Purpose::To identify the risk factors for training-related lower extremity muscle injuries in young males by a non-invasive method of body composition analysis.Methods::A total of 282 healthy young male volunteers aged 18 -20 years participated in this cohort study. Injury location, degree, and injury rate were adjusted by a questionnaire based on the overuse injury assessment methods used in epidemiological studies of sports injuries. The occurrence of training injuries is monitored and diagnosed by physicians and treated accordingly. The body composition was measured using the BodyStat QuadScan 4000 multifrequency Bio-impedance system at 5, 50, 100 and 200 kHz to obtain 4 impedance values. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check whether the data conformed to a normal distribution. Data of normal distribution were shown as mean ± SD and analyzed by t-test, while those of non-normal distribution were shown as median (Q 1, Q 3) and analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test. The receiver operator characteristic curve and logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate risk factors for developing training-related lower extremity injuries and accuracy. Results::Among the 282 subjects, 78 (27.7%) developed training injuries. Lower extremity training injuries revealed the highest incidence, accounting for 23.4% (66 cases). These patients showed higher percentages of lean body mass ( p = 0.001), total body water (TBW, p=0.006), extracellular water ( p=0.020) and intracellular water ( p=0.010) as well as a larger ratio of basal metabolic rate/total weight ( p=0.006), compared with those without lower extremity muscle injuries. On the contrary, the percentage of body fat ( p=0.001) and body fat mass index ( p=0.002) were lower. Logistic regression analysis showed that TBW percentage > 65.35% ( p=0.050, odds ratio =3.114) and 3rd space water > 0.95% ( p=0.045, odds ratio =2.342) were independent risk factors for lower extremity muscle injuries. Conclusion::TBW percentage and 3rd space water measured with bio-impedance method are potential risk factors for predicting the incidence of lower extremity muscle injuries in young males following training.

Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes,promoting the onset and progression of cancer.Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks,tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes,which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy,cancer immunotherapy,and their combinations.Herein,we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes,DNA methylation,histone post-translational modification,and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity,and introduce these epigenetic research methods.We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immuno-therapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Codonopsis pilosula(Franch.)Nannf in Shanxi and their anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The 70％ ethanol extract from C.pilosula in Shanxi was isolated and purified by silica gel,ODS and preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by RAW264.7 model.RESULTS Sixteen compounds were isolated and identified as ethylsyringin(1),7-O-ethyltangshenoside Ⅱ(2),triandrin(3),trans-isoconiferin(4),methylsyringin(5),9-acetoxy syringin(6),cordifolioidyne B(7),codonopiloenynenoside A(8),codonopilodiynoside F(9),pratialin B(10),lobetyolinin(11),lariciresinol-4-O-β-D-glucoside(12),dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4′-O-β-D-glucoside(13),atractylenolid Ⅲ(14),baimantuoluoamide B(15),benzyl primeveroside(16).Compounds 1-2,5,7-11 and 13-15 had certain anti-inflammatory activities,among which compounds 11,14-15 had higher activities,whose IC50 values were(18.23±4.18),(17.73±3.12),(14.89±2.47)μmol/L,respectively.CONCLUSION Compounds 3,6,13,16 are first isolated from Campanulaceae,2,5,15 are first found from this plant.Compounds 11,14 and 15 have good anti-inflammatory activities.

