The theory of " Sui Qi Suo De" originates from Zhang Zhongjing's Jin Gui Yao Lue and has been further developed by later generations of practitioners, offering significant guidance for clinical practice. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are common malignant disorders of the hematopoietic system, characterized by high heterogeneity and progressive mutational changes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), MDS falls under the category of "marrow toxin exhaustion". This article applies the theory of " Sui Qi Suo De" in TCM to analyze the pathophysiological changes during different stages of MDS. Specifically, it explores the precursor stage (focusing on health maintenance and prevention before illness, addressing the " Suo De" of "gradual decline of vital qi"), the low-risk stage (strengthening the spleen and kidneys, clearing toxic pathogens, addressing the " Suo De" of "weakened vital qi invaded by pathogens"), and the medium-to-high-risk stage (detoxifying and reinforcing the body, harmonizing physical and mental health, addressing the " Suo De" of "dominant pathogens and declining vital qi"). The goal is to provide new directions and theoretical insights for the TCM treatment of MDS.

Objective:To investigate the effects of pulsed electric field (PEF) combined with gemcitabine (GEM) on the viability and stemness of HCCC-9810 cholangiocarcinoma stem cells.Methods:HCCC-9810 cholangiocarcinoma stem cells were established in serum-free, cytokine-rich medium and divided into four groups: the control group, GEM group, PEF group, and the pulsed electric field combined with gemcitabine (PEF+ GEM) group. Cell proliferation was detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay. Cell viability and apoptosis rate were measured by flow cytometry. Cell invasion ability was assessed using the Transwell assay. The expression of stemness marker proteins CD133 and Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), as well as the expression of β-catenin, was detected by Western blotting.Results:Regarding cell viability, the GEM, PEF, and PEF+ GEM groups showed significantly lower cell viability and higher apoptosis rate than the control group at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h (all P<0.05). At 48 h and 72 h, the PEF+ GEM group showed significantly lower cell viability (7.2%±0.3% and 5.9%±0.8%, respectively) than the GEM group (50.7%±0.6% and 31.0%±1.2%, respectively) and the PEF group (12.2%±0.2% and 12.8%±0.2%, respectively) (all P<0.05). Regarding stemness inhibition, the PEF+ GEM groups showed significantly lower expression levels of CD133 and OCT4 at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Notably, at 48 h, the PEF+ GEM group showed a significantly lower expression level of the OCT4 (0.61±0.02) than the GEM group (0.87±0.08) and the PEF group (1.00±0.10) ( P<0.01). Furthermore, at 24 h and 48 h, the GEM, PEF, and PEF+ GEM groups showed significantly lower expression levels of β-catenin compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Pulsed electric field combined with gemcitabine therapy demonstrated more effective anti-proliferation and cancer stemness inhibition effects on HCCC-9810 cholangiocarcinoma stem cells compared with either monotherapy.

Objective·To identify relevant biomarkers for patients with coronavirus disease 2019-associated kidney injury(COVID-19-associated KI)and explore the mechanisms underlying the involvement of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)proteins in infection-related KI by affecting the interactions between renal cells and macrophages.Methods·A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with KI treated in Shanghai Ninth,People's,hospital from December 2022 to February 2023.Serum levels of inflammatory factors and chemokines were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).In vitro,human macrophage cell line THP-1 cells were stimulated with recombinant S1 subunit protein derived from SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.The cells and culture supernatants were collected to detect the levels of inflammatory factors and chemokines by using quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)and ELISA.Conditioned medium was prepared from the cell culture supernatants of S1-stimulated THP-1 cells and used to stimulate human renal epithelial cells(HK-2)in vitro to assess cytokine secretion.Antibody blocking experiments were performed to analyze the effects of the conditioned medium on the production of cytokines in HK-2 cells.Results·Among 39 patients with COVID-19,8(20.50%)had creatinine levels above the reference interval,which indicated the occurrence of KI.The levels of peripheral tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the COVID-19 patient with KI group[(18.33±8.20)pg/mL]were significantly higher than those in the non-KI group[(11.88±6.50)pg/mL](P=0.015).In vitro assay has shown that S1-spike protein stimulation promoted the level of gene transcription and production of TNF-α,interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 10(CXCL10)in THP-1 macrophage cells(P＜0.001).Furthermore,the conditioned medium from S1-stimulated THP-1 cells promoted the secretion of TNF-α,IL-1β and CXCL10 by HK-2 cells(P=0.005).When anti-TNF-α antibody(Infliximab)was used to block TNF-α in the culture supernatants from S1-stimulated THP-1 cells,the secretion level of TNF-α by HK-2 cells decreased dramatically(P＜0.001).Conclusion·TNF-α levels increase significantly in COVID-19 patients with KI,implying the significance of TNF-α in the occurrence of COVID-19-associated KI.In vitro experiments confirm that the S1 protein induces TNF-α secretion from THP-1 cells,leading to increased inflammatory responses in renal cells,which may contribute to the development of COVID-19-associated KI.Therefore,targeting TNF-α may become an alternative strategy to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19-associated KI.

Objective·To identify relevant biomarkers for patients with coronavirus disease 2019-associated kidney injury(COVID-19-associated KI)and explore the mechanisms underlying the involvement of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)proteins in infection-related KI by affecting the interactions between renal cells and macrophages.Methods·A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with KI treated in Shanghai Ninth,People's,hospital from December 2022 to February 2023.Serum levels of inflammatory factors and chemokines were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).In vitro,human macrophage cell line THP-1 cells were stimulated with recombinant S1 subunit protein derived from SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.The cells and culture supernatants were collected to detect the levels of inflammatory factors and chemokines by using quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)and ELISA.Conditioned medium was prepared from the cell culture supernatants of S1-stimulated THP-1 cells and used to stimulate human renal epithelial cells(HK-2)in vitro to assess cytokine secretion.Antibody blocking experiments were performed to analyze the effects of the conditioned medium on the production of cytokines in HK-2 cells.Results·Among 39 patients with COVID-19,8(20.50%)had creatinine levels above the reference interval,which indicated the occurrence of KI.The levels of peripheral tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the COVID-19 patient with KI group[(18.33±8.20)pg/mL]were significantly higher than those in the non-KI group[(11.88±6.50)pg/mL](P=0.015).In vitro assay has shown that S1-spike protein stimulation promoted the level of gene transcription and production of TNF-α,interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 10(CXCL10)in THP-1 macrophage cells(P＜0.001).Furthermore,the conditioned medium from S1-stimulated THP-1 cells promoted the secretion of TNF-α,IL-1β and CXCL10 by HK-2 cells(P=0.005).When anti-TNF-α antibody(Infliximab)was used to block TNF-α in the culture supernatants from S1-stimulated THP-1 cells,the secretion level of TNF-α by HK-2 cells decreased dramatically(P＜0.001).Conclusion·TNF-α levels increase significantly in COVID-19 patients with KI,implying the significance of TNF-α in the occurrence of COVID-19-associated KI.In vitro experiments confirm that the S1 protein induces TNF-α secretion from THP-1 cells,leading to increased inflammatory responses in renal cells,which may contribute to the development of COVID-19-associated KI.Therefore,targeting TNF-α may become an alternative strategy to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19-associated KI.

Objective:To investigate the effects of pulsed electric field (PEF) combined with gemcitabine (GEM) on the viability and stemness of HCCC-9810 cholangiocarcinoma stem cells.Methods:HCCC-9810 cholangiocarcinoma stem cells were established in serum-free, cytokine-rich medium and divided into four groups: the control group, GEM group, PEF group, and the pulsed electric field combined with gemcitabine (PEF+ GEM) group. Cell proliferation was detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay. Cell viability and apoptosis rate were measured by flow cytometry. Cell invasion ability was assessed using the Transwell assay. The expression of stemness marker proteins CD133 and Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), as well as the expression of β-catenin, was detected by Western blotting.Results:Regarding cell viability, the GEM, PEF, and PEF+ GEM groups showed significantly lower cell viability and higher apoptosis rate than the control group at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h (all P<0.05). At 48 h and 72 h, the PEF+ GEM group showed significantly lower cell viability (7.2%±0.3% and 5.9%±0.8%, respectively) than the GEM group (50.7%±0.6% and 31.0%±1.2%, respectively) and the PEF group (12.2%±0.2% and 12.8%±0.2%, respectively) (all P<0.05). Regarding stemness inhibition, the PEF+ GEM groups showed significantly lower expression levels of CD133 and OCT4 at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Notably, at 48 h, the PEF+ GEM group showed a significantly lower expression level of the OCT4 (0.61±0.02) than the GEM group (0.87±0.08) and the PEF group (1.00±0.10) ( P<0.01). Furthermore, at 24 h and 48 h, the GEM, PEF, and PEF+ GEM groups showed significantly lower expression levels of β-catenin compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Pulsed electric field combined with gemcitabine therapy demonstrated more effective anti-proliferation and cancer stemness inhibition effects on HCCC-9810 cholangiocarcinoma stem cells compared with either monotherapy.

Objective:To treat the Crohn's disease(CD)patients with ustekinumab(UST),to eva-luate their clinical and endoscopic remission,and to evaluate their transmural response(TR)and trans-mural healing(TH)condition using intestinal ultrasonography(IUS).Methods:Retrospective analysis was made on patients diagnosed with CD in Peking University People's Hospital from January 2020 to Au-gust 2022,who were treated with UST for remission induction and maintenance therapy.All the patients were evaluated on both week 8 and week 16/20 after treatment,including clinical,biochemical indica-tors,colonoscopy and IUS examination.Results:A total of 13 patients were enrolled in this study,inclu-ding 11 males and 2 females.The minimum age was 23 years,the maximum age was 73 years and the mean age was 36.92 years.All the patients were in the active stage of disease before treatment,and the average Best Crohn's disease activity index(Best CDAI)score was 270.12±105.55.In week 8,the Best CDAI score of the patients decreased from 270.12±105.55 to 133.16±48.66(t=4.977,P＜0.001).Eight patients achieved clinical remission while 5 patients remained in the active stage.Nine patients underwent colonoscopy evaluation.The average simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease(SES-CD)score decreased from 10.71±7.14 before treatment to 6.00±7.81(t=2.483,P=0.048)in week 16/20.Four patients achieved endoscopic remission while 5 patients did not.In week 8,5 pa-tients achieved TR,2 patients achieved TH,the other 6 patients did not get TR or TH.In week 16/20,6 patients achieved TR,3 patients achieved TH while the other 4 patients did not get TR or TH.There was no significant statistical difference in the TR effect of UST between small intestine and colon lesions(Fisher test,P＞0.999).The rate of UST transmural response in the patients who had had previous bio-logical agent therapy was lower than those with no previous biological agent therapy,but there was no sig-nificant statistical difference(Fisher test,P=0.491).Conclusion:After treatment of UST,the clinical and endoscopic conditions of the CD patients had been improved,and some patients could achieve clini-cal remission and endoscopic remission.UST had good TR and TH effects on CD.TR might appear in week 8,and the TR effect increased in week 16/20.There was no significant statistical difference in the TR effect between small intestine and colon lesions.TR effect of UST was better in the patients who had no previous biological agent therapy than those who had had other biological agents,but the result had no significant statistical difference.

Objective:To study the risk factors of venous thromboembolism(VTE)and the predictive value of the improved VTE score model to identify the risk of VTE in gynecological surgery patients.Methods:From Janu-ary 1,2020 to December 31,2022,41 patients with VTE after gynecological surgery were selected as the VTE group,and a total of 164 patients with adjacent gynecological surgeries during the same period were selected as the non-VTE group with a ratio of 1 :4.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to ana-lyze the risk factors of VTE after gynecological surgery,and a modified VTE risk factor rapid assessment model(referred to as the improved VTE score model)was constructed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to study the predictive value for VTE for in gynecological surgery,and compared with the Caprini score model(Caprini table for short).Results:①Multivatiate Logistic regression analysis showed that there were independent risk factors for postoperative VTE in gynecology surgery(OR＞1,P＜0.05),including age≥60 years,BMI≥28 kg/m2,malignant tumors,surgery time＞3 hours,history of thrombosis,and the increased D-di-mer difference before and after surgery.②The Area under Curve(AUC)of ROC was 0.963 in the improved VTE score model with a Youden index 81.10％,sensitivity 87.80％and specificity 93.29％.The AUC of the Caprini score model was 0.888 with Youden index 63.41％,sensitivity 73.17％and specificity 90.24％.The improved VTE score model the Caprini score model identified 92.68％and 85.37％of VTE patients as high-risk or ex-tremely high-risk,respectively,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusions:More attention should be paid to the six independent risk factors for postoperative VTE in gynecology surgery.The two score models showed a similar identified level.However,the improved VTE score model is more simple and easier to operate,has better practicality,and has certain clinical promotion value.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors affecting the efficacy of arterial balloon occlusion intervention in cesarean sections for women with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 55 PAS patients who underwent arterial balloon occlusion during cesarean sections in the obstetrics department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2015 to March 2021. The patients were divided into two groups based on surgical blood loss: ≥2 000 ml group (27 cases) and <2 000 ml group (28 cases). Baseline data, surgical management, and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed between the two groups. For patients who underwent MRI, prenatal MRI characteristics were analyzed. Intergroup comparisons were performed using independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Chi-square test (or Fisher's exact test). Bonferroni correction was used for multiple comparisons. Results:(1) The variation in patients' bleeding volume across different years during the study period was not statistically significant. The proportion of placenta percreta in the ≥2 000 ml blood loss group was significantly higher than in the <2 000 ml group [placenta accreta, increta, and percreta in both groups were 0.0% (0/27) vs. 7.1% (2/28); 25.9% (7/27) vs. 53.6% (15/28); and 74.1% (20/27) vs. 39.3% (11/28), respectively; Fisher's exact test, P=0.019]. (2) The ≥2 000 ml group showed a trend towards higher rates of hysterectomy and failed uterine preservation after placental removal compared to the <2 000 ml group [25.9% (7/27) vs. 3.6% (1/28), Fisher's exact test], but the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.074). (3) The ≥2 000 ml group had significantly higher blood loss, transfusion of ≥5 units of red blood cells, incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation, longer surgery time, and higher postoperative transfer to intensive care unit rates compared to the <2 000 ml group [3 600 ml (2 550-5 050 ml) vs. 1 100 ml (600-1 500 ml), Z=756.00; 77.8% (21/27) vs. 21.4% (6/28), χ2=17.40; 33.3% (9/27) vs. 0.0% (0/28), Fisher's exact test; (253±94) min vs. (150±57) min, t=4.92; 40.7% (11/27) vs. 3.6% (1/28), χ2=11.13; all P<0.05]. The bladder injury rate in the ≥2 000 ml group showed a trend towards being higher than in the <2 000 ml group, but the difference was not statistically significant [22.2% (6/27) vs. 3.6% (1/28), Fisher's exact test, P=0.051]. There were no statistically significant differences in other maternal and neonatal outcomes between the two groups. (4) Among the study subjects, 50 patients had prenatal MRI data, with 22 in the ≥2 000 ml group and 28 in the <2 000 ml group. The ≥2 000 ml group had a significantly higher proportion of local exophytic masses, asymmetric placental thickening/shape, and placental invasion in the S2 region compared to the <2 000 ml group [81.8% (18/22) vs. 53.6% (15/28), χ2=4.38; 81.8% (18/22) vs. 50.0% (14/28), χ2=5.41; 95.5% (21/22) vs. 53.6% (15/28), χ2=10.72; all P<0.05]. Conclusions:When the placenta invades the S2 region and the depth is invasive, arterial balloon occlusion in cesarean sections for PAS still faces a high risk of massive hemorrhage. Prenatal MRI should focus on assessing the extent and depth of placental invasion to identify potentially severe PAS cases, thereby optimizing the clinical application of arterial balloon occlusion.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors affecting the efficacy of arterial balloon occlusion intervention in cesarean sections for women with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 55 PAS patients who underwent arterial balloon occlusion during cesarean sections in the obstetrics department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2015 to March 2021. The patients were divided into two groups based on surgical blood loss: ≥2 000 ml group (27 cases) and <2 000 ml group (28 cases). Baseline data, surgical management, and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed between the two groups. For patients who underwent MRI, prenatal MRI characteristics were analyzed. Intergroup comparisons were performed using independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Chi-square test (or Fisher's exact test). Bonferroni correction was used for multiple comparisons. Results:(1) The variation in patients' bleeding volume across different years during the study period was not statistically significant. The proportion of placenta percreta in the ≥2 000 ml blood loss group was significantly higher than in the <2 000 ml group [placenta accreta, increta, and percreta in both groups were 0.0% (0/27) vs. 7.1% (2/28); 25.9% (7/27) vs. 53.6% (15/28); and 74.1% (20/27) vs. 39.3% (11/28), respectively; Fisher's exact test, P=0.019]. (2) The ≥2 000 ml group showed a trend towards higher rates of hysterectomy and failed uterine preservation after placental removal compared to the <2 000 ml group [25.9% (7/27) vs. 3.6% (1/28), Fisher's exact test], but the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.074). (3) The ≥2 000 ml group had significantly higher blood loss, transfusion of ≥5 units of red blood cells, incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation, longer surgery time, and higher postoperative transfer to intensive care unit rates compared to the <2 000 ml group [3 600 ml (2 550-5 050 ml) vs. 1 100 ml (600-1 500 ml), Z=756.00; 77.8% (21/27) vs. 21.4% (6/28), χ2=17.40; 33.3% (9/27) vs. 0.0% (0/28), Fisher's exact test; (253±94) min vs. (150±57) min, t=4.92; 40.7% (11/27) vs. 3.6% (1/28), χ2=11.13; all P<0.05]. The bladder injury rate in the ≥2 000 ml group showed a trend towards being higher than in the <2 000 ml group, but the difference was not statistically significant [22.2% (6/27) vs. 3.6% (1/28), Fisher's exact test, P=0.051]. There were no statistically significant differences in other maternal and neonatal outcomes between the two groups. (4) Among the study subjects, 50 patients had prenatal MRI data, with 22 in the ≥2 000 ml group and 28 in the <2 000 ml group. The ≥2 000 ml group had a significantly higher proportion of local exophytic masses, asymmetric placental thickening/shape, and placental invasion in the S2 region compared to the <2 000 ml group [81.8% (18/22) vs. 53.6% (15/28), χ2=4.38; 81.8% (18/22) vs. 50.0% (14/28), χ2=5.41; 95.5% (21/22) vs. 53.6% (15/28), χ2=10.72; all P<0.05]. Conclusions:When the placenta invades the S2 region and the depth is invasive, arterial balloon occlusion in cesarean sections for PAS still faces a high risk of massive hemorrhage. Prenatal MRI should focus on assessing the extent and depth of placental invasion to identify potentially severe PAS cases, thereby optimizing the clinical application of arterial balloon occlusion.

Iodine accumulation represents a differentiation marker of thyroid cancer (TC) and a cornerstone of benefits from 131I therapy. However, dedifferentiation phenotypes occur in nearly 70% of recurrent or metastatic TCs driven by oncogenic mutations such as B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF), telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoters, and tumor proten p53 (TP53). Beyond genetic alterations, epigenetics, autophagy, tumor microenvironment and other pathways are also involved in the dedifferentiation of TC and the tolerance to 131I therapy. Targeting the above-mentioned pathways has potential to improve the malignant phenotype of TC and restore sensitivity to 131I therapy, which is of great clinical significance. Based on the relevant mechanisms of dedifferentiation, this paper elaborates on the progress of preclinical experiments and clinical studies related to differentiation therapies of TC.