OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of donafenib combined with programmed death-1 （PD-1） inhibitors and vascular intervention therapy in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS This retrospective study included 165 patients with unresectable HCC who were treated at the Fourth and First Affiliated Hospitals of Soochow University between June 2022 and March 2023. Among them， 89 patients received PD-1 inhibitors （tislelizumab or sintilimab， similarly hereinafter） plus vascular intervention （control group） and 76 patients received donafenib in combination with PD-1 inhibitors and vascular intervention （observation group）. Short-term efficacy （3 months after treatment）， long-term efficacy （2 years after treatment）， the levels of liver function indexes [serum alanine amino-transferase （ALT）， aspartate transferase （AST）， and total bilirubin （TBil）] and tumor biomarkers [alpha fetoprotein （AFP）， carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA）， carbohydrate antigen 19-9 （CA19-9）， and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin （DCP）] before treatment and after 3 months of treatment， as well as the occurrence of adverse drug reaction （ADR） during treatment， were compared between the two groups. In addition， overall response rate （ORR） stratified by PD-1 inhibitor type was analyzed. RESULTS After treatment， the ORR was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group （P＜0.05）； although the disease control rate was higher in the observation group compared to the control group， the difference was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. The median overall survival of patients in the observation group was 16.9 months [95% confidence interval （CI）： 14.2 to 19.1 months]， which was significantly longer than that in the control group （12.4 months， 95%CI： 10.1 to 15.3 months） （P＜0.05）. Subgroup analysis result indicated that therapeutic advantage was consistent across both sintilimab and tislelizumab subgroups， with no significant heterogeneity （P＞0.1， I 2＜0.001%）. Before treatment， there were no significant differences in liver function indexes or tumor marker levels between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed significant declines in these indicators compared with baseline （P＜0.05）， with greater reductions observed in the observation group （P＜0.05）. There were no statistically significant differences in overall incidence of ADR and grade ≥3 ADRs between the two groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS For patients with unresectable HCC， the combination of donafenib， PD-1 inhibitors and vascular intervention therapy may achieve superior clinical outcomes without increasing the risk of treatment-related ADR.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between long-term statin use and Helicobacter pylori( Hp)infection in the elderly, and to compare the effects of rosuvastatin combined with bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Hp eradication on lipid levels in elderly patients with mixed hyperlipidemia. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 181 elderly patients with hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and peripheral arterial disease who were treated at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between March 2019 and December 2023.According to the results of carbon 14 urea breath test(C 14-UBT), the subjects were divided into the Hp infection group and the non- Hp infection group.Multivariate logistic regression methods were used to analyze the correlation between Hp infection and statin use.A prospective case-control analysis was conducted on 109 patients with mixed hyperlipidemia and Hp infection treated during the same period, they were treated with rosuvastatin combined with bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Hp eradication.The successful eradication people were selected as the eradication group (n=95). Patients with hyperlipidemia and Hp infection unwilling eradication was selected as the control group (n=109), and treated with rosuvastatin.Changes in lipid levels were compared over a consecutive 6-month period. Results:The overall Hp infection rate was 53.94%(637/1 181). Univariate analysis showed that the infection rate in women was higher than in men.Body mass index(BMI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), fasting blood glucose(FBG)levels in the Hp(+ )group were higher than in the Hp(-)group.Long-term low-dose aspirin users had a higher infection rate than non-users.The infection rate was lower in statin users than in non-users[42.65%(374/877) vs.55.59%(169/304), χ2=15.234, P<0.001]. Multivariate analysis showed that women had a higher infection risk than men ( OR=1.441, 95% CI: 1.102-1.729, P=0.011). Higher FBG and LDL-C levels increased the risk of Hp infection ( OR=1.406, 95% CI: 1.271-2.286, P<0.001, OR=1.118, 95% CI: 1.017-1.387, P=0.010). Aspirin use increased the risk of Hp infection( OR=1.162, 95% CI: 1.034-1.294, P=0.021), while statin use reduced the risk of Hp infection ( OR=0.177, 95% CI: 0.018-0.311, P<0.001). The Hp eradication rate was 87.16%(95/109). At 1-and 2-months post-eradication, statistically significant differences were observed between the eradication and control groups in LDL-C, total cholesterol(TC), changes from baseline, and target achievement rates(all P<0.05). At 1-month post-eradication, a statistically significant difference was observed in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) levels between the two groups.Additionally, at both 1-and 2-months post-eradication, significant differences were found in the changes in HDL-C levels from baseline between the eradication group and the control group(all P<0.05). Conclusions:Long-term statin use in the elderly may reduce the risk of Hp infection.Rosuvastatin combined with a standard quadruple therapy does not improve the Hp eradication rates in elderly patients with mixed hyperlipidemia, but it facilitates short-term achievement of cholesterol targets.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP),as an advanced endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic technique,plays an important role in clinical practice.However,due to its complex operation and high technical requirements,it may lead to a series of severe complications,among which perforation is an important issue of concern.Perforation not only increases pain and treatment difficulty,but also threatens the life of patients.In order to guarantee good clinical outcomes,it is necessary to further improve the standard processes for the prediction,diagnosis,and management of perforation due to ERCP.This article discusses the risk factors,diagnostic methods,preventive measures,and treatment strategies for ERCP-related gastrointestinal perforation,in order to provide a reference for identifying high-risk populations and developing individualized treatment regimens in clinical practice.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP）， as an advanced endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic technique， plays an important role in clinical practice. However， due to its complex operation and high technical requirements， it may lead to a series of severe complications， among which perforation is an important issue of concern. Perforation not only increases pain and treatment difficulty， but also threatens the life of patients. In order to guarantee good clinical outcomes， it is necessary to further improve the standard processes for the prediction， diagnosis， and management of perforation due to ERCP. This article discusses the risk factors， diagnostic methods， preventive measures， and treatment strategies for ERCP-related gastrointestinal perforation， in order to provide a reference for identifying high-risk populations and developing individualized treatment regimens in clinical practice.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the effects of Jiedu-Shengji ointment(JDSJG)on wound healing in diabetic rats by modulating the protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)/inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)pathway in the context of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS).METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups:control group,model group,detoxification muscle ointment group,and sulfadiazine silver cream group.All groups,except the control,were administered an intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg streptozotocin to induce diabetes.The control and model groups received daily applications of normal saline,while the detoxification myogen ointment and sulfadiazine silver cream groups received their respective treatments daily.After dressing changes,wounds were bandaged with sterile gauze.Following 14 d of continuous treatment,wound healing was assessed and healing rates calculated.Histopathologi-cal changes in wound tissues were analyzed using HE staining.Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to observe the number,morphology,and swelling of endoplasmic reticulum in the wound tissues.The expression and distribution of PERK,IRE1 and thioredoxin interacting protein(TXNIP)was assessed by immunohistochemistry,while Western blot was used to measure the levels of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),TXNIP and NLRP3.ELISA was conducted to quantify the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-18(IL-18)and IL-1β.RE-SULTS:After 14 d of intervention,significant differences were observed in wound tissue parameters across the groups.The model group exhibited a significantly lower wound healing rate compared to the control group(P<0.01),with in-creased wound exudation,poor granulation tissue growth,and elevated the protein levels of PERK,IRE1,TXNIP,CHOP,NLRP3 and ASC(P<0.01),as well as significantly higher levels of IL-1β and IL-18(P<0.01).In contrast,the detoxification muscle ointment group showed a marked improvement in wound healing rate(P<0.01),reduced inflamma-tory exudation,improved granulation tissue growth,and significant decreases in TXNIP expression(P<0.01),along with lower levels of PERK,IRE1,CHOP,ASC and NLRP3(P<0.01).Additionally,the IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly reduced(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Jiedu Shengji ointment alleviates excessive ERS and mitigates chronic inflammato-ry responses,thereby promoting the healing of diabetic wounds.These effects may be attributed to the inhibition of exces-sive activation of the PERK/IRE1/NLRP3 pathway.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the effects of Jiedu-Shengji ointment(JDSJG)on wound healing in diabetic rats by modulating the protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)/inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)pathway in the context of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS).METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups:control group,model group,detoxification muscle ointment group,and sulfadiazine silver cream group.All groups,except the control,were administered an intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg streptozotocin to induce diabetes.The control and model groups received daily applications of normal saline,while the detoxification myogen ointment and sulfadiazine silver cream groups received their respective treatments daily.After dressing changes,wounds were bandaged with sterile gauze.Following 14 d of continuous treatment,wound healing was assessed and healing rates calculated.Histopathologi-cal changes in wound tissues were analyzed using HE staining.Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to observe the number,morphology,and swelling of endoplasmic reticulum in the wound tissues.The expression and distribution of PERK,IRE1 and thioredoxin interacting protein(TXNIP)was assessed by immunohistochemistry,while Western blot was used to measure the levels of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),TXNIP and NLRP3.ELISA was conducted to quantify the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-18(IL-18)and IL-1β.RE-SULTS:After 14 d of intervention,significant differences were observed in wound tissue parameters across the groups.The model group exhibited a significantly lower wound healing rate compared to the control group(P<0.01),with in-creased wound exudation,poor granulation tissue growth,and elevated the protein levels of PERK,IRE1,TXNIP,CHOP,NLRP3 and ASC(P<0.01),as well as significantly higher levels of IL-1β and IL-18(P<0.01).In contrast,the detoxification muscle ointment group showed a marked improvement in wound healing rate(P<0.01),reduced inflamma-tory exudation,improved granulation tissue growth,and significant decreases in TXNIP expression(P<0.01),along with lower levels of PERK,IRE1,CHOP,ASC and NLRP3(P<0.01).Additionally,the IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly reduced(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Jiedu Shengji ointment alleviates excessive ERS and mitigates chronic inflammato-ry responses,thereby promoting the healing of diabetic wounds.These effects may be attributed to the inhibition of exces-sive activation of the PERK/IRE1/NLRP3 pathway.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between long-term statin use and Helicobacter pylori( Hp)infection in the elderly, and to compare the effects of rosuvastatin combined with bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Hp eradication on lipid levels in elderly patients with mixed hyperlipidemia. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 181 elderly patients with hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and peripheral arterial disease who were treated at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between March 2019 and December 2023.According to the results of carbon 14 urea breath test(C 14-UBT), the subjects were divided into the Hp infection group and the non- Hp infection group.Multivariate logistic regression methods were used to analyze the correlation between Hp infection and statin use.A prospective case-control analysis was conducted on 109 patients with mixed hyperlipidemia and Hp infection treated during the same period, they were treated with rosuvastatin combined with bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Hp eradication.The successful eradication people were selected as the eradication group (n=95). Patients with hyperlipidemia and Hp infection unwilling eradication was selected as the control group (n=109), and treated with rosuvastatin.Changes in lipid levels were compared over a consecutive 6-month period. Results:The overall Hp infection rate was 53.94%(637/1 181). Univariate analysis showed that the infection rate in women was higher than in men.Body mass index(BMI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), fasting blood glucose(FBG)levels in the Hp(+ )group were higher than in the Hp(-)group.Long-term low-dose aspirin users had a higher infection rate than non-users.The infection rate was lower in statin users than in non-users[42.65%(374/877) vs.55.59%(169/304), χ2=15.234, P<0.001]. Multivariate analysis showed that women had a higher infection risk than men ( OR=1.441, 95% CI: 1.102-1.729, P=0.011). Higher FBG and LDL-C levels increased the risk of Hp infection ( OR=1.406, 95% CI: 1.271-2.286, P<0.001, OR=1.118, 95% CI: 1.017-1.387, P=0.010). Aspirin use increased the risk of Hp infection( OR=1.162, 95% CI: 1.034-1.294, P=0.021), while statin use reduced the risk of Hp infection ( OR=0.177, 95% CI: 0.018-0.311, P<0.001). The Hp eradication rate was 87.16%(95/109). At 1-and 2-months post-eradication, statistically significant differences were observed between the eradication and control groups in LDL-C, total cholesterol(TC), changes from baseline, and target achievement rates(all P<0.05). At 1-month post-eradication, a statistically significant difference was observed in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) levels between the two groups.Additionally, at both 1-and 2-months post-eradication, significant differences were found in the changes in HDL-C levels from baseline between the eradication group and the control group(all P<0.05). Conclusions:Long-term statin use in the elderly may reduce the risk of Hp infection.Rosuvastatin combined with a standard quadruple therapy does not improve the Hp eradication rates in elderly patients with mixed hyperlipidemia, but it facilitates short-term achievement of cholesterol targets.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of clinical bleeding in a family with hereditary coagulation factor Ⅺ (FⅪ) deficiency caused by a novel mutation of the coagulation factor Ⅺ (FⅪ) gene.Methods:A male proband with hereditary coagulation factor XI deficiency who was admitted to Yuncheng Central Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University due to "adenoid hypertrophy" on February 23, 2023 and his family members (5 people in 3 generations) were selected as research subjects. The clinical data of the proband and family members were collected; the relevant coagulation indexes of all members were tested; those with abnormal coagulation indexes (prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), normal thrombin time (PT) and fibrinogen (Fib)) were selected for APTT correction experiment; those with corrected Rosner index (RI) less than 10% were selected to detect FⅪ activity (FⅪ:C) by one-step method, FⅪ antigen (FⅪ:Ag) by ELISA method, and whole exon sequence by Illumina sequencing method. New mutation sites were rated according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) related variation rating guidelines, and bioinformatics software was used to predict the impact of new mutations on protein structure and function.Results:The APTT of the proband, his father and his daughter were all prolonged and their RI were all less than 10%. Further tests revealed that FⅪ:C and FⅪ:Ag of the three were all decreased. Illumina sequencing revealed a new frameshift mutation c.1223dupC (P.Ser409Leufs*32) in exon 11 of FⅪ of the three people, and a missense mutation c.G1253T (p.Gly418Val) in exon 11 of FⅪ of the proband′s father. ACMG rated the new mutation as pathogenic, and c.G1253T was a reported possible pathogenic mutation.Conclusion:The heterozygous frameshift mutation c.1223dupC (P.Ser409Leufs*32) in exon 11 of FⅪ may be the main molecular mechanism of the disease in this family.