This study explored the mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction(XSLJZD) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia(FD) based on inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway-mediated autophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC). Forty-eight SPF-grade male SD suckling rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a modeling group, and the integrated modeling method(iodoacetamide gavage + disturbance of hunger and satiety + swimming exhaustion) was used to replicate the FD rat model. After the model replications were successfully completed, the rats were divided into a model group, high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of XSLJZD(12, 6, and 3 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a positive drug group(mosapride of 1.35 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and the intervention lasted for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in each group were measured. The histopathological changes in the gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The ultrastructure of ICC was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence double staining technique was used to detect the protein expression of phospho-IRE1(p-IRE1), TNF receptor associated factors 2(TRAF2), phospho-ASK1(p-ASK1), phospho-JNK(p-JNK), p62, and Beclin1 in ICC of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Western blot was used to detect the related protein expression of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Compared with those in the blank group, the rats in the model group showed decreased body weight, gastric emptying rate, and intestinal propulsion rate, and transmission electron microscopy revealed damage to the endoplasmic reticulum structure and increased autophagosomes in ICC. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the ICC of gastric sinus tissue showed a significant elevation of p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins and a significant reduction of p62 protein. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in the high-dose and medium-dose groups of XSLJZD was increased, and the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased. Transmission electron microscopy observed amelioration of structural damage to the endoplasmic reticulum of ICC and reduction of autophagosomes, and the p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins in the ICC of gastric sinus tissue were significantly decreased. The p62 protein was significantly increased. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. XSLJZD can effectively treat FD, and its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the expression of molecules related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1/ASK1/JNK pathway in ICC and the improvement of autophagy to promote gastric motility in ICC.
Animals ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal/metabolism* ; Dyspepsia/physiopathology* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Humans ; Endoribonucleases/genetics* ; Multienzyme Complexes

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of domestic RECO flow restoration device in endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke(AIS)patients in a real-world setting.Methods From January 2019 to June 2021,consecutive patients with acute intracranial vessel occlusion treated with RECO device from 8 stroke centers in Jiangsu Province were analyzed retrospectively.Baseline and clinical data were collected,including age,gender,baseline modified Rankin scale(mRS)scores,National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score on admission,trial of Org 10172 in acute stroke treatment(TOAST)classification,responsible location of occlusion,wake-up stroke,and medical history(hypertension,diabetes mellitus,hyperlipidemia,atrial fibrillation,coronary heart disease,peripheral arterial disease),smoking,and alcohol consumption.Furthermore,surgical parameters were collected,including time indicators(intervals between symptom onset,admission,puncture and recanalization),preoperative intravenous thrombolysis,general anesthesia,combination of aspiration,number of passes,first pass effect(modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction[mTICI]grade 3 achieved with s single stent-based thrombectomy),rescue therapy(including thrombectomy with other stents,intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis,intra-arterial application of tirofiban,emergency angioplasty[stent implantation,balloon dilatation,balloon dilatation combined with stent implantation]),balloon guided catheter and NIHSS score at discharge.The effectiveness indicators included immediate successful recanalization after the operation(mTICI grade ≥ 2b),complete recanalization(mTICI grade 3),and a good prognosis at 90 d after the operation(mRS score ≤2).The safety indicators included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage(sICH)within 24 h after the operation,device-related intraoperative complications(such as thrombus escape,iatrogenic dissection,bleeding at the surgical site),and all-cause mortality within 90 days after the operation.All patients were divided into the anterior circulation occlusion group and the posterior circulation occlusion group according to the location of the responsible occluded vessel,and the effectiveness and safety indexes were analyzed.Results A total of 366 patients with AIS caused by intracranial vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with the domestic RECO thrombectomy stent were included.The average age was(69±11)years,with 54 patients(14.8％)over 80 years old and 221 patients(60.4％)male.There were 296 patients in the anterior circulation occlusion group and 70 patients in the posterior circulation occlusion group.