Urticarial vasculitis is a skin disease with urticaria-like lesions and a histopathological pattern of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. It is considered a "hidden rash" in traditional Chinese medicine. Xuanfu is the portal that regulates qi, blood, fluid, and the ascending, descending, exiting, and entering of nutrition qi and defensive qi. Collaterals are the pathways for the circulation of qi and blood. The two accompany each other, connecting zang-fu organs, reaching the surfaces of the skin, hair, and external body, circulating qi and fluid, and moistening and protecting the skin. Based on the theory of Xuanfu-collateral, this study aimed to clarify the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment method of urticarial vasculitis. External assault by wind and Xuanfu blockage are believed to be the initiating factors of this disease. The malnutrition of Xuanfu and collaterals and accumulated dampness-heat are important links in the occurrence and development of urticarial vasculitis. It spreads from Xuanfu to the collaterals, and blockage of the collaterals is the immanent trend of this disease. Clinically, by closely adhering to the core pathogenesis of blockage of Xuanfu-collateral, treatment method such as using wind medicinals to open Xuanfu with pungent and dispersing properties, using the method of supplement deficiency and removing the blockage, and using medicinals to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis to unblock the blocked collaterals. The herbs are flexibly added or subtracted to unblock Xuanfu and collaterals, harmonize qi and blood, thus all symptoms can be relieved. We hope that this study will provide new ideas for the treatment of urticarial vasculitis with traditional Chinese medicine.

Glutamine provides carbon and nitrogen to support the proliferation of cancer cells. However, the precise reason why cancer cells are particularly dependent on glutamine remains unclear. In this study, we report that glutamine modulates the tumor suppressor F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBW7) to promote cancer cell proliferation and survival. Specifically, lysine 604 (K604) in the sixth of the 7 substrate-recruiting WD repeats of FBW7 undergoes glutaminylation (Gln-K604) by glutaminyl tRNA synthetase. Gln-K604 inhibits SCFFBW7-mediated degradation of c-Myc and Mcl-1, enhances glutamine utilization, and stimulates nucleotide and DNA biosynthesis through the activation of c-Myc. Additionally, Gln-K604 promotes resistance to apoptosis by activating Mcl-1. In contrast, SIRT1 deglutaminylates Gln-K604, thereby reversing its effects. Cancer cells lacking Gln-K604 exhibit overexpression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 and display resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Silencing both c-MYC and MCL-1 in these cells sensitizes them to chemotherapy. These findings indicate that the glutamine-mediated signal via Gln-K604 is a key driver of cancer progression and suggest potential strategies for targeted cancer therapies based on varying Gln-K604 status.
Glutamine/metabolism* ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/genetics* ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; Signal Transduction ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7/genetics* ; Cell Survival ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Apoptosis

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Data analysis models may assist the transmission of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） experience and clinical diagnosis and treatment， and the possibility of constructing a “data-knowledge” dual-drive model was explored by taking gastric precancerous state as an example. Data-driven is to make clinical decisions around data analysis， and its syndrome-differentiation decision-making research relies on hidden structural models and partially observable Markov decision-making processes to identify the etiology of diseases， syndrome elements， evolution of pathogenesis， and syndrome differentiation protocols； knowledge-driven is to make use of data and information to promote decision-making and action processes， and its syndrome-differentiation decision-making research relies on convolutional neural networks to improve the accuracy of local disease identification and syndrome differentiation. The “data-knowledge” dual-driven model can make up for the shortcomings of single-drive numerical simulation accuracy， and achieve a balance between local disease identification and macroscopic syndrome differentiation. On the basis of previous research， we explored the construction method of diagnostic assisted decision-making platform for gastric precancerous state， and believed that the diagnostic and decision-making ability of doctors can be extended through the assistance of machines and algorithms. Meanwhile， the related research methods were integrated and the core features of gastric precancerous state based on TCM syndrome differentiation and endoscopic pathology diagnosis and prediction were obtained， and the elements of endoscopic pathology recognition based on TCM syndrome differentiation were explored， so as to provide ideas for the in-depth research and innovative application of cutting-edge data analysis technology in the field of intelligent TCM syndrome differentiation.

