Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of plasma exchange (PE) in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis (MG), thereby to provide theoretical support for its application in the treatment of thymoma-associated MG. Methods: A total of 133 patients with thymoma-associated MG admitted from January 2018 to September 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were matched using propensity score to reduce selection bias, yielding 22 matched pairs for both PE group (n=22) and non-PE group (n=22). Patient characteristics including gender, age of disease onset, course of disease, history of thymoma resection, clinical absolute scores [clinical absolute scores (CAS) and clinical relative scores (CRS)], and synchronized immunotherapy regimen of the two groups were analyzed. The CAS scores before and after treatment were compared between the two groups, and the CRS was used to assess the treatment efficiency. Safety of the two treatment regimens were also compared. Continuous variables were compared using the t-test or ANOVA, while categorical data were compared by the chi-square test. Results: A total of 133 patients were included and divided into two groups according to whether they underwent plasma exchange treatment: the PE group (n=22) and the non-PE group (n=111). To exclude bias caused by large difference in the number of cases between the two groups, we performed propensity score matching. After matching, the number of cases in both groups was 22. There was no significant difference in baseline clinical characteristics between the two groups (P>0.05), including gender, age of onset, duration of disease course, history of thymectomy and baseline CAS score before treatment. Compared to the non-PE group, patients in the PE group showed more significant improvement in CAS score (5.09±1.95 vs 3.59±1.50, P<0.05) and a higher CRS score (75.00% vs 50.00%, P<0.001). Compared to the non-PE group, PE group had significantly longer ICU stay, longer hospital stay and higher hospitalization cost (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in adverse events between the two groups during treatment (P>0.05). During long-term follow-up, both the PE and non-PE groups showed relatively low 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence rate, with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study indicates that plasma exchange has clear value in the treatment of patients with thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis. It can not only significantly improve patients' muscle strength to alleviate motor dysfunction and enhance quality of life, but also does not significantly increase the incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, it can be regarded as one of the preferred treatment options that achieve a "balance between efficacy and safety" for such patients, and provides an important basis for optimizing treatment strategies, improving prognosis, and promoting the application of subsequent treatment regimens.

Objective To compare different treatment methods for patients with gastric calculi and provide data support for clinical treatment.Methods A total of 197 patients diagnosed with gastric calculi by gastroscopy at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University and Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease Hospital of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from July 2013 to January 2024 were enrolled.The study collected general information and other data of the patients,and divided them into groups based on the selected treatment method using a real-world research approach.The subjects were divided into four groups:drug conservative treatment group,endoscopic homemade snare treatment group,disposable snare treatment group,and stone fragmentation treatment group.Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance.Results Gastric calculi were more common in men,with an average age of(55.45±14.21).85.3%of the patients had a history of eating persimmon,86.3%had ulcers,and 65.9%were located in the gastric angle.The self-made snare group had the lowest treatment cost,while the stone fragmentation group had the highest.There was no significant difference in the remission time of clinical symptoms among the three endoscopic treatment methods.The self-made snare had the highest patient satisfaction,but the drug combined with carbonated beverage group had the longest remission time of clinical symptoms and the lowest patient satisfaction.The frequency and duration of endoscopic treatment of dark green gastric stones were significantly higher than those of mottled and golden yellow gastric stones.Conclusion When treating patients with gastric stones,it is important to consider the size and color of the stone,as well as the patient's preferences.Patients should be fully informed about their condition and the advantages of different treatments.For patients with larger stones(about 5 cm),endoscopic snare treatment is recommended as the first choice.

