ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and possible mechanisms of Xianglian Huazhuo Granules （香连化浊颗粒， XHG） in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. MethodsA total of 140 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 70 cases in each group. The treatment group received 12.5 g of XHG orally， twice daily. The control group received 12.5 g of placebo orally， twice daily. Both groups were treated for 6 months. The traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores， pathological types， serum tumor markers of the digestive system， and serum bile acids （TBA）， interleukin-23 （IL-23）， and Dickkopf-related protein 1 （DKK-1） levels were observed before and after treatment. Safety indicators and adverse events were recorded. After treatment， TCM syndrome efficacy and pathological types were evaluated， and patients were followed up for 18 months with gastric endoscopy and pathological results， which were compared with the results after treatment finished. ResultsTwo patients dropped out in the control group， and a total of 168 cases were included in the final analysis， 70 in the treatment group and 68 in the control group. The treatment group showed a significant reduction in TCM symptom scores， serum TBA， IL-23， and DKK-1 levels， and a significant increase in alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）， carbohydrate antigen 125 （CA125）， carbohydrate antigen 199 （CA199） levels； in the control group， carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA）， CA125， CA199 levels significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； and carbohydrate antigen 242 （CA242） level in both the treatment group and the control group decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. The treatment group had lower TCM symptom scores and lower levels of serum TBA， IL-23， and DKK-1 compared to the control group （P＜0.05）. The effective rate for TCM syndrome efficacy in the treatment group was 80.00% （56/70）， significantly higher than the 20.59% （14/68） in the control group （P < 0.05）. The effective rate for pathological classification in the treatment group was 72.73% （8/11） for mixed intestinal metaplasia， significantly better than 46.15% （6/13） in the control group （P＜0.05）. No adverse events were reported in either group. Among 40 patients who had a follow-up endoscopy after one year， 21 were from the treatment group， of whom 11 showed reduced intestinal metaplasia， 9 showed no significant changes， and 1 had worsened； while 19 patients in the control group had 4 with reduced intestinal metaplasia， 13 with no significant changes， and 2 with worsened conditions. No cancer was detected in either group. The treatment group showed significantly better improvement in intestinal metaplasia on follow-up gastric endoscopy pathology than the control group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionXHG can significantly improve the clinical symptoms in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia and reduce the degree of mixed intestinal metaplasia. The mechanism may involve lowering serum TBA， DKK-1， and IL-23 levles， thus delaying the progression from inflammation to cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture (for unblocking the obstruction in the governor vessel and regulating the spirit) on depression-like behavior and the hippocampal Endophilin A1/reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway in the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model rats, and explore the mechanism of this therapy for depression. METHODS: Forty-eight male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a normal group (n=12) and a modeling group (n=36). In the modeling group, CUMS was performed to establish depression model. The successfully-modeled rats were randomized into a model group, a Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture group (referred to as the acupuncture group), and a fluoxetine group, with 12 rats in each group. In the acupuncture group, "Baihui" (GV20), "Shenting" (GV24), "Shuigou" (GV26) and "Dazhui" (GV14) were stimulated with acupuncture. This intervention measure was delivered once a day, continuously for 6 days; it was discontinued on day 7 and was completed in 28 days. In the fluoxetine group, intragastric administration was done with fluoxetine solution (2.1 mg/kg), once a day, and for 28 consecutive days. Before and after modeling, and after intervention completion, the body mass, sucrose preference rate and the total distance of movement and the boxes of horizontal crossing in the open field experiment were observed in each group. After intervention, using HE staining, the hippocampal neuron morphology was observed; using Nissl staining, the hippocampal Nissl body number was counted. The hippocampal mitochondria was observed under transmission electron microscopy. The average fluorescence intensity of ROS in hippocampal was determined using flow cytometry. With Western blot method, the protein expression of Endophilin A1, growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampal was detected; and with RT-qPCR method, the mRNA expression of Endophilin A1, GAP-43, and BDNF was recorded. Using the immunofluorescence, the average fluorescence intensity of Endophilin A1, GAP-43, and BDNF in hippocampal tissue was determined. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, in the model group, the body mass, sucrose preference rate, and the total distance of movement and the boxes of horizontal crossing in the open field experiment decreased (P<0.01); the hippocampal neuronal structure was unclear, the matrix was relatively loose, and the number of Nissl body decreased (P<0.01); mitochondrial structure was disarranged, the outer membrane was ruptured, mitochondrial cristae was irregular or missed; the average fluorescence intensity of ROS in hippocampal tissue, the protein and mRNA expression and the average fluorescence intensity of Endophilin A1 in hippocampal tissue increased (P<0.01), while the protein and mRNA expression of GAP-43 and BDNF and its average fluorescence intensity decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the acupuncture group and the fluoxetine group showed the increase in body mass, sucrose preference rate, the total distance of movement and the boxes of horizontal crossing in the open field experiment (P<0.05, P<0.01); the hippocampal neuronal structure became relatively clear, the matrix was relatively dense, and the number of Nissl body was elevated (P<0.01); mitochondrial structure got normal and disarranged slightly, the average fluorescence intensity of ROS in hippocampal tissue, the protein and mRNA expression and the average fluorescence intensity of Endophilin A1 in hippocampal tissue were reduced (P<0.01), while the protein and mRNA expression of GAP-43 and BDNF and the average fluorescence intensity rose (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the fluoxetine group, the acupuncture group presented the increase in the average fluorescence intensity of ROS, the protein expression and the average fluorescence intensity of Endophilin A1, the protein expression of GAP-43 and the mRNA expression of BDNF (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the decrease of the protein expression and the average fluorescence intensity of BDNF, the mRNA expression of Endophilin A1, and the average fluorescence intensity of GAP-43 (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Tongdu tiaoshen acupuncture alleviates depression-like behaviors in CUMS model rats and protects hippocampal neurons, which may be related to suppressing Endophilin A1/ROS signaling pathway and attenuating oxidative stress reactions.
