ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness and safety of Dingchan Granule （定颤颗粒） for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis. MethodsUsing a randomised， double-blind， placebo controlled study method， 90 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome were divided into 45 cases each in the treatment group and the control group. Both groups were given conventional western medicine treatment， and the treatment group was additionally treated with Dingchan Granule， while the control group was treated with Dingchan Granule placebo， both of which were taken orally for 8 g each time twice a day. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. We compared the clinical effectiveness， the improvement of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptoms and the recovery rate of atrial fibrillation between the two groups. We compared the number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes， TCM symptoms score， atrial fibrillation symptom classification， 24-hour average ventricular rate， Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI）， anxiety index， depression index before and after treatment， and evaluated the safety of the two groups. ResultsThe total clinical effectiveness rate in the treatment group was 82.22% （37/45）， which was better than 60.00% （27/45） in the control group （P＜0.05）. The total effective rate of TCM syndrome effectiveness in the treatment group was 88.89% （40/45）， which was better than 66.67% （30/45） in the control group （P＜0.05）； and the rate of atrial fibrillation regression in the treatment group was 26.67% （12/45）， better than 6.67% （3/45） in the control group （P＜0.05）. The number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes in both groups were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）， and the number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group （P＜0.01）. The TCM syndrome scores of both groups after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment （P＜0.01）， and the scores of the treatment group was lower than those of the control group （P＜0.05）. The severity of atrial fibrillation symptoms and the grading of atrial fibrillation symptoms in both groups after treatment were improved （P＜0.01）， and the degree of symptom improvement in the treatment group was better than that in the control group （P＜0.01）. The 24-hour average ventricular rate of both groups after treatment was significantly lower （P＜0.01）. The PSQI， anxiety index and depression index of the treatment group were all lower than before treatment （P＜0.01）， while the PSQI and anxiety index of the control group were both lower than before treatment （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）， the PSQI， anxiety index and depression index of the treatment group being lower than those of the control group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. No adverse events occurred in both groups， and no abnormalities were observed in blood， urine， stool routine， liver and kidney function， and coagulation function indexes. ConclusionDingchan Granule for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome can alleviate clinical symptom， improve TCM symptom scores， increase atrial fibrillation recovery rate， stabilise the average ventricular rate， and significantly improve the quality of sleep， alleviate the anxiety and depression， with a good safety profile.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild rodents in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China, so as to provide insights into formulation of technical guidelines for monitoring of and the precise control strategy for S. japonicum infections in wild rodents during the elimination phase. Methods Two administrative villages where schistosomiasis was historically highly prevalent were selected each from Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, and Duchang County, Jiangxi Province as study villages. Wild rodents were captured from study villages with baited traps or cages at night in June and September, 2021. The number of rodents captured was recorded, and the rodent species was characterized based on morphologi-cal characteristics. Liver tissues were sampled from captured rodents for macroscopical observation of the presence of egg granu- lomas, and S. japonicum infection was detected simultaneously using liver tissue homogenate microscopy, examinations of mesenteric tissues for parasites, and modified Kato-Katz thick smear technique (Kato-Katz technique). A positive S. japonicum infection was defined as detection of S. japonicum eggs or adult worms by any of these methods. The rate of wild rodent capture and prevalence of S. japonicum infections in wild rodents were compared in different study villages and at different time periods, and the detection of S. japonicum infections in wild rodents was compared by different assays. Results The overall rate of wild ro- dent capture was 8.28% (237/2 861) in Dongzhi County, and the wild rodent capture rates were 9.24% (133/1 439) and 7.31% (104/1 422) in two study villages (χ² = 3.503, P = 0.061), and were 8.59% (121/1 409) and 7.99% (116/1 452) in June and September, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.337, P = 0.561). The overall rate of wild rodent capture was 3.72% (77/2 072) in Duchang County, and the wild rodent capture rates were 6.91% (67/970) and 0.91% (10/1 102) in two study villages (χ² = 51.901, P < 0.001), and were 4.13% (39/945) and 3.37% (38/1 127) in June and September, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.815, P = 0.365). Rattus norvegicus was the predominant rodent species captured in both counties, accounting for 70.04% (166/237) of all captured wild rodents in Dongzhi County and 88.31% (68/77) in Duchang County. No S. japonicum infection was detected in wild rodents captured in Duchang County. Nevertheless, the overall prevalence of S. japonicum infections was 51.05% (121/237) in wild rodents captured in Dongzhi County, with prevalence rates of 50.38% (67/133) and 51.92% (54/104) in two study villages (χ² = 0.098, P = 0.755), and 54.31% (63/116) and 47.93% (58/121) in September and June, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.964, P = 0.326). Of 237 wild rodents captured in Dongzhi County, there were 140 (59.07%) rodents with visible hepatic egg granulomas, 117 (49.47%) tested positive for S. japonicum eggs by liver tissue homogenate microscopy, 34 (14.35%) tested positive for S. japonicum eggs with Kato-Katz technique; however, no adult S. japonicum worms were detected in mesenteric tissues. In addition, hepatic egg granulomas were found in all wild rodents tested positive for S. japonicum eggs with liver tissue homogenate microscopy. Conclusions The rate of wild rodent capture and prevalence of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents vary greatly in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China, and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection is slightly higher in wild rodents captured in autumn than in summer. Liver tissue is recommended as the preferred sample for surveillance of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents, and a combination of macroscopical observation of hepatic egg granulomas and liver tissue homogenate microscopy may be a standard method for surveillance of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents.

