ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of Qihuang Jianpi Zishen Granules in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） and its effect on the signal transducer and activator of tranSCription 3/mammalian target of rapamycin （STAT3/mTOR） signaling pathway， and to decipher the possible mechanism. MethodSixty female SLE patients who met the criteria in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from May 2022 to May 2023 were selected and randomized into a control group and an observation group （30 cases in each group）. The control group was treated with prednisone acetate + hydroxychloroquine sulfate orally， and the observation group was additionally treated with Qihuang Jianpi Zishen granules. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks. The SLE disease activity （SLEDAI）， TCM syndrome score， erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR）， hypersensitive C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）， immune indexes ［immunoglobulin G （IgG）， C3， C4， CD4⁺， and CD8⁺］， interleukin （IL）-17， IL-23， interferon （IFN）-γ， 24 h urinary protein （24 h PRO）， serum creatinine （SCr）， and expression of proteins ［STAT3， phosphorylated （p）-STAT3， mTOR protein and STAT3，mTOR mRNA］ in the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway were determined before and after treatment. In addition， the adverse reactions were recorded. ResultAfter 8 weeks of treatment， the total response rate in the observation group was 93.33% （28/30）， which was higher than that （70.00%， 21/30） in the control group （χ²=4.007， P<0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed declined SLEDAI， TCM syndrome score， ESR， hs-CRP， IgG， CD8⁺， IL-17， IL-23， IFN-γ， 24 h PRO， SCr， and expression of proteins in the STAT3/mTOR pathway （P<0.01） and elevated levels of C3， C4， and CD4⁺ （P<0.01）. Moreover， the observation group had lower SLEDAI， TCM syndrome score， ESR， hs-CRP， IgG， CD8⁺， IL-17， IL-23， IFN-γ， 24 h PRO， SCr， and expression of proteins in the STAT3/mTOR pathway （P<0.05， P<0.01） and higher levels of C3， C4， and CD4⁺ （P<0.05， P<0.01） than the control group after treatment. Neither group showed serious adverse reactions during the treatment period. ConclusionQihuang Jianpi Zishen Granules can ameliorate the inflammatory response， reduce the disease activity， and mitigate the kidney injury in SLE by inhibiting the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway to regulate the immune function.

Objective:To compare the surgical outcomes between scarless endoscopic thyroidectomy-lateral neck dissection (SET-LND) and open LND for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with lymph node metastasis and to share the experience in the prevention and treatment of lymphatic leakage after LND.Methods:Totally 90 PTC patients (25 males) who underwent LND in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from Jan. 2021 to Aug. 2022 were retrospectively enrolled, with an average age of (28.06±4.89) years. They were divided into the SET-LND group ( n=50) and the open LND group ( n=40). The intraoperative blood loss, operation time, drainage volume on the first and the second days, postoperative lymphatic leakage, tumor (T), and node (N) were observed. The categorical variable data were compared between groups by χ 2 test, and the continuous variable data confirming normal distribution were compared between groups by independent sample t-test. Results:The operation time of the SET-LND group was (284.00±74.65) min, significantly longer than that of the open LND group (145.38±43.26) min ( t=-10.42, P<0.001). The intraoperative blood loss ( t=-1.309, P=0.194), postoperative hospital stay ( t=-0.136, P=0.892), drainage volume on the first day ( t=-1.074, P=0.286), and drainage volume on the second day ( t=-1.595, P=0.114), postoperative lymphatic leakage ( χ2=0.001, P=0.989), T ( t=0.367, P=0.714), N ( t=-1.614, P=0.110) were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion:Two surgical methods of LND have similar therapeutic effects and no significant difference was observed in the incidence of postoperative lymphatic leakage between the two groups.

