Objective To analyze the efficacy of Astragalus membranaceus and Draba nemorosa in the treatment of chronic heart failure(CHF),the change of cardiac color ultrasound parameters and its predictive value for adverse end events.Methods A total of 92 patients with Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis combined with Shuiyin CHF treated in Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2019 to September 2021 were randomly selected and divided into two groups by random number table method,with 46 cases in each group.Patients in control group were received conventional Western medicine treatment,and patients in observation group were received the addition and subtraction treatment of Yiqi Huoxue Lishui prescription based on Astragalus membranaceus and Draba nemorosa.The clinical efficacy,TCM syndrome score,heart color ultrasound parameters and the incidence of adverse endpoint events within 6 months were compared between the two groups.Cardiac color doppler ultrasound parameters were compared between the occurrence group and the non-occurrence group,and receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to analyze the predictive value of cardiac color Doppler ultrasound parameters for adverse end events.Results The total clinical effective rate of the observation group(95.65%)was higher than that of the control group(71.74%)(P<0.05).After treatment,palpitation,weakness,shortness of breath,lethargy and lip purple score in observation group were lower than those in control group(P<0.05).The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD)and left arial diameters(LAD)of the observation group were lower than those of the control group after treatment(P<0.05).After treatment,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05);The incidence of adverse endpoint events within 6 months in the observation group(2.17%)was lower than that in the control group(19.57%)(P<0.05).The LVEDD and LAD in the adverse end point event group were higher than those in the without adverse end point event group(P<0.05),and the LVEF was lower than that in the without adverse end point event group(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of LVEDD,LAD and LVEF combined to predict the occurrence of adverse endpoint events was 0.812,and the 95%CI confidence interval was 0.734-0.968;The sensitivity of combined detection(93.42%)was higher than that of single detection(71.52%,75.11%,79.62%)(P<0.05).The specificity of combined detection(82.27%)compared with that of single detection(70.19%,73.07%,77.28%)(P>0.05).Conclusion Supplementing qi and promoting blood circulation and rehydrating water based on Astragalus membranaceus and Draba nemorosa can effectively improve the cardiac function of CHF patients,alleviate symptoms such as palpitations and fatigue,and reduce the incidence of adverse endpoint events.In addition,the combined detection of cardiac ultrasound parameters can improve the prediction efficiency of adverse endpoint events,which has certain clinical value.

Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has achieved 40%-50% long-term complete response in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. However, the underlying mechanism of alterations in the tumor microenvironments resulting in CAR-T cell therapy failure needs further investigation. A multi-center phase I/II trial of anti-CD19 CD28z CAR-T (FKC876, ChiCTR1800019661) was conducted. Among 22 evaluable DLBCL patients, seven achieved complete remission, 10 experienced partial remissions, while four had stable disease by day 29. Single-cell RNA sequencing results were obtained from core needle biopsy tumor samples collected from long-term complete remission and early-progressed patients, and compared at different stages of treatment. M2-subtype macrophages were significantly involved in both in vivo and in vitro anti-tumor functions of CAR-T cells, leading to CAR-T cell therapy failure and disease progression in DLBCL. Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments persisted before CAR-T cell therapy, during both cell expansion and disease progression, which could not be altered by infiltrating CAR-T cells. Aberrant metabolism profile of M2-subtype macrophages and those of dysfunctional T cells also contributed to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. Thus, our findings provided a clinical rationale for targeting tumor microenvironments and reprogramming immune cell metabolism as effective therapeutic strategies to prevent lymphoma relapse in future designs of CAR-T cell therapy.

Objective To evaluate the long-term prognostic value of coronary CT angiography-derived fractional flow reserve(CT-FFR)in elderly patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 1133 patients with clinically suspected CHD from a prospective observational study based on coronary CTA and CT-FFR at the General Hos-pital of Eastern Theater from April 2018 to March 2019,and 330 elderly CHD patients were even-tually included.According to major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)occurred or not,295 patients were assigned into non-MACE group and 35 patients into the MACE group.Based on cor-onary CTA data,plaque features were analyzed and CT-FFR values were measured in all lesioned vessels.The relationship of plaque features and CT-FFR with MACE was evaluated by using Cox proportional risk regression model,Kaplan-Meier survival curve,and ROC curve analyses.Results The patients with coronary stenosis(≥50％)or CT-FFR value ≤0.8 had a higher risk of MACE(P＜0.01).Univariate Cox analysis showed that coronary stenosis ≥50％and CT-FFR value 0.8 were risk factors of MACE(P＜0.01).After adjusting confounding factors,multivariate Cox analysis indicated that CT-FFR ≤0.8(HR=17.037,95％CI:5.060-57.358,P=0.000)was only independent predictor for MACE.The risk prediction model based on CT-FFR presented better performance than the model based on coronary CTA stenosis(C-index:0.820 vs 0.696,P=0.000).Conclusion CT-FFR≤0.8 is an important independent predictor for long-term MACE in elderly CHD patients.Clinical risk stratification based on CT-FFR may optimize prognostic man-agement strategies in these patients.

