ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of Huayu Tongluo Formula （化瘀通络方， HTF） in patients with mid-stage diabetic kidney disease of blood stasis syndrome and explore its potential mechanisms. MethodsA multi-center， randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Ninety patients of mid-stage diabetic kidney disease of blood stasis syndrome were divided into a control group of 46 cases and a treatment group of 44 cases. Both groups received conventional western medicine treatment， the treatment group additionally taking HTF， while the control group taking a placebo of the formula. The treatment was administered once daily for 24 weeks. The primary outcomes included 24-hour urine total protein （24 h-UTP）， serum albumin （Alb）， glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c）， and serum creatinine （Scr）.The secondary outcomes included changes in levels of endothelin-1 （ET-1）， nitric oxide （NO）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores before and after treatment. Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on TCM syndrome scores and overall disease outcomes. Adverse reactions and endpoint events were recorded. ResultsIn the treatment group after treatment， 24 h-UTP， ET-1， and VEGF levels significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， Alb and NO levels significantly increased （P＜0.05）； while the TCM syndrome scores for edema， lumbar pain， numbness of limbs， dark purple lips， dark purple tongue or purpura， and thin， rough pulse all significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. In the control group， no significant changes were observed in any of the indicators after treatment （P＞0.05）.Compared with the control group， the treatment group showed significant reductions in 24 h-UTP， ET-1， and VEGF levels， and increases in Alb and NO levels （P＜0.05）. The TCM syndrome scores for edema， lumbar pain， dark purple tongue or purpura， and thin， rough pulse were all lower in the treatment group than in the control group （P＜0.05）. The total effective rate of TCM syndrome in the treatment group was 59.09% （26/44）， and the overall clinical effective rate was 45.45% （20/44）. In the control group， these rates were 15.22% （7/46） and 8.7% （4/46）， respectively， with the treatment group showing significantly better outcomes （P＜0.05）. A total of 7 adverse events occurred across both groups， with no significant difference （P＞0.05）. No endpoint events occurred during the study. ConclusionOn the basis of conventional treatment of Western medicine， HTF can further reduce urinary protein levels and improve clinical symptoms in patients with mid-stage diabetic kidney disease of blood stasis syndrome. The mechanism may be related to its effects on endothelial function.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of Chinese medicine (CM) Fuzheng Huazhuo Decoction (FHD) in treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who persistently tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Shanghai New International Expo Center shelter hospital in China between April 1 and May 30, 2022. Patients diagnosed as COVID-19 with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results for ⩾8 days after diagnosis were enrolled. Patients in the control group received conventional Western medicine (WM) treatment, while those in the FHD group received conventional WM plus FHD for at least 3 days. The primary outcome was viral clearance time. Secondary outcomes included negative conversion rate within 14 days, length of hospital stay, cycle threshold (Ct) values of the open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) and nucleocapsid protein (N) genes, and incidence of new-onset symptoms during hospitalization. Adverse events (AEs) that occurred during the study period were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 1,765 eligible patients were enrolled in this study (546 in the FHD group and 1,219 in the control group). Compared with the control group, patients receiving FHD treatment showed shorter viral clearance time for nucleic acids [hazard ratio (HR): 1.500, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.353-1.664, P<0.001] and hospital stays (HR: 1.371, 95% CI: 1.238-1.519, P<0.001), and a higher negative conversion rate within 14 days (96.2% vs. 82.6%, P<0.001). The incidence of new-onset symptoms was 59.5% in the FHD group, similar to 57.8% in the control group (P>0.05). The Ct values of ORF1ab and N genes increased more rapidly over time in the FHD group than those in the control group post-randomization (ORF1ab gene: β =0.436±0.053, P<0.001; N gene: β =0.415 ±0.053, P<0.001). The incidence of AEs in the FHD group was lower than that in the control group (24.2% vs. 35.4%, P<0.001). No serious AEs were observed. CONCLUSION FHD was effective and safe for patients with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200063956).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects* ; COVID-19/virology* ; Adult ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Recent studies have indicated that the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 51 (USP51), a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that mediates protein degradation as part of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), is associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in multiple malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling networks involved in USP51-mediated regulation of malignant phenotypes remain largely unknown. The present study provides evidence of USP51's functions as the prominent DUB in chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. At the molecular level, ectopic expression of USP51 stabilized the 78 kDa Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) protein through deubiquitination, thereby increasing its expression and localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, the upregulation of cell surface GRP78 increased the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), the main efflux pump of doxorubicin (DOX), ultimately decreasing its accumulation in TNBC cells and promoting the development of drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, we found significant correlations among USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 expression in TNBC patients with chemoresistance. Elevated USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 levels were also strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. Importantly, we revealed an alternative intervention for specific pharmacological targeting of USP51 for TNBC cell chemosensitization. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that the USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 network is a key contributor to the malignant progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of TNBC cells, underscoring the pivotal role of USP51 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer management.

