Objective:To explore the effectiveness, safety and cost between urinary follicle stimulating hormone (uFSH) and recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in China.Methods:Data were collected from 16 reproductive centers in China covering oocytes collection time from May 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. Eligible patients were over 18 years old, adopting COS with uFSH (uFSH group) or rFSH (rFSH group) as start gonadotropins (Gn), and using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and (or) intracytoplasmic sperm injection for fertilisation, excluding frozen embryo recovery cycle. Generalised estimating equation was used to address the violation of independency assumption between cycles due to multiple IVF cycles for one person and clustering nature of cycles carried out within one center. Controlling variables included age, body mass index, anti-Müllerian hormone level, cause of infertility, ovulation protocol, type of fertilisation, number of embryos transferred, number of days of Gn use.Results:Totally 102 061 cycles met eligibility criteria and were included in the analyses. In terms of effectiveness, after controlling relevant unbalanced baseline characteristics, compared with rFSH group, the high oocyte retrieval (>15 oocytes was considered high retrieval) rate of uFSH group significantly decreased in gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist protocol ( OR=0.642, P<0.01) and in gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol ( OR=0.556, P=0.001), but the clinical pregnancy rate per transfer cycle and the live birth rate per transfer cycle significantly increased ( OR=1.179, OR=1.169, both P<0.01) in both agonist and antagonist protocols. For safety, multiple analysis result demonstrated that in the agonist protocol, compared with rFSH group, the incidence of moderate to severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome of uFSH group significantly decreased ( OR=0.644, P=0.002). The differences in ectopic pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the uFSH and rFSH groups were not significant ( P=0.890, P=0.470) in all patients. In terms of cost, compared with rFSH group, the uFSH group had lower total Gn costs for each patient ( P<0.01). Conclusion:For patients who underwent COS, uFSH has better safety, and economic profiles over rFSH in China.

AIM: To evaluate the bioequivalence of two candesartan cilexetil tablet formulations in healthy Chinese subjects after administration of a single dose, and an artificial neural network model was established to predict the candesartan plasma concentration, and provide a basis for clinical rational use of drugs. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy Chinese subjects were enrolled for oral administration of a single 8 mg dose of candesartan cilexetil tablet (test or reference product) under fasting or fed conditions to conduct a bioequivalence study. The bioequivalence results were used to build a back-propagation artificial neural network model by MATLAB software, and the model was internally and externally verified to predict the plasma concentration. RESULTS: Under both fasting and fed conditions, the C

We conducted a randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled, multicenter trial on the use of Shuanghuanglian (SHL), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, in treating cases of COVID-19. A total of 176 patients received SHL by three doses (56 in low dose, 61 in middle dose, and 59 in high dose) in addition to standard care. The control group was composed of 59 patients who received standard therapy alone. Treatment with SHL was not associated with a difference from standard care in the time to disease recovery. Patients with 14-day SHL treatment had significantly higher rate in negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 in nucleic acid swab tests than the patients from the control group (93.4% vs. 73.9%, P = 0.006). Analysis of chest computed tomography images showed that treatment with high-dose SHL significantly promoted absorption of inflammatory focus of pneumonia, which was evaluated by density reduction of inflammatory focus from baseline, at day 7 (mean difference (95% CI), -46.39 (-86.83 to -5.94) HU; P = 0.025) and day 14 (mean difference (95% CI), -74.21 (-133.35 to -15.08) HU; P = 0.014). No serious adverse events occurred in the SHL groups. This study illustrated that SHL in combination with standard care was safe and partially effective for the treatment of COVID-19.
COVID-19 ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To explore the application value of whole-process ultrasound-guided percutaneous portal vein puncture islet transplantation.Methods:From October 2018 to May 2021, 16 diabetics underwent whole-process ultrasound-guided percutaneous portal vein puncture islet transplantation at First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.The whole process was guided by ultrasound for completing percutaneous portal vein puncture catheterization, islet infusion monitoring, bleeding prevention and ablation hemostasis after bleeding.Results:Ten patients [8 males and 2 females with a mean age of(45.9±21.1)years]underwent 16 islet transplants, including one islet(5 cases), two islets(4 cases)and three islets(1 case). A single puncture was successfully performed without damage to other extrahepatic organs, persistent portal hypertension, portal vein embolism or infection.Bleeding at liver puncture site occurred in 3 cases and ultrasound radiofrequency ablation was performed for immediate hemostasis.Among them, postoperative blood glucose stabilized at 4~12 mmol/l post-operation.And 5 cases(31.3%)achieved insulin independence for>2 months and 10 cases(62.5%)lowered insulin dosage by>50% as compared with preoperative level.The level of fasting C-peptide recovered or was higher than normal in 10 cases(62.5%)and became obviously elevated in the remainders.In 11 cases(68.8%)of them, liver transaminase was briefly and mildly elevated post-operation, and no other complications were observed.Conclusions:The whole-process ultrasound-guided percutaneous portal vein islet transplantation is both safe and feseasible.It avoids the injury of transplanted kidney caused by contrast agent and radiological radiation to operator and patient.It is a method of islet transplantation worth a wider popularization.

