BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

In this study, lipopolysaccharide(LPS), ovalbumin(OVA), and compound 48/80(C48/80) were administered to establish non-infectious pneumonia models under simulated clinical conditions, and the correlation between their pathological characteristics and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndromes was compared, providing the basis for the selection of appropriate animal models for TCM efficacy evaluation. An acute pneumonia model was established by nasal instillation of LPS combined with intraperitoneal injection for intensive stimulation. Three doses of OVA mixed with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant were injected intraperitoneally on days one, three, and five and OVA was administered via endotracheal drip for excitation on days 14-18 to establish an OVA-induced allergic pneumonia model. A single intravenous injection of three doses of C48/80 was adopted to establish a C48/80-induced pneumonia model. By detecting the changes in peripheral blood leukocyte classification, lung tissue and plasma cytokines, immunoglobulins(Ig), histamine levels, and arachidonic acid metabolites, the multi-dimensional analysis was carried out based on pathological evaluation. The results showed that the three models could cause pulmonary edema, increased wet weight in the lung, and obvious exudative inflammation in lung tissue pathology, especially for LPS. A number of pyrogenic cytokines, inclading interleukin(IL)-6, interferon(IFN)-γ, IL-1β, and IL-4 were significantly elevated in the LPS pneumonia model. Significantly increased levels of prostacyclin analogs such as prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and PGD2, which cause increased vascular permeability, and neutrophils in peripheral blood were significantly elevated. The model could partly reflect the clinical characteristics of phlegm heat accumulating in the lung or dampness toxin obstructing the lung. The OVA model showed that the sensitization mediators IgE and leukotriene E4(LTE4) were increased, and the anti-inflammatory prostacyclin 6-keto-PGF2α was decreased. Immune cells(lymphocytes and monocytes) were decreased, and inflammatory cells(neutrophils and basophils) were increased, reflecting the characteristics of "deficiency", "phlegm", or "dampness". Lymphocytes, monocytes, and basophils were significantly increased in the C48/80 model. The phenotype of the model was that the content of histamine, a large number of prostacyclins(6-keto-PGE1, PGF2α, 15-keto-PGF2α, 6-keto-PGF1α, 13,14-D-15-keto-PGE2, PGD2, PGE2, and PGH2), LTE4, and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid(5S-HETE) was significantly increased, and these indicators were associated with vascular expansion and increased vascular permeability. The pyrogenic inflammatory cytokines were not increased. The C48/80 model reflected the characteristics of cold and damp accumulation. In the study, three non-infectious pneumonia models were constructed. The LPS model exhibited neutrophil infiltration and elevated inflammatory factors, which was suitable for the efficacy study of TCM for clearing heat, detoxifying, removing dampness, and eliminating phlegm. The OVA model, which took allergic inflammation as an index, was suitable for the efficacy study of Yiqi Gubiao formulas. The C48/80 model exhibited increased vasoactive substances(histamine, PGs, and LTE4), which was suitable for the efficacy study and evaluation of TCM for warming the lung, dispersing cold, drying dampness, and resolving phlegm. The study provides a theoretical basis for model selection for the efficacy evaluation of TCM in the treatment of pneumonia.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Pneumonia/genetics* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Male ; Humans ; Cytokines/immunology* ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects* ; Lung/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Ovalbumin ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

Objective:To investigate the short-term efficacy of left-sided three-port total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TPTLDG).Methods:The prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. The 68 patients undergoing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from March 2022 to March 2023 were collected. All patients were randomly assigned to the TPTLDG group with a double number, and to the five-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (FPLDG) group with a single number, respectively. Observation indicators: (1) grouping situations of the enrolled patients; (2) comparison of perioperative condition; (3) comparison of complications during postoperative 30 days; (4) comparison of pathological examination. Measure-ment data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or continuous correction chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed using the non‐parameter rank sum test. Results:(1) Grouping situations of the enrolled patients. A total of 59 patients of gastric cancer were selected for eligibility. There were 40 males and 19 females, aged 59.00(52.00, 67.00)years. The gender (male, female), age, body mass index (BMI), Caprini score (≤2, ≥3), nutritional risk screening 2002 (<3, ≥3), Eastern Coopera-tive Oncology Group performance status (0, 1), preoperative hypersensitive C-reactive protein, preoperative IL-6, preoperative white blood cell count, preoperative albumin were 19, 11, 59.00(51.25,65.25)years, 21.92(20.93,22.73)kg/m 2, 7, 23, 24, 6, 18, 12, 0.78(0.78,1.46)mg/L, 3.07(1.50,10.56)μg/L, 6.07(4.94,7.19)×10 9/L, 44.30(40.83, 46.15) g/L in the 30 patients of TPTLDG group, versus 21, 8, 57.00(51.00, 67.00)years, 21.90(20.95, 23.35)kg/m 2, 11, 18, 24, 5, 17, 12, 1.13(0.78,11.40)mg/L, 5.56(1.88,15.12)μg/L, 5.54(4.71,6.70)×10 9/L, 43.55(40.25,44.88)g/L in the 29 patients of FPLDG group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( χ2=0.557, Z=-0.444, -0.805, χ2=1.482, 0.074, 0.012, Z=-1.259, -1.262, -0.819, -1.199, P>0.05), confounding bias ensured comparability between the two groups. (2) Comparison of perioperative condition. The length of incision, time to removing drainage tube, IL-6 at postoperative day 3, cost of hospital stay were 6.65(6.48,6.93)cm, 3.00(0,3.00)days, 29.18 (13.67, 43.53)μg/L, 84 164.15(73 084.72, 96 782.14)yuan in the TPTLDG group, versus 8.00(7.50,8.35)cm, 3.00(3.00,4.00)days, 47.56(21.31,85.79)μg/L, 92 120.43(87 069.33, 113 089.74)yuan in the FPLDG group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-11.065, -2.141, -2.940, -2.220, P<0.05). (3) Comparison of complications during postoperative 30 days. The incidence rate of complications during postoperative 30 days was 30.00%(9/30) and 24.14%(7/29) in the TPTLDG group and FPLDG group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.256, P>0.05). (4) Comparison of pathological examination. Cases with pathological N staging as 0 stage, 1 stage, 2 stage, 3 stage were 22, 2, 4, 2 in the TPTLDG group, versus 13, 7, 4, 5 in the FPLDG group, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( Z=-2.021, P<0.05). Conclusion:TPTLDG is safe and feasible for gastric cancer, with a good short-term efficacy.

Licking behavior is important for water intake. The deep mesencephalic nucleus (DpMe) has been implicated in instinctive behaviors. However, whether the DpMe is involved in licking behavior and the precise neural circuit behind this behavior remains unknown. Here, we found that the activity of the DpMe decreased during water intake. Inhibition of vesicular glutamate transporter 2-positive (VGLUT2⁺) neurons in the DpMe resulted in increased water intake. Somatostatin-expressing (SST⁺), but not protein kinase C-δ-expressing (PKC-δ⁺), GABAergic neurons in the central amygdala (CeA) preferentially innervated DpMe VGLUT2⁺ neurons. The SST⁺ neurons in the CeA projecting to the DpMe were activated at the onset of licking behavior. Activation of these CeA SST⁺ GABAergic neurons, but not PKC-δ⁺ GABAergic neurons, projecting to the DpMe was sufficient to induce licking behavior and promote water intake. These findings redefine the roles of the DpMe and reveal a novel CeA^SST-DpMe^VGLUT2 circuit that regulates licking behavior and promotes water intake.

Abdomen/diagnostic imaging* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Body Composition ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Objective To investigate the protective effect of excretory-secretory protein (AES) from adult Trichinella spiralis on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis in mice. Methods Eighteen female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups, including the blank control group (Group A), OVA-induced rhinitis group (Group B) and AES treatment group (Group C). Mice in Group A were given PBS. Mice in Group B were intraperitoneally injected with antigen adjuvant suspension for systemic sensitization, once every other day for seven times; then, local excitation was intranasally induced with 5% OVA solution once a day for seven times to establish a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. In addition to induction of allergic rhinitis, mice in Group C were given 25 μg AES at baseline sensitization and local excitation. Following the final challenge, mice were observed for 30 min in each group, and the behavioral score was evaluated. The serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and TGF-β were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in mice, and the pathological changes of mouse nasal mucosa were observed under a microscope. Results There was a significant difference in the mouse behavioral scores among the three groups (F = 110.12, P < 0.01). The mouse behavioral score was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (7.17 ± 0.75 vs. 1.33 ± 0.52, P < 0.01), and more remarkable pathological damages of mouse nasal mucosa were seen in Group B than in Group A, while the mouse behavioral score was significantly decreased in Group C than in Group B (P < 0.01), and the pathological damages of mouse nasal mucosa remarkably alleviated in Group C relative to Group B. There was a significant difference in serum IFN-γ level among the three groups (F = 7.50, P < 0.01) and the serum IFN-γ level in Group B was significantly lower than in group A and C (both P < 0.05). There were significant differences in serum IL-4 (F = 470.81, P < 0.01) and IL-5 levels (F =68.20, P < 0.01) among the three groups, and significantly greater serum IL-4 and IL-5 levels were detected in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.01), while significantly lower serum IL-4 and IL-5 levels were detected in Group C than in Group B (P < 0.01). There were significant differences in serum IL-10 (F = 174.91, P < 0.01) and TGF-β levels (F = 9.39, P < 0.01) among the three groups, and significantly greater serum IL-10 and TGF-β levels were seen in Group C than in Group B (both P < 0.05). Conclusion T. spiralis AES has a remarkable protective activity against OVA-induced allergic rhinitis in mice.

Objective: To study the learning curve of laparoscopic pacreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) with a view to find an appropriate way to develop LPD step by step. Methods: 112 consecutive patients who completely underwent LPD in a single surgery center at the First People’s Hospital of Changzhou from December 2015 to February 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. By using both the cumulative sum (CUSUM) and the risk-adjusted CUSUM (RA-CUSUM) methods to analyze the perioperative data of these patients, the learning curve of LPD was studied in a more scientific way. Results: The learning curve could be divided into three phases: Phase 1, the initial period (the initial 45 patients); Phase 2, the enhancement period (the subsequent 31 patients); Phase 3, the maturation period (the remaining patients). For these 3 phases, the corresponding operative times were (448.4±75.0), (381.3±74.3), and (336.2±52.1) min, respectively (P<0.05). The intraoperative blood losses were (373.3±250.1), (332.3±211.6), and (265.3±253.2) ml, respectively (P<0.05). The times to oral intake were 6.0(5.0, 8.0), 5.0(3.0, 6.0), and 3.0(3.0, 5.0) days, respectively (P<0.05). The number of lymph nodes harvested were (10.0±7.0), (8.8±4.3), and (13.3±6.2), respectively (P<0.05). All these showed significant improvement through the 3 phases. On the other hand, the postoperative stays, the postoperative pancreatic fistula rates were also decreased. But these failed to reach statistical significance. Vascular reconstruction was carried out in the 48th patient in phase 2 of the study. Conclusions The initial phase of LPD passed after LPD for 46 patients, but the maturation phase occurred after LPD on 76 patients. Vascular reconstruction should be considered as passing through the learning phase rather than reaching the maturity phase. Adjustments made in the enhancement phase helped to get through the maturation phase earlier.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival trends and patterns of failure in patients with stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy over the last 20 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight hundred and eight patients diagnosed with stage II NPC between January 1990 and December 2012 were involved in this retrospective cohort study. All patients were treated with RT. According to the main imaging techniques and RT technology, we categorized these patients into four calendar periods: 1990-1996, 1997-2002, 2003-2007, and 2008-2012. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) were served as the clinical outcome. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 84.7 months, we observed increasing trends in survival and disease control. The 3- and 5-year OS rates increased from 87.1% and 78.7% in the first calendar period to 97.4% and 94.5% in the last calendar period, respectively (p<0.001). Additionally, significant increasing trends could be seen in the PFS and LRFS during the four calendar periods. In the subgroup analysis, the LRFS in patients older than 50 years at diagnosis showed greater improvement than younger patients. However, the rate of distant metastasis was stable and relatively low, as the 5-year DMFS ranged from 90.5% to 94.7% among the four calendar periods. CONCLUSION: The survival rates in patients with stage II NPC showed increasing trends from 1990 to 2012. The advance of RT provided excellent locoregional control and enhanced OS.
Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

BackgroundSerum cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) test is the most used noninvasive method to detect cryptococcal infection. However, false-negative CrAg test is not uncommon in clinical practice. Then, the aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with false-negative CrAg test among non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) adult patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis and its clinical features.

MethodsOne hundred and fourteen non-HIV adult patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis, proven by biopsy, were retrospectively reviewed. Finally, 85 patients were enrolled; 56 were CrAg positive (CrAg+ group) and 29 were negative (CrAg- group). It was a cross-sectional study. Then, baseline characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and chest radiological findings were reviewed and analyzed. Chi-square test was used to analyze categorical variable. Odds ratio (OR) was used to measure correlation. Student's t- test was obtained to analyze continuous variable.

ResultsNo difference in baseline characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, and laboratory findings were found between two groups (P > 0.05 in all). Nevertheless, diffuse extent lesion was 82.1% in CrAg+ group and 10.3% in CrAg- group (χ = 40.34, P < 0.001; OR = 39.87).

ConclusionsAmong patients with limited pulmonary involvement, a negative serum CrAg does not preclude the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis. However, among patients with extensive pulmonary involvement, serum CrAg is a useful diagnostic tool for pulmonary cryptococcosis. Furthermore, we also noticed that the untypical and mild presentations with extensive pulmonary lesion might be the features of pulmonary cryptococcosis, which needs further investigation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cryptococcosis ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

The expression or dysfunction of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is closely related to various hereditary diseases, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases and tumors. LncRNAs were also recently recognized as functional regulators of fibrosis, which is a secondary process in many of these diseases and a primary pathology in fibrosis diseases. We review the latest findings on lncRNAs in fibrosis diseases of the liver, myocardium, kidney, lung and peritoneum. We also discuss the potential of disease-related lncRNAs as therapeutic targets for the clinical treatment of human fibrosis diseases.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Fibrosis ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Metabolic Diseases ; Myocardium ; Pathology ; Peritoneum ; RNA, Long Noncoding