Objective:To investigate the relative expression level and clinical significance of LINC00475 in serum of patients with multiple myeloma(MM).Methods:The expression of LINC00475 in serum of 108 MM patients and five MM cell lines including RPMI 8226,NCI-H929,U266,OPM2 and CAG were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.The diagnostic value of LINC00475 in MM was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.The correlation of LINC00475 with patients'characteristics was analyzed.Results:Compared with control groups,the expression of LINC00475 was up-regulated in serum of MM patients and MM cell lines(all P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of LINC00475 was 262.4,the area under curve(AUC)was 0.924(95％CI:0.884-0.964),and sensitivity and specificity was 83.3％and 91.7％,respectively,which indicated that LINC00475 had good evaluation value in MM patients.Compared with low-LINC00475 expression group,patients in high-LINC00475 expression group had higher levels of β2-microglobulin(β2-MG)and Cystatin C(Cys-C)but lower albumin(ALB)(all P＜0.05).Compared with MM patients with International Staging System(ISS)stage I,the expression level of LINC00475 was significantly higher in patients with stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ(both P＜0.05).Conclusion:LINC00475 is helpful to distinguish MM patients from healthy adults,which is correlated with the prognostic indicators such as β2-MG,ALB,and ISS stage.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of AB classification combined with Arima classification for predicting the invasion depth of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SESCC).Methods:From July 2017 to December 2022, 76 cases of SESCC receiving endoscopic submucosal dissection and intra-epithelial papillary capillary loops (IPCL) AB classification as type B2 in Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital and Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine were included in the study. IPCL was reclassified according to Arima classification. The depth of infiltration determined by pathology was the gold standard. The sensitivity, the specificity, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of B2-Arima combined classification in predicting the invasion depth of SESCC were analyzed.Results:In the 76 cases of type B2 IPCL lesions, 31 cases (40.79%) were T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC. The sensitivity, the specificity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value and the diagnostic accuracy of type B2 IPCL to predict T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC were 70.45% (31/44), 79.64% (176/221), 40.79% (31/76), 93.12% (176/189), and 78.11% (207/265), respectively. After Arima classification, the above corresponding indicators of type B2-4ML and type B2-AVA-4M IPCL in predicting T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC were 61.36% (27/44), 88.24% (195/221), 50.94% (27/53), 91.98% (195/212), 83.77% (222/265) and 38.64% (17/44), 94.57% (209/221), 58.62% (17/29), 88.56% (209/236), 85.28% (226/265), respectively.Conclusion:B2 IPCL combined with Arima classification can improve the diagnostic accuracy of T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 ESSCC.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of venetoclax (VEN) combined with hypomethylating agents (HMA) in the treatment of higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS) and analyze the factors influencing their therapeutic effect.Methods:The clinical data of 83 patients with HR-MDS who were diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between November 2019 and May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with VEN combined with HMA. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to depict the survival curves, and the log-rank test was used to compare survival between the groups.Results:The median age was 57 (15-82) years old, and 51 patients (61.4%) were male. Forty-five patients (54.2%) were initially treated with HMA, 23 (27.7%) received ≤4 cycles of HMA, and 15 (18.1%) demonstrated HMA failure. At the median follow-up of 10.3 (0.6-34.4) months, the overall response rate (ORR) was 62.7% (52/83), including 18 patients (21.7%) with a complete response (CR), 14 (16.9%) with a bone marrow CR (mCR) with hematological improvement, and 20 (24.1%) with a mCR. The ORR of patients with initial treatment, ≤4 HMA cycles, and HMA failure were 66.7%, 60.9%, and 53.3%, respectively ( P=0.641). The median overall survival time was 14.6 (95% CI 7.2-22.0) months, and the median progression-free survival time was 8.9 (95% CI 6.7-11.1) months. The multivariate analysis showed that serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≥90 U/L (OR=14.574, 95% CI 3.036-69.951, P=0.001), TP53 mutation ( OR=13.052, 95% CI 1.982-85.932, P=0.008), and U2AF1 mutation ( OR=7.720, 95% CI 1.540-38.698, P=0.013) were independent risk factors for poor efficacy of VEN combined with HMA. Hematological toxicity occurred in all patients, and the incidence of treatment-induced grade 3-4 leukopenia was 48.2% (40/83). Infection was the most common non-hematological adverse event, mainly pulmonary infection (31.3%) . Conclusion:VEN combined with HMA had a high response rate in patients with HR-MDS, both at initial treatment and with HMA failure. ALP ≥ 90 U/L, TP53 mutation, and U2AF1 mutation were independent risk factors for non-response to treatment.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of ultrafiltration therapy in elderly patients with congestive heart failure(CHF)and frailty.Methods A total of 88 hospitalized elderly patients with CHF and frailty were randomly assigned to the ultrafiltration group(n=44)and the control group(n=44).The control group treated with standard drug therapy.The ultrafiltration group treated with ultrafiltration,however,diuretics were not used during ultrafiltration treatment.Efficacy assessment was compared between the two groups,including patient body weight,N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)levels at 48 hours after treatment,dyspnea severity scores at 48 hours and 1 week after treatment,hospitalization duration and readmission rate within 3 months.Safety assessment parameters included serum creatinine,urea nitrogen,Na+and K+concentration at 48 hours after treatment and creatinine level 1 week after treatment.Results Efficacy assessment indicated that at 48 hours after treatment,both groups showed a significant reduction in patient body weight and NT-proBNP levels compared to pre-treatment levels(P＜0.05).However,there were no significant difference in body weight and NT-proBNP levels before and after treatment between the two groups(P＞0.05).Dyspnea severity scores for both groups increased at 48 hours after treatment,then decreased at 1 week after treatment.The ultrafiltration group exhibited higher dyspnea severity scores than that of the control group at 48 hours after treatment(P＜0.05).The length of hospital stay and the rate of re-hospitalization within 3 months were lower in the ultrafiltration group compared to those of the control group(P＜0.05).Safety assessment revealed that there were no significant differences in serum urea nitrogen and Na+levels before and 48 hours after treatment between the two groups(P＞0.05).However,serum K+levels were higher after 48-hours treatment in the ultrafiltration group than those of the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant changes in creatinine levels before and after treatment in the control group(P＞0.05),while creatinine levels were lower 1 week after treatment in the ultrafiltration group compared to those of pre-treatment and 48 hours after treatment,and were lower than those of the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Ultrafiltration is a safe and effective method for elderly patients with CHF and frailty.

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Polygoni multiflori radix praeparata is a processed product of Polygoni multiflori radix(Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.),and its main components include stilbene glycosides,anthraquinones,flavonoids,alkaloids,phenolic acids,etc.It has antioxidant,antianemic,anti-tumor,hypoglycemic,anti-inflammatory effects,etc,and is widely used in clinical practice.The processing technology is mainly stewinging with black bean juice,steaming,processing for 9 times and braising and simmering.After processing,the color deepens and the content of composition changes.By consulting domestic and foreign literature,the research on Polygoni multiflori radix praeparata is not comprehensive enough compared with Polygoni multiflori radix.Therefore,this paper mainly summarizes the processing technology,chemical composition and pharmacological activity of Polygoni multiflori radix preparata reported in the past 20 years,and provides a reference for further development of Polygoni multiflori radix preparata.

By combing the physiological characteristics of wind and fire， the article makes it clear that wind and fire are evils， and external wind is easy to attack and even worse when it encounters fire； burnt and moving fire evils set off internal winds； and the incitement of each other can lead to the occurrence of palpitations. From the perspective of the theory of "wind and fire inciting each other"， the clinical diagnosis and treatment of palpitation is discussed， which clarifies that there is an internal and external distinction between wind and fire， and there is an internal and external distinction between the real and the imaginary， which should be carefully distinguished in the diagnosis and treatment of palpitation. In the treatment， wind medicine can be skillfully applied to drive away the wind evil to calm the internal and external， and it is also necessary to clearly identify the source of the fire evil and properly choose the corresponding treatment for the fire evil in order to extinguish the burnt fire. As the positive qi exists and the evil will not dry up， we should not forget to take care of the heart in the treatment. An example of a medical case is attached in order to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of palpitation.

Objective To make an epidemiological investigation on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)dampness syndrome manifestations in the population at risk of cerebrovascular diseases in Guangdong area.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the clinical data related to the risk of cerebrovascular diseases in 330 Guangdong permanent residents.The diagnosis of dampness syndrome,quantitative scoring of dampness syndrome and rating of the risk of stroke were performed for the investigation of the distribution pattern of dampness syndrome and its influencing factors.Results(1)A total of 306(92.73%)study subjects were diagnosed as dampness syndrome.The percentage of dampness syndrome in the risk group was 93.82%(258/275),which was slightly higher than that of the healthy group(48/55,87.27%),but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2 = 2.91,P = 0.112).The quantitative score of dampness syndrome in the risk group was higher than that of the healthy group,and the difference was statistically significance(Z =-2.24,P = 0.025).(2)Among the study subjects at risk of cerebrovascular disease,evaluation time(χ2 = 26.11,P = 0.001),stroke risk grading(χ2= 8.85,P = 0.031),and history of stroke or transient ischemic attack(TIA)(χ2 = 9.28,P = 0.015)were the factors influencing the grading of dampness syndrome in the population at risk of cerebrovascular disease.Conclusion Dampness syndrome is the common TCM syndrome in the population of Guangdong area.The manifestations of dampness syndrome are more obvious in the population with risk factors of cerebrovascular disease,especially in the population at high risk of stroke,and in the population with a history of stroke or TIA.The assessment and intervention of dampness syndrome should be taken into account for future project of stroke prevention in Guangdong.