Objective To analyze the enzymatic activity of Leptospira interrogans ( L. interrogans) LA_2144 gene product to hydrolyze platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase ( PAF-AH) and phosphatidase A2(PLA2). Methods Bioinformatic softwares were used to predict transmembrane regions, signal peptides and domains of the LA_2144 gene of L. interrogans strain Lai. A prokaryotic expression system for signal peptide-free LA_2144 gene was established. The expressed target recombinant protein rLep2144 was extrac-ted by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and then renatured. Spectrometry was used to detect the activity of rLep2144 to hydrolyze PAF-AH substrate 2-thio PAF and the Km and Kcat values as well as the activity to hy-drolyze PLA2 substrate arachidonoyl 2-thio PC. Real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the transcription, protein expression and secretion of LA_2144 gene during infection of human and mouse vascular endothelial cells ( HUVEC and EOMA) with L. interrogans. Results L. interrogans LA_2144 gene contained a signal peptide and a domain belonging to SGNH hydrolase super-family, but no transmembrane regions. The established prokaryotic expression system for signal peptide-free LA_2144 gene could efficiently express rLep2144. The extracted rLep2144 was shown as a single protein fragment in separation gel and then successfully renatured. rLep2144 had a stronger PAF-AH activity with the Km and Kcat values of 688. 235 μmol/L and 0. 976/s, but its PLA2 activity was relatively weak. Expres-sion of the LA_2144 gene at mRNA and protein levels in HUVEC and EOMA was rapidly increased after the cells were infected with L. interrogans (P<0. 05) and the secretion of LA_2144 gene product could be detec-ted. Conclusions L. interrogans LA_2144 gene product had a stronger PAF-AH and a certain PLA2 activi-ty, which might involve in the hemorrhage and inflammatory response in leptospirosis.

Objective: To carry out the 4^th round of third-party evaluation on the implementation and effect of the 1^st year of the 2^nd Phase National Healthcare Improvement Initiative(abbreviated as Initiative)since 2015. Methods: The 4^th round of the evaluation survey adopted the same methods, organization and execution, and technical roadmap as the former three rounds of evaluations. Results: The 4^th round of evaluation was carried out from 18 March to 9 April, 2019 at 185 public hospitals in 31 provinces(autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government)and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.Facility survey, health professional survey and patient survey were conducted at each of the sample health facilities. A total of 120 782 valid questionnaires were collected from 144 non-psychiatric health facilities, 16 246 valid questionnaires were obtained from 41 psychiatric health facilities, and 252 cases of outstanding departments/hospitals in healthcare improvement were also collected. The average overall scoring of the 12 dimensions to assess Initiative implementation at 144 non-psychiatric health facilities was 84.4%. The overall outpatient satisfaction scoring was 91.1%, 96.7%for the inpatients. The overall inpatient satisfaction(family members inclusive) at 41 psychiatric health facilities was 93%. Areas remaining to be improved include day-surgery, telemedicine and medical social work. Compared with technical services, non-technical care should be further strengthened. The compensation, workload and work environment of the healthcare providers are still to be improved. Conclusions The implementation of the Initiative by health facilities has been greatly improved. The percentage of health facilities and patients who had positive perceptions of improved doctor-patient relationship has been increasing. Patient care experiences at public hospitals have been generally improved, and the implementation of promoting traditional Chinese Medicine practices also made progress. However, work satisfaction of healthcare providers was found to be rather low, compared to the high level of patient satisfaction.

Objective: To analyze the trends of development and equity of health institutions in China during the period from 2002 to 2013 , and put forward references to optimize the decision-making on health resources alloca-tion. Methods:Statistical map, Gini coefficient and other methods were used to analyze the distribution and equity of health institutions in China for 12 years, during the period from 2002 to 2013. Results:(1) The overall development of health institutions is on the rise in China, and the distribution density of health resources with the population ad-justment is opposite to the adjustment of both population and geographic area at the same time. (2) In the past 12 years, the number of tertiary hospitals showed an increasing trend, and growth in the eastern region was the most sig-nificant. (3) From 2002 to 2013, the Gini coefficient of the number of health institutions and beds per 1,000 per-sons per square kilometer was maintained at 0. 40, and decreased from 0. 70 to 0. 60 in the eastern region of China, respectively. This same number was maintained at 0. 40 and 0. 20 in the central and western region. Conclusion: In China, the fairness trend of health resources allocation has improved during the period from 2002 to 2013, but the imbalance is more serious in the eastern region than in the central and western regions. It should be paid more atten-tion to optimizing the health resources allocation according to the local conditions of different regions, especially the influence of geographical distribution.

Aim Toinvestigatewhetherexposureto Sanguinarine (SAN ) can inhibit cell proliferation in human mammary adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7 ) and thepossiblemechanism.Methods WeexposedMCF-7 to anticancer compound SAN,cell viability was as-sessed by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT ) reduction assay. ROS was measured using confocal microscopy,expres-sion of caspase-3 ,caspase-8 and caspase-9 were calcu-latedusingchemiluminescencemethod.Results SAN remarkably inhibited growth of human mammary adeno-carcinoma MCF-7 cells by decreasing cell proliferation. ROS release and caspase-3,caspase-8,caspase-9 ex-pression were stimulated by SAN in MCF-7 ,and these changes were abolished by the antioxidant,N-acetyl-cysteine(NAC).Conclusion Regulationofcaspases expression and release from MCF-7 cells are possibly e-voked by SAN through reactive oxygen species.

ObjectiveTo explore the application value of individualized surgical treatment based on the CT portal venograpy (CTPV) classiifcation in cirrhotic portal hypertension.MethodsOne hundred and iffty-six patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who received surgical treatment in Anhui Province Hospital between June 2010 and December 2014 were enrolled in this prospective study. According to different surgical procedures, the patients were divided into two groups: the individualized surgery based on CTPV classiifcation group (classification group) and traditional surgery group (traditional group). Among the 84 patients in the classiifcation group, 56 were males and 28 were females with the age ranging from 19 to 67 years old and the median of 45 years old. Among the 72 patients in the traditional group, 47 were males and 25 were females with the age ranging from 23 to 62 years old and the median of 43 years old. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. The patients in the classiifcation group underwent individualized surgery according to the pre-operative CTPV classiifcation, while the patients in the traditional group underwent splenectomy + pericardial devascularization. The effects of two surgical procedures on the portal hypertension, intraoperative and postoperative conditions and postoperative survival rate of the patients were observed. The observation indexes of two groups were compared usingt test and survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test.ResultsThe postoperative free portal pressure (FPP) in the classiifcation group was (27±3) cmH2O (1 cmH2O=0.098 kPa), signiifcantly lower than (33±8) cmH2O in the traditional group (t=-3.355,P<0.05). The FPP decrease range before and after surgery in the classiifcation group was (13±6) cmH2O, signiifcantly higher than (9±5) cmH2O in the traditional group (t=3.016,P<0.05). The length of surgery and intraoperative blood loss in the classiifcation group were respectively (188±84) min and (378±49) ml, significantly less than (240±76) min and (463±57) ml in the traditional group (t=-2.687,-3.015;P<0.05). The postoperative length of stay and hospitalization expense in the classiifcation group were respectively (12±4) d and (31 000 ± 15 000) yuan, signiifcantly lower than (15±5) d and (36 000±15 000) yuan in the traditional group (t=-2.061,-2.104;P<0.05). The 1, 3-year accumulative survival rate were respectively 94.05% and 85.71% in the classiifcation group, and were respectively 87.50% and 68.05% in the traditional group. The overall survival rate in the classiifcation group was signiifcantly higher than that in the traditional group (χ2=7.000,P<0.05).ConclusionsPre-operative CTPV classification and individualized surgical treatment for patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension can effectively reduce the portal vein pressure and has the advantages of smaller injury and better prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical significance of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSA total of 182 patients with untreated CHB and 50 healthy individuals (controls) participated in the study. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the association of serum hs-CRP with the age,sex,medical history,serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, liver function parameters,liver stiffness measure (LSM) and hepatic fibrosis; in addition, correlation analysis was carried out for the associations of degree of liver damage with grade of hepatic fibrosis, LSM and the serum levels of hs-CRP.

RESULTSCHB patients showed significantly higher serum hs-CRP levels than healthy controls (2.38 ± 2.79 vs.0.78 ± 1.07; t =2.495, P < 0.05). Serum hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated with HBV DNA (r = 0.159), liver function parameters (total bilirubin, r = 0.271; alanine aminotransferase, r = 0.298; aspartate aminotransferase, r = 0.389), and LSM, r = 0.562) (all P < 0.05). The correlations with liver function (r = 0.340), LSM (r = 0.292) and hepatic fibrosis grade were positive (r = 0.434) (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSerum hs-CRP levels in CHB patients can reflect degree of liver damage and of liver fibrosis.