Objective: To screen and identify the key active molecules, signaling pathways, and therapeutic targets of Shuxuening (SXN) injection for treating liver cirrhosis (LC) and to evaluate its therapeutic potential using a mouse model. Methods: Target genes of SXN and LC were retrieved from public databases, and enrichment analysis was performed. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING), and hub genes were identified using Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE). LC was induced in rats and mice via intraperitoneal injections of diethylnitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 12 weeks. Starting at week 7, SXN was administered intraperitoneally to the mice in the treatment group. Serum and liver tissues of the mice were collected for the detection of indicators, pathological staining, and expression analysis of hub targets using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: We identified 368 overlapping genes (OLGs) between SXN and LC targets. These OLGs were subsequently used to build a PPI network and to screen for hub genes. Enrichment analysis showed that these genes were associated with cancer-related pathways, including phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and various cellular processes, such as responses to chemicals and metabolic regulation. In vivo experiments demonstrated that SXN treatment significantly improved liver function and pathology in CCl4-induced LC mice by reducing inflammation and collagen deposition. Furthermore, qRT-PCR demonstrated that SXN regulated the expression of MAPK8, AR and CASP3 in the livers of LC mice. Conclusion This study highlighted the therapeutic effects of SXN in alleviating LC using both bioinformatics and experimental methods. The observed effect was associated with modulation of hub gene expression, particularly MAPK8, and CASP3.

Objective:To investigate the impact of immunosuppressive therapy on the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and cytokine levels in pediatric patients with kidney diseases.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 40 hospitalized pediatric patients who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection at the 900th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistic Support Force from December 2022 to February 2023. Based on their immunosuppressive status prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection, these patients were categorized into immunosuppressive group and non-immunosuppressive group. Independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and χ2 test were employed to compare the clinical baseline characteristics and laboratory data, the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the levels of cytokines between the 2 groups. Results:Among the 40 patients, 11 were in the immunosuppressive group (aged 13 (8, 14) years, 9 males and 2 females) and 29 in the non-immunosuppressive group (aged 2 (1, 4) years, 15 males and 14 females). In the immunosuppressive group, 2 were asymptomatic cases, 8 were mild cases, and 1 was moderate case, and there was no severe or critical cases. In the non-immunosuppressive group, 8 were mild cases, 5 were moderate, 15 were severe cases, 1 was critical case, and no asymptomatic cases. The underlying diseases in the immunosuppressive group included nephrotic syndrome (6 cases), IgA vasculitis nephritis (2 cases), lupus nephritis (1 case), post-renal transplantation (1 case), and renal failure (1 case), with a mean total immunosuppression score (TIS) of (3.6±1.4) points. In the non-immunosuppressive group, 2 patients had a history of epilepsy, and the remaining 27 cases had no underlying conditions, all with TIS scores of 0. Compared to the children in the non-immunosuppressive group, those in the immunosuppressive group were more likely to exhibit asymptomatic or mild infection, with lower risks of severe disease, cytokine storm, fever, and cough, but a higher risk of fatigue ( OR=1.22, 2.66, 0.48, 0.12, 0.12, 0.13, 1.22; 95% CI 0.93-1.62, 0.99-7.15, 0.33-0.70, 0.03-0.57, 0.03-0.57, 0.03-0.65, 0.93-1.62; all P<0.05). The levels of cytokine IL-6, interferon-α and interferon-γ in the immunosuppressive group were all lower than those in the non-immunosuppressive group ( Z=2.23, 2.51, 2.92, respectively; all P<0.05). Conclusion:Pediatric patients with kidney diseases receiving appropriate immunosuppressive therapy may mitigate the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection by suppressing the expression of cytokines.

Objective:To investigate the impact of immunosuppressive therapy on the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and cytokine levels in pediatric patients with kidney diseases.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 40 hospitalized pediatric patients who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection at the 900th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistic Support Force from December 2022 to February 2023. Based on their immunosuppressive status prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection, these patients were categorized into immunosuppressive group and non-immunosuppressive group. Independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and χ2 test were employed to compare the clinical baseline characteristics and laboratory data, the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the levels of cytokines between the 2 groups. Results:Among the 40 patients, 11 were in the immunosuppressive group (aged 13 (8, 14) years, 9 males and 2 females) and 29 in the non-immunosuppressive group (aged 2 (1, 4) years, 15 males and 14 females). In the immunosuppressive group, 2 were asymptomatic cases, 8 were mild cases, and 1 was moderate case, and there was no severe or critical cases. In the non-immunosuppressive group, 8 were mild cases, 5 were moderate, 15 were severe cases, 1 was critical case, and no asymptomatic cases. The underlying diseases in the immunosuppressive group included nephrotic syndrome (6 cases), IgA vasculitis nephritis (2 cases), lupus nephritis (1 case), post-renal transplantation (1 case), and renal failure (1 case), with a mean total immunosuppression score (TIS) of (3.6±1.4) points. In the non-immunosuppressive group, 2 patients had a history of epilepsy, and the remaining 27 cases had no underlying conditions, all with TIS scores of 0. Compared to the children in the non-immunosuppressive group, those in the immunosuppressive group were more likely to exhibit asymptomatic or mild infection, with lower risks of severe disease, cytokine storm, fever, and cough, but a higher risk of fatigue ( OR=1.22, 2.66, 0.48, 0.12, 0.12, 0.13, 1.22; 95% CI 0.93-1.62, 0.99-7.15, 0.33-0.70, 0.03-0.57, 0.03-0.57, 0.03-0.65, 0.93-1.62; all P<0.05). The levels of cytokine IL-6, interferon-α and interferon-γ in the immunosuppressive group were all lower than those in the non-immunosuppressive group ( Z=2.23, 2.51, 2.92, respectively; all P<0.05). Conclusion:Pediatric patients with kidney diseases receiving appropriate immunosuppressive therapy may mitigate the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection by suppressing the expression of cytokines.

Objective:To investigate the early clinical characteristics of elderly patients with severe burns and the risk factors on prognosis.Methods:This study was a retrospective case series study. Clinical data of 124 elderly patients with severe burns who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the 12 hospitals from January 2015 to December 2020 were collected, including 4 patients from the Fourth People's Hospital of Dalian, 5 patients from Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 22 patients from Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, 5 patients from Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, 27 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, 9 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 10 patients from Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 9 patients from Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University & Wuhan Third Hospital, 12 patients from the 924 th Hospital of PLA, 6 patients from Zhangjiagang First People's Hospital, 4 patients from Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, and 11 patients from Zhengzhou First People's Hospital. The patients' overall clinical characteristics, such as gender, age, body mass index, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, inhalation injury, causative factors, whether combined with underlying medical diseases, and admission time after injury were recorded. According to the survival outcome within 28 days after injury, the patients were divided into survival group (89 cases) and death group (35 cases). The following data of patients were compared between the two groups, including the basic data and injuries (the same as the overall clinical characteristics ahead); the coagulation indexes within the first 24 hours of injury such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time, D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), international normalized ratio (INR), and fibrinogen; the blood routine indexes within the first 24 hours of injury such as white blood cell count, platelet count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit; the organ function indexes within the first 24 hours of injury such as direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, urea, serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, albumin, globulin, blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, electrolyte indexes (potassium, sodium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in blood), uric acid, myoglobin, and brain natriuretic peptide; the infection and blood gas indexes within the first 24 hours of injury such as procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, pH value, oxygenation index, base excess, and lactate; treatment such as whether conducted with mechanical ventilation, whether conducted with continuous renal replacement therapy, whether conducted with anticoagulation therapy, whether applied with vasoactive drugs, and fluid resuscitation. The analysis was conducted to screen the independent risk factors for the mortality within 28 days after injury in elderly patients with severe burns. Results:Among 124 patients, there were 82 males and 42 females, aged 60-97 years, with body mass index of 23.44 (21.09, 25.95) kg/m 2, total burn area of 54.00% (42.00%, 75.00%) total body surface area (TBSA), and full-thickness burn area of 25.00% (10.00%, 40.00%) TBSA. The patients were mainly combined with moderate to severe inhalation injury and caused by flame burns. There were 43 cases with underlying medical diseases. The majority of patients were admitted to the hospital within 8 hours after injury. There were statistically significant differences between patients in the 2 groups in terms of age, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, and inhalation injury, and PT, APTT, D-dimer, FDP, INR, white blood cell count, platelet count, urea, serum creatinine, blood glucose, blood sodium, uric acid, myoglobin, and urine volume within the first 24 hours of injury (with Z values of 2.37, 5.49, 5.26, 5.97, 2.18, 1.95, 2.68, 2.68, 2.51, 2.82, 2.14, 3.40, 5.31, 3.41, 2.35, 3.81, 2.16, and -3.82, respectively, P<0.05); there were statistically significant differences between two groups of patients in whether conducted with mechanical ventilation and whether applied with vasoactive drugs (with χ2 values of 9.44 and 28.50, respectively, P<0.05). Age, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, serum creatinine within the first 24 hours of injury, and APTT within the first 24 hours of injury were the independent risk factors for the mortality within 28 days after injury in elderly patients with severe burns (with odds ratios of 1.17, 1.10, 1.10, 1.09, and 1.27, 95% confidence intervals of 1.03-1.40, 1.04-1.21, 1.05-1.19, 1.05-1.17, and 1.07-1.69, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusions:The elderly patients with severe burns had the injuries mainly from flame burns, often accompanied by moderate to severe inhalation injury and enhanced inflammatory response, elevated blood glucose levels, activated fibrinolysis, and impaired organ function in the early stage, which are associated with their prognosis. Age, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, and serum creatinine and APTT within the first 24 hours of injury are the independent risk factors for death within 28 days after injury in this population.