OBJECTIVE To establish a ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrum/mass spectrum(UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of anlotinib in human plasma and assessment of clinical application. METHODS Zanubrutinib was used as internal standard and the extraction process was performed through protein precipitation method using acetonitrile, followed by separation on an Ultimate XB-C18(100 mm×2.1 mm, 3.0 μm) column using acetonitrile and 10 mmol·L−1 ammonium acetate-0.1% formic acid step-elution gradient. The flow rate was 0.6 mL·min−1 and injection volume was 5 μL. The mass analysis was performed by positive ion electrospray ionization in multiple-reaction monitoring mode, and the mass spectrometer was set at m/z 408.1→339.1 for anlotinib and m/z 472.2→290.1 for internal standard, respectively. The specificity, standard curve and lower limit of quantification, precision and recovery, matrix effect and stability of the method and clinical application were investigated. RESULTS The method was validated over the concentration range of 1.0−100.0 ng·mL−1, with R2=0.998 4. The precision RSD was<9%, the recovery and matrix effect were 104.81%−107.32% and 102.54%−105.26%, respectively, and this method had good stability and was not affected by matrix effect. The method had been used for determined 52 advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with anlotinib. The trough plasma concentration (Ctrough) was measured on day 43 after initiation of anlotinib treatment. Anlotinib Ctrough were higher than lower limit of quantitation (1.0 ng·mL−1) from 52 patients. The plasma concentration of anlotinib Ctrough was (11.38±4.29)ng·mL−1 with 37.66% coefficients of variation, which were shown large inter-patient variability. CONCLUSION This method is high sensitivity, specificity and accurate, and suitable for determination of anlotinib in human plasma.

Objective To investigate the dietary patterns of rural residents in the high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer (EC), and to explore the clustering and influencing factors of risk factors associated with high-incidence characteristics. Methods A special structured questionnaire was applied to conduct a face-to-face survey on the dietary patterns of rural residents in Yanting county of Sichuan Province from July to August 2021. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the influencing factors of risk factor clustering for EC. Results There were 838 valid questionnaires in this study. A total of 90.8% of rural residents used clean water such as tap water. In the past one year, the people who ate fruits and vegetables, soybean products, onions and garlic in high frequency accounted for 69.5%, 32.8% and 74.5%, respectively; the people who ate kimchi, pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, barbecue, hot food and mildew food in low frequency accounted for 59.2%, 79.6%, 68.2%, 90.3%, 80.9% and 90.3%, respectively. The clustering of risk factors for EC was found in 73.3% of residents, and the aggregation of two risk factors was the most common mode (28.2%), among which tumor history and preserved food was the main clustering pattern (4.6%). The logistic regression model revealed that the gender, age, marital status and occupation were independent influencing factors for the risk factors clustering of EC (P<0.05). Conclusion A majority of rural residents in high-incidence areas of EC in Yanting county have good eating habits, but the clustering of some risk factors is still at a high level. Gender, age, marital status, and occupation are influencing factors of the risk factors clustering of EC.

Objective To compare the early outcomes of domestic third-generation magnetically levitated left ventricular assist device (LVAD) with or without concomitant mitral valvuloplasty (MVP). Methods The clinical data of 17 end-stage heart failure patients who underwent LVAD implantation combined with preoperative moderate to severe mitral regurgitation in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from May 2018 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a LVAD group and a LVAD+MVP group based on whether MVP was performed simultaneously, and early outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results There were 4 patients in the LVAD group, all males, aged (43.5±5.9) years, and 13 patients in the LVAD+MVP group, including 10 males and 3 females, aged (46.8±16.7) years. All the patients were successful in concomitant MVP without mitral reguragitation occurrence. Compared with the LVAD group, the LVAD+MVP group had a lower pulmonary artery systolic pressure and pulmonary artery mean pressure 72 h after operation, but the difference was not statistically different (P>0.05). Pulmonary artery systolic pressure was significantly lower 1 week after operation, as well as pulmonary artery systolic blood pressure and pulmonary artery mean pressure at 1 month after operation (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in blood loss, operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, mechanical ventilation time, or ICU stay time between the two groups (P>0.05). The differences in 1-month postoperative mortality, acute kidney injury, reoperation, gastrointestinal bleeding, and thrombosis and other complications between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion Concomitant MVP with implantation of domestic third-generation magnetically levitated LVAD is safe and feasible, and concomitant MVP may improve postoperative hemodynamics without significantly increasing perioperative mortality and complication rates.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the accumulation law of saponins during growth in Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara, determine the content of the main saponins in different cultivation years, age groups, cultivation modes and provenances. METHODS The content of 5 kinds saponins(I, II, VI, VII, H) was simultaneous determined by HPLC. RESULTS The total saponins in P. polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara were mainly composed of saponin VII and H, supplemented by saponin VI, I and II. The content of saponins(I, II, VII) was significantly different among different cultivation years rhizome, while it reached the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition after 6 years old, 8-year-old rhizome was the highest. The saponins(I, II, VII) content in 4a rhizome and 5a rhizome was significant higher than others, and it ranged from 0.354% to 0.765% in different cultivation modes, from high to low as follows: coniferous forest>bamboo forest>broadleaf forest>greenhouse. In different provenances, it ranged from 0.592% to 0.741%, reached the highest level in Qingyuan Baikan, and was slightly lower than the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition in Sanming Fujian. CONCLUSION There are remarkable correlations among saponins accumulation amounts and cultivation years, age groups, cultivation modes and provenances, which can provide reference for the artificial culvication of P. polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara.

