In traditional clinical teaching of impacted tooth extraction, there are problems including limited observation fields for students, insufficient doctor-patient communication training, inadequate clinical thinking development, and low levels of clinical participation. Based on the core elements of visualizing jaw structure with perspective, formulating clinical strategy, immersing in clinical participation, and cultivating the spirit of caregiving, we developed a virtual reality simulation teaching platform for the clinical decision analysis of impacted tooth extraction. The virtual simulation-based platform can create three different impacted tooth scenarios in 3D, which demonstrates the process of clinical decision analysis of impacted tooth extraction through virtuality-reality interaction, allowing students to immerse in the discovery, analysis, and resolution of the medical and humanistic problems in the process of impacted tooth extraction. The questionnaire survey showed that 81.36% (48/59) of the students believed that the software could improve their clinical thinking ability; 76.27% (45/59) of the students believed that it could help them master the basic process of impacted tooth extraction; and 62.71% (37/59) of the students believed that it could improve their skills of impacted tooth extraction. By providing immersive learning experience, constructive teaching design, and multi-dimensional teaching evaluation, the software achieved the goals of cultivating students' clinical thinking ability and professional literacy in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Objective:To explore the genetic etiology and clinical outcome of a child with co-morbid progressive IgA nephropathy and COQ8B-associated glomerulopathy. Methods:A child who was admitted to Peking University First Hospital on March 2, 2021 was selected as the study subject. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the child and his parents and sister. Whole exome sequencing was carried out, and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the Peking University First Hospital (Ethics No. 2016[1029]).Results:The child, a 7-year-old boy who had developed proteinuria 8 months before, was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (M1E1S1T1C1). With steroid, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy, partial remission of proteinuria was achieved. However, his serum creatinine level had increased from 53.8 mol/L at the onset of disease to 86.7 mol/L after 3.9 years, along with massive proteinuria. Kidney biopsy still indicated IgA nephropathy (M0E0S1T0C0). The child was found to harbor a homozygous c. 737G>A (p.Ser246Asn) missense variant of the COQ8B gene, for which his parents and sister were heterozygous carriers. The variant was predicted to be pathogenic (PS1+ PM2_Supporting+ PM3+ PP3+ PP4) based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. The child was treated with high-dose coenzyme Q10 in combination with steroid and/or mycophenolate mofetil, though his serum creatinine level still increased to 286 mol/L after 7.3 years, which conformed to a chronic kidney disorder with glomerular filtration rate category of G3b. Conclusion:The homozygous c.737G>A missense variants of the COQ8B gene probably underlay the progressive kidney dysfunction in this child. For children with IgA nephropathy presenting with atypical clinical manifestations, unsatisfactory therapeutic effect, and/or early onset of kidney function decline, coexistence of other diseases should be suspected.

Objective:To investigate the factors that influence the occurrence of complications following deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, and to determine whether these complications have an impact on the patient's quality of life.Methods:The clinical and follow up data from patients who underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the Department of Breast, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Dec 2019 to Mar 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 85 patients underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction, including 71 stage Ⅰ reconstructions and 14 stage Ⅱ reconstructions. Postoperative complications occurred in 22 cases 25.9%, including flap complications in 11 cases (12.9%) and abdominal donor site complications in 11 cases (12.9%). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the overall incidence of complications was associated with high BMI and early surgery ( P<0.05). Flap complications were associated with high BMI, surgery performed at initial phase, and the use of internal mammary vascular branches as recipient vessels ( P<0.05). Abdominal complications were associated with previous abdominal surgery scars ( P<0.05). BREAST-Q scores showed no significant differences between the surgical complication group and the no complication group in terms of breast satisfaction, mental health, physical health-chest, physical health-abdomen, satisfaction with abdomen, sexual health, etc. ( P>0.05). Conclusions:DIEP flap breast reconstruction has a significant learning curve. The patient's own clinical characteristics (such as BMI and abdominal incision scars) and intraoperative choices (such as the selection of recipient vessels) may influence the occurrence of postoperative complications. However, the presence of postoperative complications does not appear to have an impact on patient-reported outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Omicron, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, is responsible for numerous infections in China. This study investigates the association between the use of Seven-Flavor Herb Tea (SFHT) and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection to develop precise and differentiated strategies for control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This case-control study was conducted at shelter hospitals and quarantine hotels in China. A total of 5348 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were enrolled between April 1 and May 31, 2022, while 2190 uninfected individuals served as healthy controls. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographics, underlying diseases, vaccination status, and use of SFHT. Patients were propensity-score-matched using 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching of the logit of the propensity score. Subsequently, a conditional logistic regression model was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 7538 eligible subjects were recruited, with an average age of [45.54 ± 16.94] years. The age of COVID-19 patients was significantly higher than that of uninfected individuals ([48.25 ± 17.48] years vs [38.92 ± 13.41] years; t = 22.437, P < 0.001). A total of 2190 COVID-19 cases were matched with uninfected individuals at a 1:1 ratio. The use of SFHT (odds ratio = 0.753, 95% confidence interval: 0.692, 0.820) was associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to untreated individuals. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that taking SFHT reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is a useful study in the larger picture of COVID-19 management, but data from large-sample multi-center, randomized clinical trial are warranted to confirm the finding. Please cite this article as: Zhang SX, Chen XX, Zheng Y, Cai BH, Shi W, Ru M, Li H, Zhang DD, Tian Y, Chen YL. Reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection risk is associated with the use of Seven-Flavor Herb Tea: A multi-center observational study in Shanghai, China. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4):369-376.
Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Case-Control Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Tea

Objective:To investigate the changes of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in retinal photoreceptor cells, and the related mechanism correlated with retinal photoreceptor cell damage.Methods:The posterior segment tissues of 8 age-matched male donors were collected from the Body (Organ) Donation Register and Corneal Receiving Station of Tongji Hospital of Wuhan Red Cross from 2018 to 2021, including 4 non-diabetic donors and 4 diabetic donors.The tissues were divided into diabetes group and control group according to their donors.A total of 14 healthy SPF 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were selected and randomly divided into diabetes group and control group by the random number method, with 7 mice in each group.The mice in diabetes group were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 5 days, and no intervention was given to mice in control group.Mouse photoreceptor cells 661W were divided into advanced glycation end products (AGEs) group and control group.AGEs group was treated with 100 μg/ml AGEs for 24 hours to simulate diabetic injury, and no intervention was given to control group.The outer segment morphology of retinal photoreceptors in human and mouse retinas was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), rhodopsin and GPX4 in human and mouse retinas were detected by immunofluorescence staining.The expressions of GFAP, rhodopsin and GPX4 in mouse retina and the expression of GPX4 in 661W cells were determined by Western blot.The activity of 661W cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) method.The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in mouse retina and cells was detected by TBA method.The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mouse retina and cells was detected by hydroxylamine assay.The use of human tissues was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (No.TJ-C20230301). The animal experiments were conducted with reference to the Standards Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the National Institutes of Health, and the study protocol was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (No.TJH-2016001).Results:Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that retinal photoreceptor outer segments were deformed or broken in diabetic donors and diabetic mice compared with control groups.GFAP fluorescent signal mainly appeared in the inner retina of human and mice, and the stained cells were spindle or polygonal, which was consistent with the shape of glial cells.The retinal GFAP fluorescent signal of diabetic tissue and mouse groups was stronger than that of respective control groups.Rhodopsin was only expressed in the outer segment layer of photoreceptors with clear boundaries, and GPX4 was expressed in the whole retina with strong signal in the outer segment layer of photoreceptors.The fluorescent signals of rhodopsin and GPX4 in diabetic tissue and mouse groups were weaker than those in respective control groups.The relative expressions of GFAP were significantly higher and the relative expressions of rhodopsin and GPX4 were significantly lower in diabetic tissue and mouse groups than in respective control groups (all at P<0.05). The cell viability of AGEs group was significantly lower than that of control group ( t=13.490, P<0.001). The relative expression of GPX4 protein in AGEs group was 0.42±0.12, which was significantly lower than 1.00±0.04 in control group ( t=9.041, P<0.001). MDA concentration was higher and SOD activity was lower in retinal tissue of diabetic mice and AGEs group than those in respective control groups, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:Diabetes can reduce the GPX4 level in retinal photoreceptor cells and cause the imbalance of oxidation-antioxidant system, which may be the mechanism of the damage to retinal photoreceptor cells caused by diabetes.