(1)Immediate successful recanalization(mTICI grade≥2b)was achieved in 337 patients(92.1％),and complete recanalization was achieved in 282 patients(77.0％)immediately after the operation.The average number of thrombectomies was(1.9±1.0)times,and 141 patients(38.5％)achieved recanalization on the first attempt.9 patients(2.5％)used other stents during the operation,and 65 patients(17.8％)underwent emergency angioplasty.The incidence of sICH within 24 h after the operation was 10.9％(40/366),the good prognosis rate at 90 d after the operation was 53.6％(196/366),and the all-cause mortality rate at 90 d after the operation was 23.0％(84/366).The incidence of device-related intraoperative complications was 3.6％(13/366).The median time from arterial puncture to recanalization was 75(52,110)min,and the median time from onset to recanalization was 370(280,488)min.(2)The good prognosis rates at 90 d after the operation in the anterior and posterior circulation occlusion groups were 55.1％(163/296)and 47.1％(33/70),respectively.The immediate successful recanalization rates were 93.2％(276/296)and 87.1％(61/70),respectively.The immediate complete recanalization rates were 79.1％(234/296)and 68.6％(48/70),respectively.The incidence of sICH within 24h after the operation was 12.2％(36/296)and 5.7％(4/70),respectively.The incidence of device-related intraoperative complications was 3.7％(11/296)and 2.9％(2/70),respectively.The all-cause mortality rate within 90 d after the operation was 21.6％(64/296)and 28.6％(20/70),respectively.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the above aspects(all P＞0.05).Conclusions The application of the domestic RECO thrombectomy stent in the treatment of AIS caused by intracranial vessel occlusion can effectively and safely achieve vascular recanalization.The results of this study still need to be further verified by prospective controlled studies.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of domestic RECO flow restoration device in endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke(AIS)patients in a real-world setting.Methods From January 2019 to June 2021,consecutive patients with acute intracranial vessel occlusion treated with RECO device from 8 stroke centers in Jiangsu Province were analyzed retrospectively.Baseline and clinical data were collected,including age,gender,baseline modified Rankin scale(mRS)scores,National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score on admission,trial of Org 10172 in acute stroke treatment(TOAST)classification,responsible location of occlusion,wake-up stroke,and medical history(hypertension,diabetes mellitus,hyperlipidemia,atrial fibrillation,coronary heart disease,peripheral arterial disease),smoking,and alcohol consumption.Furthermore,surgical parameters were collected,including time indicators(intervals between symptom onset,admission,puncture and recanalization),preoperative intravenous thrombolysis,general anesthesia,combination of aspiration,number of passes,first pass effect(modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction[mTICI]grade 3 achieved with s single stent-based thrombectomy),rescue therapy(including thrombectomy with other stents,intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis,intra-arterial application of tirofiban,emergency angioplasty[stent implantation,balloon dilatation,balloon dilatation combined with stent implantation]),balloon guided catheter and NIHSS score at discharge.The effectiveness indicators included immediate successful recanalization after the operation(mTICI grade ≥ 2b),complete recanalization(mTICI grade 3),and a good prognosis at 90 d after the operation(mRS score ≤2).The safety indicators included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage(sICH)within 24 h after the operation,device-related intraoperative complications(such as thrombus escape,iatrogenic dissection,bleeding at the surgical site),and all-cause mortality within 90 days after the operation.All patients were divided into the anterior circulation occlusion group and the posterior circulation occlusion group according to the location of the responsible occluded vessel,and the effectiveness and safety indexes were analyzed.Results A total of 366 patients with AIS caused by intracranial vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with the domestic RECO thrombectomy stent were included.The average age was(69±11)years,with 54 patients(14.8％)over 80 years old and 221 patients(60.4％)male.There were 296 patients in the anterior circulation occlusion group and 70 patients in the posterior circulation occlusion group.(1)Immediate successful recanalization(mTICI grade≥2b)was achieved in 337 patients(92.1％),and complete recanalization was achieved in 282 patients(77.0％)immediately after the operation.The average number of thrombectomies was(1.9±1.0)times,and 141 patients(38.5％)achieved recanalization on the first attempt.9 patients(2.5％)used other stents during the operation,and 65 patients(17.8％)underwent emergency angioplasty.The incidence of sICH within 24 h after the operation was 10.9％(40/366),the good prognosis rate at 90 d after the operation was 53.6％(196/366),and the all-cause mortality rate at 90 d after the operation was 23.0％(84/366).The incidence of device-related intraoperative complications was 3.6％(13/366).The median time from arterial puncture to recanalization was 75(52,110)min,and the median time from onset to recanalization was 370(280,488)min.(2)The good prognosis rates at 90 d after the operation in the anterior and posterior circulation occlusion groups were 55.1％(163/296)and 47.1％(33/70),respectively.The immediate successful recanalization rates were 93.2％(276/296)and 87.1％(61/70),respectively.The immediate complete recanalization rates were 79.1％(234/296)and 68.6％(48/70),respectively.The incidence of sICH within 24h after the operation was 12.2％(36/296)and 5.7％(4/70),respectively.The incidence of device-related intraoperative complications was 3.7％(11/296)and 2.9％(2/70),respectively.The all-cause mortality rate within 90 d after the operation was 21.6％(64/296)and 28.6％(20/70),respectively.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the above aspects(all P＞0.05).Conclusions The application of the domestic RECO thrombectomy stent in the treatment of AIS caused by intracranial vessel occlusion can effectively and safely achieve vascular recanalization.The results of this study still need to be further verified by prospective controlled studies.

