Purpose: This research observed the efficacy and safety of soft tissue expansion combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) in repairing second-degree scald scars. Methods: This study conducted a prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four patients with deep second-degree scald scars were evenly divided into the control and observation groups. The control group was treated with soft tissue expansion, and the observation group was additionally treated with rhEGF. The skin expansion and wound healing times were compared. The changes in wound exudate and inflammation around the wound were observed after first-stage surgery. The hydroxyproline (OHP) and collagen I/III ratios were compared during the second stage of surgery.The complications and repair effects during treatment were evaluated. Results: The observation group exhibited lower expansion time, immediate retraction rate, and wound healing time, higher skin expansion rate, higher wound exudate score and inflammation score, higher OHP, lower collagen I/III, lower complication rate, and higher total effective rate than the control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Skin soft tissue expansion combined with rhEGF is more effective in repairing second-degree scald scars, which can effectively increase skin expansion area and reduce wound infection and complications.

Objective: To construct an evaluation index system of cervical cancer prevention and control literacy, so as to provide an assessment tool for cervical cancer prevention and control literacy. Methods: The preliminary framework for cervical cancer prevention and control literacy was designed based on literature review. Twenty-one experts with both theoretical and practical experience in cervical cancer prevention and control were invited to participate in two rounds of Delphi consultation. The weights of indicators were determined by the percentage weighting method and product method, and the response rate, authority level, opinion concentration degree, and coordination degree of experts were evaluated. Results: Twenty-one experts participated in the consultation, including 3 males and 18 females. There were 11 experts with a doctor's degree, 7 with a master's degree and 3 with a bachelor's degree. All of them had senior professional titles and had more than 10 years of working experience. The recovery rates of the two rounds of consultations were 100.00% and 95.24%, the authority coefficients were 0.963 and 0.948, and Kendall's coefficients of concordance were 0.175 and 0.148 (both P<0.05), respectively. The final cervical cancer prevention and control literacy evaluation index system included 3 primary indicators (basic knowledge and concepts: 0.334; healthy lifestyle and behaviors: 0.338; basic skills: 0.328), 12 secondary indicators, with "capability to accurately acquire, comprehend, evaluate and apply health information" having the highest weight (0.166), and 51 tertiary indicators, with "HPV vaccination" (0.086), "consulting on relevant issues" (0.082), and "expressing personal perspectives" (0.080) having relatively higher weights. Conclusion The evaluation index system of cervical cancer prevention and control literacy serves as a valid assessment tool for women of appropriate age, providing the reference for developing targeted health education to enhance cervical cancer prevention and control literacy.

Purpose: This research observed the efficacy and safety of soft tissue expansion combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) in repairing second-degree scald scars. Methods: This study conducted a prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four patients with deep second-degree scald scars were evenly divided into the control and observation groups. The control group was treated with soft tissue expansion, and the observation group was additionally treated with rhEGF. The skin expansion and wound healing times were compared. The changes in wound exudate and inflammation around the wound were observed after first-stage surgery. The hydroxyproline (OHP) and collagen I/III ratios were compared during the second stage of surgery.The complications and repair effects during treatment were evaluated. Results: The observation group exhibited lower expansion time, immediate retraction rate, and wound healing time, higher skin expansion rate, higher wound exudate score and inflammation score, higher OHP, lower collagen I/III, lower complication rate, and higher total effective rate than the control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Skin soft tissue expansion combined with rhEGF is more effective in repairing second-degree scald scars, which can effectively increase skin expansion area and reduce wound infection and complications.

