Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a kind of neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by acute or chronic liver failure or portosystemic venous shunt (hereinafter referred to as portosystemic shunt), which can lead to the occurrence of functional impairment, personality and behavioral abnormalities, coma, and even death. Most patients with cirrhosis combined with HE have spontaneous portosystemic shunt (SPSS), especially those with recurrent or persistent HE. Internal medicine's current standard of treatment for HE associated with SPSS in cirrhotic patients is unsatisfactory, and even after treatment, recurrent HE episodes may still occur. Although interventional therapy has shown significant results and has been applied in clinical practice for many years for SPSS-associated HE, the number of treatment-related cases is relatively small, and there is a lack of large samples and well-designed research. Currently, interventional therapy for SPSS-associated HE in patients with cirrhosis is still under continuous exploration.

Pulse wave analysis plays an important role in the theoretical and clinical studies of both the traditional Chinese medicine and the modern western medicine.In recent years,some researchers raised the opinion of resonance between the harmonics of the pulse wave and the viscera,and applied it to explain the mechanism and the clinical application of the pulse waves,which had a great impact on the related research in the traditional Chinese medicine especially about the pulse diagnosis.To evaluate the feasibility of this opinion,this study summarized the theoretical model and the main arguments of the harmonics-viscera resonance opinion,analyzed the opinion from the aspects of Zang-xiang theory and meridian theory in the traditional Chinese medicine,the anatomy in Western medicine,observations in biology,the resonance phenomenon in physics,and the blood flow study in hemodynamics.Some technical thoughts in the harmonics-viscera resonance opinion that need to be further improved and refined were also identified for further exploration.

Pulse wave analysis plays an important role in the theoretical and clinical studies of both the traditional Chinese medicine and the modern western medicine.In recent years,some researchers raised the opinion of resonance between the harmonics of the pulse wave and the viscera,and applied it to explain the mechanism and the clinical application of the pulse waves,which had a great impact on the related research in the traditional Chinese medicine especially about the pulse diagnosis.To evaluate the feasibility of this opinion,this study summarized the theoretical model and the main arguments of the harmonics-viscera resonance opinion,analyzed the opinion from the aspects of Zang-xiang theory and meridian theory in the traditional Chinese medicine,the anatomy in Western medicine,observations in biology,the resonance phenomenon in physics,and the blood flow study in hemodynamics.Some technical thoughts in the harmonics-viscera resonance opinion that need to be further improved and refined were also identified for further exploration.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a kind of neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by acute or chronic liver failure or portosystemic venous shunt (hereinafter referred to as portosystemic shunt), which can lead to the occurrence of functional impairment, personality and behavioral abnormalities, coma, and even death. Most patients with cirrhosis combined with HE have spontaneous portosystemic shunt (SPSS), especially those with recurrent or persistent HE. Internal medicine's current standard of treatment for HE associated with SPSS in cirrhotic patients is unsatisfactory, and even after treatment, recurrent HE episodes may still occur. Although interventional therapy has shown significant results and has been applied in clinical practice for many years for SPSS-associated HE, the number of treatment-related cases is relatively small, and there is a lack of large samples and well-designed research. Currently, interventional therapy for SPSS-associated HE in patients with cirrhosis is still under continuous exploration.

Objective To investigate the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor combined with Lepidium seed on cardiac,digestive,and pulmonary function in patients with heart failure complicated by pulmonary infection.Methods A total of 168 patients with heart failure and lung infection admitted to Zigui County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2017 to March 2019 were selected as the research objects.They were divided into observation group and control group according to different treatment methods(84 patients per group).The control group received sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor combined with ceftazidime,while the observation group was treated with Lepidium seed on the basis of control group for 30 days.Nutritional status[prealbumin(PA),albumin(ALB),red blood cell count(RBC),body mass index(BMI)],immune function[cytoplasmic domains(CD3,CD4,CD8),immunoglobulins(IgG,IgM)],inflammatory cytokines[interleukins(IL-8,IL-10,IL-17),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)],intestinal flora(Enterococcus,Escherichia coli,Lactobacillus,Bifidobacterium,Saccharomycetes,Digestion),and cardiopulmonary function[arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PaO2),arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO2),heart rate(HR),maximum oxygen consumption(VO2max),maximum exercise load(Wmax),maximum oxygen pulse,anaerobic threshold(AT),forced expiratory volume in one second/forced lung volume ratio(FEV1/FVC),FEV1 and maximal voluntary ventilation(MVV)]were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results After treatment,PA,ALB,RBC,BMI,CD3,CD4,CD8,IgG and IgM,Lactobacillus,Bifidobacterium,PaO2,VO2max,Wmax,maximum oxygen pulse,AT,FEV1/FVC,FEV1,MVV all increased significantly compared to before treatment.IL-8,IL-17,TNF-α,Enterococcus,Escherichia coli,PaCO2,and heart rate were significantly reduced compared to before treatment.The levels of PA,ALB,RBC,BMI,CD3,IgG,IgM,IL-10,Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,PaO2,VO2max,Wmax,maximum oxygen pulse,AT,FEV1/FVC,FEV1,and MVV in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group after treatment[PA(mg/L):259.69±20.73 vs.217.69±20.73,ALB(g/L):41.46±4.58 vs.36.56±3.73,RBC(×1012/L):4.52±0.24 vs.4.21±0.31,BMI(kg/m2):22.37±2.73 vs.19.66±2.24,CD3:0.63±0.08 vs.0.56±0.08,IgG(g/L):21.85±3.68 vs.15.72±4.36,IgM(g/L):4.68±1.68 vs.3.73±1.67,IL-10(ng/L):65.28±7.23 vs.50.23±6.14,Bifidobacterium(CFU/kg):83.5±8.6 vs.78.5±8.3,Lactobacillus(CFU/kg):62.1±6.5 vs.53.5±6.0,PaO2(mmHg,1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa):98.36±1.75 vs.91.95±2.95,VO2max(L/min):1.71±0.35 vs.1.22±0.39,Wmax(W):127.49±19.54 vs.97.49±15.37,maximum oxygen pulse(L/time):11.27±2.42 vs.9.46±2.79,AT:(50.49±7.48)%vs.(41.35±6.67)%,FEV1/FVC:(75.68±5.86)%vs.(65.48±8.54)%,FEV1:(82.44±5.73)%vs.(73.57±7.75)%,MVV(L/min):74.86±10.64 vs.64.63±9.68,all P<0.05].CD4,CD8,IL-8,IL-17,TNF-α.Enterococcus,Escherichia coli,PaCO2,and heart rate levels were significantly lower than those in the control group[CD4:0.32±0.06 vs.0.39±0.05,CD8:0.28±0.06 vs.0.34±0.05,IL-8(ng/L):16.64±2.63 vs.26.35±4.13,IL-17(ng/L):112.38±30.16 vs.207.75±42.23,TNF-α(ng/L):45.27±10.23 vs.61.26±14.29,Enterococcus(CFU/kg):63.6±5.6 vs.69.5±6.8,Escherichia coli(CFU/kg):65.8±6.4 vs.70.5±7.0,PaCO2(mmHg):41.84±4.45 vs.56.18±5.37,heart rate(bpm):75.96±11.57 vs.91.57±12.68,all P<0.05].Conclusions Treatment with Lepidium seed combined with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor improved cardiopulmonary function,reduced inflammation,enhanced nutrition,and normalized gut flora in heart failure patients with lung infections.Our findings support integrating this combination into clinical guidelines for optimized management of these critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study examined the association between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus in patients with H-type hypertension and assessed the possible effect modifiers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,255 eligible participants in the ‘H-type Hypertension Management and Stroke Prevention Strategic International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project’ among rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The mean level of total homocysteine (tHcy) in the diabetes mellitus population was 19.37 μmol/L, which was significantly higher than the non-diabetic patients (18.18 μmol/L). When tHcy was analyzed as a continuous variable, the odds ratio (OR) of diabetes was 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.35; per interquartile range). When tHcy was stratified according to the quintile, the ORs for diabetes were 2.86 (95% CI, 1.22–6.69) in the highest quintile (tHcy ≥ 20.60 μmol/L) compared to the reference group (tHcy < 12.04 μmol/L). When tHcy was grouped by 15 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L, patients with tHcy ≥ 20 μmol/L had a significantly (P = 0.037) higher risk of diabetes (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.04–3.96) than in those with tHcy < 15 μmol/L. Subgroup analysis showed that the tHcy-diabetes association was unaffected by other variables. CONCLUSION In this study of rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension, the tHcy levels showed a positive association with diabetes mellitus. This independent association is unaffected by other potential risk factors.

