Precancerous lesions of gastric cancer （PLGC） are a group of pathological changes caused by abnormalities in the structure， morphology， and differentiation of gastric mucosal epithelial cells. Since the early symptoms are hidden and non-specific， PLGC is not easy to be diagnosed and it has often developed into intermediate or advanced gastric cancer once being diagnosed and missed the best time for treatment. Accordingly， the incidence of this disease is increasing year by year， which lifts a heavy burden on the patients. The pathogenesis of PLGC is complex， involving inflammatory microenvironment， bile reflux， glycolysis， autophagy， and apoptosis. Currently， PLGC is mainly treated with anti-inflammatory and endoscopic therapies， which are difficult to curb the development of PLGC. Therefore， seeking a safe and effective therapy is an important topic of modern research. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， characterized by treatment based on syndrome differentiation and a holistic view， exerts effects via multiple pathways， mechanisms， and targets. Recent studies have confirmed that TCM can regulate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin （PI3K/Akt/mTOR）， Wnt/β-catenin， Sonic Hedgehog， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT）， hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）， neurogenic locus notch homolog protein （Notch）， nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2） and other signaling pathways. By targeting these pathways， TCM can inhibit aerobic glycolysis， reduce oxidative stress， repair the inflammatory microenvironment， regulate cellular autophagy， and promote vascular normalization， thereby delaying or reversing PLGC. However， few researchers have systematically summarized the TCM regulation of PLGC-associated pathways. By reviewing the relevant articles at home and abroad， this paper summarized the roles of the above signaling pathways in the development of PLGC and the research progress in the regulation of signaling pathways by TCM in the treatment of PLGC， with a view to providing a new theoretical basis for the clinical research on PLGC and the drug development for this disease.

Bone marrow suppression is one of the common adverse reactions to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Anticancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy first directly damage the patient′s peripheral blood cells, impairing qi and blood; further, they damage the actively proliferating cell populations in the bone marrow, impairing yin and blood; and then they interfere with hematopoietic stem cells, impairing essence and blood. This process is rapid and intense, consistent with the characteristics of " acute deficiency syndrome" , marked by sudden onset, rapid changes, critical condition, complexity and variability, multiple complications, and poor prognosis. Given this, its diagnosis and treatment should differ from those of general deficiency syndromes. This paper advocates the principles and ideas of diagnosis and treatment such as " preventing first and treating early to prevent changes; supplementing for deficiency and strengthening vital qi to eliminate pathogenic factor; urgent rescue for critical conditions, no time to lose; and comprehensive supplementing throughout the process, with severe cases requiring singular action" . This approach is intended to provide theoretical reference and practical guidance for bone marrow suppression after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Occupational chronic n-hexane poisoning incidents have been effectively curtailed in traditional printing and footwear industries, but its hazards are emerging in new industries. In recent years, two cluster incidents involving eight patients with occupational chronic n-hexane poisoning had occurred in Longgang District, Shenzhen City. Unlike the cleaning processes of electronic components in the electronics industry, these two incidents occurred during cleaning operations of non-electronic products. The rapid on-site detection tubes indicated the presence of n-hexane in the organic solvents used at the work site, and subsequent analysis of volatile components of the organic solvents further confirmed the involvement of n-hexane. Although the n-hexane exposure concentration of short term in the workplace air samples were below its occupational exposure limit, all eight cases were diagnosed as occupational chronic n-hexane poisoning, based on occupational exposure history, clinical manifestations, field investigations, and laboratory test results. These two poisoning incidents highlight that in air-conditioned or enclosed workshops with substandard occupational disease prevention facilities, the use of n-hexane containing organic solvents may result in occupational chronic n-hexane poisoning, even when the air monitoring results do not exceed the occupational exposure limits.

AIM: To quantify early changes of macular capillary parameters in type 2 diabetic patients using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS: Retrospective case study. A total of 49 healthy subjects, 52 diabetic patients without retinopathy(noDR)patients, and 43 mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(mNPDR)patients were recruited. Capillary perfusion density, vessel length density(VLD), and average vessel diameter(AVD)were calculated from macular OCTA images(3 mm×3 mm)of the superficial capillary plexus after segmenting large vessels and the deep capillary plexus. Parameters were compared among control subjects, noDR, and mNPDR patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve estimated the abilities of these parameters to detect early changes of retinal microvascular networks.RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the VLD and AVD among the three groups(P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the noDR group had significantly higher AVD(P<0.05). VLD of both layers in patients of mNPDR group was significant decreased compared with that of noDR group(all P<0.01). Deep AVD had a higher area under the curve(AUC)of 0.796 than other parameters to discriminate the noDR group from the healthy group. Deep AVD had the highest AUC of 0.920, followed by that of the deep VLD(AUC=0.899)to discriminate the mNPDR group from the healthy group.CONCLUSIONS: NoDR patients had wider AVD than healthy individuals and longer VLD than mNPDR patients in both layers. When compared with healthy individuals, deep AVD had a stronger ability than other parameters to detect early retinal capillary impairments in noDR patients.