【Objective】 To investigate the condition of confidential unit exclusion(CUE) in Guangzhou, so as to ensure blood safety. 【Methods】 The number of CUE donors, demographic characteristics of CUE donors, reasons for CUE, and response time of CUE after blood donation in Guangzhou from 2009 to 2022 were statistically analyzed. 【Results】 From 2009 to 2022, the response ratios of CUE was 0.006 2% (260/4 170 984) and the ratios had statistically significant difference between different years(P<0.05). For the response ratios of CUE, no statistically significant difference was noticed in gender and occupation (P>0.05), but statistically significant differences were found in age, number of blood donations, education background, and marital status (P<0.05). Blood donors aged 18~30 (0.007 3%, P<0.05) and first-time blood donors (0.010 8%, P<0.05) were the main groups of CUE. High risk sexual behavior (28.46%, 74/260) was the primary reason for CUE. The CUE response peak was within 72 hours after blood donation, and the response ratios within 24-72 hours after blood donation was the highest (68.46%, 178/260). 【Conclusion】 CUE is a crucial measure to ensure blood safety. Detailed pre-donation health consultations are suggested for blood donors aged 18-30 and first-time blood donors so as to better excluding high-risk blood donors. Strengthening the publicity of CUE response and process, registering and classifying the reasons for CUE are also important.

Objective:To develop a spot scanning carbon ion beam model based on Monte Carlo code FLUKA and verify the accuracy of physical dose.Methods:A geometric model of the treatment nozzle was established in FLUKA. Various parameters such as monoenergy nominal energy, Gaussian energy spectrum distribution, initial spot size, and beam angular distribution in the model were adjusted to match the reference data of integral depth dose (IDD) and in-air spot size measuremed experimentally. Carbon ion beam plans were generated by using the treatment planning system (TPS). The difference in output dose distribution between FLUKA and TPS was compared by the gamma analysis.Results:The differences in Bragg peak width, beam range, and distal falloff width extracted from the IDD curve between the FLUKA model and measured vaues were less than 0.1 mm, with the maximum difference in spot sizes of 0.17 mm. Under the criterion of 2 mm/2% in all the simulations, 2D- and 3D-γ pass rates were all above 95%.Conclusions:An accurate spot scanning carbon beam model was developed based on the Monte Carlo code FLUKA. It has the potential to be used for not only the verification of clinical treatment plans, but also the development of new ion beam therapy equipment and the calculation of biologically effective dose.

