Objective:To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on postoperative delirium (POD) in diabetic patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.Methods:In this randomized controlled trial, 92 diabetic patients of either sex, aged 30-80 yr, with a body mass index of 18-28 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱ or Ⅲ, scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=46 each) using a table of random numbers: control group (group C) and acupuncture group (group A). Group A received acupuncture at the Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24) and Sishencong (EX-HN1) acupoints before anesthesia. The needles were retained for 30 min, with manual stimulation applied every 10 min for 10 s each time. After 4 stimulations, routine anesthesia was carried out. Group C received routine anesthesia only. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation was recorded on admission to the operating room (T 0), after anesthesia induction (T 1), at the start of surgery (T 2), at the end of surgery (T 3), and immediately after tracheal extubation (T 4). The POD developed within 3 days after surgery was assessed. The occurrence of needle-related adverse effects such as fainting, subcutaneous bleeding, and local paresthesia was recorded. Results:Compared with group C, the incidence of POD was significantly reduced, and the regional cerebral oxygen saturation was increased at T 1, 4 in group A ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Acupuncture can decrease the development of POD in diabetic patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, which is related to an increase in regional cerebral oxygen saturation.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical performance of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) genotyping in cervical cancer screening.Methods:Between June and July 2017, a prospective cervical cancer screening cohort was established in Xiaye Town, Jiyuan City, Henan Province, China by recruiting 3 254 women aged 21 to 64 years. At baseline screening, cervical exfoliated cell specimens were collected for HR-HPV genotyping and liquid-based cytology testing. Follow-ups were conducted over a 3-year period, with cytology testing in the first and second years and both HR-HPV genotyping and cytology testing in the third year. Women meeting the referral criteria were referred for colposcopy, with cervical biopsy and histopathological diagnosis performed as necessary. The endpoint was defined as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) or higher confirmed by histopathological diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting CIN2 or higher lesions of HR-HPV genotyping were calculated, as well as the cumulative risk of developing CIN2 or higher lesions over the 4-year study period in women with different baseline HR-HPV genotyping results.Results:A total of 2 741 women were included in the statistical analysis. Baseline HR-HPV genotyping detected 453 HR-HPV positive cases (16.53%), including 98 HPV 16/18 positive cases (3.58%) and 355 other HR-HPV positive cases (12.95%). During the 4-year period, 83 cases of CIN2 or higher were diagnosed. The sensitivity and specificity of baseline HR-HPV positivity for CIN2 or higher were 89.16% (95% CI: 80.66%-94.19%) and 85.74% (95% CI: 84.36%-87.02%), respectively. The corresponding rates for HPV 16/18 positivity were 43.37% (95% CI: 33.24%-54.09%) and 97.67% (95% CI: 97.02%-98.18%). The 4-year cumulative absolute risk of CIN2 or higher was highest in the HPV 16/18 positive group (36.73%, 95% CI: 27.85%-46.62%), followed by other HR-HPV positive groups (10.70%, 95% CI: 7.87%-14.38%), and the HR-HPV negative group was the lowest (0.39%, 95% CI: 0.19%-0.76%). Conclusions:HR-HPV genotyping testing exhibits high sensitivity and specificity for detecting CIN2 or higher lesions in cervical cancer screening. It also provides a scientific basis for stratifying the individual risk of developing CIN2 or higher lesions to guide subsequent management. Therefore, the HR-HPV genotyping testing can be considered as an effective method for cervical cancer screening.