Objective The imaging findings of X-ray defecography(XRD)and magnetic resonance defecog-raphy(MRD)of patients with Solitary Rectal Ulcer syndrome(SRUS)were retrospectively analyzed to provide important information for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods 19 patients with SRUS confirmed by clinical,pathological and colonoscopy were included in this study.Among them,15 patients underwent XRD and 7 patients underwent MRD,and 3 patients underwent both XRD and MRD.Data of all enrolled patients were collected and pelvic floor function was measured.Results In the results of XRD,3 patients(20%)showed rectal intussusception.8 patients(53.3%)showed external rectal prolapse and 2 patients(13.3%)showed moderate rectocele.In addition,there were 2 patients of puborectal muscle hypertrophy,and 1 patient of bladder prolapse and uterine prolapse,respectively.For MRD,3 patients(42.9%)showed rectal mucosal prolapse(partial prolapse).At 4 patients(57.1%)with rectocele,3 patients(all female)had moderate rectocele,1 patient had mild rectocele.3 patients were also observed related anterior and middle compartment organ descent.2 patients of pubulorectal muscle hypertrophy,no sigmoidocoele.Conclusion Defecography can evaluate the structural and functional abnormalities of pelvic floor in SRUS patients,such as external rectal prolapse,rectal protrusion,rectal mucosal prolapse,and rectal intussusception,which has guiding significance for the treatment of SRUS patients.

BACKGROUND:Compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule has good therapeutic effects on early steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head,but the exact mechanism of treatment is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule on fucosyltransferase 8,osteogenic gene and Wnt/β-catenin in bone tissue of rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS:Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into blank group,model group,low-,middle-,and high-dose drug groups(n=12 per group).In the latter four groups,animal models of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head were established by subcutaneous injection of imiquimod(once every 2 weeks,2 times in total)and gluteal muscle injection of methylprednisolone(once a week,4 times in total).The low-,middle-and high-dose drug groups were given 1.89,3.78 and 7.56 g/kg per day compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule solution by gavage respectively on the second day after the last modeling.The same amount of saline was given by gavage to the model group.Administration lasted 8 weeks.After the administration,micro-CT scan,histological staining,compression test,RT-qPCR and western blot were performed on the femoral head. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Micro-CT scan results showed that compared with the blank group,trabecular volume fraction,trabecular number and trabecular thickness were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while trabecular separation was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule could increase trabecular volume fraction,trabecular number and trabecular thickness(P<0.05),and decrease trabecular separation(P<0.05)in a dose-dependent manner.Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that compared with the model group,the rate of empty bone lacunae was reduced in a dose-dependent group in the low-,middle-,and high-dose compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule groups(P<0.05).Immunohistochemical staining results showed that compared with the blank group,the protein expression of fucosyltransferase 8,Runx2 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 was reduced in the model group(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule increased the protein expression of fucosyltransferase 8,Runx2 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).Results from the compression test showed that there was a dose-dependent increase in the maximum load and elastic modulus of the femoral head in the low-,middle-,and high-dose compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule groups compared with the model group(P<0.05).RT-qPCR and western blot results showed that the mRNA and protein expressions of fucosyltransferase 8,Runx2,alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,osteoblast-specific transcription factor and bone morphogenetic protein 2 were decreased in the model group compared with the blank group(P<0.05);compared with the model group,there was a dose-dependent increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of the above indicators in the low-,middle-,and high-dose compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule groups compared with the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the blank group,the mRNA and protein expression of Wnt2,low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 and β-catenin were decreased(P<0.05)and the mRNA and protein expressions of glycogen synthase kinase 3β were increased(P<0.05)in the model group;compared with the model group,there was a dose-dependent increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of Wnt2,low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 and β-catenin(P<0.05)but a dose-dependent decrease in the mRNA and protein expressions of lycogen synthase kinase 3β(P<0.05)in the low-,middle-,and high-dose compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule groups.To conclude,the mechanism by which the compound Shengmai Chenggu capsule treats steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head may activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through the up-regulation of fucosyltransferase 8,thereby promoting bone formation.

Hyperkalemia is one of the common ion metabolism disorders in clinical practice. Hyperkalemia is defined as serum potassium higher than 5.0 mmol/L according to the guidelines at home and abroad. Acute severe hyperkalemia can cause serious consequences, such as flaccid paralysis, fatal arrhythmia, and even cardiac arrest. The use of renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system inhibitors, β-blockers and diuretics, low-sodium and high-potassium diets, and the presence of related comorbidities increase the occurrence of hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia risk exist in all clinical departments, but there is a lack of a standardization in the management of multi- department cooperation in hospital. Therefore, a number of domestic nephrology and cardiology department experts have discussed a management model for multi-department cooperation in hyperkalemia, formulating the management standard on hospital evaluation, early warning, diagnosis and treatment, and process. This can promote each department to more effectively participate in nosocomial hyperkalemia diagnosis and treatment, as well as the long-term management of chronic hyperkalemia, improving the quality of hyperkalemia management in hospital.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.07.023.].

AIM: To explore the relationship of miR-126 and miR-325 in serum and vitreous with the severity of proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR).METHODS: A total of 100 cases(100 eyes)with PVR who were treated in our hospital from October 2019 to October 2022 were selected and retrospectively studied. They were divided into a mild group(42 eyes)and a severe group(58 eyes)according to the degree of retinopathy, and another 30 cases(30 eyes)that underwent vitrectomy without retinopathy due to eye trauma in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-126 and miR-325 in serum and vitreous; ELISA was used to detect the levels of transforming growth factor β(TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)in serum and vitreous; and Pearson's method was used to analyze the correlation between the serum and vitreous levels of miR-126 and miR-325 correlated with the levels of TGF-β, PDGF, VEGF, and TNF-α; Logistic multifactorial analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors for the occurrence of severe PVR.RESULTS: Compared with the control group, miR-126 levels in serum and vitreous of PVR patients were decreased and lower in the severe PVR group than in the mild PVR group(both P<0.05); miR-325 levels were increased and higher in the severe PVR group than in the mild PVR group(both P<0.05). TGF-β, PDGF, VEGF, and TNF-α levels in serum and vitreous were increased in the severe PVR group compared to the mild PVR group(all P<0.05). The miR-126 levels in serum and vitreous of patients with PVR were negatively correlated with miR-325, TGF-β, VEGF, TNF-α, and PDGF levels(all P<0.05), and miR-325 was positively correlated with TGF-β, VEGF, TNF-α, and PDGF levels(all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that miR-325, TGF-β, PDGF, and TNF-α were all independent risk factors for the development of severe PVR in serum and vitreous, and miR-126 was an independent protective factor for the development of severe PVR in serum and vitreous(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: With the aggravation of PVR, miR-126 expression in serum and vitreous decreased while miR-325 expression increased and correlated with TGF-β, TNF-α, VEGF, and PDGF.

Chronic prostatitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in male clinics. Due to the diverse symptoms， complex etiology， unclear mechanisms， and recurrent episodes of chronic prostatitis， Western medicine often faces the challenge of limited treatment options and unsatisfactory outcomes. In order to fully leverage the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of chronic prostatitis， the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized a discussion among experts from the fields of TCM urology， Western urology， and related pharmacy. The experts focused on the advancements in the understanding of chronic prostatitis in modern medicine， various theories on the etiology， pathogenesis， and treatment of chronic prostatitis in TCM， entry points from interdisciplinary fields， the role and advantages of TCM in the comprehensive management of chronic prostatitis， and research into mechanisms related to chronic prostatitis. After discussions， the experts concluded that chronic prostatitis is one of the diseases where TCM has a distinct advantage. TCM can effectively improve the clinical syndromes of chronic prostatitis， including urinary issues， social psychology， organ specificity， infection， nervous system problems， pain and discomfort， sexual dysfunction， etc.， and can enhance the quality of life. For patients with chronic prostatitis who cannot tolerate or may not accept the adverse effects of Western medicine， as well as for those with non-inflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome （CP/CPPS）， those with pain as the primary symptom， those with urinary tract symptoms， those with coexisting anxiety and depression， and those with abnormal semen liquefaction， TCM-based treatment can be the main approach. Currently， the optimal diagnosis and treatment strategy for chronic prostatitis has not yet been established， and further research from perspectives such as clinical epidemiology， evidence-based medicine， and molecular biology is needed. Both TCM and Western medicine should integrate their respective strengths， clarify the role and advantages of TCM interventions based on mutual reference， and improve the diagnosis and treatment standards for chronic prostatitis in China.