OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the factors that influence the prolongation of gestation following emergency cervical cerclage.Methods:This retrospective study included 88 singleton pregnant women who were diagnosed with cervical incompetence and underwent emergency cervical cerclage at 12-26 weeks of gestation in the Jiaxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from January 1, 2019 to September 1, 2022. The participants who delivered after 28 gestational weeks were assigned to the success group ( n=77), while those who delivered or miscarried before 28 gestational weeks were assigned to the failure group ( n=11). Two independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups. The factors affecting the prolongation of gestation after the procedure were selected by univariate analysis and multiple regression equations. Results:The success rate (delivery rate≥28 weeks) was 87.5% (77/88). There were six women delivered at 28-31 +6 weeks of gestation (6/77, 7.8%), two at 32-33 +6 weeks of gestation (2/77, 2.6%), 16 at 34-36 +6 weeks of gestation (16/77, 20.8%), and 53 at 37 weeks of gestation or later (53/77, 68.8%). Multiple regression analysis indicated that three times of early pregnancy miscarriage ( β=－5.1, 95% CI: -9.5 to -0.7), five times of early pregnancy miscarriage ( β=－11.8, 95% CI: -22.1 to -1.6), had two live births ( β=－6.9, 95% CI: -12.9 to -0.9), gestational age at cerclage ( β=－0.6, 95% CI: -1.0 to -0.3), external cervical os dilation<15 mm ( β=－12.1, 95% CI: -22.5 to -1.8) and ≥15 mm before cerclage ( β=－11.0, 95% CI: -21.4 to -0.71) were factors affecting the prolongation of gestation after cerclage. After adjusting for maternal age and weight before emergency cervical cerclage, five times of early pregnancy miscarriage ( β=－18.1, 95% CI: -28.3 to -7.8), gestational age at cerclage ( β=－0.6, 95% CI: -1.0 to -0.3), and external cervical os dilation≥15 mm before cerclage ( β=－11.4, 95% CI:－21.2 to -1.6) remained the significant influencing factors (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The number of early pregnancy miscarriages, gestational age at cerclage, and the width of external cervical os dilation before cerclage≥15 mm are the factors that influence the prolongation of gestation after the emergency cervical cerclage procedure.

OBJECTIVE: Exosomal long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are the key to diagnosing and treating various diseases. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of plasma exosomal lncRNAs in white matter hyperintensities (WMH). METHODS: We used high-throughput sequencing to determine the differential expression (DE) profiles of lncRNAs in plasma exosomes from WMH patients and controls. The sequencing results were verified in a validation cohort using qRT-PCR. The diagnostic potential of candidate exosomal lncRNAs was proven by binary logistic analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The diagnostic value of DE exo-lncRNAs was determined by the area under the curve (AUC). The WMH group was then divided into subgroups according to the Fazekas scale and white matter lesion site, and the correlation of DE exo-lncRNAs in the subgroup was evaluated. RESULTS: In our results, four DE exo-lncRNAs were identified, and ROC curve analysis revealed that exo-lnc_011797 and exo-lnc_004326 exhibited diagnostic efficacy for WMH. Furthermore, WMH subgroup analysis showed exo-lnc_011797 expression was significantly increased in Fazekas 3 patients and was significantly elevated in patients with paraventricular matter hyperintensities. CONCLUSION Plasma exosomal lncRNAs have potential diagnostic value in WMH. Moreover, exo-lnc_011797 is considered to be a predictor of the severity and location of WMH.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; White Matter ; Area Under Curve ; Exosomes/genetics* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

Objective:To summarize the clinical application value of color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) in the nursing observation of flap vascular circulation after free flap transplantation.Methods:From September 2018 to November 2020, 18 patients with skin defect of limbs treated by free flap transplantation in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were monitored by skin color, skin temperature, skin tension, capillary reaction time and CDU. When the vascular circulation disorder was found, the patients should be treated with volume expansion, rehydration, local massage of the flap, anticoagulation and microcirculation improvement. Positive drainage under the flap to prevent infection, combined with hyperbaric oxygen treatment, accurate and timely exploration of vascular crisis to avoid flap necrosis.Results:Postoperatively, CDU monitoring found that 2 cases had regional vascular circulation disorder, 1 case had complete embolization of the main vessels and perforators in the flap, the flap was thinned and changed to full thickness skin grafting, the deep tissue exposed area was healed by dressing change, and 1 case had incomplete embolization of the flap′s reflowing vein. After operation, the venous crisis was relieved and the flap survived completely.Conclusions:Comprehensive observation is needed after free flap transplantation. Combined with four routine vascular circulation indexes, CDU monitoring of flap blood flow can provide more objective, accurate and detailed basis for vascular circulation status, and can accurately find the vascular circulation disorder after free flap transplantation in early stage, and understand the vascular flow status of the flap, so as to effectively avoid the continuous progress of vascular crisis, to avoid flap necrosis and improve the survival rate of flap.

