ObjectiveTo explore the listed varieties and prescription characteristics of Chinese patent medicines for stroke in China， explore the medication rules of Chinese medicine for stroke， and provide guidance for further clinical research and development of Chinese patent medicines. MethodsExcel 2021 and the Ancient and Modern Medical Record Cloud Platform （V2.3.5） were used to systematically mine and analyze the varieties and prescriptions of Chinese patent medicines for stroke in China. ResultsA total of 244 Chinese patent medicines （two for different dosage forms of the same prescription）， 1 736 approval documents for Chinese patent medicines， 792 manufacturers， and 83 varieties of protected Chinese patent medicines were finally included in the database. The top three dosage forms were capsules （75）， pills （53）， and tablets （42）. There were 28 Chinese patent medicines for stroke in the National Essential Drug Catalogue （2018）， 129 in the National Essential Medical Insurance， Industrial Injury Insurance and Maternity Insurance Drug Catalogue （2023）， and 4 in the National Non-prescription Drug Catalogue. Among the 138 prescriptions screened out， Chinese patent medicines mainly treated stroke patients with the syndrome of Qi deficiency and blood stasis. The top three most frequent medicinal herbs were Chuanxiong Rhizoma （63）， Pheretima （47）， and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma （47）. The medicinal herbs used were mainly warm， pungent， with the meridian tropism to the liver meridian. The correlation analysis showed that the herb pair with the highest support was Astragali Radix-Chuanxiong Rhizoma， and that with the highest confidence was Carthami Flos-Chuanxiong Rhizoma. Five herb combinations were identified based on the cluster analysis. ConclusionThe Chinese patent medicines for stroke mainly treat patients with the syndrome of Qi deficiency and blood stasis. The medicinal herbs used in the prescriptions mainly have the functions of activating blood and resolving stasis， extinguishing wind and stopping convulsions. Drug compatibility usually focuses on activating blood and resolving stasis， as well as expelling phlegm and opening orifices. This review of the varieties and prescription characteristics of Chinese patent medicines for stroke helps optimize clinical decision-making， guide drug research and development， promote medical research and scientific progress， and provide more effective support and guarantee for the treatment of stroke patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, is characterized by high mortality and recurrence rates. Common treatments include hepatectomy, liver transplantation, ablation therapy, interventional therapy, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). While exhibiting specific advantages, these approaches are associated with varying degrees of adverse effects. To alleviate patients' suffering and burdens, it is crucial to explore additional treatments and elucidate the pathogenesis of HCC, laying a foundation for the development of new TCM-based drugs. With emerging research on gut microbiota, it has been revealed that microbiota plays a vital role in the development of HCC by influencing intestinal barrier function, microbial metabolites, and immune regulation. TCM, with its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics, has been increasingly recognized as a vital therapeutic treatment for HCC, particularly in patients at intermediate or advanced stages, by prolonging survival and improving quality of life. Recent global studies demonstrate that TCM exerts anti-HCC effects by modulating gut microbiota, restoring intestinal barrier function, regulating microbial composition and its metabolites, suppressing inflammation, and enhancing immune responses, thereby inhibiting the malignant phenotype of HCC. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbiota contributes to the development and progression of HCC and highlight the regulatory effects of TCM, addressing the current gap in systematic understanding of the "TCM-gut microbiota-HCC" axis. The findings provide theoretical support for integrating TCM with western medicine in HCC treatment and promote the transition from basic research to precision clinical therapy through microbiota-targeted drug development and TCM-based interventions.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/microbiology* ; Liver Neoplasms/microbiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of conversion therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with macrovascular invasion.Methods A total of 149 patients with advanced HCC with macrovascular invasion who were treated at our hospital from Jul.2019 to Jun.2021 were enrolled.All patients received systemic therapy combined with local therapy,and were assigned to conversion therapy group(n=42)and non-conversion therapy group(n=107)according to whether they ultimately underwent surgical treatment.The long-term prognosis and adverse reactions of these patients after conversion therapy were analyzed.Results The median event-free survival of 149 patients was 15.5 months,and the median overall survival had not been reached.The median event-free survival in the conversion therapy and non-conversion therapy groups were 19.8 months and 10.7 months,respectively,with the median overall survival being not reached and 28.2 months,respectively.Multifactor Cox regression analysis showed that conversion therapy was a protective factor for overall survival(hazard ratio[HR]=0.125,95％confidence interval[CI]0.016-0.966),but not for event-free survival.The 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates of the conversion therapy and non-conversion therapy groups were 100.0％,96.4％and 72.1％,53.4％,respectively,and the difference in survival curves between the 2 groups was statistically significant(P=0.003).The 1-year and 2-year event-free survival rates were 77.5％,33.8％and 47.3％,31.5％,respectively.There was no significant difference in survival curves between the 2 groups(P=0.070).The differences of the overall incidences of targeted and immunotherapy-related adverse reactions in the conversion therapy group and non-conversion therapy group(66.7％[28/42]vs 72.0％[77/107],P=0.524)and the incidences of grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ adverse reactions(23.8％[10/42]vs 27.1％[29/107],P=0.681),were not statistically significant.Conclusion For patients with advanced HCC with macrovascular invasion,conversion therapy can significantly improve the prognosis without serious adverse reactions.

Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is sensitive to ferroptosis, a new form of programmed cell death that occurs in most tumor types. However, the mechanism through which ferroptosis modulates HCC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the oncogenic role and prognostic value of FANCD2 and provide novel insights into the prognostic assessment and prediction of immunotherapy. METHODS: Using clinicopathological parameters and bioinformatic techniques, we comprehensively examined the expression of FANCD2 macroscopically and microcosmically. We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify the prognostic value of FANCD2 in HCC and elucidated the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of FANCD2 in oncogenesis by promoting iron-related death. RESULTS: FANCD2 was significantly upregulated in digestive system cancers with abundant immune infiltration. As an independent risk factor for HCC, a high FANCD2 expression level was associated with poor clinical outcomes and response to immune checkpoint blockade. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that FANCD2 was mainly involved in the cell cycle and CYP450 metabolism. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively elucidate the oncogenic role of FANCD2. FANCD2 has a tumor-promoting aspect in the digestive system and acts as an independent risk factor in HCC; hence, it has recognized value for predicting tumor aggressiveness and prognosis and may be a potential biomarker for poor responsiveness to immunotherapy.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis* ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Immunotherapy ; Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D2 Protein/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development. METHODS: A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected. RESULTS: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ ² = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Infant, Newborn ; Viremia/virology* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepacivirus/physiology* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology* ; Young Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood*

OBJECTIVE: Lipid oxidation is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and may be contribute to the development of Ischemic stroke (IS). However, the lipid profiles associated with IS have been poorly studied. We conducted a pilot study to identify potential IS-related lipid molecules and pathways using lipidomic profiling. METHODS: Serum lipidomic profiling was performed using LC-MS in 20 patients with IS and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Univariate and multivariate analyses were simultaneously performed to identify the differential lipids. Multiple testing was controlled for using a false discovery rate (FDR) approach. Enrichment analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst software. RESULTS: Based on the 294 lipids assayed, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models were used to distinguish patients with IS from healthy controls. Fifty-six differential lipids were identified with an FDR-adjusted P less than 0.05 and variable influences in projection (VIP) greater than 1.0. These lipids were significantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism (FDR-adjusted P = 0.009, impact score = 0.216). CONCLUSIONS Serum lipid profiles differed significantly between patients with IS and healthy controls. Thus, glycerophospholipid metabolism may be involved in the development of IS. These results provide initial evidence that lipid molecules and their related metabolites may serve as new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for IS.
Humans ; Pilot Projects ; Lipidomics ; Male ; Female ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Ischemic Stroke/blood* ; Aged ; China ; Lipids/blood* ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; East Asian People