Objective:To compare and analyze the efficacy of bilateral and unilateral posterior vocal cord resection with CO 2 laser under endoscopy in the treatment of bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Methods:This case series study retrospectively analyzed the data of 110 patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis who underwent endoscopic CO 2 laser posterior cordotomy at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, from October 2016 to January 2023. The cohort consisted of 36 males [mean age (45.5±9.1) years, range 24-72 years] and 74 females [mean age (47.2±10.1) years, range 22-67 years]. Among them, 47 patients underwent simultaneous bilateral posterior cordotomy (bilateral cordotomy group), while 63 patients underwent unilateral posterior cordotomy (unilateral cordotomy group). Pre-and postoperative indicators, including swallowing function, glottal size, and vocal function (subjective and objective assessments), were compared between the two surgical approaches. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze changes in swallowing function, glottal size, and vocal function (subjective and objective assessments) within each group before and after surgery, whereas the Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to assess differences between groups. Results:Postoperative follow-up was 1-5 years [median follow-up time was 1.6 (1.3, 2.0) years].The one-time extubation rate was 71.4%(45/63)in the unilateral posterior vocal cord resection group and 87.2%(41/47)in the bilateral posterior vocal cord resection group, significantly higher in the bilateral group ( χ2=3.94, P<0.05). One week after surgery, the swallowing function score of unilateral cordotomy group was 2 (1, 2.5) points, which was significantly better than that of bilateral cordotomy group [2 (1.5, 3) points, Z=-2.118, P<0.05], and the swallowing function score of both groups returned to normal 3 months after surgery. There were no significant differences in preoperative glottic closure during inhalation, auditory perceptual evaluation (GRBAS), objective voice analysis, and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) between the two groups ( P>0.05). Postoperatively, the maximum transverse diameter of the posterior glottis during inspiration in the unilateral cordotomy group was 4.49 (4.24, 4.77) mm, significantly smaller than that in the bilateral cordotomy group, which was 5.05 (4.52, 5.62) mm ( Z=-4.103, P<0.05). Among the GRBAS parameters, G (grade of hoarseness), B (breathiness), and A (asthenia), as well as VHI-10 scores and objective voice analysis parameters [jitter, shimmer, harmonic-noise ratio (HNR), and maximum phonation time (MPT)], were significantly better in the unilateral cordotomy group compared to the bilateral cordotomy group, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Unilateral posterior vocal cord resection using CO 2 laser is simple and feasible for the treatment of bilateral vocal cord paralysis, with shorter recovery time, maximal preservation of laryngeal phonatory function, and fewer complications compared to bilateral resection. However, the one-time extubation rate is higher with bilateral resection, reducing the need for a second surgery and associated patient discomfort. This study offers guidance for clinical decision-making in the surgical management of bilateral vocal cord paralysis.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of Jianpi Qinghua granule in improving skeletal muscle insulin resistance induced by long-term low-dose cadmium exposure in rats.Methods:A total of 24 SPF-grade healthy 2-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to normal control(NC) group, cadmium exposure(Cd) group, and Jianpi Qinghua granule protection(Cd+ JPQHG) group. After 24 weeks, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were measured, and HOMA-IR was calculated. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were conducted to assess insulin sensitivity. Skeletal muscle tissues were extracted for Western blot analysis to detect levels of insulin signaling pathway-related proteins. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the translocation of glucose transporter 4(GLUT4), and oxidative stress markers were measured.Results:Compared to the NC group, the Cd group showed significant increases in fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin levels, and HOMA-IR after 24-week exposure. Abnormal glucose and insulin tolerance were also observed in the Cd group. The 12-week intervention with Jianpi Qinghua granule significantly improved glucose metabolism and alleviated the abnormalities in glucose and insulin tolerance. Western blot results indicated that the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt in the skeletal muscle of the Cd group were significantly reduced compared to the NC group, while these levels were significantly elevated in the Cd+ JPQHG group, along with increased translocation of GLUT4 to the cell membrane. Additionally, cadmium exposure significantly increased H 2O 2 and malondialdehyde levels while decreased antioxidant enzyme activity. These oxidative stress indicators improved significantly after Jianpi Qinghua granule intervention( P<0.05). Conclusion:Jianpi Qinghua granule may improve skeletal muscle insulin resistance and glucose metabolism disorders due to long-term low-dose cadmium exposure by reducing oxidative stress, regulating the phosphorylation levels of key proteins in the insulin signaling pathway, and promoting GLUT4 translocation to the cell membrane.

Objective:To investigate the assoication of amino acid metabolism levels with severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 118 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to April 2021. Patients were divided into groups according to the Toronto Clinical Scoring System(TCSS), and amino acid profiling was performed. General demographics and biochemical indicators of each group were collected to analyze the relationship between DPN severity and amino acid metabolism.Results:As TCSS scores increased, patients were older and had a longer duration of diabetes. Statistically significant differences in leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine levels were observed among the four groups. After adjusting for confounding variables using covariance analysis, when the TCSS score was≥13, the serum phenylalanine level was significantly elevated, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that TCSS score was an influencing factor for phenylalanine levels( P=0.010). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that higher serum phenylalanine levels correlated with higher TCSS scores( OR=1.047, 95% CI 1.011-1.083, P=0.010). Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis revealed that serum phenylalanine and the difference between phenylalanine and tryptophan had diagnostic value for severe DPN patients, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.673(95% CI 0.553-0.793, P=0.006) and 0.746(95% CI 0.641-0.852, P<0.001) respectively. Conclusions:The levels of phenylalanine and tryptophan in the serum of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are correlated with the severity of DPN. These findings suggest that serum phenylalanine, tryptophan, or their metabolic products may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of DPN.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and its related factors of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS/SDNS).Methods:It was a single-center retrospective study. The clinical data of FRNS/SDNS children first treated with RTX in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 1, 2016 to September 1, 2023 were collected. The number of relapse within 1 year before and after RTX treatment, the time to first relapse after RTX treatment, and the time to B-cell reconstitution were analyzed. At the first treatment, a single dose of RTX was given at 375 mg/m 2, with a maximum dose of 500 mg, once a week, for 1 to 4 doses. The count of CD19 + lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of the children was continuously monitored. If B-cell reconstruction was performed, the decision on whether to proceed to the next course of RTX treatment was made based on clinical manifestations. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze relapse-free survival rate after receiving RTX. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the related factors of relapse after RTX treatment. Results:A total of 98 FRNS/SDNS children receiving RTX treatment were enrolled, including 75 males (76.5%). The age at onset was 4.0 (1.9, 7.1) years and age of receiving RTX was 11.3 (8.5, 13.5) years. There were 90 children (91.8%) achieving complete remission, while 8 patients (8.2%) did not respond to RTX treatment, and 3 patients (3.1%) progressed to end-stage kidney disease after receiving RTX. The relapse-free survival rates at 6 months and 1 year after RTX treatment were 83.3% (75/90) and 57.9% (22/38), respectively. The frequency of relapse 1 year after RTX treatment decreased compared to 1 year before RTX treatment ( Z=-7.398, P<0.001). Compared with children without relapse during the period of B-cell depletion, relapsed children had a higher number of relapse within one year after RTX treatment ( Z=5.246, P<0.001). The time to first relapse after RTX treatment was 8.3 (4.6, 13.9) months in 51 relapse patients. Compared with children receiving 1 dose of RTX in the first course, those receiving 2 or more doses had a longer time to the first relapse ( Z=2.983, P=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in time to the first relapse between children who received mycophenolate mofetil therapy after RTX treatment and those who didn't ( P>0.05). The reconstruction time of B cells after the first course of RTX was 6.9 (5.3, 9.0) months. Compared to children receiving one dose of RTX in the first course, those receiving two or more doses had a longer B-cell reconstitution time ( Z=2.739, P=0.006). There was no statistically significant difference in B-cell reconstitution time between children who received mycophenolate mofetil therapy after RTX treatment and those who didn't ( P>0.05). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that recurrence after calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) treatment before RTX treatment and the number of recurrence in one year before RTX treatment were correlated factors of recurrence after RTX treatment (both P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that recurrence after CNI treatment before RTX treatment was an independent correlated factor of relapse after RTX therapy ( HR=3.496, 95% CI 1.245-9.818, P=0.018). Infusion reactions occurred in 10 patients (10.2%) and infections were observed in 24 patients (24.5%) during B cell depletion. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions:RTX is well tolerated and effective in treating FRNS/SDNS. Recurrence after CNI treatment before RTX treatment may be an independent related factor of relapse after RTX treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on postoperative delirium (POD) in diabetic patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.Methods:In this randomized controlled trial, 92 diabetic patients of either sex, aged 30-80 yr, with a body mass index of 18-28 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱ or Ⅲ, scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=46 each) using a table of random numbers: control group (group C) and acupuncture group (group A). Group A received acupuncture at the Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24) and Sishencong (EX-HN1) acupoints before anesthesia. The needles were retained for 30 min, with manual stimulation applied every 10 min for 10 s each time. After 4 stimulations, routine anesthesia was carried out. Group C received routine anesthesia only. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation was recorded on admission to the operating room (T 0), after anesthesia induction (T 1), at the start of surgery (T 2), at the end of surgery (T 3), and immediately after tracheal extubation (T 4). The POD developed within 3 days after surgery was assessed. The occurrence of needle-related adverse effects such as fainting, subcutaneous bleeding, and local paresthesia was recorded. Results:Compared with group C, the incidence of POD was significantly reduced, and the regional cerebral oxygen saturation was increased at T 1, 4 in group A ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Acupuncture can decrease the development of POD in diabetic patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, which is related to an increase in regional cerebral oxygen saturation.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Shaoyao gancao decoction in improving intestinal motility in rats with slow transit constipation(STC)by regulating acid-sensitive ion channel 3(ASIC3)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)signaling pathway.METHODS SD rats were used to construct an STC model by gavage with compound diphenoxylate.The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group,Shaoyao gancao decoction group(1.5 g/mL),lactulose group(208.4 mg/mL,positive control),and combined inhibition group(Shaoyao gancao decoction 1.5 g/mL+amiloride hydrochloride 20 μg/kg),with 12 rats in each group.Additionally,12 healthy rats were selected as the blank group.They were given relevant medicine once a day and continuously intervened for 14 days.After intervention,the intestinal propulsion function and visceral sensitivity of the model rats were detected.The expression of ASIC3 in the colon tissue of rats was observed by immunohistochemical staining.mRNA expressions of ASIC3,ERK1 and ERK2 as well as protein expressions of ASIC3,ERK1/2 and phosphorylated ERK1/2(p-ERK1/2)in colon tissue of rats were detected;the ultrastructural changes of the enteric nervous system(ENS)-interstitial cell of Cajal(ICC)-smooth muscle cell(SMC)network in the rat colon were observed under electron microscopy.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the intestinal propulsion rate of the Shaoyao gancao decoction group was significantly increased,while the visceral pain threshold was significantly decreased.The proportion of the positive area of ASIC3 in the colonic tissue was significantly increased.The relative mRNA expression levels of ERK1,ERK2,and ASIC3,as well as the relative protein expression levels of p-ERK1/2 and ASIC3,and the p-ERK1/2 to ERK1/2 in the colonic tissue,were all significantly increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Additionally,there was marked repair of the morphological structure of ICC and SMC,with closer gap junctions observed.Compared with the Shaoyao gancao decoction group,the combined inhibition group exhibited a diminished improvement in intestinal motility of rats,with statistically significant differences in the levels of some indicators(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);the repairing of the morphological structure of ICC and SMC was notably attenuated.CONCLUSIONS Shaoyao gancao decoction can effectively improve the intestinal transmission function and promote intestinal repair in STC rats,and its mechanism may be related to regulating the balance of the ENS-ICC-SMC network mediated by the ASIC3/ERK signaling pathway,thus promoting intestinal motility and reducing visceral sensitivity.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which the combination of berberine （BBR） and baicalin （BAI） ameliorates type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat from the perspectives of gut microbiota and metabolomics. MethodsAntibiotics were used to induce pseudo-sterile mice. Thirty pseudo-sterile mice were randomized into a normal fecal microbiota transplantation group （n=10） and a T2DM （syndrome of internal accumulation of dampness-heat） fecal microbiota transplantation group （n=20）. The mice were then administrated with suspensions of fecal microbiota from healthy volunteers and a patient with T2DM due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat by gavage， respectively. Each mouse received 200 µL suspension every other day for a total of 15 times to reshape the gut microbiota. The T2DM model mice were then assigned into a model group （n=8） and a BBR-BAI group （n=11）. BBR was administrated at a dose of 200 mg·kg^-1， and BAI was administrated in a ratio of BBR-BAI 10∶1 based on preliminary research findings. The administration lasted for 8 consecutive weeks. Fasting blood glucose （FBG）， glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c）， insulin （INS）， triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （CHOL）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels were measured to evaluate the effects of the BBR-BAI combination on glucose and lipid metabolism and liver function in T2DM mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe pathological changes in the colon tissue. The expression of claudin-1， zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1）， and occludin in the colon tissue was determined by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） was employed to assess the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in the colon tissue. The fecal microbiota composition and differential metabolites were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， respectively. ResultsThe BBR-BAI combination lowered the FBG， HbA1c， and INS levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） and alleviated insulin resistance （P<0.01） in T2DM mice. Additionally， BBR-BAI elevated the levels of ZO-1， occludin， and claudin-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and down-regulated the expression levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 in the colon （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that BBR-BAI increased the relative abundance of Ligilactobacillus， Phascolarctobacterium， and Akkermansia （P<0.05）， while significantly decreasing the relative abundance of Alistipes， Odoribacter， and Colidextribacter （P<0.05）. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS identified 28 differential metabolites， which were primarily involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and α-linolenic acid metabolism. ConclusionBBR-BAI can ameliorate T2DM due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat by modulating the relative abundance of various bacterial genera in the gut microbiota and the expression of fecal metabolites.

The relevant laws and regulations regarding the utilization of the deceased as medical research subjects are not yet fully developed in China nowadays. Taking the deceased as research subjects as a starting point， this paper discussed the definition of the deceased and the scope of their interest protection from multiple perspectives. It posited that the scope of interest protection for the deceased encompassed two components： spiritual personality interests and material personality interests represented by the remains. The spiritual personality interests of the deceased included identification information such as name， portrait， reputation， honor， privacy， and personal information， as well as medical and health information. The personal information of the deceased was not directly affected by the individual’s life and death status and remained relatively independent. In terms of ethical review， the research team approached from two perspectives： the remains and the personal information of the deceased. Based on the standard of whether the research subjects involve a human body， research with the remains of the deceased as the medical research subjects was classified as non-clinical research. According to the standard of whether a human body is clinically operated， research with the personal information of the deceased （including medical and health information） as the medical research subjects was recognized as clinical research without human research operation. This approach provided evidence for the application of existing laws and regulations in ethical review and record management. The ethical review of investigator-initiated clinical research conducted in medical and health institutions， as well as the regulatory conditions for exemption from ethical review， were examined. The forms， content， and acquisition of informed consent were summarized， and the risk-benefit characteristics of the research activity were evaluated， with a view to providing a basis for the smooth and compliant implementation of research activities involving the deceased as medical research subjects.