Cardiotoxicity induced by antineoplastic agents is an important factor affecting the prognosis of cancer patients. This article systematically summarizes the clinical manifestations of cardiotoxicity caused by chemotherapeutic drugs, molecular targeted cancer therapies, and immunotherapeutic drugs, and identifies the core injury mechanisms, including cardiomyocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity falls under the category of “heat toxins” characterized by dual deficiency of qi and blood, upward flaming of heart heat, stagnation of the heart vessels, and meridian obstruction induced by phlegm-dampness. Therefore, by reviewing the preventive and therapeutic effects and the underlying mechanisms of tonic medicines, interior heat-clearing medicines, blood-circulating and stasis-resolving medicines, phlegm-transforming, cough-suppressing and panting-relieving medicines, and interior-warming medicines, this paper concludes that TCM prevention and treatment of this condition adheres to the formulation principle of “reinforcing healthy qi, removing toxins, and resolving blood stasis”. Its mechanisms of action—including antioxidation effects, regulation of autophagic balance, antagonism of inflammatory responses, and improvement of microcirculation—are highly consistent with modern medical treatment strategies (e.g., dexrazoxane for inhibiting iron-dependent oxidative stress, statins for anti-inflammatory effects). This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the collaborative and precise prevention and treatment of anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity through the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Objective To explore the feasibility and corresponding implementation methods of constructing a sample resource bank based on individual-level data of completed clinical trials and using it to construct external controls for drug/device clinical trials.Methods Taking the pre-marketing clinical trial of transcatheter active valve replacement(TAVR)for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis as an example,the individual-level databases of multiple trials were standardized to form a sample bank.The original data of any trial in the sample bank were selected as the experimental group,and the remaining samples were selected as the control group.The potential confounding was handled by using the propensity score matching and stratification methods to clarify the process of constructing external controls based on the sample bank of individual-level data of clinical trials.Results This study included individual-level data of single-group trials of 4 TAVR devices,with a total of 569 subjects(59.2%male).The number of subjects in Trials 1 to 4 was 120,120,163,and 166,respectively.Propensity score matching enabled the matching of 113,117,125,and 147 subjects with comparable or similar characteristics from individual-level data from other trials,respectively,demonstrating a high matching success rate.The PS score distribution plot after stratification showed that the proportions of subjects in the experimental and control groups in strata 1 to 5 in scheme 1 were 4/103,11/103,22/92,32/87,and 51/64,respectively.For all constructed external controlled trials,a certain number of control samples with similar baseline characteristics to the experimental groups were distributed within each propensity score stratum.The results of the simulation test also reflected the potential differences between different devices in the 12-month all-cause mortality rate.Conclusions The sample bank constructed with individual-level data from clinical trials,as a high-quality data source,can serve as a source of external control for single-arm trials in the same field,and as a useful supplement to the external control scenario of real-world evidence to support drug and device development.At the same time,targeted research on research methods and bias control measures in related fields is also needed.

Objective:To explore the clinical features of Brucellar myelitis and diagnosis and treatment of secondary neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and enhance the awareness of clinicians about this disease.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 13 patients with Brucellar myelitis admitted to Department of Neurology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2024 were chosen. Clinical data were collected, and MRI images and serological changes during the infection period were observed. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid demyelinating antibody markers and cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in the suspected secondary inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system patients were detected. All patients received standard antibiotic treatment and/or individualized immunotherapy depending on disease severity. The patients were followed up for 24 (12, 42) months. At the last follow-up, the neurological outcomes were evaluated using modified Rankin scale (mRS, scores of 0-2: good prognosis; scores of 3-6: poor prognosis).Results:(1) Among the 13 patients, 12 had motor disorder, 9 had bladder/bowel dysfunction, 7 had sensory abnormality, and 4 had other symptoms such as dizziness, behavioral changes, or unsteady gait. (2) MRI results showed that 8 patients had spinal cord abnormalities, including 2 with long-segment intramedullary high signal at T2-weighted image and 6 with short-segment local intramedullary high signal at T2-weighted image. Enhanced MRI was performed in 11 patients, with 2 showing lesion enhancement, 3 showing meningeal enhancement, and 6 showing no enhancement. (3) Four patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (>180 mmH 2O); 9 patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level (>0.45 g/L). Brucella-specific DNA was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of 6 patients. One patient was positive for OCB type II. One patient was positive for aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and one patient was double positive for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG) and AQP4-IgG in serum. (4) All 13 patients received standard antibiotic treatment; 12 patients received immunotherapy. (5) Among the 4 patients with poor prognosis, 3 died and the remaining 9 had a good prognosis. The mRS score decreasing from 4 (3, 4) at admission to 2 (2, 3) at the last follow-up, showing an overall improvement in neurological function. (6) Among the 13 patients, 2 were diagnosed as having Brucellar myelitis secondary NMOSD. On the basis of antibiotic treatment, one AQP4-IgG positive patient was treated with high-dose glucocorticoids only and later died; one MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG double positive patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin combined with high-dose glucocorticoids and sequential rituximab, with mRS score decreasing from 5 at admission to 2 at the last follow-up and good neurological function recovery. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of Brucellar myelitis are diverse and overlap with the clinical features of NMOSD. For patients with suspected Brucellar myelitis secondary NMOSD, combination of immunosuppressant (such as rituximab) with antibiotics may be an effective individualized treatment.

Objective To explore the feasibility and corresponding implementation methods of constructing a sample resource bank based on individual-level data of completed clinical trials and using it to construct external controls for drug/device clinical trials.Methods Taking the pre-marketing clinical trial of transcatheter active valve replacement(TAVR)for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis as an example,the individual-level databases of multiple trials were standardized to form a sample bank.The original data of any trial in the sample bank were selected as the experimental group,and the remaining samples were selected as the control group.The potential confounding was handled by using the propensity score matching and stratification methods to clarify the process of constructing external controls based on the sample bank of individual-level data of clinical trials.Results This study included individual-level data of single-group trials of 4 TAVR devices,with a total of 569 subjects(59.2%male).The number of subjects in Trials 1 to 4 was 120,120,163,and 166,respectively.Propensity score matching enabled the matching of 113,117,125,and 147 subjects with comparable or similar characteristics from individual-level data from other trials,respectively,demonstrating a high matching success rate.The PS score distribution plot after stratification showed that the proportions of subjects in the experimental and control groups in strata 1 to 5 in scheme 1 were 4/103,11/103,22/92,32/87,and 51/64,respectively.For all constructed external controlled trials,a certain number of control samples with similar baseline characteristics to the experimental groups were distributed within each propensity score stratum.The results of the simulation test also reflected the potential differences between different devices in the 12-month all-cause mortality rate.Conclusions The sample bank constructed with individual-level data from clinical trials,as a high-quality data source,can serve as a source of external control for single-arm trials in the same field,and as a useful supplement to the external control scenario of real-world evidence to support drug and device development.At the same time,targeted research on research methods and bias control measures in related fields is also needed.

Objective To investigate the regulation of macrophage polarization and foaminess by homocysteine(Hcy)and its potential underlying mechanisms.Methods ELISA and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of Hcy treatment on the polarization of macrophages.The contents of various forms of intracellular cholesterol were detected,and the effects of Hcy on intracellular lipid accumulation and ox-LDL uptake were evaluated by oil red O staining and Dil-oxLDL.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and pro-tein expression of key genes modified by N6-methyladenosine(m6 A).Results Hcy promoted M1 polarization of macrophages and ox-LDL-induced foam macrophages and promoted ox-LDL uptake as well as intracellular lipid accumulation.In addition,Hcy upregulated methyltransferase like 3(METTL3)expression,and the tendency of Hcy to promote macrophage M1 polarization and foaminess was markedly reduced after inhibition or knockdown of METTL3 expression.Conclusions Hcy significantly promotes macrophage M1 polarization and foaminess,an effectthat may be attenuated by METTL3 silencing.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To explore the clinical features of Brucellar myelitis and diagnosis and treatment of secondary neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and enhance the awareness of clinicians about this disease.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 13 patients with Brucellar myelitis admitted to Department of Neurology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2024 were chosen. Clinical data were collected, and MRI images and serological changes during the infection period were observed. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid demyelinating antibody markers and cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in the suspected secondary inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system patients were detected. All patients received standard antibiotic treatment and/or individualized immunotherapy depending on disease severity. The patients were followed up for 24 (12, 42) months. At the last follow-up, the neurological outcomes were evaluated using modified Rankin scale (mRS, scores of 0-2: good prognosis; scores of 3-6: poor prognosis).Results:(1) Among the 13 patients, 12 had motor disorder, 9 had bladder/bowel dysfunction, 7 had sensory abnormality, and 4 had other symptoms such as dizziness, behavioral changes, or unsteady gait. (2) MRI results showed that 8 patients had spinal cord abnormalities, including 2 with long-segment intramedullary high signal at T2-weighted image and 6 with short-segment local intramedullary high signal at T2-weighted image. Enhanced MRI was performed in 11 patients, with 2 showing lesion enhancement, 3 showing meningeal enhancement, and 6 showing no enhancement. (3) Four patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (>180 mmH 2O); 9 patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level (>0.45 g/L). Brucella-specific DNA was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of 6 patients. One patient was positive for OCB type II. One patient was positive for aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and one patient was double positive for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG) and AQP4-IgG in serum. (4) All 13 patients received standard antibiotic treatment; 12 patients received immunotherapy. (5) Among the 4 patients with poor prognosis, 3 died and the remaining 9 had a good prognosis. The mRS score decreasing from 4 (3, 4) at admission to 2 (2, 3) at the last follow-up, showing an overall improvement in neurological function. (6) Among the 13 patients, 2 were diagnosed as having Brucellar myelitis secondary NMOSD. On the basis of antibiotic treatment, one AQP4-IgG positive patient was treated with high-dose glucocorticoids only and later died; one MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG double positive patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin combined with high-dose glucocorticoids and sequential rituximab, with mRS score decreasing from 5 at admission to 2 at the last follow-up and good neurological function recovery. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of Brucellar myelitis are diverse and overlap with the clinical features of NMOSD. For patients with suspected Brucellar myelitis secondary NMOSD, combination of immunosuppressant (such as rituximab) with antibiotics may be an effective individualized treatment.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates from blood samples in the hospitals participating in China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (CHINET) from 2015 to 2021.Methods Bacterial strains isolated from blood samples were collected from 52 medical centers participating in CHINET from 2015 to 2021 for analysis of bacetrial distribution and antimicrobial resistance.Results A total of 153591 isolates were collected,48.8％ of which were gram-positive bacteria and 51.2％ were gram-negative bacteria.The top five bacterial strains were coagulase negative Staphylococcus (28.2％),Escherichia coli (20.7％),Klebsiella (13.7％),Enterococcus (7.2％),and Staphylococcus aureus (6.6％).Compard to female patients,male patients showed lower proportion of E.coli and higher proportions of other bacterial species in all the bacterial isolaets from blood samples.The proportions of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Salmonella in all the bacterial isolaets from blood samples were higher in children compared to adults.Enterobacterales species showed various resistance rates to antimicrobial agents.Overall,≥58.0％,≥36.8％ and ≥56.8％ of E.coli strains were resistant to cefotaxime,gentamicin and levofloxacin respectively over the 7-year period.However,less than 2.5％ of the E.coli strains were resistant to carbapenems.K.pneumoniae showed higher resistance rates to imipenem and meropenem than other Enterobacterales species.During the 7-year period,the prevalence of imipenem-resistant and meropenem-resistant K.pneumoniae increased from 21.4％ and 19.9％ in 2015 to 25.7％ and 26.6％ in 2021,respectively.However,carbapenems still maintained good antibacterial activity against other Enterobacterales,associaetd with lower resistance rates.In the 7-year period,Acinetobacter baumannii showed a dwonward trend in the resistance rates to imipenem and meropenem,but remained 72.9％ and 73.2％ respectively in 2021.The prevalence of imipenem-resistant and meropenem-resistant P.aeruginosa decreased from 26.7％ and 22.9％ in 2015 to 18.5％ and 14.7％ in 2021,respectively.The prevalence of PRSP was 1.5％ in the isolaets from adults and and 0.8％ in the isolates from children.Less than 3.0％ of the Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis strains were resistant to vancomycin,teicolanin,or linezolid.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS) was 32.1％ and 81.0％,respectively.The prevalence of MRSA was relatively stable,28.5％ in 2015 and 28.0％ in 2021.Conclusions Coagulase negative Staphylococcus,E.coli and K.pneumoniae were the main bacterial species isolated from blood samples in the hospitals participaing in the CHINET from 2015 to 2021.Significant sex and age differences were found in the distribution of bcterial isolates from blood samples.The overall resistance rates of the top bacetrial strains from blood samples to antimicrobial agents showed a downward trend.Ongoing surveillance of antimicrobial resistance for the isolates from blood samples is still essential for prescribing rational antimicrobial therapies and curbing bacterial resistance.

Objective To monitor the susceptibility of clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in healthcare facilities in major regions of China in 2023.Methods Clinical isolates collected from 73 hospitals across China were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a unified protocol based on disc diffusion method or automated testing systems.Results were interpreted using the 2023 Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints.Results A total of 445199 clinical isolates were collected in 2023,of which 29.0％ were gram-positive and 71.0％ were gram-negative.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (excluding Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi) (MRSA,MRSE and MRCNS) was 29.6％,81.9％ and 78.5％,respectively.Methicillin-resistant strains showed significantly higher resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents than methicillin-susceptible strains (MSSA,MSSE and MSCNS).Overall,92.9％ of MRSA strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 91.4％ of MRSE strains were susceptible to rifampicin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were found.Enterococcus faecalis had significantly lower resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents tested than Enterococcus faecium.A few vancomycin-resistant strains were identified in both E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae was 93.1％ in the isolates from children and and 95.9％ in the isolates from adults.The resistance rate to carbapenems was lower than 15.0％ for most Enterobacterales species except for Klebsiella,22.5％ and 23.6％ of which were resistant to imipenem and meropenem,respectively .Most Enterobacterales isolates were highly susceptible to tigecycline,colistin and polymyxin B,with resistance rates ranging from 0.6％ to 10.0％.The resistance rate to imipenem and meropenem was 21.9％ and 17.4％ for Pseudomonas aeruginosa,respectively,and 67.5％ and 68.1％ for Acinetobacter baumannii,respectively.Conclusions Increasing resistance to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is still observed in clinical bacterial isolates.However,the prevalence of important crabapenem-resistant organisms such as crabapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa,and A.baumannii showed a slightly decreasing trend.This finding suggests that strengthening bacterial resistance surveillance and multidisciplinary linkage are important for preventing the occurrence and development of bacterial resistance.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates from blood samples in the hospitals participating in China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (CHINET) from 2015 to 2021.Methods Bacterial strains isolated from blood samples were collected from 52 medical centers participating in CHINET from 2015 to 2021 for analysis of bacetrial distribution and antimicrobial resistance.Results A total of 153591 isolates were collected,48.8％ of which were gram-positive bacteria and 51.2％ were gram-negative bacteria.The top five bacterial strains were coagulase negative Staphylococcus (28.2％),Escherichia coli (20.7％),Klebsiella (13.7％),Enterococcus (7.2％),and Staphylococcus aureus (6.6％).Compard to female patients,male patients showed lower proportion of E.coli and higher proportions of other bacterial species in all the bacterial isolaets from blood samples.The proportions of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Salmonella in all the bacterial isolaets from blood samples were higher in children compared to adults.Enterobacterales species showed various resistance rates to antimicrobial agents.Overall,≥58.0％,≥36.8％ and ≥56.8％ of E.coli strains were resistant to cefotaxime,gentamicin and levofloxacin respectively over the 7-year period.However,less than 2.5％ of the E.coli strains were resistant to carbapenems.K.pneumoniae showed higher resistance rates to imipenem and meropenem than other Enterobacterales species.During the 7-year period,the prevalence of imipenem-resistant and meropenem-resistant K.pneumoniae increased from 21.4％ and 19.9％ in 2015 to 25.7％ and 26.6％ in 2021,respectively.However,carbapenems still maintained good antibacterial activity against other Enterobacterales,associaetd with lower resistance rates.In the 7-year period,Acinetobacter baumannii showed a dwonward trend in the resistance rates to imipenem and meropenem,but remained 72.9％ and 73.2％ respectively in 2021.The prevalence of imipenem-resistant and meropenem-resistant P.aeruginosa decreased from 26.7％ and 22.9％ in 2015 to 18.5％ and 14.7％ in 2021,respectively.The prevalence of PRSP was 1.5％ in the isolaets from adults and and 0.8％ in the isolates from children.Less than 3.0％ of the Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis strains were resistant to vancomycin,teicolanin,or linezolid.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS) was 32.1％ and 81.0％,respectively.The prevalence of MRSA was relatively stable,28.5％ in 2015 and 28.0％ in 2021.Conclusions Coagulase negative Staphylococcus,E.coli and K.pneumoniae were the main bacterial species isolated from blood samples in the hospitals participaing in the CHINET from 2015 to 2021.Significant sex and age differences were found in the distribution of bcterial isolates from blood samples.The overall resistance rates of the top bacetrial strains from blood samples to antimicrobial agents showed a downward trend.Ongoing surveillance of antimicrobial resistance for the isolates from blood samples is still essential for prescribing rational antimicrobial therapies and curbing bacterial resistance.