OBJECTIVE To provide guidance for pharmaceutical care in patients with severe Cryptococcus gattii infections.METHODS Clinical pharmacists participated in the diagnosis and treatment of a male patient with disseminated Cryptococcus gattii infection （involving the lungs and central nervous system）. Given the patient’s poor response to initial therapy， the clinical pharmacists， based on antimicrobial susceptibility test results， recommended voriconazole as an alternative azole. In response to refractory hypokalemia caused by liposomal amphotericin B， the clinical pharmacists assisted the physician in developing an intensive potassium replacement regimen. Regarding the interaction between voriconazole and nifedipine， the clinical pharmacists proactively identified the risk and intensified monitoring of the patient’s blood pressure. In response to the onset of hepatitis C during treatment， the clinical pharmacists thoroughly weighed the priority of infection treatment and recommended temporarily postponing antiviral therapy for hepatitis C. For the individualized use of voriconazole， the clinical pharmacists repeatedly performed therapeutic drug monitoring （TDM）. Regarding the patient’s poor lesion resolution， the clinical pharmacists participated in multidisciplinary team discussions to clarify the indications for surgery.RESULTS The physician adopted the clinical pharmacists’ recommendations. Following pharmacological treatment and surgical intervention， the patient’s condition stabilized， and he was discharged while still on medication.CONCLUSIONS For severe Cryptococcus gattii infections， clinical pharmacists should focus on pathogen characteristics， strengthen adverse reaction management， pay close attention to drug interactions， conduct TDM， and actively participate in multidisciplinary team collaboration to ensure the safety and efficacy of patient treatment.

AIM: To investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1)on the secretion of transforming growth factor β2(TGF-β2), matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2)and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)in human scleral fibroblasts(HSF)and their mechanism.METHODS: The cells were cultured with IGF-1 and PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor LY294002, respectively. CCK-8 method was used to detect cell viability and determine the optimal concentration and time of drug action. Cell migration activity was observed by cell scratch method. To determine the effects of IGF-1 on HSF cells and the regulatory role of PI3K/AKT pathway, HSF cells were divided into control group(without drugs), IGF-1(80 μg/L)group, IGF-1+LY294002(80 μg/L+5 mmol/L)group, and LY294002(5 mmol/L)group, and were cultured for 24 h; the protein expression levels of TGF-β2, MMP-2, HIF-1α, PI3K and AKT were detected by Western blot; the fluorescence expression of TGF-β2, MMP-2 and HIF-1α was detected by cellular immunofluorescence.RESULTS: The results of CCK-8 showed that the cell viability of the 80 μg/L IGF-1 group cultured with different concentrations of IGF-1 was the highest(all P<0.05), and the cell viability of the 80 μg/L IGF-1 group at 24 h was the highest under different culture times. Therefore, the concentration of IGF-1 was selected as 80 μg/L for 24 h. The viability of cells cultured with different concentrations of LY294002 gradually decreased from 6 h(all P<0.05). According to the IC50 value, therefore, the concentration of LY294002 was selected as 5 mmol/L for 24 h. The cell scratch results showed that compared with the control group, the cell mobility of 40 μg/L and 80 μg/L IGF-1 groups was increased(all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, cell mobility in the 2.5 and 5 mmol/L LY294002 groups was decreased(all P<0.05). Western blot results showed that compared with the control group, the protein expressions of TGF-β2, MMP-2, HIF-1α, PI3K and AKT in the IGF-1 group were increased, while those in the LY294002 group were decreased(all P<0.05). Compared with the IGF-1 group, the expression levels of TGF-β2, MMP-2, HIF-1α, PI3K and AKT in the IGF-1+LY294002 group were decreased(all P<0.05). The results of cell immunofluorescence showed that compared with the control group, the fluorescence expressions of TGF-β2, MMP-2 and HIF-1α in the IGF-1 group were increased, while those in the LY294002 group were decreased(all P<0.05). Compared with the IGF-1 group, the fluorescence expressions of TGF-β2, MMP-2 and HIF-1α in the IGF-1+LY294002 group were significantly decreased(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: IGF-1 promoted the proliferation and migration of human HSF. IGF-1 may up-regulate the expression of TGF-β2, MMP-2 and HIF-1α in HSF through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and participate in the occurrence and development of myopia.

