OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of Yiqi Huoxue Decoction(YQHX)on mitochon-drial midzone division and peripheral fission in myocardial tissue after myocardial infarction(MI).METHODS A total of 48 male SPF-grade C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into a sham-operated group(Sham,n=12)and a left anterior descending coronary ar-tery ligation MI model(n=36).After MI surgery,mice deemed to have successfully developed the model were randomly divided into a model group(MI,n=12),a YQHX group(n=12),and an empagliflozin group(EMPA,n=12)based on echocardiographic results.Four weeks after infarction,cardiac function and structural changes were comprehensively evaluated using echocardiography imaging,serum myocardial injury biomarkers,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)was employed to observe mitochondrial ultrastructural,morphological,and quantitative changes at the peri-infarct zone.Myocardial mitochondria and cytoplas-mic fractions were isolated from myocardial tissue using a mitochondrial extraction kit,and the spatial expression changes of mitochon-drial fission-related proteins in both mitochondria and cytoplasm of the peri-infarct myocardium were analyzed by Western blot.These proteins included dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1),its phosphorylated form at serine 616(P-Drp1-Ser616),mitochondrial fission fac-tor(MFF),and mitochondrial fission protein 1(Fis1).RESULTS Compared with the MI group,mice in the YQHX group exhibited sig-nificantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS)(P<0.000 1),as well as decreased left ventricular internal dimension-diastole(LVIDd)and left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVIDs)(P<0.05,P<0.01),suggesting improved cardiac function.Additionally,serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB)were significantly reduced in the YQHX group(P<0.05,P<0.001),indicating cardio-protective effects of YQHX against ischemic in-jury.HE staining showed that YQHX improved cellular morphology,suggesting structural improvement.TEM showed that YQHX sig-nificantly improved mitochondrial swelling and reduced mitochondrial fragmentation in the marginal zone of myocardial infarction,thereby preserving mitochondrial ultrastructure.Furthermore,Western blot showed that YQHX treatment significantly downregulated P-Drp1-Ser616 expression(P<0.05)in the cytoplasm.Interestingly,YQHX treatment significantly downregulated mitochondrial Fis1 expression(P<0.05),thereby inhibiting peripheral mitochondrial fission.Meanwhile,YQHX treatment significantly increased MFF ex-pression in mitochondria(P<0.01),which may promote mitochondrial midzone fission.CONCLUSION YQHX improves cardiac structure and function after MI,potentially by promoting myocardial mitochondrial midzone fission and inhibiting mitochondrial periph-eral fission in ischemic cardiomyocytes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of Yiqi Huoxue Decoction(YQHX)on mitochon-drial midzone division and peripheral fission in myocardial tissue after myocardial infarction(MI).METHODS A total of 48 male SPF-grade C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into a sham-operated group(Sham,n=12)and a left anterior descending coronary ar-tery ligation MI model(n=36).After MI surgery,mice deemed to have successfully developed the model were randomly divided into a model group(MI,n=12),a YQHX group(n=12),and an empagliflozin group(EMPA,n=12)based on echocardiographic results.Four weeks after infarction,cardiac function and structural changes were comprehensively evaluated using echocardiography imaging,serum myocardial injury biomarkers,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)was employed to observe mitochondrial ultrastructural,morphological,and quantitative changes at the peri-infarct zone.Myocardial mitochondria and cytoplas-mic fractions were isolated from myocardial tissue using a mitochondrial extraction kit,and the spatial expression changes of mitochon-drial fission-related proteins in both mitochondria and cytoplasm of the peri-infarct myocardium were analyzed by Western blot.These proteins included dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1),its phosphorylated form at serine 616(P-Drp1-Ser616),mitochondrial fission fac-tor(MFF),and mitochondrial fission protein 1(Fis1).RESULTS Compared with the MI group,mice in the YQHX group exhibited sig-nificantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS)(P<0.000 1),as well as decreased left ventricular internal dimension-diastole(LVIDd)and left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVIDs)(P<0.05,P<0.01),suggesting improved cardiac function.Additionally,serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB)were significantly reduced in the YQHX group(P<0.05,P<0.001),indicating cardio-protective effects of YQHX against ischemic in-jury.HE staining showed that YQHX improved cellular morphology,suggesting structural improvement.TEM showed that YQHX sig-nificantly improved mitochondrial swelling and reduced mitochondrial fragmentation in the marginal zone of myocardial infarction,thereby preserving mitochondrial ultrastructure.Furthermore,Western blot showed that YQHX treatment significantly downregulated P-Drp1-Ser616 expression(P<0.05)in the cytoplasm.Interestingly,YQHX treatment significantly downregulated mitochondrial Fis1 expression(P<0.05),thereby inhibiting peripheral mitochondrial fission.Meanwhile,YQHX treatment significantly increased MFF ex-pression in mitochondria(P<0.01),which may promote mitochondrial midzone fission.CONCLUSION YQHX improves cardiac structure and function after MI,potentially by promoting myocardial mitochondrial midzone fission and inhibiting mitochondrial periph-eral fission in ischemic cardiomyocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the effect of unplanned versus planned admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) on the prognosis of high-risk patients after surgery, so as to provide a clinical evidence for clinical medical staff to evaluate whether the postoperative patients should be transferred to ICU or not after surgery. METHODS: The clinical data of patients who were transferred to ICU after surgery admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January to December in 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including gender, age, body mass index, past history (whether combined with hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, renal failure, liver failure, hematologic disorders, tumor, etc.), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), elective surgery, pre-operative hospital consultation, length of surgery, worst value of laboratory parameters within 24 hours of ICU admission, need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), duration of IMV, length of ICU stay, total length of hospital stay, ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, and survival status at 30th day postoperative. The unplanned patients were further divided into the immediate transfer group and delayed transfer group according to the timing of their ICU entrance after surgery, and the prognosis was compared between the two groups. Cox regression analysis was used to find the independent risk factors of 30-day mortality in patients transferred to ICU after surgery. RESULTS: Finally, 377 patients were included in the post-operative admission to the ICU, including 232 in the planned transfer group and 145 in the unplanned transfer group (42 immediate transfers and 103 delayed transfers). Compared to the planned transfer group, patients in the unplanned transfer group had higher peripheral blood white blood cell count (WBC) at the time of transfer to the ICU [×10⁹/L: 10.86 (7.09, 16.68) vs. 10.11 (6.56, 13.27)], longer total length of hospital stay [days: 23.00 (14.00, 34.00) vs. 19.00 (12.00, 29.00)], and 30-day post-operative mortality was higher [29.66% (43/145) vs. 17.24% (40/232)], but haemoglobin (Hb), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂), oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂), and IMV requirement rate were lower [Hb (g/L): 95.00 (78.00, 113.50) vs. 98.00 (85.00, 123.00), PaCO₂ (mmHg, 1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa): 36.00 (29.00, 41.50) vs. 39.00 (33.00, 43.00), PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg): 197.00 (137.50, 283.50) vs. 238.00 (178.00, 350.25), IMV requirement rate: 82.76% (120/145) vs. 93.97% (218/232)], all differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the 30-day cumulative survival rate after surgery was significantly lower in the unplanned transfer group than in the planned transfer group (Log-Rank test: χ² = 7.659, P = 0.006). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that unplanned transfer, APACHE II score, whether deeded IMV at transfer, total length of hospital stay, WBC, blood K⁺, and blood lactic acid (Lac) were associated with 30-day mortality after operation (all P < 0.05). Multifactorial Cox analysis showed that unplanned transfer [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.45, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.54-3.89, P < 0.001], APACHE II score (HR = 1.03, 95%CI was 1.00-1.07, P = 0.031), the total length of hospital stay (HR = 0.86, 95%CI was 0.83-0.89, P < 0.001), the need for IMV on admission (HR = 4.31, 95%CI was 1.27-14.63, P = 0.019), highest Lac value within 24 hours of transfer to the ICU (HR = 1.17, 95%CI was 1.10-1.24, P < 0.001), and tumor history (HR = 3.12, 95%CI was 1.36-7.13, P = 0.007) were independent risk factors for patient death at 30 days post-operative, and the risk of death was 2.45 times higher in patients unplanned transferred than in those planned transferred. Subgroup analysis showed that patients in the delayed transfer group had significantly longer IMV times than those in the immediate transfer group [hours: 43.00 (11.00, 121.00) vs. 17.50 (2.75, 73.00), P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS The 30-day mortality, WBC and total length of hospital stay were higher in patients who were transferred to ICU after surgery, and PaO₂/FiO₂ was lower. Unplanned transfer, oncology history, use of IMV, APACHE II score, total length of hospital stay, and Lac were independent risk factors for patient death at 30 days postoperatively, and patients with delayed transfer to ICU had longer IMV time.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Hospitalization ; Prognosis ; Intensive Care Units

