OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic angiogenesis has become a promising approach for treating ischemic heart disease (IHD). The present study aims to investigate the effects of Qishen Granule (QSG) on angiogenesis in myocardial ischemia (MI) and the potential mechanism. METHODS: In vivo study was conducted on rat model of myocardial infarction. QSG was performed daily at a dose of 2.352 g/kg for four weeks. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiogram and pro-angiogenic effects were evaluated by Laser Doppler and CD31 expression. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was applied in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Cell viability, wound healing and tube formation assay were used to test functions of HUVECs. ELISA and Western blots were used to assess protein expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2-delta-like 4-notch homolog 1 (BMP2-Dll4-Notch1) signaling pathway. RESULTS: The results showed that QSG improved heart function, cardiac blood flow and microvessel density in myocardial ischemic rats. In vitro, QSG protected HUVECs by promoting the cell viability and tube formation. QSG upregulated bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) and downregulated delta-like 4 (Dll4) and notch homolog 1 (Notch1) expressions both in rats and HUVECs. CONCLUSION QSG protected against MI by promoting angiogenesis through BMP2-Dll4-Notch1 pathway. BMP2 might be a promising therapeutic target for IHD.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, is associated with a significantly increased risk of both venous and arterial thromboembolism. Common risk factors for thrombosis include disease activity, surgery, older age, central venous catheterization, etc. However, thrombotic events related to pharmacological treatment are often under-recognized, despite their potential for severe consequences. With the rapid expansion of therapeutic options for IBD in recent years, it has become increasingly important to acknowledge that different agents carry varying levels of thrombotic risk. This review summarizes current evidence on the thrombotic risks associated with IBD therapies and outlines preventive strategies, aiming to optimize the thrombosis risk management and reduce treatment-related thrombotic events in IBD patients.

Objectives:To explore the spatial distribution characteristics, trend changes, and spatial clustering of esophageal cancer among residents in China at the county (city, district) scale, a spatial epidemiological approach was used, with the aim of providing localized evidence for the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer in China.Methods:The data source was the incidence (crude rate) and mortality (crude rate) of esophageal cancer from 2005 to 2016 in the 2008-2019 edition of China Cancer Registration Annual Report published by the National Cancer Center. The Joinpoint model was used for time trend analysis. The tumor registration area in 2016 was selected as the study area for spatial feature analysis, with a total of 487 counties (cities and districts), covering 27.6% of the national population. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed to reveal spatial distribution characteristics by using Arcgis 10.6 software, and spatial scanning statistics was used to analyze spatial clustering characteristics by using SaTScan 9.5 software. The log-likelihood ratio ( LLR) and relative risk ( RR) were calculated in different windows, and the region with the largest LLR value represented the most likely cluster. Results:From 2005 to 2016, the incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer in China showed a trend of increasing at first and then decreasing. The incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer in 2016 were characterized by spatial positive correlation. High incidence and high mortality were mainly concentrated in the areas through which the Huaihe River flowed. The primary clusters (taking high incidence rate as an example LLR=6 374.41, RR=2.37, P＜0.001) were mainly distributed in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong in eastern China and eastern Henan and southern Hebei in central China, and secondary clusters (taking high incidence rate as an example LLR=1 971.19, RR=1.91, P＜0.001) in Gansu, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Shaanxi, Sichuan and other central and western regions. Conclusions:The incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer in China have decreased since 2010. The disease burden of esophageal cancer has obvious spatial differences, and measures should be taken according to local conditions in high-risk cluster areas such as the Huaihe River basin.

Modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT)has a good therapeutic effect on major depressive disorder(MDD),but its mechanism of action is still unclear.In recent years,accumulated studies have confirmed the effects of MECT on brain structure and function using neuroimaging techniques and large datasets obtained through global collaborations and the conclusions are becoming increasingly consistent.For example,there is an increase in gray matter volume in specific brain regions such as the hippocampus and amygdala,an increase in white matter microstructural integrity and normalization of brain functional connections associated with MDD,such as the hippocampus-amygdala-subgenual anterior cingulate cortex-prefrontal cortex network,hippocampus-thalamus-temporal cortex-parietal cortex network,etc.However,the relationship between these changes and the mechanism of MECT action still needs further investigation.This review provides an overview of the research progress on the structural and functional changes of the brain by MECT to provide methodological support and theoretical basis for its better application in clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objectives:To explore the spatial distribution characteristics, trend changes, and spatial clustering of esophageal cancer among residents in China at the county (city, district) scale, a spatial epidemiological approach was used, with the aim of providing localized evidence for the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer in China.Methods:The data source was the incidence (crude rate) and mortality (crude rate) of esophageal cancer from 2005 to 2016 in the 2008-2019 edition of China Cancer Registration Annual Report published by the National Cancer Center. The Joinpoint model was used for time trend analysis. The tumor registration area in 2016 was selected as the study area for spatial feature analysis, with a total of 487 counties (cities and districts), covering 27.6% of the national population. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed to reveal spatial distribution characteristics by using Arcgis 10.6 software, and spatial scanning statistics was used to analyze spatial clustering characteristics by using SaTScan 9.5 software. The log-likelihood ratio ( LLR) and relative risk ( RR) were calculated in different windows, and the region with the largest LLR value represented the most likely cluster. Results:From 2005 to 2016, the incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer in China showed a trend of increasing at first and then decreasing. The incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer in 2016 were characterized by spatial positive correlation. High incidence and high mortality were mainly concentrated in the areas through which the Huaihe River flowed. The primary clusters (taking high incidence rate as an example LLR=6 374.41, RR=2.37, P＜0.001) were mainly distributed in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong in eastern China and eastern Henan and southern Hebei in central China, and secondary clusters (taking high incidence rate as an example LLR=1 971.19, RR=1.91, P＜0.001) in Gansu, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Shaanxi, Sichuan and other central and western regions. Conclusions:The incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer in China have decreased since 2010. The disease burden of esophageal cancer has obvious spatial differences, and measures should be taken according to local conditions in high-risk cluster areas such as the Huaihe River basin.

Objective To investigate the differential expression of proteins in the serum of diabetic patients quantitative proteomics technologies, and to identify specific protein biomarkers. Methods Serum samples from three diabetic patients and three healthy controls in Shenzhen in 2023 were collected. Immunoprecipitation and nano liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic orbitrap-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (easy-nanoLC-Q-orbitrap-fusion) were employed to perform fraction and no-fraction-based quantitative analysis of the serum proteome in diabetic patients and healthy controls. The mass spectrometry data were analyzed by MaxQuant1.6.1.0, and the differential proteins identified by the fraction-based method were subjected to gene ontology (GO) functional clustering and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Results A total of 251 reliable proteins were identified by the no-fraction-based method, among which 17 differentially expressed proteins were selected. In contrast, 494 reliable proteins were identified by the fraction-based method, and 74 differentially expressed proteins were selected. Among them, seven proteins showed consistent changes in both methods. Five proteins were downregulated, including pregnancy zone protein (PZP), carbonic anhydrase 1 (CAH1), mannose-binding protein C (MBL2), fibrinogen alpha chain (FIBA), and haptoglobin (HPT). Two proteins were upregulated, including apolipoprotein(a) (LPA) and complement factor H-related protein 4 (CFH4). GO analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in molecular functions such as glycosaminoglycan binding and heparin binding. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins were mainly associated with complement and coagulation cascades, cell adhesion, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and other pathways. Conclusions Fraction-based no-fractional quantitative proteomics analysis provides an effective approach for analyzing differential protein expression in the serum of diabetic patients, and offers a valuable technique for screening specific protein biomarkers of serum samples in large-scale cohorts of disease.

Purpose To investigate the diagnosis,differential diagnosis and clinical manifestation of primary plasma cell leukemia (PPCL) and lymphoma with increased plasma cell.Methods Through clinical data and cell morphology,flow cytometry (FCM),immunofixation electrophoresis and immunohistochemistry of EliVision two-step examination were used to analyze 7 cases of PPCL and 3 cases of lymphoma with increased plasma cell.Results All patients with PPCL and lymphoma with increased plasma cell presented with anemia,thrombocytopenia,fever,liver and spleen and lymph node swelling.The proportion of plasma cells in peripheral blood morphology were larger than 20％,accompanied by morphological abnormality.FCM of peripheral blood showed all 7 cases of PPCL expressed CD38 and CD138,CD56 expression in the 2 cases and CD20 in the 2 cases.The light chain (Lamda,Kappa) showed a monoclonal restricted expression,which was consistent with the diagnosis of PPCL.CD19 and CD45 were weakly positive in 3 cases of lymphoma with increased plasma cell,CD38 and CD138 were positive,and no restricted expression was found in light chain IgL,wich belonging to the immunophenotypes of normal plasma cells.Of 3 cases of light chain (Ig) without restrictive expression,2 of them were angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (ATCL) and 1 case was CD30-positive sinusoidal large B-cell lymphoma (CD30 + SLBCL) that confirmed by lymph node biopsy and pathological examination.Conclusion The PPCL and lymphoma with increased plasma cell have the same clinical manifestations and similar morphological characteristics of blood cells.The diagnosis of PPCL should be combined with immunoelectrophoresis and FCM,and the diagnosis of lymphoma with increased plasma cell needs to be confirmed by histological examination of lymph nodes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are characterized by abnormal central processing with altered brain activation in response to visceral nociceptive signals. The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on IBS patients is unclear. The study is set to study the effect of EA on brain activation during noxious rectal distension in IBS patients using a randomized sham-controlled model. METHODS: Thirty IBS-diarrhea patients were randomized to true electroacupuncture or sham acupuncture. Functional MRI was performed to evaluate cerebral activation at the following time points: (1) baseline when there was rectal distension only, (2) rectal distension during application of EA, (3) rectal distension after cessation of EA and (4) EA alone with no rectal distension. Group comparison was made under each condition using SPM5 program. RESULTS: Rectal distension induced significant activation of the anterior cingulated cortex, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, temporal regions and cerebellum at baseline. During and immediately after EA, increased cerebral activation from baseline was observed in the anterior cingulated cortex, bilateral prefrontal cortex, thalamus, temporal regions and right insula in both groups. However, true electroacupuncture led to significantly higher activation at right insula, as well as pulvinar and medial nucleus of the thalamus when compared to sham acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS: We postulate that acupuncture might have the potential effect of pain modulation in IBS by 2 actions: (1) modulation of serotonin pathway at insula and (2) modulation of mood and affection in higher cortical center via ascending pathway at the pulvinar and medial nucleus of the thalamus.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Neural Pathways ; Pain Perception ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Pulvinar ; Salicylamides ; Serotonin ; Thalamus

INTRODUCTION: Psychiatric comorbidity is common in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) but a good screening tool for psychiatric disorders in gastrointestinal clinical practice is lacking. Aims: 1) Evaluate the performance and optimal cut-off of 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) as a screening tool for psychiatric disorders in FD patients; 2) Compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in FD patients with and without psychiatric comorbidities. METHODS: Consecutive patients fulfilling Rome III criteria for FD without medical co-morbidities and gastroesophageal reflux disease were recruited in a gastroenterology clinic. The followings were conducted at 4 weeks after index oesophagogastroduodenoscopy: self-administrated questionnaires on socio-demographics, dyspeptic symptom severity (4-point Likert scale), GHQ-12, and 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID) by a trained psychiatrist, which served as reference standard. RESULTS: 55 patients underwent psychiatrist-conducted interview and questionnaire assessment. 27 (49.1%) had current psychiatric disorders as determined by SCID (anxiety disorders: 38.2%, depressive disorders: 16.4%). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of GHQ-12 revealed an area under curve of 0.825 (95%CI: 0.698-0.914). Cut-off of GHQ-12 at > or =3 gave a sensitivity of 63.0% (95%CI = 42.4-80.6%) and specificity of 92.9% (95%CI = 76.5%-98.9%). Subjects with co-existing psychiatric disorders scored significantly lower in multiple domains of SF-36 (mental component summary, general health, vitality and mental health). By multivariate linear regression analysis, current psychiatric morbidities (Beta = -0.396, p = 0.002) and family history of psychiatric illness (Beta = -0.299, p = 0.015) were independent risk factors for poorer mental component summary in SF-36, while dyspepsia severity was the only independent risk factor for poorer physical component summary (Beta = -0.332, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant psychiatric disorders adversely affect HRQoL in FD patients. The use of GHQ-12 as a reliable screening tool for psychiatric disorders allows early intervention and may improve clinical outcomes of these patients.
Area Under Curve ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Comorbidity ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Dyspepsia ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Gastroenterology ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Mass Screening ; Mental Disorders ; Psychiatry ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Rome ; Sensitivity and Specificity