Objective:To explore the correlation between subclavian artery stenosis disease (SASD) classification and posterior circulation ischemia.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; the clinical data, and Doppler vascular ultrasound and vascular imaging results of 81 SASD patients, admitted to Cerebrovascular Stenosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College and Department of Neurology, Rocket Force Specialty Medical Center from May 2018 to August 2023, were collected. SASD was categorized into 2 types (single type and concurrent type) based on the presence or absence of other posterior circulation artery (basilar artery, vertebral artery, or subclavian artery distal segment) stenosis/occlusion, and into 3 groups (non-posterior circulation ischemia group, posterior circulation transient ischemic attack group and posterior circulation cerebral infarction group) based on the presence or absence of posterior circulation ischemia. Blood stealing pathways in different SASD classifications were analyzed, and correlation of SASD classification with posterior circulation ischemia was discussed.Results:Single-type SASD was noted in 44 patients (54.3%), mainly initiating blood stealing through the vertebral artery to the vertebral artery and then to the subclavian artery ( n=26); concurrent-type SASD was noted in 37 patients (45.7%), mainly initiating blood stealing through the occipital artery to the costocervical trunk and then to the subclavian artery ( n=10). Sixty-five patients (80.2%) were into the non-posterior circulation ischemia group, 4 (4.9%) into the posterior circulation transient ischemic attack group and 12 (14.8%) into the posterior circulation cerebral infarction group. Among the 44 patients with single-type SASD, 39 did not have posterior circulation ischemia, and 3 had posterior circulation cerebral infarction. Among the 37 patients with concurrent-type SASD, 26 did not have posterior circulation ischemia, and 9 had posterior circulation cerebral infarction. Conclusion:Initiation of blood stealing in SASD patients is related to SASD classification, and concurrent-type SASD patients trend to have posterior circulation ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients who are positive for hormone receptor typically exhibit a favorable prognosis. It is controversial whether chemotherapy is necessary for them after surgery. Our study aimed to establish a multigene model to predict the relapse of hormone receptor-positive early-stage Chinese breast cancer after surgery and direct individualized application of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients after surgery. METHODS: In this study, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between relapse and nonrelapse breast cancer groups based on RNA sequencing. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to identify potential relapse-relevant pathways. CIBERSORT and Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter algorithms were used to analyze immune infiltration. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, log-rank tests, and multiple Cox regression were performed to identify prognostic signatures. A predictive model was developed and validated based on Kaplan-Meier analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). RESULTS: A total of 234 out of 487 patients were enrolled in this study, and 1588 DEGs were identified between the relapse and nonrelapse groups. GSEA results showed that immune-related pathways were enriched in the nonrelapse group, whereas cell cycle- and metabolism-relevant pathways were enriched in the relapse group. A predictive model was developed using three genes ( CKMT1B , SMR3B , and OR11M1P ) generated from the LASSO regression. The model stratified breast cancer patients into high- and low-risk subgroups with significantly different prognostic statuses, and our model was independent of other clinical factors. Time-dependent ROC showed high predictive performance of the model. CONCLUSIONS A multigene model was established from RNA-sequencing data to direct risk classification and predict relapse of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in Chinese patients. Utilization of the model could provide individualized evaluation of chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer patients.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/genetics* ; East Asian People ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics* ; Breast ; Algorithms ; Chronic Disease ; Prognosis ; Tumor Microenvironment

Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient infectious disease. Before the availability of effective drug therapy, it had high morbidity and mortality. In the past 100 years, the discovery of revolutionary anti-TB drugs such as streptomycin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and rifampicin, along with drug combination treatment, has greatly improved TB control globally. As anti-TB drugs were widely used, multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis emerged due to acquired genetic mutations, and this now presents a major problem for effective treatment. Genes associated with drug resistance have been identified, including katG mutations in isoniazid resistance, rpoB mutations in rifampin resistance, pncA mutations in pyrazinamide resistance, and gyrA mutations in quinolone resistance. The major mechanisms of drug resistance include loss of enzyme activity in prodrug activation, drug target alteration, overexpression of drug target, and overexpression of the efflux pump. During the disease process, Mycobacterium tuberculosis may reside in different microenvironments where it is expose to acidic pH, low oxygen, reactive oxygen species and anti-TB drugs, which can facilitate the development of non-replicating persisters and promote bacterial survival. The mechanisms of persister formation may include toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules, DNA protection and repair, protein degradation such as trans-translation, efflux, and altered metabolism. In recent years, the use of new anti-TB drugs, repurposed drugs, and their drug combinations has greatly improved treatment outcomes in patients with both drug-susceptible TB and MDR/XDR-TB. The importance of developing more effective drugs targeting persisters of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is emphasized. In addition, host-directed therapeutics using both conventional drugs and herbal medicines for more effective TB treatment should also be explored. In this article, we review historical aspects of the research on anti-TB drugs and discuss the current understanding and treatments of drug resistant and persistent tuberculosis to inform future therapeutic development.
Humans ; Pyrazinamide/therapeutic use* ; Isoniazid/therapeutic use* ; Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use* ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/microbiology* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics* ; Tuberculosis/drug therapy* ; Rifampin/therapeutic use* ; Mutation ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics*

Objective:To identify the influencing factors affecting the cosmetic facial injection treatments for cosmetic patients.Methods:Based on the purposeful sampling principle with maximum diversity and data saturation principle, patients who underwent facial injection cosmetic surgery in Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from June to September 2022 were selected for cross-sectional study. The qualitative study method was used to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews with patients and collect data. After the interview, the 7-step analysis method of Colaizzi phenomenological data was used to extract the topic concepts.Results:A total of 16 patients were included, and their influencing factors for medical treatment could be divided into 5 related topics: (1) age-related; (2) occupation-related; (3) surrounding social-environment-related; (4) social media platforms contacted; (5) experience of negative appearance evaluation during adolescence.Conclusion:Many factors affect the treatment of injection patients. In the course of medical treatment, the influencing factors should be identified accurately, so as to guide patients to seek medical treatment scientifically.

Objective:To identify the influencing factors affecting the cosmetic facial injection treatments for cosmetic patients.Methods:Based on the purposeful sampling principle with maximum diversity and data saturation principle, patients who underwent facial injection cosmetic surgery in Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from June to September 2022 were selected for cross-sectional study. The qualitative study method was used to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews with patients and collect data. After the interview, the 7-step analysis method of Colaizzi phenomenological data was used to extract the topic concepts.Results:A total of 16 patients were included, and their influencing factors for medical treatment could be divided into 5 related topics: (1) age-related; (2) occupation-related; (3) surrounding social-environment-related; (4) social media platforms contacted; (5) experience of negative appearance evaluation during adolescence.Conclusion:Many factors affect the treatment of injection patients. In the course of medical treatment, the influencing factors should be identified accurately, so as to guide patients to seek medical treatment scientifically.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Jiaomu Gualou Decoction combined with bisoprolol on myocardial microcirculation and oxidative/antioxidant balance in patients with heart failure.Methods:A total of 128 patients with heart failure who met the inclusion criteria from March 2020 to February 2021 in Dagang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Binhai New Area, Tianjin were divided into 2 groups by random number table method, with 64 in each group. On the basis of conventional treatment, the control group was given oral bisoprolol, and the study group was given Jiaomu Gualou Decoction and oral bisoprolol. Both groups were treated continuously for 4 weeks. TCM syndrome scores were performed before and after treatment. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) were detected by ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, and the frequency, duration and total myocardial ischemia load of the 24-hour ECG were recorded. Lipid peroxide (LPO) was detected by fluorescence method, SOD, MDA and GSH-Px were detected by colorimetric method. The adverse events were recorded and clinical response was evaluated.Results:The response rate was 93.75% (60/64) in the study group and 79.69% (51/64) in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=5.49, P=0.019). After treatment, the scores of shortness of breath, phlegm, sternocostal fullness, and fatigue in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 8.48, 8.15, 8.86, and 6.88, respectively, all Ps<0.001). After treatment, the LVEF of the study group [(53.26±5.18)% vs. (48.65±5.27)%, t=4.99] was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the LVESD [(42.59±3.26) mm vs. (46.98±3.55) mm, t=7.29], LVEDD [(52.79±4.15) mm vs. (57.48±4.60) mm, t=6.06] significantly lower than the control group ( P<0.01). After treatment, frequency of ST segment fall [(2.51±0.42) times/24 h vs. (3.79±0.55) times/24 h, t=14.80], duration [(15.26±3.45) min/24 h vs. (22.65±3.71) min/24 h, t=11.67] and total myocardial ischemia load [(25.79±5.13) mm/min vs. (38.02±5.44) mm/min, t=13.09] were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). After treatment, the levels of serum GSH-Px and SOD in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t values were 10.97, 14.37, respectively, all Ps<0.001), while the levels of LPO and MDA were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 7.50, 11.04, respectively, all Ps<0.001). During the treatment period, the incidence of adverse events was 4.69% (3/64) in the study group and 7.81% (5/64) in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.13, P=0.715). Conclusion:The Jiaomu Gualou Decoction combined with bisoprolol can improve the cardiac function and myocardial microcirculation in patients with heart failure, promote the body's oxidation/antioxidant balance, relieve the clinical symptoms of patients, and improve the response effect safely.

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer ranked the first in China. China had 787, 000 new cases of lung cancer in 2015, and a majority of these patients with advanced lung cancer. With the development and popularization of high-resolution computed tomography, more and more early-stage lung adenocarcinomas are found in screening. The imaging finding of early-stage lung adenocarcinomas often manifests as part solid nodule (PSN) containing ground glass opacity (GGO). Although the imaging manifestation of the nodules can′t accurately predict the pathologic type of nodules, the parts of solid nodule and GGO still have some pathologic indications, and the prognostic evaluation effect of the maximum diameter of PSN is superior to that of the whole nodule. With the development of the molecular radiography and molecular pathology, the relationship of imaging manifestation of the PSN and metastasis were focused on. Some PSNs with special nature are more active and rapidly progressed than the pure GGOs. While compared to the pure solid nodules, the aggressiveness of PSNs are insufficient, with lower metastatic rates of lymph node and better prognoses. Currently, international acknowledge recommends to take active intervention measure for PSNs which are highly suspected to be malignant. We focus on the diagnosis and treatment of PSNs, systemically depict their staging, follow-up, surgical treatment, gene detection and immunotherapy.

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer ranked the first in China. China had 787, 000 new cases of lung cancer in 2015, and a majority of these patients with advanced lung cancer. With the development and popularization of high-resolution computed tomography, more and more early-stage lung adenocarcinomas are found in screening. The imaging finding of early-stage lung adenocarcinomas often manifests as part solid nodule (PSN) containing ground glass opacity (GGO). Although the imaging manifestation of the nodules can′t accurately predict the pathologic type of nodules, the parts of solid nodule and GGO still have some pathologic indications, and the prognostic evaluation effect of the maximum diameter of PSN is superior to that of the whole nodule. With the development of the molecular radiography and molecular pathology, the relationship of imaging manifestation of the PSN and metastasis were focused on. Some PSNs with special nature are more active and rapidly progressed than the pure GGOs. While compared to the pure solid nodules, the aggressiveness of PSNs are insufficient, with lower metastatic rates of lymph node and better prognoses. Currently, international acknowledge recommends to take active intervention measure for PSNs which are highly suspected to be malignant. We focus on the diagnosis and treatment of PSNs, systemically depict their staging, follow-up, surgical treatment, gene detection and immunotherapy.

Objective:To describe the COVID-19 epidemic and its characteristics in Heilongjiang province, and provide evidence for the further prevention and control of COVID-19 in the province.Methods:The information of COVID-19 cases and clusters were collected from national notifiable disease report system and management information system for reporting public health emergencies of China CDC. The Software’s of Excel 2010 and SPSS 23.0 were applied for data cleaning and statistical analysis on the population, time and area distributions of COVID-19 cases.Results:On January 22, 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Heilongjiang. By March 11, 2020, a total of 482 cases domestic case of COVID-19, The incidence rate was 1.28/100 000, the mortality rate was 2.70% (13/482) in 13 municipalities in Heilongjiang. There were 81 clusters of COVID-19, The number of confirmed cases accounted for 79.25% (382/482) of the total confirmed cases and 12 cases of deaths. The family clusters accounted for 86.42% (70/81). Compared with the sporadic cases, the mortality rate, proportion of elderly cases aged 60 or above and severe or critical cases of clinical classification were all higher in the clusters especially the family clusters, but the differences were not significant ( P>0.05). There were 34 clusters involving more than 5 confirmed cases accounted for 41.98% (34/81) of the total clusters, the involved cases accounted for 68.31% (261/382) of the total cases of clusters. There were significant differences in age distribution of the cases among the case clusters with different case numbers. In the clusters involving 6-9 cases, the proportion of cases aged 65 years or above was more (26.53%, 39/147). Conclusions:The incidence rate of COVID-19 was relatively high and the early epidemic was serious in Heilongjiang, The number of cases was large in clusters especially family clusters.

Our previous study introduced a barley protein microparticle for encapsulation of hydrophobic drug/nutraceutical, which could release nanoparticles upon gastric digestion and deliver encapsulated compound to a simulated intestinal environment intact. This work focused on evaluating the potential of liberated nanoparticles to improve the absorption of encapsulated compounds (., -carotene) using Caco-2 cell and small intestine models. Nanoparticles obtained from gastric digestion of barley protein microparticles had a spherical shape and an average size of 351 nm. Nanoparticles showed low cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells and their cellular uptake was dependent on time, concentration and temperature. In a Caco-2 cell monolayer model, significantly greater uptake and transport of -carotene were observed when it was delivered by nanoparticles (15%), compared to free -carotene suspension (2.6%). In an rat jejunum model, nanoparticles showed the capacity to retain in small intestinal tissue. Approximately 2.24 and 6.04 μg nanoparticle were able to permeate through each cm intestinal tissue and translocate to the serosal side after 60 and 90 min, respectively. Results from this study demonstrated the absorption improving effect of the barley protein nanoparticles and suggested their potential as vehicles for hydrophobic compounds.