time was 166 min (range: 137-205 min), median blood loss was 45 mL (range: 20-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 4-41 d) in BPS group, with the success rate of 83.3%. The median operative time was 270 min (range: 227-335 min), median blood loss was 100 mL (range: 10-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 7 d (range: 5-26 d) in IUR group, with the success rate of 85.7%. CONCLUSIONS The surgeon performed and modified numerous complicated upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries by the robotic platform, which facilitated the development of the standardized upper urinary tract reconstruction surgical technique.
Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Surgeons ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureter

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) . Methods: 83 patients with TTP from May 1998 to May 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among the 83 patients, there were 27 males and 56 females, with a median age of 39 (10-68) years. 41 cases (49.4%) showed pentalogy syndrome and 79 cases (95.2%) showed triad syndrome. 78.0% (46/59) of the patients had a PLASMIC score of 6 or higher. TTP gene mutations was detected in 5 of 10 patients. The activity of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) , which was detected in 10 patients before plasma exchange (PEX) , was less than 10% in 9 patients. 83 patients were treated with PEX/plasma infusion and glucocorticoid, 35 of which were treated combined with rituximab and/or immunosuppressant. The median follow-up was 34 (1-167) months, the effective rate was 81.9%, the remission rate was 63.9%, the relapse rate was (35.7 ±7.1) %, and the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was (78.6 ±4.6) %. The effective rate (72.9%vs 94.3%, P=0.019) and OS rate[ (63.8±7.5) %vs (94.3±3.9) %, χ(2)=8.450, P=0.004] in the group treated with PEX/PI and glucocorticoid alone were lower than those in the group treated combined with rituximab and/or immunosuppressant. COX multivariate analysis showed that age (HR=1.111, 95%CI 1.044-1.184, P=0.001) and alanine transaminase (ALT) /aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (HR=1.353, 95%CI 1.072-1.708, P=0.011) were independent risk factors for OS. Conclusion: Most patients with TTP have triad syndrome, accompanied by a decrease in ADAMTS13 activity. Plasma infusion and glucocorticoid combined with rituximab, immunosuppressive therapy could improve overall survival. The prognosis of patients with older age and high ALT/AST ratio is poor.
ADAM Proteins ; ADAMTS13 Protein ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Exchange ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Young Adult

One of the major tasks in the forensic field is age estimation in living individuals, especially in adolescents and young adults. The X-ray examination of left hand, panoramic radiograph and CT scan of the sternal end of clavicles are mature means that are widely used. However, the X-ray technique has great radiation on the human body, and imaging radiation for non-diagnosis and treatment purposes does not conform to the current mainstream medical ethics. MRI is nonradioactive tomographic imaging and is one of the research and development directions in forensic age estimation in living individuals now. This paper summarizes the common indicators and analysis methods of MRI in previous research of age estimation, in order to get better understanding of its trends and provide a clue for future relevant studies.
Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; Clavicle/diagnostic imaging* ; Forensic Anthropology ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Young Adult