Recent studies have shown that the occurrence and development of common liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, are related to liver aging(LA). Therefore, to explore the effect and mechanism of Dahuang Zhechong Pills(DHZCP), a traditional classic prescription in improving LA with multiple targets, the present study randomly divided 24 rats into a normal group, a model group, a DHZCP group, and a vitamin E(VE) group, with six rats in each group. The LA model was induced by continuous intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose(D-gal) in rats. For the LA model rats, the general situation was evaluated by aging phenotype and body weight(BW). LA was assessed by the pathological characteristics of hepatocyte senescence, hepatic function indexes, the staining characteristics of phosphorylated histone family 2A variant(γ-H2AX), and the expression levels of cell cycle arrest proteins(P21, P53, P16) and senescence-associated secretory phenotype(SASP) in the liver. The activation of the reactive oxygen species(ROS)-mediated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/forkhead box protein O4(FoxO4) signaling pathway was estimated by hepatic ROS expression feature and the protein expression levels of the key signaling molecules in the PI3K/Akt/FoxO4 signaling pathway. The results showed that after the treatment with DHZCP or VE for 12 weeks, for the DHZCP and VE groups, the characterized aging phenotype, BW, pathological characteristics of hepatocyte senescence, hepatic function indexes, relative expression of ROS in the liver, protein expression levels of key signaling molecules including p-PI3K, p-Akt, and FoxO4 in the liver, staining characteristics of γ-H2AX, and the protein expression levels of P16, P21, P53, interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the liver were improved, and the effects of DHZCP and VE were similar. Based on the D-gal-induced LA model in rats, this study demonstrates that DHZCP can ameliorate LA with multiple targets in vivo, and its effects and mechanism are related to regulating the activation of the ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt/FoxO4 signaling pathway in the liver. These findings are expected to provide new pharmacological evidence for the treatment of DHZCP in aging-related liver diseases.
Animals ; Rats ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics* ; Signal Transduction ; Liver ; Aging ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; Interleukin-6

The flavonoids in Panax notoginseng were qualitatively analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), and the content of three main flavonoids in P. notoginseng of different specifications and grades collected from different habitats was determined by HPLC-DAD. Flavonoids and anthocyanins were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS in the positive and negative ion modes, respectively. Twelve flavonoid glycosides and one anthocyanin glycoside in P. notoginseng were identified, but no flavonoid aglycones were detected. Among them, 12 compounds were identified in the underground part of P. notoginseng for the first time and eight compounds were first reported in this plant. Moreover, six and four compounds were identified in the Panax genus and the Araliaceae family for the first time, respectively. A method for simultaneous determination of three flavonoids in P. notoginseng was established by HPLC-DAD. The content of flavonoids in 721 P. notoginseng samples of 124 specifications and grades collected from 20 different habitats was simultaneously determined. Among three flavonoids determined, the content of quercetin-3-O-(2″-β-D-xylosyl)-β-D-galactoside was the highest with the average content in the tested samples of 161.0 μg·g~(-1). The content of compounds quercetin-3-O-hexosyl-hexoside and kaempferol-3-O-pentosyl-hexoside was relatively low, with the average content of 18.5 μg·g~(-1)(calculated as quercetin-3-O-sophoroside) and 49.4 μg·g~(-1)(calculated as kaempferol-3-O-sangbu diglycoside). There were significant differences in flavonoids content of samples from different production area. The content of flavonoids in spring P. notoginseng was significantly lower than that in winter P. notoginseng when the other influencing factors such as production areas, germplasm resources, and cultivation conditions were fixed. As for P. notoginseng of different specifications, the flavonoid content in the part connecting the taproot and the aboveground stem was significantly higher than that in other parts. The results of large-scale data showed that the flavonoid content gradually increased with the increase in the number of heads. There were significant differences between the flavonoid content in most specifications and grades, especially the 20-head P. notoginseng and countless head P. notoginseng, whose content was significantly lower and significantly higher than that of other specifications and grades, respectively. This study provides a scientific basis for the study of the effective components and quality control of P. notoginseng from the perspective of flavonoids.
Flavonoids/analysis* ; Anthocyanins/analysis* ; Quercetin ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Kaempferols ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Glycosides