With the increasing proportion of human papilloma virus(HPV)infection in the pathogenic factors of oro-pharyngeal cancer,a series of changes have occurred in the surgical treatment.While the treatment mode has been im-proved,there are still many problems,including the inconsistency between diagnosis and treatment modes,the lack of popularization of reconstruction technology,the imperfect post-treatment rehabilitation system,and the lack of effective preventive measures.Especially in terms of treatment mode for early oropharyngeal cancer,there is no unified conclu-sion whether it is surgery alone or radiotherapy alone,and whether robotic minimally invasive surgery has better func-tional protection than radiotherapy.For advanced oropharyngeal cancer,there is greater controversy over the treatment mode.It is still unclear whether to adopt a non-surgical treatment mode of synchronous chemoradiotherapy or induction chemotherapy combined with synchronous chemoradiotherapy,or a treatment mode of surgery combined with postopera-tive chemoradiotherapy.In order to standardize the surgical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer in China and clarify the indications for surgical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer,this expert consensus,based on the characteristics and treat-ment status of oropharyngeal cancer in China and combined with the international latest theories and practices,forms consensus opinions in multiple aspects of preoperative evaluation,surgical indication determination,primary tumor re-section,neck lymph node dissection,postoperative defect repair,postoperative complication management prognosis and follow-up of oropharyngeal cancer patients.The key points include:① Before the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer,the expression of P16 protein should be detected to clarify HPV status;② Perform enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the maxillofacial region before surgery to evaluate the invasion of oropharyngeal cancer and guide precise surgical resec-tion of oropharyngeal cancer.Evaluating mouth opening and airway status is crucial for surgical approach decisions and postoperative risk prediction;③ For oropharyngeal cancer patients who have to undergo major surgery and cannot eat for one to two months,it is recommended to undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy before surgery to effectively improve their nutritional intake during treatment;④ Early-stage oropharyngeal cancer patients may opt for either sur-gery alone or radiation therapy alone.For intermediate and advanced stages,HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer general-ly prioritizes radiation therapy,with concurrent chemotherapy considered based on tumor staging.Surgical treatment is recommended as the first choice for HPV unrelated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(including primary and re-current)and recurrent HPV related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after radiotherapy and chemotherapy;⑤ For primary exogenous T1-2 oropharyngeal cancer,direct surgery through the oral approach or da Vinci robotic sur-gery is preferred.For T3-4 patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer,it is recommended to use temporary mandibu-lectomy approach and lateral pharyngotomy approach for surgery as appropriate;⑥ For cT1-2N0 oropharyngeal cancer patients with tumor invasion depth＞3 mm and cT3-4N0 HPV unrelated oropharyngeal cancer patients,selective neck dissection of levels ⅠB to Ⅳ is recommended.For cN+HPV unrelated oropharyngeal cancer patients,therapeutic neck dissection in regions Ⅰ-Ⅴ is advised;⑦ If PET-CT scan at 12 or more weeks after completion of radiation shows intense FDG uptake in any node,or imaging suggests continuous enlargement of lymph nodes,the patient should undergo neck dissection;⑧ For patients with suspected extracapsular invasion preoperatively,lymph node dissection should include removal of surrounding muscle and adipose connective tissue;⑨ The reconstruction of oropharyngeal cancer defects should follow the principle of reconstruction steps,with priority given to adjacent flaps,followed by distal pedicled flaps,and finally free flaps.The anterolateral thigh flap with abundant tissue can be used as the preferred flap for large-scale postoperative defects.

Objective To explore whether Yes-associated protein(YAP)affects occurrence and progression of liver fibrosis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT).Methods In a 8-week-old C57BL/6 mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis,the effect of verteporfin(a YAP inhibitor)intervention was assessed with HE staining and by detecting liver biochemistry and expressions of YAP and EMT-related genes using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Transcriptome and proteomic sequencing and informatics analysis were used to investigate the main downstream pathways of YAP in liver fibrosis.Serum levels of YAP,N-cadherin,vimentin and Twist were examined in 60 healthy individuals,60 patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB),and 60 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis.In another 24 C57BL/6 mice,the effects of Twist inhibitor alone or in combination with harmine(a YAP activator)on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis were evaluated by histopathological examination and Western blotting.Results The mouse models of liver fibrosis showed obvious structural damages of the liver lobes with formation of pseudolobules,and verteporfin treatment significantly improved these pathologies and lowered plasma ALT and AST levels of the mice.Transcriptome and proteomic sequencing and informatics analysis suggested that N-cadherin and Twist were differentially expressed in liver fibrosis in close correlation with YAP.Inhibition of YAP obviously downregulated hepatic N-cadherin and Twist protein expressions in the mice with liver fibrosis.In patients with CHB and liver cirrhosis,serum levels of YAP elevated obviously with the severity of liver fibrosis and were significantly correlated with N-cadherin,vimentin and Twist levels.In mice with liver fibrosis,inhibiting Twist effectively improved liver inflammation and fibrosis,while the combined treatment with YAP activator worsened hepatic collagen fiber deposition and increased hepatic YAP and α-SMA expressions.Conclusion EMT is an important pathogenic mechanism of liver fibrosis,and inhibiting YAP can alleviate liver fibrosis by reducing EMT.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of all-cause death in hypertensive patients in the community.Methods:A cohort of 4 049 hypertensive patients who participated in annual health checkups at Xinzhuang Community Health Service Centre of Shanghai Minhang district from January to December 2012 were enrolled in the study. All-cause death was the endpoint event of this study, and patients were divided into a fatal group and a survival group. The collection date for the endpoint event was December 2022. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyse the independent risk factors of all-cause mortality among hypertensive patients in the community.Results:Among 4 049 patients aged (67.9±7.1) years, 1 856 (45.8%) were males. There were 610 cases in the fatal group and 3 439 cases in the survival group. Multivariate Cox proportional regression showed that male gender ( HR=1.446, 95% CI: 1.200-1.742, P<0.001), older age ( HR=1.130, 95% CI: 1.118-1.143, P<0.001), higher waist-to-height ratio ( HR=8.117, 95% CI: 2.235-29.481, P=0.001), positive urinary protein ( HR=2.974, 95% CI: 2.202-4.016, P<0.001), high fasting blood glucose ( HR=1.070, 95% CI: 1.012-1.131, P=0.017), and history of stroke ( HR=1.819, 95% CI: 1.414-2.340, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in hypertensive patients, while exercise≥1/week ( HR=0.816, 95% CI: 0.668-0.996, P=0.046) and taking lipid-lowering medications ( HR=0.459, 95% CI: 0.223-0.947, P=0.035) were protective factors for all-cause mortality. Conclusion:For hypertensive patients, male gender, older age, higher waist-to-height ratio, positive urinary protein, high fasting blood glucose, and history of stroke are risk factors for all-cause mortality, while exercise≥1/week and taking lipid-lowering medications are protective factors.

