ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Astragali Radix-mediated changes in gut microbiota on treating type 2 diabetes （T2DM）. MethodsA 12-week randomized， placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled eighty patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and poor glycemic control in the Qi deficiency type. All patients received insulin therapy. The observation group （40 cases） was administered with Astragali Radix Granules， while the control group （40 cases） received a placebo. Both treamtents were taken orally twice daily. Changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16s rDNA sequencing. Serum glucagon-like peptide-1 （GLP-1） levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Glucose metabolism indicators including fasting blood glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial blood glucose （2 h PG），glycated albumin（GA）， and glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c） were evaluated. Pancreatic function was evaluated using fasting C-peptide （FCP）， 2-hour postprandial C-peptide （2 h CP）， and C-peptide area under the curve （AUC_cp）. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， clinical efficacy， and safety indicators were also observed. ResultsIn terms of glucose metabolism indicators， compared with the baseline， both groups exhibited significantly lower FPG， 2 h PG， GA and HbA1C （P<0.01），while FCP， 2 h CP and AUC_cp were significantly higher （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after the treatment， the observation group showed significantly lower FPG， 2 h PG， GA and HbA1C（P<0.05， P<0.01），and significantly higher FCP， 2 h CP and AUC_cp （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating that Astragali Radix can improve glucose metabolism. In terms of the diversity of gut microbiota， no significant differences were detected in the Chao1， Shannon and Simpson indexes of the two groups compared with their respective baselines. However， compared with the post-treatment control group， the observation group demonstrated significant increases in the Chao1， Shannon and Simpson indexes （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The β-diversity analysis showed significant separation in gut microbiota composition before and after treatment in both groups， indicating that Astragali Radix can significantly alter the structure and improve the diversity of gut microbiota. At the phylum level， compared with the baseline， both groups showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota（P<0.01）. The relative abundance of the potentially harmful phylum Proteobacteria was significantly lower in the observation Group after treatment （P<0.01）. Compared with the post-treatment control group， the observation group had a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroidota（P<0.01）. No significant difference was found in Firmicutes/Bacteroidota （F/B） ratio between the two groups after treatment， and other phyla showed no significant differences. At the genus level， compared with the baseline， the observation group exhibited a significant increase in Bacteroides （P<0.01） and a significant decrease in Escherichia-Shigella （P<0.01）， whereas no significant difference was seen in the control group . Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group after treatment had a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroides （P<0.01）. No significant differences were seen in other genera. Linear discriminant analysis （LDA） identified potential characteristics taxa： in the observation group， Bacteroidota at the phylum level and Bacteroides and Dubosiella at the genus level， in the control group， Proteobacteria at the phylum level as well as Barnesiella and Staphylococcus at the genus level. Correlation analysis based on a heatmap revealed that GLP-1 levels were positively correlated with Firmicutes， F/B ratio and Fusobacterium， and negatively correlated with Bacteroidota， Proteobacteria， Bacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella. In terms of clinical efficacy， compared with the control group， the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher （P<0.05）. Compared with the baseline， the scores for shortness of breath， fatigue， weakness， spontaneous sweating and reluctance to speak significantly decreased in both groups （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the score for weakness was significantly lower in the observation group （P<0.01），indicating that Astragali Radix could improve clinical symptoms and alleviate weakness symptoms. In terms of safety， compared with the baseline， alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels significantly decreased in both groups （P<0.05，P<0.01），indicating that Astragali Radix did not induce any significant abnormalities in liver and kidney functions. ConclusionAstragali Radix demonstrates the potential to significantly improve the gut microbiota environment in patients of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes with Qi deficiency. The therapeutic effect may contribute to glycemic control， possibly mediated by an elevation in GLP-1 level. These findings may support its further clinical investigations and potential applications.