Objective:To investigate the association of metabolic syndrome(MS) with cardiovascular disease(CVD) mortality and all-cause mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis from January 1, 2013 to July 31, 2021 in the Shaoxing People′s Hospital. Patients were divided into MS group and non-MS group. The differences in baseline biochemical variables, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes between the two groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier method was used to obtain survival curves, the Cox regression model was used to evaluate the influence of MS for survival rates, and the inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW) was used to eliminate influence of the confounders in the groups.Results:A total of 494 peritoneal dialysis patients were enrolled in this study, which were divided into MS group( n=266) and non-MS group( n=228). The total median follow-up time was(31±22) months. At baseline, the standard mean difference( SMD) in smoking history, drinking history, CVD history, prevalence of chronic glomerulonephritis, left ventricular ejection fraction, B-type natriuretic peptides, hemoglobin, blood calcium, hypersensitive C-reactive-protein, intact parathyroid hormone, ultrafiltration and 4 h dialysate/plasma creatinine in the two groups were greater than 0.1. Their SMD decreased to under 0.1 after IPTW, showing a good balance between the two groups. The analysis of the survival curve of Kaplan Meier showed that the cumulative survival rate and cumulative CVD survival rate in MS group were significantly lower than those in non-MS group before and after IPTW( P<0.05). After IPTW was used to eliminate the effect of confounders, multivariate Cox regression analysis still displayed that MS was an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality( HR=1.824, 95% CI 1.121-2.968, P=0.015) and CVD mortality( HR=2.470, 95% CI 1.324-4.609, P=0.004)in peritoneal dialysis patients. Conclusion:The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high in peritoneal dialysis patients. MS is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objective:To compare and analyze the clinical curative effect and safety of chemoembolization with drug-loaded microspheres of different particle sizes (D-TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:Clinical data of 281 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with drug-loaded microspheres-transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different particle sizes of drug-loaded microspheres, they were divided into 100~300 μm (small particle size) and 300~500 μm (large particle size) group. Tumor response rate and complication conditions at 1, 3, and 6 months after chemoembolization were compared. The overall survival time of the two groups were analyzed. Quantitative data conformed to normal distribution and homogeneity of variance were compared using t-test, while other with Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test. Qualitative data were compared using χ2 test. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and the differences in survival were analyzed using Log-rank test. P＜0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Survival curves and histograms were drawn using GraphPad Prism9.1 software. Results:The complete remission rates at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery in the small and large particle size groups were 31.25%, 30.15%, and 42.45% and 18.25%, 15.79% and 24.74%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant between groups (P 1 month=0.012, P 3 month=0.009, P 6 month=0.008, P＜0.05). The objective remission rates at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery in the small and large particle size groups were 88.19%, 76.99%, and 70.75% and 81.02%, 72.81% and 53.60%, respectively. Six months after surgery, the small particle size group (objective response rate = 70.75%) was significantly higher than the large particle size group (objective response rate=53.6%, P=0.012). The disease control rates of the small particle size group were 95.14%, 83.33%, and 74.53%, while large particle size group were 91.24%, 81.58%, and 64.95%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. However, the incidence of postoperative biliary tumors (6.20%) was significantly higher in the small-size than large-size group (0.70%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P＜0.05, P=0.03). There were no statistically significant differences between other adverse events such as post-embolization syndrome, liver abscess, and myelosuppression. The median survival time of the small and large particle size groups was 31.8 months and 20.5 months, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.182). Conclusions:In the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with D-TACE, the short-term curative effect of the small particle size group was better than large particle size group, but the incidence of biliary tumors was high, and D-TACE of different particle sizes had no significant effect on long-term survival.

Objective: To explore the therapeutic value of interventional methods for hemorrhage caused by mandibular arteriovenous malformations. Methods: The clinical data of 7 patients (3 males and 4 females) with mandibular arteriovenous malformations treated by interventional therapy from January 2012 to January 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. Of all patients, 4 patients suffered from sudden massive hemorrhage and 3 patients suffered from spontaneous repeated bleeding. The age ranged from 8.0 to 13.0 (10.6±1.7) years. Of the 7 patients, 3 underwent interventional embolization via arteries and veins, and 4 underwent embolization only via arteries. The embolic materials were polyvinyl alcohol granules and coils. The follow-up period was 9—18 months and the curative effect was observed. Results: Among the 7 patients, 4 cases of acute massive hemorrhage were effectively controlled after interventional operation, 3 cases of chronic bleeding disappeared after interventional operation. No recurrence of bleeding occurred during the follow-up period, only 1 patient presented with oral infection and gingival swelling and hyperplasia. The symptoms were effectively controlled after anti-infection and debridement. No severe complications occurred in all patients. Conclusion Interventional therapy for ateriovenous malformation with hemorrhage is effective, safe and feasible, which is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To investigate the relationship between (serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin,sNGAL) and cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods 300 patients with CKD were divided into two groups according to the level of sNGAL:high sNGAL group (n=158) and low sNGAL group (n=142).The incidence of cardiovascular events and cumulative survival rate were analyzed by ROC curve,and the correlation between sNGAL and cardiovascular risk factors,cardiovascular events in patients with chronic renal disease was analyzed.Influencing factors of cardiovascular events in CKD patients was analyzed.Results There were significant differences in the data about BMI,diabetes proportion,CKD staging,eGFR,hsCRP,24h proteinuria,HDL,iPTH,phosphate and blood calcium between the two groups (P＜0.05).The 3-year cumulative survival rate of high sNGAL group(77.2％) was significantly lower than that of low sNGAL group(96.5％),and the 3-year incidence of cardiovascular events (37.9％) was significantly higher than that of low sNGAL group (9.8％) (P＜ 0.05).AUC in diagnosing cardiovascular events in high sNGAL group (0.746) was significantly higher than that in eGFR(0.636),age (0.504),serum calcium (0.545),HDL(0.594) and LDL (0.508,all P＜0.05).There was a significant correlation between sNGAL and eGFR,HDL,BMI,hs-CRP,iPTH and phosphate (P＜ 0.05).Both univariate and multivariate fact ors COX showed that sNGAL was a risk factor of cardiovascular events in patients with CKD (P＜0.05),((HR=1.976 and 1.588,95％ CI=1.443-2.724 and 1.144-2.143,respectively,P=0.O00 and 0.000)).Conclusions The incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with CKD with high sNGAL is significantly increased.sNGAL is an independent factor of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic renal disease.

