The Huangdi Neijing proposes the " using bitter herbs to nourish or purge" theory to guide clinical prescription and formulation of herbal remedies based on the physiological characteristics and functions of the five zang viscera, along with the properties and flavors of medicinal herbs. This study explored diabetic kidney disease pathogenesis and treatment based on the " using bitter herbs to nourish or purge" theory. Kidney dryness is a key pathological factor in diabetic kidney disease, and the disharmony of kidney dryness is an essential aspect of its pathogenesis. Strengthening is the primary therapeutic principle, and kidney dryness is a persistent factor throughout the occurrence and progression of diabetic kidney disease. In the early stage, the pathogenesis involves heat-consuming qi and injuring yin, leading to kidney dryness. In the middle stage, the pathogenesis manifests as qi deficiency and blood stasis in the collaterals, resulting in turbidity owing to kidney dryness. In the late stage, the pathogenesis involves yin and yang deficiency, with kidney dryness and disharmony. This study proposes the staging-based treatment based on the " need for firmness" characteristic of the kidney. The aim is to provide new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine by rationally using pungent, bitter, and salty medicinal herbs to nourish and moisturize the kidney. This approach seeks to promote precise syndrome differentiation and personalized treatment for different stages of diabetic kidney disease, thereby enhancing clinical efficacy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of yang deficiency syndrome on the progression to end-point events of diabetic kidney disease （DKD）. MethodsA retrospective study among patients with stage Ⅳ DKD admitted to Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from September 1st， 2016 to September 30th， 2021 was conducted. Data on the patients' general information， clinical indicators including duration of diabetes， duration of proteinuria， history of smoking and drinking， hemoglobin （HGB）， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， albumin （ALB）， serum creatinine （Scr）， urea nitrogen （BUN）， uric acid （UA）， cholesterol （TC） ， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL）， 24-hour urine protein quantification （24h-UTP） and estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR）， and TCM syndromes including symptoms， tongue and pulse， and syndrome scores were collected. The patients were divided into exposure group （yang-deficiency group） and non-exposure group （non-yang-deficiency group）. The general information， clinical indicators and incidence rates of end-point events were compared， and the impact of yang deficiency syndrome on the end-point events of stage Ⅳ DKD was analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method， and multivariate Cox proportional risk models were used to identify independent predictors of end-point events. ResultsA total of 160 patients with stage Ⅳ DKD were included in the study， including 43 cases of yang deficiency syndrome and 117 cases of non-yang deficiency syndrome. Compared to those in the non-yang deficiency group， the waist circumference， BUN and the incidence of end-point events in the yang deficiency group were significantly higher （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Spearman correlation analysis showed that yang deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with incidence of end-point events of stage Ⅳ DKD （r = 0.167， P = 0.035）. Furthermore， 24h-UTP and BUN levels were also positively correlated with end-point events in stage Ⅳ DKD patients （P＜0.01）， while ALB and HGB levels were negatively correlated （P＜0.01）. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that yang deficiency syndrome was associated with an increased risk of end-point events （Log Rank P = 0.011）. Moreover， 24h-UTP levels ≥3500 mg， BUN level ≥8 mmol/L， ALB level ＜30 g and HGB level ＜11 g were all associated with the increase of the risk of end-point events （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that yang deficiency syndrome was an independent risk factor for patients with stage Ⅳ DKD to progress into end-point events （HR = 2.36， 1.32 to 4.21； P = 0.004）， as well as 24h-UTP ≥ 3500 mg， BUN ≥ 8 mmol/L， HGB＜11 g and ALB＜30 g （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionsFor stage Ⅳ DKD， patients with yang deficiency syndrome are more likely to have end-point events， which is an independent risk factor for the progression into end-point events.

Background::Spinal injuries are an urgent public health priority; nevertheless, no China-wide studies of these injuries exist. This study measured the incidence, prevalence, causes, regional distribution, and annual trends of spinal injuries in China from 1990 to 2019.Methods::We used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 to estimate the incidence and prevalence of spinal injuries in China. The data of 33 provincial-level administrative regions (excluding Taiwan, China) provided by the National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were use to systematically analyze the provincial etiology, geographical distribution, and annual trends of spinal injuries. The Bayesian meta-regression tool DisMod-MR 2.1 was used to ensure the consistency among incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates in each case.Results::From 1990 to 2019, the number of living patients with spinal injuries in China increased by 138.32%, from 2.14 million to 5.10 million, while the corresponding age-standardized prevalence increased from 0.20% (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 0.18-0.21%) to 0.27% (95% UI: 0.26-0.29%). The incidence of spinal injuries in China increased by 89.91% (95% UI: 72.39-107.66%), and the prevalence increased by 98.20% (95% UI: 89.56-106.82%), both the most significant increases among the G20 countries; 71.00% of the increase could be explained by age-specific prevalence. In 2019, the incidence was 16.47 (95% UI: 12.08-22.00, per 100,000 population), and the prevalence was 358.30 (95% UI: 333.96-386.62, per 100,000 population). Based on the data of 33 provincial-level administrative regions provided by CDC, age-standardized incidence and prevalence were both highest in developed provinces in Eastern China. The primary causes were falls and road injuries; however, the prevalence and specific causes differed across provinces.Conclusions::In China, the overall disease burden of spinal injuries increased significantly during the past three decades but varied considerably according to geographical location. The primary causes were falls and road injuries; however, the prevalence and specific causes differed across provinces.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of fine particle matter(PM2.5)and ozone(O3)com-bined exposure on adenosine triphosphate(ATP)amount and ATPase activities in nasal mucosa of Spra-gue Dawley(SD)rats.Methods:Twenty male SD rats were divided into control group(n=10)and exposure group(n=10)by random number table method.The rats were fed in the conventional clean environment and the air pollutant exposure system established by our team,respectively,and exposed for 208 d.During the exposure period,the concentrations of PM2 5 and O3 in the exposure system were moni-tored,and a comprehensive assessment of PM2 5 and O3 in the exposure system was conducted by combi-ning self-measurement and site data.On the 208 d of exposure,the core,liver,spleen,kidney,testis and other major organs and nasal mucosal tissues of the rats were harvested.Each organ was weighed and the organ coefficient calculated.The total amount of ATP was measured by bioluminescence,and the ac-tivities of Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase were detected by spectrophotometry.The t test of two inde-pendent samples was used to compare the differences among the indicator groups.Results:From the 3rd week to the end of exposure duration,the body weight of the rats in the exposure group was higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05),and there was no significant difference in organ coefficients be-tween the two groups.The average daily PM2 5 concentration in the exposure group was(30.68±19.23)μg/m3,and the maximum 8 h ozone concentration(O3-8 h)was(82.45±35.81)μg/m3.The chemi-luminescence value(792.4±274.1)IU/L of ATP in nasal mucosa of the rats in the exposure group was lower than that in the control group(1 126.8±218.1)IU/L.The Na+-K+-ATPase activity(1.53±0.85)U/mg in nasal mucosa of the rats in the exposure group was lower than that in the control group(4.31±1.60)U/mg(P＜0.05).The protein content of nasal mucosa in the control group and the exposure group were(302.14±52.51)mg/L and(234.58±53.49)mg/L,respectively,and the ac-tivity of Ca2+-ATPase was(0.81±0.27)U/mg and(0.99±0.73)U/mg,respectively.There was no significant difference between the groups.Conclusion:The ability of power capacity decreased in the rat nasal mucossa under the sub-chronic low-concentration exposure of PM2 5 and O3.

Objective To explore the validity and security of treatment of different operation approach under nasal endoscope in patients with benign maxillary sinus lesions.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 80 patients with benign maxillary sinus lesions diagnosed and treated from January 2020 to January 2022,and they were divided into group A(n = 40)and group B(n = 40)according to the operative method.Group A was treated with middle nasal meatus combined with Caldwell-Luc operation under nasal endoscope,and group B was treated with middle nasal meatus antrostomy first and anterior lacrimal recess approach later under nasal endoscope.The clinical efficacy,operation index,visual analogue scale(VAS),Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score,adverse reactions and recurrence rate of both groups were compared before and after operation.Results The total effective rate was sensibly higher in group B than that in group A,the intraoperative blood loss was sensibly less in group B than that in group A,the operation and hospitalization time were sensibly shorter in group B than those in group A,6 months after operation,the VAS and Lund-Kennedy scores were sensibly decreased in comparison with those before operation,and group B was sensibly decreased in comparison with those in group A,the total incidence rate of adverse reactions and recurrence rate were sensibly lower in group B than those in group A,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The surgical treatment of patients with benign maxillary sinus lesions through the middle nasal meatus and the anterior lacrimal recess approach under nasal endoscope is effective and can relieve the pain of patients with high safety.It is worthy of clinical application.

Objective:To compare the perioperative outcomes between robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy(RPD)and laparoscopic pancreaticoduode-nectomy(LPD)in patients aged ≥65 years. Methods:The clinical data of 130 patients aged ≥65 years who received minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy(MIPD)at Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery,Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into the RPD group(n=66)and the LPD group(n=64)according to the operation method,and the perioperative clinical data were compared between the 2 groups. Results:Compared with the LPD group,the average age of patients in the RPD group was higher than that of the LPD group[(71.95±4.73)years vs(70.39±3.9)years,P＜0.05];the RPD group had more patients with diabetes(39.4％vs 18.8％,P＜0.05)and cardiopulmonary diseases(37.9％vs 17.2％,P＜0.05);the RPD group had shorter operation time[(272.91± 68.38)min vs(362.81±78.24)min,P＜0.05]and less intraoperative blood loss[median(range):1 00 mL(50-200 mL)vs 1 50 mL(1 00-200 mL),P＜0.05)];the RPD group had higher incidence of chylous fistula(1 2.1％vs 1.6％,P＜0.05)but lower incidence of surgical morbidity(37.9％vs 46.9％),serious complications(19.7％vs 34.4％),postoperative pancreatic fistula(12.1％vs 17.2％),biliary fistula(3.0％vs 3.1％),abdominal infection(10.6％vs 14.1％),postoperative bleeding(4.5％vs 4.5％),and postoperative cardiopulmonary complications(1 2.1％vs 20.3％)with no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05);the RPD group waited shorter time before restarting diet[(3.97±1.59)d vs(5.34±2.56)d,P＜0.05]. Conclusion:MIPD is safe and feasible in patients aged ≥65 years.The incidence of perioperative complications is similar between the 2 groups.Compared with LPD,RPD has shorter operation time,less intraoperative blood loss,and shorter duration before restarting diet after operation,which has certain clinical advantages.

Animals ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Macaca mulatta ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; Antibodies, Viral ; Vaccines

Objective:To explore the reliability and validity of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health′s 17-item Rehabilitation Set (ICF-RS-17) when used to evaluate multidisciplinary inpatients.Methods:A total of 359 inpatients in the departments of rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurology, and neurosurgery of three hospitals in Jiangsu province were assessed with the ICF-RS-17 at admission and at discharge, and the internal consistency of the tool was calculated. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were quantified using interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Structural validity was analyzed using factor analysis.Results:The tool′s Cronbach′s α was 0.945. The overall inter-rater ICC was 0.946 with the ICCs of all of the items except b280 sensation of pain within the range from 0.630 to 0.948. The overall intra-rater ICCs ranged from 0.471 to 0.947. The factor analysis found three factors with eigenvalues greater than 1, accounting for 74% of the variation, without double-loaded items. The three influential factors were exercise ability, sleep perception communication ability and self-care ability.Conclusion:The ICF-RS-17 has good internal consistency, inter-rater and intra-rater reliability and structural validity in the evaluation of multidisciplinary inpatients.

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate long-term survivals and toxicities of early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in endemic area, evaluating the role of chemotherapy in stage II patients. Materials and Methods: Totally 187 patients with newly diagnosed NPC and restaged American Joint Committee on Cancer/ International Union Against Cancer 8th T1-2N0-1M0 were retrospectively recruited. All received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)±chemotherapy (CT) from 2001 to 2010. Results: With 15.7-year median follow-up, 10-year locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were 93.3%, 93.5%, 92.9% and 88.2%, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed cervical lymph nodes positive and pre-treatment prognostic nutritional index ≥ 52.0 could independently predict DMFS (p=0.036 and p=0.011), DSS (p=0.014 and p=0.026), and OS (p=0.002 and p < 0.001); Charlson comorbidity index < 3 points could predict DSS (p=0.011); age > 45 years (p=0.002) and pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 240 U/L (p < 0.001) predicted OS. No grade 4 late toxicity happened; grade 3 late toxicities included subcutaneous fibrosis (4.3%), deafness or otitis (4.8%), skin dystrophy (2.1%), and xerostomia (1.1%). No differences on survivals were shown between IMRT+CT vs. IMRT alone in stage II patients, even in T2N1M0 (p > 0.05). Unsurprising, patients in IMRT+CT had more acute gastrointestinal reaction, myelosuppression, mucositis, late ear toxicity, and cranial nerve injury (all p < 0.05) than IMRT alone group. Conclusion Superior tumor control and satisfying long-term outcomes could be achieved with IMRT in early-stage NPC with mild late toxicities. As CT would bring more toxicities, it should be carefully performed to stage II patients.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency introduction of L-vitamin C in patients with melasma.Methods:From March to June 2019, 20 patients with melasma were admitted to the Department of Dermatology, the Seventh Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, including 19 females and 1 male, aged 30-60 years, with an average age of 43.5 years. All patients were treated with 22 percent of L-vitamin C once a week, a total of 8 times of treatment and followed up for 12 weeks. Each subject was assessed with standardized clinical photo, skin tests (VISIA skin image analyzer and CK multifunctional skin tester) and patient self-assessment. In addition, the adverse reactions were recorded.Results:Physician evaluation and patient self-evaluation showed that skin symptoms were improved obviously after treatment. 90% of the subjects thought that all of the skin moisture, pores, fine lines, glossiness, and color spots were improved after 12 weeks. The skin texture, ultraviolet stain and the brown spots which were detected with VISIA skin image analyzer were all improved after one week and one month. Difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Skin glossiness was significantly improved, skin moisture content increased and melanin decreased, which were detected with CK multifunctional skin tester. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). But there was no significant change in transdermal water loss and red pigment index ( P>0.05). Conclusions:22% L-vitamin C can be used to treat melasma and improve photoaging safely without affecting skin barrier function.