ObjectiveTo improve the quality standard of Yuanhu Zhitong oral liquid in order to strengthen the quality control of this oral liquid. MethodThin layer chromatography（TLC） was used for the qualitative identification of Corydalis Rhizoma and Angelicae Dahuricae Radix in Yuanhu Zhitong oral liquid by taking tetrahydropalmatine， corydaline reference substances and Corydalis Rhizoma reference medicinal materials as reference， and cyclohexane-trichloromethane-methanol（5∶3∶0.5） as developing solvent， Corydalis Rhizoma was identified using GF254 glass thin layer plate under ultraviolet light（365 nm）. And taking petroleum ether（60-90 ℃） -ether-formic acid（10∶10∶1） as developing solvent， Angelicae Dahuricae Radix was identified using a silica gel G TLC plate under ultraviolet light（305 nm）. High performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） was performed on a Waters XSelect HSS T3 column（4.6 mm×250 mm， 5 μm） with acetonitrile（A）-0.1% glacial acetic acid solution（adjusted pH to 6.1 by triethylamine）（B） as the mobile phase for gradient elution（0-10 min， 20%-30%A； 10-25 min， 30%-40%A； 25-40 min， 40%-50%A； 40-60 min， 50%-60%A）， the detection wavelength was set at 280 nm， then the fingerprint of Yuanhu Zhitong oral liquid was established， and the contents of tetrahydropalmatine and corydaline were determined. ResultIn the thin layer chromatograms， the corresponding spots of Yuanhu Zhitong oral liquid， the reference substances and reference medicinal materials were clear， with good separation and strong specificity. A total of 12 common peaks were identified in 10 batches of Yuanhu Zhitong oral liquid samples， and the peaks of berberine hydrochloride， dehydrocorydaline， glaucine， tetrahydropalmatine and corydaline. The similarities between the 10 batches of samples and the control fingerprint were all >0.90. The results of determination showed that the concentrations of corydaline and tetrahydropalmatine had good linearity with paek area in the range of 0.038 6-0.193 0， 0.034 0-0.170 0 g·L^-1， respectively. The methodological investigation was qualified， and the contents of corydaline and tetrahydropalmatine in 10 batches of Yuanhu Zhitong oral liquid samples were 0.077 5-0.142 9、0.126 1-0.178 2 g·L^-1， respectively. ConclusionThe established TLC， fingerprint and determination are simple， specific and reproducible， which can be used to improve the quality control standard of Yuanhu Zhitong oral liquid.

Objective To analyze the radiomic and clinical features extracted from 2D ultrasound images of thyroid tumors in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT)combined with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)using machine learning(ML)models,and to explore the diagnostic performance of the method in making preoperative noninvasive identification of cervical lymph node metastasis(LNM).Methods A total of 528 patients with HT combined with PTC were enrolled and divided into two groups based on their pathological results of the presence or absence of LNM.The groups were subsequently designated the With LNM Group and the Without LNM Group.Three ultrasound doctors independently delineated the regions of interest and extracted radiomic features.Two modes,radiomic features and radiomics-clinical features,were used to construct random forest(RF),support vector machine(SVM),LightGBM,K-nearest neighbor(KNN),and XGBoost models.The performance of these five ML models in the two modes was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves on the test dataset,and SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)was used for model visualization.Results All five ML models showed good performance,with area under the ROC curve(AUC)ranging from 0.798 to 0.921.LightGBM and XGBoost demonstrated the best performance,outperforming the other models(P＜0.05).The ML models constructed with radiomics-clinical features performed better than those constructed using only radiomic features(P＜0.05).The SHAP visualization of the best-performing models indicated that the anteroposterior diameter,superoinferior diameter,original_shape_VoxelVolume,age,wavelet-LHL_firstorder_10Percentile,and left-to-right diameter had the most significant effect on the LightGBM model.On the other hand,the superoinferior diameter,anteroposterior diameter,left-to-right diameter,original_shape_VoxelVolume,original_firstorder_InterquartileRange,and age had the most significant effect on the XGBoost model.Conclusion ML models based on radiomics and clinical features can accurately evaluate the cervical lymph node status in patients with HT combined with PTC.Among the 5 ML models,LightGBM and XGBoost demonstrate the best evaluation performance.

Objective:To understand the relationship between the RNA shedding time of SARS-CoV-2 infected persons and the single nucleotide mutation of the virus, the population of infected persons, underlying diseases and other factors, so as to provide more clues for the study of SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics.Methods:The data of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and underlying diseases of infected persons in a cluster epidemic of COVID-19 in Jiangsu province from July to September 2021 were collected. Nasopharyngeal swab samples of cases were collected, and the whole genome of the virus was sequenced by second-generation sequencing technology. The online analysis platform was used to judge the virus type and analyze the mutation site, and Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the relationship between the RNA shedding time of SARS-CoV-2 and various research factors.Results:There were 350 persons who finally obtained the whole genome sequence of the virus in this COVID-19 outbreak, of which 60.3% were female, the median age was 49 years old (interquartile range, IQR: 37-65 years old)), and the median time of virus shedding was 33 days ( IQR, 26-44 days). The whole-genome sequencing analysis showed that compared with the Wuhan reference strain sequence, the infected persons’ sequence had 34~41 nucleotide mutation sites, belonging to VOC/Delta variant (B.1.617.2 evolutionary branch), and C346T, C1060T, T2803C, T7513C, A29681C were the main single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of this epidemic. Cox regression analysis showed that age, underlying disease, clinical classification, vaccination, SNP T2803C and T7513C had an impact on the RNA shedding time of SARS-CoV-2. The adjusted multivariate Cox regression result showed that age [ HR=0.73, 95% CI (0.55, 0.95)] and T7513C [ HR=0.37, 95% CI (0.18, 0.77)] were still the risk factors for the extension of SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding time. Conclusions:This study analyzed the effects of the individual factors and viral single nucleotide variations on the time of viral RNA shedding. Those who were older, suffered from hypertension, had more severe clinical symptoms, were not vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, and had T7513C mutation in the infected virus, had a risk of a long RNA shedding time of SARS-CoV-2, which should be given special attention and follow-up after rehabilitation.

Purpose: This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy or endocrine therapy maintenance in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. Materials and Methods: The meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and propensity score matching of multicenter cohort study evaluated MBC patients who underwent first-line chemotherapy or endocrine therapy maintenance. This study is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42017071858 and ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04258163. Results: A total of 2,867 patients from 15 RCTs and 760 patients from multicenter cohort were included. The results from meta-analysis showed that chemotherapy maintenance improved progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 0.73; p < 0.001; moderate-quality evidence) and overall survival (OS) (HR, 0.87; 95% CI 0.78 to 0.97; p=0.016; high-quality evidence) than observation. In the cohort study, for hormone receptor–positive MBC patients, chemotherapy maintenance improved PFS (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.85; p < 0.001) and OS (HR, 0.55; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.73; p < 0.001) compared with observation, and endocrine therapy maintenance also improved PFS (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.80; p < 0.001) and OS (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.69; p < 0.001). There were no differences between chemotherapy and endocrine therapy maintenance in PFS and OS (all p > 0.05). Regardless of the continuum or switch maintenance therapy, showed prolonged survival in MBC patients who were response to first-line treatment. Conclusion This study provided evidences for survival benefits of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy maintenance in MBC patients, and there was no difference efficacy between chemotherapy and endocrine therapy maintenance for hormone receptor–positive patients.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of echocardiography-guided trans-right-ventricular percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA) in a healthy sheep model, and to observe the pathological changes of myocardium in ablation area one year later.Methods:Twelve sheep were divided into PIMSRA group ( n=6) and sham group ( n=6). In PIMSRA group, a radiofrequency (RF) electrode was inserted to the interventricular septum (IVS) with maximum power of 80 Watts for 5 minutes. In the sham group, RF electrode tip was positioned in IVS segment but without the RF power delivery. Electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE) were performed to assess the efficacy of PIMSRA at postoperative immediately, 2-week, 1-month, 2-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month during the follow-up. The following parameters were recorded, including the thickness of ablation area, the systolic wall thickening rate and amplitude of movement of the ablated region, left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOT PG), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), mitral valve early diastolic peak velocity(E), late diastolic peak velocity(A) and the E/A ratio, peak velocity of early diastolic mitral annular motion(E′), peak velocity of late diastolic mitral annular motion(A′), and the E′/A′ ratio.For both groups, the myocardial biomarkers of troponin I, myoglobin and isoenzymes of creatine kinase were tested before the ablation and 3 h after the ablation, and again after 2 weeks. Tissue pathology examinations were performed at the end of study. Results:None of the animals in both groups was observed to have pericardial tamponade during perioperative period.Immediately after the procedure, septal hypokinesis was seen in all PIMSRA group animals, the systolic wall thickening rate and amplitude of movement of the ablated region were significantly decreased ( P<0.001), which was sustained until 12 months.In Sham group, there were no significant differences in the wall thickening rate and amplitude of movement of the operated region(all P>0.05).The thickness of the ablation area in the PIMSRA group was significantly increased immediately after the procedure( P<0.001), decreased to baseline level at 1-week ( P=0.931), and significantly increased at 3-month ( P<0.001).In the Sham group, the IVS thickness was significantly increased immediately after the procedure( P=0.005), decreased to baseline level at 1-week ( P=0.027), then has no further significant changes.There were no significant differences in LVEF, E/A, E′/A′ between PIMSRA and Sham group(all P>0.05).MCE showed the thickness of the ablation area was significantly decreased in the PIMSRA group 12 months after the operation.In both groups, troponin I increased significantly 3 h after the operation(all P<0.005), which decreased to baseline level 2 weeks later(all P>0.05). ECG showed that all the sheep had normal sinus rhythm. Pathological examinations revealed the tissue in the ablation area was fibrotic, having clear boundary with the surrounding normal tissue and no carbonization was observed 1 year later. Conclusions:Echocardiography-guided trans-right-ventricular PIMSRA produced precisely ablated myocardial tissues, reduced the IVS thickness significantly, preserved the global left ventricular function. All the sheep had normal sinus rhythm and without pericardial tamponade in 1 year follow-ups. Echocardiography-guided trans-right-ventricular PIMSRA is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for septal reduction therapy.

Objective: To assess the bi-ventricular remodeling in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) after modified Morrow surgery by three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE). Methods: Twenty-eight patients with HOCM who underwent modified Morrow surgery from August 2013 to September 2016 in Xijing Hospital were consecutively included in this study. Routine and full-volume echocardiographic images were collected before and after surgery, 3D-STE echocardiographic data were analyzed by TomTec software to calculate left and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF), as well as the longitudinal strain(LS), circumferential strain(CS), radial strain(RS) of the 16 segments of left ventricle. The left atrial maximum volume(LAVmax), left atrial minimum volume (LAVmin), left atrial stroke volume(LASV), left atrial ejection fraction(LAEF) were obtained, as well as right ventricular longitudinal strain of septum [RVLS(S)], right ventricular longitudinal strain of free wall[RVLS(FW)], tricuspid annular planesystolic excursion(TAPSE), right ventricular fractional area change(RVFAC). Results: Compared with baseline, the IVS thickness were significantly reduced, LVOT pressure gradient were significantly decreased, LVOT diameter were increased significantly (all P<0.05). The LS in the basal part of anterior and lateral wall were increased significantly (all P<0.05). The CS in basal and middle part of lateral wall were increased significantly (all P<0.05). The RS in basal part of anterior, lateral and posterior wall, as well as in the middle part of anterior and lateral wall were increased significantly( all P<0.05). The LAVmax, LAVmin and LASV were decreased, and the LAEF was increased(all P<0.05). The RVLS(FW) and the TAPSE were increased significantly( all P<0.05). Conclusions After modified Morrow surgery in HOCM patients, the morphological remodeling of left ventricle, left atrium and right ventricle are improved, accompanied by the improvement of the function. 3D-STE is valuable in evaluating the efficacy of modified Morrow surgery in HOCM patients.

Objective: To investigate the safety and long-term efficacy of a new treatment, echocardiography-guided transthoracic laser ablation of the animal interventricular septum (IVS), for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods: Ten healthy sheep were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group: sheath puncture with laser ablation (energy: 3 W, 1000 J), sham control group: sheath puncture only without laser ablation. Echocardiography and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded before operation, immediately after operation, and 1, 3 and 6-month after the operation. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, longitudinal strain, difference of time to peak between the ablation segment and the surrounding segments were analyzed. Blood samples were collected before and one hour after the operation to examine the serological results. Results: Immediately and 6 months after the operation, all animals survived with normal cardiac function. No severe complications such as cardiac tamponade or bundle branch block occurred. The Troponin I level was significantly elevated immediately after the operation(P<0.05). The thickness of the ablated IVS was significantly reduced 6 months after the operation compared with before the operation[(3.23±1.21)mm vs (8.53±0.44)mm, P<0.05]. M-mode echocardiography showed that the amplitude of movement of the ablated region of the experimental group 6 months after the operation was significantly decreased compared with the control group(P<0.05). Three dimensional strain analysis showed that for the experimental group, the longitudinal strain of the ablation segment was significantly reduced and the difference of time to peak was significantly delayed, compared with the control group(P<0.05). Conclusions Echocardiography-guided transthoracic laser ablation of IVS is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive method. It is capable to reduce the volume of IVS without influencing the cardiac function, which makes it a potential alternative for HOCM treatment.

Objective To evaluate left ventriclular systolic function in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) after modified Morrow surgery using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI).Methods Twenty three HOCM patients were recruited in this study.Echocardiographic data from HOCM patients during pre-operation,1-month and 3-month post-operation were analyzed by Qlab software to compare the variation in systolic function indicators 1-month and 3-month post-operation including global and 16 segmental longitudinal strain,circumferential strain and conventional echocardiographic parameters of left ventricle.Results Compared with preoperative data of HOCM patients,postoperative LVOT diameter and pressure gradient,left atrial diameter and volume index were significantly decreased(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction(P<0.05).Compared with the preoperative case,global and segmental longitudinal strain showed significant reduction after 1 week and gradually recovered after 3 months,without significant variation.The longitudinal strain of the anteroseptum reduced significantly and the longitudinal strain of the free wall increased after 3 months,however,the circumferential strain reduced significantly.The circumferential strain of basal and middle segment after 3 months had improved significantly than those of postoperative 1 week.The circumferential strain of surgical site is no obvious change and the strain of free wall was improved after 3 months.Conclusions 2D-STI can effectively evaluate global and regional systolic function of left ventricle for HOCM patients after modified Morrow surgery.

Objective To explore the feasibility and the value of ultrasound transient elastography in the estimation of intraocular pressure.Methods Thirty-two cases of glancomatous patients' and twenty-eight healthy subjects'eyeball were examined by using ultrasound transient elastography,meanwhile using Photoshop image analysis software to quantitative analysis of blue gradation ratio of the front wall tissue of eyeball,then intraocular pressure were examined by NCT.The difference of quantitative data of blue gradation ratio of the front wall tissue of eyeball between glancomatous patients and healthy subjects were compared.The relationship of quantitative value of blue gradation ratio and intraocular pressure were established.Results The blue gradation ratio of the front wall tissue of eyeball in glancomatous patients were 0.37± 0.03,while in healthy subjects were 0.33 ± 0.02,there was a significant difference between glancomatous patients and healthy subjects (P < 0.01),and there was a linear relation between blue gradation ratio and intraocular pressure(r = 0.424,P < 0.05).Conclusions The ultrasound transient elastography can be used in estimation of intra-ocular pressure in glancomatous patients,and there is a linear relation in quantitative data between blue gradation ratio and intraocular pressure.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of lateral superior genicular composite tissue flap for tissue defect.

METHODSThe axis line of flap is the lateral thigh vertical midline. The cutaneous branch is inserted 4 cm near the femoral lateral epicondylus. The anterior border is the elongation line along patellar lateral border. The posterior margin is the hinder margin of femoral biceps. The lower border is the horizontal line along the upper line of patella. The composite flaps were used in 18 cases with soft tissue defects in extremities, 11 cases with clacaneus tenden defects and 16 cases with bony nonunion. Results From Mar. 2002 to Sept. 2013, 45 cases were treated with the composite tissue flaps. The flaps size ranged from 6 cm x 3 cm to 17cm x 9 cm. All the flaps survived completely. Blood supply crisis happened in 2 cases, which was released by reanastomosis. The patients were followed up for 1 - 2. 5 years with satisfactory aesthetic and functional results. All the bone defect and nonunion were healed. Good healing was also achieved in donor sites. 8 months after operation, knee joint function is evaluated as good by hospital special surgery knee score (HSS).

CONCLUSIONLateral superior genicular compostie tissue flap can be used to reconstruct soft tissue defect, bone defect and tenden calcaneus defect in one stage.

Anatomic Landmarks ; anatomy & histology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Knee ; anatomy & histology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; anatomy & histology ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; transplantation ; Thigh ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing