Objective: To explore the efficacy of focal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of low-to-intermediate risk localized prostate cancer and its impact on postoperative urinary control and sexual function recovery，in order to explore the feasibility of minimally invasive methods for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Methods: Clinical data of 28 patients with low-to-intermediate risk localized prostate cancer who underwent RFA in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital，Affiliated Hospital of Medical School during Jun.2017 and Feb.2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The 5-year failure-free survival (FFS) rate，surgery related complications，postoperative urinary control and sexual function were collected.The differences between the survival curves of patients in the low-risk and intermediate-risk subgroups were assessed with log-rank test and Breslow test. Results: All surgeries were successfully completed under local anesthesia.During the median follow-up of 43 (40-49) months，the 5-year FFS rate predicted by Kaplan-Meier method was 78.57%; 25 patients (89.29%) did not experience surgery-related complications; 27 patients (96.43%) were able to control urination; 1 patient developed new-onset sexual dysfunction.There was no significant difference in the survival curves between patients in the low-risk and intermediate-risk groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: RFA for patients with low-to-intermediate risk localized prostate cancer has good clinical efficacy，little impact on urinary control and sexual function recovery，and few postoperative complications，which can be used as one of the treatment options for these patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanical characteristics of retrograde tibial nailing (RTN) and distal tibial L-shaped plating in the internal fixation of distal tibial fractures. METHODS: Fourteen fresh adult tibia specimens were selected, comprising 7 males and 7 females aged from 34 to 55 years old. The specimens were randomly divided into experimental group and control group by numerical table method with 7 specimens in each group. RTN was used for internal fixation of distal tibial fractures in the experimental group, and L-shaped plate was used for internal fixation of distal tibial fractures in the control group. The axial compression properties of the two groups of specimens were tested under the pressure of 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 N after operation, and torsional resistance at torque levels of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 N·m. The anti-fatigue performance of the specimens was tested at 500 N pressure for 3 000 and 10 000 cycles. X-ray fluoroscopy was performed to observe whether the the internal fixator was deformed and whether the screw was loosened or broken. RESULTS: When the pressure was 400 N and 500 N, the axial compression displacement of the experimental group was (1.11±0.06) mm and (1.24±0.05) mm, which were smaller than those of the control group (1.21±0.08) mm and (1.37±0.11) mm, and the differences were statistically signific (P<0.05). Under the pressure of 500 N, the axial compression stiffness of the experimental group was (389.24±17.79) N·mm^-1, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (362.37±14.44) N·mm^-1(P<0.05). When the torque was 4 and 5 N·m, the torsion angles of the experimental group were (2.97±0.23) ° and (3.41±0.17) °, which were smaller than those of the control group (3.31±0.28) ° and (3.76±0.20) °, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). When the torque was 5 N·m, the torsional stiffness of the experimental group was (1.48±0.07) N·m per degree, which was higher than that of the control group (1.36±0.06) N·m per degree, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). For the intragroup comparison of fatigue resistance, the differences in axial compression displacement between the two groups were not statistically significant at 3 000 and 10 000 cycles (all P>0.05). When 3 000 times and 10 000 times of compression, the axial compression displacement of the experimental group was (1.38±0.08), (1.43±0.07) mm, which was smaller than that of the control group (1.51±0.10), (1.54±0.08) mm, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In the experimental group, no screw loosening, fracture or internal fixation deformation was found, while in the control group, locking screw loosening occurred in 2 models after 10 000 pressures. CONCLUSION The biomechanical performance of RTN is obviously better than that of the distal tibial L-shaped plate, which provides biomechanical data support for the clinical application of RTN.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Tibial Fractures/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Bone Nails ; Tibia/surgery*

BACKGROUND: Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD. METHODS & RESULTS: The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology. CONCLUSION The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.

This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Gallstones/complications* ; Female ; Male ; Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*

Based on the long bud stage phenotype of a new Lonicera japonica Flos variety "Huajin 6", using "Huajin 6" and "Da Mao Hua" as materials, probing the mechanism of its phenotype formation. Detection of endogenous Jasmonic acid hormones (JAs) content; the genes related to jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis were identified by transcriptome analysis of Lonicera japonica; flower buds and flowers of "Huajin 6" and "Da Mao Hua" were collected at different periods, and the qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time PCR) technique was used to analyze the trend of the expression of synthesis-related enzyme genes in Lonicera japonica Flos during the bud stage. The study found that the content of JAs in "Huajin 6" Lonicera japonica Flos was significantly lower than that in "Da Mao Hua"; applying exogenous methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) to "Huajin 6" can restore its flowering phenotype, making it close to wild type Lonicera japonica Flos; there are significant differences in the expression of two allene oxide synthase genes (AOS), three lipoxygenase genes (LOX), and two allene oxide cyclase genes (AOC) in the flowers and buds of "Huajin 6" and "Da Mao Hua" at different periods. It is hypothesized that the low expression of JA synthesis-related enzyme genes in " Huajin 6" leads to the blockage of JA synthesis, which causes the formation of the long bud phenotype. This study laid a certain foundation for the genetic breeding of Lonicera japonica, provided a new idea for the improvement of Lonicera japonica varieties, and provided a reference for the study of JAs in plant flower organs.

BACKGROUND:The impact of the endometrium's structure and spiral artery blood flow parameters on the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination by husband remains unclear.This study identified the independent factors and constructed a prediction model with good clinical application efficacy after calibration of other confounding factors. OBJECTIVE:To construct and validate a clinical pregnancy prediction model for artificial insemination by husband based on endometrial structure and uterine spiral artery blood flow parameters. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 299 patients who underwent artificial insemination by husband treatment at Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2017 to January 2021.The non-pregnancy group consisted of 1 182 patients,while the pregnancy group included 117 patients.Out of these patients,93 cases were successfully matched between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups using a 1∶1 propensity score matching method.Single-factor and multi-factor analyses were used to screen the endometrial structure and uterine spiral artery blood flow parameters to determine their influence on artificial insemination by husband outcomes.The optimal cutoff value was established for each independent influencing factor through receiver operating curve analysis and their risk trend affecting artificial insemination by husband pregnancy outcomes was analyzed using a restricted cubic spline.The clinical efficacy of this combined forecast model was tested by using clinical decision curve and clinical influence curve methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no statistical significance in non-endometrial factors between the pregnancy group and the non-pregnancy group,and the data had a good balance by propensity score matching(P>0.05).(2)Single-factor analysis identified several subendometrial parameters as significant influencing factors of artificial insemination by husband pregnancy outcomes,including vascularization index,flow index,vascular flow index,resistance index,pulsatility index,maximum systolic velocity/end-diastolic velocity,thickness of average junction zone and maximum junction zone from the basal endometrium to the outer myometrium inner layer(P<0.05).(3)Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that thickness of average junction zone,pulsatility index,and vascular flow index were independent influencing factors of pregnancy outcomes of artificial insemination by husband,vascular flow index>thickness of average junction zone>pulsatility index.(4)Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of vascular flow index was 0.704(0.629,0.779),and the optimal cutoff value was 6.26;the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of thickness of average junction zone was 0.660(0.582,0.739),and the optimal cutoff value was 6.38;the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of pulsatility index was 0.642(0.563,0.721),and the optimal cutoff value was 1.18.(5)The restricted cubic spline analysis revealed that artificial insemination by husband pregnancy outcomes were significantly positively affected when the vascular flow index was>6.24 or the thickness of average junction zone was≤6.55 mm,while a negative risk was associated with pulsatility index>1.27.(6)The clinical decision curve and clinical influence curve analyses exhibited that the combined prediction model had the maximum clinical net benefit at the threshold probability value of 0.17-0.93,and the ratio of loss to benefit was consistently less than 1 in the threshold probability range,indicating that the model had good clinical efficacy.(7)It is concluded that after adjusting for other confounding factors outside of the endometrium using propensity score matching and multifactorial logistic regression,the thickness of average junction zone,pulsatility index and vascular flow index were independent factors that influenced pregnancy outcomes of artificial insemination by husband.Through determining their optimal cutoff values and assessing their risk trends,it was confirmed that the combined prediction model had good predictive value and clinical efficacy.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the combination of Scutellaria barbata D. Don and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R.J. Wang (SB-SD) being a recognized Chinese medicinal herbal pair that is commonly used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, there is a poor understanding of their pharmacological mechanisms. This study examines the antitumor properties and potential mechanisms of SB-SD on human ovarian cancer A2780 cells through a multi-omics approach, establishing a pharmacological basis for clinical utilization. METHODS: A range of mass ratios and reagents were used in the hot reflux extraction of SB-SD. The inhibitory effect of the SB-SD extracts on A2780 cell proliferation was assessed using the cell-counting kit 8 assay. A zebrafish tumor implantation model was used to evaluate the effects of SB-SD extracts on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Transcriptomics and proteomics were used to investigate alterations in biological pathways in A2780 cells after treatment with different concentrations of SB-SD extract. Cell cycle, cell apoptosis, intracellular free iron concentration, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration, malondialdehyde (MDA), and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were utilized to investigate the effects of heme catabolism and ferritinophagy on ferroptosis induced by SB-SD extract in A2780 cells. RESULTS: The 70% ethanol extract of SB-SD (a mass ratio of 4:1) inhibited A2780 cell proliferation significantly with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 660 μg/mL in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, it effectively suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in a zebrafish tumor implantation model. SB-SD extract induced the accumulation of free iron, ROS, MDA, and mitochondrial damage in A2780 cells. The mechanisms might involve the upregulated expression of ferritinophagy-related genes microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, autophagy-related gene 5, and nuclear receptor coactivator 4. CONCLUSION SB-SD extract effectively inhibited the development of ovarian cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Its mechanism of action involved inducing ferroptosis by facilitating heme catabolism and ferritinophagy. This herbal pair holds promise as a potential therapeutic option for ovarian cancer treatment and may be utilized in combination with routine treatment to improve the treatment outcomes of ovarian cancer patients. Please cite this article as: Wang Z, Liu M, Li GX, Zhang L, Ding KY, Li SQ, Gao BQ, Chen P, Choe HC, Xia LY, Yang YT, Liu Y, Sui X, Ma JN, Zhang L. A herbal pair of Scutellaria barbata D. Don and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R.J. Wang induced ferroptosis in ovarian cancer A2780 cells via inducing heme catabolism and ferritinophagy. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(6): 666-683.
Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Female ; Humans ; Animals ; Scutellaria/chemistry* ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Zebrafish ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ferritins/genetics* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Heme/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects*