Objective To investigate the correlation between Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)constitution types and disease progression in elderly patients with hypertension complicated by heart failure(HF).Methods A total of 200 eligible elderly patients treated in our hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were recruited,and based on TCM constitution types,they were classified as balanced constitution(n=20,10.0％),qi-deficiency(n=35,17.5％),yang-deficiency(n=30,15.0％),yin-deficiency(n=21,10.5％),phlegm-dampness(n=35,17.5％),damp-heat(n=16,8.0％),blood-stasis(n=25,12.5％),qi-stagnation(n=11,5.5％),and inherited special constitu-tion(n=7,3.5％).TCM constitution,blood pressure,and cardiac function indicators were as-sessed.All patients were followed up for 1 year,and acute exacerbations was recorded to analyze disease progression.Blood pressure,cardiac function indicators,and acute exacerbation frequency were compared among different TCM constitution types,and Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between TCM constitution types and the frequency of acute exacer-bations.Results Significant differences were observed in SBP,DBP and frequency of acute exacer-bations among elderly hypertension patients with HF having different TCM constitution types(P＜0.01).The patients with a phlegm-dampness constitution had obviously higher SBP,DBP,mean arterial pressure,stroke volume,central venous pressure and frequency of acute exacerba-tions than those with other constitution types,while the patients with a balanced constitution had the notably highest left ventricular ejection fraction(P＜0.01).Spearman correlation analysis showed that balanced,phlegm-dampness,and blood-stasis constitutions were positively correlated with the frequency of acute exacerbations in these patients(r=0.480,r=0.375,r=0.295,P＜0.01),whereas qi-deficiency constitution was negatively correlated(r=-0.235,P＜0.01).Conclusion Elderly patients with hypertension and HF are predominantly of the qi-deficiency,phlegm-dampness,and yang-deficiency constitution types.Among them,the patients with phlegm-dampness constitution exhibit notably higher blood pressure and cardiac function indicators.TCM constitution types such as balanced and phlegm-dampness are closely related to disease progres-sion in these patients.

Objective To investigate the correlation between Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)constitution types and disease progression in elderly patients with hypertension complicated by heart failure(HF).Methods A total of 200 eligible elderly patients treated in our hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were recruited,and based on TCM constitution types,they were classified as balanced constitution(n=20,10.0％),qi-deficiency(n=35,17.5％),yang-deficiency(n=30,15.0％),yin-deficiency(n=21,10.5％),phlegm-dampness(n=35,17.5％),damp-heat(n=16,8.0％),blood-stasis(n=25,12.5％),qi-stagnation(n=11,5.5％),and inherited special constitu-tion(n=7,3.5％).TCM constitution,blood pressure,and cardiac function indicators were as-sessed.All patients were followed up for 1 year,and acute exacerbations was recorded to analyze disease progression.Blood pressure,cardiac function indicators,and acute exacerbation frequency were compared among different TCM constitution types,and Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between TCM constitution types and the frequency of acute exacer-bations.Results Significant differences were observed in SBP,DBP and frequency of acute exacer-bations among elderly hypertension patients with HF having different TCM constitution types(P＜0.01).The patients with a phlegm-dampness constitution had obviously higher SBP,DBP,mean arterial pressure,stroke volume,central venous pressure and frequency of acute exacerba-tions than those with other constitution types,while the patients with a balanced constitution had the notably highest left ventricular ejection fraction(P＜0.01).Spearman correlation analysis showed that balanced,phlegm-dampness,and blood-stasis constitutions were positively correlated with the frequency of acute exacerbations in these patients(r=0.480,r=0.375,r=0.295,P＜0.01),whereas qi-deficiency constitution was negatively correlated(r=-0.235,P＜0.01).Conclusion Elderly patients with hypertension and HF are predominantly of the qi-deficiency,phlegm-dampness,and yang-deficiency constitution types.Among them,the patients with phlegm-dampness constitution exhibit notably higher blood pressure and cardiac function indicators.TCM constitution types such as balanced and phlegm-dampness are closely related to disease progres-sion in these patients.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of circDDX17 regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting the miR-223-3p/RIP3 molecular axis.Methods:The expression levels of circDDX17, miR-223-3p, and RIP3 in human normal lung epithelial cell lines BEAS-2B and non-small cell lung cancer cells H1299, A549, and H446 were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The plasmids of pcDNA, pcDNA-circDDX17, anti-miR-con, anti-miR-223-3p, pcDNA-circDDX17 and miR-con, pcDNA-circDDX17 and miR-223-3p mimics were transfected into H1299 cells. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect the cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. Plate cloning experiment was used to detect cell proliferation ability. The dual luciferase report experiment was applied to verify the targeting relationship between miR-223-3p with circDDX17 and RIP3. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of cyclinD1, CDK2, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax.Results:The expression levels of circDDX17 and RIP3 mRNA in H1299, A549, and H446 cells were significantly reduced ( P<0.05), the expression level of miR-223-3p mRNA was significantly increased ( P<0.05) compared with BEAS-2B. The cell viability [(69.46±4.68)%], the number of cell clones (83.49±7.86), the proportion of cells in S phase [(22.52±1.41) %], the protein expression levels of cyclinD1 and CDK2 in PCDNa-CircDDX17 group were lower than those in pcDNA group [(97.54±7.72)%, 205.03±13.37, (28.69±1.49)%, respectively, P<0.05], while the percentage of G 0/G 1 phase cells [(64.45±3.56)%], apoptosis rate [(18.36±1.63)%], the protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in pcDNA-circDDX17 group were higher than those of pcDNA group [(51.33±2.76) % and (5.21±0.54) %, respectively, P<0.05]. The viability [(72.64±5.44)%], the number of cell clones (78.16±8.23), the proportion of S-stage cells [(21.34±1.59) %], the protein expression levels of CyclinD1 and CDK2 in anti-miR-223-3p group were lower than those in anti-miR-con group [(103.47±6.25)%, 169.32±14.53, (28.43±1.26)%, respectively, P<0.05]. Percentage of G 0/G 1 phase cells [(62.86±3.28)%], apoptosis rate [(14.64±1.67)%], the protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in the anti-miR-223-3p group were higher than those of anti-miR-con group [(51.33±2.71)% and (4.83±0.39)%, respectively, P<0.05]. MiR-223-3p has complementary sites with circDDX17 or RIP3. The viability [(135.45±9.28)%], the number of cell clones (174.64±10.68), the proportion of S-phase cells [(26.39±2.25)%], the protein expression levels of cyclinD1 and CDK2 in pcDNA-circDDX17+miR-223-3p group were higher than those in pcDNA-circDDX17+miR-con group [(101.56±6.68)%, 107.65±7.62, (21.64±1.72)%, P<0.05]. Percentage of G 0/G 1 phase cells [(56.64±2.76)%], apoptosis rate [(8.34±0.76)%], the protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in pcDNA-circDDX17+miR-223-3p group were lower than those of pcDNA-circDDX17+miR-con group [(64.03±3.48)% and (15.21±1.18)%, respectively, P<0.05]. Conclusion:circDDX17 could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells via targeting the miR-223-3p / RIP3 molecular axis.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of circDDX17 regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting the miR-223-3p/RIP3 molecular axis.Methods:The expression levels of circDDX17, miR-223-3p, and RIP3 in human normal lung epithelial cell lines BEAS-2B and non-small cell lung cancer cells H1299, A549, and H446 were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The plasmids of pcDNA, pcDNA-circDDX17, anti-miR-con, anti-miR-223-3p, pcDNA-circDDX17 and miR-con, pcDNA-circDDX17 and miR-223-3p mimics were transfected into H1299 cells. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect the cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. Plate cloning experiment was used to detect cell proliferation ability. The dual luciferase report experiment was applied to verify the targeting relationship between miR-223-3p with circDDX17 and RIP3. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of cyclinD1, CDK2, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax.Results:The expression levels of circDDX17 and RIP3 mRNA in H1299, A549, and H446 cells were significantly reduced ( P<0.05), the expression level of miR-223-3p mRNA was significantly increased ( P<0.05) compared with BEAS-2B. The cell viability [(69.46±4.68)%], the number of cell clones (83.49±7.86), the proportion of cells in S phase [(22.52±1.41) %], the protein expression levels of cyclinD1 and CDK2 in PCDNa-CircDDX17 group were lower than those in pcDNA group [(97.54±7.72)%, 205.03±13.37, (28.69±1.49)%, respectively, P<0.05], while the percentage of G 0/G 1 phase cells [(64.45±3.56)%], apoptosis rate [(18.36±1.63)%], the protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in pcDNA-circDDX17 group were higher than those of pcDNA group [(51.33±2.76) % and (5.21±0.54) %, respectively, P<0.05]. The viability [(72.64±5.44)%], the number of cell clones (78.16±8.23), the proportion of S-stage cells [(21.34±1.59) %], the protein expression levels of CyclinD1 and CDK2 in anti-miR-223-3p group were lower than those in anti-miR-con group [(103.47±6.25)%, 169.32±14.53, (28.43±1.26)%, respectively, P<0.05]. Percentage of G 0/G 1 phase cells [(62.86±3.28)%], apoptosis rate [(14.64±1.67)%], the protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in the anti-miR-223-3p group were higher than those of anti-miR-con group [(51.33±2.71)% and (4.83±0.39)%, respectively, P<0.05]. MiR-223-3p has complementary sites with circDDX17 or RIP3. The viability [(135.45±9.28)%], the number of cell clones (174.64±10.68), the proportion of S-phase cells [(26.39±2.25)%], the protein expression levels of cyclinD1 and CDK2 in pcDNA-circDDX17+miR-223-3p group were higher than those in pcDNA-circDDX17+miR-con group [(101.56±6.68)%, 107.65±7.62, (21.64±1.72)%, P<0.05]. Percentage of G 0/G 1 phase cells [(56.64±2.76)%], apoptosis rate [(8.34±0.76)%], the protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in pcDNA-circDDX17+miR-223-3p group were lower than those of pcDNA-circDDX17+miR-con group [(64.03±3.48)% and (15.21±1.18)%, respectively, P<0.05]. Conclusion:circDDX17 could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells via targeting the miR-223-3p / RIP3 molecular axis.

Gastric cancer is the most prevalent gastrointestinal tumor in China， threatening the life and health of patients. Surgery is one of the available therapies， which， however， induces postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction （PGD） and other common complications. The pathogenesis of PGD is still unclear and no efficient targeted drug is available. In addition， the limited treatment measures fail to effectively improve gastrointestinal function. As a result， patients generally suffer from low quality of life and poor prognosis. In Chinese medicine， PGD belongs to the categories of "vomiting"， "stuffiness and fullness"， "regurgitation"， "abdominal distension"， "intestinal impediment"， and "intestinal accumulation". In recent years， there has been an explosion of research on the PGD of gastric cancer in Chinese medicine， and many research results have been obtained. On this basis， this study introduced PGD in modern medicine， and causes and pathogenesis， syndrome differentiation-based treatment， and clinical studies of PGD. It was found that diverse internal and external treatments are available in Chinese medicine for PGD such as internal use of Chinese medicine， Chinese medicine enema， auricular point seed-embedding， acupuncture， and moxibustion， which feature ease of implementation， small side effects， definite efficacy， and significant effect in combination with other therapies. This paper summarized the ideas and measures for treatment of PGD of gastric cancer by Chinese medicine， the research outcomes， limitations， and research directions， which can serve as a reference for further research on treatment of PGD of gastric cancer by Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor cells (CTC) play an important role in the screening and prognosis of lung cancer, but the low efficiency and specificity of CTC isolation obviously restrict its clinical application. The purpose of this study is to explore a new and efficient isolation method of CTC in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in order to achieve the purpose of early diagnosis of NSCLC. METHODS: Three kinds of immunolipid magnetic spheres of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vimentin and folic acid (FA) were prepared by thin film method. After characterization, the sorting scheme of cell line was explored, the optimal sorting scheme of NSCLC CTC was constructed, and its clinical application value was studied. RESULTS: The average capture efficiency of EGFR, Vimentin and FA magnetic spheres used alone and in combination to lung cancer cell lines was 78%, 79%, 82% and 91%, respectively. In 60 patients with lung cancer, using 2 CTC per 7.5 mL blood as cutoff value, the positive rates of EGFR, Vimentin and FA magnets used alone and in combination were 65.0%, 33.3%, 93.3% and 100%, respectively. It was also found that the number of CTC detected by combined use of the three magnetic spheres was correlated with clinical stages (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The combination of three kinds of magnetic spheres can separate EGFR+, Vimentin+, FA+ expressed CTC, which is beneficial to the downstream analysis of CTC correlation. This study provides a new method to improve the efficiency of NSCLC CTC capture, and verifies that the captured CTC counting method can be used in the auxiliary diagnosis of lung cancer.

Objective To establish the methodology of combining BOLD and 1H-MRS for investigating correlation between the deactivation in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration by acupuncture at LI4 (Point Hegu),and to optimize the experimental technique and procedure.Methods Twenty healthy adult volunteers were enrolled.During fMRI-BOLD scanning,each subject received acupuncture at right LI4 (Point Hegu).MRS scanning was based on MEGA-PRESS sequence,and ROIs were located at bilateral MPFC.The task BOLD fMRI was block design,including 3 stimulations (30 s) with 2 intervals (2 min).Then MRS scanning was performed before and after BOLD.The quantitative values of the BOLD positive and negative activations (Pm) and GABA concentrations were calculated.Results All 20 subjects completed BOLD fMRI scanning,and met the postprocessing requirements.MRS images of 9 subjects with good image quality were included in analysis.Among all 20 subjects,positive activation (Pm=1.17± 0.16) was observed in 9,while negative activation (Pm =-1.31 ± 0.17) was observed in 11 subjects.The GABA average values before and after the acupuncture were (19.93 ±1.04) nmol/L and (20.04±0.81)nmol/L,respectively,and the average amplitude between post-and pre-acupuncture was (0.11 ± 1.60)nmol/L.Conclusion The success rate of this method for quantitative study of brain function established multimodal-functional (BOLD-fMRI and MRS) was acceptable,and the multimodal brain function changes as well as the quantitative values were observed in the brain region during acupuncture.Combined BOLD and MRS quantitative method is feasible for testing acupuncture response in the brain.

Objective To explore the possibility and safety of the simultaneous esophagectomy and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCABG) in patients suffering from esophageal cancer combined with coronary artery and summarize the clinical experiences.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical dates of 5 patients performed at the Henan province Chest Hospital from May 2009 to December 2014.The related literature was reviewed.Results All patients were performed the simultaneous esophagectomy and OPCABG through the single left posterolateral thoracotomy 4cases and through median sternotomy and left thoracotomy 1 case.Instrument anastomosis under aortic arch 2 cases and above aortic arch 1 case , left neck anastomosis by hand 2 cases.Coronary artery three ressel disease 3cases, double-vessel 1 case, left main single vessel 1 case.There was no hospital death in this series.Postoperative complications included arrhythmia,anastomotic fistula and pneumonia.Only one patient was still alive, the other patients died of tumor recurrence or metastasis and median survival time was 20.6 months.Conclusion Simultaneous esophagectomy and OPCABG is a safe and feasible treatment modality in patients with severe CAD and esophageal cancer and it may be more beneficial for the patient with early esophageal cancer.

Background and purpose:Esophagorespiratory ifstula is often accompanied with life-threatening pulmonary infection. Though the pulmonary infection can be controlled temporarily by conservative medical treatment or stent placement, but patients have a poor quality of life and short survival time. This study was to investigate the effectiveness and security of surgical treatment for patients with esophagorespiratory fistula.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 7 patients with esophagorespiratory ifstula after surgical treatment between Jun. 2009 and Oct. 2013 in Henan Province Chest Hospital. The causes were the following: esophageal cancers (4 cases), congenital ifstula (1 case), diverticulum (1 case) and trauma (1 case). All patients underwent surgical treatment through thoracotomy. Surgical treatment consisted of esophagectomy gastroesophageal anastomosis and pulmonary lobectomy in 2 patients, esophagectomy gastroesophageal anastomosis and tracheal ifstula repair in 1 patient, remnant stomach repair and pulmonary lobectomy in 1 patient, esophageal ifstula repair and pulmonary lobectomy in 2 patients and esophagotracheal ifstula double deligation in 1 patient.Results:There was no perioperative death. The incidence rate of postoperative complications was 57% (4/7). Two patients got severe pulmonary infection. One patient suffered from esophageal-tracheal fistula recurrence and underwent elective jejunostomy. One patient had thoracic cavity infection. Six patients resumed normal eating after postoperative recovery. Follow-up was acquired in all cases. Three cases with benign ifstula remained well without recurrence. Four cases with malignant ifstula had an average survival time of 18.8 months (11–28 months).Conclusion:Once congenital esophagorespiratory ifstula is conifrmed, surgical management is recommended as early as possible. The selective surgical treatment for malignant esophagorespiratory ifstulas according to patient’s condition could improve the life quality and lengthen the survival time.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Qilinxintongshu pill for treatment of critical patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) accompanied by upper alimentary tract damage.Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 60 critical outpatients or inpatients with confirmed diagnosis of UAP accompanied by upper alimentary tract damage in Cardiology Department of Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Qionghai City from November 2011 to January 2015 were enrolled in the study, and they were assigned to a therapy group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases) by table of random number. The conventional medical basic therapy was given to both groups, in addition, the patients in therapy group took Qilinxintongshu pill (made of notoginseng, dragon's blood, fruit of immature citron, etc.) 5 g once, three times a day, and the patients in control group orally administered clopidogrel 75 mg once a day, the therapeutic course being consecutive 30 days. After treatment, the rates of main cardiovascular events [including death, a newly-happened myocardial infarction (MI), and obstinate ischemia] and events of alimentary damage were compared between the two groups, and adverse effects were observed.Results There was no statistically significant difference in incidence of cardiovascular events between the therapy group and control group [6.7% (2/30) vs. 16.7% (5/30),P > 0.05]. The incidence of massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract was significantly lower in therapy group than that in control group [10.0% (3/30) vs. 36.7% (11/30),P < 0.05]. In the treatment process, there was no significant untoward side effect, and no abnormalities in routine blood and urine tests, liver and renal functions were found.Conclusion Qilinxintongshu pill for treatment of critical patients with UAP accompanied by upper alimentary damage is safe and effective, and does not enhance the incidence of massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract.