ObjectiveTo investigate the changes in coagulation system in acute decompensated cirrhosis （ADC） patients with or without sepsis and the association of these changes with short-term prognosis. MethodsA prospective study was conducted among 116 ADC patients who were hospitalized in Nanfang Hospital from January 2021 to July 2023， among whom there were 86 patients with sepsis and 30 patients without sepsis， and 54 patients with sepsis alone who had no chronic liver disease were enrolled as control group. Thromboelastography （TEG） and other conventional coagulation parameters were used to comprehensively evaluate the coagulation function of patients. The data including TEG results and short-term prognosis were collected， and a correlation analysis was performed. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated to investigate the correlation between different variables. The Logistic regression model was used to perform the univariate and multivariate analyses. ResultsFor the ADC patients with sepsis， the lungs and bloodstream were the main infection sites， and bacteria were the main pathogenic microorganism. TEG results showed that compared with the patients with sepsis alone， the patients with ADC and sepsis had a significant reduction in median maximum amplitude （MA）， a significant increase in coagulation time （K time）， and a significant reduction in α angle （all P<0.05）； the patients with ADC and sepsis had a significantly longer reaction time （R time） than those with ADC alone （P=0.02）， and the patients with sepsis alone had a significantly longer R time than those with ADC and sepsis （P=0.04）. There was no correlation between MA and platelet count in the patients with ADC and sepsis （r=-0.133， P=0.057）， while there was a significant correlation between MA and platelet count in the patients with sepsis alone （r=0.595， P=0.001）. SOFA score was negatively correlated with MA in sepsis patients with or without ADC （r=-0.503 and -0.561， both P<0.001）， and for the patients with ADC and sepsis， R time， K time， and α angle were weakly correlated with SOFA score and had a relatively strong correlation with APTT （all P<0.05）. The patients with ADC alone all survived within 90 days， and compared with the death group， the patients with sepsis alone who survived had significantly higher values of MA and α angle （all P<0.05）； there was a significant difference in α angle on day 90 between the survival group and the death group， no matter whether the patients were comorbid with ADC or not （both P<0.01）， while for the patients with ADC and sepsis， there was no significant difference in MA value on day 90 between the survival group and the death group （P>0.05）. ConclusionFor ADC patients comorbid with sepsis， coagulation function assessment and monitoring should be taken seriously in clinical practice， and TEG parameters and SOFA score should be monitored when necessary to develop individualized treatment regimens.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of combined use of artificial bone materials in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).Methods:One hundred and eighty-four consecutive patients with OVCF admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had single-level fracture and treated with PVP. According to whether artificial bone materials were used, the patients were divided into experimental group ( n=95) and control group ( n=89). The experimental group was treated with bone cement mixed with artificial bone materials, and the control group was treated with bone cement. The following indices were observed in the two groups before surgery and at 3 days, 3 months, 12 months (final follow-up) after surgery: visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), Cobb angle of kyphosis, and the percentage of anterior vertebral height, the amount of bone cement injected, postoperative complications and adjacent vertebral fractures were recorded. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and t-test was used for comparison between groups; Chi- test was used for comparison between groups for count data. Results:All patients successfully completed the operation and were followed up for 12-20 months, with a mean follow-up of (14.24±2.51) months. The VAS score at 3 days, 3 months after operation and final follow-up (experimental group: 2.00±0.71, 1.89±0.71, 1.41±0.49; control group: 2.13±0.73, 1.81±0.60, 1.44±0.50) and ODI index at 3 months after operation and the final follow-up [experimental group: (21.56±4.68)%, (23.22±4.11)%; control group: (22.46±3.74)%, (22.39±4.05)%] were significantly improved compared with those before operation [VAS, experimental group: 7.66±0.86, control group: 7.81±0.89; ODI, experimental group: (70.11±8.24)%, control group: (68.97±8.59)%], and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the amount of bone cement injected between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the Cobb angle of kyphosis and the percentage of anterior vertebral height at each time point ( P>0.05). The incidence of bone cement leakage in the experimental group was 15.8% (15/95), slightly lower than that in the control group [22.5% (20/89)], but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). As of the final follow-up, the incidence of adjacent vertebral fracture in the experimental group was 8.4% (8/95), which was lower than that in the control group (19.1%, 17/89), and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). Conclusion:The application of bone cement mixed with artificial bone materials in PVP for OVCF, can achieve good clinical efficacy, and reduce the incidence of adjacent vertebral fractures.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of Ropivacaine combined with Lidocaine for incision infiltration anesthesia in lumbar fusion surgery.Methods:The case data of 154 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent lumbar fusion surgery at the Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2021 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were divided into the experimental group ( n=72) and the control group ( n=82) according to whether or not they underwent Ropivacaine combined with Lidocaine incisional infiltration anesthesia. The experimental group was anesthetized with Ropivacaine combined with Lidocaine incisional infiltration anesthesia, and the control group was not anesthetized with incisional infiltration. The static and dynamic pain visual analog score (VAS) at six postoperative time points (2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48 h after surgery), the application of postoperative analgesic medications, and related complications were compared between the two groups. The measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as mean±standard deviation( ± s), and t-test was used for comparison between groups, the measurement data of non-normal distribution were expressed as median (interquartile distance) [ M( Q1, Q3)], and non-parametric test was used for comparison between groups; the count data were expressed as the number of cases and percentage, and the Chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Results:All patients underwent successful surgery, and the static [(4.40±1.67), (3.86±1.22), (3.58±1.15), (3.43±1.11) points] and dynamic [(4.56±1.69), (4.03±1.21), (3.79±1.16), (3.65±1.13) points] VAS scores of the patients in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group [static: (5.38±1.73), (5.06±1.58), (4.68±1.37), (3.82±1.22) points; dynamic: (5.55±1.62), (5.29±1.50), (4.89±1.41), (4.12±1.29) points] at 2, 4, 6, 12 h after surgery, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05); at 24, 48 h after surgery, there was no significant difference in the static and dynamic VAS scores between the two groups ( P>0.05). The dosage of oral Tramadol [100(0, 100) mg] and subcutaneous injection of Morphine [0(0, 0) mg] in the experimental group at 48 h after surgery were significantly lower than those in the control group [100(100, 100), 0(0, 10) mg], and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative incision complications and cerebrospinal fluid leakage between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Ropivacaine combined with Lidocaine for incision infiltration anesthesia in lumbar fusion surgery can effectively relieve early pain in the surgical area, reduce the use of postoperative analgesic medications, and will not increase related complications.

OBJECTIVE To study the toxicity-reducing effects and mechanisms of Niuhuang Jiedu Tablets(NHJDT)by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)metabolomics.METHODS 24 mice were randomly divided into control,realgar(1.0 g·kg-1)and NHDJT(1.0 g·kg-1)groups with 8 mice in each group.The liver and kidney of mice were collected for patho-logic examination after 14 d oral administration to mice.The content of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)in liver and creatinine(Cr)and uric acid(UA)in kidney was also determined.The differences of endogenous metabolites in liver and kidney were further analyzed by GC-MS metabolomics.RESULTS The contents of ALT and AST in the liver as well as the Cr and UA in kidney of mice were significantly changed after NHJDT intervention(P<0.05).NHJDT alleviated the pathological dam-age of liver and kidney in mice.A total of 17 biomarkers related to detoxification were screened,including citric acid,ascorbic acid,asparagine,levodopa and phenylalanine.The changes of metabolites mainly involved in glutamine and glutamate metabolism,arginine biosynthesis,tryptophan metabolism,tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis,and phenylalanine metabolism.CONCLUSION NHJDT with compound compatibility could reduce the hepatorenal toxicity of realgar.The detoxification mechanism may be related to the regu-lation of amino acid metabolism.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Background/Aims: Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM), a common precancerous lesion of gastric cancer, can be caused by bile acid reflux. GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4) is an intestinal transcription factor involved in the progression of gastric cancer. However, the expression and regulation of GATA4 in GIM has not been clarified. Methods: The expression of GATA4 in bile acid-induced cell models and human specimens was examined. The transcriptional regulation of GATA4 was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter gene analysis. An animal model of duodenogastric reflux was used to confirm the regulation of GATA4 and its target genes by bile acids. Results: GATA4 expression was elevated in bile acid-induced GIM and human specimens.GATA4 bound to the promoter of mucin 2 (MUC2) and stimulate its transcription. GATA4 and MUC2 expression was positively correlated in GIM tissues. Nuclear transcription factor-κB activation was required for the upregulation of GATA4 and MUC2 in bile acid-induced GIM cell models. GATA4 and caudal-related homeobox 2 (CDX2) reciprocally transactivated each other to drive the transcription of MUC2. In chenodeoxycholic acid-treated mice, MUC2, CDX2, GATA4, p50, and p65 expression levels were increased in the gastric mucosa. Conclusions GATA4 is upregulated and can form a positive feedback loop with CDX2 to transactivate MUC2 in GIM. NF-κB signaling is involved in the upregulation of GATA4 by chenodeoxycholic acid.

Background/Aims: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are believed to drive tumor development and metastasis. Activin and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are important cytokines with the ability to induce cancer stemness. However, the effect of activin and HGF combination treatment on CSCs is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we sequentially treated colorectal cancer cells with activin and HGF and examined CSC marker expression, self-renewal, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. The roles of forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), two stemness-related transcription factors, in activin/HGF-induced aggressive phenotype were explored. Results: Activin and HGF treatment increased the expression of CSC markers and enhanced sphere formation in colorectal cancer cells. The tumorigenic and metastatic capacities of colorectal cancer cells were enhanced upon activin and HGF treatment. Activin and HGF treatment preferentially promoted stemness and metastasis of CD133 + subpopulations sorted from colorectal cancer cells. FOXM1 was upregulated by activin and HGF treatment, and the knockdown of FOXM1 blocked activin/HGF-induced stemness, tumorigenesis, and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.Similarly, SOX2 was silencing impaired sphere formation of activin/HGF-treated colorectal cancers. Overexpression of SOX2 rescued the stem cell-like phenotype in FOXM1-depleted colorectal cancer cells with activin and HGF treatment. Additionally, the inhibition of FOXM1 via thiostrepton suppressed activin/HGF-induced stemness, tumorigenesis and metastasis. Conclusions Sequential treatment with activin and HGF promotes colorectal cancer stemness and metastasis through activation of the FOXM1/SOX2 signaling. FOXM1 could be a potential target for the treatment of colorectal cancer metastasis.

Objective To analyze the epidemic characteristics and causes of post-exposure immunization failure of rabies in Hubei Province from 2015 to 2021, and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of rabies in Hubei Province. Methods The investigation data of rabies cases in Hubei Province from 2015 to 2021 were collected, and descriptive epidemiological methods were used for data analysis. Results A total of 127 cases of rabies were reported in Hubei Province from 2015 to 2021, with an average annual incidence of 0.31/million, showing a downward trend. The male to female ratio was 1.70:1. Farmers accounted for 82.67% of the total cases, and the 50-79 years old group accounted for 75.59%. The incidence was mainly concentrated in Xiangyang, Shiyan, Yichang and Jingmen, accounting for 77.17%. Most of the cases were concentrated in summer and autumn. Exposure of grade Ⅱand Ⅲ accounted for 24.79% and 75.21%, respectively. Hands, lower limbs below knee, head, arms and lower limbs above knee accounted for 46.15%, 25.21%, 9.40%, 8.55% and 7.69% of the exposed parts, respectively. Dogs, cats and wild animals accounted for 95.73%, 3.42% and 0.85% of the exposed animals, respectively. Stray animals, domesticated animals, neighbors' animals and wild animals accounted for 41.88%, 37.61%, 19.66% and 0.85% of animal sources, respectively. Neither the neighbors’ animals nor domesticated animals were vaccinated against veterinary rabies virus. After exposure, 8.55% of patients went to medical institutions for standard treatment of wounds, 9.40% were vaccinated with human rabies vaccine, and 4.55% of patients with grade III exposure were injected with rabies virus immunoglobulin. The incubation period within 6 months, from 6 months to 1 year, and over 1 year accounted for 72.22%, 14.74%, and 12.04%, respectively. The exposure degree (Z=-1.98, P < 0.05), exposure site (χ²=10.91, P < 0.05) and wound treatment (χ²=15.73, P < 0.05) had statistically significant effects on the incubation period. Among the 11 cases of post-exposure immunization failure, all were grade Ⅲ exposure, 63.63% were exposed to the head and face, 81.81% were not fully vaccinated with human rabies virus vaccine, 63.63% were not immunized with immunoglobulin, and 27.27% were inappropriate wound treatment. Conclusion The key to rabies prevention and control is to standardize dog management, strengthen rabies education, standardize post-exposure wound treatment, timely vaccinate against rabies virus, and inject rabies virus immunoglobulin when necessary.

Objective:To measure the skin thickness in patients with erysipelas by high-frequency ultrasonography (HF-USG), and to compare the clinical efficacy of systemic antibiotics alone versus their combination with glucocorticoids in the treatment of erysipelas.Methods:Hospitalized patients with erysipelas were enrolled from Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University from January to December in 2021, and randomly divided into the study group and control group according to the order of visits. The study group was treated with systemic cefathiamidine for 7 days followed by oral methylprednisolone at a dose of 0.4 mg·kg -1·d -1, while the control group was treated with cefathiamidine alone. Before and after the treatment for 10 days, the thicknesses of the epidermis-dermis layers and subcutaneous tissues were measured by HF-USG at the sites of the most severe skin lesions on the affected limbs and at the corresponding sites on the healthy limbs, and white blood cell (WBC) counts, neutrophil (NEU) counts, as well as C-reaction protein (CRP) levels were determined. The t test and non-parametric test were used to compare the efficacy between two groups. Results:A total of 23 patients with erysipelas were enrolled. Among the 12 patients in the study group, 8 were males and 4 were females, and their age was 71.4 ± 11.4 years. Among the 11 patients in the control group, 7 were males and 4 were females, and their age was 67.4 ± 11.1 years. Before treatment, the thicknesses of the epidermis-dermis layers (0.33 ± 0.12 cm) and subcutaneous tissues (1.08 ± 0.49 cm) in the study group were not significantly different from those in the control group (0.25 ± 0.09 cm, 0.98 ± 0.46 cm; t = -1.83, -0.49, P = 0.081, 0.626, respectively). After the 10-day treatment, the thicknesses of the epidermis-dermis layers and subcutaneous tissues of the skin lesions on the affected limbs significantly decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.05), and the decrease in the thicknesses of subcutaneous tissues was significantly stronger in the study group (0.32 ± 0.33 cm) than in the control group (0.10 ± 0.07 cm; t = 2.20, P = 0.039). Before treatment, the WBC counts ([11.16 ± 4.42] × 10 9/L), NEU counts ([8.26 ± 4.16] × 10 9/L) and CRP levels (median [ Q1, Q3]: 72.20 [19.28, 140.50] mg/L) in the study group were not significantly different from those in the control group ([10.10 ± 4.53] × 10 9/L, [7.21 ± 3.00] × 10 9/L, 34.40 [8.00, 74.20] mg/L, respectively; t or Z = 0.60, 0.71, -0.85, P = 0.578, 0.496, 0.196, respectively). After the 10-day treatment, the WBC counts, NEU counts, and CRP levels significantly decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05) . Conclusion:The combined treatment with systemic antibiotics and glucocorticoids could effectively alleviate skin inflammation, and more rapidly reduce the thicknesses of inflamed subcutaneous tissues in patients with erysipelas compared with systemic antibiotics alone.

Objective:To investigate factors associated with acute kidney injury(AKI) in postoperative colorectal cancer patients.Methods:The clinical data of 376 colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients at Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Jan 2018 to Jun 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into acute kidney injury (AKI) ( n=29) and non-AKI groups ( n=347). The demographic information, perioperative status, laboratory results and other relevant data of the two groups were compared . Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for postoperative AKI. Results:Twenty-nine CRC patients (7.7%) had postoperative AKI. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative hypertension ( OR=3.487, 95% CI: 1.081-11.251, P=0.037), anemia ( OR=3.158, 95% CI: 1.114-8.953, P=0.031), inadequate intraoperative crystalloid infusion ( OR=0.998, 95% CI: 0.997-0.999, P=0.007), low intraoperative mean arterial pressure ( OR=0.915, 95% CI: 0.863-0.970, P=0.003) and moderate to severe postoperative decline in hemoglobin levels ( OR=4.105, 95% CI: 1.487-11.335, P=0.006) were independent risk factors. Conclusion:Preoperative hypertension, anemia, inadequate intraoperative crystalloid infusion, low intraoperative mean arterial pressure, and moderate to severe postoperative decline in hemoglobin levels were independent risk factors for AKI development in colorectal cancer patients.