ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects and safety of the optimized new Shengmai Powder （优化新生脉散方） on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure （CHF） of qi deficiency， blood stasis， and fluid retention syndrome. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 78 CHF patients with qi deficiency， blood stasis， and fluid retention syndrome were recruited and randomly assigned to a treatment group （39 cases） and a control group （39 cases）. On the basis of conventional western medical therapy， patients in the treatment group additionally received the optimized new Shengmai Powder granules， while the control group was given an oral placebo of optimized new Shengmai Powder granules. Patients in both groups took 30.6 g each time， twice a day， mixed with water for administration， with a total treatment course of 4 weeks. The primary outcomes were 6-minute walk distance （6MWD） and peak oxygen uptake （Peak VO₂） measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes included New York Heart Association （NYHA） functional classification， B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP） levels， cardiac function indexes including left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， left ventri-cular end-systolic diameter （LVESD） and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD）， Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire （MLHFQ） scores， and scores of four diagnostic information of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. All indicators were assessed once before and after treatment respectively. Safety indicators were evaluated， and adverse events during the trial were recorded. ResultsAll patients in both groups were included in the full ana-lysis set （FAS） and safety set （SS）. Compared with baseline， the 6MWD and Peak VO₂ of cardiopulmonary exercise test in the treatment group significantly increased after treatment， while the MLHFQ scores， serum BNP levels and scores of TCM four diagnostic information significantly decreased， and the NYHA cardiac function grade significantly improved （P＜0.01）. After treatment， the 6MWD and Peak VO₂ of cardiopulmonary exercise test， as well as their changes from baseline in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group； the MLHFQ scores， serum BNP levels and scores of TCM four diagnostic information in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group； and the improvement of NYHA cardiac function grade in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group （P＜0.01）. There was no statistically significant differences in all indicators after treatment in the control group （P＞0.05）. The incidence of adverse events was 5.1% （2/39） in the treatment group and 2.6% （1/39） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference between groups （P＞0.05）. ConclusionOn the basis of conventional western medicine treatment， the addition of the optimized new Shengmai Powder can further improve exercise tolerance， cardiac function and quality of life in patients with CHF of qi deficiency， blood stasis and fluid retention syndrome， and show good safety.

ObjectiveTo explore the impacts of material type and loading volume of rigid containers on the hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma sterilization of thoracoscopic instruments, to identify the best rigid containers and loading volume of thoracoscopic instruments. MethodsThoracoscopic instruments sterilized by STERRAD^® 100NX hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital affiliated to Tongji University from August to September 2024 were selected as the research items. According to the material of rigid containers, the instruments were divided into polyethylene case group (A), stainless steel case group (B) and silicone resin case group (C). In terms of the loading volume, the rigid containers were divided into (loading capacity <80%) groups of 8, 10 and 12 instruments. The results of physical monitoring, the first type of chemical indicator card monitoring, and the five types of card luminal chemical process challenge device (PCD) monitoring of the 9 groups of A8, A10, A12, B8, B10, B12, C8, C10 and C12 were compared and evaluated. ResultsCompared to A8, A10 A12, C8, C10 or C12 groups, the thoracoscope instruments in the stainless steel containers in B8, B10 or B12 group had higher hydrogen peroxide concentrations and shorter elapsed time in the pressure check phases 1 and phases 2, with the differences statistically significant (P<0.05), followed by the silicone resin case group and the polyethylene case group. The nine groups of physical parameter monitoring, the first type of chemical indicator monitoring, and the five types of chemical PCD monitoring for lumen sterilization achieved 100% qualification rates, and there were no significant differences in the qualified rates of sterilization among the 9 groups (P>0.05). ConclusionWhen using hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma to sterilize thoracoscopic instruments, it is recommended to use stainless steel or silicone resin rigid containers with a controlled loading capacity (≤12) to ensure optimal sterilization quality.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the first cohort of people in China treated with a responsive neurostimulation system (Epilcure TM , GenLight MedTech, Hangzhou, China) for focal drug-resistant epilepsy in this study. METHODS: This multicenter, before-and-after self-controlled study was conducted across 8 centers from March 2022 to June 2023, involving patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who were undergoing responsive neurostimulation (RNS). The study was based on an ongoing multi-center, single-blind, randomized controlled study. Efficacy was assessed through metrics including median seizure count, seizure frequency reduction (SFR), and response rate. Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationships of basic clinical factors and intracranial electrophysiological characteristics with SFR. The postoperative quality of life, cognitive function, depression, and anxiety were evaluated as well. RESULTS: The follow-up period for the 19 participants was 10.7 ± 3.4 months. Seizure counts decreased significantly 6 months after device activation, with median SFR of 48% at the 6th month (M6) and 58% at M12 ( P  <0.05). The average response rate after 13 months of treatment was 42%, with 21% ( n  = 4) of the participants achieving seizure freedom. Patients who have previously undergone resective surgery appear to achieve better therapeutic outcomes at M11, M12 and M13 ( β  <0, P  <0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in patients' scores of quality of life, cognition, depression and anxiety following stimulation when compared to baseline measurements. No serious adverse events related to the devices were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings suggest that Epilcure TM exhibits promising therapeutic potential in reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures. However, to further validate its efficacy, larger-scale randomized controlled trials are required. REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2200055247).
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Drug Resistant Epilepsy/therapy* ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; China ; Adolescent ; Treatment Outcome ; Quality of Life ; Single-Blind Method ; Seizures ; Electric Stimulation Therapy/methods*

Immune inflammatory response runs through the whole pathological process of liver injury， but its specific regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that the Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in liver injury by regulating macrophage polarization， activating neutrophil recruitment， and modulating the differentiation of regulatory immune cells. This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanisms of the Notch signaling pathway in mediating immune inflammatory response in liver injury， in order to provide new perspectives for clarifying the molecular mechanism of immune inflammatory damage in liver diseases， as well as a new reference for future research directions.

Objective To investigate the status quo of indwelling needles use in the hospitals at all lev-els in Chongqing city,and to evaluate the normalization and safety of indwelling needles use by referring to Nursing Practice Standards for Intravenous Therapy.Methods A self-designed questionnaire was used in July 2023 to conduct a cross-sectional survey on the use of indwelling needles in the hospitals at all levels in Chongqing city.Results A total of 30 807 patients in 77 hospitals were included,among them 62.67%used indwelling needles.The closed type indwelling needles accounted for 88.87%and the safety type indwelling needles accounted for 41.74%.Non-needle infusion connectors accounted for 37.78%,and steel needle con-nected with heparin caps accounted for 51.69%.95.66%of puncture site was in the upper limb,the non-cor-rosive drug infusion accounted for 87.57%,and the complications occurrence rate was 2.46%.Among the 6 419 surveyed nurses,75.51%removed indwelling needles based on clinical indications.There were statistically significant differences in the usage rates of closed type indwelling needles and non-needle infusion connectors among hospitals at different levels(P<0.05).There were also statistically significant differences in the inci-dence rates of complication and phlebitis(P<0.05).Conclusion The overall application of indwelling needles in the hospitals at all levels in Chongqing city is generally standardized,but the use of safety type indwelling needles and needle-free infusion connectors still needs to be improved.

In response to the clinical needs of cancer treatment and rehabilitation, Professor Lin Hongsheng proposed the Wuzhi Wuyang (five treatments and rehabilitation) concept on the basis of years of clinical experience and the Guben Qingyuan (consolidate the foundation and clear the source) theory. Wuzhi Wuyang emphasizes the importance of treatment and rehabilitation and aims to provide personalized and stage-specific treatment and rehabilitation plans by integrating the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern medicine to achieve comprehensive life-cycle management for patients with cancer. The proposal of Wuzhi Wuyang has provided new ideas and methods for the treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of cancer, along with valuable references for clinical practice and academic research. This article summarizes the connotation of Wuzhi Wuyang and its application in the comprehensive management of cancer prevention and treatment with TCM.

Objective:To investigate the nutritional risk status of children in PICU and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:From July 2021 to February 2023,all children aged 1 to 18 years admitted to PICU of Beijing Children's Hospital were investigated by using the pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Scoring tool(PYMS)and the clinical data questionnaire.Results:A total of 492 children in PICU were enrolled.The first nutritional risk screening results showed that there were 32 cases of no/low nutritional risk(6.5%),76 cases of medium risk(15.4%),and 384 cases of high risk(78.1%).The incidence of medium/high nutritional risk was as high as 93.5%.The PYMS score of nutritional risk in PICU was(2.61±1.42).The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that weight,fever time before admission,white blood cells,body mass index,primary diagnosis,father's education,and diet before illness were the main influencing factors of nutritional risk of children in PICU(P<0.05).Conclusion:Children in PICU are in a state of high nutritional risk.It is suggested that children in PICU should carry out nutritional screening in a standardized manner,identify children with high nutritional risk and its influencing factors early.To actively conduct nutritional assessment and nutritional intervention could improve the clinical outcome of children in PICU.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture at the governor meridian has precise efficacy in the treatment of ischemic stroke and can improve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by attenuating pyroptosis,but the upstream regulatory mechanisms are not yet fully clarified.OBJECTIVE:To observe the neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture in model rats of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.METHODS:Twenty-seven Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham surgery,model,and electroacupuncture groups,with nine rats in each group.Modified suture method was used to establish cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model rats in the model and electroacupuncture groups.The electroacupuncture group was subjected to electroacupuncture at"Baihui,""Fengfu,"and"Dazhui"acupoints,20 minutes each,once a day,for 7 consecutive days.After treatment,neurological deficit scoring and pole test were performed to assess behavioral changes.Tri-phenyl tetrazolium chloride staining was used to assess cerebral infarction size in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe morphological changes in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats.Immunofluorescence analysis was used to determine Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species levels in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats,ELISA method was used for measuring interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α levels in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of thioredoxin interaction protein,nod-like receptor associated protein 3(NLRP3),Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats respectively,and the interaction between thioredoxin interaction protein and NLRP3 was analyzed by immunoprecipitation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham surgery group,rats in the model group showed an increase in neurological deficit score,pole test score,cerebral infarction volume(P<0.05),the immunofluorescence expression of Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species(P<0.05),the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α(P<0.05),and the mRNA and protein expression of thioredoxin interaction protein,NLRP3,Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining in the model group showed neuronal degeneration and necrosis,with fragmented and dissolved nuclei and cellular vacuoles.(2)Compared with the model group,rats in the electroacupuncture group showed a reduction in neurological deficit score,pole climbing test score,cerebral infarction volume(P<0.05),the immunofluorescence expression of Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species(P<0.05),the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α(P<0.05),and the mRNA and protein expression of thioredoxin interaction protein,NLRP3,Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the pathological damage of neurons in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats in the electroacupuncture group was significantly attenuated,with significantly reduced cell necrosis and vacuolation.(3)Immunoprecipitation assay showed an interaction between thioredoxin interaction proteins and NLRP3 in the cerebral cortical tissues on the infarcted side of rats in the model group.To conclude,electroacupuncture has a significant therapeutic effect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,possibly by inhibiting the reactive oxygen species/thioredoxin interaction protein/NLRP3 cell pyroptosis signaling pathway and activation of microglia to reduce the release of inflammatory factors.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets in treating hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or comorbid phlegm-stasis syndrome and explore its therapeutic mechanisms through plasma metabolomics.Methods:Thirty-six hypertension patients(4 dropouts)diagnosed with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome were enrolled as the treatment group from June 2022 to September 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,while 30 healthy volunteers with balanced constitutions were recruited as the blank group.Plasma samples were collected from patients pre-and post-treatment and from healthy volunteers.Clinical outcomes,including syndrome scores,office blood pressure(BP),and 24-hour ambulatory BP,were recorded.Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS).Results:Compared with baseline,Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets significantly reduced traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores(P＜0.01),office systolic/diastolic BP(P＜0.01),and 24-hour ambulatory BP parameters(24-hour mean BP,daytime/nighttime mean BP;all P＜0.01).Metabolomic analysis identified 45 differential metabolites between the blank group and pretreatment patients,and 64 metabolites altered post-treatment(VIP＞1,P＜0.05).Enrichment analysis of 16 overlapping endogenous metabolites revealed that Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets primarily modulated arachidonic acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism pathways.Conclusion:Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets demonstrates significant clinical efficacy in hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome,potentially mediated through regulation of arachidonic acid and sphingolipid metabolism.