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and safety of retrograde intrarenal stone surgery for treatment of upper urinary calculi. Methods: The clinical data of 640 patients with upper urinary tract calculi treated by retrograde intrarenal stone surgery (RIRS) in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from April 2016 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 424 males and 216 females. The awerage age was (46.2±12.8) years old, ranging 18 to 76 years old. The maximum diameter of the stone is (1.4±0.7) cm, ranging 0.6-3.2 cm. There were 126 cases with inferior calculi and 514 cases with non-lurgical calculi. There were 196 cases with unilateral ureteral calculi, 118 unilateral ureteral calculi cases with renal calculi, 236 cases with unilateral renal stones, and 90 cases with double kidney stones. 104 cases were placed with double J tube before operation and 496 cases were not placed before operation. There were 8 cases of horseshoe kidney, 30 cases of isolated kidney with renal insufficiency, 4 cases of pelvic ectopic kidney with dysplasia, 6 cases of congenital ureteral malformation and 2 cases of sponge kidney. Preoperative average hemoglobin was (133.2±5.6)g/L, ranging 126-188 g/L.And average serum creatinine was (84.4±12.2)μmol/L, ranging 74-242μmol/L before operation. All patients were treated with general anesthesia under the lithotomy position. The ureteroscopy combined with holmium laser lithotripsy was performed.The 200μm fiber was used, which the parameters were set as 12-45 W(0.5-1.5 J/10-30 Hz). The stone baskets were used to take stones according to actual conditions. The operation was performed by doctors of the same qualifications. Results: All patients underwent successful operation. The mean operation time was (45.6±14.6)min. The average postoperative hospitalization was (4.8±1.5)d. The postoperative serious complication rate was 0.9%, including(2 cases of sepsis and 1 case of subcapsular hematoma. Of the 640 patients, 596 were admitted to the hospital for a double J tube and 44 were lost of follow-up. 552 patients met the stone removal criteria, 44 patients did not meet the stone removal criteria for other treatments, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy or observed regularly. The stone-free rate (SFR) was 92.6% (552/596) after 1-3 months. On the first postoperative day, serum creatinine was (76.0±10.6)(58-156) μmol/L, and postoperative hemoglobin was (126.4±9. 6)(120-176) g/L. There was no significant difference in preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin (t=2.02, P=0.064). Preoperative and postoperative creatinine (t=64.76, P<0.05) was statistically significant. Meanwhile, the stone size (χ²=29.569, P<0.05) and position (χ²=44.949, P<0.05) versus SFR the impact was statistically significant. Multivariate regression analysis showed that stone size was not an independent risk factor for stone clearance (P=0.639). The stone position was an independent risk factor for stone clearance (P=0.013). Conclusions RIRS is a reliable treatment for small and medium calculi patients of the upper urinary tract. The curative effect of stone removal is clear, the complications are few, the safety is high. However, there are certain limitations to the efficacy in the treatment of large stones and lower calculi. Lower calculi is the independent risk factor for the treatment of efficacy.

Objective:Since December 2019, novel coronavirus infection has occurred in Hubei province and spread throughout the country quickly. This new crown viral pneumonia was named as coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) by WHO. However, at present, there is a high incidence of acute aortic dissection in winter and spring. How to prevent the spread of the epidemic and choose the appropriate treatment is an important topic for the patients with acute aortic dissection.Methods:From January 16, 2020 to February 26, 2020, a total of 37 of acute aortic dissection operations were carried out in several cardiovascular surgery centers in Hubei Province. There were 18 cases of Stanford type A aortic dissection and 19 cases of Stanford type B aortic dissection. There were 10 cases (55.55%) with ascending aorta replacement and 7 cases (38.89%) with Bentall procedure for aortic root surgery, and total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation were performed in 14 cases (77.8%). In 19 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection, thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed, with the left subclavian artery chimney technique in 2 cases.Results:No deaths occurred within 30 days of hospitalization. Preoperative nucleic acid testing excluded 7 cases of novel coronavirus infection, and 3 suspected cases underwent emergency surgery. the three-level protective standard was adopted in the majority of the surgeries(62.2%, 23/37), and 11 patients were negative in the reexamination of viral nucleic acid after the operation.Conclusion:During the epidemic period, patients with acute aortic dissection should be carefully identified with actife COVID-19 before surgery. The treatment principles-" prevention and control of pneumonia epidemic should be emphasized, conservative medical management should be taken in the comfirmed cases, the selective operation should be delayed as far as possible, and the operation should be reasonable performed in critical cases" should be followed, which can save patients' lives to the greatest extent and prevent the spread of the virus.

