OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) in children with acute leukemia (AL) following chemotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on children diagnosed with CDC (including confirmed, clinically diagnosed, and suspected cases) after AL chemotherapy from January 2015 to December 2023 at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital, and Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University. Clinical characteristics and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of CDC in children with AL following chemotherapy was 1.92% (32/1 668). Among the children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the incidence of CDC in the high-risk group was significantly higher than in the low-risk group (P=0.002). All patients presented with fever unresponsive to antibiotics during the neutropenic period, with 81% (26/32) involving the liver. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly elevated (≥50 mg/L) in 97% (31/32) of the patients. The efficacy of combined therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and caspofungin or posaconazole for CDC was 66% (19/29), higher than with caspofungin (9%, 2/22) or liposomal amphotericin B (18%, 2/11) monotherapy. The overall cure rate was 72% (23/32). The proportion of patients with CRP ≥50 mg/L and/or a positive β-D-glucan test for more than 2 weeks and breakthrough infections during caspofungin treatment was significantly higher in the treatment failure group compared to the successful treatment group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS CDC in children with AL after chemotherapy may be associated with prolonged neutropenia due to intensive chemotherapy. Combination antifungal regimens based on liposomal amphotericin B have a higher cure rate, while persistently high CRP levels and positive β-D-glucan tests may indicate poor prognosis.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use* ; Candidiasis/diagnosis* ; Chronic Disease ; Leukemia/complications* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/complications* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-tumor effects of cinobufacini (CINO) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by des-gamma-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP) and to uncover the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of CINO on HCC cell proliferation was evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 method, and the apoptosis rate was quantified using flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were used to investigate the differential expression of proteins associated with cell growth, apoptosis, migration, and invasion pathways after CINO treatment. The therapeutic potential of CINO for HCC was confirmed, and the possibility of combining cinobufacini with c-Met inhibitor for the treatment of primary HCC was further validated by in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Under the induction of DCP, CINO inhibited the activity of HCC cells, induced apoptosis, and inhibited migration and invasion. Upon the induction of DCP, CINO regulated c-Met activation and the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) pathways. In a mouse model of HCC, CINO exhibited significant antitumor effects by inhibiting the phosphorylation of c-Met and the downstream PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways in tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS CINO inhibited HCC cell growth, promoted apoptosis, and suppressed HCC cell invasion and migration by targeting c-Met and PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways under DCP induction.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Animals ; Humans ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Amphibian Venoms/therapeutic use* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Cell Survival/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Mice ; Male ; Bufanolides/therapeutic use* ; Protein Precursors ; Prothrombin ; Biomarkers

Objective To analyze the changes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration(nAMD)before and after treatment with faricimab or ranibizumab.Methods A prospective study was conducted on 20 nAMD patients(20 eyes)who received treatment at the Ophthalmology Department of Wuhu Hospital affiliated with East China Normal University.nAMD was diagnosed with fluorescein fundus angiography,indocyanine green angiography,and optical coherence tomography(OCT).The central macular thickness(CMT),choroidal neovascularization(CNV)cross-sectional area(CSA),and CNV blood flow area(CFA)of the patients at baseline and after 4,12,and 24 weeks of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)treatment.The changes in index at different time periods and the differences in results between the two groups were studied.Results There were no statistically significant differences in age,gender,CNV type,OCT,and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)morphology between the two groups of patients at baseline(all P＞0.05).CMT,CSA,and CFA decreased in both groups after treatment(all P＜0.05).CMT showed a gradual decrease in both groups after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment(all P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in CMT between 12 and 24 weeks after treatment in the faricimab group(P=0.096).In the ranibizumab group,CMT increased 24 weeks after treatment,compared with that 12 weeks after treatment(P=0.004).CSA and CFA de-creased in both groups after 12 weeks of treatment(both P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in CSA and CFA between 12 and 24 weeks after treatment in the faricimab group(P=0.085,0.095).In the ranibizumab group,CSA and CFA increased 24 weeks after treatment,compared with those 12 week after treatment(P=0.001,0.000).Inter-group comparisons showed that the CMT of patients in the faricimab group was lower than that in the ranibizumab group af-ter 24 weeks of treatment(P=0.022).There was no statistically significant difference in CSA and CFA at each time period for both groups(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Faricimab and ranibizumab have similar efficacy in the treatment of nAMD patients,but faricimab is superior to ranibizumab in sustained effects.

The Diagnosis-Intervention Packet(DIP)payment exerts notable effects on hospitals' economic operations.As centralized hubs of high-quality medical resources,tertiary hospitals face a functional mismatch with the provision of services for primary care diseases.By analyzing the admission and payment practices for primary care diseases in sample hospitals in Henan Province,it identifies key challenges,including inadequate alignment between healthcare payment reform policies and management systems,weak foundational capabilities in hospital health insurance informatization,and insufficient awareness of health insurance policies among medical staff.It is recommended that hospitals should strengthen communication and coordination with health insurance administration agencies to foster positive interactions between healthcare providers and insurers;continuously advance in-house health insurance informatization and enhance data governance capabilities;improve strategic awareness and innovate value-based health insurance management models.

Aim To investigate the promotive effects and mechanisms of the combined use of brucine(Bru)and lumbrokinase(LK),active ingredient derived from Longma formula,in promoting chondrocyte proliferation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods The extracted primary rat chondrocytes were divided in-to the following groups:Control group,Bru,LK alone group,and Bro+LK combination group.The optimal drug concentration and intervention time were deter-mined using CCK-8 assay,followed by cell proliferation validation through EdU and phalloidin staining.The expression levels of collagen Ⅱ,aggrecan and SRY-re-lated high-mobility group box gene 9(SOX9)in chon-drocytes following intervention with the combination of Bru and LK were detected by Western blotting.Addi-tionally,the regulatory effects of these proteins on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were also investiga-ted.Results The optimal combination concentration of Longma formula active ingredients(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)significantly enhanced chondro-cyte viability compared to control,Bru,or LK alone at 48 h.This combination increased the S-phase ratio,promoted the aggregation of intracellular actin fila-ments,and upregulated the expression of collagen Ⅱ and aggrecan.Furthermore,it activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,leading to increased SOX9 expres-sion.Conclusions The optimal combination of Bru and LK(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)de-rived from Longma formula significantly maintains chondrocyte phenotype and promotes cellular prolifera-tion through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signa-ling pathway,which subsequently upregulates the downstream target SOX9.

The Diagnosis-Intervention Packet(DIP)payment exerts notable effects on hospitals' economic operations.As centralized hubs of high-quality medical resources,tertiary hospitals face a functional mismatch with the provision of services for primary care diseases.By analyzing the admission and payment practices for primary care diseases in sample hospitals in Henan Province,it identifies key challenges,including inadequate alignment between healthcare payment reform policies and management systems,weak foundational capabilities in hospital health insurance informatization,and insufficient awareness of health insurance policies among medical staff.It is recommended that hospitals should strengthen communication and coordination with health insurance administration agencies to foster positive interactions between healthcare providers and insurers;continuously advance in-house health insurance informatization and enhance data governance capabilities;improve strategic awareness and innovate value-based health insurance management models.

Objective To analyze the changes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration(nAMD)before and after treatment with faricimab or ranibizumab.Methods A prospective study was conducted on 20 nAMD patients(20 eyes)who received treatment at the Ophthalmology Department of Wuhu Hospital affiliated with East China Normal University.nAMD was diagnosed with fluorescein fundus angiography,indocyanine green angiography,and optical coherence tomography(OCT).The central macular thickness(CMT),choroidal neovascularization(CNV)cross-sectional area(CSA),and CNV blood flow area(CFA)of the patients at baseline and after 4,12,and 24 weeks of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)treatment.The changes in index at different time periods and the differences in results between the two groups were studied.Results There were no statistically significant differences in age,gender,CNV type,OCT,and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)morphology between the two groups of patients at baseline(all P＞0.05).CMT,CSA,and CFA decreased in both groups after treatment(all P＜0.05).CMT showed a gradual decrease in both groups after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment(all P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in CMT between 12 and 24 weeks after treatment in the faricimab group(P=0.096).In the ranibizumab group,CMT increased 24 weeks after treatment,compared with that 12 weeks after treatment(P=0.004).CSA and CFA de-creased in both groups after 12 weeks of treatment(both P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in CSA and CFA between 12 and 24 weeks after treatment in the faricimab group(P=0.085,0.095).In the ranibizumab group,CSA and CFA increased 24 weeks after treatment,compared with those 12 week after treatment(P=0.001,0.000).Inter-group comparisons showed that the CMT of patients in the faricimab group was lower than that in the ranibizumab group af-ter 24 weeks of treatment(P=0.022).There was no statistically significant difference in CSA and CFA at each time period for both groups(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Faricimab and ranibizumab have similar efficacy in the treatment of nAMD patients,but faricimab is superior to ranibizumab in sustained effects.

Aim To investigate the promotive effects and mechanisms of the combined use of brucine(Bru)and lumbrokinase(LK),active ingredient derived from Longma formula,in promoting chondrocyte proliferation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods The extracted primary rat chondrocytes were divided in-to the following groups:Control group,Bru,LK alone group,and Bro+LK combination group.The optimal drug concentration and intervention time were deter-mined using CCK-8 assay,followed by cell proliferation validation through EdU and phalloidin staining.The expression levels of collagen Ⅱ,aggrecan and SRY-re-lated high-mobility group box gene 9(SOX9)in chon-drocytes following intervention with the combination of Bru and LK were detected by Western blotting.Addi-tionally,the regulatory effects of these proteins on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were also investiga-ted.Results The optimal combination concentration of Longma formula active ingredients(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)significantly enhanced chondro-cyte viability compared to control,Bru,or LK alone at 48 h.This combination increased the S-phase ratio,promoted the aggregation of intracellular actin fila-ments,and upregulated the expression of collagen Ⅱ and aggrecan.Furthermore,it activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,leading to increased SOX9 expres-sion.Conclusions The optimal combination of Bru and LK(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)de-rived from Longma formula significantly maintains chondrocyte phenotype and promotes cellular prolifera-tion through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signa-ling pathway,which subsequently upregulates the downstream target SOX9.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. Clinical and follow-up data of 73 MPeM patients who received pemetrexed and cisplatin (AP regimen)-based treatment at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2004 to December 2022 were collected. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Kaplan-Meier method was used to perform the survival analysis; univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the influencing factors of prognosis by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model.Results:In 73 MPeM patients, there were 33 males and 40 females, with a median age of 57 years old (range: 20-76 years old). Among them, 41 patients (56.2%) were aged ≥55 years old, 5 patients (6.8%) had a history of asbestos exposure, 45 patients (61.6%) presented with ascites, and 32 patients (43.8%) had distant metastasis, 70 patients (95.9%) were epithelioid subtype, 38 patients (52.1%) underwent surgery, and 3 patients (4.1%) received radiotherapy. The median OS time of all patients was 30 months (95% CI: 25-50 months), and the median PFS time was 8 months (95% CI: 6-14 months). Univariate analysis results showed that the differences in OS and PFS between patients with different ages (<55 years old vs. ≥55 years old: the median OS time not reached vs. 25 months, P < 0.001; the median PFS time 13 months vs. 7 months, P = 0.046) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score (1 point vs. 2 points: the median OS time 37 months vs. 21 months, P < 0.001; the median PFS time 14 months vs. 4 months, P = 0.004) were statistically significant. There were statistically significant differences in OS among patients with different status of surgery (with vs. without: the median OS time 37 months vs. 24 months, P = 0.020), history of asbestos exposure (with vs. without: the median OS time 32 months vs. 18 months, P = 0.002) and distant metastasis (with vs. without: the median OS time 58 months vs. 20 months, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis results showed that ECOG score of 2 points ( HR = 5.04, 95% CI: 1.29-19.73, P = 0.020) and distant metastasis ( HR = 4.26, 95% CI: 1.77-10.24, P = 0.001) were independent risk factors for OS of patients. Conclusions:Most MPeM patients are female, the epithelioid subtype is predominant, and the overall prognosis is poor. However, patients aged <55 years old, without history of asbestos exposure, with a good general condition, with surgery, or without distant metastasis have relatively good prognosis.