BackgroundBoth modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam serve as effective treatments for chronic insomnia disorder （CID）. Default mode network （DMN） dysfunction is recognized as the primary pathophysiological mechanism underlying CID. However， it remains unclear whether the two treatments exert their therapeutic effects via convergent modulation of DMN functional connectivity. ObjectiveTo investigate the convergent remodeling characteristics of bidirectional effective connectivity （EC） of core DMN nodes with both the intra-network and the remaining whole-brain regions in CID patients with Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome following the treatment with modified Suanzaoren Decoction or estazolam， so as to provide neuroimaging evidence for the convergent neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of both therapies in treating CID. MethodsEighty-two patients diagnosed with CID according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorder， third edition （ICSD-3） were consecutively recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center from October 2020 to September 2023. Based on treatment preference， patients were assigned to receive a 6-week intervention in either the modified Suanzaoren Decoction group （n=52） or the estazolam group （n=30）. Ultimately， 66 patients completed follow-up assessments （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group， n=41； estazolam group， n=25）. All CID patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning before and after treatment. Core DMN nodes including medial prefrontal cortex （mPFC）， bilateral inferior parietal lobule （IPL）， and precuneus （PCUN） were selected as seed regions. Granger causality analysis （GCA） was employed to assess bidirectional EC between the seed regions and both the other intra-DMN nodes and the remaining whole-brain regions. Hepatic and renal function indices were detected pre- and post-treatment to evaluate the safety profiles of both treatments. ResultsAt baseline， significant between-group differences were identified in EC from the left IPL to the left middle fronto-orbital gyrus/gyrus rectus （t=5.24， Z=4.84， voxel-level P<0.001， cluster-level P<0.05， GRF-corrected）， with the modified Suanzaoren Decoction group exhibiting stronger EC than the estazolam group. No significant between-group differences were observed in EC between other core DMN nodes and remaining whole-brain regions （P>0.05）. Within-group pre- to post-treatment comparisons demonstrated consistent connectivity alterations in both groups. Specifically， EC from the left IPL to the supplementary motor area （SMA） decreased after treatment （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group： t=-6.28， Z=5.208； estazolam group： t=-5.58， Z=4.425）. Conversely， EC from the SMA to the left IPL increased （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group： t=5.89， Z=4.968； estazolam group： t=6.15， Z=4.720）. Furthermore， both groups demonstrated reduced EC from the PCUN to the left IPL （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group： t=-5.85， Z=4.94； estazolam group： t=-5.75， Z=4.515）， and elevated EC from the left IPL to the PCUN （modified Suanzaoren Decoction group： t=5.29， Z=4.579； estazolam group： t=4.55， Z=3.826） （voxel-level P<0.001， cluster-level P<0.05， GRF-corrected）. No significant pre- to post-treatment differences were observed in hepatic or renal function indices in either group （P>0.05）. ConclusionIn CID patients with Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome， both modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam induce convergent bidirectional remodeling of EC between the left IPL and the SMA and the PCUN. ［Funded by Natural Science Fund Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region （number， 2019MS08099）； ClinicalTrials.gov number， NCT06452953］

Objective:To analyze the long-term trends in cause-specific mortality across different sexes and age groups in China from 1990 to 2021, and quantitatively assess the impact of population aging on cause-specific deaths by sex.Methods:Based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, this study extracted the number of deaths, crude mortality rates and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) for all causes, Level 1 causes (communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases; non-communicable diseases; injuries) and Level 3 causes in China from 1990 to 2021, stratified by sex and age group. This study analyzed the current situation and long-term trends in mortality in China, applying decomposition analysis to quantify the impact of population aging on the number of deaths.Results:In 2021, the ASMRs of all-cause death and the three primary causes of death in Level 1 in China were 644.68, 26.59, 575.55, and 41.82 per 100 000, respectively. The ASMRs of the three primary causes continued to decline, with the smallest decrease observed in non-communicable diseases [EAPC=-1.79%, 95% CI (-1.92%, -1.66%)] and the largest in communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNND) [EAPC=-5.86%, 95% CI (-6.06%, -5.65%)]. The ASMRs were higher in males than females, with a smaller decline. Mortality was higher in the elderly. CMNND deaths mainly occurred in children under 5 and the elderly; non-communicable disease deaths were concentrated in the elderly; injury deaths were relatively evenly distributed across age groups. The proportion of CMNND deaths decreased annually, while the proportion of non-communicable disease deaths increased. From 1990 to 2021, population aging contributed to an increase of 8.11 million all-cause deaths, 167 464.42 CMNND deaths, 7.74 million non-communicable diseases deaths, and 196 287.78 injury deaths. The impact of population aging differed by sex and disease, with male and female aging-related deaths increasing by 4.47 million and 3.70 million, respectively. Compared to 1990, the age-specific mortality rate contributions in 2021 were -72.82% for males and -93.87% for females, with variations by sex and disease. Conclusion:The composition of disease-related deaths in China has changed notably. Population aging is linked to the sharp rise in deaths, with varying impacts across sexes and diseases. Reducing disease mortality can help lessen the negative effects of population aging.