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

Objective: To analyze the incidence and risk factors of otologic disorders in patients with Turner syndrome (TS), so as to provide management strategies for ear health. Methods: This study is a prospective study based on questionnaires and a cross-sectional study. The TS patients who visited our hospital from 2010 January to 2021 March were included (A total of 71 patients with TS were included in this study. the age of TS diagnosed was 3- to 11-year-old, age of visiting ENT department was 4- to 27-year-old) and the incidence of otologic diseases in different age groups was investigated by questionnaires. The cross-sectional study included ear morphology and auditory function assessment, and further analysis of the risk factors that related to ear disease. Prism was used for data analysis. Results: The investigation found that the incidence of acute otitis media in patients aged 3-6 and 7-12 years was higher than that of patients over 12 years old, which was 33.8%(24/71), 42.9%(30/70)and 23.5%(8/34), respectively; 21.1% (15/71) of patients were recurrent acute otitis media in patients aged 3-6 years, and about 46.6% (7/15)of them persisted beyond 6-year. The prevalence of otitis media with effusion in the three groups was 32.4%(23/71), 34.3%(24/70)and 38.2%(13/34), respectively; the recurrence rate of tympanocentesis was 100%(7/7), 42.9%(3/7)and 50.0%(1/2), which was significantly higher than that of grommet insertion. For age groups of 3-6 and 7-12 years, the prevalence of acute otitis media and secretory otitis media was lower in the X chromosome structure abnormal patients; while for patients older than 12 years, otitis media with effusion was the highest prevalence in Y-chromosome-containing karyotypes. In addition, the prevalence of acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion in patients with other system diseases were increased significantly. A cross-sectional study found that 7.0% (5/71)of the lower auricular, 4.2% (3/71)of the external auditory canal narrow, and 38.0% (27/71)of the tympanic membrane abnormality. 35.2%(25/71) had abnormal hearing, including 17 cases of conductive deafness, 6 cases of sensorineural hearing loss, and 2 cases of mixed deafness. The rest of the patients had normal hearing, but 6 of them had abnormalities in otoacoustic emission. Eustachian tube function assessment found that the eustachian tube dysfunction accounted for 38%(27/71). Hearing loss and abnormal Eustachian tube function were not significantly related to karyotype(Chi-square 2.83 and 2.84,P value 0.418 and 0.417), but significantly related to other system diseases(Chi-square 13.43 and 7.53,P value<0.001). Conclusions: The incidence of TS-related otitis media and auditory dysfunction is significantly higher than that of the general population. It not only occurs in preschool girls, but also persists or develops after school age. Accompanied by other system diseases are risk factors for ear diseases. Clinicians should raise their awareness of TS-related ear diseases and incorporate ear health monitoring into routine diagnosis and treatment.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Deafness/etiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Ear Ventilation/adverse effects* ; Otitis Media/complications* ; Otitis Media with Effusion/complications* ; Prospective Studies ; Turner Syndrome/therapy* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the short-term clinical efficacy and factors influencing low-dose superficial X-ray for treating infantile maxillofacial hemangioma. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was conducted on 161 cases of infants with maxillofacial hemangioma treated with superficial X-ray in the Laser Center of Dermatology Department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017. Clinical efficacy was analyzed by comparing the photos before and after treatment. Patients were further divided into groups according to different genders, age at the start of treatment, preterm birth or low birth weight, hemangioma site, longest diameter of hemangioma, and type of hemangioma to analyze whether differences existed in clinical efficacy and therapeutic dose between different groups. RESULTS: Twelve months after the end of treatment, the overall cure rate was 93.8%, and the significant efficiency was 97.5%. The clinical efficacy was related to the age of children at the beginning of treatment and the type of hemangioma ( CONCLUSIONS Low-dose superficial X-ray is safe and effective for the treatment of infantile maxillofacial hemangioma. Age and type of hemangioma at the time of treatment are the factors influencing therapeutic dose and clinical efficacy.
Child ; Female ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms ; Treatment Outcome ; X-Rays

