OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF) channel technique combined with pedicle screw internal fixation in the treatment of single-segment lumbar intervertebral space/vertebral body infection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 23 patients who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar infection from January 2021 to December 2022. The patients were divided into the OLIF channel group and the traditional open surgery group according to the surgical methods. There were 16 cases in the OLIF channel group, including 9 males and 7 females, with an average age of (68.5±12.1) years old;there were 7 cases in the traditional open surgery group, including 4 males and 3 females, with an average age of (75.0±3.2) years old. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, incision length, visual analogue scale(VAS), activities of daily living (ADL) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP) before and 1 week and 3 months after the operation, and the intervertebral fusion status on the last follow-up CT were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the open surgery group, the OLIF channel group had shorter operation time (209.87±31.5) min vs. (246.0±42.7) min, less intraoperative blood loss (225.625±91.1) ml vs. (364.2±74.8) ml, and shorter incision length (6.1±1.2) vs. (14.0±1.4) cm, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Before and 1 week and 3 months after the operation, the lumbar VAS in the OLIF group were (6.3±0.6), (2.8±0.7), (1.1±0.5), and those in the traditional open surgery group were (6.4±0.6), (3.4±0.5), (1.2±0.3);the ADL scores in the OLIF group were (45.0±4.5), (60.3±4.3), (94.1±4.2), and those in the open group were (46.4±5.6), (60.7±4.5), (92.9±4.9); the ODI scores in the OLIF group were (86.3±2.9)%, (69.5±4.1)%, (23.0±3.2)%, and those in the open group were (87.3±3.8)%, (69.8±4.2)%, (23.8±3.6)%, all of which showed significant improvement(P<0.05). Three months after the operation, CRP, PCT, and ESR were significantly lower than those before the operation, and CRP and PCT returned to normal, while ESR was still slightly elevated in some patients. The last follow-up CT showed that continuous trabecular bone formation was observed between the upper and lower endplates of the surgical segments in all patients, and the fusion time was (8.7±4.5) months. CONCLUSION The OLIF channel technique combined with posterior internal fixation is a minimally invasive and effective treatment method, which can effectively control infection, relieve pain, and improve the quality of life of patients. Compared with traditional open surgery, it has the advantages of minimally invasive, shorter operation time, and less intraoperative blood loss.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/microbiology* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged, 80 and over ; Pedicle Screws ; Infections/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effects of pomalidomide-based regimen in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). METHODS: 60 patients with RRMM in hematology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from November 2020 to January 2023 were selected. Among them, 15 cases were treated with PDD regimen (pomalidomide + daratumumab + dexamethasone), and 45 cases were treated with PCD regimen (pomalidomide + cyclophosphamide + dexamethasone). The clinical effects were evaluated. RESULTS: The median number of treatment cycles for the entire cohort was 5 (2-11), with an overall response rate (ORR) of 75.0%. The ORR of patients treated with PDD regimen was 73.3%, while the ORR of patients treated with PCD regimen was 75.6%. The ORR of 46 patients with non high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (non-HRCA) was 86.9%, significantly higher than the 35.7% of 14 patients with HRCA (χ² =15.031, P < 0.05). The median PFS for all patients was 8.0(95%CI : 6.8-9.1) months and the median OS was 14.0 (95%CI : 11.3-16.7) months. Among patients treated with PDD regimen, the PFS and OS of patients with non-HRCA were significantly higher than those of patients with HRCA [PFS: 7.0(95%CI : 4.6-9.3) months vs 4.0(95%CI : 3.1-4.8) months, χ² =5.120, P < 0.05; OS: not reached vs 6.0(95%CI : 1.1-10.9) months, χ² =9.870, P < 0.05]. Among patients treated with PCD regimen, the PFS and OS of patients with non-HRCA were significantly higher than those of patients with HRCA [PFS: 9.0(95%CI : 6.2-11.8) months vs 6.0(95%CI : 5.4-6.6) months, χ²=14.396, P < 0.05; OS: not reached vs 11.0(95%CI : 6.4-15.6) months, χ² =7.471, P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION The pomalidomide-based regimen has a good clinical effect and safety in the treatment of RRMM.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy* ; Thalidomide/administration & dosage* ; Dexamethasone/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Aged ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome ; Antibodies, Monoclonal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yangxue Qingnao Pills (YXQNP) combined with amlodipine in treating patients with grade 1 hypertension. METHODS: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Adult patients with grade 1 hypertension of blood deficiency and Gan (Liver)-yang hyperactivity syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment or the control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group received YXQNP and amlodipine besylate, while the control group received YXQNP's placebo and amlodipine besylate. The treatment duration lasted for 180 days. Outcomes assessed included changes in blood pressure, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome scores, symptoms and target organ functions before and after treatment in both groups. Additionally, adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, rash, itching, and diarrhea, were recorded in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 662 subjects were enrolled, of whom 608 (91.8%) completed the trial (306 in the treatment and 302 in the control groups). After 180 days of treatment, the standard deviations and coefficients of variation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group. The improvement rates of dizziness, headache, insomnia, and waist soreness were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 30 days of treatment, the overall therapeutic effects on CM clinical syndromes were significantly increased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 180 days of treatment, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, ankle brachial index and albumin-to-creatinine ratio were improved in both groups, with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). No serious treatment-related adverse events occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS Combination therapy of YXQNP with amlodipine significantly improved symptoms such as dizziness and headache, reduced blood pressure variability, and showed a trend toward lowering urinary microalbumin in hypertensive patients. These findings suggest that this regimen has good clinical efficacy and safety. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022470).
Humans ; Amlodipine/adverse effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Hypertension/complications* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Adult ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Double-Blind Method ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/adverse effects*

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

This study aimed to explore the effects of akebiaquinata and dandelion extracts in impro-ving intestinal redox homeostasis in weaned rabbits.In the trial,120 35-day-old Ira rabbits weig-hing(1.22±0.08)kg were randomly divided into 4 groups according to the two-factor design,namely group C(basal diet),group D(basal diet+0.5％dandelion extract),group A(basal diet+0.5％akebiaquinata extract),and group DA(basal diet+0.5％dandelion extract+0.5％akebia-quinata extract),with 10 replicates in each group.The adapt period was one week and the experi-mental period was four weeks.At the last day,serum,liver tissue,jejunum and ileal mucosa samples were collected and stored for measurement.The results showed that:(1)First week,the average daily weight gain of group C was significantly lower than that of group D and group A(P＜0.05),and the feed weight ratio was significantly higher than that of group D and group A(P＜0.05).(2)The content of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in liver and serum was significantly reduced in akebiaquinata extract(P＜0.01),and the content of serum ROS in dandelion extract was significantly reduced(P＜0.01),and there were significant and extremely significant interac-tions in liver and serum,respectively.Extracts of akebiaquinata and dandelion were effective in re-ducing the levels of oxidative damage markers in tissues and serum,but increasing the content of malondialdehyde in liver tissues.(3)Akebiaquinata extract significantly increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)and total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)in serum(P＜0.01),and significantly reduced the activity of T-AOC in liver(P＜0.01)and superoxide dismutase in je-junum and liver(P＜0.05).Dandelion extract significantly increased the activity of T-AOC in ser-um and GSH-Px in jejunum(P＜0.05).The extracts of akebiaquinata and dandelion had a signifi-cant interaction effect on peroxidase in serum(P＜0.05).(4)The expression of Kelch-like ECH-as-sociated protein 1(Keap1)and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)genes in the jejunum was significantly and extremely significantly reduced by akebiaquinata extract.The extracts of ake-biaquinata and dandelion had significant interaction effects on ileal NQO1,Heme oxygenase1 and Superoxide dismutase 2(P＜0.05)and Keap1(P＜0.01).The expression of NQO1 gene in liver tis-sue was significantly reduced by akebiaquinata extract(P＜0.05).Dandelion and Akebiaquinata ex-tracts can reduce the content of reactive oxygen species in vivo and alleviate oxidative damage.At the same time,dandelion and akebiaquinata extract can work together to regulate antioxidant gene expression and antioxidant enzyme activity through the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway to maintain intestinal redox homeostasis and relieve intestinal oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the vaccination status and vaccination willingness of novel coronavirus in HIV/AIDS population in Yunnan.Methods From October 2021 to June 2022,a questionnaire survey was conducted among 2180 HIV/AIDS patients in Kunming,Qujing,Yuxi,Zhaotong,Puer,Baoshan,Lincang,Honghe,Wenshan,Xishuangbanna,Dali,Dehong and Nujiang prefectures.The questionnaire included age,sex,education,nationality,education level,vaccination,adverse reactions within 7 days after the vaccination,safety of COVID-19 vaccine,awareness of effectiveness,vaccination willingness and so on.Results Among the subjects,2109 completed 3 injections,accounting for 96.74%,and 71 were not vaccinated,accounting for 3.26% .Within 7 days of inoculation,local adverse reactions occurred in 116 cases,accounting for 5.50%,and systemic adverse reactions occurred in 56 cases,accounting for 2.66% .Injection site pain,fatigue and muscle pain accounted for the highest proportion of adverse symptoms in different sex,age and the Han nationality,while the proportion of minority adverse reactions was very low,and there was no difference among the different sex and age(P>0.05).The main reasons for the reluctance of HIV/AIDS population to be vaccinated were(recommended by doctors)that HIV/AIDS patients could not be vaccinated(67.61%)and may have serious adverse reactions after the vaccination(19.72%).The factors affecting the vaccination were found by logistic regression analysis,whether they were worried about infecting novel coronavirus(OR = 0.121,95% CI = 0.083～0.640,P<0.001)and how much they knew about COVID-19 vaccine(OR = 28.932,95% CI = 15.469～54.115,P<0.001),safety of vaccination(OR = 13.953,95% CI = 4.819～40.404,P<0.001)and belief in the preventive effect of vaccine(OR = 14.017,95% CI = 4.752～41.348,P<0.001)were significant factors affecting vaccination.Among the 13 prefectures and cities,Dehong(20),Zhaotong(21)and Lincang(14)had the largest number of unvaccinated people.Conclusion After the mass vaccination,the rate of adverse reaction in HIV/AIDS population is low,the symptoms are mild,the correct and scientific advice and guidance from doctors and the full understanding of the harmfulness of the disease,the safety,prevention and effectiveness of the vaccine are the key to complete vaccination and put an end to vaccine hesitancy.

As artificial intelligence technology rapidly advances, its deployment within the medical sector presents substantial ethical challenges. Consequently, it becomes crucial to create a standardized, transparent, and secure framework for processing medical data. This includes setting the ethical boundaries for medical artificial intelligence and safeguarding both patient rights and data integrity. This consensus governs every facet of medical data handling through artificial intelligence, encompassing data gathering, processing, storage, transmission, utilization, and sharing. Its purpose is to ensure the management of medical data adheres to ethical standards and legal requirements, while safeguarding patient privacy and data security. Concurrently, the principles of compliance with the law, patient privacy respect, patient interest protection, and safety and reliability are underscored. Key issues such as informed consent, data usage, intellectual property protection, conflict of interest, and benefit sharing are examined in depth. The enactment of this expert consensus is intended to foster the profound integration and sustainable advancement of artificial intelligence within the medical domain, while simultaneously ensuring that artificial intelligence adheres strictly to the relevant ethical norms and legal frameworks during the processing of medical data.
Artificial Intelligence/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Computer Security/standards* ; Confidentiality/ethics* ; Informed Consent/ethics*

Objective: To evaluate the right ventricular function using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) and analyze the associated risk factors of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with silicosis. Methods: All 104 patients with silicosis treated in the Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University from May 2021 to September 2022 were enrolled in this study in October 2022. The clinical information of patients such as general data, arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test were collected. The right ventricular function of patients was evaluated by 2-D STE-derived right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) and conventional echocardiographic-derived parameters, including right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and doppler tissue imaging-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S'), respectively. Based on their RVFWLS, the patients were divided into right ventricular dysfunction group and normal right ventricular function group. Risk factors for right ventricular dysfunction in patients with silicosis were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 104 silicosis patients were enrolled, with aneverage age (65.52±11.18) years old, among whom including 57 cases diagnosed with stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ silicosis and 47 cases diagnosed with stage Ⅲ silicosis. 26 (25.00%) patients concurrent right ventricular dysfunction. The abnormal rates of RVFAC, TAPSE and S' in patients were 16.35% (17 cases), 21.15% (22 cases) and 6.73% (7 cases), respectively. The RVFAC and TAPSE in right ventricular dysfunction group were lower than those in normal right ventricular function group, and the incidence of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure ≥36 mmHg was higher than that in normal right ventricular function group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that arterial partial pressure of oxygen (OR=0.932, 95%CI: 0.885-0.981, P=0.007) was the protective factor, and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) /forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio<70% (OR=5.484, 95%CI: 1.049-28.662, P=0.044) and stage Ⅲ silicosis (OR=6.343, 95%CI: 1.698-23.697, P=0.007) were the risk factors for silicosis patients concurrent right ventricular dysfunction. Conclusion: The incidence of right ventricular dysfunction is higher in patients with stage Ⅲ silicosis than that in patients with stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ silicosis. Using 2-D STE can help the early detection of silicosis with right ventricular dysfunction. Hypoxemia, airflow limitation and the stage Ⅲ silicosis are the risk factors for silicosis patients concurrent right ventricular dysfunction.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/etiology* ; Ventricular Function, Right ; Echocardiography ; Risk Factors ; Silicosis/diagnostic imaging*

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. With the improvement of clinical therapy, the mortality of acute MI has been significantly reduced. However, as for the long-term impact of MI on cardiac remodeling and cardiac function, there is no effective prevention and treatment measures. Erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein cytokine essential to hematopoiesis, has anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenetic effects. Studies have shown that EPO plays a protective role in cardiomyocytes in cardiovascular diseases, such as cardiac ischemia injury and heart failure. EPO has been demonstrated to protect ischemic myocardium and improve MI repair by promoting the activation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). This study aimed to investigate whether EPO can promote MI repair by enhancing the activity of stem cell antigen 1 positive stem cells (Sca-1⁺ SCs). Darbepoetin alpha (a long-acting EPO analog, EPO_anlg) was injected into the border zone of MI in adult mice. Infarct size, cardiac remodeling and performance, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and microvessel density were measured. Lin^- Sca-1⁺ SCs were isolated from neonatal and adult mouse hearts by magnetic sorting technology, and were used to identify the colony forming ability and the effect of EPO, respectively. The results showed that, compared to MI alone, EPO_anlg reduced the infarct percentage, cardiomyocyte apoptosis ratio and left ventricular (LV) chamber dilatation, improved cardiac performance, and increased the numbers of coronary microvessels in vivo. In vitro, EPO increased the proliferation, migration and clone formation of Lin^- Sca-1⁺ SCs likely via the EPO receptor and downstream STAT-5/p38 MAPK signaling pathways. These results suggest that EPO participates in the repair process of MI by activating Sca-1⁺ SCs.
Animals ; Mice ; Ventricular Remodeling ; Erythropoietin ; Myocardial Infarction ; Heart ; Stem Cells

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) by percutaneous bi-level bilateral puncture in the treatment of type ⅡA acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture (ASOTLF) with dense bone bands.Methods:From March 2017 to March 2018, 65 patients (65 vertebrae) with type ⅡA ASOTLF with dense bone bands were treated at Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Qingdao Central Hospital. They were 25 males and 40 females, with an age of (71.6±8.4) years. The time from injury to operation was (3.5±0.7) d. They were divided into 2 groups according to different treatments. In the observation group of 31 cases (31 vertebrae), PVP was conducted by percutaneous bi-level bilateral puncture; in the control group of 34 cases (34 vertebrae), PVP was conducted by percutaneous single-level bilateral puncture. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, volume of polymethyl methacrylate injected, incidence of bone cement leakage, incidence of vertebral refracture, diffusive distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body, and visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) at postoperative 1 day and 6 months.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P>0.05). Operations were completed uneventfully in all the 65 patients. All the 65 patients were followed up for (8.2±1.2) months. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in operation time, incidence of bone cement leakage or incidence of vertebral refracture for each vertebral body injured ( P>0.05). The volume of polymethyl methacrylate injected [(6.64±0.93) mL] and the excellent and good rate of diffusive distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body [87.1% (27/31)] in the observation group were significantly larger than those in the control group [(4.36±0.79) mL and 64.7% (22/34)] ( P<0.05). The VAS scores at postoperative 1 day and 6 months [2 (1, 2) and 1 (1, 2)] and ODIs at postoperative 1 day and 6 months (23.7%±1.6% and 18.8%±1.4%) in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [2 (2, 3) and 2 (2, 2); 26.9%±4.2% and 22.1%±3.3%] ( P<0.05). The VAS scores and ODIs at postoperative 1 day and 6 months in all patients were significantly lower than those before operation ( P<0.05). Compression symptoms of the spinal cord and nerve root were observed in none of the patients. Conclusion:In the treatment of type ⅡA ASOTLF with dense bone bands, PVP by percutaneous bi-level bilateral puncture is more effective than the traditional PVP by percutaneous single-level bilateral puncture, and will not increase bone cement leakage or vertebral refracture.