Objective To explore the value of low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical CT angiography(CT A)-cerebral CT perfusion(CTP)for detecting carotid atherosclerosis(CAS).Methods Totally 117 CAS patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into group A(n=19),B(n=52),C(n=46),and low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical CTA-brain CTP scanning,low contrast dose and low flow rate craniocervical CT A scanning,as well as conventional craniocervical CT A scanning were performed,respectively.Virtual monoenergetic images(VMI)of 40,50 and 60 keV were reconstructed in group A and B.The subjective and objective evaluations of image quality were compared among 3 groups.Results Subjective scores of image quality and diagnostic confidence of 40 and 50 keV VMI,and the diagnostic confidence of 60 keV VMI in group A and B were not significant different compared with those in group C(all P＞0.05).Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of each segment of craniocervical blood vessels at 40 and 50 keV VMI in group A and B were all higher than those in group C(all P＜0.05).CNR of cavernous sinus segment of internal carotid artery(C5 segment),horizontal segment of middle cerebral artery(MCA)(A1 segment),lateral sulcus segment of MCA(M2 segment)and basilar artery(BA)segment in group A at 60 keV VMI were all higher than those in group C(all P＜0.05).SNR of C5 segment,A1 segment and BA segment,as well as CNR of BA segment of 60 keV VMI in group B were all higher than those in group C(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical was feasible for detecting CAS.

Objective To evaluate drug-related problems(DRPs)and to analyze the influencing factors of patients un-dergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)before operation in thoracic surgery.Methods Clinical pharmacists used the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe(PCNE)classification system(version 9.1)to analyze DRPs and influencing fac-tors of patients who received VATS from March 1 to May 31,2023,and had at least one comorbidity.Results Out of 300 pa-tients,174 were involved in a total of 200 DRPs.The most common category of DRPs is treatment safety(47.50％),followed by treatment effectiveness(46.00％)and others(6.50％).The most common cause of the problem is drug selection(33.83％),fol-lowed by other(33.33％)and patient cause(19.90％).367 interventions were conducted for DRPs,with the most interventions being at the drug level(55.86％),followed by the doctor level(39.24％)and the patient level(3.54％).In the end,96.00％of the intervention plan was accepted,and 86.50％of the problems were resolved.There were significant differences(P＜0.05)in the number of underlying diseases,medication varieties,body mass index(BMI),and length of hospital stay between the group with and without DRPs.The results of multivariate analysis showed that comorbidities,number of medication types,and BMI were independent risk factors for preoperative occurrence(or potential)of DRPs in VATS patients in thoracic surgery(OR＞1,P＜0.05).Conclusions Clinical pharmacists can effectively evaluate preoperative DRPs in patients undergoing VATS in thoracic surgery through the PCNE classification system.Comorbidities,number of medications,and BMI are influential factors for the oc-currence of preoperative DRPs.Future clinical practice should focus on these risk factors to optimize treatment strategies and re-duce the occurrence of DRPs.

Objective To investigate the effect of a modified chest drainage management protocol on rapid recovery in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 218 patients who underwent segmentectomy,lobectomy,or combined lobectomy surgeries between July 2022 and December 2023 in our department.One medical group utilized the traditional chest drainage management protocol(control group,109 cases),while the other medical group employed the modified chest drainage management protocol(modified group,109 cases).The control group had a large chest tube(20-24F)placed at the mid-axillary line of the 7th intercostal space leading to the apex of the pleural cavity(removed when drainage volume＜300 ml/24 h and air leak＜20 ml/min).In contrast,the modified group had a large tube placed from the anterior axillary line between the 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces leading to the apex of the pleural cavity(removed when air leak＜20 ml/min),and a small tube(7F)placed at the posterior axillary line between the 7th and 8th intercostal spaces near the diaphragm surface(removed when drainage volume＜300 ml/24 h).Comparisons were made between the two groups regarding duration of large tube placement and total duration tube placement,total drainage volume,postoperative hospital stay,and postoperative complications.The pain scores,number of cases with moderate to severe pain(pain score ≥4),analgesic pump drug usage,and functional activity score(FAS)were recorded on the 1st and 2nd day after surgery.Results The duration of large tube placement was shorter in the modified group than in the control group[(2.1±1.6)dvs.(2.7±1.8)d,t=-2.715,P=0.007].and the total duration of tube placement was longer in the modified group than in the control group[(3.3±2.0)dvs.(2.7±1.8)d,t=2.308,P=0.022].without increasing postoperative hospital stay[(4.2±2.2)dvs.(4.1±2.1)d,t=0.247,P=0.805].On the postoperative day 2,the modified group showed lower pain scores during activity than the control group[(2.1±1.1)points vs.(2.6±1.3)points,t=-2.885,P=0.004].fewer cases with moderate to severe pain(5 cases vs.14 cases,x2=4.670,P=0.031),and less analgesic pump drug usage[(17.9±16.2)ml vs.(27.4±29.4)ml,t=-2.951,P=0.004].No significant differences were observed in other indicators between the two groups(P＞0.05).Additionally,the proportion of patients with FAS grade A(no activity limitation due to pain)was higher in the modified group than in the control group on the postoperative day 2[61.5％(67/109)vs.46.8％(51/109),Z=-2.170,P=0.030].There were no significant differences in postoperative complications and incision healing rates between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The modified chest drainage management protocol not only ensures adequate drainage but also reduces the degree of pain and improves activity status,aligning with the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS).

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a metabolic disease characterized by abnormal deposition of lipid in hepatocytes.If not intervened in time,NAFLD may develop into liver fibrosis or liver cancer,and ultimately threatening life.NAFLD has complicated etiology and pathogenesis,and there are no effective therapeutic means and specific drugs.Currently,insulin sensitizers,lipid-lowering agents and hep-atoprotective agents are often used for clinical intervention,but these drugs have obvious side effects,and their effectiveness and safety need to be further confirmed.Adenosine monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)plays a central role in maintaining energy homeostasis.Activated AMPK can enhance lipid degradation,alleviate insulin resistance(IR),suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory response,and regulate autophagy,thereby alleviating NAFLD.Natural herbal medicines have received extensive attention recently because of their regulatory effects on AMPK and low side effects.In this article,we reviewed the biologically active natural herbal medicines(such as natural herbal medicine formulas,extracts,polysaccharides,and monomers)that reported in recent years to treat NAFLD via regulating AMPK,which can serve as a foundation for subsequent development of candidate drugs for NAFLD.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disease characterized by abnormal deposition of lipid in hepatocytes. If not intervened in time, NAFLD may develop into liver fibrosis or liver cancer, and ultimately threatening life. NAFLD has complicated etiology and pathogenesis, and there are no effective therapeutic means and specific drugs. Currently, insulin sensitizers, lipid-lowering agents and hepatoprotective agents are often used for clinical intervention, but these drugs have obvious side effects, and their effectiveness and safety need to be further confirmed. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a central role in maintaining energy homeostasis. Activated AMPK can enhance lipid degradation, alleviate insulin resistance (IR), suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and regulate autophagy, thereby alleviating NAFLD. Natural herbal medicines have received extensive attention recently because of their regulatory effects on AMPK and low side effects. In this article, we reviewed the biologically active natural herbal medicines (such as natural herbal medicine formulas, extracts, polysaccharides, and monomers) that reported in recent years to treat NAFLD via regulating AMPK, which can serve as a foundation for subsequent development of candidate drugs for NAFLD.

Objective To evaluate drug-related problems(DRPs)and to analyze the influencing factors of patients un-dergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)before operation in thoracic surgery.Methods Clinical pharmacists used the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe(PCNE)classification system(version 9.1)to analyze DRPs and influencing fac-tors of patients who received VATS from March 1 to May 31,2023,and had at least one comorbidity.Results Out of 300 pa-tients,174 were involved in a total of 200 DRPs.The most common category of DRPs is treatment safety(47.50％),followed by treatment effectiveness(46.00％)and others(6.50％).The most common cause of the problem is drug selection(33.83％),fol-lowed by other(33.33％)and patient cause(19.90％).367 interventions were conducted for DRPs,with the most interventions being at the drug level(55.86％),followed by the doctor level(39.24％)and the patient level(3.54％).In the end,96.00％of the intervention plan was accepted,and 86.50％of the problems were resolved.There were significant differences(P＜0.05)in the number of underlying diseases,medication varieties,body mass index(BMI),and length of hospital stay between the group with and without DRPs.The results of multivariate analysis showed that comorbidities,number of medication types,and BMI were independent risk factors for preoperative occurrence(or potential)of DRPs in VATS patients in thoracic surgery(OR＞1,P＜0.05).Conclusions Clinical pharmacists can effectively evaluate preoperative DRPs in patients undergoing VATS in thoracic surgery through the PCNE classification system.Comorbidities,number of medications,and BMI are influential factors for the oc-currence of preoperative DRPs.Future clinical practice should focus on these risk factors to optimize treatment strategies and re-duce the occurrence of DRPs.

Objective To explore the influencing factors of immune-associated thyroid dysfunction caused by sintilimab treatment in solid tumors and construct a prediction model.Methods Medical records of patients diagnosed with solid tumors and treated with sintilimab at Peking University People's Hospital(Xizhimen Campus,Tongzhou Campus,Shijiazhuang Campus)from January 2023 to September 2024 were collected to explore the influencing factors that caused immune-related thyroid dysfunction using univariate and multifactorial binary logistic regression analyses and to establish a prediction model.The predictive effect of the model was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results A total of 120 patients were included,and 33 presented with immune-related thyroid dysfunction.Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH)[OR=2.470,95%CI=(1.279,4.771)]and treatment cycles[OR=1.298,95%CI=(1.117,1.509)]were independent risk factors for the occurrence of immune-associated thyroid dysfunction,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The area under the ROC curve was(0.897±0.043)[95%CI=(0.813,0.981)],the Yoden index was 0.703,and the model prediction accuracy was 86.5%.Conclusion The risk of immune-related thyroid dysfunction caused by sintilimab is high,and TSH and treatment cycle are the influencing factors,and the constructed model has certain predictive value and is of reference significance.