The accumulation of uremic toxins such as urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, and uric acid of patients with renal failure in vivo would lead to aggravated kidney damage. In this study, coated aldehyde oxy-starch (CAO) was used as an adsorbent to investigate its in vitro adsorption performance on renal failure indexes for urea, indoxyl sulfate (INS), monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), uric acid (UA), and creatinine (Cr). The effects of variables such as pH, temperature, concentration, dosage, and time on the adsorption capacity of CAO were systematically investigated, employing analytical techniques of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). The results revealed that CAO exhibited a strong adsorption capacity for urea, INS, and MMA, alongside a moderate adsorption capacity for DMA, UA, and Cr. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO were fitted in pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the adsorption isotherm aligned with the Freundlich adsorption model. The enthalpy change ΔH of urea in adsorption was in the range of 40 to 60 kJ·mol^-1, which demonstrated the presence of strong adsorption force due to the interactions of coordinating groups. The ΔH of UA was greater than 80 kJ·mol^-1, indicating the generation of chemical bonds during the adsorption. Both of them, Gibbs free energy ΔG was less than 0, within the range of -20 to 0 kJ·mol^-1, suggested that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO occurred spontaneously as physical adsorption process. The adsorption entropy ΔS of urea and UA was > 0, which indicated an increase in entropy throughout the adsorption. The infrared spectroscopygram showed the formation of a chemical bond, specifically the imine bond, following the adsorption of urea by CAO, thereby indicating a chemical reaction during the adsorption. This study elucidates the adsorption mechanism of CAO on various indexes of renal failure, providing a scientific basis for its clinical usage.

AIM: To analyze the clinical features and multimodal imaging features of peripapillary hyper-reflective ovoid mass-like structure(PHOMS).METHODS: Retrospective observation study. Totally 35 patients(56 eyes)with PHOMS that diagnosed in the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to March 2024 were included in the study. All patients underwent fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography, and B-ultrasound.RESULTS:PHOMS occurred across diverse age groups, with an insidious onset often detected incidentally during routine ophthalmic examinations. More patients came to hospital for refractive errors due to blurred vision The boundary of the optic disc is blurred on fundus photography, and the nasal eminence is more significant, showing a “C” shaped halo. No obvious abnormal fluorescence was observed on fundus autofluorescence and fundus fluorescein angiography during different periods. An elevated appearance in vary degrees with more prominent in the nasal parts was showed on different OCT scans. Vertical scanning on the nasal side of the optic disc showed the best PHOMS structure, which could be seen under the retinal nerve fiber layer and on the Bruch membrane, with sharply marginated hyper-reflective ovoid mass-like structures, and no shielding effect on the choroid. The higher the elevation, the larger the volume. Ocular B-mode ultrasound showed a pre-optic disc bulge on the posterior wall of the eyeball, and there was no strong signal echo in it.CONCLUSION:PHOMS can be found frequently in myopic patients and often asymptomatic. Transient vision loss and floaters may occur in symptomatic cases. The most typical OCT feature is a nasally located hyper-reflective ovoid structure with distinct margins.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL). METHODS: The clinical data of 17 patients with PPL admitted to Gansu Provincial Hospital from January 2013 to June 2023 were collected, and their clinical characteristics and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: The median age of the 17 patients was 56 (29-73) years old. There were 8 males and 9 females. According to Ann Arbor staging system, there were 9 patients with stage I-II and 8 patients with stage III-IV. There were 14 patients with IPI score of 0-2 and 3 patients with IPI score of 3-4. All 17 patients had symptoms at the initial diagnosis, most of the first symptoms were cough, and 6 patients had B symptoms.Among the 17 patients, there were 8 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 5 cases of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, 1 case of gray zone lymphoma (GZL), and 3 cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). 