Objective:To compare minimally invasive surgery with traditional open surgery, analyze the current application status of health economic evaluations in the treatment of digestive tract cancers, such as esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer by minimally invasive surgery and provide evidence for the rational selection of clinical treatment, alleviation of disease-related economic burdens, and rational allocation of healthcare resources.Methods:By using five databases, i.e. China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang data, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, and Embase, a database was established to retrieve all the papers about health economic studies of minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer published until December 31, 2023. Literature was analyzed by using software NoteExpress 3.8, and data were processed using Excel 2021. The quality of included papers was evaluated using the CHEERS 2022 checklist, and Meta-analysis was conducted by using software Stata 17.0.Results:A total of 10 919 relevant papers were retrieved, and 59 studies were included. Only 14 studies (23.7%) used standard health economic evaluation methods. Meta-analysis results revealed no significant differences in direct medical expenditure and total expenditure between minimally invasive surgery and open surgery. However, the expenditure for minimally invasive surgery exhibited a significant increase [mean difference ( MD)=5 973.12 yuan, P<0.001], while hospital stay and indirect expenditure significantly decreased ( MD: -4.85 days and -733.79 yuan, P<0.001). In China, for gastric cancer, the direct medical expenditure of endoscopic surgery was lower than that of open surgery ( MD=-33 000.00 yuan) with no significant difference ( P<0.001). In colorectal cancer cases, the direct medical and surgical expenditures for laparoscopic surgery were higher than those for open surgery ( MD: 4 277.94 yuan and 4 267.80 yuan, P<0.001), while the indirect and total medical expenditures decreased ( MD: -768.34 yuan and -159.10 yuan). Hospital stays in patients who had minimally invasive surgery for all three types of cancer were shorter than those who had open surgery ( P<0.001). Conclusions:In the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, compared with open surgery, minimally invasive surgery shows higher expenditure, but has advantages, such as shorter hospital stay and lower indirect expenditure, and there were no significant differences in direct medical and total expenditures between the two approaches. When conducting health economic evaluation, factors such as postoperative complications, hospital stay, and patient's economic status should be considered for their impact on total medical expenditure. It is necessary to pay attention to the application of health economic evaluations in healthcare decision-making.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with main splenic artery embolization in the treatment of patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive portal vein thrombosis (PVT).Methods:This study was a prospective, single-center, open-label, single-arm clinical trial. In the first phase, 81 patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding who were admitted to Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2018 to December 2018 were consecutively enrolled, including 57 males and 24 females, with the age of (51.3±10.4) years. During TIPS surgery, the pressure of the portal vein before and after the balloon blocking the splenic artery was measured to clarify the contribution of the splenic artery to portal hypertension. In the second stage, from January 2019 to December 2022, 104 patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive PVT were re-enrolled, including 71 males and 33 females, with the age of (50.9±12.5) years. TIPS combined with main splenic artery embolization was performed, and portal vein pressure was measured before and after embolization. Follow up on the postoperative esophageal and gastric varices of the patients in the second stage.Results:The portal vein pressures before and after the first stage of balloon occlusion of the splenic artery were (35.2±8.4) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (24.2±6.3) mmHg, respectively. The pressure after occlusion was lower than that before occlusion, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=10.54, P<0.001). The portal vein pressures before and after the second stage embolization were (36.1±9.5) mmHg and (21.1±4.7) mmHg respectively. The pressure after embolization was lower than that before embolization, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=13.47, P<0.001). In the second stage, among the 104 patients, the proportion of those whose varicose veins disappeared or improved 6 months after the operation was 43.3%(45/104) and 51.0%(53/104), respectively. There were no patients with aggravation or rebleeding due to rupture. One year later, 8 patients (7.7%) had aggravated or ruptured esophageal and gastric varices with bleeding. Two years later, 12 patients (11.5%) had aggravated or bleeding. Conclusion:TIPS combined with main splenic artery embolization can effectively reduce the portal vein pressure in patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive PVT, improve the degree of esophageal and gastric varices, and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Background/Aims: Obesity is associated with several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and has been identified as a potential risk factor for various GI symptoms. Bowel frequency is an important indicator of bowel function. However, the causal link between obesity and gastrointestinal motility remains uncertain. This study aims to determine the causal effect of overall and central obesity on stool frequency. Methods: Four obesity-related anthropometric indicators–body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference (WC), and waist-tohip ratio (WHR)–were investigated. Individual-level baseline information from the UK Biobank was used to explore observational associations between obesity and stool frequency. Additionally, summary-level data from published genome-wide association studies were subjected to two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to examine causal associations. Results: For all 4 indicators of obesity, higher levels of obesity were associated with more frequent bowel movements after adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and dietary factors. After rigorous screening, 482 body mass index single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 7 body fat percentage SNPs, 48 WC SNPs, and 287 WHR SNPs were identified as instrument variables for MR analysis. The MR results were generally consistent with observational findings, proving that the associations observed in the overall obesity indicators were causal. For central obesity, the association between WHR and stool frequency remained consistent in both analysis phases, whereas WC showed a multidirectional association. Conclusions Obesity-related anthropometric indicators were causally associated with increased stool frequency in the overall and central obesity groups. Weight loss could be a potential approach to improve gastrointestinal regularity in individuals with obesity.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of thiotepa (TT)-containing conditioning regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). METHODS: Clinical data of 22 children with IEI who underwent HSCT were retrospectively reviewed. Survival after HSCT was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Nine patients received a traditional conditioning regimen (fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide/etoposide) and underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Thirteen patients received a TT-containing modified conditioning regimen (TT + fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide), including seven PBSCT and six umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) cases. Successful engraftment with complete donor chimerism was achieved in all patients. Acute graft-versus-host disease occurred in 12 patients (one with grade III and the remaining with grade I-II). Chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred in one patient. The incidence of EB viremia in UCBT patients was lower than that in PBSCT patients (P<0.05). Over a median follow-up of 36.0 months, one death occurred. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 100% for the modified regimen and 88.9% ± 10.5% for the traditional regimen (P=0.229). When comparing transplantation types, the 3-year OS rates were 100% for UCBT and 93.8% ± 6.1% for PBSCT (P>0.05), and the 3-year event-free survival rates were 100% and 87.1% ± 8.6%, respectively (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS TT-containing conditioning for allogeneic HSCT in children with IEI is safe and effective. Both UCBT and PBSCT may achieve high success rates.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation Conditioning/methods* ; Thiotepa/therapeutic use* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Child ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation who underwent TEER in the Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from April 2021 to May 2024, were retrospectively analyzed, including preoperative baseline clinical and echocardiography data, intraoperative data and 6-month postoperative follow-up data. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients' (47 males and 20 females) data were included, of whom 62 completed 6-month follow-up. The immediately postoperative success rate was 88.1% (59/67), and 83.9% (52/62) patients exhibited mitral regurgitation ≤2+ at 6 months postoperatively, showing significant improvement compared with preoperative (P<0.05). The proportion of patients with mitral regurgitation ≤2+ at 6 months was significantly higher in the degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) group than that in the functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) group (P<0.05). The mean mitral valve gradient (MVG) in DMR group was increased from (3.1±1.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (3.7±1.2) mmHg 6 months after operation (P<0.05), while there was no significant change in FMR group (P>0.05). Compared with those before operation, the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in both FMR and DMR groups were significantly lower at 6 months postoperatively (all P<0.05), and the left atrial volume index and left atrial anteroposterior diameter were also significantly lower (all P<0.05). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular end-systolic diameter were significantly reduced 6 months after operation in the FMR group (all P<0.05), but no significant changes were observed in the DMR group (all P>0.05). The ejection fraction was not significantly changed before and after operation in both groups (all P>0.05). The mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitant, and pulmonary artery pressure were significantly reduced in both groups at 6 months postoperatively (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS TEER is effective for moderate to severe mitral regurgitation. The improve-ments in left ventricular remodeling are more pronounced in patients with FMR while the degree of mitral regurgitation is more significant in DMR patients. However, MVG elevation is more common during the follow-up.
Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Mitral Valve/surgery* ; Cardiac Catheterization/methods* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/methods* ; Adult ; Follow-Up Studies

In recent years, as a new omics field, metabolomics has been proved to be of great value in the study of the mechanism of occurrence and progression, the screening of new biomarkers and the development of novel therapeutic strategies in many diseases including tumors. In this review, we briefly summarized the research methods and techniques of metabolomics, and focused on the latest research progress of metabolomics in the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies represented by leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, screening of biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, and development of new therapeutic strategies. This article proposes the limitations of metabolomics and future research strategies, and provides a new exploration direction for accurate diagnosis and treatment as well as prognosis evaluation of hematological malignancies.
Humans ; Metabolomics/methods* ; Hematologic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Biomarkers, Tumor