Objective To observe the value of quantitative CT(QCT)abdominal body fat parameters combined with clinical-imaging model for predicting recurrent acute pancreatitis(RAP).Methods Data of 468 patients with acute pancreatitis(AP),including 207 cases of RAP(RAP group)and 261 cases of non-RAP(non-RAP group)were retrospectively analyzed.Clinical information,conventional CT manifestations and QCT parameters such as abdominal subcutaneous fat area(SFA),visceral fat area(VFA),total abdominal fat area(TFA),hepatic fat content and pancreatic fat content at the first visit were recorded or measured.Clinical characteristics,CT manifestations and QCT parameter values were compared between groups,and the independent factors for predicting RAP were selected with multivariate logistic regression analysis.Then a clinical-imaging model and a comprehensive model combining with QCT parameters were constructed,and their efficacies for predicting RAP were evaluated with receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and the area under the curves(AUC)were calculated.Results Compared with non-RAP group,patients in RAP group were younger,had higher percentage of alcohol consumption,biliary stones and hyperlipidemia,as well as of distinct pancreatic margins on CT images,also higher VFA,TFA,liver fat content and pancreatic fat content(all P＜0.05).Alcohol consumption,hyperlipidemia,biliary stones,pancreatic margins and pancreatic fat content were all independent predictors of RAP,and the comprehensive model constructed based on these five had higher AUC(0.860)than clinical-imaging model constructed based on the previous 4 factors(0.701)and pancreatic fat content alone(0.770)(both P＜0.001).Conclusion QCT abdominal body fat parameters combined with clinical-imaging comprehensive model was effective for predicting the risk of RAP.

Objective:This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Dibai Yijing Formula(DYF)in the treat-ment of male infertility with essence deficiency in the kidney and damp-heat in the essence chamber(Abbreviation:kidney deficiency and damp-heat type).Methods:This study employed a randomized,controlled clinical trial design,recruiting 72 male patients with infertility due to kidney deficiency and damp-heat type.Patients were randomly assigned to an treatment group(36 patients)and a control group(36 patients)using a random number table.The control group received oral Clomiphene Citrate Capsules(50 mg,twice daily),while the treatment group received oral DYF(one dose daily,200 ml each time,30 minutes after breakfast and dinner).Both groups underwent a 12-week treatment period.After treatment,sperm concentration(SC),percentage of progressively motile sperms(PR),total sperm motility[PR+percentage of non-progressively motile sperms(NP)],and semen volume(SV)were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Additionally,the total score of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)syndrome score and sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)and pregnancy outcomes of the patients'spouses were compared between the two groups.Results:Three patients dropped out from the treatment group and four from the control group.There were no statistically sig-nificant differences in semen parameters between the two groups(P＞0.05).After treatment,the patients in the treatment group showed significant difference in the percentage of SC([19.42±5.30]x 106/ml vs[10.75±2.41]x 106/ml),PR([27.72±6.62]％vs[20.04±4.10]％),PR+NP([49.86±10.68]％vs(33.74±5.58)％],DFI([12.33±3.43]％vs[15.06±3.98]％)and TCM symtom score([7.45±1.82]vs[13.85±1.91]),and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The patients in the control group showed significant difference in the percentage of SC([19.56±5.24]× 106/ml vs[11.31±2.08]× 106/ml)and TCM symptom score([12.81±1.86]vs[14.06±1.64]).But no significant changes were observed in the PR([21.75±5.93]％vs[20.05±4.67]％),PR+NP([34.23±7.15]％vs[32.35±4.09]％),SV([3.19±1.08]ml vs[3.12±1.13]ml),and DFI([15.11±4.76]％vs[15.51±4.35]％)were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Improve-ments in PR,PR+NP,TCM symptom score and DFI in the treatment group were better than those in the control group after treatment(P＜0.05);the differences in SC and SV and spousal pregnancy in the treatment group were not statistically significant compared with those in the control group(P＞0.05).No serious adverse events occurred in both groups during the treatment period.Conclusion:The treatment of male infertility with DYF is effective and safe.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the combination of chemotherapy with staged Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) therapy could enhance health-related quality of life (QoL) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and prolong the time before deterioration of lung cancer symptoms, in comparison to chemotherapy alone. METHODS: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted from December 14, 2017 to August 28, 2020. A total of 180 patients with stage I B-IIIA NSCLC from 5 hospitals in Shanghai were randomly divided into chemotherapy combined with CHM (chemo+CHM) group (120 cases) or chemotherapy combined with placebo (chemo+placebo) group (60 cases) using stratified blocking randomization. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life-Core 30 Scale (QLQ-C30) was used to evaluate the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) during postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early-stage NSCLC. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed in the safety analysis. RESULTS: Out of the total 180 patients, 173 patients (116 in the chemo+CHM group and 57 in the chemo+placebo group) were included in the PRO analyses. The initial mean QLQ-C30 Global Health Status (GHS)/QoL scores at baseline were 57.16 ± 1.64 and 57.67 ± 2.25 for the two respective groups (P>0.05). Compared with baseline, the chemo+CHM group had an improvement in EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL score at week 18 [least squares mean (LSM) change 17.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 14.29 to 21.38]. Conversely, the chemo+placebo group had a decrease in the score (LSM change -13.67, 95% CI -22.70 to -4.63). A significant between-group difference in the LSM GHS/QoL score was observed, amounting to 31.63 points (95% CI 25.61 to 37.64, P<0.001). The similar trends were observed in physical functioning, fatigue and appetite loss. At week 18, patients in the chemo+CHM group had a higher proportion of improvement or stabilization in GHS/QoL functional and symptom scores compared to chemo+placebo group (P<0.001). The median time to deterioration was longer in the chemo+CHM group for GHS/QoL score [hazard ratio (HR)=0.33, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.48, P<0.0010], physical functioning (HR=0.43, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.75, P=0.0005), fatigue (HR=0.47, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.72, P<0.0001) and appetite loss (HR=0.65, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.00, P=0.0215). The incidence of AEs was lower in the chemo+CHM group than in the chemo+placebo group (9.83% vs. 15.79%, P=0.52). CONCLUSION The staged CHM therapy could help improve the PROs of postoperative patients with early-stage NSCLC during adjuvant chemotherapy, which is worthy of further clinical research. (Registry No. NCT03372694).
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Patient Reported Outcome Measures ; Quality of Life ; Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of reinforced radiculoplasty in the treatment of symptomatic sacral Tarlov cysts (TCs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data and follow-up data of 71 patients with symptomatic sacral TCs who underwent reinforced radiculoplasty in the Neurosurgery Department of Peking University Third Hospital from June 2018 to March 2021. All the operations were performed under neuroelectrophysiological monitoring. Intraoperative cyst exploration, partial resection of the cyst wall, narrowing of the leak, nerve root sleeve radiculoplasty and artificial dural reinforcement were performed. The incidence of postoperative complications and new neurological dysfunction was analyzed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the changes of pain before and after surgery. The Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) low back pain score was used to evaluate the changes in nerve function before and after surgery. RESULTS: In the study, 71 patients had 101 TCs, 19 (18.8%) TCs originated from the left S1 nerve, 26 (25.7%) originated from the left S2 nerve, 3 (3.0%) originated from the left S3 nerve, 14 (13.9%) originated from the right S1 nerve, 33 (32.7%) originated from the right S2 nerve, 6 (5.9%) originated from the right S3 nerve, all the TCs underwent reinforced radiculoplasty. Deep infection (1 case), subcutaneous effusion (1 case), fat li-quefaction (1 case) and urinary tract infection (4 cases) were recorded postoperatively. The patients were followed up for 12-43 months (median, 26 months). Two cases had new urinary retention after operation, and the catheter was removed at the end of the first and second months respectively. One case had new fecal weakness, which improved after 3 months. Compared with preoperation, VAS decreased significantly at the last follow-up [median, 6 (4-9) vs. 1 (0-5), Z=-7.272, P < 0.001], JOA score increased significantly [median, 20 (16-25) vs. 27 (18-29), Z=-7.265, P < 0.001]. There were 18 cured cases (25.4%), 41 excellent cases (57.7%), 8 effective cases (11.3%), and 4 invalid cases (5.6%). The total efficiency was 94.4% (67/71). Two (1.98%) cysts recurred. CONCLUSION For patients with symptomatic sacral TCs, reinforced radiculoplasty can significantly improve the pain and nerve function, which is safe and reliable.
Humans ; Tarlov Cysts/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/complications* ; Cysts/surgery* ; Pain

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging of non-malignant patients assigned to Prostate Imaging Reporting And Data System (PI-RADS) 5 score.Methods:We performed a retrospective review of 289 patients who underwent magnetic resonance ultrasound targeted combined system biopsy with PI-RADS 5 lesions in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between May 2019 and July 2021. The median age 72 (66, 77)years, median body mass index 24.4(22.3, 27.1)kg/m 2, median prostate volume (PV) 37.39(29.39, 48.86) ml, median PSA 22.24(10.91, 62.69) ng/ml, and median PSAD 0.53(0.30, 1.52)ng/ml 2 were recorded. According to the biopsy pathological results, all patients were divided into benign lesion group and prostate cancer group. PSA, PSAD, PV, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were compared, and magnetic resonance imaging and clinical characteristics of patients with biopsy benign lesions were analyzed. Results:There were 11 cases (3.8%) with benign lesion and 278 cases (96.2%) with prostate cancer. The characters of 11 negative biopsy cases were displayed as follows: median age 69(66, 79)years, median body mass index 22.0(21.0, 25.5)kg/m 2, median PV 62.90(38.48, 71.96)ml, median PSA 5.55(2.99, 20.52)ng/ml, median PSAD 0.16(0.07, 0.24) ng/ml 2, median ADC 714.47(701.91, 801.26)×10 -6 mm 2/s, abnormal digital rectal and amination in 5 cases, smoking in 7 cases, and alcohol consumption in 4 cases. The median PV [62.90(38.48, 71.96) vs. 37.21(29.22, 47.82)ml, P<0.01], the PSA value [5.55(2.99, 20.52) vs. 23.53(11.14, 65.98)ng/ml, P<0.01], and the PSAD value [0.16(0.07, 0.24) vs. 0.58(0.31, 1.57)ng/ml 2, P<0.01] were significantly different between benign condition group and prostate carcinoma group. Benign condition group included 5 chronic prostatitis, 2 acute prostatitis (1 with focal adenocarcinoma), 2 granulomatous inflammation, and 2 tuberculous granulomatous inflammation. In 7 benign cases, PSA was less than 10 ng/ml, combined with frequent urination, urgency of urination and incontinence were founded. In 8 benign cases, the area of lesion was more than 50% of the total prostate area in the axial position and the imaging of magnetic resonance were diffused, with regular shape and uniform signal. The imaging of symmetrical distribution was in 6 cases. Conclusions:The benign condition with PI-RADS 5 lesions included chronic prostatitis, acute prostatitis, granulomatous inflammation and tuberculous granulomatous inflammation, among which prostatitis was the most common cause. The PSA value were less than 10 ng/ml in most benign cases, with symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency of urination and incontinence. The imaging of magnetic resonance were diffused, symmetrically distributed, with regular shape and uniform signal.

Transient forebrain ischemia-reperfusion(I/R);Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF);Histone deacetylase 3(HDAC3);Hippocampus Objective To evaluate the effect of transient forebrain ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)on the binding of brainderived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)promoters to histone deacetylase 3(HDAC3)in the hippocampus of rat and investigate its mechanism.Methods The I/R model of SD rats(I/R group)was established by Pulsinelli four-vessel clamping method,and sham operation group(Sham group)was set at the same time,which were observed for the survival of neurons in the hippocampus of rats by Nissl staining,detected for the binding of BDNF promoters(Bdnf-p1,Bdnf-p2,Bdnf-p4 and Bdnf-p6)to HDAC3 by chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP)and determined for the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor antisense(BDNF-AS)by qPCR.Results Compared with Sham group,the quantity of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region of rats decreased significantly in I/R group,while those in CA3 region and DG region showed no significant changes.The binding levels of Bdnf-p1 and Bdnf-p2 to HDAC3 in hippocampal CA1 region decreased significantly in I/R Group(t = 2.575 and 2.241 respectively,each P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in the binding levels of Bdnf-p4 and Bdnf-p6 to HDAC3(t = 1.033 and 0.348 respectively,each P>0.05);The binding levels of Bdnf-p1 and Bdnf-p2 to HDAC3 in CA3 region increased significantly(t = 12.600 and 3.191,P<0.001 and<0.05,respectively),while the binding level of Bdnf-p6 to HDAC3 decreased significantly(t = 4.029,P<0.05)and no significant difference was observed in the binding level of Bdnf-p4 to HDAC3(t = 0.175,P>0.05);In DG region,the binding level of each BDNF promoter to HDAC3 showed no significantly difference(t = 0.630 ～ 1.687,each P>0.05).Meanwhile,the expression level of BDNF-AS in hippocampal CA1 region of rats decreased significantly(t = 2.560,P<0.05),but increased significantly in hippocampal CA3 and DG regions(t = 3.543 and 3.637 respectively,each P<0.01)in I/R group.Conclusion I/R showed a significant effect on the binding level of BDNF promoter to HDAC3 in rat hippocampus,which may play a role by changing the expression level of BDNF-AS.

Aim To explore the effects of putative receptor protein related to ATI (APJ) homodimer on the behaviors-the proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HU-VECs). Methods HUVECs at logarithmic growth stage were randomly divided into PBS, Apelin-13 + TM1 (APJ monomer group) and Apelin-13 + PBS group (APJ homodimer group). Western blot and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Fligh Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were used to detect the expression of APJ and APJ homodimer in HUVECs, respectively. Real-Time Cell Analyzers (RT-CA) was used to detect the concentration of the maximum effect of Apelin-13. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8. The cell migration ability was detected by scratch test, and the number of tubes formed on matri-gel that made artificial basement membrane was counted. Results Western blot and MALDI-TOF MS showed that APJ and APJ homodimer were expressed in HUVECs. The EC50 of Apelin-13 was 2.26 x 10

Osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture in the elderly will seriously reduce their quality of life and life expectancy. For osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture in the elderly, spinal reconstruction is necessary, which should comprehensively consider factors such as the physical condition, fracture type, clinical characteristics and osteoporosis degree. While there lacks relevant clinical norms or guidelines on selection of spinal reconstruction strategies. In order to standardize the concept of spinal reconstruction for osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture in the elderly, based on the principles of scientificity, practicality and progressiveness, the authors formulated the Clinical guideline for spinal reconstruction of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture in elderly patients ( version 2022), in which suggestions based on evidence of evidence-based medicine were put forward upon 10 important issues related to the fracture classification, non-operative treatment strategies and surgical treatment strategies in spinal reconstruction after osteoporosis thoracolumbar fracture in the elderly, hoping to provide a reference for clinical treatment.

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) can lead to lower back pain and may be even accompanied by scoliosis, neurological dysfunction and other complications, which will affect the daily activities and life quality of patients. Vertebral augmentation is an effective treatment method for OVCF, but it cannot correct unbalance of bone metabolism or improve the osteoporotic status, causing complications like lower back pain, limited spinal activities and vertebral refracture. The post-operative systematic and standardized rehabilitation treatments can improve curative effect and therapeutic efficacy of anti-osteoporosis, reduce risk of vertebral refracture, increase patient compliance and improve quality of life. Since there still lack relevant clinical treatment guidelines for postoperative rehabilitation treatments following vertebral augmentation for OVCF, the current treatments are varied with uneven therapeutic effect. In order to standardize the postoperative rehabilitation treatment, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized relevant experts to refer to relevant literature and develop the "Guideline for postoperative rehabilitation treatment following vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (2022 version)" based on the clinical guidelines published by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) as well as on the principles of scientificity, practicality and advancement. The guideline provided evidence-based recommendations on 10 important issues related to postoperative rehabilitation treatments of OVCF.