In recent years， the research method of Mendelian randomization based on genome-wide association studies has been widely used for etiological exploration in the medical field， which can effectively overcome the confounding biases and interference of reverse causalities in traditional observational researches with its unique advantages of the distributive randomness and timing priority of genetic variants. This article reviews the method of Mendelian randomization and its application in liver cancer， in order to provide new ideas for the research on causal association in liver cancer.

ObjectiveTo explore the syndrome elements and evolving patterns of patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute on chronic liver failure （HBV-ACLF） at different stages. MethodsClinical information of 1,058 hospitalized HBV-ACLF patients， including 618 in the early stage， 355 in the middle stage， and 85 in the late stage， were collected from 18 clinical centers across 12 regions nationwide from January 1， 2012 to February 28， 2015. The “Hepatitis B-related Chronic and Acute Liver Failure Chinese Medicine Clinical Questionnaire” were designed to investigate the basic information of the patients， like the four diagnostic information （including symptoms， tongue， pulse） of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， and to count the frequency of the appearance of the four diagnostic information. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were employed to determine and statistically analyze the syndrome elements and patterns of HBV-ACLF patients at different stages. ResultsThere were 76 four diagnostic information from 1058 HBV-ACLF patients， and 53 four diagnostic information with a frequency of occurrence ≥ 5% were used as factor analysis entries， including 36 symptom information， 12 tongue information， and 5 pulse information. Four types of TCM patterns were identified in HBV-ACLF， which were liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern， qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern， liver-kidney yin deficiency pattern， and spleen-kidney yang-deficiency pattern. In the early stage， heat （39.4%， 359/912） and dampness （27.5%， 251/912） were most common， and the pattern of the disease was dominated by liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern （74.6%， 461/618）； in the middle stage， dampness （30.2%， 187/619） and blood stasis （20.7%， 128/619） were most common， and the patterns of the disease were dominated by liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern （53.2%， 189/355）， and qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern （27.6%， 98/355）； and in the late stage， the pattern of the disease was dominated by qi deficiency （26.3%， 40/152） and yin deficiency （20.4%， 31/152）， and the patterns were dominated by qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern （36.5%， 31/85）， and liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern （25.9%， 22/85）. ConclusionThere are significant differences in the distribution of syndrome elements and patterns at different stages of HBV-ACLF， presenting an overall trend of evolving patterns as "from excess to deficiency， transforming from excess to deficiency"， which is damp-heat → blood stasis → qi-blood yin-yang deficiency.

Objective To investigate the effect of colquhounia root tablet(CRT)on hyperglucose-in-duced epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2),and to explore its possible action mechanism.Methods HK-2 was cultured in vitro,and HK-2 was divided into the following five groups:control group(CON group),hyperosmolar group(MA group),high glucose group(HG group),high sugar+CRT group(HG+CRT group),high sugar+phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase inhibitor group(HG+LY29400 group),high sugar+CRT+phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase inhibitor group(HG+CRT+LY29400).The real time immunofluorescence quantitative PCR(qPCR)was used to detect the mRNA ex-pression levels of E-cadherin,α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and phosphatase and tensin homolog(PTEN)in each group.Western-blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of PTEN,phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3K),protein kinase B(Akt),phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt),E-cadherin and α-SMA in each group.Results Compared with the CON group,the protein and mRNA expression levels of α-SMA,p-Akt protein expression level and p-Akt/Akt ratio in the HG group were increased,the protein and mRNA ex-pression levels of E-cadherin and PTEN were decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the HG group,the α-SMA protein and mRNA expression levels in the HG+CRT group were decreased,while the E-cadherin protein and mRNA expression levels were increased,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the HG+CRT group,there was no significant differ-ence in the E cadherin,α SMA,PTEN,P13K and Akt protein expression levels and p-Akt/Akt ratio in the HG+CRT+LY29400 group had no significant differences(P＞0.05).while the expression level of p-Akt protein was increased,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion In vitro,CRT could re-verse hyperglucose-induced renal tubular epithelial cell EMT via the PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To study the changes of serum metabolites in the patients with chronic kidney disease osteoporosis(CKD-OP)to provide the new biomarkers for the early diagnosis of CKD-OP.Methods A total of 22 patients with definitely diagnosed CKD visiting in this hospital from April to Novem-ber 2023 were selected as the study subjects,and 22 subjects with physical examination in this hospital at the same period were included for conducting the control study.With the lumbar vertebral T value ≤-2.5 as the standard,the subjects were divided into the CKD-OP group(n=11),CKD non-OP group(CKD-NOP group,n=11),simple osteoporosis group(OP group,n=11)and healthy control group(NC group,n=11).The liq-uid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)coupling technique was used to analyze the differences in se-rum metabolites among the four groups,the potential biomarkers of CKD-OP was screened,and the correla-tion between the potential biomarkers with lumbar vertebra bone mineral density(BMD),serum bone-derived alkaline phosphatase(BALP)and serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b(TRACP-5b)was studied.Re-sults With the receiver's operating characteristic(ROC)curve's area under curve(AUC)＞0.9 as the con-dition,and four potential biomarkers of CKD-OP were screened,which were phosphorylcholine,lysophosphati-dylcholine(18∶2/0∶0),capric acid,and allantoin respectively.Serum phosphorylcholine was positively corre-lated with lumbar vertebra BMD(r=0.601,P＜0.05)and negatively correlated with serum BALP and TRACP-5b(r=-0.729,-0.623,P＜0.05).Serum allantoin was positively correlated with lumbar vertebra BMD(r=0.483,P＜0.05)and negatively correlated with serum BALB(r=-0.494,P＜0.05).Serum lyso-phosphatidylcholine(18∶2/0∶0)was positively correlated with lumbar vertebra BMD(r=0.640,P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with serum BALP and TRACP-5b(r=-0.628,-0.548,P＜0.05).Serum capric acid was negatively correlated with lumbar vertebra BMD(r=-0.444,P＜0.05)and positively corre-lated with serum BALB(r=0.587,P＜0.05).Conclusion The screened four endogenous potential biomarkers provide the new research ideas for the early diagnosis and treatment efficacy monitoring of CKD-OP.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). Early diagnosis of HCC remains the key to improve the prognosis. In recent years, with the promotion of the concept of precision medicine and more in-depth analysis of the biological mechanism underlying HCC, new diagnostic methods, including emerging serum markers, liquid biopsies, molecular diagnosis, and advances in imaging (novel contrast agents and radiomics), have emerged one after another. Herein, we reviewed and analyzed scientific advances in the early diagnosis of HCC and discussed their application and shortcomings. This review aimed to provide a reference for scientific research and clinical practice of HCC.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Prognosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Precision Medicine

Tumor chemoprevention and treatment are two approaches aimed at improving the survival of patients with cancers. An ideal anti-tumor drug is that which not only kills tumor cells but also alleviates tumor-causing risk factors, such as precancerous lesions, and prevents tumor recurrence. Chinese herbal monomers are considered to be ideal treatment agents due to their multi-target effects. Astragaloside has been shown to possess tumor chemoprevention, direct anti-tumor, and chemotherapeutic drug sensitization effects. In this paper, we review the effects of astragaloside on tumor prevention and treatment and provide directions for further research.
Humans ; Chemoprevention ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Neoplasms/prevention & control* ; Saponins/pharmacology* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology*

Cell Differentiation ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Particulate Matter/toxicity* ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; RAW 264.7 Cells

Objective: To estimate the latent period and incubation period of Omicron variant infections and analyze associated factors. Methods: From January 1 to June 30, 2022, 467 infections and 335 symptomatic infections in five local Omicron variant outbreaks in China were selected as the study subjects. The latent period and incubation period were estimated by using log-normal distribution and gamma distribution models, and the associated factors were analyzed by using the accelerated failure time model (AFT). Results: The median (Q₁, Q₃) age of 467 Omicron infections including 253 males (54.18%) was 26 (20, 39) years old. There were 132 asymptomatic infections (28.27%) and 335 (71.73%) symptomatic infections. The mean latent period of 467 Omicron infections was 2.65 (95%CI: 2.53-2.78) days, and 98% of infections were positive for nucleic acid test within 6.37 (95%CI: 5.86-6.82) days after infection. The mean incubation period of 335 symptomatic infections was 3.40 (95%CI: 3.25-3.57) days, and 97% of them developed clinical symptoms within 6.80 (95%CI: 6.34-7.22) days after infection. The results of the AFT model analysis showed that compared with the group aged 18-49 years old, the latent period [exp(β)=1.36 (95%CI: 1.16-1.60), P<0.001] and incubation period [exp(β)=1.24 (95%CI: 1.07-1.45), P=0.006] of infections aged 0-17 years old were prolonged. The latent period [exp(β)=1.38 (95%CI: 1.17-1.63), P<0.001] and the incubation period [exp(β)=1.26 (95%CI: 1.06-1.48), P=0.007] of infections aged 50 years old and above were also prolonged. Conclusion: The latent period and incubation period of most Omicron infections are within 7 days, and age may be a influencing factor of the latent period and incubation period.
Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Infectious Disease Incubation Period ; Asymptomatic Infections

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis

Humans ; Consensus ; Hypersensitivity ; Desensitization, Immunologic/adverse effects* ; Immunotherapy/adverse effects* ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Allergens