This study explored the protective effect of astragaloside Ⅳ(AS-Ⅳ) on oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)-induced autophagic injury in PC12 cells and its underlying mechanism. An OGD-induced autophagic injury model in vitro was established in PC12 cells. The cells were divided into a normal group, an OGD group, low-, medium-, and high-dose AS-Ⅳ groups, and a positive drug dexmedetomidine(DEX) group. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes and autolysosomes, and the MDC staining method was used to assess the fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes. Western blot was conducted to determine the relative expression levels of functional proteins LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin1, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR, and HIF-1α. Compared with the normal group, the OGD group exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability(P<0.01), an increase in autophagosomes(P<0.01), enhanced fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes(P<0.01), up-regulated Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, and HIF-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and down-regulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the OGD group, the low-and medium-dose AS-Ⅳ groups and the DEX group showed a significant increase in cell viability(P<0.01), decreased autophagosomes(P<0.01), weakened fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes(P<0.01), down-regulated Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, and HIF-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and up-regulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.01). AS-Ⅳ at low and medium doses exerted a protective effect against OGD-induced autophagic injury in PC12 cells by activating the Akt/mTOR pathway, subsequently influencing HIF-1α. The high-dose AS-Ⅳ group did not show a statistically significant difference compared with the OGD group. This study provides a certain target reference for the prevention and treatment of OGD-induced cellular autophagic injury by AS-Ⅳ and accumulates laboratory data for the secondary development of Astragali Radix and AS-Ⅳ.
Rats ; Animals ; PC12 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Glucose/therapeutic use* ; Oxygen/metabolism* ; Beclin-1/pharmacology* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Autophagy ; Apoptosis ; Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy*

Objective:To investigate the early and middle term clinical efficacies of 3D-printed metal prostheses in the reconstruction of bone defects after osteotomy in malignant bone tumors.Methods:A total of 34 patients with malignant bone tumors of lower extremity femur and tibia who underwent 3D printing individualized metal prosthesis replacement surgery in the Department of Bone and Soft Tissue of Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2019 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 23 males and 11 females, with an average age of 19.1±15.2 years (range, 7-80 years). There were 22 children and adolescents younger than 18 years old. There were 3 cases in the proximal femur, 15 cases in the middle and distal femur, 10 cases in the proximal tibia and 6 cases in the distal tibia. According to the final pathological diagnosis, 24 cases of osteosarcoma, 6 cases of Ewing's sarcoma, 2 cases of undifferentiated sarcoma, 1 case of osteosarcoma, and 1 case of malignant giant cell tumor of bone were enrolled in this study. Postoperative complications, wound healing, periprosthetic fracture and aseptic loosening, tumor outcome (evaluated by tumor control evaluation criteria), and length difference of lower limbs were recorded. Response evaluation criteria in solid tumor (RECIST) was used to evaluate tumor outcomes. Prosthetic-bone interface healing was evaluated postoperatively, and the function was evaluated based on Musculoskeletal Oncology Society (MSTS) 93.Results:The length of lesions was 70-240 mm in 34 patients, with an average of 125.5±35.4 mm. The length of osteotomy was 80-275 mm, with an average of 160.2±33.9 mm. No tumor was found on the osteotomy surface. The customized prosthesis was firmly installed and closely matched with