Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

Objective:To evaluate and summarize the best evidence for exercise intervention in patients with hypertension, and to provide the basis for clinical medical workers to manage hypertension.Methods:We searched UpToDate, BMJ Best Practice, the Cochrane Library, the International Guideline Collaborative Network to collect guidelines, systematic evaluation, and evidence summary. The retrieval time was from database establishment to June 1st 2022. Two researchers independently conducted literature quality evaluation and extracted evidence from the included literature.Results:A total of 13 articles were included, including 10 guidelines, 1 expert consensus and 2 Meta analysis. A total of 23 pieces of best evidence were collected, mainly involving 8 aspects, including exercise principles, exercise assessment, exercise environment, pre-exercise preparation, exercise program, post-exercise collation, tracking and review, exercise compliance.Conclusions:Exercise has a positive effect on improving blood pressure in patients with hypertension. The suggestions summarized in this study can be tried to guide clinical practice.

Objective:To analyze the distribution characteristics of plasma renin concentration (PRC) in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and its impact on diagnosis.Methods:In this retrospective case series, clinical data from 200 patients with APA (80 men and 120 women; mean age 45.6 years) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from November 2013 to January 2022 were evaluated. PRC was determined by automated chemiluminescence immunoassay. The distribution characteristics of PRC were analyzed, and 8.2 mU/L was used as the low renin cutoff to evaluate whether renin was suppressed.Results:The median PRC was 1.6 mU/L (range, 0.4-41.5 mU/L). There were 116 patients with APA with PRC of ≤2 mU/L, 41 patients with 28.2 mU/L) in 8.0% (16/200) of the patients with APA. And PRC was not suppressed in 2.5% (5/200) of the patients with APA, resulting in a primary aldosteronism negative screening outcome.Conclusions:Although most patients with APA have low PRC, there are a small number (8%) of patients whose PRC has not been fully suppressed, which can lead to missed diagnoses during primary aldosteronism screening. While primary aldosteronism is highly suspected, further investigations are required to determine the diagnosis, even if PRC is not fully suppressed at screening.

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the chronological changes in postoperative complications in surgical ulcerative colitis patients over the past decade in China and to investigate the potential parameters that contributed to the changes. Methods: Ulcerative colitis patients who underwent surgery during 2008–2017 were retrospectively enrolled from 13 hospitals in China. Postoperative complications were compared among different operation years. Risk factors for complications were identified by logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 446 surgical ulcerative colitis patients were analyzed. Fewer short-term complications (24.8% vs. 41.0%, P=0.001) and more laparoscopic surgeries (66.4% vs. 25.0%, P<0.001) were found among patients who received surgery during 2014–2017 than 2008–2013. Logistic regression suggested that independent protective factors against short-term complications were a higher preoperative body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 0.870; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.785–0.964; P=0.008), laparoscopic surgery (OR, 0.391; 95% CI, 0.217–0.705; P=0.002) and elective surgery (OR, 0.213; 95% CI, 0.067–0.675; P=0.009). The chronological decrease in short-term complications was associated with an increase in laparoscopic surgery. Conclusions Our data revealed a downward trend of short-term postoperative complications among surgical ulcerative colitis patients in China during the past decade, which may be due to the promotion of minimally invasive techniques among Chinese surgeons.

Objective:To investigated the clinical, biochemical, and immunohistological characteristics of patients with aldosterone producing adenoma(APA)and different gene mutations.Methods:The clinical and biochemical data of 206 patients with APA who received unilateral adrenalectomy were collected. Sanger sequencing was used to identify the mutation in the hot-point of KCNJ5 and other genes. The tumor samples were stained by 11β-hydroxylase(CYP11B1)and aldosterone synthase(CYP11B2), which was quantified by McCarty′s H-score system.Results:The gene mutations were identified in 166 out of 206(80.6%)patients with APA, of which 158 cases were KCNJ5 mutation, 2 ATP1A1 mutation, 5 ATP2B3 mutation, and 1 CTNNB1 mutation. Age, duration of hypertension, and serum potassium in APA patients with genetic mutant were significantly lower than those without genetic mutation( P<0.05) while the proportion of female, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, aldosterone/renin ratio(ARR), and plasma aldosterone concentration(PAC)post saline infusion test(SIT)were significantly higher( P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that age, duration of hypertension, systolic blood pressure, and proportion of left ventricular hypertrophy in APA patients with ATP1A1 and ATP2B3 mutations were significantly higher than those with KCNJ5 mutation( P<0.05)while the PAC post SIT and tumor diameter were significantly lower( P<0.05). The positive rates of CYP11B2 in APA with different mutations were not significantly different. The H-score of CYP11B1 was significantly higher [160.0(127.5, 193.5) vs 80.0(27.5, 152.3), P=0.020] and the H-score of CYP11B2 was significantly lower [155.0(123.0, 190.0) vs 240.0(140.0, 270.0), P<0.01] in APA with KCNJ5 mutation compared with those with ATPase mutation. Conclusion:The types of genetic mutation are closely correlated with the clinical, biochemical, and immunohistological phenotypes in patients with APA.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of perioperative complications of laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy and influence of body shape on the short-term therapeutic effects.Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 506 patients (328 males and 178 females,average age 60 years with the range of 24-85 years) who underwent laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy+D2 lymph nodes dissection in the 8 clinical centers between March 2016 and November 2018 were collected,including 143 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University,66 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University,66 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University,64 in the Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University,54 in the Affiliated Hangzhou First people's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine,48 in the Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,35 in the Affiliated Quanzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University,30 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College.The maximum thickness of subcutaneous fat at the level of umbilicus (USCF),the maximum vertical distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the umbilicus (UAPD),the maximum horizontal distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the umbilicus (UTD),the maximum verticaldistance between the anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the xiphoid bone (XAPD),the maximum horizontal distance between the.anterior abdominal skin and the back skin at the level of the xiphoid bone (XTD),the distance between the anterior abdominal skin and the root of celiac artery (CAD) and the maximum horizontal distance at a right angle to CAD (CATD) were measured using preoperative imaging examinations.Observation indicators:(1) intraoperative and postoperative situations;(2) follow-up situations;(3) risk factors analysis of perioperative complications;(4) influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery:① Pearson univariate correlation analysis,② liner regression model analysis.Followup using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to December 2018.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range).Comparisons of count data were analyzed using the chi-square test.Comparisons of ordinal data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test.Risk factors of perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy were analyzed by Logistic regression model.Influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery was analyzed by Pearson univariate correlation analysis and liner regression model.Results (1) Intraoperative and postoperative situations:all the 506 patients underwent successful laparoscopic distal gastrectomy,including 103 with Billroth Ⅰ anastomosis,140 with Billroth Ⅱ anastomosis,201 with Billroth Ⅱ + Braun anastomosis,62 with Roux-en-Y anastomosis.The operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph nodes dissected,time to postoperative anal exsufflation,time for initial fluid diet intake,time for initial semi-fluid diet intake and duration of postoperative hospital stay were (233±44)minutes,(102±86)mL,34±13,(3.6±1.5)days,(5.8±3.3)days,(8.3±3.8)days,(12.2±5.7)days respectively in the 506 patients.Of 506 patients,196 were defined as pathological stage Ⅰ,122 were defined as pathological stage Ⅱ and 188 were defined as pathological stage Ⅲ postoperatively.Of 506 patients,93 had 106 times of perioperative complications,including 33 times of pulmonary and upper respiratory infection,12 times of incisional infection,11 times of anastomotic leakage,11 times of abdominal infection,8 times of intestinal obstruction,8 times of gastroplegia,6 times of abdominal hemorrhage,5 times of bacteremia,3 times of anastomotic hemorrhage,3 times of lymph fluid leakage,2 times of pancreatic leakage,1 time of urinary infection,1 time of anatomotic stenosis,1 time of deep venous thrombosis and 1 time of pulmonary embolism;the same patient can merge multiple complications.Eleven patients were in the Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ Ⅲ.(2) Follow-up situations:465 of 506 patients were followed up for 1-32 months with a median time of 12 months.During the follow-up,451 had postoperative survival and 38 had tumor recurrence or metastasis.(3) Risk factors analysis of perioperative complications.① Results of univariate analysis showed that age,body mass index (BMI),preoperative hemoglobin,preoperative serum albumin and XAPD were related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (x2 =10.289,7.427,5.269,5.481,4.285,P＜ 0.05).② Results of multivariate analysis showed that age,BMI,preoperative serum albumin were independent related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (odds ratio =1.033,1.118,0.937,95％ interval confidence:1.011-1.057,1.025-1.219,0.887-0.990,P＜0.05).(4) Influence of body shape related indexes on intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery.① Results of Pearson univariate correlation analysis showed correlations between UAPD,XAPD,CAD,CATD and volume of intraoperative blood loss (r=0.107,0.169,0.179,0.106,P＜0.05),between UAPD,XAPD,CAD and the number of lymph nodes dissected (r=-0.137,-0.143,-0.173,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD and time to postoperative anal exsufflation (r =0.122,0.109,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD,CAD and time for initial fluid diet intake (r=0.132,0.108,0.132,P＜0.05),between USCF,XAPD and duration of postoperative hospital stay (r=0.116,0.100,P＜0.05).② Results of liner regression model analysis showed a positive correlation between CAD and volume of intraoperative blood loss (r =6.776),a negative correlation between CAD and the number of lymph nodes dissected (r =-0.841),with statistically significant differences (t =2.410,-1.992,P＜ 0.05);a positive correlation between USCF and time to postoperative anal exsufflation (r=0.170),between USCF and time for initial fluid diet intake (r=0.365),between USCF and duration of postoperative hospital stay (r=0.636) respectively,with statisticallysignificant differences (t =2.188,1.981,2.107,P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Abdominal shape can influence intraoperative situations and postoperative recovery of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy,but cannot increase risks ofperioperative complications.Age,BMI and preoperative serum albumin are independent related factors affecting perioperative complications of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of aerosol inhalation of ambroxol combined with gentamicin on postopera-tive related indexes of esophageal cancer patients. METHODS:60 patients underwent esophageal cancer operation were retrospec-tive analyzed and divided into control group(30 cases)and observation group(30 cases)according to drug use. Three days before surgery,control group was given 5% Glucose injection 250 mL intravenously,twice a day;observation group was given Ambrox-ol hydrochloride injection 50 mL added into 5% Glucose injection 250 mL intravenously,twice a day. After operation,both groups were given anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Control group was additionally given aerosol inhalation of Gentamicin sulfate in-jection 80000 units added into 0.9% Sodium chloride injection 20 mL,4 times a day. Observation group was additionally given aerosol inhalation of Ambroxol hydrochloride injection 10 mL added into 0.9% Sodium chloride injection 20 mL,4 times a day, on the basis of control group. Both groups were treated for 5 days. The occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications were compared between 2 groups. The levels of CRP,TNF-α,PaO2,SaO2,oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2),the occurrence of ADR were observed before and after operation. RESULTS:The total incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in observation group was significantly lower than control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). Before operation,there was no statistical significance in the levels of CRP,TNF-α,PaO2,SaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 between 2 groups(P>0.05). After operation,the levels of CRP and TNF-α in 2 groups were significantly lower than before operation;the observation group was significantly lower than the control group. PaO2,SaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 of 2 groups were sig-nificantly higher than before operation;the observation group was significantly higher than the control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). No obvious ADR was found in 2groups during medication. CONCLUSIONS:The aerosol inhalation of ambroxol combined with gentamicin can reduce postopera-tive inflammatory factors of esophageal cancer patients,and promotes the recovery of respiratory function without increasing the in-cidence of ADR.

Objective To study the pathological alterations,such as oxidative stress,cell proliferation and insulin resistance,especially autophagy,in Alzheimer' s disease (AD) complicated with type 2 diabetes (AD + T2DM).Methods The mouse models of T2DM,AD and AD + T2DM were used in the study,and totally 80 mice were divided into four groups:control group,T2DM group,AD group and AD + T2DM group.Morris water maze was applied to test the ability of learning and memory among the above mentioned groups.In the meantime,insulin resistance index,the expression of insulin receptor substrate 2,oxidative stress,cell proliferation and autophagy were observed with chemical analysis,immunofluorescent labeling,transmission electron microscopy and Western blotting.Results On day 4,the difference of time to find Morris water maze in control group,T2DM group,AD group and AD + T2DM group ((26.08 ±4.93) s,(38.46 ± 4.07) s,(47.32 ± 5.86) s,(53.01 ± 6.12) s,F =2.454,P =0.025) was statistically significant,and the time in AD + T2DM group was longer than that in AD group (t =-3.624,P =0.033).Compared with control group,insulin resistance occurred in T2DM group,AD group and AD + T2DM group (4.35 ± 0.48,16.12 ± 3.57,7.03 ± 3.11,18.78 ± 5.06,F =5.602,P =0.009),and the reduction of insulin receptor substrate 2 expression,the oxidative stress reaction,neural proliferative suppression and autophagy (F =418.344,222.514,436.250,113.934,23.772,35.469,all P ＜ 0.05) were induced in T2DM group,AD group and AD + T2DM group,which were more serious in AD + T2DM group than in AD group (t =-2.796,21.723,-8.041,9.037,-4.403,-32.011,-26.593,all P ＜0.05).Conclusion AD + T2DM mice suffered more serious cognitive impairment than AD and T2DM mice.The oxidative stress levels of AD + T2DM mice were upregulated,and thus led to the inhibition of cell proliferation,eventually leading to promotion of autophagy.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of posterior pedicle screw fixation combined with anterior decompression and fusion for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.Methods The clinical data of 53 patients underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation and anterior decompression and fusion were retrospectively analyzed.The vertebral height,Cobb angle,vertebral tube volume,the Frankel gradient and Fugl -Meyer score were recorded and compared before and after treatment.Results 49 patients were followed up.At the last time of follow -up,the vertebral height,Cobb angle,vertebral tube volume all significantly improved (t =24.047,P <0.001;t =21.815,P <0.001;t =31.699,P <0.001).The Frankel gradient before treatment was:A 6 cases,B 18 cases,C 15 cases,D 10 cases,E 4 cases.After treatment,it came to 3 cases,8 cases,11 cases,17 cases,10 cases,respectively.There was significant difference before and after treatment (Z =2.997,P =0.003).There was significant difference in Fugl -Meyer score before and after treatment[(74.65 ±8.42)points,(90.26 ±9.17)points,respectively,P <0.001 ].Conclusion There is excellent effect on posterior pedicle screw fixation followed by anterior decompression and fusion for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.It is good for the recovery of motion and spinal function.

Objective The sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) has dramatically reduced the rate ofrestenosis in comparison to that with the bare-metal stent (BMS).This study aimed to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of Firebird stent implantation for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods From Apri12006 through July 2007, 155 patients (mean age 58.93～10.27 years) with CHD were implanted with Firebird stent or Cypher select stent at Daxing Hospital. Patients were followed up for one year. All-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, recurrence of angina pectoris, heart failure, revascularization, and adverse arrhythmia) and stent thrombosis were compared between the 2 groups. Results Of the 155 consecutive patients, 147 patients were revascularized completely. Of these patients, 48 (with 59 lesions) were treated with Firebird stent, 59 patients (with 75 lesions) with Cypher select stent. The demographic characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. All the angiographic and procedural results were not significantly different between the 2 groups. All-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, recurrence of angina pectoris, MACE and stent thrombosis were almost identical between the 2 groups before discharge, at 6 months and at one year .Conclusion The short-term efficacy and safety of Firebird stent are similar to that of the cypher select stent for the treatment of patients with CHD.