Objective:To explore the current status of surgery for portal hypertension to grasp current status and future development of surgery in China.Methods:This study is jointly sponsored by China Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Specialist Alliance & Portal Hypertension Alliance in China (CHESS).Comprehensive surveying is conducted for basic domestic situations of surgery for portal hypertension, including case load, surgical approaches, management of postoperative complications, primary effects, existing confusion and obstacles, liver transplantation(LT), laparoscopic procedures and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS), etc.Results:A total of 8 512 cases of portal hypertension surgery are performed at 378 hospitals nationwide in 2021.Splenectomy plus devascularization predominated(53.0%)and laparoscopy accounted for 76.1%.Primary goal is preventing rebleeding(67.0%) and 72.8% of hospitals used preventive anticoagulants after conventional surgery.And 80.7% of teams believe that the formation of postoperative portal vein thrombosis is a surgical dilemma and 65.3% of hospitals practiced both laparoscopy and TIPS.The major reasons for patients with portal hypertension not receiving LT are due to a lack of qualifications for LT(69.3%)and economic factors(69.0%).Conclusions:Surgery is an integral part of management of portal hypertension in China.However, it is imperative to further standardize the grasp of surgical indications, the handling of surgical operation and the management of postoperative complications.Moreover, prospective, multi-center randomized controlled clinical studies should be performed.

Objective:To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of primary liver cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 10 966 surgically managed cases with primary liver cancer, from January 1986 to December 2019 at Hepatobiliary Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed. The life table method was used to calculate the survival rate and postoperative recurrence rate. Log‐rank test was used to compare the survival process of different groups, and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. In addition, 2 884 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) with more detailed follow‐up data from 2009 to 2019 were selected for survival analysis. Among 2 549 patients treated with hepatectomy, there were 2 107 males and 442 females, with an age of (56.6±11.1) years (range: 20 to 86 years). Among 335 patients treated with liver transplantation, there were 292 males and 43 females, with an age of (51.0±9.7) years (range: 21 to 73 years). The outcomes of hepatectomy versus liver transplantation, anatomic versus non-anatomic hepatectomy were compared, respectively.Results:Of the 10 966 patients with primary liver cancer, 10 331 patients underwent hepatectomy and 635 patients underwent liver transplantation. Patients with liver resection were categorized into three groups: 1986－1995(712 cases), 1996－2008(3 988 cases), 2009?2019(5 631 cases). The 5‐year overall survival rate was 32.9% in the first group(1986－1995). The 5‐year overall survival rate of resected primary liver cancer was 51.7% in the third group(2009‐2019), among which the 5‐year overal survival rates of hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and mixed liver cancer were 57.4%, 26.6% and 50.6%, respectively. Further analysis was performed on 2 549 HCC patients with primary hepatectomy. The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates were 88.1%, 71.9%, 60.0%, and 41.0%, respectively, and the perioperative mortality rate was 1.0%. Two hundred and forty‐seven HCC patients underwent primary liver transplantation, with 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates of 84.0%, 64.8%, 61.9%, and 57.6%, respectively. Eighty‐eight HCC patients underwent salvage liver transplantation, with the 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates of 86.8%, 65.2%, 52.5%, and 52.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival rates between the two groups with liver transplantation ( P>0.05). Comparing the overall survival rates and recurrence rates of primary hepatectomy (2 549 cases) with primary liver transplantation (247 cases), the 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates in patients within Milan criteria treated with hepatectomy and transplantation were 96.3%, 87.1%, 76.9%, 54.7%, and 95.4%, 79.4%, 77.4%, 71.7%, respectively ( P=0.754). The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐year recurrence rates were 16.3%, 35.9%, 47.6% and 8.1%, 11.7%, 13.9%, respectively( P<0.01). The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, 10‐year overall survival rates in patients with no large vessels invasion beyond the Milan criteria treated with liver resection and transplantation were 87.2%, 65.9%, 53.0%, 33.0% and 87.6%, 71.8%, 71.8%, 69.3%, respectively( P=0.003); the 1‐, 3‐, 5‐year recurrence