Objective:To investigate the effect of image quality, degree of stenosis, calcification, and their first-order interactions on diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR).Methods:This is a reanalysis of data from a multi-center retrospective cross-sectional study of CT-FFR in China. A total of 522 patients with suspected or known coronary heart disease [mean age: 61.6 (34.0-83.0) years, 71.8% (354/493) were male] from 11 medical centers including the General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command from May 2015 to October 2019 were enrolled. All patients underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA), CT-FFR, and invasive FFR examination. Subjective image quality scores of target vessels were recorded on CCTA images, and stenosis was visually assessed at the lesion level. Calcification arc and calcification remodeling index (CRI) were recorded for each lesion. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were compared. Two-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the first-order interaction effects of image quality, degree of stenosis, and calcification.Results:A total of 493 patients with 629 lesions with invasive FFR as a reference were included in the study. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT-FFR were 80.4%, 93.8%, and 88.6%, respectively. The specificity (95.0% vs. 87.3%, χ2=4.11, P=0.043); accuracy (90.1% vs. 81.9%, χ2=6.22, P=0.013); and NPV (89.7% vs. 80.9%, χ2=4.25, P=0.039) of the group with image quality ≥3 was higher than the group with image quality <3. The degree of stenosis affected the sensitivity, PPV, and NPV of CT-FFR and the calcification arc affected the specificity of CT-FFR (all P>0.05). The specificity (95.8% vs. 90.5%, χ2=4.23, P=0.040); accuracy (91.0% vs. 86.1%, χ2=4.01, P=0.045); and NPV (91.1% vs. 83.8%, χ2=5.10, P=0.024) of the group with CRI<1 were higher than that of the group with CRI≥1. In the subgroup of mild and severe stenosis, no calcification, and CRI<1, the accuracy of CT-FFR with image quality ≥3 points were higher than that with image quality <3 points. The accuracy of CT-FFR in the moderate stenosis group was mainly affected by CRI; the accuracy of CT-FFR in the group with CRI<1 was higher than that in the group with CRI≥1 (after Bonferroni correction, P values between groups were statistically significant). Conclusion:Subjective image quality, degree of stenosis, calcification of lesions, and their first-order interactions can all negatively affect the diagnostic performance of CT-FFR.

A 69-year-old male patient was treated with nivolumab combined with tegafur-gimeraciloteracil potassium due to gastric adenocarcinoma with liver, pancreas, and abdominal lymph node metastasis after completing 4 cycles of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and raltitrexed. Ten days later, the patient developed severe rashes all over the body, which was considered to be adverse skin reactions caused by nivolumab and tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium. Then the 2 drugs were stopped and treatments with methylprednisolone and antiallergic drugs were given. The rashes were gradually improved, the dose of glucocorticoid was reduced gradually, and it was stopped at last. However, on the day of glucocorticoid withdrawal, the patient developed fever, chills, and severe respiratory failure. In combination with clinical treatment, laboratory test results, and imaging changes in the patient, it was considered to be immune-related pneumonitis caused by nivolumab. Methylprednisolone, anti-infection, and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy were given. Four days later, the asthma symptoms in the patient were obviously improved, and 28 days later, the pulmonary CT showed the pneumonitis was markedly improved than before.

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of single-course initial regimens in patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). In this trial (NCT01823315), 276 patients were analyzed. Patients were allocated to three initiated regimens: single-course methotrexate (MTX), single-course MTX + dactinomycin (ACTD), and multi-course MTX (control arm). The primary endpoint was the complete remission (CR) rate by initial drug(s). The primary CR rate was 64.4% with multi-course MTX in the control arm. For the single-course MTX arm, the CR rate was 35.8% by one course; it increased to 59.3% after subsequent multi-course MTX, with non-inferiority to the control (difference -5.1%,95% confidence interval (CI) -19.4% to 9.2%, P = 0.014). After further treatment with multi-course ACTD, the CR rate (93.3%) was similar to that of the control (95.2%, P = 0.577). For the single-course MTX + ACTD arm, the CR rate was 46.7% by one course, which increased to 89.1% after subsequent multi-course, with non-inferiority (difference 24.7%, 95% CI 12.8%-36.6%, P < 0.001) to the control. It was similar to the CR rate by MTX and further ACTD in the control arm (89.1% vs. 95.2%, P =0.135). Four patients experienced recurrence, with no death, during the 2-year follow-up. We demonstrated that chemotherapy initiation with single-course MTX may be an alternative regimen for patients with low-risk GTN.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects* ; Dactinomycin/adverse effects* ; Female ; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Methotrexate/therapeutic use* ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies

A 69-year-old male patient was treated with nivolumab combined with tegafur-gimeraciloteracil potassium due to gastric adenocarcinoma with liver, pancreas, and abdominal lymph node metastasis after completing 4 cycles of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and raltitrexed. Ten days later, the patient developed severe rashes all over the body, which was considered to be adverse skin reactions caused by nivolumab and tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium. Then the 2 drugs were stopped and treatments with methylprednisolone and antiallergic drugs were given. The rashes were gradually improved, the dose of glucocorticoid was reduced gradually, and it was stopped at last. However, on the day of glucocorticoid withdrawal, the patient developed fever, chills, and severe respiratory failure. In combination with clinical treatment, laboratory test results, and imaging changes in the patient, it was considered to be immune-related pneumonitis caused by nivolumab. Methylprednisolone, anti-infection, and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy were given. Four days later, the asthma symptoms in the patient were obviously improved, and 28 days later, the pulmonary CT showed the pneumonitis was markedly improved than before.

Objective:To explore the effect of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)-based multidisciplinary collaboration model on shortening the time of forbidden eating before receiving surgery, provide the basis for the selection of the preoperative diet prohibition scheme.Methods:From January 2017 to February 2019, a total of 384 patients who received the operation in Qingdao Municipal Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The patients who under the traditional preoperative diet prohibition scheme were taken as the control group(156 cases) while those who under the multidisciplinary cooperation mode nursing under the concept of eras were taken as the experimental group(228 cases). The experimental group formulated the perioperative diet prohibition process according to the guidelines of eras, and the experimental group carried out the perioperative diet management for the patients according to the procedure. The difference between the two groups in the time of fasting, hunger, thirst incidence, insulin resistance, temporary stop will be observed and compared.Results:The time of fasting was (4.01±1.55) h in the experimental group and (10.12±1.57) h in the control group,there was significant difference between the two groups( t value was -1.65, P < 0.01). The incidences of thirst,hunger were 13.2%(30/228), 11.8%(27/228) in the experimental group and 89.7%(140/156), 87.2%(136/156) in the control group, there were significant differences between the two groups(χ 2 values were 220.20, 215.20, P < 0.01). The levels of insulin resistance on the first and third day after operation were 1.85 ± 0.43,1.52±0.61 in the experimental group and 1.99±0.51, 1.67±0.49 in the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( t values were -2.90, -2.56, P < 0.05).The temporary stop rate was 1.75%(4/228) in the experimental group and 7.69%(12/156) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant( χ2 value was 8.19, P<0.01). Conclusions:The ERAS-based multidisciplinary collaboration model can effectively shorten the preoperative fasting time, reduce the level of insulin resistance, reduce the incidence of hunger and thirst, and improve the rate of temporary stop and adjustment.

BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN) is a common cause of allograft failure. However, differentiation between BKPyVAN and type I T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) is challenging when simian virus 40 (SV40) staining is negative, because of the similarities in histopathology. This study investigated whether donor-derived cell-free DNA (ddcfDNA) can be used to differentiate BKPyVAN. Target region capture sequencing was applied to detect the ddcfDNAs of 12 recipients with stable graft function, 22 with type I TCMR, 21 with proven BKPyVAN, and 5 with possible PyVAN. We found that urinary ddcfDNA levels were upregulated in recipients with graft injury, whereas plasma ddcfDNA levels were comparable for all groups. The median urinary concentrations and fractions of ddcfDNA in proven BKPyVAN recipients were significantly higher than those in type I TCMR recipients (10.4 vs. 6.1 ng/mL,

Brachytherapy is an integral part of radiotherapy treatment for cervical cancer. With the rapid development of medical imaging technology, three-dimensional (3D) imaging modality has been applied in the brachytherapy for cervical cancer. After computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 3D ultrasound has been gradually applied to guide the brachytherapy for cervical cancer due to its superior soft tissue imaging characteristics, economy, high efficiency and convenience. In this article, the research progress on the application of ultrasonography in brachytherapy was summarized according to literature review, aiming to provide reference for subsequent research.