Aim To investigate the effect of circRNA- 32011 on myocardial apoptosis induced by arsenic triox- ide (ATO).Methods Primary cardioniyocytes of suckling neonate mouse were treated with ATO ( final concentration 10 (xniol • L_1 ) for 24 h.Then cell via¬bility was measured by M IT assay.The mKNA expres¬sion levels of Bel-2/ Bax and circRNA-3201 I were de¬tected by KT-PCK.Bcl-2/Bax protein expression lev¬els were detected by Western blot.Overexpression and knock down circHNA-32011 respectively by plasmid and siHNA were used to verify its function in ATO-in- duced cardiomyocyte apoptosis.Results Myocardial cell viability decreased, Bel-2 expression significantly decreased while Bax expression increased in ATO group compared with the control group.CircKNA- 32011 was down-regulated in ATO ineuhated cardio¬niyocytes.Ovcrex press ion of circRNA-32011 in ATO- incubated cardioniyocytes increased myocardial cell vi¬ability and Bel-2 expression and decreased the expres¬sion of Bax.Knockdown of circRNA-32011 could fur¬ther reduce cardiomyoevte activity and Bel-2 expression and increase the experssion of Bax induced by ATO.Conclusions CircRNA-32011 protects cardiac myo¬cytes from apoptosis induced by arsenic trioxide, which may provide a new potential therapeutic strategy for ATO-induced myocardial injury.

BACKGROUND: Shenyankangfu Tablet (SYKFT) is a Chinese patent medicine that has been used widely to decrease proteinuria and the progression of chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This trial compared the efficacy and safety of SYKFT, for the control of proteinuria in primary glomerulonephritis patients, against the standard drug, losartan potassium. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Primary glomerulonephritis patients, aged 18-70 years, with blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 45 mL/min per 1.73 m MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was change in the 24-hour proteinuria level, after 48 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 735 participants were enrolled. The percent decline of urine protein quantification in the SYKFT group after 48 weeks was 8.78% ± 2.56% (P = 0.006) more than that in the losartan 50 mg group, which was 0.51% ± 2.54% (P = 1.000) less than that in the losartan 100 mg group. Compared with the losartan potassium 50 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 50 mg group had a 13.39% ± 2.49% (P < 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein level. Compared with the losartan potassium 100 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 100 mg group had a 9.77% ± 2.52% (P = 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein. With a superiority threshold of 15%, neither was statistically significant. eGFR, serum creatinine and serum albumin from the baseline did not change statistically significant. The average change in TCM syndrome score between the patients who took SYKFT (-3.00 [-6.00, -2.00]) and who did not take SYKFT (-2.00 [-5.00, 0]) was statistically significant (P = 0.003). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group. CONCLUSION: SYKFT decreased the proteinuria and improved the TCM syndrome scores of primary glomerulonephritis patients, with no change in the rate of decrease in the eGFR. SYKFT plus losartan potassium therapy decreased proteinuria more than losartan potassium therapy alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02063100 on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Objective: To observe the incidence and treatment of radiation rectal injury complicated with anxiety, depression and somatic symptom disorder. Methods: A cross-sectional survey research method was carried out. Patients with radiation rectal injury managed by members of the editorial board of Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery were the subjects of investigation. The inclusion criteria of the survey subjects: (1) patients suffered from pelvic tumors and received pelvic radiotherapy; (2) colonoscopy showed inflammatory reaction or ulcer in the rectum. Exclusion criteria: (1) patient had a history of psycho-somatic disease before radiotherapy; (2) patient was unable to use a smart phone, unable to read and understand the questions in the questionnaire displayed on the phone; (3) patient refused to sign an informed consent form. According to the SOMA self-rating scale, PHQ-15 self-rating scale, GAD-7 and PHQ-9 self-rating scale, the electronic questionnaire of "Psychological Survey of Radiation Proctitis" was designed. The questionnaire was sent to patients with radiation rectal injury managed by the committee through the WeChat group. Observational indicators: (1) radiation rectal injury symptom assessment: using SOMA self-rating scale, radiation rectal injury symptom classification: mild group (≤3 points), moderate group (4-6 points) and severe group (> 6 points); (2) incidence of anxiety, depression and physical disorder: using GAD-7, PHQ-9 and PHQ-15 self-rating scales respectively for assessment; (3) correlation of radiation rectal injury symptom grading with anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorder. Results: Seventy-one qualified questionnaires were collected, of which 41 (56.9%) were from Guangzhou. Among the 71 patients, 6 were males and 65 were females; the mean age was (55.7±9.3) years old and 48 patients (67.6%) were less than 60 years old; the median confirmed duration of radiation rectal injury was 2.0 (1.0, 5.0) years. (1) Evaluation of symptoms of radiation rectal injury: 18 cases of mild (25.4%), 27 cases of moderate (38.0%), and 26 cases of severe (36.6%). (2) Incidence of anxiety, depression and somatic disorder: 12 patients (16.9%) without comorbidities; 59 patients (83.1%) with anxiety, depression, or somatic disorder, of whom 2 patients only had anxiety, 1 patient only had depression, 9 only had somatic disorder, 2 had anxiety plus depression, 4 had anxiety plus somatic disorder, 2 had depression plus somatic disorder, and 40 had all three symptoms. (3) correlation of radiation rectal injury grading with anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorder: as compared to patients in mild group and moderate group, those in severe group had higher severity of anxiety and somatic symptom disorder (Z=-2.143, P=0.032; Z=-2.045, P=0.041), while there was no statistically significant difference of depression between mild group and moderate group (Z=-1.176, P=0.240). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that radiation rectal injury symptom score was positively correlated with anxiety (r=0.300, P=0.013), depression (r=0.287, P=0.015) and somatic symptom disorder (r=0.344, P=0.003). Conclusions: The incidence of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorder in patients with radiation rectal injury is extremely high. It is necessary to strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of somatic symptom disorder, so as to alleviate the symptoms of patients with pelvic perineum pain and improve the quality of life.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Rectum ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective:To explore systematic implementation of World Health Organization Family International Classifications (WHO-FICs) in the field of rehabilitation: the theoretical and policy framework at macro level, governance and management mechanism at meso level, and implementation modules at micro levels, respectively. Methods:The policy and theoretical framework of rehabilitation development was discussed based on the international rehabilitation policy documents of WHO, mainly as World Report on Disability, Global Action Plan on Disability and Rehabilitation in Health Service System. Protocol and roadmap of systematic implementation of WHO-FICs, including International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and International Classification of Health Intervention (ICHIβ-2) was proposed. Results:With the use of WHO-FICs, the theoretical and policy framework of rehabilitation was constructed, and the contents and principles of modern rehabilitation services were clarified at macro-level. Rehabilitation is an important part of health service, there are six building blocks: i.e. leadership and governance, financing, human resources for health, service providing, medical technology and health information system. It proposed to use knowledge management system of WHO-FICs, including the classification, nomenclature, definitions, descriptions, terminology and coding systems, to standardize rehabilitation evaluation and statistics. The management and governance system of rehabilitation should be implemented using WHO-FICs. Rehabilitation services are based on the bio-psycho-social model and implemented the principles of people-centered and functioning-oriented. The systematic implementation of WHO-FICs in rehabilitation abide by the model of "Evaluation (ICHI)－Evaluation, Description, Classification and Coding of Functioning (ICF)－Disease Classification, Diagnosis and Coding (ICD)－Rehabilitation Intervention (ICHI)", and with the standardized process of "Evaluation (Functioning and unmet needs)－Diagnose (Disease and Functioning)－Planning of Rehabilitation－Intervention－Evaluation of Outcome". The mic-modules of implementation of WHO-FICs in rehabilitation had been constructed. There were 28 categories of diseases, 7 categories of functioning and 6 categories of rehabilitation interventions in rehabilitation proposed by International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. According to ICD-11 and ICF, it proposed to use WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0), Brief Model Disability Survey (MDS-B) and VB40 Generic Functioning Domains (VB40), and the ICF core-sets in evaluation of functioning and rehabilitation outcome. The implementation of WHO-FICs in management of medical records and reporting realized the standardized management of medical record, encoding of diseases, functioning and intervention, reporting of performance, and provided tools for billing, reimbursement and payment management of rehabilitation. It proposed to develop WHO-FICs based clinical data sets and big data to implement functioning-related Diagnosis Related Groups and case-mix statistics. Conclusion:With the systematic implementation of WHO-FICs in rehabilitation, the policy and theoretical framework at macro level had been developed. The mechanism of management and governance at meso level had been explored. The application modules and approaches at micro level had been established. A scientific and effective overall solution had been proposed to enhance the scientific, standardized, refined and informatization level, strengthen the level and governance capacity, and improve the quality, safety and the coverage of rehabilitation services.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of unmet needs and services of rehabilitation for people with hearing disability (PHD). Methods:A total of 219 473 PHDs administration data of unmet needs and services of rehabilitation at provincial level were sampled (2019) and analyzed the characteristics of needs and services of rehabilitation with multiple response analysis, and the related factors of needs and services with Logistic regression. Results:There were 47 657 (21.7%) PHDs reported their unmet needs of rehabilitation, from high to low were assistive devices (65.5%), medicine (22.7%), nursing care (19.1%), functional training (16.2%) and surgery (2.2%). There were 34 684 (18.8%) PHDs reported their received services, from high to low were assistive devices (59.8%), medicine (22.5%), functional training (19.7%), nursing care (19.4%) and surgery (1.8%). The logistic regression model showed that age, types of household registration and severities of disabilities related with the reported unmet needs and received services (P < 0.001). Conclusion:PHDs mainly reported unmet needs in the fields of assistive devices, medicine, and rehabilitation training. The reported unmet needs for PHDs had matched the received services structurally. It proposed to use modern science and technology to develop services delivery and to improve accessibility and quality of rehabilitation services.