the side of the preserved articular surface. There were 2 patients with local incision fat liquefaction and 4 patients with superficial wound infection, which healed after debridement and antibiotic treatment. One distal tibia osteosarcoma case developed severe periprosthetic infection 2 months after surgery, resulting in prosthesis implantation failure, limb movement pain and poor ankle function. After removal of the prosthesis, infection control and osteogenesis with the Ilizarov technique, the infection was completely controlled and local osteogenesis was possible. The remaining 33 patients had a good prosthetic-bone interface union. One case was found to have localized bone resorption on the contact surface of the prosthesis 7 months after operation, but the metal prosthesis and screws were not loose. The incisions healed well in other patients, without infection, prosthesis loosening, fracture or other complications. All patients survived and were followed up for 13.8±5.6 months (range, 7-27 months). During the follow-up, there was no recurrence of tumor at the osteotomy end in all patients, but 5 patients developed lung metastasis. At the end of the last follow-up, all patients survived. Among them, 16 patients had unequal length of lower limbs, including 10 cases within 2 cm, 3 cases between 2-5 cm, and 3 cases over 5 cm. With the exception of one patient whose prosthesis was removed due to infection, the MSTS 93 of the other patients was 24.9±2.2 (range, 19-28), and were rated as excellent in 26 cases and good in 7 cases. According to the RECIST evaluation criteria, 26 of 34 patients had complete response, 5 had disease progression, and 3 had stable disease.Conclusion:3D printed metal prosthesis is one of the effective methods for the treatment of bone defects after resection of malignant bone tumors in lower limbs, which is safe, reliable and has satisfactory early curative effect.

Aim To investigate the differences in the role of different purinergic receptor subtypes at different sites in postoperative-hyperalgesic priming in mice. Methods A postoperative-hyperalgesic priming model was constructed by injecting PGE

OBJECTIVES: To estimate postmortem interval (PMI) by analyzing the protein changes in skeletal muscle tissues with the protein chip technology combined with multivariate analysis methods. METHODS: Rats were sacrificed for cervical dislocation and placed at 16 ℃. Water-soluble proteins in skeletal muscles were extracted at 10 time points (0 d, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 4 d, 5 d, 6 d, 7 d, 8 d and 9 d) after death. Protein expression profile data with relative molecular mass of 14 000-230 000 were obtained. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) were used for data analysis. Fisher discriminant model and back propagation (BP) neural network model were constructed to classify and preliminarily estimate the PMI. In addition, the protein expression profiles data of human skeletal muscles at different time points after death were collected, and the relationship between them and PMI was analyzed by heat map and cluster analysis. RESULTS: The protein peak of rat skeletal muscle changed with PMI. The result of PCA combined with OPLS discriminant analysis showed statistical significance in groups with different time points (P<0.05) except 6 d, 7 d and 8 d after death. By Fisher discriminant analysis, the accuracy of internal cross-validation was 71.4% and the accuracy of external validation was 66.7%. The BP neural network model classification and preliminary estimation results showed the accuracy of internal cross-validation was 98.2%, and the accuracy of external validation was 95.8%. There was a significant difference in protein expression between 4 d and 25 h after death by the cluster analysis of the human skeletal muscle samples. CONCLUSIONS The protein chip technology can quickly, accurately and repeatedly obtain water-soluble protein expression profiles in rats' and human skeletal muscles with the relative molecular mass of 14 000-230 000 at different time points postmortem. The establishment of multiple PMI estimation models based on multivariate analysis can provide a new idea and method for PMI estimation.
Animals ; Humans ; Rats ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postmortem Changes ; Protein Array Analysis ; Technology

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognostic influencing factors of open abdomen technique for acute pancreatitis with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 186 patients of acute pancreatitis with ACS who were admitted to 6 hospitals, including 65 cases in the 910th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese People′s Liberation Army, 46 cases in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 33 cases in the Fujian Provincial Hospital, 31 cases in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 7 cases in the People′s Hospital Affiliated to Quanzhou Medical College, 4 cases in the Shishi General Hospital, from January 2013 to December 2020 were collected. There were 142 males and 44 females, aged (43±8)years. Observation indica-tors: (1) patients conditions after being treatment with open abdomen technique; (2) analysis of clinical characteristics in patients with different treatment outcomes; (3) changing trend of the volume of urine output, levels of lactic acid, levels of enteral nutrient intake and the sequential organ failure score in patients with different treatment outcomes; (4) influencing factors for prognosis of patients. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and compari-son between groups was analyzed using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test or the continuity correction chi-square test. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using the repeated ANOVA. Spearman correlation analysis was used for correlation analyses. The COX regression model was used for univariate analysis and COX regression model with forward regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results:(1) Patients conditions after being treatment with open abdomen technique. Intra-abdominal pressure, oxygena-tion index, levels of lactic acid and sequential organ failure score of the 186 patients were (23.3±1.9)mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (121±24)mmHg, (5.0±3.4)mmol/L and 10.4±3.6 before the treatment with open abdomen technique and (11.2±2.9)mmHg, (222±38)mmHg, (3.2±2.1)mmol/L and 4.4±2.3 at postoperative 168 hours, showing significant differences in time effects before and after the treatment ( Ftime=855.26,208.50, 174.91,208.47, P<0.05). (2) Analysis of clinical characteristics in patients with different treatment outcomes. Of the 186 patients, 166 cases survived and were discharged, and 20 cases died during hospitalization. Age, sequential organ failure score, duration of ACS and levels of lactic acid during hospitalization before the treatment with open abdomen technique were (41±7)years, 9.4±3.4, 13(10,21)hours and (4.2±0.6)mmol/L in surviving patients, versus (45±6)years, 11.5±2.4, 65(39,84)hours and (5.2±0.5)mmol/L in dead patients, respectively, showing significant differences between them ( t=-2.10, -2.71, Z=-5.36, t=-7.16, P<0.05). Duration of postoperative acute gastro-intestinal injury, duration of continuous renal replacement therapy, time to liberation from mech-anical ventilation, duration of vasoactive drugs therapy, cases undergoing early abdominal closure, cases without intestinal fistula or with postoperative high-order intestinal fistula and low-order intestinal fistula during hospitalization after the treatment with open abdomen technique were 4(2,6)days, 4(3,7)days, 34(21,41)days, 3(2,6)days, 126, 131, 23, 12 in surviving patients, versus 13(10,17)days, 10(8,18)days, 0(0,3)days, 8(6,12)days, 1, 2, 15, 3 in dead patients, respectively, showing significant differences between them ( Z=-5.60, -3.75, -3.64, -3.06, χ2=41.43, 45.86, P<0.05). (3) Changing trend of the volume of urine output, levels of lactic acid, levels of enteral nutrient intake and the sequential organ failure score in patients with different treatment outcomes. The volume of urine output, levels of lactic acid, levels of enteral nutrient intake and the sequential organ failure score in surviving patients during hospitalization were (0.29±0.10)mL/(kg·h), (4.2±0.6)mmol/L, 0.0 kcal/(kg·d) and 9.4±3.4 before the treatment with open abdomen technique and (2.22±0.15)mL/(kg·h), (1.9±0.7)mmol/L, (20.7±2.9)kcal/(kg·d) and 3.7±2.2 at postoperative 168 hours. The above indicators in dead patients during hospitalization were (0.28±0.08)mL/(kg·h), (5.2±0.5)mmol/L, 0.0kcal/(kg·d) and 11.5±2.4 before the treatment with open abdomen technique and (0.28±0.09)mL/(kg·h), (7.7±0.8)mmol/L, (4.6±1.8)kcal/(kg·d) and 12.4±2.1 at postoperative 168 hours. There were significant differences in time effects in the above indicators in surviving