OBJECTIVE To establish an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS) method for determination and comparison of 26 components in different parts of two base plants of Shiliang tea(Chimonanthus salicifolius S.Y.Hu and Chimonanthus zhejiangensis M.C.Liu), and screen quality markers of different parts. METHODS The UHPLC method was performed on an Agilent RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 (2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.8 μm) column with a gradient elution of methanol and 0.1% formic acid in water at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min−1, the column temperature was 35 ℃, and the injection volume was 0.5 μL; the multiple reaction monitoring mode was employed for the quantification of 26 components with electrospray ionization(ESI) source polarity in negative and positive mode. RESULTS Good linear relationship(r >0.999) were observed in the test ranges for 26 compounds, and the average recovery was 88.5%−111.7% with RSD was 3.4%−9.8%. There was no significant difference between the two base plants of Shiliang tea, and all of these samples were divided into two categories by hierarchical cluster analysis. The main components in leaves was flavonoids, among them, the content of kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside was the highest, reaching 12.902 mg.g−1; the main components in stems and roots was coumarins, and the content of alkaloids in roots was higher, relatively; 7 quality markers of difference were screened by OPLS-DA, which were kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, chimonanthine, rutin, fraxetin, calycanthoside, scopolin, neochlorogenic acid. CONCLUSION These study elucidates the differences of chemical components in the different parts of two base plants of Shiliang tea, which providing basis for the research of pharmacodynamic substances and references for the comprehensive utilization of Chimonanthus salicifolius S.Y. Hu and Chimonanthus zhejiangensis M.C.Liu resources.

OBJECTIVE To monitor plasma concentration of anti-tuberculosis drugs in children, and explore the influencing factors and safety of anti-tuberculosis drugs, and promote the rational use of drugs. METHODS The plasma drug concentration monitoring results of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol, the adverse drug reactions and the changes of various parameters before and after treatment in 40 children with tuberculosis were analyzed retrospectively in Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Tradtional Chinese and Western Medicine. RESULTS The compliance rates of plasma drug concentration of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol in chlidren with tuberculosis were 48.15%, 34.88%, 73.81%, 18.52%, respectively. Isoniazid(P=0.0250), rifampicin(P=0.0212) concentrations were positively correlated with daily dose. Age was also one of the factors affecting the concentrations of isoniazid(P=0.0430) and rifampicin(P=0.0057). Serum albumin(P=0.0475) and sex(P=0.0087) were correlated with rifampicin and pyrazinamide, respectively. Abnormal liver function(5/40, 12.50%) and rash(4/40, 10%) were the most common adverse drug reaction. Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and uric acid levels increased after treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs. CONCLUSION The plasma drug concentrations of isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol in children are low. The anti-tuberculosis drugs maybe related to the increase of AST, ALT and uric acid. Therefore, monitoring of serum drug concentration, renal fuction and liver function during anti-tuberculosis treatment is helpful to improve drug safety and implement individualized treatment.