rate were 39.2%, 57.8%, 69.7% and 29.7%, 36.7%, 36.7%, respectively ( P<0.01). The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates in patients with large vessels invasion treated with liver resection and transplantation were 62.1%, 36.1%, 22.2%, 15.0% and 62.9%, 31.8%,19.9%, 0, respectively ( P=0.387); the 1‐, 3‐, 5‐year recurrence rates were 61.5%, 74.7%, 80.8% and 59.7%, 82.9%, 87.2%, respectively( P=0.909). Independent prognostic factors for both overall survival and recurrence‐free survival rates of HCC patients treated with liver resection included gender, neoadjuvant therapy, symptoms, AST, intraoperative or postoperative blood transfusion, tumor number, tumor size, cirrhosis, macrovascular invasion, microvascular invasion, and pathological differentiation. Propensity score matching analysis of 443 pairs further showed that there was no significant difference in overall survival rate between anatomical liver resection and non‐anatomical liver resection( P=0.895), but the recurrence rate of non‐anatomical liver resection was higher than that of anatomical liver resection( P=0.035). Conclusions:In the past decade, the overall survival rate of HCC undergoing surgical treatment is significantly higher than before. For HCC patients with good liver function reservation, surgical resection can be performed first, and salvage liver transplantation can be performed after recurrence. The effect of salvage liver transplantation is comparable to that of primary liver transplantation. As for the choice of liver resection approaches, non‐anatomical resection can reserve more liver tissue and can be selected as long as the negative margin is guaranteed.

Objective:To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of primary liver cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 10 966 surgically managed cases with primary liver cancer, from January 1986 to December 2019 at Hepatobiliary Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed. The life table method was used to calculate the survival rate and postoperative recurrence rate. Log‐rank test was used to compare the survival process of different groups, and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. In addition, 2 884 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) with more detailed follow‐up data from 2009 to 2019 were selected for survival analysis. Among 2 549 patients treated with hepatectomy, there were 2 107 males and 442 females, with an age of (56.6±11.1) years (range: 20 to 86 years). Among 335 patients treated with liver transplantation, there were 292 males and 43 females, with an age of (51.0±9.7) years (range: 21 to 73 years). The outcomes of hepatectomy versus liver transplantation, anatomic versus non-anatomic hepatectomy were compared, respectively.Results:Of the 10 966 patients with primary liver cancer, 10 331 patients underwent hepatectomy and 635 patients underwent liver transplantation. Patients with liver resection were categorized into three groups: 1986－1995(712 cases), 1996－2008(3 988 cases), 2009?2019(5 631 cases). The 5‐year overall survival rate was 32.9% in the first group(1986－1995). The 5‐year overall survival rate of resected primary liver cancer was 51.7% in the third group(2009‐2019), among which the 5‐year overal survival rates of hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and mixed liver cancer were 57.4%, 26.6% and 50.6%, respectively. Further analysis was performed on 2 549 HCC patients with primary hepatectomy. The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates were 88.1%, 71.9%, 60.0%, and 41.0%, respectively, and the perioperative mortality rate was 1.0%. Two hundred and forty‐seven HCC patients underwent primary liver transplantation, with 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates of 84.0%, 64.8%, 61.9%, and 57.6%, respectively. Eighty‐eight HCC patients underwent salvage liver transplantation, with the 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates of 86.8%, 65.2%, 52.5%, and 52.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival rates between the two groups with liver transplantation ( P>0.05). Comparing the overall survival rates and recurrence rates of primary hepatectomy (2 549 cases) with primary liver transplantation (247 cases), the 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates in patients within Milan criteria treated with hepatectomy and transplantation were 96.3%, 87.1%, 76.9%, 54.7%, and 95.4%, 79.4%, 77.4%, 71.7%, respectively ( P=0.754). The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐year recurrence rates were 16.3%, 35.9%, 47.6% and 8.1%, 11.7%, 13.9%, respectively( P<0.01). The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, 10‐year overall survival rates in patients with no large vessels invasion beyond the Milan criteria treated with liver resection and transplantation were 87.2%, 65.9%, 53.0%, 33.0% and 87.6%, 71.8%, 71.8%, 69.3%, respectively( P=0.003); the 1‐, 