Purpose: This research observed the efficacy and safety of soft tissue expansion combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) in repairing second-degree scald scars. Methods: This study conducted a prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four patients with deep second-degree scald scars were evenly divided into the control and observation groups. The control group was treated with soft tissue expansion, and the observation group was additionally treated with rhEGF. The skin expansion and wound healing times were compared. The changes in wound exudate and inflammation around the wound were observed after first-stage surgery. The hydroxyproline (OHP) and collagen I/III ratios were compared during the second stage of surgery.The complications and repair effects during treatment were evaluated. Results: The observation group exhibited lower expansion time, immediate retraction rate, and wound healing time, higher skin expansion rate, higher wound exudate score and inflammation score, higher OHP, lower collagen I/III, lower complication rate, and higher total effective rate than the control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Skin soft tissue expansion combined with rhEGF is more effective in repairing second-degree scald scars, which can effectively increase skin expansion area and reduce wound infection and complications.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture (acupuncture for regulating defensive qi and nourishing brain) for post-ischemic stroke insomnia (PISI). METHODS: A total of 96 patients with PISI were randomized into an acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case was excluded), a medication group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded) and a sham-acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded). In the acupuncture group, Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmai (BL62), Zhaohai (KI6), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), and Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (GV24⁺), Shenting (GV24), once a day, 1-day interval was taken after 6-day treatment, for 3 weeks totally. In the medication group, eszopiclone tablet was given orally, 1-3 mg a time, once a day for 3 weeks. In the sham-acupuncture group, non-invasive sham acupuncture was applied, the acupoint selection, frequency and course of treatment were the same as the acupuncture group. Before treatment, after 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating sleep scale (SRSS), National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS), Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) were observed; before and after treatment, the sleep parameters were recorded using polysomnography (PSG); and the efficacy and safety were evaluated after treatment in the 3 groups. RESULTS: After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, HAMD-17 and SRSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the SRSS scores in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); after 2 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS score in the acupuncture group was decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group, the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). After 3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS, HAMD-17 and NIHSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the NIHSS score in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those after 2 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS and HAMD-17 in the acupuncture group and the medication group were lower than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05), the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, HAMD-17 score in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the NIHSS score in the medication group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, after treatment, the total sleep time was prolonged (P<0.05), the wake after sleep onset, sleep latency, and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep latency were shortened (P<0.05), the sleep efficiency was improved (P<0.05), the number of awakenings was reduced (P<0.05), the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM%) and the percentage of NREM stage 1 (N1%) were decreased (P<0.05), the percentage of NREM stage 2 (N2%) and the percentage of NREM stage 3 (N3%) were increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group and the medication group; the sleep latency was shortened in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PSG indexes in the acupuncture group and the medication group were superior to those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); in the acupuncture group, the number of awakenings was less than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the REM% and N1% were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05), the N2% and N3% were higher than those in the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate were 93.5% (29/31) and 90.0% (27/30) in the acupuncture group and the medication group respectively, which were higher than 10.0% (3/30) in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was no serious adverse events in any of the 3 groups. CONCLUSION Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture improves the insomnia symptoms in patients with ischemic stroke, improves the quality of sleep, increases the deep sleep, promotes the recovery of neurological function, and relieves the depression. It is effective and safe for the treatment of PISI.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Ischemic Stroke/complications* ; Stroke/complications* ; Sleep

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert pivotal roles in fostering chemoresistance across diverse tumors. Nevertheless, the precise involvement of lncRNAs in modulating chemoresistance within the context of gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains obscure. This study aimed to uncover how lncRNAs regulate chemoresistance in gallbladder cancer, offering potential targets to overcome drug resistance. METHODS: To elucidate the relationship between gemcitabine sensitivity and small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 ( SNHG1 ) expression, we utilized publicly available GBC databases, GBC tissues from Renji Hospital collected between January 2017 and December 2019, as well as GBC cell lines. The assessment of SNHG1, miR-23b-3p, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression was performed using in situ  hybridization, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to quantify the cell viability. Furthermore, a GBC xenograft model was employed to evaluate the impact of SNHG1 on the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were executed to assess the specificity and sensitivity of SNHG1. RESULTS: Our analyses revealed an inverse correlation between the lncRNA SNHG1 and gemcitabine resistance across genomics of drug sensitivity in cancer (GDSC) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, GBC cell lines, and patients. Gain-of-function investigations underscored that SNHG1 heightened the gemcitabine sensitivity of GBC cells in both in vitro and in vivo  settings. Mechanistic explorations illuminated that SNHG1 could activate PTEN -a commonly suppressed tumor suppressor gene in cancers-thereby curbing the development of gemcitabine resistance in GBC cells. Notably, microRNA (miRNA) target prediction algorithms unveiled the presence of miR-23b-3p binding sites within SNHG1 and the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of PTEN . Moreover, SNHG1 acted as a sponge for miR-23b-3p, competitively binding to the 3'-UTR of PTEN , thereby amplifying PTEN expression and heightening the susceptibility of GBC cells to gemcitabine. CONCLUSION The SNHG1/miR-23b-3p/PTEN axis emerges as a pivotal regulator of gemcitabine sensitivity in GBC cells, holding potential as a promising therapeutic target for managing GBC patients.
Humans ; Deoxycytidine/pharmacology* ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase/genetics* ; Gemcitabine ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Animals ; Mice ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; Mice, Nude ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Objective To investigate the correlation between monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(MHR)and renal tubule injury and decreased renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 326 patients with T2DM who were hospitalized in The Department of Endocrinology,Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled in this study from September 2021 to March 2023.All the participants were divided into three groups according to urinary alpha1 microglobulin to creatinine ratio(MCR)and estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR):normal tubules with normal renal function(RTN+RFN,n=177),impaired tubules with normal renal function(RTI+RFN,n=100),and impaired tubules with decreased renal function(RTI+RFD,n=49).Results MHR was higher in RTI+RFD group than in RTN+RFN group and RTI+RFN group.MHR was higher in RTI+RFN group than in RTN+RFN group(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that MHR was positively correlated with MCR and UACR(P<0.05),and negatively correlated with eGFR(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysiss showed that MHR and UACR were independent influencing factors for renal tubular injury in T2DM patients,and MHR,UACR and MCR were influential factors for renal function decline in T2DM patients(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of MHR was 0.794 and 0.779 in predicting tubular injury and renal function decline respectively in T2DM.Conclusions MHR is an influential factor for renal tubular injury and renal function decline.MHR is valuable in the diagnosis of rendl tubular injury and decreased renal function in T2DM patients.

AIM:To investigate the effects of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction(SGD)on inflammation and mucosal barrier damage in rats with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).METHODS:Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,high-dose(500 mg/kg),medium-dose(250 mg/kg)and low-dose(125 mg/kg)SGD groups,and balsalazide sodium(1 g/kg)group.All rats were pre-administered for 3 d,and on the 4th day of the experiment,they were fasted for 24 h.Except for the normal group,the rats in the other 5 groups were given enema mixed with TNBS(100 mg/kg)and 50％ethanol,and continued to be adminis-tered for 5 d after modeling.After modeling,the disease activity index(DAI)was evaluated.After the experiment,the levels of nitric oxide(NO)and myeloperoxidase(MPO)in serum and colonic tissues of rats were determined.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to determine tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)in the colon of rats.The expression of tight junction proteins zonu-la occludens-1(ZO-1)and claudin 2 in rat colon tissues was determined by immunofluorescence staining.RESULTS:Compared with normal group,the weight of rats in model group was decreased,the colon was shortened,DAI and colon tissue macroscopic scores were significantly increased(P<0.05),colon pathological injury was serious,and NO and MPO levels in serum and colon tissues of the rats in model group were significantly increased(P<0.05).The mRNA and pro-tein expression levels of TNF-α,COX-2,iNOS and NF-κB in colon tissues were significantly increased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of ZO-1 and claudin 2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with model group,the body weight and colon shortening of rats in SGD groups were alleviated,DAI and macroscopic scores of colon tissues were significantly decreased(P<0.05),the pathological damage of colon was improved,and the levels of NO and MPO in se-rum and colon tissues of rats were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α,COX-2,iNOS and NF-κB in colon tissues were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the expression levels of ZO-1 and claudin 2 were significantly increased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Treatment with SGD effectively attenuates the inflam-matory response and intestinal mucosal barrier damage caused by TNBS-induced IBD in rats.

Objective:To explore the effect and safety of mesenchymal stem cell exosome microneedle introduction in the treatment of melasma.Methods:Thirty cases of female patients with stable melasma in the Department of Dermatology, Changsha Meilai Medical Beauty Hospital, aged (36±5) years and with a disease duration of (42.4±20.7) months, from July 2021 to July 2022, were retrospectively included. According to Fitzpatrick skin typing, 23 cases of type Ⅲ and 7 cases of type Ⅳ were included. All patients were locally anesthetized with lidocaine cream for 30 min, and rolled with a 0.5 mm needle in a zigzag pattern with even force, in the order of the right cheek, the left cheek, the forehead, the nose, the mandible, and the upper lip. During the rolling process, 3 ml of MSC exosome medical liquid wound dressing was applied to the facial skin, and after it was fully absorbed, exosome was locally readministered in the area of melasma. Treatment ended with a slight redness at the site of application. 1 MSC exosome wound dressing was appllied as a cold compress for 15 min after treatment. Treatment was given once every 2 weeks for 6 consecutive sessions. All the patients were followed up at 4 and 12 weeks after the last session, and the area and severity index of melasma (MASI) were scored before and after the treatment, the clinical efficiency and patient satisfaction rate and the incidence of adverse reactions were also counted.Results:At 4 and 12 weeks after the end of treatment, the skin color of all 30 patients was brighter than that before treatment, and no recurrence of melasma symptoms seen. At 12 weeks after the end of treatment, the decrease rate of MASI score was 66.1%, among which the decrease rate of MASI score in patients with type Ⅲ melasma was 63.9%, and the decrease rate of MASI score in patients with type Ⅳ melasma was 63.9%. Among the 30 patients, 1 case was cured, 25 cases showed obvious improved, 4 cases were improved, and no cases were ineffective, with an effective rate of 86.7% (26/30). Five patients were very satisfied, 18 patients were satisfied, 6 patients were generally satisfied, and 1 patient was dissatisfied; the patient satisfaction rate was 76.7% (23/30). No serious adverse reactions occurred in all patients.Conclusions:MSC exosome microneedle introduction is safe and effective in the treatment of melasma without serious adverse reactions.

Objective To compare image quality of turbo spin echo(TSE)diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)and echo planar imaging(EPI)DTI for displaying temporal lobe radiation encephalopathy(REP).Methods Thirty nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with suspected REP disease progression were prospectively enrolled.Subjective evaluation of image sharpness,susceptibility artifacts and deformation of TSE-DTI and EPI-DTI was performed using a 5-point scale,while objective evaluation aimed on the mean diffusion coefficient(MD),fractional anisotropic(FA),signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)and distortion ratio(DR)were carried on.Results The susceptibility artifacts and deformation scores of TSE-DTI were higher than that of EPI-DTI(P＜0.001).FA of REP edge and normal brain tissue were lower than those of EPI-DTI,with SNR and CNR higher than those of EPI-DTI(both P＜0.001).DR of REP lesions and bilateral temporal lobes were lower than those of EPI-DTI(all P＜0.001).Conclusion Compared with EPI-DTI,TSE-DTI could significantly improve image quality for displaying REP by reducing susceptibility artifacts and deformation of images.