Objective To analyze the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection on serum pepsinogen (PG) I, PGII and gastrin-17 (G-17) levels in elderly patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Methods A total of 122 elderly patients with CAG and 85 elderly patients with CSG in the hospital were selected. According to Hp infection status, elderly patients with CAG were divided into CAG Hp (+) group (n=75) and CAG Hp (-) group (n=47). Another 122 healthy subjects with physical examination were enrolled as healthy group. The clinical data and levels of serum PGI, PGII and G-17 were compared among the three groups, and the risk factors affecting CAG with Hp infection were analyzed. Results There were significant differences in the proportion of Hp family infection history, the proportion of often spicy diet, the proportion of frequent dining out and levels of serum PGI, PGII and G-17 among CAG, CSG and healthy groups (P<0.05). Serum PGI and PGII in CAG Hp (+) group were lower than those in CAG Hp (-) group while G-17 level was higher (P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that Hp family infection history, frequent dining out, serum PGI, PGII and G-17 levels were independent risk factors for Hp infection in elderly CAG (P<0.05). Conclusion Hp infection in elderly CAG patients is related to family aggregation, route of transmission and eating habits. Serum PGI, PGII and G-17 levels are influencing factors for elderly CAG with Hp infection.

Objective:To investigate the effects of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) on the readmission rate, complication rate, mortality rate and survival of patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods:From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, 395 hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis at Tianmen Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical data were collected from the patients at their first hospitalization (baseline period) and re-hospitalization during follow-up period. The 18-month follow-up was divided into 4 periods, including the first period (from the 0th to the 3rd month), the second one was from the 4th to the 6th month, the third one was from the 7th to the 12th month, and the fourth one was from the 13th to the 18th month of follow-up. The prognostic value of PNI for patients with liver cirrhosis was evaluated through the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of the baseline PNI. The 395 patients were divided into the low PNI group and the high PNI group based on the optimal cut-off value of PNI on the ROC. Patients readmitted during each follow-up period were divided into the PNI improvement group (PNI at follow-up -PNI at baseline>0) and the PNI non-improvement group (PNI at follow-up-PNI at baseline ≤0). Independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test were used for statistical analysis. Survival curves depicting the relationship between PNI and overall survival rate of patients with liver cirrhosis were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results:The ROC analysis indicated that the optimal cut-off value of PNI at baseline was 32.65, with an area under the curve of 0.639 (95% confidence interval: 0.541 to 0.738, P=0.011), with a sensitivity of 0.567 and a specificity of 0.701. There were 269 cases in the high PNI group and 126 cases in the low PNI group. The readmission rate, complication rate and mortality rate in the low PNI group were all higher than those in the high PNI group at the first and fourth follow-up periods (32.5% (41/126) vs. 22.3% (60/269), 31.7% (40/126) vs. 20.4% (55/269), 6.3% (8/126) vs. 1.1% (3/269), 25.0% (29/116) vs. 16.2% (42/260), 25.0% (29/116) vs. 15.4% (40/260), 6.0% (7/116) vs. 1.5% (4/260)), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.72, 6.00, 6.86, 4.10, 4.95, and 4.24; P=0.030, 0.014, 0.009, 0.043, 0.026, and 0.040). The mortality rates of the PNI improvement group at the first and fourth follow-up periods were both lower than those of the PNI non-improvement group (4.3% (2/47) vs. 16.7% (9/54), 0 (0/24) vs. 23.4% (11/47)), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=3.99, Fisher′s exact test; P=0.046 and 0.012). There were no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the PNI improvement group and the PNI non-improvement group at each follow-up period (all P>0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated that the average survival time of the high PNI group was longer than that of the low PNI group (17.54 months (95% confidence interval: 17.26 to 17.83 months) vs. 16.74 months (95% confidence interval: 16.96 to 17.52 months), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=9.18, P<0.001). The survival rate of the high PNI group at the 18th month of follow-up period was higher than that of the low PNI group (95.2% (256/269) vs. 86.5% (109/126), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=9.17, P=0.002). Conclusions:PNI has certain predictive efficacy for the survival period of patients with liver cirrhosis. Low-level PNI may increase the readmission rate, complication rate, and mortality of patients with liver cirrhosis, and shorten the survival period, indicating poor prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the effects of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) on the readmission rate, complication rate, mortality rate and survival of patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods:From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, 395 hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis at Tianmen Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical data were collected from the patients at their first hospitalization (baseline period) and re-hospitalization during follow-up period. The 18-month follow-up was divided into 4 periods, including the first period (from the 0th to the 3rd month), the second one was from the 4th to the 6th month, the third one was from the 7th to the 12th month, and the fourth one was from the 13th to the 18th month of follow-up. The prognostic value of PNI for patients with liver cirrhosis was evaluated through the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of the baseline PNI. The 395 patients were divided into the low PNI group and the high PNI group based on the optimal cut-off value of PNI on the ROC. Patients readmitted during each follow-up period were divided into the PNI improvement group (PNI at follow-up -PNI at baseline>0) and the PNI non-improvement group (PNI at follow-up-PNI at baseline ≤0). Independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test were used for statistical analysis. Survival curves depicting the relationship between PNI and overall survival rate of patients with liver cirrhosis were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results:The ROC analysis indicated that the optimal cut-off value of PNI at baseline was 32.65, with an area under the curve of 0.639 (95% confidence interval: 0.541 to 0.738, P=0.011), with a sensitivity of 0.567 and a specificity of 0.701. There were 269 cases in the high PNI group and 126 cases in the low PNI group. The readmission rate, complication rate and mortality rate in the low PNI group were all higher than those in the high PNI group at the first and fourth follow-up periods (32.5% (41/126) vs. 22.3% (60/269), 31.7% (40/126) vs. 20.4% (55/269), 6.3% (8/126) vs. 1.1% (3/269), 25.0% (29/116) vs. 16.2% (42/260), 25.0% (29/116) vs. 15.4% (40/260), 6.0% (7/116) vs. 1.5% (4/260)), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.72, 6.00, 6.86, 4.10, 4.95, and 4.24; P=0.030, 0.014, 0.009, 0.043, 0.026, and 0.040). The mortality rates of the PNI improvement group at the first and fourth follow-up periods were both lower than those of the PNI non-improvement group (4.3% (2/47) vs. 16.7% (9/54), 0 (0/24) vs. 23.4% (11/47)), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=3.99, Fisher′s exact test; P=0.046 and 0.012). There were no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the PNI improvement group and the PNI non-improvement group at each follow-up period (all P>0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated that the average survival time of the high PNI group was longer than that of the low PNI group (17.54 months (95% confidence interval: 17.26 to 17.83 months) vs. 16.74 months (95% confidence interval: 16.96 to 17.52 months), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=9.18, P<0.001). The survival rate of the high PNI group at the 18th month of follow-up period was higher than that of the low PNI group (95.2% (256/269) vs. 86.5% (109/126), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=9.17, P=0.002). Conclusions:PNI has certain predictive efficacy for the survival period of patients with liver cirrhosis. Low-level PNI may increase the readmission rate, complication rate, and mortality of patients with liver cirrhosis, and shorten the survival period, indicating poor prognosis.

Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is viewed as the initial step of most cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have indicated that periodontal pathogens, especially Porphyromonas gingivalis, are closely correlated with vascular endothelial homeostasis, but the function of P. gingivalis and the underlying mechanisms are still elusive. To illuminate the effects and elucidate the mechanisms of P. gingivalis on endothelial structural integrity, we developed P. gingivalis infection models in vivo and in vitro. Endothelial cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis were detected. Here, we showed that P. gingivalis can impair endothelial integrity by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing endothelial mesenchymal transformation and apoptosis of endothelial cells, which reduce the cell levels and cause the endothelium to lose its ability to repair itself. A mechanistic analysis showed that TLR antagonist or NF-κB signalling inhibitor can largely rescue the damaged integrity of the endothelium caused by P. gingivalis, suggesting that TLR-NF-κB signalling plays a vital role in vascular endothelial homeostasis destroyed by P. gingivalis. These results suggest a potential intervention method for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To investigate the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on cardiac function in heart failure rabbits with preserved ejection fraction. Methods: Forty-five healthy adult male New Zealand rabbits were divided into sham operation group (n=12) and model group (n=33) by random number table method. HFpEF model was constructed by abdominal aortic constriction in model group. In sham operation group, 1 rabbit died due to anesthesia accident, and 1 rabbit in model group died of acute left heart failure. At 8 weeks of modeling, 3 rabbits were excluded due to the failure to establish the successful model. At the 8th week of modeling, 2 rabbits in sham operation group were selected and sacrificed by random number table method, and 3 rabbits in model group were selected and sacrificed for myocardial histological examination. Then, 9 rabbits in sham operation group and 26 rabbits in model group entered the subsequent experiment. The model group was randomly divided into untreated group (n=8), valsartan intervention group (n=9), and sacubitril/valsartan intervention group (n=9), respectively, drugs were applied per gavage. The feeding and exercise activity of rabbits in each group were evaluated by simple cardiac function classification at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks post intervention. Echocardiography was used to detect interventricular septal thickness at diastole(IVSd), interventricular septal thickness at systolic(IVSs), left ventricular posterior wall of diastolic(LVPWd), left ventricular internal diameter at diastolic(LVIDd), left ventricular internal diameter at systolic(LVIDs), and calculate the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), mitral valve′s early diastolic flow velocity(E)/late mitral diastolic maximum flow rate ratio(A) and heart rate at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks post intervention. Serum N terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and angiotensin (Ang)Ⅱ and soluble matrix lysin 2(sST2) content was determined by ELISA at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks post intervention. Eight weeks after intervention, the hearts of rabbits were taken and weighed, and heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were calculated. Results: (1) Evaluation results of cardiac function: there were 2, 5, and 2 rabbits with cardiac function grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ before the drug intervention, and 4, 4, and 1 rabbits with respective cardiac function grade after 8 weeks of intervention in valsartan group (P>0.05). There were 2, 4, and 3 rabbits with heart function gradeⅠ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ before the drug intervention, and 7, 2, and 0 rabbits with respective heart function grade after 8 weeks of intervention in sacubitril/valsartan group(P<0.05). (2) Echocardiographic results: at 8 weeks after drug intervention, IVSd and IVSs of rabbits in untreated group were significantly higher than those in sham operation group, and the ratio of E/A was significantly lower than that in sham operation group(all P<0.01). IVSs of the valsartan group was significantly higher than that of sham operation group, and the ratio of E/A was significantly lower than that of sham operation group(all P<0.01). The E/A ratio in the sacubitril/valsartan group was significantly lower than that in sham operation group(P<0.01). IVSd and IVSs in valsartan group were significantly lower than those in untreated group(all P<0.05), and IVSd in sacubitril/valsartan group was significantly lower than that in untreated group(P<0.01). The IVSd, IVSs, LVPWd, LVIDd, LVIDs, LVEF, E/A ratios were similar between sacubitril/valsartan group and valsartan group(all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in heart rate between the groups(P>0.05). (3) Serum NT-proBNP, Ang Ⅱ and sST2 levels: 4 weeks after drug intervention, untreated group, valsartan group, and sacubitril/valsartan group′s serum NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher than that of sham operation group(all P<0.01); serum NT-proBNP was significantly lower in sacubitril/valsartan group than that in untreated group(P<0.01). Four weeks after intervention, serum AngⅡ levels were significantly higher in untreated group, valsartan group, sacubitril/valsartan group than in sham group(all P<0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between the modeling groups(P>0.05). Four weeks after drug intervention, the serum sST2 contents in untreated group, valsartan group, and sacubitril/valsartan group were significantly higher than in sham operation group(all P<0.01), and which was significantly lower in valsartan group and sacubitril/valsartan group than in untreated group(all P<0.01), which were significantly lower in sacubitril/valsartan group than in valsartan group(P<0.01). Eight weeks after drug intervention, serum NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in untreated group, valsartan group, and sacubitril/valsartan group than in sham operation group(all P<0.01), which were significantly lower in valsartan group and sacubitril/valsartan group than in untreated group(all P<0.01), which were significantly lower in valsartan group than in sacubitril/valsartan group(P<0.01). Eight weeks after drug intervention, Ang Ⅱ levels were significantly higher in valsartan group and sacubitril/valsartan group than in untreated group(all P<0.01), which tended to be higher in untreated group and valsartan group, tended to be lower in sacubitril/valsartan compared to value at 4 weeks(all P>0.05). Eight weeks after drug intervention, serum sST2 was significantly higher in untreated group and valsartan group than in sham operation group(all P<0.01), which tended to be higher in sacubitril/valsartan group compared to sham operation group(P>0.05), which were significantly lower in valsartan group and sacubitril/valsartan group than in untreated group(all P<0.01), which was significantly lower in sacubitril/valsartan group than in valsartan group(P<0.01). (4) Comparison of whole-heart mass, left ventricular mass, HMI and LVMI: 8 weeks after drug intervention, the whole-heart mass, left ventricular mass, HMI and LVMI were significantly higher in untreated group than in sham operation group(all P<0.01), and the above indexes were also significantly higher in valsartan group than in sham operation group(all P<0.05), tended to be lower in valsartan group compared to untreated group (all P>0.05). HMI and LVMI were lower in sacubitril/valsartan group than in untreated group(all P<0.05). All the above indexes tended to be lower in sacubitril/valsartan group than in valsartan group(all P>0.05). Conclusion Sacubitril/valsartan is superior to valsartan alone on improving cardiac function in HFpEF rabbits.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on the hemodynamics and intracranial pressure of patients with severe craniocerebral injury (STBI). Methods: Reports of randomized and controlled trials applying hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of STBI were retrieved from the Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CBM, CNKI, VIP and Wan Fang databases. Each report found was evaluated by two researchers independently applying pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were extracted and combined and a meta-analysis was performed. Results: Eight trials involving 725 patients were included in the meta-analysis. They combined to demonstrate that intracranial pressure, oxygen uptake and scores on the Glasgow coma scale improved significantly more in the hyperbaric oxygen group than in the control group after between 3 and 10 days of treatment. Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is effective in treating severe craniocerebral injury and it is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To observe the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on neurological functioning in rats modelling cerebral hemorrhage (ICH).Methods Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats had intracerebral hemorrhage induced by injecting autologous blood.They were then randomly divided into an HBO-free group and an HBO group,each of 30 according to a random number table.The HBO group was further divided into HBO 3 h,HBO 6 h,HBO 1 d,HBO 2 d and HBO 7 d groups which received HBO therapy for 3 hours,6 hours,1 day,2 days and 7 days respectively.Each had 6 members.The HBO-free rats were also divided into analogous HBO-free 3 h,HBO-free 6 h,HBO-free 1 d,HBO-free 2 d and HBO-free 7 d groups,and give no HBO intervention.All of the rats were evaluated for neurological impairment using the Longa scoring method before the treatment and 10 days,20 days and 30 days afterward.Results After 10,20 and 30 days of HBO treatment,there were significant differences in neurological functioning between each pair of HBO-free and HBO-treated groups.After 10 and 20 days of HBO treatment the average neurological function score of the HBO 3 h group was significantly different from that of the HBO 2 d group.The average score in the HBO 7 d group was also significantly different from that of the HBO 3 h,HBO 6 h,HBO 1 d and HBO 2 d groups after 10,20 and 30 days of HBO treatment.The average scores of the HBO 3 h,HBO 6 h,HBO 1 d and HBO 2 d groups improved significantly between 10 and 20 days after the treatment.The average score of the rats which received 30 days of treatment was also significantly different from those after 10 and 20 days.Conclusion HBO treatment can improve neurological function after cerebral hemorrhage,at least in rats.The best time to start HBO treatment is no later than 24 hours after the hemorrhage.The curative effect increases with extension of the treatment's duration.

Objective To assess systematically the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)combined with drugs in treatment of radiation encephalopathy (PREP).Methods Computer-aided information retrieval was made by using such databases as Pubmed,Cochrane Library,Embase,CBM,CNKI,VIP and WanFang data,at the same time,manual data retrieval was also made by searching related literature both at home and abroad.The time span for information retrieval was from the inception of the above-mentioned database to March 2018.After 2 reviewers independently screened the retrieved literature in accordance with the included and excluded criteria,and collected the retrieved papers and evaluated the methodological quality of the retrieved literature,meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.2 software.Results Finally,a total of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 990 patients were included in the study.Meta analysis showed that effective rate and cure rate of the HBO combined with drugs group were respectively [OR =5.78,95％ CI (4.15,8.06)] (P＜0.01) and [OR=4.56,95c％CI (2.88,7.20)] (P＜0.01),which were superior to those of the simple drug treatment group.And the number of foci was less than that of the simple drug treatment group [OR =-2.63,95％ CI (-3.70,-1.56)] (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Current evidence shows that HBO combined with drug treatment could produce good effects on radiation encephalopathy.For this reason,it is worth further clinical popularization.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) combined with Yangxueqingnao granules on tinnitus and dizziness in patients with sudden deafness.Methods One hundred and twenty-four patients admitted into the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from March 2015 to June 2016 were randomly assigned to the observation group (n =61) and the control group (n =63) by using the random digital software to generate random number and opaque envelope hidden test scheme.The control group only received routine therapy,including improvement of circulation,nerve nutrition,hormone and symptomatic treatment,while the observation group was supplemented with HBO + Yangxueqingnao granules in addition to routine therapy.The observation group received HBO therapy one session a day,5 days a week and 10 days a treatment course.In addition,the patients in the observation group had Yangxueqingnao granules orally,one pack once and 3 times a day.After 2 weeks of treatment,therapeutic efficacy of the 2 groups was evaluated by the blinded method,and after 3 and 6 months of treatment,therapeutic effects on tinnitus and dizziness of the 2groups were evaluated through medical follow-ups by telephone.Results All the patients of the 2 groups had tinnitus,the observation group had 42 cases of dizziness,while the control group had 36 cases of dizziness.Following treatment for 2 weeks,3 and 6 months,total effective rates of tinnitus in the observation group were respectively 83.61％,75.41％ and 77.05％,which were all higher than those of the control group (65.08％,57.14％,58.73％),and statistical significance could be noted when comparisons were made between the 2 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Total effective rate of dizziness in the observation group after 2 weeks,3 and 6 months of treatment was 95.23％,which was obviously better than those of the control group (75.00％,80.56％,83.33％),and statistical significance could also be seen when comparisons were made between the 2 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions HBO combined with Yangxueqingnao granules in the treatment of patients with sudden deafness complicated with tinnitus and dizziness could produce good clinical effects.For this reason it was worth further clinical promotion.

Objective To assess systematically the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)combined with drugs in treatment of radiation encephalopathy (PREP).Methods Computer-aided information retrieval was made by using such databases as Pubmed,Cochrane Library,Embase,CBM,CNKI,VIP and WanFang data,at the same time,manual data retrieval was also made by searching related literature both at home and abroad.The time span for information retrieval was from the inception of the above-mentioned database to March 2018.After 2 reviewers independently screened the retrieved literature in accordance with the included and excluded criteria,and collected the retrieved papers and evaluated the methodological quality of the retrieved literature,meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.2 software.Results Finally,a total of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 990 patients were included in the study.Meta analysis showed that effective rate and cure rate of the HBO combined with drugs group were respectively [OR =5.78,95％ CI (4.15,8.06)] (P＜0.01) and [OR=4.56,95c％CI (2.88,7.20)] (P＜0.01),which were superior to those of the simple drug treatment group.And the number of foci was less than that of the simple drug treatment group [OR =-2.63,95％ CI (-3.70,-1.56)] (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Current evidence shows that HBO combined with drug treatment could produce good effects on radiation encephalopathy.For this reason,it is worth further clinical popularization.