3‐, 5‐year recurrence rate were 39.2%, 57.8%, 69.7% and 29.7%, 36.7%, 36.7%, respectively ( P<0.01). The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year overall survival rates in patients with large vessels invasion treated with liver resection and transplantation were 62.1%, 36.1%, 22.2%, 15.0% and 62.9%, 31.8%,19.9%, 0, respectively ( P=0.387); the 1‐, 3‐, 5‐year recurrence rates were 61.5%, 74.7%, 80.8% and 59.7%, 82.9%, 87.2%, respectively( P=0.909). Independent prognostic factors for both overall survival and recurrence‐free survival rates of HCC patients treated with liver resection included gender, neoadjuvant therapy, symptoms, AST, intraoperative or postoperative blood transfusion, tumor number, tumor size, cirrhosis, macrovascular invasion, microvascular invasion, and pathological differentiation. Propensity score matching analysis of 443 pairs further showed that there was no significant difference in overall survival rate between anatomical liver resection and non‐anatomical liver resection( P=0.895), but the recurrence rate of non‐anatomical liver resection was higher than that of anatomical liver resection( P=0.035). Conclusions:In the past decade, the overall survival rate of HCC undergoing surgical treatment is significantly higher than before. For HCC patients with good liver function reservation, surgical resection can be performed first, and salvage liver transplantation can be performed after recurrence. The effect of salvage liver transplantation is comparable to that of primary liver transplantation. As for the choice of liver resection approaches, non‐anatomical resection can reserve more liver tissue and can be selected as long as the negative margin is guaranteed.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of entecavir (ETV) add-on peg-interferon therapy compared with ETV monotherapy in treatment-naïve hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients remains controversial. We investigated whether adding peg-interferon to ongoing ETV treatment leads to a better curative effect or not. METHODS: All patients have been recruited between August 2013 and January 2015 from the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Zhongshan Hospital (China). Eligible HBV patients (n = 144) were randomly divided (1:1) to receive either ETV monotherapy (n = 70) or peg-interferon add-on therapy from week 26 to 52 (n = 74). Patients were followed-up for at least 2 years. Indexes including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion rate, sustained virologic response, transient elastography value, and histological scores were evaluated every 3 months until the end of the study. The rate of patients with HBsAg loss was defined as the primary endpoint criteria. RESULTS: At week 26, no patient achieved HBsAg seroconversion in either group. At week 52, one patient in the monotherapy group was HBsAg-negative but there was none in the combination therapy group. The monotherapy group showed significantly better liver function recovery results than the combination therapy group. At week 78, one patient in the combination group had HBsAg seroconverted. At week 104, only three patients in the combination therapy group were HBsAg-negative compared with one patient in monotherapy. The mean alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels and transient elastography values decreased significantly compared with baseline. Both groups showed a favorable decrease in alpha-fetoprotein (monotherapy: 4.5 [2.8, 7.1] vs. 2.2 [1.8, 3.1] ng/mL, P < 0.001; combination therapy: 5.7 [3.0, 18.8] vs. 3.2 [2.0, 4.3] ng/mL, P < 0.001) and an improved result of liver biopsy examination scores. The combination group showed a better improvement in histology compared with the monotherapy group (mean transient elastography value 6.6 [4.9, 9.8] vs. 7.8 [5.4, 11.1] kPa, P = 0.028). But there was no significant difference in HBsAg conversion rate (1.8% [1/56] vs. 4.1% [3/73], P = 0.809) and HBeAg conversion rate (12.5% [7/56] vs. 11.0% [8/73], P = 0.787), as well as HBV-DNA, sustained virologic response (93.2% vs. 98.5%, P = 0.150) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both therapies supported liver function recovery and histology improvement. Combination therapy did not show better anti-viral efficacy in HBsAg or HBeAg seroconversion compared with monotherapy. However, combination therapy played a more positive role in reversing hepatic fibrosis compared with monotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02849132; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02849132.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare but clinically well-known, polygenic, and systemic autoinflammatory disease, which is characterized by spiking fever, evanescent skin rash, arthralgia, and sore throat. The application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids, which are first-line therapies of AOSD, is limited due to their side effects such as liver injury or disorder of blood glucose. Therefore, patients who suffer from systemic diseases in China prefer to seek help from Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), which is an important part of complementary and alternative medicine. In this case, we report a 28-year-old male badminton coach presenting with a 15-day history of fever and skin rash, accompanied by sore throat, fatigue, myalgia and chills. Additionally, hepatosplenomegaly, multiple lymphadenopathies, aminotransferase abnormality, and elevated inflammatory factor levels were observed during hospitalization. Infectious diseases, solid tumors, hematological diseases, and common autoimmune diseases were excluded. Not benefitting from antibiotic therapy, the patient was finally diagnosed with AOSD, after a careful examination, then showed rapid remission after a six-week treatment with CHM granules based on Xiaochaihu Decoction and Yinqiao Powder. After stopping the treatment, there was no relapse within a 15-month follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case of this successful treatment. The present case report suggests that CHM is a reliable choice for complementary and alternative therapy for AOSD, but confirming the utility of CHM for AOSD requires further support from prospective studies.

Objective: To detect the clinical relevance of mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) gene polymorphism and sepsis in Chinese lived in Hainan island. Methods: Blood samples from 57 patients with sepsis and 69 patients without sepsis were collected in the ICU of several large hospitals in Hainan province. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood and then PCR purification product was sequenced and typed by 3730 sequencing analyzer. The concentration of MBL2 in serum was detected by ELISA. Results: We found that genotype and allele distributions in two groups were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. The frequency of GA genotype was significantly higher than that in non-sepsis group (P=0.013). A allele frequency in sepsis group was also much higher than that in non-sepsis group (P=0.028). Logister regression analysis showed that the patients who carried A allele were more prone to get sepsis than G allele carrier (P=0.014, 0R=2.550, 95%CI=1.207-5.386). The MBL2 level in serum of sepsis patients with genotype GG and GA was significantly lower than that in non-sepsis group (P<0.05). In sepsis group, the MBL2 serum level of patients with genotype GA was obviously lower than that in patients with genotype GG (P<0.05). Conclusions: The variation of rs1800450 G→A increased the incidence of sepsis and decreased the level of MBL2 in serum.

BACKGROUNDSurgical resection is generally considered the main curative treatment for intrahepatic biliary cystadenocarcinoma (IBCA) or suspected IBCAs, but controversy exists regarding the prognosis for IBCAs. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological characteristics of IBCA and identify prognostic factors that may influence the survival of patients treated with surgical procedures.

METHODSThirty-four patients with histologically confirmed IBCA treated between January 2000 and June 2014 were included. The clinical characteristics of patients with IBCA were compared with those of 41 patients with intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma (IBC); factors that significant difference were analyzed for prognosis analysis of IBCA using multivariate/univariate Cox proportional hazards regression models. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTSIBCAs had a strong female predominance, and the most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain or discomfort. Compared with IBCs, IBCAs occurred in older patients, in more male patients, and were associated statistically significant abnormal increase in alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.01) and total bilirubin (P = 0.04). Mural nodules were more frequently seen with IBCAs and may associate with malignancy. It was difficult to differentiate between IBC and IBCA based on laboratory examination and imaging findings. Although complete resection is recommended, enucleation with negative margins also achieved good outcomes. Median overall patient survival was 76.2 months; survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 88.0%, 68.7%, and 45.8%, respectively. Radical resection and noninvasive tumor type were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.

CONCLUSIONSIt remains difficult to distinguish between cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas based on laboratory examination and image findings. Complete resection is recommended for curative treatment, and patients should be closely followed postoperatively, particularly those with invasive tumors.

Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; pathology ; Cystadenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models