Objective To explore whether Yes-associated protein(YAP)affects occurrence and progression of liver fibrosis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT).Methods In a 8-week-old C57BL/6 mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis,the effect of verteporfin(a YAP inhibitor)intervention was assessed with HE staining and by detecting liver biochemistry and expressions of YAP and EMT-related genes using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Transcriptome and proteomic sequencing and informatics analysis were used to investigate the main downstream pathways of YAP in liver fibrosis.Serum levels of YAP,N-cadherin,vimentin and Twist were examined in 60 healthy individuals,60 patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB),and 60 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis.In another 24 C57BL/6 mice,the effects of Twist inhibitor alone or in combination with harmine(a YAP activator)on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis were evaluated by histopathological examination and Western blotting.Results The mouse models of liver fibrosis showed obvious structural damages of the liver lobes with formation of pseudolobules,and verteporfin treatment significantly improved these pathologies and lowered plasma ALT and AST levels of the mice.Transcriptome and proteomic sequencing and informatics analysis suggested that N-cadherin and Twist were differentially expressed in liver fibrosis in close correlation with YAP.Inhibition of YAP obviously downregulated hepatic N-cadherin and Twist protein expressions in the mice with liver fibrosis.In patients with CHB and liver cirrhosis,serum levels of YAP elevated obviously with the severity of liver fibrosis and were significantly correlated with N-cadherin,vimentin and Twist levels.In mice with liver fibrosis,inhibiting Twist effectively improved liver inflammation and fibrosis,while the combined treatment with YAP activator worsened hepatic collagen fiber deposition and increased hepatic YAP and α-SMA expressions.Conclusion EMT is an important pathogenic mechanism of liver fibrosis,and inhibiting YAP can alleviate liver fibrosis by reducing EMT.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Bushen Huoxue Fang (BSHXF, a traditional Chinese medicine formula) for improving recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in mice and the role of tyrosine kinase (JAK2) and transcriptional activator (STAT3) signaling pathway in its therapeutic mechanism. METHODS: Female CBA/J mice were caged with male DBA/2 mice to establish RSA mouse models, which were randomly divided into model group, dydrogesterone group and BSHXF group, with the female mice caged with male BALB/c mice as the control group (n=6). From the first day of pregnancy, the mice were subjected to daily intragastric administration of BSHXF, dydrogesterone, or distilled water (in control and model groups) for 12 days. After the treatments, serum levels of antithrombin III (AT-III), activated protein C (APC), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and estradiol (E2) were detected in each group using ELISA. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the endometrium of the mice. Western blotting was performed to determine the expressions of p-JAK2, p-Stat3 and Bcl-2 in the placenta of the mice. RESULTS: Compared with the control mice, the mouse models of RSA showed a significantly increased embryo loss rate with decreased serum levels of AT-III, T-PA, progesterone, APC and HCG, increased placental expressions of p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and Bax, and decreased expression of Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). Treatments with BSHXF and dydrogesterone both increased serum levels of AT-III, t-PA and HCG in the mouse models; Serum APC level was significantly reduced in BSHXF group and serum progesterone level was significantly increased in dydrogesterone group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION BSHXF can improve the prethrombotic state and inhibit cell apoptosis by downregulating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway to increase the pregnancy rate in mouse models of RSA.
Animals ; Mice ; Abortion, Habitual/prevention & control* ; Signal Transduction ; Down-Regulation ; Disease Models, Animal

Based on mass spectrometry(MS)-guided separation strategy, compound 1 was obtained from the roots of Rhus chinensis. By comprehensive analysis of high resolution-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry(HR-ESI-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) data, and quantum chemical calculation of NMR(qcc-NMR) parameters, compound 1 was elucidated as rhuslactone, a 17-epi-dammarane triterpenoid with a rare 17α-side chain. An HPLC-ELSD method for its quantification in R. chinensis was established and adopted for the quantification of rhuslactone in different batches of R. chinensis. Rhuslactone displayed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.021 3-1.07 μmol·mL~(-1 )(r=0.997 6), and the average recovery was 99.34% [relative standard deviation(RSD) 2.9%). Moreover, the results of the evaluation test of the preventive effects of rhusalctone on coronary heart disease(CHD) and thrombosis showed that rhuslactone(0.11 nmol·mL~(-1)) significantly alleviated heart enlargement and venous congestion and increased cardiac output(CO), blood flow velocity(BFV), and heart rate, thereby reducing thrombus formation in zebrafish with CHD. The effects of rhuslactone on CO and BFV were superior to that of digoxin(1.02 nmol·mL~(-1)), and its effect on improving heart rate was comparable to that of digoxin. This study provides experimental references for the isolation, identification, quality control, and application of rhuslactone from R. chinensis against CHD. It is worth mentioning that this study has discussed some omissions in the determination of the stereochemistry of C-17 in dammarane triterpenoids in the present coursebook Chemistry of Chinese Medicine and some research papers, that is, the compound may be 17-epi-dammarane triterpenoid. This paper has also proposed steps for the establishment of C-17 stereochemistry.
Animals ; Zebrafish ; Rhus/chemistry* ; Triterpenes/analysis* ; Coronary Disease ; Thrombosis

The biological samples of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases are extremely precious. Collecting and preserving these biological samples are helpful to elucidate the mechanisms and improve the level of diagnose and treatment of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases. The standardized construction of biobanks for oral genetic diseases and rare diseases is important for achieving these goals. At present, there is very little information on the construction of these biobanks, and the standards or suggestions for the classification and coding of biological samples from oral and maxillofacial sources, and this is not conducive to the standardization and information construction of biobanks for special oral diseases. This consensus summarizes the background, necessity, principles, and key points of constructing the biobank for oral genetic diseases and rare diseases. On the base of the group standard "Classification and Coding for Human Biomaterial" (GB/T 39768-2021) issued by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Biological Samples, we suggest 76 new coding numbers for different of biological samples from oral and maxillofacial sources. We hope the consensus may promote the standardization, and smartization on the biobank construction as well as the overall research level of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases in China.

Peptide is a compound consisting of 2-50 amino acids, which is intermediate between small molecule and protein. It is characterized by a variety of biological activities, easy absorption, strong specific targeting, and few side effects and has become one of the hotspots in biomedical research in recent years. Chinese medicine contains a large number of peptides. The traditional processing methods such as decocting and boiling can effectively boost peptides to exert their due biological activities. At present, however, the research on Chinese medicinal components in laboratory generally employs high-concentration alcohol extraction method, which may cause the peptides to be ignored in many natural Chinese medicines. Substantial studies have revealed that the peptides in Chinese medicine are important material basis responsible for the traditional efficacy. Based on years of research and literature retrieval, this study put forward the concept of "traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)-peptides", referring to the components consisting of two or more amino acids with molecular weight between small molecules and proteins that can express the efficacy of Chinese medicine. Furthermore, this study also summarized the extraction and separation of TCM-peptides, and structure determination methods and routes, predicted the research prospect of modern research methods of TCM-peptides based on "holistic view" and big data. The artificial intelligence prediction was combined with high-throughput screening technology to improve the discovery efficiency and accuracy of TCM-peptides, and holographic images between TCM-peptides and biological targets were established to provide references for the innovative drug design and related health product development of TCM-peptides based on TCM theories.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Artificial Intelligence ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Research Design ; Peptides ; Proteins ; Amino Acids