Animals ; Male ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Depression/psychology* ; Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Acupuncture Points

OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence and disease burden of congenital birth defects in children under five in China from 1990 to 2021 and to predict the incidence of congenital birth defects in this population from 2022 to 2036, providing a reference for the prevention of congenital birth defects in children. METHODS: Using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) database, the incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were employed to describe the disease burden. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in incidence and DALY rates of congenital birth defects in children under five. A grey prediction model GM(1,1) was applied to fit the trend of incidence rates of congenital birth defects in this age group and to predict the incidence from 2022 to 2036. RESULTS: In 2021, the incidence rate of congenital birth defects among children under five in China was 737.28 per 100 000. Among these, congenital musculoskeletal and limb deformities had the highest incidence rate at 307.15 per 100 000, followed by congenital heart defects (223.53 per 100 000), congenital urinary and genital tract malformations (74.99 per 100 000), and congenital gastrointestinal malformations (62.61 per 100 000). From 1990 to 2021, the incidence rate and DALY rate of congenital birth defects in children under five in China decreased at an average annual rate of 1.73% and 5.42%, respectively. The prediction analysis indicated a decreasing trend in the incidence of congenital birth defects among children under five in China from 2022 to 2036, with the incidence rate dropping from 892.36 per 100 000 in 2022 to 783.35 per 100 000 in 2036. CONCLUSIONS The incidence and disease burden of congenital birth defects in children under five in China showed a significant declining trend from 1990 to 2021. It is predicted that this incidence will continue to decrease until 2036.
Humans ; Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Male ; Forecasting ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) for the prognosis of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess prognosis and compare the clinical features of patients diagnosed with MCL who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2010 to June 2023, had therapeutic indications and received standard treatment. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were included and divided into high EASIX group and low EASIX group, according to a cutoff value of 0.97 determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that prealbumin <0.2 g/L, high EASIX, and ECOG PS score ≥2 were independent risk factors influencing overall survival (OS) in MCL patients. The median OS of patients in the high and low EASIX group was 13.0 and 37.5 months, and the median progression-free survival was 8.8 and 26.0 months, respectively. The proportions of patients with ECOG PS score ≥2 and prealbumin <0.2 g/L at onset significantly increased in the high EASIX group compared to those in the low EASIX group. CONCLUSION At the time of initial diagnosis, EASIX can serve as an independent prognostic indicator impacting OS in patients with MCL. Furthermore, patients in the high EASIX group experience a poorer prognosis and shorter survival duration compared with those in the low EASIX group.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell/pathology* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; ROC Curve

OBJECTIVE: Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently develop central nervous system damage, yet the mechanisms driving this pathology remain unclear. This study investigated the primary pathways and key factors underlying brain tissue damage induced by the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant (lineage B.1.351). METHODS: K18-hACE2 and C57BL/6 mice were intranasally infected with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant. Viral replication, pathological phenotypes, and brain transcriptomes were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed to identify altered pathways. Expression changes of host genes were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS: Pathological alterations were observed in the lungs of both mouse strains. However, only K18-hACE2 mice exhibited elevated viral RNA loads and infectious titers in the brain at 3 days post-infection, accompanied by neuropathological injury and weight loss. GO analysis of infected K18-hACE2 brain tissue revealed significant dysregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and antiviral defense responses, including type I interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptor signaling components, and interferon-stimulated genes. Neuroinflammation was evident, alongside activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways. Furthermore, altered neural cell marker expression suggested viral-induced neuroglial activation, resulting in caspase 4 and lipocalin 2 release and disruption of neuronal molecular networks. CONCLUSION These findings elucidate mechanisms of neuropathogenicity associated with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant and highlight therapeutic targets to mitigate COVID-19-related neurological dysfunction.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Mice ; Brain/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pyroptosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; Male ; Female