Objective:To observe the application of the controlled respiratory persistence monitor designed based on the principle of rhythmic temperature variations in artificial airways among different populations and in various artificial airways,and to discuss the feasibility and efficacy of monitoring controlled respiration persistence,and to provide a new method for the clinical respiratory monitoring.Methods:A total of 60 adult patients scheduled for general anesthesia,and 30 pediatric patients aged from 1 to 3 years old,classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)Ⅰ-Ⅱ,were selected.A total of 60 adult patients were randomly divided into adult tracheal intubation(ATI)group and adult laryngeal mask(ALM)group,and there were 30 cases in each group.Additionally,30 pediatric patients aged from 1 to 3 years old were regarded as pediatric tracheal intubation(CTI)group.After induction of general anesthesia,the patients in CTI and ATI groups were underwent tracheal intubation,while the patients in ALM group were given a laryngeal mask inserted and were connected to the anesthesia machine for mechanical ventilation.Whether or not the device could detect the respiratory rate(RR)of the patients in various groups was observed;the RR detected by the device and the frequency set on the anesthesia machine in various groups were compared.All the patients in three groups were simulated three common clinical scenarios of continuous respiration changes before surgery:disconnection of the breathing circuit,failure to switch from manual to mechanical control on the anesthesia machine,and slow air leakage in the breathing circuit.The ways to report the alert and start time of the atarm by the monitors were compared.Results:The controlled respiratory persistence monitor was able to detect the RR of the patients in three groups,and there was no significantly difference between the RR detected by the device and the frequency set on the anesthesia machine(P＞0.05).In the simulated scenarios of common respiratory persistence changes,all the patients in three groups received an artificial voice alarm signaling"Attention,breathing has stopped.",which was acknowledged.There was no significant difference in the start time of alarm of the controlled respiratory persistence monitor between ATI group and ALM group(P＞0.05).Compared with the start time of alarm of the patients in the same group across different scenarios,compared with slow air leakage in the breathing circuit,the start time to alarm for circuit disconnection and failure to switch from manual to mechanical control was shorter(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The clinical application of the controlled respiratory persistence monitor device designed based on the principle of detecting rhythmic temperature variations within artificial airways is feasible and effective in different populations and artificial airways.This device offers a new method for monitoring the respiratory continuity and ensuring the respiratory safety during surgery.

Objective To compare conventional MRI manifestations of brain epithelioid glioblastoma(eGBM)and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma(PXA),and to explore the value of radiomics model for differentiating eGBM and PXA.Methods Forty-three cases of brain eGBM(eGBM group)and 79 cases of PXA(PXA group)confirmed by surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed,and conventional MRI maniofestations were compared between groups.The patients were divided into training set(n=85,including 30 cases of eGBM and 55 cases of PXA)and test set(n=37,including 13 cases of eGBM and 24 cases of PXA)at the ratio of 7∶3.A radiomics regression model was established based on T2WI and enhanced T1WI.Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to assess the value of the model for discriminating eGBM and PXA.Results Patients in eGBM group were older than in PXA group,and the proportion of minors in eGBM group was lower than that in PXA group(both P＜0.05).Compared with PXA group,eGBM group showed higher proportion of multiple lesions,with high T1WI signals and peritumoral edema,more unclear boundary and uneven signals(all P＜0.05).After administration of contrast agents,circular enhancement was more often observed in eGBM group,while lesions in PXA group tended to present wall nodule enhancement(both P＜0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and area under the curve(AUC)of the radiomics model based on 19 selected features was 88.91％,79.94％,86.75％and 0.892 in training set,respectively,which was 84.58％,79.20％,81.12％and 0.824 in test set,respectively.Conclusion Conventional MRI manifestations of eGBM and PXA were different to a certain extent.Radiomics model was valuable for distinguishing eGBM and PXA.