Objective:To study the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with iodine-125 ( 125Ⅰ) seed strands implantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma combined with portal vein tumor thrombosis. Methods:25 cases with diffuse intrahepatic tumor combined with tumor thrombus type Ⅲ/Ⅳ requiring TIPS were simultaneously implanted with 125Ⅰseed strand. Tumor thrombus was controlled with 125I seed implantation brachytherapy to keep the TIPS pathway unobstructed, reduce the portal vein pressure, and observe the changes in the cause of death of the patients. During the same period, 30 cases without TIPS and seed strand implantation were used as controls. Data between groups were compared using t-test, Chi-Squared test or Fisher's exact test. Results:TIPS combined with 125Ⅰ seed strand implantation was safe in patients with diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma combined with type III/IV portal vein tumor thrombus, and 92.0% (23/25) of the patients maintained unobstructed TIPS pathway. Compared with the control group, patients in the treatment group died of fewer lead-related complications, and most died from chronic liver failure (84.0% vs. 56.7%, χ2 = 4.771, P=0.029). The incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly decreased (12.0% vs. 46.7%, χ2 =7.674, P=0.006) and ascites severity was significantly improved (mild 40.0% vs. 16.7%, moderate 52.0% vs. 20.0%, severe 8.0% vs. 46.7%, χ2 =13.246 , P=0.001). Conclusions:TIPS combined with 125Ⅰ seed strand implantation is safe and feasible in patients with diffuse intrahepatic tumor combined with tumor thrombus type Ⅲ/Ⅳ. Moreover, it can effectively keep the shunt patency and reduce portal vein pressure, thereby reducing the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and improving the degree of ascites. TIPS combined with 125Ⅰ seed strand implantation may be used as a standard treatment modality for patients requiring TIPS therapy combined with tumor thrombus type Ⅲ/Ⅳ.

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect and safety of direct and selective percutaneous coronary inter-vention (PCI)in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods:A total of 138 STEMI pa-tients were randomly divided into direct PCI group (n=69,received PCI immediately after diagnosis)and selective PCI group (n=69,received acute thrombolysis therapy and then PCI in a selected time).Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),peak creatine phosphokinase (CPK),CPK peak time,peak creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), CK-MB peak time,cardiac rupture rate during hospitalization,re-infarction rate and mortality rate within 30d and one year were compared between two groups.Results:Compared with selective PCI group after treatment,there were significant rise in LVEF [(49.3±6.8)% vs.(58.2±7.7)%],peak CPK [(74.9±49.3)IU/L vs.(113.0± 59.3)IU/L ]and peak CK-MB [(1983.1±1251.2)IU/L vs.(2588.6±1592.3)IU/L],and significant reduction in CPK peak time [(19.4±6.5)h vs.(13.9±4.5)h ]and CK-MB peak time [(19.7±7.7)h vs.(12.7±7.2) h]in direct PCI group,P <0.01 all;there were significant reductions in cardiac rupture rate (5.8% vs.0),re-in-farction rate (17.5% vs.6.3%)during hospitalization;mortality rates within 30d (11.0% vs.2.2%)and one year (22.2% vs.8.2%)in direct PCI group,P <0.05 all.Conclusion:Direct PCI in STEMI patients possesses better therapeutic effect and safety,which is worthy extending.