ObjectiveTo explore the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal （HPG） axis by modified Erxian decoction in rats with perimenopausal syndrome （PMS） and to further analyze the expression of proteins related to the silent information regulator 1 （SIRT1）/hypothalamic kisspeptin （Kisspeptin）/gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） signaling pathway in the arcuate nucleus region （ARC） of the hypothalamus， so as to reveal the potential target of action and molecular biological mechanism of modified Erxian decoction for the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome. MethodsAn animal model was established via the incomplete castration method， with successful modeling confirmed by the exfoliated cervical cell smear method. The 48 rats were divided into six groups based on the randomization principle after successful modeling， including a sham operation group， a model group， an estradiol valerate group （0.09 mg∙kg^-1∙d^-1）， high-， medium-， and low-dose modified Erxian decoction groups （7.614， 3.807，1.903 5 g∙kg^-1∙d^-1）， with 8 rats in each group. The estradiol valerate group and the high-， medium- and low-dose modified Erxian decoction groups were continuously administered by gavage for 28 days， and the indicators were detected 24 hours after the last administration. Body weights and uterine indices were measured. The pathological changes of the uterus were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was performed to measure the levels of estradiol （E₂）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， and gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH）. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to determine the expression levels of SIRT1， Kisspeptin， kisspeptin receptor （GPR54）， and GnRH in the ARC region of the hypothalamus and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor （GnRH-R） in pituitary. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， rats in the model group had a significantly increased body weight （P0.01）， reduced wet weight and index of uterus （P0.01）， endometrial thinning or atrophy， glandular atrophy， and a decreasing number of glands. Additionally， serum levels of E₂ and the expression of SIRT1 in the ARC region of the hypothalamus significantly decreased （P0.01）. Serum levels of FSH， LH， and GnRH， the expression of Kisspeptin， GPR54， and GnRH in the ARC region of the hypothalamus， and GnRH-R in pituitary significantly increased （P0.01）. Compared with the model group， the estradiol valerate group and the high-， medium-dose modified Erxian decoction groups had significantly reduced body weight， serum levels of FSH， LH， and GnRH， and expression of Kisspeptin， GPR54， and GnRH in the ARC region of the hypothalamus and GnRH-R in pituitary （P0.05， P0.01） and significantly increased wet weight and index of uterus， serum level of E₂， and expression of SIRT1 in the ARC region of the hypothalamus （P0.05， P0.01）. In addition， they showed thickened endometrium， increased number of endometrial glands， and improved glandular atrophy. ConclusionModified Erxian decoction regulates the function of the HPG axis through multi-targets， and its mechanism of action may be related to the up-regulation of the expression of SIRT1 in the ARC region of the hypothalamus， the inhibition of the over-activation of the Kisspeptin/GnRH signaling pathway， the regulation of the expression of GnRH-R in the pituitary， the restoration of secretion balance of gonadotropins， and the elevation of the estrogen level. This study provides an experimental basis for the interpretation of the scientific connotation of modified Erxian decoction in the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome and a theoretical reference for the development of a novel therapeutic strategy based on the SIRT1/Kisspeptin/GnRH pathway.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of pectoralis major muscle flap combined with negative pressure lavage in one-stage repair of refractory wounds after thoracotomy.Methods From January 2020 to January 2023,21 patients with refractory wounds after thoracotomy were retrospectively selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University,including 16 males and 5 females,aged 35 to 75 years old,with an average age of(62.2±11.3)years old.The wound area was 6cm×3cm to 25cm×5cm.The infected sternum was removed.According to the location and size of the residual cavity,the pectoralis major muscle of the corresponding segment on both sides of the free wound was sutured and filled.The irrigation tube was reserved below the muscle flap.After the muscle flap covered the residual cavity,the skin around the wound was sutured without tension,and the negative pressure suction of-30 to-20 kPa was given.From the first day after operation,physiological saline was used for lavage,2000ml per day.The character,color and amount of lavage fluid and the systemic symptoms of patients were observed.After the lavage fluid was clear,the tube and the negative pressure device were removed.The wound was changed once every other day,and the stitches were removed 2 weeks after operation.Results Nineteen patients achieved primary healing within 14 days after operation.Two patients had scattered wounds of about 1 cm×1 cm in size,and continued dressing change.All patients healed one month after operation.The patients were followed up for half a year to 2 years.The patient's chest shape was beautiful.There was no effect on the activity of the forebody and upper limbs,and there was no significant change in the muscle strength of the upper limbs.Conclusion For the refractory wounds after thoracotomy,after removing the infected sternum,using the pectoralis major muscle flap combined with negative pressure lavage to close the wound in one stage can reduce the risk of wound infection and death,shorten the hospital stay of patients,and the operation is simple and the trauma to patients is less.

Liver fibrosis is a dynamic wound-healing response characterized by the agglutination of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Si-Wu-Tang (SWT), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is known for treating gynecological diseases and liver fibrosis. Our previous studies demonstrated that long non-coding RNA H19 (H19) was markedly upregulated in fibrotic livers while its deficiency markedly reversed fibrogenesis. However, the mechanisms by which SWT influences H19 remain unclear. Thus, we established a bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis model to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of SWT on various cells in the liver. Our results showed that SWT markedly improved ECM deposition and bile duct reactions in the liver. Notably, SWT relieved liver fibrosis by regulating the transcription of genes involved in the cytoskeleton remodeling, primarily in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and influencing cytoskeleton-related angiogenesis and hepatocellular injury. This modulation collectively led to reduced ECM deposition. Through extensive bioinformatics analyses, we determined that H19 acted as a miRNA sponge and mainly inhibited miR-200, miR-211, and let7b, thereby regulating the above cellular regulatory pathways. Meanwhile, SWT reversed H19-related miRNAs and signaling pathways, diminishing ECM deposition and liver fibrosis. However, these protective effects of SWT were diminished with the overexpression of H19 in vivo. In conclusion, our study elucidates the underlying mechanisms of SWT from the perspective of H19-related signal networks and proposes a potential SWT-based therapeutic strategy for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Liver Cirrhosis/genetics* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Hepatic Stellate Cells/pathology* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Objective:To explore the clinical features and prognosis of simultaneous double primary and single primary colorectal cancer patients.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of 45 patients with simultaneous double primary colorectal cancer, 53 patients with single primary colon cancer and 59 patients with single primary rectal cancer in Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital from January 2015 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including gender, age, drinking history, smoking history, body mass index (BMI), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), hemoglobin, albumin, TNM stage. The clinicopathological characteristics of the three groups were compared. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method to compare the overall survival of the three groups.Results:The age of simultaneous double primary colorectal cancer patients was (63±11) years old, including 28 males and 17 females; the age of single primary colon cancer patients was (61±12) years old, including 30 males and 23 females; the age of single primary rectal cancer patients was (60±11) years old, including 30 males and 29 females. There was a significant difference in BMI between patients with double primary cancer and single primary colon cancer ( P = 0.041), but there were no significant differences in gender, age, drinking history, smoking history, CEA, CA199, hemoglobin, albumin and TNM stage (all P > 0.05). There were significant differences in BMI, CEA and CA199 between patients with double primary cancer and single primary rectal cancer (all P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in gender, age, drinking history, smoking history, hemoglobin, albumin and TNM stage (all P > 0.05). The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates of the double primary cancer patients were 95.56%, 77.78% and 62.22%, the single primary colon cancer patients were 94.34%, 81.13% and 69.81%, and the single primary rectal cancer patients were 100.00%, 88.14% and 72.88%, respectively. There was no significant difference in OS among patients with double primary cancer, single primary rectal cancer and single primary rectal cancer (both P > 0.05). Conclusions:Abnormally elevated BMI may be associated with the risk of developing simultaneous double primary colorectal cancer. Detection of CEA and CA199 is helpful in monitoring rectal cancer patients for the combination of other primary tumors. The prognosis of patients with single primary colon or rectal cancer is comparable to that of patients with simultaneous double primary colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy and health economic value of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for the prenatal screening of common fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. METHODS: 10 612 pregnant women from October 2017 to December 2019 presented at the antenatal screening clinic of the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were selected as the study subjects. Results of NIPT and invasive prenatal diagnosis and follow-up outcome for the 10 612 pregnant women were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Meanwhile, NIPT data for two periods were analyzed for assessing the health economic value of NIPT as the second- or first-tier screening strategy for the prenatal diagnosis of fetal trisomies 21, 18 and 13. RESULTS: The NIPT was successful in 10 528 (99.72%) subjects, with the sensitivity for fetal trisomies 21, 18 and 13 being 100%, 92.86% and 100%, and the positive predictive value (PPV) being 89.74%, 61.90% and 44.44%, respectively. The PPV of NIPT for sex chromosome aneuploidies was 34.21%. Except for one false negative case of trisomy 18, the negative predictive value for trisomy 21, trisomy 13 and other chromosomal abnormalities were 100%. For pregnant women with high risk by serological screening, advanced maternal age or abnormal ultrasound soft markers, NIPT has yielded a significantly increased high risk ratio. There was no statistical difference in the PPV of NIPT among pregnant women from each subgroup. NIPT would have higher health economic value as a second-tier screening until 2019, while compared to 2015 ~ 2017, its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio as a first-tier screening had declined clearly. CONCLUSION The screening efficacy of NIPT for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 for a mixed population is significantly better than conventional serological screening, but it is relatively low for sex chromosomal abnormalities. NIPT can also be recommended for populations with relatively high risks along with detailed pre- and post-test genetic counselling. From the perspective of health economics, except for open neural tube defects, it is possible for NIPT to replace the conventional serological screening in the future as its cost continues to decrease.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Trisomy/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Down Syndrome/genetics* ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Trisomy 18 Syndrome/genetics* ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Fetus

Radical pelvic surgery is a surgical method mainly used to treat tumors in the pelvic cavity, and erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual dysfunction after surgery. The incidence of ED after radical pelvic surgery is not uniformly understood due to differences in surgical approaches and methods of investigation. The main causes of postoperative ED include intraoperative neurovascular injury, psychosomatic factors and preoperative patient characteristics, with intraoperative injury to the neurovascular bundle being the most common. Studies have shown that the occurrence of postoperative ED can be prevented by active intervention, but still lack of effective treatment measures. This article reviews and summarizes the clinical epidemiological features and research progress in recent years on ED after radical pelvic surgery, and discusses specific measures for the prevention and treatment of postoperative ED.

Objective:To observe any effect of virtual reality (VR) training on the cognitive functioning and functional fitness of nursing home residents with subjective cognitive decline (SCD).Methods:Fifty-six of such residents were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 28. Both groups received health education and routine care, but the observation group was additionally provided with 45 minutes of VR training three times a week for 6 months. The training included Baduanjin, magic, flying bird, supermarket shopping, gravity ball and gym episodes. Both groups′ cognition was evaluated using the subjective cognitive decline questionnaire (SCD-Q), the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (second edition) (RBMT-Ⅱ), a digit symbol substitution test (DSST), an animal fluency test (AFT) and trail-making test A-B (TMT A-B). Functional fitness was quantified using the 8-foot up-and-go test (8UGT), a 30-second arm curl test (30sACT), a 30-second chair stand test (30sCST), a back scratching test (BST), the sit-and-reach test (CSRT) and a 2-minute step test (2MST) before and after the 6-month intervention.Results:After the intervention, the average SCD-Q, MoCA, RBMT-Ⅱ, DSST, TMT-A, and TMT-B scores of the observation group were significantly better than before the intervention, and significantly better than the control group′s averages. And except for the back scratching their functional results were also significantly better, on average, than those of the control group.Conclusions:VR training can effectively improve the cognition and functional fitness of nur-sing home residents with SCD. Such training is worthy of promotion and wider application in nursing homes.

Objective:To analyze the detection rate and related factors of depressive and anxious symptoms comorbidity in 2021 and 2022.Methods:Based on the results of the Seventh National Population Census in 2021,the residents of 32 provinces,municipalities,and autonomous regions were sampled by gender and age.The gender and age of the samples were in line with the characteristics of China's population.A face-to-face interview survey was conducted in community residents in each province in 2021(n=11 005)and 2022(n=30 421)with the Gen-eralized Anxiety Questionnaire-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9.Results:The detection rates of depressive and anxious symptoms comorbidity were 10.67％in 2021 and 11.72％in 2022.The prevalence of depressive and anxi-ety comorbidity were higher in male,younger(age≤17 years),divorced,lower BMI(BMI＜18.5 kg/m2),higher education(graduate),students,and residents with chronic medical history(Ps＜0.001).In 2022,32.06％of people with depressive symptoms had anxious symptoms and 47.62％of people with anxious symptoms had depressive symptoms.Conclusion:In 2021 and 2022,the detection rates of depressive and anxious symptoms comorbidity were both about 10％,and half of patients with anxious symptoms were accompanied by depressive symptoms,So atten-tion should be paid to the comorbidity of depression and anxiety symptoms.

Objective:To optimize indirect immunofluorescence on salt-split skin (IIF-SSS), and to evaluate its performance in detection of bullous pemphigoid (BP) antibodies.Methods:Normal human foreskin and non-foreskin skin tissues were used to prepare salt-split substrates under 3 different experimental conditions: traditional group rotated at 4 ℃ for 48 - 72 hours, low-temperature immersion group soaked at 4 ℃ for 48 - 72 hours, room-temperature immersion group soaked at 25 ℃ (range: 23 - 27 ℃) for 24 hours. Serum samples were obtained from 20 patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) in Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between August 2019 and August 2020, and subjected to IIF on the intact skin or salt-split substrates by using a multiple dilution method. Paired-sample t test was used for comparisons of means between two paired samples. Results:No dermal-epidermal separation was observed in the substrates prepared in the low-temperature immersion group at 48 - 72 hours, while dermal-epidermal separation occurred in the lower lamina lucida of the foreskin and non-foreskin substrates in the room-temperature immersion group and the traditional group. For the 20 patients with BP, the reciprocal end-point titers ( M[ Q1, Q3]) detected with the salt-split non-foreskin skin and salt-split foreskin in the room-temperature immersion group, and with the salt-split non-foreskin skin in the traditional group were 5 120 (2 560, 17 920), 1 280 (640, 2 560), 1 280 (640, 2 560), respectively. Moreover, 19 (95%) patients with BP showed that the reciprocal end-point titers detected with the substrates in the room-temperature immersion group were 1 - 5 times those in the traditional group ( t = 8.04, P<0.001), suggesting that the performance of salt-split skin in the room-temperature immersion group was superior to that in the traditional group in the detection of BP antibodies; however, there was no significant difference in the reciprocal end-point titers of BP antibodies between the salt-split foreskin in the room-temperature immersion group and salt-split non-foreskin skin in the traditional group ( t<0.001, P>0.05). The reciprocal end-point titers in 20 BP sera detected by conventional IIF on the intact non-foreskin skin and foreskin were 320 (160, 640) and 480 (160, 1 120), respectively; the reciprocal end-point titers detected by IIF on the salt-split foreskin and non-foreskin skin in the room-temperature immersion group, as well as on the salt-split non-foreskin skin in the traditional group, were all consistent with or 1 - 7 times higher than those detected by conventional IIF ( t = 6.47, 14.83, 5.26, respectively, all P<0.001) . Conclusion:The soaking method at room temperature 25 ℃ (23 - 27 ℃) for preparing salt-split substrates has advantages of short duration and simple procedure, and the sensitivity of IIF-SSS using the substrates prepared by this method is equal or superior to the traditional salt-split method for detecting BP antibodies.

Objective:To evaluate the value of indirect immunofluorescence on salt-split skin (IIF-SSS) in the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP) .Methods:A single-center clinical retrospective study was conducted. Totally, 163 patients with newly diagnosed BP were collected from Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2013 to January 2019, so were 404 controls, including 161 with pemphigus, 67 with eczema, 26 with drug eruption, 23 with erythema multiforme, 18 with prurigo nodularis, etc. Blood samples were collected before the treatment, and IIF-SSS, BP180 NC16A enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) assay were performed to evaluate the value of IIF-SSS in the diagnosis of BP. Measurement data were compared by using t test and Mann-Whitney test, and enumeration data were compared by using chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test or McNemar test. Results:The number of cases positive for IIF-SSS, BP180 NC16A ELISA and DIF assay was 160, 153 and 127 respectively in the BP group, and 0, 18 and 26 respectively in the control group. The sensitivities of IIF-SSS, BP180 NC16A ELISA and DIF assay for the diagnosis of BP were 98.15%, 93.86% and 77.91% respectively, and their specificities were 100%, 95.54% and 93.56% respectively. There was strong consistency in the diagnosis of BP between IIF-SSS and DIF (Kappa coefficient= 0.767, P < 0.001) . Conclusion:IIF-SSS has relatively high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of BP, and can serve as a routine method for diagnosing BP.