Air Pollution ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; China ; Humans ; Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of 100 units of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) intradetrusor injection in patients with overactive bladder.Methods:From April 2016 to December 2018, 17 tertiary hospitals were selected to participate in this prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Two phases of study were conducted: the primary phase and the extended phase. This study enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years who had been inadequately managed by anticholinergic therapy (insufficient efficacy or intolerable side effects) and had spontaneous voiding with overactive bladder. Exclusion criteria included patients with severe cardiac, renal and hepatic disorders, patients with previous botulinum toxin treatment for 6 months or allergic to BTX-A, patients with urinary tract infections, patients with urinary stones, urinary tract tumors, diabetes mellitus, and bleeding tendency. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to BTX-A group and placebo control group in a ratio of 2∶1. Two groups of patients received 20 intradetrusor injections of BTX-A 100U or placebo at the depth of the submucosal muscle layer respectively under cystoscope, including 5 injections at the base of the bladder, 3 injections to the bladder triangle, 5 injections each to the left and right walls and 2 injections to the top, sparing the bladder neck. As a placebo control group, patients received same volume of placebo containing no BTX-A and only adjuvant freeze-dried preparations for injection with the same method. A combination of gelatin, sucrose, and dextran served as adjuvants. Average micturition times per 24 hours, urinary incontinence (UI) episodes per day, average micturition volume per day, OAB symptom score(OABSS), and quality of life (QOL) score were recorded at baseline and the 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week after treatment. The secondary efficacy endpoints included the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week, as well as the change from baseline in the OABSS, QOL score, average frequency of urgency and UI episodes per day, urgency score, average micturition volume per day at 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. Patients were followed for 12 weeks to assess adverse events (AEs). After assessed at week 12, if the micturition times has decreased less than 50% compared to baseline and the patient is willing to receive retreatment, then patients could enter the extended trial phase. In that phase, patients in both groups were injected with 100 units BTX-A from 12th week onwards and then followed up the same indicators for 12 weeks.Results:216 patients were enrolled in this trial (144 cases in the BTX-A group and 72 cases in the placebo control group). Baseline characteristics such as age (47.75±14.20 in the BTX-A group and 46.39±15.55 in the control group), sex (25 male/117 female in the BTX-A group and 10/61 in the control group), and disease duration (0.51 years in the BTX-A group and 0.60 years in the control group) were balanced between the two groups( P>0.05). A marked reduction from baseline in average micturition times per 24 hours was observed in all treatment groups at the 6th week and the reduction of the two groups was statistically different ( P<0.001 and P=0.008 respectively). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week decreased from baseline by 2.40(0.70, 4.60)times for the BTX-A group and 0.70(-1.00, 3.30) times for the placebo control group respectively, and the difference between the two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.003). The change rates of average micturition times per 24 hours from baseline at the 6th week of the two groups were (16±22)% and (8±25)% respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.014). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week decreased by 2.00(0.00, 4.00)and 3.30(0.60, 5.03)for the BTX-A group, 1.00(-1.00, 3.00)and 1.70(-1.45, 3.85)for the placebo control group respectively. The difference between two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.038 and P=0.012); the changes of average urgency times per day for the BTX-A group and the control group at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week were 2.00(0.00, 4.30)and 2.40(0.30, 5.00), 3.00(0.30, 5.70)and 0.70(-1.30, 2.70), 0.70(-1.30, 3.00) and 1.35(-1.15, 3.50), respectively. There were significant differences between two groups at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week, ( P=0.010, P=0.003 and P=0.025, respectively). The OABSS of the BTX-A group and the control group at the 6th week decreased by 1.00(0.00, 4.00)and 0.50(-1.00, 2.00) compared with the baseline, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.003). 47 cases of BTX-A group and 34 cases of placebo control group entered the extended trial phase, and 40 and 28 cases completed the extended trial phase, respectively. The average micturition volume per 24 hours changed by -16.60(-41.60, -0.60)ml and -6.40(-22.40, 13.30)ml, (-35.67±54.41)ml and(-1.76±48.69)ml, (-36.14±41.51)ml and (-9.28±44.59)ml, (-35.85±43.35)ml and(-10.41±40.29)ml for two groups at the 12th, 14th, 18th and 24th week, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant at each follow-up time ( P=0.01, 0.006, 0.012 and 0.016, respectively). There was no significant difference in other parameters( P>0.05). However, adverse reactions after intradetrusor injection included increased residual urine volume (27 in the BTX-A group and 3 in the control group), dysuria (21 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), urinary infection (19 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), bladder neck obstruction (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), hematuria (3 in the BTX-A group and 1 in the control group), elevated alanine aminotransferase (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), etc. During the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in the other adverse events between two groups except the increase of residual urine volume( P<0.05). In the primary trial phase, among the 27 cases with increased residual urine volume in BTA group, only 1 case (3.70%) with PVR more than 300 ml; the PVR of 3 patients in the placebo group was less than 100 ml. The increase of residual urine volume caused by the injection could be improved or disappeared with the passage of time. Conclusions:Intradetrusor injection of Chinese BTX-A improved the average micturition times per 24 hours, the average daily urgent micturition times, OABSS, and average micturition volume per time, and reduced the adverse effects in patients with overactive bladder.Chinese BTX-A at dose of 100U demonstrated durable efficacy and safety in the management of overactive bladder.

Objective:To understand the status of synthetic drug use， high-risk sexual behavior and associated factors among men who have sex with men （MSM） in Shanghai. Methods:MSM subjects were recruited， by a team of non-governmental organizations （NGO）， at MSM places and voluntary counseling and testing clinics from May to December 2018. The subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire survey on social-demographic， ways to make friends， synthetic drug use， high-risk sexual behavior， and HIV/STD testing history. They also received tests of HIV and syphilis. According to the use of synthetic drugs， they were divided into user group and non-user group. Results:A total of 209 subjects were recruited. Among them， 43.1% （90/209） used at least one synthetic drug. 81.3% （170/209） of MSM used internet dating software. The proportion of synthetic drug use was higher among the subjects in 30-34 age group， residence registered in other provinces， with university degree or above， occupation of cadres and staff members， monthly income of more than 10 000 yuan， making friends through gay bars， and acquaintance with male partners. The registered residence in other provinces （OR=3.006） and making friends through gay bars （OR=3.588） were independent factors. The top three synthetic drugs were Rush （90.0%， 81/90）， Viagra （8.9%， 8/90） and “capsule 0” （7.8%， 7/90）. The proportion of having sex after using synthetic drugs was 89.5% （17/19）. The frequency of high-risk sexual behaviors such as oral sex， anal sex without condom and group sex was once a day per person on average. Conclusion:The use of synthetic drugs is prevalent among MSM， and the frequency of high-risk sexual behaviors after use is high. Warning education on the dangers of synthetic drug use and mobilization for HIV testing should be carried out with the help of new media technology. Special attention should be paid to MSM people in high-income occupations and gay bars.