Objective: To evaluate the effect of exercise prescription intervention among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide the evidence for guiding appropriate physical activity and glycemic control in this population. Methods: In July 2023, T2DM patients managed by two community health service centers in Qingjiangpu District, Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, were selected as the study participants and randomly assigned divided into a control group and an intervention group. The control group received routine chronic disease management under the basic public health services, while the intervention group, in addition to receiving the same routine chronic disease management, was provided with exercise prescription to guide their physical activity at baseline (T0), after 3 months of intervention (T1), and after 6 months of intervention (T2). Data on weight-related indicators, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and blood lipid were collected through physical examinations and laboratory tests at T0 and after 12 months of intervention (T3). The differences in indicators between the two groups before and after the intervention were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results: The intervention group consisted of 197 patients, including 99 males, accounting for 50.25%. The median disease duration was 7.10 (interquartile range, 7.80) years, and 113 patients had suboptimal HbA1c levels, accounting for 57.36%. The control group included 196 patients, including 99 females, accounting for 50.51%. The median disease duration was 6.10 (interquartile range, 7.00) years, and 100 patients had suboptimal HbA1c levels, accounting for 51.02%. Before the intervention, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in gender, educational level, disease duration, pharmacological treatment, smoking, alcohol consumption, and HbA1c levels (all P>0.05). In the intervention group, the proportion of participants engaging in aerobic exercise and strength training increased from 78.17% and 8.12% at T0 to 85.79% and 16.24% at T3, respectively (both P<0.05). The results of the generalized estimating equations revealed significant interactions between group and time for waist-to-hip ratio, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) following the intervention (all P<0.05). A statistically significant difference in waist-to-hip ratio was found between the two groups (P<0.05), with a greater reduction observed in the intervention group compared to the control group. Significant differences in TC and LDL-C levels were noted across different intervention time points (both P<0.05). Specifically, the intervention group demonstrated reductions of 0.35 mmol/L in TC and 0.42 mmol/L in LDL-C from baseline to follow-up (both P<0.05). Conclusion The 12-month exercise prescription intervention can effectively enhance exercise participation and reduce waist-to-hip ratio, TC, and LDL-C levels among patients with T2DM.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors of locally advanced gastric cancer with serosa-invasion.Methods:This study is a retrospective cohort study. The clinical and pathological data of 495 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer with serosa-invasion who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital Affiliated to Army Medical University from October 2012 to October 2018 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 356 males and 139 females with an age ( M(IQR)) of 59 (16) years (range: 18 to 75 years). Observation indicators included postoperative results and long-term prognosis. The survival curve was drawn by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate prognostic analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results:Among the 495 patients, a total of 57 patients (11.5%) were lost to follow-up, with a follow-up time of 89 (40) months (range: 23 to 134 months). The 5-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) and the 5-year overall survival rate (OS) were 56.0% and 58.2%, respectively. The 5-year DFS for patients with stage ⅡB, ⅢA, ⅢB, ⅢC were 71.2%, 60.5%, 51.6%, 33.3%, respectively. The 5-year OS for patients with stage ⅡB, ⅢA, ⅢB, ⅢC were 71.2%, 62.2%, 54.1%, 39.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age >65 years (DFS: HR=1.402, 95% CI: 1.022 to 1.922, P=0.036; OS: HR=1.461, 95% CI: 1.057 to 2.019, P=0.022), lymph node dissection number less than 25 (DFS: HR=1.348, 95% CI: 1.019 to 1.779, P=0.036; OS: HR=1.376, 95% CI: 1.035 to 1.825, P=0.028), pathological stage Ⅲ (DFS: HR=2.131, 95% CI: 1.444 to 3.144, P<0.01; OS: HR=2.079, 95% CI: 1.406 to 3.074, P<0.01), and no postoperative chemotherapy (DFS: HR=3.127, 95% CI: 2.377 to 4.113, P<0.01; OS: HR=3.768, 95% CI: 2.828 to 5.020, P<0.01) were independent prognostic factors for the decrease in DFS and OS rates. Conclusions:Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer with serosa-invasion could achieve satisfactory long-term oncological outcomes. More lymph node dissection and standardized postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy are expected to further improve the prognosis of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer with serous invasion after laparoscopic radical surgery.

Objective To develop a health belief model(HBM)based adolescent alcohol-related cognition scale to measure adolescent alcohol-related cognition and test its reliability and validity.Methods The adolescents'alcohol-related cognitive scale was developed based on HBM model.By using purposive sampling,three general high schools in Qingpu District,Shanghai were selected.One-third of the classes from grades 10 and 11 in each school were randomly selected,and the students from these classes were surveyed as the research subjects.Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to analyze its reliability(internal consistency reliability and combination reliability)and validity(structural validity,convergent validity,discriminative validity and criterion validity).Results A total of 970 questionnaires were collected,of which 948 were valid,with an effective rate of 97.7%.The adolescents'alcohol-related cognitive scale contained 22 items.Five common factors were extracted from exploratory factor analysis,including perceived susceptibility,perceived severity,perceived benefits,perceived obstacles,and self-efficacy.The cumulative variance contribution rate reached 83.89%.The results of confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the overall fit of the model.The average variance extracted value(AVE)of each dimension was greater than 0.5,and the convergent validity of the model was ideal.The AVE square root of each dimension of the scale was greater than its correlation coefficient,indicating good discrimination validity.Cronbach's α coefficient of the total volume table was 0.892,indicating good overall reliability.Conclusion The adolescents'alcohol-related cognitive scale developed in this study has good reliability and validity,which can be used to measure adolescents'alcohol-related perceptions.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.