Objective:To investigate the effects of polyethylene glycol 400 （PEG400） on the pharmacokinetics and anti-inflammatory effect of baicalin， and to preliminarily explore the anti-inflammatory effects of baicalin and its main metabolite baicalein 6-O-β-D-glucuronide （B6G） by molecular docking. Method:Rats were randomly divided into two groups with water and PEG400 as the dissolving matrix， and rats were administrated the equal dose of baicalin aqueous solution （baicalin+water group） and baicalin PEG400 solution （baicalin+PEG400 group）. After the plasma samples were processed at different time periods， the concentrations of baicalin and B6G in rat plasma were determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS）， and pharmacokinetic parameters were processed by DAS 3.2.2 software. Mice were randomly divided into a blank group （normal saline， 20 mL·kg^-1）， aspirin group （dose of 0.2 g·kg^-1）， baicalin/baicalin+PEG400 high and low dose （3.0， 1.5 g·kg^-1） groups， after continuous administration for 7 days， the mouse ear swelling and foot swelling models were established， and the swelling degree and swelling inhibition rate were calculated. Result:The pharmacokinetic study showed that compared with baicalin+water group， the plasma concentrations of baicalin and B6G increased after administration of baicalin PEG400 solution， and the area under the curve （AUC_0-t） increased by 2.36， 1.97 times， and the peak concentration （C_max） increased by 2.12， 1.65 times， respectively. The results of mouse ear and foot swelling inflammation models showed that the anti-inflammatory effect was enhanced after intragastric administration of baicalin PEG400 solution. In addition， molecular docking results showed that baicalin and B6G could site bind to multiple target proteins ［tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-6， IL-1β， prostaglandin E₂ （PGE₂） and nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB）］ with higher affinity， which was superior to the positive drug aspirin. Conclusion:PEG400 can increase the plasma concentration of baicalin and its main metabolite B6G， and enhance the anti-inflammatory effect. Baicalin and B6G can form strong hydrogen bonds with various inflammatory factors and of nuclear transcription factors， it is speculated that baicalin and B6G jointly play an anti-inflammatory role.

Objective: To explore the effect of perioperative chemotherapy on the prognosis of gastric cancer patients under real-world condition. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Real world data of gastric cancer patients receiving perioperative chemotherapy and surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy in 33 domestic hospitals from January 1, 2014 to January 31, 2016 were collected. Inclusion criteria: (1) gastric adenocarcinoma was confirmed by histopathology, and clinical stage was cT2-4aN0-3M0 (AJCC 8th edition); (2) D2 radical gastric cancer surgery was performed; (3) at least one cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was completed; (4) at least 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) [SOX (S-1+oxaliplatin) or CapeOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin)] were completed. Exclusion criteria: (1) complicated with other malignant tumors; (2) radiotherapy received; (3) patients with incomplete data. The enrolled patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy were included in the perioperative chemotherapy group, and those who received only postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were included in the surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy group. Propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to control selection bias. The primary outcome were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after PSM. OS was defined as the time from the first neoadjuvant chemotherapy (operation + adjuvant chemotherapy group: from the date of operation) to the last effective follow-up or death. PFS was defined as the time from the first neoadjuvant chemotherapy (operation + adjuvant chemotherapy group: from the date of operation) to the first imaging diagnosis of tumor progression or death. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the survival rate, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the independent effect of perioperative chemo therapy on OS and PFS. Results: 2 045 cases were included, including 1 293 cases in the surgery+adjuvant chemotherapy group and 752 cases in the perioperative chemotherapy group. After PSM, 492 pairs were included in the analysis. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, body mass index, tumor stage before treatment, and tumor location between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy group, patients in the perioperative chemotherapy group had higher proportion of total gastrectomy (χ(2)=40.526, P<0.001), smaller maximum tumor diameter (t=3.969, P<0.001), less number of metastatic lymph nodes (t=1.343, P<0.001), lower ratio of vessel invasion (χ(2)=11.897, P=0.001) and nerve invasion (χ(2)=12.338, P<0.001). In the perioperative chemotherapy group and surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy group, 24 cases (4.9%) and 17 cases (3.4%) developed postoperative complications, respectively, and no significant difference was found between two groups (χ(2)=0.815, P=0.367). The median OS of the perioperative chemotherapy group was longer than that of the surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy group (65 months vs. 45 months, HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.62-0.89, P=0.001); the median PFS of the perioperative chemotherapy group was also longer than that of the surgery+adjuvant chemotherapy group (56 months vs. 36 months, HR=0.72, 95% CI:0.61-0.85, P<0.001). The forest plot results of subgroup analysis showed that both men and women could benefit from perioperative chemotherapy (all P<0.05); patients over 45 years of age (P<0.05) and with normal body mass (P<0.01) could benefit significantly; patients with cTNM stage II and III presented a trend of benefit or could benefit significantly (P<0.05); patients with signet ring cell carcinoma benefited little (P>0.05); tumors in the gastric body and gastric antrum benefited more significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion: Perioperative chemotherapy can improve the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery*