OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Guilu Taohong Formula on semen quality in varicocele (VC) models of rats, and to explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (sham group, model group, Guilu Taohong Formula group and L-carnitine group). After the establishment of models, the rats were treated with intragastric administration for eight consecutive weeks. The general condition of the rats was observed. After the gavage, the testicular and epididymal indices were calculated. Semen quality was assessed using an automatic semen analyzer. Apoptosis of testicular cells was assessed by TUNEL staining. And the expression levels of B-cell lymphocytoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cysteine aspartate protease-3 (caspase-3) in testicular tissue were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, testicular index, epididymal index, sperm concentration, the percentage of progressive motility of sperm (PR%) and the expression level of Bcl-2 decreased in model group(P<0.01). An increased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were observed in model group as well(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the testicular index, epididymal index, sperm concentration, PR% and the expression level of Bcl-2 in Guilu Taohong Formula group increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). A decreased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were detected in Guilu Taohong Formula group as well(P<0.01). Similarly, the L-carnitine group showed increased testicular index, epididymal index, sperm concentration, PR% and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.05, P<0.01), where showed decreased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins compared with model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Guilu Taohong Formula improves semen quality in VC model rats and reduces the apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells in testicular tissue, which may be related to the promotion of Bcl-2 protein expression and the inhibition of Bax and caspase-3 protein expression levels.
Male ; Animals ; Varicocele/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Semen Analysis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Spermatozoa/drug effects* ; Testis/drug effects*

Objective:To investigate the status quo of training and domestic use of 707 clinical nutrition support specialty nurses from 21 provinces,cities,and autonomous regions in China. And to analyze their influencing factors and provide reference for improving the training system of clinical nutrition support specialty nurses,selection and development of specialist nurses in clinical nutrition support. Methods:From October to November 2023,a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 707 clinical nutrition support specialty nurses from 21 provinces,cities,and autonomous regions across China was conducted using a convenience sampling method based on a questionnaire about the training and home use of clinical nutrition support nurses. Univariate and multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the use status and application of clinical nutrition support specialty nurses in five aspects:clinical nursing practice,nursing education,nursing management,coordination,nursing research and consultation. Results:The use of specialist clinical nutrition support nurses is not ideal,with 75.67％ of specialist nurses scoring less than 208 points (i.e. less than 80％ of the total score). Among the use of different dimensions,the clinical nursing practice dimension received the highest score (54.17±10.26),followed by the nursing education dimension (36.98±8.00). The results of multiple linear regression analysis show that hospital level and professional title are independent influencing factors influencing the use and development of specialist nurses. Conclusion:There is a need to further improve the utilisation of clinical nutrition support nurses. It is recommended that links and cooperation between hospitals at all levels,communities,and families be strengthened. For specialist nurses with higher professional titles,encourage them to fully play their roles,strengthen training in weak areas,continuously optimize the professional ability of clinical nutrition support nursing teams,comprehensively improve the quality of clinical nutrition support specialist nursing,and promote their high-level development.

