1.Mechanism of Guihuang Formula in Regulating NLRP3 Inflammasome-mediated Pyroptosis in Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis
Qinghe GAO ; Jianhua FU ; Shengjing LIU ; Ziwei ZHAO ; Ming ZHAO ; Boda GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):108-116
ObjectiveTo observe the mechanism of Guihuang formula in regulating the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and inhibiting pyroptosis in the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis. Methods(1) In an animal experiment, 50 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, and low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the type Ⅲ prostatitis rat model was prepared for the other four groups.After the modeling was successful, the blank group and the model group were given normal saline intragastrically, and the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula were given intragastrically with Guihuang formula (4.9, 9.8, 19.6 g·kg-1). After 30 days of intragastrical administration, samples were taken for detection. Inflammatory cell infiltration in prostate tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were determined by biochemistry. NLRP3 expression in prostate tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of NLRP3, cysteine-aspartic acid protease-1 (Caspase-1), and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in prostate tissue was measured by Western blot. (2) In a cell experiment, human normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1 cells) were divided into a blank group, a model group, a Guihuang formula group, and an NLRP3 inhibitor group (MCC950 group). Except for the blank group, the other three groups were stimulated by 100 μg·L-1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 4 h and 5 mol·L-1 adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for 30 min to prepare the pyroptosis model. After successful modeling, blank serum was given to the blank group and the model group. 6.25 μg·mL-1 Guihuang formula drug-containing serum was added to the Guihuang formula group, and MCC950 was added to the MCC950 group on the basis of the model group. Propidium iodide (PI) uptake and Caspase-1 expression were detected by flow cytometry, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in the cell supernatant was measured by biochemistry. Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels of the cell supernatant were determined by ELISA, and the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD was detected in Western blot. Results(1) For the animal experiment, compared with the blank group, the model group showed significant infiltration of inflammatory cells in prostate tissue, while the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula showed reduced infiltration of acinar inflammatory cells, reduced degree of glandular epithelial degeneration and interstitial edema, and significantly reduced degree of damage. Compared with those in the blank group, the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula showed a significant decrease in serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels (P<0.01). Compared with that in the blank group, the serum MDA level in the model group significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with that in the model group, the MDA level in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with those in the blank group, the levels of SOD and GSH-Px in the serum of the model group significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula showed a significantly increase in SOD (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula showed a significantly increase in GSH-Px (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that compared with the blank group, the model group had high expression of NLRP3 molecule in prostate tissue. The expression of NLRP3 in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula was significantly lower than that in the model group. Compared with those in the blank group, the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD proteins in the prostate tissue of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with those in the model group, the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD proteins in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Guihuang formula were significantly inhibited (P<0.01). (2) For the cell experiment, compared with that in the blank group, the PI uptake rate of RWPE-1 cells in the model group significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with that in the model group, the PI uptake rate of the Guihuang formula group and the inhibitor group significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with that in the blank group, the expression of Caspase-1 in the model group was significantly higher (P<0.01). Compared with that in the model group, the Caspase-1 in the Guihuang formula group and the inhibitor group significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the model group showed an increase in LDH release (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Guihuang formula group and the inhibitor group showed a significantly decrease in LDH release (P<0.01). Compared with those in the blank group, the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Guihuang formula group and the inhibitor group showed a significantly decrease in the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 (P<0.01). Compared with those in the blank group, the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD proteins significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with those in the model group, the protein expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD were significantly reduced in the Guihuang formula group and inhibitor group (P<0.01). ConclusionGuihuang formula can inhibit the activation of Caspase-1, prevent GSDMD cleavation and lysis, and inhibit cell pyrodeath in the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.
2.Study on the effects and mechanisms of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. in improving sleep
Ming QIAO ; Yao ZHAO ; Yi ZHU ; Yexia CAO ; Limei WEN ; Yuehong GONG ; Xiang LI ; Juanchen WANG ; Tao WANG ; Jianhua YANG ; Junping HU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(1):24-29
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. in improving sleep. METHODS Network pharmacology was employed to identify the active components of L. ruthenicum and their associated disease targets, followed by enrichment analysis. A caffeine‑induced zebrafish model of sleep deprivation was established , and the zebrafish were treated with L. ruthenicum Murr. extract (LRME) at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL, respectively; 24 h later, behavioral changes of zebrafish and pathological alterations in brain neurons were subsequently observed. The levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)], oxidative stress markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT)], and neurotransmitters [5- hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid (Glu), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE)] were measured. The protein expression levels of protein kinase B1 (AKT1), phosphorylated AKT1 (p-AKT1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), sarcoma proto-oncogene,non-receptor tyrosine kinase (SRC), and heat shock protein 90α family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1) in the zebrafish were also determined. RESULTS A total of 12 active components and 176 intersecting disease targets were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Among these, apigenin, naringenin and others were recognized as core active compounds, while AKT1, EGFR and others served as key targets; EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance signaling pathway was identified as the critical pathway. The sleep improvement rates in zebrafish of LRME low-, medium-, and high-dose groups were 54.60%, 69.03% and 77.97%, 开发。E-mail:hjp_yft@163.com respectively, while the inhibition ratios of locomotor distance were 0.57, 0.83 and 0.95, respectively. Compared with the model group, the number of resting counts, resting time and resting distance were significantly increased/extended in LRME medium- and high-dose groups (P<0.05). Neuronal damage in the brain was alleviated. Additionally, the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, MDA, Glu, DA and NE, as well as the protein expression levels of AKT1, p-AKT1, EGFR, SRC and HSP90AA1, were markedly reduced (P<0.05), while the levels of IL-10, SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, 5-HT and GABA, as well as Bcl-2 protein expression, were significantly elevated (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS L. ruthenicum Murr. demonstrates sleep-improving effects, and its specific mechanism may be related to the regulation of inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter balance, and the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance signaling pathway.
3.Mining molecular biomarkers regulating the occurrence of kidney renal clear cell carcinoma based on bioinformatics methods
Feng GUO ; Chenyu WANG ; Zhenfeng SHI ; Jianhua ZHAO ; Wenlong FAN ; Kadeer AIHEMAITI ; Zecheng NI
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(3):215-222
Objective: To identify biomolecular markers closely related to the occurrence of kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) and verify their expression levels in clinical samples. Methods: Stage Ⅰ KIRC mRNA sequencing data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for dimensionality reduction to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs),which then underwent GO and KEGG analyses.Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to screen genes significantly related to KIRC,and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen hub genes.The diagnostic value of hub genes was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,and their prognostic value was analyzed using survival curve plots.The correlation between the mRNA expressions of hub genes and the pathological stages of KIRC was analyzed.Clinical samples of 20 patients with stage Ⅰ KIRC treated in our hospital were included,and the expressions of the hub genes in cancerous and adjacent tissues were detected with reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR),Western blotting,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: A total of 8223 DEGs were screened out,including 4092 up-regulated ones and 4131 down-regulated ones.GO analysis showed that DEGs were related to bioadhesion,plasma membrane composition,and transporter activity.KEGG analysis showed that DEGs were related to pathways such as cell adhesion molecules,cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions,and interactions between viral proteins and cytokines and cytokine receptors.WGCNA analysis obtained 171 genes that were significantly related to stage Ⅰ KIRC.The hub gene,lymphocyte cytosolic protein 2 (LCP2),screened out by the PPI network,was significantly related to stage Ⅰ KIRC.The area under the ROC curve was 0.96.The expression level was negatively correlated with the overall survival rate of patients.The expression of LCP2 was related to the stage and lymph node metastasis.Clinical verification showed that the mRNA and protein relative expressions of LCP2 in KIRC tissues were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues (P<0.000 1). Conclusion: LCP2 is significantly up-regulated in stage Ⅰ KIRC tissues and can be used as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis and treatment of KIRC.
4.Analysis of influencing factors for early neurological deterioration in isolated basal ganglia lacunar infarction
Journal of Apoplexy and Nervous Diseases 2025;42(1):42-46
摘要
目的 探讨孤立性基底节区腔隙性脑梗死早期神经功能恶化(END)的相关影响因素。方法 连续性收集2020年1月—2023年12月就诊于郑州大学人民医院的孤立性基底节区腔隙性脑梗死患者236例,临床资料完整,根据是否出现END将患者分为END组59例及非END组177例,比较患者一般资料,使用多因素二元Logistic回归分析基底节区腔隙性脑梗死患者发生END的影响因素。结果 急性孤立性基底节区腔隙性脑梗死END发生率为25%(59/236),END组病灶累及内囊后肢患者比例、入院NIHSS评分、HbA1c水平、收缩压、女性均高于非END组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。多因素二元Logistic回归模型分析显示病灶累及内囊后肢(OR=3.167,95%CI 1.305~7.690,P=0.011)是END发生的独立危险因素,HbA1c水平(OR=6.368,95%CI 1.555~26.075,P=0.010)、入院NIHSS评分(OR=2.019,95%CI 1.236~3.299,P=0.005)、收缩压(OR=1.626,95%CI 1.373~1.926,P<0.001)是END发生的相关危险因素。结论 孤立性基底节区腔隙性脑梗死END发生率较高,与病灶累及内囊后肢、入院NIHSS评分高、HbA1c水平升高、收缩压高相关。
Abstract
Objective To identify influencing factors for early neurological deterioration (END) in isolated basal ganglia lacunar infarction (iBGLI). Methods Clinical data were continuously collected from 236 patients with iBGLI confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging between January 2020 and December 2023. The patients were divided into END group (n=59) and non-ED group (n=177) according to the presence or absence of END. General patient information was compared between the two groups, and factors influencing the occurrence of END in patients with iBGLI were identified by multivariate binary logistic regression. Results The incidence of END in acute iBGLI was 25% (59/236). The percentage of patients with lesions affecting the posterior limb of the internal capsule, admission NIHSS score, HbA1c level, systolic blood pressure, and number of females were significantly higher in the END group than in the non-END group (all P<0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression showed that lesions affecting the posterior limb of the internal capsule (odds ratio (OR=3.167,95%CI 1.305~7.690,P=0.011) was an independent risk factor for the development of END,whereas HbA1c level(OR=6.368,95%CI 1.555~26.075,P=0.010), admission NIHSS score(OR=2.019,95%CI 1.236~3.299, P=0.005), and systolic blood pressure(OR=1.626,95%CI 1.373~1.926,P<0.001) were associated risk factors for END. Conclusion The higher incidence of END in iBGLI is associated with lesions affecting the posterior limb of the internal capsule, admission NIHSS score, HbA1c level, and systolic blood pressure.
Prognosis
5.Investigation of the current status of radiation diagnosis and treatment resources and their use in Taiyuan City, China
Jianhua SHI ; Wenyan GUO ; Qiyu ZHAO ; Lixian ZHENG ; Li XU ; Fengjiao WU ; Xiaoai ZHAO ; Lili GUO
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(4):508-514
Objective To understand the current status of radiation diagnosis and treatment resources and their use in Taiyuan City, China, and provide data support for optimizing resource allocation and standardizing diagnosis and treatment. Methods A census-based approach was implemented using a standardized questionnaire to collect basic information on radiation diagnosis and treatment institutions in Taiyuan City. The number and use frequency of radiation diagnosis and treatment resources were calculated based on the resident population of Taiyuan City at the end of 2023. Results There were a total of 562 radiation diagnosis and treatment institutions in Taiyuan City, with
6.Preface for special issue on Future Agriculture.
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(10):1-6
Agriculture, the strategic cornerstone of national long-term stability, is undergoing a fundamental shift from resource-dependent to technology-driven, driven by global food security and ecological conservation needs. Traditional agriculture can no longer sustain the growing food demand. Scientific and technological advancements are fundamental guarantees for ensuring food supply security and are the primary driver for future agricultural development. This special issue compiles the latest research advancements from diverse experts, covering fields such as microbe-driven green agriculture, pesticide technology innovation, intelligent agricultural machinery, smart manufacturing, and molecular design breeding fundamentals. It aims to inspire researchers to explore cutting-edge directions in future agriculture, promote interdisciplinary collaboration and technological integration, and thereby drive innovative breakthroughs and industrial transformation in agricultural modernization.
Agriculture/methods*
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Crops, Agricultural/genetics*
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Food Supply
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Biotechnology
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Pesticides
7.Microbe-induced gene silencing targeting VdEno of Verticillium dahliae for the control of cotton Verticillium wilt.
Wen TIAN ; Qianye GUO ; Qing SHUAI ; Qingyan LIU ; Huishan GUO ; Jianhua ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(10):3790-3800
Small RNAs (sRNAs), the key components of RNA interference (RNAi) or RNA silencing, can mediate cell-autonomous gene silencing and function as signaling molecules across species. Microbe-induced gene silencing (MIGS), which is based on interspecies RNAi, is an effective approach for controlling fungal diseases in crops. The enolase gene VdEno is essential for the growth and development of the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, which causes cotton Verticillium wilt. In this study, we engineered Trichoderma harzianum (Th) to express the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting VdEno. The engineered strain Th-VdEnoi successfully generated VdEno-specific small interfering RNA (siVdEno). We further confirmed that Th-VdEnoi effectively induced VdEno silencing at the translational level. The results of crop protection assays revealed that the cotton plants co-inoculated with V. dahliae (strain V592) and Th-VdEnoi presented significantly reduced disease severity and lower fungal biomass in their roots than the control plants inoculated with V. dahliae alone or with V. dahliae and Th-GFPi (a control strain expressing GFP-targeting dsRNA). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that VdEno is an effective target for controlling cotton Verticillium wilt and confirm that MIGS is a promising strategy for managing soil-borne fungal pathogens in crops. MIGS provides strong technical support for reducing the application of conventional chemical pesticides, developing eco-friendly biopesticides, and facilitating the sustainable development of agriculture.
Gossypium/microbiology*
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Plant Diseases/prevention & control*
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Gene Silencing
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Ascomycota/genetics*
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RNA Interference
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RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics*
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Hypocreales/genetics*
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RNA, Small Interfering/genetics*
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Verticillium/genetics*
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Fungal Proteins/genetics*
8.Effective Components and Mechanism of Cistanches Herba Aqueous Extract Against Diabetic Nephropathy Based on the Spectral-effect Relationship
Tianhua LIU ; Chong MA ; Baicai WANG ; Ruoyu GENG ; Yao ZHAO ; Junping HU ; Jianhua YANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(10):1313-1323
OBJECTIVE
To screen out the pharmacodynamic substances of Cistanches Herba aqueous extracts, explore the basis of the pharmacodynamic substances and their mechanism of action in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy(DN), based on the spectral relationship between the mass spectral peak areas of different elution sites of Cistanches Herba aqueous extracts and their anti-DN effects.
METHODS
UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS technique was used to characterise the chromatographic peaks; MTT method was used to detect the effects of different elution sites of Cistanches Herba aqueous extract on the proliferation of high glucose and high fat HK-2 cells; grey correlation analysis and partial least squares method were used to analyse the spectral relationship between mass spectrometry peak area and anti-DN activity. MTT method was used to determine the anti-DN activities of the individual components of Cistanches Herba aqueous extract; biochemical kit and ELISA were used to determine the levels of oxidative indicators(SOD, GSH-P) and inflammatory factors(IL-1β, TNF-α, TGF-β); Western blotting was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins.
RESULTS
UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS technique speculated and identified 72 common compounds; In Cistanches Herba aqueous extracts, water, 20% ethanol, and 40% ethanol-eluted sites differentially increased the proliferation rate of HK-2 cells in a high-sugar, high-fat environment; Partial least squares and grey correlation analyses showed that the constituents of the aqueous extracts of Cistanches Herba with greater anti-DN contributions were 8-epideoxymatricinic acid, geniposidic acid, pinoresinol, betaine and syringin, et al. MTT assay reveals that 8-epi-deoxystrychnic acid and geniposidic acid had significant proliferative effects on HK-2 cells in a high glucose and high fat environment; Biochemical kit and ELISA showed that 8-epideoxystrychnic acid and geniposidic acid were able to up-regulate the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, and at the same time they had an inhibitory effect on the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α and TGF-β. Western blotting results showed that 8-epideoxystrychnic acid and geniposidic acid were able to down-regulate and up-regulate the markers of dermal mesenchymal transition: α-SMA, Collagen Ⅰ and E-cadherin, and they could exert anti-DN effects by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt pathway.
CONCLUSION
The two compounds, 8-epideoxystrychnic acid and geniposidic acid, which are screened by the spectroeffective relationship of anti-DN among the many chemical constituents contained in Cistanches Herba, can affect oxidative stress, inflammation and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of renal tubular cells by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, and improve renal pathology, degree of fibrosis and renal function, which will be useful for the in-depth study of aqueous extracts of Cistanches Herba in the treatment of DN.
9.Diabetes named entity recognition based on feature fusion
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2024;41(7):890-896
To overcome the challenges of entity diversity and data scarcity in diabetes named entity recognition,feature fusion based named entity recognition is proposed.With BERT+BILSTM+CRF as the benchmark model,improvements are made in 3 aspects.(1)The pre-trained model RoBERTa-wwm-ext is introduced as the model embedding layer to provide character-level embedding,and the whole word mask is used in the training stage to obtain semantic representation containing prior knowledge.(2)bidirectional long short-term memory network and iterated dilated convolutional neural network are used to extract features in parallel to obtain features of different granularities.At the same time,the dynamic feature fusion is combined with the attention mechanism to better understand the key information of the data,thus obtaining richer contextual features.(3)The conditional random field is decoded to obtain the final prediction results.The proposed model achieves an F1 value of 79.58%which is 5.38%higher than High-Order MKGraph on DiaKG,a Chinese diabetes data set containing 18 entity categories,fully demonstrating that the feature fusion based method can effectively identify diabetic entities.
10.Application analysis of laparoscopic local pancreatectomy for cystic neoplasms of pancreatic head
Zixuan HU ; Xueqing LIU ; Weihong ZHAO ; Zhongqiang XING ; Jianhua LIU
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2024;30(5):365-369
Objective:To explore the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic local pancreatectomy in the treatment of cystic neoplasms of pancreatic head.Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted of data on patients with pancreatic head cystic neoplasms who received laparoscopic surgery at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from February 2017 to October 2022. A total of 83 patients were enrolled, including 30 males and 53 females, aged (43.7±16.7) years old. All patients were divided into an observation group ( n=55) and a control group ( n=28) based on different surgical procedures. The observation group underwent laparoscopic local pancreatectomy (laparoscopic duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection or laparoscopic enucleation), while the control group underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). The age, gender, body mass index, postoperative hospital stay, proportion of discharged patients with drainage tubes, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion rate, and fistula were compared between two groups. Results:All patients successfully completed the surgery, and there were no cases of conversion to laparotomy or perioperative deaths. There was no statistically significant difference in age, male proportion, body mass index, postoperative hospital stay, and discharge rate with drainage tube between the two groups of patients (all P>0.05). The observation group had a surgical time of (194.4±114.0) min, intraoperative bleeding of 50 (50, 200) ml, and intraoperative blood transfusion rate of 5.5%(3/55), all of which were better than that of the control group, (380.0±71.6) min, 200 (100, 400) ml, and 32.1%(9/28), with statistical significance (all P<0.05). Among them, the B/C fistula rates in the laparoscopic local pancreatectomy group and LPD group were 12.7%(7/55) and 10.7%(3/28) ( P=0.790), respectively. Conclusion:Compared with traditional LPD, laparoscopic local pancreatectomy can shorten surgical time, reduce intraoperative bleeding, and lower intraoperative blood transfusion rate. And there is no significant disadvantage in the B or C grade fistula.


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