OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) on gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with constipation. METHODS: A total of 80 PD patients with constipation were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. Additionally, 40 healthy individuals were recruited as a healthy control group. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment for PD combined with polyethylene glycol (PEG), once daily for eight weeks. The observation group received additional ACE treatment at bilateral Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36), and Shangjuxu (ST37), once every two weeks for eight weeks. The healthy control group received no intervention. The spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) per week and patient assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QOL) scores were assessed at baseline and after treatment in the two groups. Fecal samples were collected at the end of treatment for the observation and the control groups and at baseline for the healthy control group. Gut microbiota composition and diversity were analyzed using 16S rRNA method, and SCFA levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the observation group showed a significant increase in SBMs (P<0.01), and PAC-QOL scores including physical discomfort, psychosocial discomfort, worry and concern, and total score were significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment; the control group also showed a reduction in PAC-QOL total score after treatment (P<0.01). After treatment, the observation group had significantly more SBMs (P<0.01), and lower PAC-QOL physical discomfort, psychosocial discomfort, worry and concern scores, and total score (P<0.01), and higher PAC-QOL satisfaction score (P<0.01) than the control group. Compared with the healthy control group, the control group showed decreased Chao1 and Ace indices (P<0.01). Compared with the healthy control group, the relative abundance of Prevotella and Roseburia was increased (P<0.05), while that of Enterobacter and Ruminococcus torques (six species in total) was decreased (P<0.05) in the control group. Compared with the control group, the observation group had increased relative abundance of Dialister, Parabacteroides, and Ruminococcus torques (P<0.05), and decreased relative abundance of Prevotella and Eubacterium ruminantium (P<0.05). Compared with the healthy control group, the control group had increased fecal SCFA levels (P<0.05); compared with the control group, the observation group had reduced fecal SCFA levels (P<0.05). Compared with the healthy control group, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels were elevated in the control group (P<0.05); compared with the control group, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels were decreased in the observation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION ACE could increase spontaneous bowel movements and improve the quality of life in PD patients with constipation, which may be related to the regulation of gut microbiota composition and SCFA levels.
Humans ; Constipation/metabolism* ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Acupuncture Points ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease/complications* ; Aged ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism* ; Catgut ; Feces/microbiology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Quality of Life ; Adult

OBJECTIVES: To explore the active components that mediate the therapeutic effect of Centella asiatica on psoriasis and their therapeutic mechanisms. METHODS: TCMSP, TCMIP, PharmMapper, Swiss Target Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD databases were searched for the compounds in Centella asiatica and their targets and the disease targets of psoriasis. A drug-active component-target network and the protein-protein interaction network were constructed, and DAVID database was used for pathway enrichment analysis. In a RAW264.7 macrophage model of LPS-induced inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effect of 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 μmol/L quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid, which were identified as the main active components in Centella asiatica, were tested by measuring cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 using Griess method and ELISA and by detecting mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727) with RT-qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: A total of 139 targets of Centella asiatica and 4604 targets of psoriasis were obtained, and among them CASP3, EGFR, PTGS2, and ESR1 were identified as the core targets. KEGG analysis suggested that quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid in Centella asiatica were involved in cancer and IL-17 and MAPK signaling pathways. In the RAW264.7 macrophage model of inflammation, treatment with quercetin significantly reduced cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6, and lowered mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF‑α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727). CONCLUSIONS Quercetin, asiaticoside and asiatic acid are the main active components in Centella asiatica to mediate the therapeutic effect against psoriasis, and quercetin in particular is capable of suppressing cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 and regulating the IL-23/IL-17A inflammatory axis by mediating STAT3 phosphorylation to inhibit inflammatory response.
Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Psoriasis/metabolism* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Mice ; Animals ; Centella/chemistry* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Phosphorylation ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Interleukin-23/metabolism* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction ; Plant Extracts

Objective:To systematically evaluate the effects of insulin combined with metformin in the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)on maternal and neonatal outcomes in China,in order to provide evidence-based medical recommendations for clinical treatment.Methods:The Chinese Academic Database(CNKI),VIP Database,and Wanfang Database were searched from the establishment of the database to April 2022 for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of insulin combined with metformin versus insulin alone in the treatment of GDM to observe the adverse outcomes for neonates.The Cochrane Collaboration was used for quality evaluation and Review Manager 5.4 software was utilized for meta-analysis.Results:A total of 51 studies were included in the meta-analysis,including 4 916 GDM patients,with 2 460 cases in the combined treatment group and 2 456 cases in insulin alone group.The meta-analysis results revealed significant reductions in rates of cesarean section(OR=0.32,95%CI:0.26-0.39),preterm birth(OR=0.26,95%CI:0.20-0.34),polyhydramnios(OR=0.27,95%CI:0.20-0.36),gestational hypertension(OR=0.25,95%CI:0.18-0.35),neonatal jaundice(OR=0.25,95%CI:0.19-0.32),neonatal hypoglycemia(OR=0.33,95%CI:0.25-0.45),macrosomia(OR=0.23,95%CI:0.17-0.30),and neonatal respiratory distress(OR=0.23,95%CI:0.16-0.34)in the combined treatment group than those in the control group(P＜0.01).Conclusions:For patients with GDM,insulin combined with metformin is significantly more effective than insulin alone in reducing the incidence of maternal and neonatal complications.This combination therapy results in improved outcomes for both mothers and infants.

Based on the management by objectives and developmental performance appraisal,Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital explored the performance appraisal scheme for attending,including disease-specific complexity,disease-specific difficulty,clinical risk-taking and comprehensive quality.Assessment and feedback work was imple-mented by the medical management department,which format a set of independent budget of the physician perfor-mance assessment system.It introduced incentive measures to encourage attending to treat difficult and critical cases,provided high quality medical services,and eventually enhance hospital management effectiveness to attending.

Objective:To investigate the perinatal outcomes and risk factors of perinatal complications in preg-nant women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was carried out on clini-cal data of 100 pregnant women with HCM who delivered in Obstetrical Cardiology Intensive Care Center of Shanghai Renji Hospital between Jan.2000 and Dec.2022.Analyze the incidence of perinatal complications inclu-ding miscarriage,premature birth,small for gestational age infants,neonatal asphyxia,neonatal cardiac malforma-tions and perinatal mortality.Independent risk factors of perinatal complications in pregnant women with HCM were identified using univariate and multivariate Logistic regression.Results:①The mean age was 29.21±4.41 years old,the average gestational age upon admission is 34.46±6.43 weeks.There were 16 patients with a fam-ily history of cardiomyopathy(16％),21 cases with obstructive HCM(21％)and 79 cases of non-obstructive HCM(79％),91 cases with abnormal ECG(91％),mainly with ST-T changes(77 cases,77％).The average in-terventricular septum was 19.39±6.13mm by echocardiography.②Among the 100 pregnancies of 100 HCM pa-tients,6 cases(6％)were miscarriages,94 newborns survived(94％),including 91 cases of cesarean section(91％)and 3 cases of vaginal delivery(3％).The predominant perinatal complications were preterm delivery(39 cases,39％),small for gestational age(5 cases,5％),neonatal asphyxia(3 cases,3％)and neonatal cardiac malformation(2 cases,2％).There were no perinatal deaths.③Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that pre pregnancy heart function ≥ Grade Ⅱ,increased left atrial diameter,and concomitant pulmonary hyperten-sion were risk factors for perinatal complications in pregnant women with HCM(OR＞1,P＜0.05).Multivariate Lo-gistic regression analysis found that pre pregnancy heart function ≥ Grade Ⅱ was an independent risk factor for predicting the occurrence of perinatal complications in pregnant women with HCM(OR 6.270,P＜0.05).Conclu-sions:HCM during pregnancy can induce poor perinatal outcome.More attention should be paid to risk assess-ment and pregnancy management.Early detection of risk factors can reduce the incidence of perinatal complica-tions.

ObjectiveTo describe the epidemic characteristics of COVID-19 after policy adjustment from “Category B notifiable disease with category A management” to “Category B notifiable disease with category B management”， and to explore the protective effect of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 on common symptoms of reinfection. MethodsHealthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 in a grade A tertiary hospital in Shanghai were included in the study from December 4， 2022 to January 11， 2023. Data on demographic characteristics， clinical symptoms， medical history， and COVID-19 vaccination history were collected. We determined the epidemiological curve and characteristics， and then compared the difference in the severity of clinical symptoms between primary and reinfection subjects. ResultsA total of 2 704 cases were included in the study， of which 45 had reinfection， 605 （22.4%）were males， 608 （22.5%）were doctors， 1 275 （47.2%） were nurses， and 2 351 （86.9%） received ≥3 doses of COVID-19 vaccination. The average age of these healthcare workers was （34.9±9.1） years old. The number of cases with mild/moderate illness， asymptomatic infection， fever， headache， dry cough， expectoration， and chest tightness were 2 704 （100.0%）， 92 （3.4%）， 2 385 （88.2%）， 2 066 （76.4%）， 1 642 （60.7%）， 1 807 （66.8%）， and 439 （16.2%）， respectively. Reinfection was a protective factor for fever （OR=0.161， P<0.001）， headache （OR=0.320， P<0.001）， and peak body temperature （β=-0.446， P<0.001）. ConclusionFollowing the COVID-19 policy adjustment as a category B notifiable disease， healthcare workers at a grade A tertiary hospital in Shanghai predominantly experiences mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Reinfection results in milder clinical manifestations， with a lower proportion of being asymptomatic.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of serum calcitonin(Ctn)in medullary thyroid cancer(MTC),the correlation between preoperative serum Ctn and clinicopathological features,and the risk factors affecting the progression of MTC disease during follow-up.METHODS The clinical data of 50 patients admitted to the Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from 2011 to 2022 were systematically reviewed,the ROC curve calculated the diagnostic efficacy of Ctn and CEA levels on MTC,and the risk factors for lymph node metastasis in the central region of MTC were analyzed in univariate and multivariate,and the survival curve without disease progression was drawn to predict risk factors.RESULTS The ROC curve yields the preoperative cut-off value of Ctn was 23.81 pg/ml and the cut-off value of CEA was 3.035 ng/ml for the diagnosis of MTC.The age of disease,tumor diameter,and preoperative serum Ctn and CEA levels in MTC patients were higher than those in non-MTC patients.Ctn≥289.62 pg/ml was an independent risk factor for central lymph node metastasis in MTC.The survival curve showed that invasion of the capsule,central region metastasis,and TNM stage above T2 were risk factors for predicting disease progression(P<0.05).Patients with MTC who have disease progression have higher preoperative Ctn.CONCLUSION Serum Ctn has important clinical value in the differential diagnosis,preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up of MTC.

Objective:To investigate the impact of BMI1 expression in OSCC on the recruitment and differentiation of tumor-associat-ed macrophages(TAMs).Methods:BMI1 expression in 519 cases of OSCC tissues and 44 normal controls was analyzed using online datasets of GEPIA 2.0,and validated in 3 cases of OSCC samples and controls by qRT-PCR and western blotting.The function of BMI1/NF-κB axis during OSCC carcinogenesis was investigated by CCK8 assays,wound healing test and transwell assays.Macrophage phenotypes and recruitment were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting following coculture of the cells with human monocyte cells(THP-1)by OSCC conditioned medium.Moreover,a cell line-derived xenograft(CDX)model was used to detect the effect of BMI1 on tumor growth in vivo.Results:Compared with the normal tissues and cells,the expression level of BMI1 in OSCC tissues and cells was significantly upregulated.BMI1 knockdown impaired the proliferation,migration,and invasion abilities of OSCC cell lines in NF-κB-dependent manner.Furthermore,OSCC cells with high BMI1 expression inhibited the migration of THP-1 cells,promoted M2-like macrophage polarization through NF-κB pathway in vitro.Xenograft experiments further confirmed the inhibitory effect of BMI1 knockdown on the tumorigenesis ability of OSCC cells in vivo.Conclusion:BMI1 promotes M2-like polarization by regulating NF-κB and may be used as a potential therapeutic target for antitumor immunity.

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism and identify potential drugs for subthreshold depression (SD), and elucidate the detalied mechanism of Danzhi Xiaoyao powder (DZXY) in SD. Methods: Using RNA-sequencing, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in leukocytes of SD compared to healthy controls, deciphered their functions and pathways, and identified the hub genes of SD. We also assessed changes in leukocyte transcription factor activity in patients with SD using the TELiS platform. The Connectivity Map database was retrieved to screen candidate drugs for SD. Based on network pharmacology, we elucidated the “multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway” mechanism of DZXY in the treatment of SD. Results: We identified 1080 DEGs (padj <0.05 and |log2 (fold change)| ≥ 1 & protein coding) in the leukocytes of patients with SD. These DEGs, including hub genes, were primarily involved in immune and inflammatory response-related processes. Transcription factor activity analysis revealed similarities between the leukocyte transcriptome profile in SD and the conserved transcriptional response to adversities in immune cells. Connectivity Map analysis identified 28 potential drugs for SD treatment, particularly SB-202190 and TWS-119. Constructing the “Direct Compounds-Direct Targets-Pathways” network for DZXY and SD revealed the curative mechanisms of DZXY in SD, primarily including inflammatory response, lipid metabolism, immune response, and other processes. Conclusion These results provide new insights into the characteristics and functional changes of leukocytes in SD, partially illustrate the pathogenesis of SD, and suggest potential drugs for SD. The curative mechanisms of DZXY in SD are also partially elucidated.

Objective:To investigate the perinatal outcomes and risk factors of perinatal complications in preg-nant women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was carried out on clini-cal data of 100 pregnant women with HCM who delivered in Obstetrical Cardiology Intensive Care Center of Shanghai Renji Hospital between Jan.2000 and Dec.2022.Analyze the incidence of perinatal complications inclu-ding miscarriage,premature birth,small for gestational age infants,neonatal asphyxia,neonatal cardiac malforma-tions and perinatal mortality.Independent risk factors of perinatal complications in pregnant women with HCM were identified using univariate and multivariate Logistic regression.Results:①The mean age was 29.21±4.41 years old,the average gestational age upon admission is 34.46±6.43 weeks.There were 16 patients with a fam-ily history of cardiomyopathy(16％),21 cases with obstructive HCM(21％)and 79 cases of non-obstructive HCM(79％),91 cases with abnormal ECG(91％),mainly with ST-T changes(77 cases,77％).The average in-terventricular septum was 19.39±6.13mm by echocardiography.②Among the 100 pregnancies of 100 HCM pa-tients,6 cases(6％)were miscarriages,94 newborns survived(94％),including 91 cases of cesarean section(91％)and 3 cases of vaginal delivery(3％).The predominant perinatal complications were preterm delivery(39 cases,39％),small for gestational age(5 cases,5％),neonatal asphyxia(3 cases,3％)and neonatal cardiac malformation(2 cases,2％).There were no perinatal deaths.③Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that pre pregnancy heart function ≥ Grade Ⅱ,increased left atrial diameter,and concomitant pulmonary hyperten-sion were risk factors for perinatal complications in pregnant women with HCM(OR＞1,P＜0.05).Multivariate Lo-gistic regression analysis found that pre pregnancy heart function ≥ Grade Ⅱ was an independent risk factor for predicting the occurrence of perinatal complications in pregnant women with HCM(OR 6.270,P＜0.05).Conclu-sions:HCM during pregnancy can induce poor perinatal outcome.More attention should be paid to risk assess-ment and pregnancy management.Early detection of risk factors can reduce the incidence of perinatal complica-tions.