Currently,the research or publications related to the clinical comprehensive evaluation of Chinese patent medicine are increasing,which attracts the broad attention of all circles. According to the completed clinical evaluation report on Chinese patent medicine,there are still practical problems and technical difficulties such as unclear responsibility of the evaluation organization,unclear evaluation subject,miscellaneous evaluation objects,and incomplete and nonstandard evaluation process. In terms of evaluation standards and specifications,there are different types of specifications or guidelines with different emphases issued by different academic groups or relevant institutions. The professional guideline is required to guide the standardized and efficient clinical comprehensive evaluation of Chinese patent medicine and further improve the authority and quality of evaluation. In combination with the characteristics of Chinese patent medicine and the latest research achievement at home and abroad,the detailed specifications were formulated from six aspects including design,theme selection,content and index,outcome,application and appraisal,and quality control. The guideline was developed based on the guideline development requirements of China Assoication of Chinese medicine. After several rounds of expert consensus and public consultation,the current version of the guideline has been developed.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Consensus ; China ; Reference Standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Tiaohe Yinyang acupotomy (acupotomy for regulating and harmonizing yin and yang) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 88 patients with KOA were randomized into a acupotomy group and a sham-acupotomy group, 44 cases in each group. In the acupotomy group, acupotomy was applied at yin side (4-5 high stress points i.e. pes anserinus and terminal of popliteus) and yang side (1-2 high stress points i.e. stimulation point of infrapatellar ligament and suprapatellar bursa) of knee joint. In the sham-acupotomy group, sham-acupotomy was applied at the same points as the acupotomy group. The treatment was given once a week for 2 weeks in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis index (WOMAC) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, thickness of medial and lateral collateral ligaments of knee joint, motion range of knee joint and plantar pressure distribution were observed in the two groups. In the follow-up of 3 months after treatment, the WOMAC and VAS scores were recorded in the acupotomy group. RESULTS: After treatment, the sub item scores (pain, stiffness and function) and total scores of WOMAC and VAS scores were decreased in the both groups (P<0.05), pain score, function score and total score of WOMAC and VAS score in the acupotomy group were lower than those in the sham-acupotomy group (P<0.05). Before and after treatment, there were no statistical differences in thickness of medial and lateral collateral ligaments of knee joint and motion range of knee joint between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the plantar medial pressure was increased while the plantar lateral pressure was decreased (P<0.05), and the plantar force line moved medially in the acupotomy group. In the follow-up, the sub item scores and total score of WOMAC and VAS score were lower than those before and after treatment in the acupotomy group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Tiaohe Yinyang acupotomy can improve the clinical symptoms of knee joint in patients with KOA by changing the local biological stress.
Humans ; Social Group ; Pain

Objective: To investigate the possible pathophysiological mechanism of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in the development of lingual tonsil hypertrophy (LTH). Methods: The lingual tonsil tissues were collected from 73 patients [48 males and 25 females, aged from 24 to 76 (52.86±12.04) years] who underwent surgery for laryngopharyngeal diseases at the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Southern Hospital of Southern Medical University from October 2019 to December 2020, and the lingual tonsil grade (LTG), reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) were assessed. The expression of pepsin in LTH was detected by immunohistochemistry. The coexpression of pepsin and macrophages were detected by immunohistofluorescence. In vitro, cytological experiments and pathway assays were performed on macrophages stimulated by pepsin. Pathway alterations of macrophages in pepsin-positive high-grade LTH were detected by double-fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software. Results: There were 44 clinically significant LPRD patients with LTG 3 and 4, and the pepsin positive rate was 88.6% (39/44). While, the pepsin positive rate of LTG 1 and 2 was 48.3% (14/29). LTG was significantly positively correlated with RFS/RSI positive rate(χ²=23.01/19.62, P<0.001/0.001; r=0.54/0.51, P<0.001/0.001) and pepsin tissue staining intensity (H=21.58, P<0.001; r=0.53, P<0.001), respectively. Pepsin and macrophages were clearly colocalized in high grade LTH. In vitro, pepsin promoted macrophage proliferation (P<0.05) and production of IL-6/IL-8 (P<0.05). Pepsin significantly up-regulated the p38/JNK MAPK pathway in macrophages (P<0.05). Pepsin up-regulated the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 of macrophages by activating the p38 MAPK pathway (P<0.05), and up-regulated the expression of IL-8 by activating the JNK pathway (P<0.05). The p38/JNK MAPK pathways were highly expressed in macrophages of pepsin-positive LTH (P<0.05). Conclusions: LPR is an important pathogenic factor in LTH. Macrophages may mediate pepsin-induced inflammation and the pathogenesis of LTH.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Palatine Tonsil ; Pepsin A ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Hypertrophy ; Macrophages ; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) in patients with hepatitis E-related acute liver failure (HEV-ALF).Methods:Clinical data of 88 patients with HEV-ALF and 86 patients with acute hepatitis E (AHE) were collected from the member hospitals of Chinese Consortium for the Study of Hepatitis E between January 2016 and December 2021; the data of 100 health subjects who underwent health check-up in Suzhou Municipal Hospital were also collected as healthy control (HC) group. Serum FT3 levels were analyzed in all subjects. HEV-ALF patients were divided into survival group ( n=73) and death group ( n=15) according to their 30 day survival. Correlation between serum FT3 level and prognosis of HEV-ALF patients were analyzed by Cox regression and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the predictive value of serum FT3 levels for predicting the prognosis of patients, and its prediction efficacy was compared with conventional Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), King’s College Hospital criteria (KCH) and Child-Pugh models. Results:The levels of serum FT3 in HEV-ALF patients were significantly lower than those in AHE patients and HC group ( P=0.006 or <0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that international standardized ratio ( HR=17.984, 95% CI 2.804-115.362), hepatic encephalopathy ( HR=12.895, 95% CI 2.386-69.695) and total cholesterol ( HR=2.448, 95% CI 1.108-5.409) were independent risk factors for death in HEV-ALF patients, and serum FT3 level ( HR=0.323, 95% CI 0.119-0.876) was a protective factor. OPLS-DA results showed serum FT3 levels had high predictive value. ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve was 0.828 (95% CI 0.733-0.900, P<0.001), the sensitivity was 80.00%, and the specificity was 78.08%. DCA showed that FT3 has good prediction ability and decision-making level serum FT3 levels in patients with improvement and fluctuation were significantly higher than those in the patients with deterioration ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Conclusion:Serum FT3 levels are closely related to the prognosis of HEV-ALF patients and it may be used as a biomarker for the prognosis of patients with HEV-ALF.

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term clinical effect of multicenter multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) in children with renal malignant tumors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 55 children with renal malignant tumors who were diagnosed and treated with MDT in 3 hospitals in Hunan Province from January 2015 to January 2020, with GD-WT-2010 and CCCG-WT-2016 for treatment regimens. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to analyze the survival of the children. RESULTS: Of the 55 children, 10 had stage I tumor, 14 had stage Ⅱ tumor, 22 had stage Ⅲ tumor, 7 had stage IV tumor, and 2 had stage V tumor. As for pathological type, 47 had FH type and 8 had UFH type. All children underwent complete tumor resection. Of the 55 children, 14 (25%) received preoperative chemotherapy. All children, except 1 child with renal cell carcinoma, received postoperative chemotherapy. Among the 31 children with indication for radiotherapy, 21 (68%) received postoperative radiotherapy. One child died of postoperative metastasis. The incidence rate of FH-type myelosuppression was 94.4%, and the incidence rate of UFH-type myelosuppression was 100%. The median follow-up time was 21 months and the median survival time was 26 months for all children, with an overall survival rate of 98% and an event-free survival rate of 95%. CONCLUSIONS Multicenter MDT has the advantages of high success rate of operation and good therapeutic effect of chemotherapy in the treatment of children with renal malignant tumors, with myelosuppression as the most common side effects, and radiotherapy is safe and effective with few adverse events. Therefore, MDT has good feasibility, safety, and economy.
Child ; Family ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/therapy* ; Progression-Free Survival ; Retrospective Studies

Objective::This paper aims to explore the potential anti-neoplasm targets and mechanism of Danggui Sinitang on hepatocellular carcinoma by analyzing the prescription of Danggui Sinitang with the method of network pharmacology, in order to provide targeted guidance for further studies. Method::The Traditional Chinese Medicine System Platform (TCMSP) and SwissTargetPrediction database were adopted to establish the database of Danggui Sinitang' s effective ingredients and targets. The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), and Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) were used to build the hepatocellular carcinoma target database, which was then matched with Danggui Sinitang' s target database. Based on the matching results, STRING database was applied to analyze the interactions between the targets and the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was utilized for the enrichment analysis on gene ontology (GO) biological process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. Then Cytoscape 3.6.0 software was used for networks analysis. Result::A total of 56 significant targets of Danggui Sinitang were found for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The 106 cellular biological processes were obtained through GO biological process enrichment analysis and 23 related pathways were obtained by KEGG enrichment analysis, mainly including TNF signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) signaling pathway, AMP activated protein kinase(AMPK) signaling pathway, Janus kinase(JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT) signaling pathway, et al. Conclusion::The therapeutic effect of Danggui Sinitang on hepatocellular carcinoma may be multi-target, multi-channel and multi-level. It can be inferred that quercetin and kaempferol may be two important active components, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway may be two important signaling pathways. This study not only makes a contribution to a better understanding of the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma mechanism of Danggui Sinitang, but also proposes a strategy to develop new TCM candidates at a network pharmacology level.