Objective To investigate the efficacy of Qizhu Bishi Granules combined with methotrexate in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods A total of 140 RA patients in the Shijiazhuang City Third Hospital from January to May 2023 were selected as research objects and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, with 70 cases in eachgroup. The control group was treated with methotrexate, while the treatment group was treated with Qizhu Bishi Granules combined with methotrexate, and the treatment duration was 3 months for both groups. The total effective rate, score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, the number of swollen joints, the number of tender joints, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for pain, the Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints (DAS28), interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP antibody) levels before treatment and at 1 month and 3 months after treatment as well as therapeutic safety were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate in the treatment group was 97.14%, which was significantly higher than 87.14% in the control group (P < 0.05). After 1 month and 3 months of treatment, the scores of TCM syndromes, the number of swollen joints, the number of tender joints, the VAS score, DAS28, IL-1, TNF-α, ESR, hs-CRP, RF and anti-CCP antibody levels in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). No adverse reactions occurred in both group. Conclusion Qizhu Bishi Granules combined with methotrexate in treating RA can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms, improve TCM syndromes, reduce inflammatory responses, decrease disease activity, and the therapeutic efficacy is reliable and safe.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in the treatment of elderly patients with early gastric cancer.Methods:Ninety-two elderly patients with early gastric cancer admitted to the 923th Hospital of the Joint Service Support Force of PLA from June 2019 to February 2022 were enrolled, and they were divided into ESD group (60 cases) and EMR group (32 cases) according to different surgical methods. The ESD group was treated with ESD surgery, while the EMR group was treated with EMR surgery. The short-term clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared. The gastric function including pepsinogen Ⅰ(PGⅠ), pepsinogenⅡ(PGⅡ), PGⅠ /PGⅡ ratio and the tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and invasion genes within the lesion including vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), E-cadherin, microtubule depolymerin (Stathmin), Krüppel like factor 4 (KLF4) were detected before and 3 d after surgery. Followed up for 1 year, the recurrence rate and complications between the two groups were compared.Results:All of 92 patients successfully removed the diseased tissue as a whole, and the R0 and R1 resection rate between the two groups had no statistical differences ( P>0.05). At 3 d after surgery, the levels of PG Ⅰand PGⅠ/PG Ⅱin the both groups were higher than those before surgery, and the level of PG Ⅱ in the both groups was lower than that before surgery; the levels of PG Ⅰand PGⅠ/PG Ⅱ in the ESD group were higher than those in the EMR group: (86.50 ± 8.23) μg/L vs. (77.47 ± 7.40) μg/L, 5.29 ± 0.54 vs. 3.65 ± 0.50; the level of PG Ⅱ ratio in the ESD group was lower than that in the EMR group: (16.34 ± 3.05) μg/L vs. (21.20 ± 3.27) μg/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). At 3 d after surgery, the levels of CEA, CA19-9 and CA125 in the two groups were decreased, and the levels of the above indicators in the ESD group were lower than those in the EMR group: (2.42 ± 0.45) μg/L vs. (3.29 ± 0.40) μg/L, (8.55 ± 2.10) kU/L vs. (10.62 ± 2.76) kU/L, (13.75 ± 4.28) kU/L vs. (17.20 ± 4.90) kU/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). At 3 d after surgery, the mRNA expression of E-cadherin and KLF4 in the two groups were increased, and the mRNA expression of VEGF-C, Stathmin in the two groups were decreased, and the mRNA expression of E-cadherin and KLF4 in the ESD group were lower than those in the EMR group: 2.89 ± 0.31 vs. 3.03 ± 0.21, 2.90 ± 0.28 vs. 3.12 ± 0.37, and the mRNA expression of VEGF-C, Stathmin in the ESD group were higher than those in the EMR group: 0.45 ± 0.11 vs. 0.41 ± 0.07, 0.52 ± 0.23 vs. 0.43 ± 0.09, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The complication rate in the ESD group was lower than that in the EMR group: 5.00%(3/60) vs. 23.33% (14/60) , there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 8.32, P<0.01). The recurrence rate in the 1-year between the two groups had no statistical difference ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with EMR, ESD is effective in the treatment of elderly early gastric cancer, which can better correct the abnormal secretion of pepsinogen, promote the functional recovery of gastric cells and glands, reduce the level of serum tumor markers, inhibit the metastasis and proliferation of tumor cells, and has good safety.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of stroke volume variation (SVV)-guided fluid therapy on perioperative haemodynamics and tissue perfusion in the patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing parathyroidectomy.Methods:One hundred and twenty-one patients of either sex, aged 18-64 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅲ, with body mass index of 18-28 kg/m 2, with ESRD undergoing elective parathyroidectomy, who received haemodialysis treatment within 24 h before surgery, were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into standard restrictive fluid therapy group (group SRT, n=61) and goal-directed fluid therapy group (group GDT, n=60) using a random number table method. Group SRT received restrictive fluid therapy, with a continuous infusion of 0.9% normal saline at a rate of 4 ml·kg -1·h -1. Group GDT received goal-directed fluid therapy guided by SVV, and when the SVV≥10% lasted for 5 min, the 0.9% normal saline 3 ml/kg was infused within 5 min until SVV<10%. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was maintained at ≥90 mmHg or mean arterial pressure(MAP) at ≥65 mmHg throughout the perioperative period in both groups. The intraoperative volume of fluid infused, usage rate and consumption of intraoperative vasoactive drugs were recorded, and arterial blood lactate (Lac) level, MAP, heart rate, cardiac output, and inferior vena cava collapse index (IVC-CI) after removal of endotracheal tube at the end of surgery were measured. MAP was continuously recorded within 12 h after surgery, and MAP variability (CV MAP) was calculated. The occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within 30 days after operation was also recorded. Results:Compared with group SRT, the intraoperative volume of fluid infused was significantly increased, the usage rate of ephedrine and norepinephrine was decreased, the consumption of ephedrine was reduced, and the percentage of postoperative IVC-CI<50% and cardiac output were increased, the percentage of Lac≥2.0 mmol/L and CV MAP were decreased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within 30 days after surgery in group GDT ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with restrictive fluid therapy, SVV-guided fluid therapy can optimize the perioperative hemodynamics and tissue perfusion in the patients with ESRD undergoing parathyroidectomy.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of 18F-FDG PET/CT findings in patients with T1-2 lung adenocarcinoma spread through air spaces (STAS). Methods:From June 2018 to June 2020, a total of 80 patients (36 males, 44 females; age: 19-84 (59.9±11.8) years) with surgically and pathologically confirmed T1-2 lung adenocarcinomas in Jiangmen Central Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. All patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT examination preoperatively and were divided into STAS positive and negative groups according to the histopathological diagnosis. Independent-sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test and Fisher exact test were used to analyze differences of gender, age, tumor biomarker, SUV max, SUV mean, features showed on high resolution CT (HRCT; including diameter, lesion location, morphology, density, lobulated sharp, spiculated sign, vacuole sign, air bronchgram sign, pleural traction and para-emphysema), and pathologic findings (micropapillary pattern, lymphvascular inversion, pleural inversion and lymph node metastasis) between the two groups, and then multivariate logistic regression was performed. The ROC curve was employed to evaluate the predictive value of parameters for STAS of T1-2 lung adenocarcinomas. Results:Among the 80 patients with T1-2 lung adenocarcinomas, 12 (15.0%) were STAS positive and 68 (85.0%) were STAS negative. Significant differences were shown in SUV max, SUV mean, micropapillary pattern, lymphvascular inversion and lymph node metastasis between the two groups ( z values: -2.60, -2.17; χ2 values: 29.56, 9.28, 17.40, P<0.001 or P<0.05). SUV max (odds ratio ( OR): 1.348 (95% CI: 1.071-1.695), P=0.011), micropapillary pattern ( OR=47.444 (95% CI: 4.592-490.214), P=0.001) and lymph node metastasis ( OR=8.201 (95% CI: 1.129-59.576), P=0.038) were independent risk factors for STAS positive in multivariation logistic regression analysis. The optimum cut-off value for SUV max was 3.85 in the ROC analysis with the AUC of 0.737 (95% CI: 0.614-0.859), the sensitivity of 11/12, the specificity of 55.9%(38/68) and the accuracy of 61.2%(49/80). The AUC of the SUV max combined with micropapillary pattern and lymph node metastasis was 0.945 (95% CI: 0.892-0.999) with the sensitivity of 11/12, the specificity of 88.2%(60/68) and the accuracy of 88.7%(71/80). Conclusions:The PET/CT characteristics may be useful in differentiating STAS status among patients with T1-2 lung adenocarcinoma. SUV max >3.85, pathological papillary pattern and lymph node metastasis are independent risk factors to predict STAS.

Objective:To investigate the factors associated with delay in anticoagulant therapy in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and its effect on outcome.Methods:Patients with CVST admitted to Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University from January 2010 to August 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into early anticoagulation group and late anticoagulation group by the median time interval from first symptom to initiation of anticoagulation. The modified Rankin Scale was used for outcome assessment at 90 d after onset. 0-2 scores were defined as good outcome and 3-6 were defined as poor outcome. Demographic and clinical data were compared for the early versus late anticoagulation group and for the good versus poor outcome groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent influencing factors of delay in anticoagulation and the correlation of delay in anticoagulation with poor outcome. Results:A total of 131 patients were included, their age was 40.07±15.11 years old, and 68 (51.91%) were male. Of these, 65 patients (49.62%) were in the early anticoagulation group and 14 (10.69%) were in the poor outcome group. Compared with the late anticoagulation group, the early anticoagulation group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with seizures and brain parenchymal damage as well as higher D-dimer levels on admission, while the proportion of patients with visual impairment/papilloedema was significantly lower (all P<0.05). Compared with the good outcome group, the poor outcome group had significantly higher proportions of patients with seizures, dyskinesia, impaired consciousness, low Glasgow Coma Scale score, and brain parenchymal damage as well as higher D-dimer, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, sites of thrombus involvement were more common in the superior sagittal and straight sinuses, and significantly lower proportions of patients with headache and lower albumin levels on admission (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that visual impairment/papilloedema (odds ratio [ OR] 0.119, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.030-0.473; P=0.002) and brain parenchymal damage ( OR 1.341, 95% CI 1.042-1.727; P=0.023) were independently associated with a delay in anticoagulation treatment, and a delay in anticoagulation treatment ( OR 6.102, 95% CI 1.185-30.504; P=0.030) and D-dimer level on admission ( OR 1.299, 95% CI 1.141-1.480; P<0.001) were the independent predictors of poor outcome in patients with CVST. Conclusions:Visual impairment/papilloedema and absence of brain parenchymal damage on cranial imaging are the independent risk factors for delay in anticoagulation in patients with CVST. The delay in anticoagulation is strongly associated with the poor outcome in patients with CVST.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of scraping therapy on lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with different syndromes.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 30 non-emergency LDH patients who were admitted to Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Yangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2017 to June 2018 were selected as the research objects. Among them, there were 11 cases of qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, 8 cases of damp-heat obstruction syndrome, 7 cases of cold-damp obstruction syndrome and 4 cases of liver and kidney deficiency syndrome. Du meridian, the bladder meridian of Foot Taiyang, as well as Jiaji (EX-B2) in pathological or painful sections, Ashi point, Shenshu (BL 23) , and Weizhong (BL 40) were mainly scraped. The treatment interval is 2~5 days (the marks of scrapping fade) , twice of scrapping as a treatment course and a total of 3 courses involved in the whole treatment. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) , serum interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were compared before and after scraping.Results:Compared with those before scraping, the JOA score increased, the VAS decreased, the serum IL-1β content decreased and the serum IL-10 content increased after scraping, and the differences were sttaistically significant ( P<0.01) . Among them, the JOA scores of patients with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold-damp obstruction syndrome were higher than those of damp-heat obstruction syndrome and liver-kidney deficiency syndrome, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . The levels of serum IL-10 in patients with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, damp-heat obstruction syndrome and cold-damp obstruction syndrome were higher than those in patients with liver-kidney deficiency syndrome, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The curative effect of scraping in the treatment of LDH is definite, and the curative effect is better for excessive syndromes.

Objective To establish a new patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of human liver cancer by inoculating the complex of human primary liver cancer cells and a novel microcarrier (microcarrier 6) into mice with normal immune function. Methods Primary liver cancer cells were isolated and extracted from the fresh human liver cancer tissue of five patients and were then co-cultured with microcarrier 6 to construct a three-dimensional tumor cell culture model in vitro . According to the type of graft, 75 male C57BL/6 mice were divided into cell control group, microcarrier control group, and experimental group (each sample corresponded to three groups, with 15 groups in total and 5 mice in each group). The liver cancer cell-microcarrier complex was implanted into the mice by subcutaneous inoculation, and tumor formation time, tumor formation rate, and histopathological manifestations were observed. The Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. Results As for the liver cancer cells from the five patients, tumor formation was observed in the mice corresponding to three patients. In these three experiments, tumor formation was not observed in the control groups and was only observed in the experimental groups, and 12 of the 15 mice in the experimental groups had successful tumor formation, with a tumor formation rate as high as 80%, which was significantly different from that in the cell control groups and the microcarrier control groups (all P < 0.05). The tumor formation time was 5-7 days; the xenograft tumor grew rapidly, and HE staining showed nested or flaky cells with obvious heteromorphism, with the presence of pathological mitosis; immunohistochemical staining showed positive CK8/18, Hep, and Gpc-3, which was in accordance with the characteristics of human liver cancer cells. Conclusion This experiment successfully establishes a new PDX model of human liver cancer based on the complex of microcarrier 6 and human primary liver cancer cells in mice with normal immunity. This model can be used to better elucidate the mechanism of the development and progression of liver cancer in the body with normal immunity, and besides, it also provides a new animal model with higher value for the precise treatment of liver cancer.

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) strategies in COVID-19 patients differ from those in patients suffering from cardiogenic cardiac arrest. During CPR, both healthcare and non-healthcare workers who provide resuscitation are at risk of infection. The Working Group for Expert Consensus on Prevention and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest in COVID-19 has developed this Chinese Expert Consensus to guide clinical practice of CPR in COVID-19 patients. Main recommendations: 1) A medical team should be assigned to evaluate severe and critical COVID-19 for early monitoring of cardiac-arrest warning signs. 2) Psychological counseling and treatment are highly recommended, since sympathetic and vagal abnormalities induced by psychological stress from the COVID-19 pandemic can induce cardiac arrest. 3) Healthcare workers should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). 4) Mouth-to-mouth ventilation should be avoided on patients suspected of having or diagnosed with COVID-19. 5) Hands-only chest compression and mechanical chest compression are recommended. 6) Tracheal-intubation procedures should be optimized and tracheal-intubation strategies should be implemented early. 7) CPR should be provided for 20-30 min. 8) Various factors should be taken into consideration such as the interests of patients and family members, ethics, transmission risks, and laws and regulations governing infectious disease control. Changes in management: The following changes or modifications to CPR strategy in COVID-19 patients are proposed: 1) Healthcare workers should wear PPE. 2) Hands-only chest compression and mechanical chest compression can be implemented to reduce or avoid the spread of viruses by aerosols. 3) Both the benefits to patients and the risk of infection should be considered. 4) Hhealthcare workers should be fully aware of and trained in CPR strategies and procedures specifically for patients with COVID-19.

Objective:Establishment of a new model of human primary colon cancer transplantation tumor in normal immune mice and to provide a reliable experimental animal model for studying the pathogenesis of colon cancer under normal immunity.Methods:Human colon cancer cells come from colon cancer patients who underwent surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College in 2017. The mice in the cell control group were inoculated with phosphate buffered solution (PBS) containing colon cancer cells, the microcarrier control group was inoculated with PBS containing microcarrier 6, and the cell-microcarrier complex group was inoculated with the PBS containing colon cancer cell-microcarrier complex. The cells of each group were inoculated under the skin of the right axilla of mice by subcutaneous injection, and the time, size, tumor formation rate and pathological changes under microscope were recorded. The transplanted tumor tissue was immunohistochemically stained with the EnVisiion two-step method, and the tumor formation rate of the transplanted tumor was judged according to the proportion of positive cells in the visual field. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to detect the expression of human-specific Alu sequence in mice tumor tissue.Results:After inoculation with tumor cells, the mice in the cell control group and the microcarrier control group did not die and did not form tumors; the mice in the cell-microcarrier complex group had palpable subcutaneous tumors in the right axillary subcutaneously on the 5th to 7th days after inoculation, and tumor formation rate is 67% (10/15), and the tumor volume can reach about 500 mm 3 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination. The immunohistochemistry results showed that CK20, CDX-2 and carcinoembryonic antigen were all positively expressed. The PCR results showed that the expression of human-specific Alu sequence can be detected in the transplanted tumor tissue of tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion:Human primary colon cancer cells used microcarrier 6 as a carrier to form tumors in normal immunized mice, and successfully established a new model of human colon cancer transplantation tumor in normal immune mice.