Accelerated forgetting has been identified as a feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the therapeutic efficacy of the manipulation of biological mechanisms of forgetting has not been assessed in AD animal models. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), a small GTPase, has been shown to regulate active forgetting in Drosophila and mice. Here, we showed that Rac1 activity is aberrantly elevated in the hippocampal tissues of AD patients and AD animal models. Moreover, amyloid-beta 42 could induce Rac1 activation in cultured cells. The elevation of Rac1 activity not only accelerated 6-hour spatial memory decay in 3-month-old APP/PS1 mice, but also significantly contributed to severe memory loss in aged APP/PS1 mice. A similar age-dependent Rac1 activity-based memory loss was also observed in an AD fly model. Moreover, inhibition of Rac1 activity could ameliorate cognitive defects and synaptic plasticity in AD animal models. Finally, two novel compounds, identified through behavioral screening of a randomly selected pool of brain permeable small molecules for their positive effect in rescuing memory loss in both fly and mouse models, were found to be capable of inhibiting Rac1 activity. Thus, multiple lines of evidence corroborate in supporting the idea that inhibition of Rac1 activity is effective for treating AD-related memory loss.

Objective To investigate the effects of oral care using hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate to prevent neonatal ventilator associated pneumonia(VAP). Methods Totally 209 neonates were recruited and divided into the experimental group with 104 cases and the control group with 105 cases by using random number table method. Based on conventional mechanical ventilation nursing,the experimental group received oral care using 1.5%hydrogen peroxide combined with 2.5% sodium bicarbonate,Q8H,while the control group received oral care using only 2.5% sodium bicarbonate,Q8H. Positive results of bacteria detection in tracheal sputum culture,the incidence rate of VAP,mechanical ventilation time,hospitalization time and hospitalization costs were compared between two groups. Results After 48 hours of mechanical ventilation,the difference in positive results of bacteria detection in tracheal sputum culture between two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). The difference of incidence rate of VAP between two groups showed no statistical significance(P>0.05) when the duration of the mechanical ventilation was 48 hours. While after 48 hours of the mechanical ventilation,the difference of the incidence rate of VAP between two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). The differences in mechanical ventilation time and hospitalization time between two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). The hospitalization costs of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group,while the difference showed no statistical significance(P>0.05). Conclusion The combined usage of hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate for oral care can effectively eliminate neonatal oral bacteria colonization and prevent neonatal VAP,so as to reduce the time of mechanical ventilation and hospitaliza-tion, and decrease hospitalization costs.

Objective To investigate the combined detection of serum cancer antigen(CEA)blank,carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125)and cytokeratin 19 fragment(CYFRA21-1),neuron specific enolase(NSE)in the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules. Methods 150 cases of patients with solitary pulmonary nodules diagnosed in our hospital from January 2015 to March 2017 were selected as the research subjects,including 51 lung cancer patients(Lung Cancer Group)and 51 benign lung disease patients(benign group).60 healthy people in the same period were selected as control group.The serum levels of CEA,CA125,CYFRA21-1 and NSE were detected in three groups of patients,and the clinical value of the combined detection of various indexes in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules was analyzed.Results The serum levels of CEA,CA125,CYFRA21-1 and NSE in patients with lung cancer were significantly higher than those in the benign and control groups(P<0.05);The sensitivity of CEA,CA125, CYFRA21-1 and NSE in differential diagnosis of malignant solitary pulmonary nodules was 32.32%,27.27%,33.33% and 40.40%,respectively.The specificity was 62.75%,52.94%,60.78%,70.59,respectively;The sensitivity of CEA + NSE+ CY-FRA21-1+CA125 in the differential diagnosis of malignant solitary pulmonary nodules was 81.82%,the specificity was 88.24%, the rate of missed diagnosis was 18.18%,the misdiagnosis rate was 11.76%,the positive predictive value was 93.10%,and the negative predictive value was 71.43%.Conclusion The combined detection of serum CEA,CA125,CYFRA21-1 and NSE has im-portant clinical value in the differential diagnosis of malignant solitary pulmonary nodules.