15 patients received chemotherapy, of which 3 cases received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(ASCT) and 3 cases received radiotherapy; 2 patients did not receive treatment. The median number of chemotherapy courses was 6(2-8). The short-term efficacy was evaluated, 12 patients achieved complete remission (CR) and 3 patients achieved partial remission (PR). The age, pathological subtype, sex, Ann Arbor stage, β₂-microglobulin(β₂-MG) level, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) level were not correlated with CR rate (P >0.05), while IPI score was correlated with recent CR rate (P < 0.05 ). The median follow-up time was 31(2-102) months. One of the 12 CR patients died of COVID-19, and the rest survived. Among the 3 patients who did not reach CR, 1 died after disease progression, while the other 2 survived. One of the 2 untreated patients died one year after diagnosis. Both the median progression-free survival (PFS) time and overall survival (OS) time of the 17 patients were both 31 (2-102) months. CONCLUSION The incidence of PPL is low, and the disease has no specific clinical manifestations, which is easily missed and misdiagnosed. The pathological subtypes are mainly MALT lymphoma and DLBCL, and the treatment is mainly combined chemotherapy. The IPI score is related to the treatment efficacy.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Prognosis ; Aged ; Lung Neoplasms/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neoplasm Staging ; Lymphoma/therapy* ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint (BL40) on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder (OAB), and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture. METHODS: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, comprising a control group, model group, group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40, group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40, group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40, and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong (GB39). Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination, and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation. The mechanism of acupuncture at BL40 in regulating bladder function was explored by toluidine blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the mechanism was verified by stabilizing mast cells (MCs) or blocking tibial nerve. RESULTS: Deep acupuncture at BL40 significantly increased the intercontraction interval in OAB rats and enhanced the mean amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of primary motor cortex (M1), periaquaductal gray matter (PAG), and pontine micturition center (PMC). It also increased the zero-lag functional connectivity between M1 and PAG and between PAG and PMC. Shallow acupuncture at BL40 and acupuncture at non-acupoint or GB39 had no effect on these indexes. Further studies suggested that deep acupuncture at BL40 increased the number and degranulation rate of MCs as well as the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P, and histamine in the tissues around BL40. Blocking the tibial nerve by lidocaine injection or inhibiting MC degranulation by sodium cromoglycate injection obstructed the effects of acupuncture on restoring urinary function and modulating brain activation in OAB rats. CONCLUSION Deep acupuncture at BL40 may be more effective for inhibiting OAB by promoting degranulation of MCs around the acupoint and stimulating tibial nerve, thereby regulating the activation of the brain area that controls the lower urinary tract. Please cite this article as: Liu X, Zhang CY, Du XY, Li SS, Wang YQ, Zheng Y, Deng HZ, Fang XQ, Li JY, Wang ZQ, Xu SF, Mi YQ. Acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40) attenuates acetic acid-induced overactive bladder in rats by regulating brain neural activity through the modulation of mast cells and tibial nerves. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 46-55.
Animals ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive/physiopathology* ; Mast Cells/physiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Female ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Rats ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Tibial Nerve/physiopathology* ; Acetic Acid ; Urinary Bladder/physiopathology*

Objective To investigate the attributable risk(AR)of Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)infection in criti-cally ill patients.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among adult patients in inten-sive care unit(ICU).Patients with AB isolated from sterile body fluid and confirmed with AB infection in each cen-ter were selected as the infected group.According to the matching criteria that patients should be from the same pe-riod,in the same ICU,as well as with similar APACHE Ⅱ score(±5 points)and primary diagnosis,patients who did not infect with AB were selected as the non-infected group in a 1:2 ratio.The AR was calculated.Results The in-hospital mortality of patients with AB infection in sterile body fluid was 33.3％,and that of non-infected group was 23.1％,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.069).The AR was 10.2％(95％CI:-2.3％-22.8％).There is no statistically significant difference in mortality between non-infected pa-tients and infected patients from whose blood,cerebrospinal fluid and other specimen sources AB were isolated(P＞0.05).After infected with AB,critically ill patients with the major diagnosis of pulmonary infection had the high-est AR.There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between patients in the infected and non-infec-ted groups(P＞0.05),or between other diagnostic classifications.Conclusion The prognosis of AB infection in critically ill patients is highly overestimated,but active healthcare-associated infection control for AB in the ICU should still be carried out.

Objective Data mining technology was used to mine the medication rules of the prescriptions used in the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis by Chinese medical master XUAN Guo-Wei.Methods The medical records of effective cases of pediatric atopic dermatitis treated by Professor XUAN Guo-Wei at outpatient clinic were collected,and then the medical data were statistically analyzed using frequency statistics,association rule analysis and cluster analysis.Results A total of 242 prescriptions were included,involving 101 Chinese medicinals.There were 23 commonly-used herbs,and the 16 high-frequency herbs(frequency＞100 times)were Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Saposhnikoviae Radix,Glehniae Radix,Perillae Folium,Ophiopogonis Radix,Cynanchi Paniculati Radix et Rhizoma,Microctis Folium,Dictamni Cortex,Scrophulariae Radix,Coicis Semen,Cicadae Periostracum,Lilii Bulbus,Rehmanniae Radix,Kochiae Fructus,Sclerotium Poriae Pararadicis,and Euryales Semen.The analysis of the medicinal properties showed that most of the herbs were sweet and cold,and mainly had the meridian tropism of the spleen,stomach and liver meridians.The association rule analysis yielded 24 commonly-used drug combinations and 20 association rules.Cluster analysis yielded 2 core drug combinations.Conclusion For the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis,Professor XUAN Guo-Wei focuses on the clearing,supplementing and harmonizing therapies,and the medication principle of"supporting the healthy-qi to eliminate the pathogen,and balancing the yin and yang"is applied throughout the treatment.

Preterm infants, born before 37 weeks of gestation, represent a significant portion of newborns globally, many of whom experiencing long-term neurodevelopmental disorders. Language development anomalies are common among preterm infants, often leading to deficits in vocabulary, grammar, phonetics, and semantics, which can persist into adolescence and adulthood. Given these complexities, these developmental challenges necessitate a deeper understanding of the influencing factors and the importance of early intervention. Biological factors such as the degree of prematurity, birth weight, and gender significantly impact language development. Specifically, shorter gestational age and lower birth weight are associated with language difficulties, manifesting in restricted vocabulary, syntax, and grammatical complexity. In addition, the severity of neonatal illnesses, including intracranial hemorrhage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, critically impact cognitive and language development. Equally important, sensory systems, particularly vision and hearing, are also crucial for language acquisition, for example, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) may increase the risk of language disorders. Environmental factors also play a vital role in language development of preterm infants. The environment within neonatal intensive care units (NICU), while important for the survival of preterm infants, can inadvertently impose sensory challenges, thereby influencing neurodevelopmental outcomes, including language skills. Beyond the NICU environment, the domestic setting and familial interactions emerge as crucial determinants. Variables such as the parental educational background and socioeconomic status substantially influence the extent and quality of language exposure, thus shaping the linguistic development of preterm infants. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive early intervention strategies. This includes deploying a range of early evaluation tools, encompassing standardized language development scales and observational techniques, to promptly identify infants at risk of language delays. Recent advances in non-invasive brain imaging techniques, such as event-related potentials and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have opened new horizons in early detection and intervention planning, providing critical insights into the neurodevelopmental status of these infants. Intervention strategies are diverse and integrate physiological and neurological approaches, environmental modifications, and family-centric practices. Physiologically, addressing sensory impairments and nutritional needs is fundamental to fostering robust language development. This involves interventions like sensory stimulation therapies and nutritional supplements rich in essential brain-development nutrients. Additionally, environmental optimization, particularly in NICU settings, to replicate the protective conditions of womb is crucial for enhancing language learning. Strategies include controlled auditory and visual stimulation and implementing developmental care models. Furthermore, family involvement is equally important. Encouraging active parental engagement and fostering language-enriched interactions are crucial. Notably, innovative approaches such as music therapy have shown promise in enhancing auditory processing and language skills. These interventions utilize the infant brain’s neuroplasticity, combining auditory stimulation with social interaction, thereby enriching the developmental environment for preterm infants. In summary, the language development in preterm infants is shaped by an intricate interplay of biological and environmental factors, requiring a multifaceted and early intervention approach. As our understanding evolves, the integration of medical, educational, and social services will be critical in providing holistic support for the healthy development of these infants. Future research efforts should aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of language development in preterm infants and to refine intervention strategies to ensure more effective long-term outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics, genotypes and genetic evolution of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolated in Shanghai from April 2020 to December 2021, which was a period from the COVID-19 outbreak to the phase of regular epidemic prevention and control.Methods:This retrospective study collected the nasopharyngeal secretions or nasopharyngeal aspirates of children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) admitted to the Shanghai Children′s Hospital from April 2020 to December 2021. PCR-capillary electrophoresis and RT-PCR were used for virus identification and the amplification of the gene fragment of the second hypervariable region of RSV G protein. Homology analysis and phylogenetic analysis were conducted using bioinformatics software. Chi-square test was used to compare the detection rates of RSV. Results:A total of 6 211 samples were collected and 13.62% (846/6 211) of them were positive for RSV. The positive rates of RSV in male and female patients were 14.07% (503/3 574) and 13.01% (343/2 637), respectively, with no significant gender difference (χ 2=1.467, P=0.226). The highest detection rate of RSV was found in children ≤6 months of age, and the rate of RSV infection decreased gradually with age (χ 2=352.942, P<0.001). No RSV-positive specimens were detected from April 2020 to August 2020, after which the detection rate of RSV gradually increased with two epidemic peaks occurring from December 2020 to February 2021 and from August to October 2021. The predominant epidemic subtype was RSV subtype B in 2020 and the first 9 months of 2021, which was gradually replaced by RSV subtype A in the last 3 months of 2021. The 176 strains of RSV subtype A obtained in this study were all ON1 genotype, and the nucleotide homology of the Shanghai epidemic strains was 90.20%-99.50%. All of the 250 strains of RSV subtype B were BA9 genotype, and the nucleotide homology of the Shanghai epidemic strains was 90.10%-100.00%. Conclusions:From April 2020 to December 2021, with the regular prevention and control of COVID-19, there is a change in the epidemic season of RSV. The prevalent genotypes of RSV subtypes A and B are ON1 and BA9, respectively, and the subtype A gradually replaces subtype B as the most prevalent subtype.

Objective To explore the value of energy spectrum CT based material imaging for quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods Lumbar energy spectrum CT and MRI were collected from 82 patients with back and leg pain,and 74 keV CT,water(chondroitin sulfate[CS])and CS(water)material images were obtained.Intervertebral discs Pfirrmann grading(PG)was performed based on MRI.CT values,water(CS)and CS(water)concentration of nucleus pulposus(NP)and annulus fibrosus(AF)in lumbar intervertebral disc with different PG grades were compared,and the relations with PG grades were analyzed.Visual classification of lumbar intervertebral disc was performed based on water(CS)and CS(water)falsecolor map,while PG distribution of different visual classification were compared,and the relations with PG grades were observed.Results Totally 250 lumbar intervertebral discs were enrolled,including 22 of PG Ⅰ,49 of PG Ⅱ,83 of PG Ⅲ and 96 of PG Ⅳ.CT values,water(CS)and CS(water)concentration of anterior AF,NP and posterior AF of intervertebral disc with different PG grades were significantly different(all P＜0.001),and CT values were negatively correlated with PG grades(rs=-0.504,-0.399,-0.258,all P＜0.001),while water(CS)concentration was positively correlated(rs=0.476,0.753,0.324,all P＜0.001)but CS(water)concentration was negatively correlated with PG grades(rs=-0.486,-0.760,-0.329,all P＜0.001).Significant differences of PG grades were found among different water(CS)and CS(water)falsecolor images visual classification(all P＜0.001),while water(CS)and CS(water)falsecolor images visual classification were all positively correlated with PG grades(all rs≥0.700,all P＜0.001).Conclusion Energy spectrum CT based material imaging could be used for quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective To analyze the nucleic acid positive rate and genotype characteristics of the pa-tients with viral hepatitis C in Yongchuan District of Chongqing city during 2004-2022.Methods All the hepatitis C patients whose current address was in Yongchuan District of Chongqing City and audited for man-agement entering in the database of the Infectious disease surveillance System of China Disease Prevention and Control Information from 2004 to 2022 were selected as the study subjects.The questionnaire survey,nucleic acid and genotype detection were conducted.The nucleic acid positive rate and genotype characteristics were analyzed.Results Among 489 cases of viral hepatitis C,there were 286 cases of hepatitis C viral nucleic acid(HCV-RNA)positive(58.49％),the positive rate of males was 64.63％,which was high than 49.23％in fe-males,and the differences was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The HCV-RNA positive rate had statistical difference among different professions,cultural levels and medical insurance types(P＜0.05).But the HCV-RNA positive rates had no statistically difference among different ages,marital status,incomes and permanent residences(P＞0.05).A total of 285 cases of single infection subtype and 1 case of 1b and 6a mixed subtype were detected out.The single infection subtypes were mainly the 1b type(56.45％),3b type(12.89％)and 6a type(13.24％).Conclusion The positive rate of HCV-RNA among hepatitis C patients in Yongchuan Dis-trict during 2004-2022 was 58.49％,more than half of the previous cases are still the active infected persons requiring the antiviral treatment.The HCV genotype is mainly the 1b type,followed by 3a,3b and 6a types.It is necessary to further mobilize the treatment of previous patients with hepatitis C and improve the treatment rate and clinical cure rate.