Objective To investigate the MRI findings of duodenal papillary adenocarcinoma(DPA),and to evaluate the importance of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)in diagnosis of DPA.Methods A complete data of 52 patients with DPA were prospectively collected.All patients underwent surgery within 72 hours after conventional MRI,DWI and MRCP scans.Before surgery,four different MRI findings were used to calculate the sensitivity,specificity and the probability of correctness.Two experienced radiologists who were blind to the pathologic diagnosis handled the MRI findings.Thirty eight patients were pathologically diagnosed for DPA.Based on the pathological diagnosis,the detection rate of DPA by the MR sequence was recorded and the chi square test was used to do the statistical analysis. Results The accuracy rate in diagnosis of DPA with MRI was 78.8% in our study.The findings of DPA consist of thickening wall of duodenal,duodenal papilla node imaging,DWI showing high signal of duodenal papilla and"beak"sign of dilated bile duct.Corresponding sensitivities were 70.5%,66.7%,86.3% and 87.9%,and specificities were 75.0%,30.0%,50.0% and 63.1% respectively.The incidences of positive on T2WI and T1WI,MRCP,DWI scans were 60.5%,76.3% and 92.1% respectively.The detection rate of each sequence has significant difference(χ2=10.48,P<0.005).Conclusion The MRI manifestations of DPA consist of thickening wall of duodenal,duodenal papilla node imaging,DWI showing high signal of duodenal papilla and"beak"sign of dilated bile duct.The detection rate of DWI sepuence on DPA lesions is significantly higher than that of other sequences.

Objective: To build risk prediction models for acute kidney injury (AKI) in severely burned patients, and to compare the prediction performance of machine learning method and logistic regression model. Methods: The clinical data of 157 severely burned patients in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident conforming to the inclusion criteria were collected. Patients suffering AKI within 90 days after admission were enrolled in group AKI, while the others were enrolled in non-AKI group. Single factor analysis was used to choose independent factors associated with AKI, including sex, age, admission time, features of basic injuries, initial score on admission, treatment condition, and mortality on post injury days 30, 60, and 90. Data were processed with Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher′s exact test. Variables with P<0.1 in single factor analysis and those with possible clinical significance were brought into the establishment of prediction model. Logistic regression and XGBoost machine learning algorithm were used to build the prediction model of AKI. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated, and the sensitivity and specificity for optimal threshold value were also calculated for each model. Nonparametric resampling test was used to compare the significance of difference of AUC of the two models. Results: (1) Eighty-nine (56.7%) patients developed AKI within 90 days from admission. Compared with 68 patients in non-AKI group, 89 patients in group AKI were older (Z=-2.203, P<0.05), with larger total burn area and full-thickness burn area (Z=-5.200, -6.297, P<0.01), worse acute physical and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ score, abbreviated burn severity index score, and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score on admission (Z=-7.485, -4.739, -4.590, P<0.01), higher occurrence rate of sepsis (χ²=33.087, P<0.01), higher rates of accepting tracheotomy, mechanical ventilation, and continuous renal replacement therapy (χ²=12.373, 17.201, 43.763, P<0.01), larger first excision area (Z=-2.191, P<0.05), and higher mortality on post injury days 30, 60, and 90 (χ²=7.483, 37.259, 45.533, P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in sex, open decompression, admission time, 24-hour fluid volume after admission, 48-hour fluid volume after admission, the first 24-hour urine volume, the second 24 hour urine volume, the first excision time, and inhalation injury (χ²=0.529, 3.318, Z=-1.746, -0.016, -1.199, -1.824, -0.625, -1.747, P>0.05). The rates of deep vein catheterization of patients in the two groups were both 100%. (2) There were twenty possible prediction variables for preliminary establishment of model according to the difference results of single factor analysis and clinical significance of variables. (3) The logistic regression prediction model had three variables: APACHE Ⅱ score [odds ratio (OR)=1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.20-1.53, P<0.001], sepsis (OR=2.63, 95% CI=0.90-7.66, P>0.05), and the first 24-hour urine volume (OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.50-1.01, P>0.05). The AUC of the logistic regression prediction model was 0.875 (95% CI=0.821-0.930), with the specificity and sensitivity of optimal threshold value 84.4% and 77.7%, respectively. (4) XGBoost machine learning model had seven main predictive variables: APACHE Ⅱ score, full-thickness burn area, 24-hour fluid volume after admission, sepsis, the first 24-hour urine volume, SOFA score, and 48-hour fluid volume after admission. The AUC of machine learning model was 0.920 (95% CI=0.879-0.962), higher than that of logistic regression model (P<0.001), with the specificity and sensitivity of optimal threshold value 89.7% and 82.0%, respectively. Conclusions Sepsis and fluid resuscitation are two important predictive variables that can be intervened for AKI in severely burned patients. Machine learning method has a better performance and can provide more accurate prediction for individuals than logistic regression prediction model, and therefore has good clinical application prospect.