The cooccurrence of NPM1, FLT3-ITD, and DNMT3A mutations (i.e., triple mutation) is related to dismal prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving chemotherapy alone. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we aimed to identify whether allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) could overcome the poor prognosis of DNMT3A^mutNPM1^mutFLT3-ITD^mut AML across four transplant centers in China. Fifty-three patients with triple-mutated AML receiving allo-HSCT in complete remission were enrolled. The 1.5-year probabilities of relapse, leukemia-free survival, and overall survival after allo-HSCT were 11.9%, 80.3%, and 81.8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that more than one course of induction chemotherapy and allo-HSCT beyond CR1 were associated with poor survival. To our knowledge, this work is the largest study to explore the up-to-date undefined role of allo-HSCT in patients with triple-mutated AML. Our real-world data suggest that allo-HSCT could overcome the poor prognosis of DNMT3A^mutNPM1^mutFLT3-ITD^mut in AML.
Humans ; Nucleophosmin ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/mortality* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods* ; Male ; Female ; DNA Methyltransferase 3A ; Adult ; China ; Retrospective Studies ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/genetics* ; Mutation ; Young Adult ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Adolescent ; Aged

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum microRNA(miR)-24-3p,microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4(MARK4)level expression and cardiac function in serum of patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease(CHD).Methods From August 2021 to April 2023,138 CHD patients who visited Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital were collected as the study subjects(CHD group).According to the New York Heart Association(NYHA)grading,patients in the CHD group were separated into grade Ⅱ(n=39),grade Ⅲ(n=68),and grade Ⅳ(n=31).Additionally,123 individuals who underwent physical examinations were selected as the health group during the same period.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)method was applied to detect the expression levels of miR-24-3p and MARK4.Cardiac function indicators in the CHD and health groups were detected.Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation among serum miR-24-3p,MARK4,and cardiac function indicators.Results Compared with the healthy group,the levels of MARK4(1.19±0.21 vs 1.00±0.20),left ventricular end-systolic dimension(LVESd),left ventricular enddiastolic dimension(LVEDd),interventricular septal thickness(IVS),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDv),left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESv),and left ventricular mass(LV mass)in the CHD group were increased(t=7.462,18.242,23.888,9.941,2.812,12.520,11.029),while the levels of miR-24-3p(0.62±0.11 vs 1.00±0.18),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and cardiac output(CO)were reduced(t=20.821,10.212,18.188),and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).As cardiac function grading increased,MARK4 expression levels(1.09±0.19,1.18±0.17,1.32±0.22),LVESd,LVEDd,IVS,LVEDv,LVESv and LV mass were increased(F=13.025,10.606,11.920,57.956,29.680,21.253,12.954),and miR-24-3p expression levels(0.84±0.15,0.61±0.11,0.37±0.08),LVEF and CO were decreased(F=139.227,9.720,13.411),and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between miR-24-3p and MARK4 expression in the serum of patients with CHD(r=-0.540,P＜0.05).The relative expression of miR-24-3p in the serum of patients with CHD was negatively correlated with LVESd,LVEDd,IVS,LVEDv,LVESv and LV mass(r=-0.656,-0.636,-0.617,-0.576,-0.492,-0.687,all P＜0.05),but positively correlated with LVEF and CO(r=0.570,0.683,all P＜0.05).The relative expression level of MARK4 was positively correlated with LVESd,LVEDd,IVS,LVEDv,LVESv,and LV mass(r=0.503,0.542,0.508,0.624,0.516,0.560,all P＜0.05),but negatively correlated with LVEF and CO(r=-0.594,-0.525,all P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of miR-24-3p in the serum of CHD patients was decreased,while the expression of MARK4 was increased.There was an obvious correlation between the two and cardiac function indicators.

With the aging population in China,health issues among the elderly are becoming increasingly prominent,leading to a rapidly growing demand for health interventions for the elderly.Exergames are one of the important emerging methods in the field of health interventions for the elderly,widely used and yielding positive results.While research on exergames is well-established abroad,it is still in its infancy in China,lacking reports on the types,interaction forms,intervention content,application status,and effectiveness of exergames.Exergames are suitable for widespread use among the elderly in China,and there is a need to accelerate the development and application of exergames in the field of health interventions for the elderly in China.

Objective To investigate the effect of different doses of esketamine combined with hydromorphone postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA)on depression in elderly pa-tients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.Methods A total of 180 elderly patients,44 males and 136 fe-males,aged 65-80 years,BMI 18.5-35.0 kg/m2,ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ,undergoing total knee arthroplasty(TKA)under elective general anesthesia combined with adductor block from J uly 2023 to Sep-tember 2023.Patients were divided into three groups by random number table method;control group(group C),esketamine 0.5 mg/kg group(group E1),and esketamine 1.0 mg/kg group(group E2),60 patients in each group.After operation,groups C,E1 and E2 were given hydromorphone 0.2 mg/kg,esketamine 0.5 mg/kg combined with hydromorphone 0.2 mg/kg,and esketamine 1.0 mg/kg combined with hydromor-phone 0.2 mg/kg to receive PCIA,respectively,and the three groups were diluted to 100 ml with normal saline.Parameters were set as follows.The background infusion rate was 1.5 ml/h,and the single press dose was 1.5 ml,and the locking time was 15 minutes.If the VAS pain score at rest was greater than or equal to 4 points and the analgesic effect of pressing the PCIA pump was not effective,then intramuscular injection of tramadol 0.1 g was used for remedial analgesia.Hamilton depression scale(HAMD)score was performed 1 day,3 and 7 days after surgery.Depressive state was classified as having HAMD score ≥ 8 points.VAS pain scores at rest were performed 1 day,3 and 7 days after surgery.The number of depression within 7 days after surgery,the number of effective(D1)and total(D2)pump compressions and D1/D2 within 3 days after surgery,the number of rescue analgesia,the occurrence of adverse reactions such as tra-madol dosage,dizziness,headache,multiple dreams,hallucinations,nausea and vomiting were recorded.Results Twenty-one patients(35％)in group C experienced depression,7 patients(12％)in group E1,and 8 patients(13％)in group E2 during 3 days after surgery.Eight patients(13％)in group C experi-enced depression,1 patients(2％)in group E1,and 2 patients(3％)in group E2 during 7 days after sur-gery.Compared with group C,the incidence of depression 3 and 7 days after surgery,rescue analgesia rate in group E1 were significantly decreased,the incidence of depression 3 and 7 days after surgery,dizziness,headache,and dreaminess within 3 days after surgery in group E2 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the incidence of depression and VAS pain scores between group El and group E2 at 1,3,and 7 days after surgery.Conclusion Esketamine 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg for PCIA in elderly patients after TKA can improve postoperative depression,while esketamine 1.0 mg/kg can reduce the incidence of postoperative dizziness,headache,and multiple dreams.

BACKGROUND:Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response of the heart to physiological and pathological stimuli such as pressure overload.It is of compensatory significance in the early stage,but if the stimulation continues,it can cause cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure.MicroRNAs are involved in the regulation of cardiac hypertrophy.However,the role of miR-20a in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy has not been reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of miR-20a in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS:Transverse aortic constriction was used to induce cardiac hypertrophy in vivo and angiotensin Ⅱ was used to induce H9c2 cell models of cardiac hypertrophy in vitro.MiR-20a was overexpressed in vivo by intramyocardial injection of miR-20a overexpressing adenovirus and in vitro by transfecting miR-20a mimic into H9c2 cells.Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed by measuring heart weight/body weight ratio,cell surface area,and myocardial fibrosis.The expression levels of atrial natriuretic peptide,brain natriuretic peptide,β-myosin heavy chain and miR-20a were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Mitochondrial fission was detected by MitoTracker.The downstream target genes of miR-20a were predicted by RNAhybrid software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The expression level of miR-20a was significantly decreased in both hypertrophic cardiomyocytes and hearts(P<0.05).(2)At the animal level,overexpression of miR-20a significantly inhibited transverse aortic constriction-induced cardiac hypertrophy,including decreasing the upregulated expression level of hypertrophic marker genes(P<0.05),reduced the enlarged heart volume,reducing the increased heart weight/body weight ratio(P<0.01),reducing the increased myocardial cross-sectional area(P<0.05),and attenuating fibrosis(P<0.01).(3)At the cellular level,overexpression of miR-20a significantly inhibited angiotensin Ⅱ-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,including decreasing the upregulated expression levels of atrial natriuretic peptide(P<0.05),brain natriuretic peptide(P<0.01)and β-myosin heavy chain(P<0.05),reducing the increased protein/DNA ratio(P<0.01),and suppressing the increased cell surface area(P<0.05).(4)Overexpression of miR-20a significantly inhibited angiotensin Ⅱ-induced mitochondrial fission(P<0.05).(5)The results of RNAhybrid software analysis showed that miR-20a and the mRNA 3'untranslated region of cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor alpha were well complementary and the predicted binding sites were highly conserved.(6)In conclusion,miR-20a is significantly down-regulated in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.Overexpression of miR-20a inhibits cardiac hypertrophy at both the cellular level and animal level and attenuates angiotensin Ⅱ-induced mitochondrial fission.