patients and dead patients before and after the treatment with open abdomen technique ( Ftime=425.57, 188.59, 394.84, 37.52, P<0.05). There were interactive effects between the above indicators and the treatment outcome at different time points ( Finteraction=383.14, 233.04, 169.83, 36.61, P<0.05). There were signifi-cant differences in the change trends of the above indicators between the surviving patients and the dead patients during hospitalization ( Fgouprs=2 739.56, 877.98, 542.05, 240.85, P<0.05). (4) Influen-cing factors for prognosis of patients. Results of univariate analysis showed that age, sequential organ failure score, duration of ACS before surgery, procalcitonin, lactic acid, postoperative high-order intestinal fistula, abdominal hemorrhage, duration of postoperative acute gastrointestinal injury, duration of continuous renal replacement therapy, duration of vasoactive drugs therapy, early abdominal closure were related factors influencing prognosis of patients under-going treatment with open abdomen technique ( hazard ratio=1.07, 1.18, 1.39, 1.16, 8.25, 12.26, 2.83, 1.29, 1.56, 1.41, 0.02, 95% confidence interval as 1.00-1.15, 1.45-2.27, 1.22-1.57, 1.02-1.32, 1.75-38.90, 7.37-41.23, 1.16-6.93, 1.22-1.37, 1.23-1.99, 1.08-1.84, 0.00-0.16, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that extended duration of ACS before surgery, postoperative high-order intestinal fistula and extended duration of postoperative acute gastrointestinal injury were independent risk factors influencing prognosis of patients undergoing treatment with open abdomen technique ( hazard ratio=1.05, 7.95, 1.17, 95% confidence interval as 1.01-1.32, 2.05-30.87, 1.13-1.95, P<0.05) and early abdominal closure was an independent protective factor ( hazard ratio=0.10, 95% confidence interval as 0.01-0.89, P<0.05). Results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that duration of ACS was positively correlated with sequential organ failure score before surgery ( r=0.71, P<0.05). Conclusions:Open abdomen technique is effective for acute pancreatitis with ACS. Extended duration of ACS before surgery, postoperative high-order intestinal fistula and extended duration of postoperative acute gastrointestinal injury are independent risk factors for prognosis of patients during hospitalization and early abdominal closure is an independent protective factor.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of deep learning reconstruction (DLR) compared with hybrid iterative reconstruction (Hybrid IR) in improving the image quality in chest low-dose CT (LDCT).Methods:Seventy-seven patients who underwent LDCT scan for physical examination or regular follow-up in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively included. The LDCT images were reconstructed with Hybrid IR at standard level (Hybrid IR Stand) and DLR at standard and strong level (DLR Stand and DLR Strong). Regions of interest were placed on pulmonary lobe, aorta, subscapularis muscle and axillary fat to measure the CT value and image noise. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Subjective image quality was evaluated using Likert 5-score method by two experienced radiologists. The number and features of ground-glass nodule (GGN) were also assessed. If the scores of the two radiologists were inconsistent, the score was determined by the third radiologist. The objective and subjective image evaluation were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Bonferroni test was used for multiple comparisons within the group.Results:Among Hybrid IR Stand, DLR Stand and DLR Strong images, the CT value of pulmonary lobe, aorta, subscapularis muscle and axillary fat had no significant differences (all P>0.05), but the image noise and SNR of pulmonary lobe, aorta, subscapularis muscle and axillary fat had significant differences(all P<0.05), and the CNR of images had significant difference( P<0.05), too. The CNR of Hybrid IR Stand images, DLR stand images and DLR strong images were 0.71 (0.49, 0.88), 1.06 (0.78, 1.32) and 1.14 (0.84, 1.48), respectively. Compared with Hybrid IR images, DLR images had lower objective and subjective image noise,higher SNR and CNR (all P<0.05). The scores of DLR images were superior to Hybrid IR images in identifying lung fissures, pulmonary vessels, trachea and bronchi, lymph nodes, pleura, pericardium and GGN (all P<0.05). Conclusions:DLR significantly reduced the image noise, and DLR images were superior to Hybrid IR images in identifying GGN in chest LDCT while maintaining superior image quality at relatively low radiation dose levels. Thus DLR images can improve the safety of lung cancer screening and pulmonary nodule follow-up by CT.