Objectives:To compare the HbA 1c results on capillary electrophoresis (CE), cation exchange-high performance liquid chromatography (CE-HPLC), and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Methods:902 normal samples without hemoglobin variants and 83 samples with hemoglobin variants were collected in 2020. The variants were divided into α-chain, β-chain, γ-chain, and δ-chain variants. The 902 samples without hemoglobin variants were measured by CE, CE-HPLC, and MALDI-TOF MS. Three methods were used for measuring α-chain, β-chain, and γ-chain compared with the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) reference method. According to the EP9-A3 guideline, Passing-Bablok regression and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) were performed for correlation and consistency, respectively. The imprecision was assessed by coefficient of variance (CV). The mean relative bias was calculated and compared with the lowest biological variation bias of 2.3%.Results:All three methods met the acceptance of imprecision requirements (<2%). The R 2 and CCC for the normal samples were all above 0.95 between the pairwise comparison of CE, CE-HPLC, and MALDI-TOF MS. The mean relative bias between MALDI-TOF MS and CE-HPLC was higher than the lowest biological variation bias of 2.3%. The R 2 results between CE and LC-MS/MS results of α-chain, β-chain, γ-chain variants were>0.95, and the mean relative biases for γ-chain variants exceeded the lowest biological variation bias of 2.3%. A bad correlation ( R2=0.66) for β-chain variants was shown between CE-HPLC and LC-MS/MS and the mean relative biases of all variant samples exceeded 2.3%. MALDI-TOF MS showed good correlations with LC-MS/MS for three groups, and the mean relative biases for γ-chain variants were higher than 2.3%. Conclusion:MALDI-TOF MS and CE-HPLC with CE had good comparability in the measurement of HbA 1c in normal samples, butthe three methods showed interferences from different types of Hb variants and the CE method was affected with less interference.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of precision hepatectomy in the treatment of single hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion (MVI) of and the risk factors of positive incisal margin after operation.Methods:The clinical data of 212 patients with single hepatocellular carcinoma with MVI treated in Affiliated Hospital of Panzhihua University from July 2016 to July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. 152 patients were treated with precision hepatectomy and 60 patients with traditional hepatectomy. According to the pathological results of postoperative liver resection, the patients treated with precision hepatectomy were divided into two groups: negative group ( n=129) and positive group ( n=23). The operation-related indexes, postoperative complications and disease-free survival rate of precision hepatectomy and traditional hepatectomy were compared, and the general data of patients with negative and positive liver cutting edge were compared. multivariate analysis of the factors affecting the positive liver cutting edge after operation; to construct a line chart prediction model to predict the positive liver cutting edge after operation, and to evaluate its predictive efficiency. Normally distributed measurement data are represented by mean±standard deviation ( Mean± SD), independent t-test is used for comparison between groups; count data are represented by the number of cases and percentages, and χ2 test is used for comparison between groups. Results:The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, positive rate of surgical margin, total incidence of postoperative complications, AFP negative conversion rate 6 months after operation, and 1-year disease-free survival rate of precision hepatectomy were (328.62±38.74) min, (496.83±59.76) mL, (15.28±3.61) d, 15.13% (23/152), 3.95% (6/152), 81.58% (124/152), 67.11% (102/152), respectively. The mean values of traditional hepatectomy were (315.29±40.95) min, (681.46±58.27) mL, (23.87±4.65) d, 28.33% (17/60), 21.67% (13/60), 66.67% (40/60) and 46.67% (28/60), respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that the positive liver resection margin after precision liver resection was related to the maximum diameter of the tumor, vascular tumor thrombus, TNM staging, BCLC staging, liver cirrhosis, AFP 2 months after surgery, and the distance between the tumor and the resection margin ( OR=3.645, 5.248, 4.285, 4.462, 3.883, 3.964, 3.872; 95% CI: 2.875-4.415, 4.426-6.070, 3.271-5.299, 3.354-5.570, 3.062-4.704, 3.248-4.680, 2.987-4.757; P<0.05). Maximum tumor diameter >5 cm, vascular tumor thrombus, TNM stage Ⅲ, BCLC stage C, liver cirrhosis, postoperative AFP ≥20 μg Uniql, the distance between the tumor and the resection margin was <1 mm were the risk factors of positive incisal margin after precision hepatectomy in patients with single liver cancer with MVI( OR=6.685, 8.425, 7.758, 7.854, 7.124, 7.246, 6.926; 95% CI: 5.828-7.542, 7.6385-9.212, 6.926-8.590, 7.062-8.646, 6.583-7.665, 6.618-7.874, 6.028-7.824; P<0.05). The constructed line chart prediction model had better differentiation and higher accuracy. Conclusions:Precision hepatectomy in the treatment of single hepatocellular carcinoma with MVI has the advantages of less intraoperative bleeding, faster postoperative recovery, less postoperative complications, low positive rate of liver incisal margin and high disease-free survival rate. The construction of a risk prediction model with positive surgical margin provides a reference for improving the survival rate of patients in clinic.

Lumbar brucellar spondylitis is an infectious disease caused by the invasion of brucella. The incidence has been on the rise in recent years. And it threatens people's health seriously. Early and proper diagnosis and treatment is the key to cure patients with lumbar brucella spondylitis. However, in the early stage of the disease, there are only nonspecific symptoms such as back pain, fever, and sweating. If the patient has the above symptoms and epidemiological history of direct or indirect livestock contact, and inflammatory signals of the vertebrae or intervertebral space are visible on MRI, the possibility of early infection of lumbar brucella spondylitis should be considered. It is not difficult to make the diagnosis of lumbar brucella spondylitis in the middle and late stages by taking into account the epidemiology, symptoms, signs, laboratory tests, and the imaging features such as narrowing of the intervertebral space, abnormal signals of the vertebral body and disc, bone destruction and sclerosis, "lace-like" appearance, sequestrum formation and limited paraspinal abscess. Patients in these stages often present with serious manifestations such as lumbar instability due to bone destruction, and the focus is on surgical intervention. The basic principle of surgical treatment is lesion removal combined with fixation. Intraoperative reduction of damage to bone and ligamentous structures such as the posterior ligamentous complex and strong fixation will contribute to the complete cure of the disease. By referring to the literature on lumbar brucellar spondylitis, this paper focuses on the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, imaging features, laboratory tests and conservative and surgical treatment of the disease, aiming to provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVE： To establish the method for the content determination of chlorogenic acid， ligustrazine， ferulic acid， senkyunolide I， senkyunolide H， coniferly ferulate， senkyunolide A， n-butylphtalide， Z-ligustilide and n-butylidenephthalide in Ligusticum chuanxiong under different storage conditions. METHODS： HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on Boston C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.5％ acetic acid solution （gradient elution） at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 285 nm， and the column temperature was 30 ℃. The sample size was 5 μL. RESULTS： The linear range of chlorogenic acid， ligustrazine， ferulic acid， senkyunolide I， senkyunolide H， coniferly ferulate， senkyunolide A， n-butylphtalide， Z-ligustilide n-butylidenephthalide were 0.030 53-0.519 01 μg （r＝0.999 5）， 0.001 02-0.017 34 μg （r＝0.999 9）， 0.012 83-0.218 11 μg （r＝0.999 5）， 0.007 63- 0.129 71 μg （r＝0.999 7）， 0.001 76-0.029 92 μg （r＝0.999 5）， 0.054 74-0.930 58 μg （r＝0.999 9）， 0.215 80-3.668 60 μg （r＝0.999 9）， 0.018 02-0.306 34 μg （r＝0.999 7）， 0.232 50- 3.952 50 μg （r＝0.999 9）， 0.002 40-0.040 80 μg （r＝0.999 5）.The limits of quantitation were 2.073 7， 0.556 6， 0.753 8， 0.231 5， 0.306 9， 0.925 2， 2.295 3， 4.624 0， 3.215 3， 0.910 5 ng， respectively. The detection limits were 0.622 1， 0.167 0， 0.226 1， 0.069 4， 0.092 1， 0.277 6， 0.688 6， 1.387 2， 0.964 6， 0.273 1 ng， respectively. RSD of precision， stability and repeatability tests were all less than 5％ （n＝6）. The recovery rates were 95.90％-103.28％ （RSD＝2.99％， n＝6）， 88.24％-107.84％ （RSD＝4.89％， n＝6）， 95.06％-102.08％ （RSD＝3.97％， n＝6）， 93.67％-101.05％ （RSD＝1.02％， n＝6）， 94.81％-104.33％ （RSD＝2.34％，n＝6）， 94.41％-105.59％ （RSD＝4.32％， n＝6）， 92.76％-104.83％ （RSD＝1.95％， n＝6）， 87.22％-102.56％ （RSD＝2.89％， n＝6）， 94.04％-99.52％ （RSD＝0.92％， n＝6）， 88.51％-103.83％ （RSD＝4.89％， n＝6）， respectively. At 5 ℃ and 15 ℃， no obvious deterioration was observed in medicinal materials. At room temperature， some samples were moth-eaten and mildewed. The content ranges of 6 batches of samples were 0.047 7％-0.160 8％， 0.006 1％- 0.022 7％， 0.048 2％-0.172 2％， 0.023 3％-0.145 2％， 0.004 6％-0.030 7％， 0.085 2％-0.835 4％， 0.182 6％-2.112 7％， 0.009 9％- 0.098 3％， 0.614 9％-3.176 2％ and 0.005 7％-0.036 9％， showing decreasing trend； the decrease rate was in descending order 5 ℃＜15 ℃＜room temperature； at the same storage temperature， the decrease rate of polyethylene plastic bag was lower than that of polypropylene woven bag. CONCLUSIONS： This method is accurate and feasible， and can be used for simultaneous determination of 10 kinds of components in L. chuanxiong. It is suggested that L. chuanxiong medicinal materials should be sealed and packed in dry and cool places and should not be stored for a long time.

Objective To explore the evaluation value of dynamic monitoring of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)in severity of illness and prognosis of bacterial sepsis.Methods Clinical data and laboratory index of 72 cases of patients with bacterial sepsis in ICU of Yangpu Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University were retrospectively analyzed.According to the severity of illness,patients were divided into sepsis group(n=20),severe sepsis group(n=30)and septic shock group(n=22).According to the mortality within 28 d,patients were divided into survival group(n=47),death group(n=25).The 0 h NLR,48 h NLR and change rate of NLR between two groups were compared,and the influence factors of prognosis were analyzed.Results With the increase of severity of illness,the time of mechanical ventilation was shortened((8.8±1.9)d,(4.6±0.6)d,(3.9±0.4)d),and PLT((146.4±45.8)×109/L,(110.6±41.3)×109/L,(102.5±38.6)×109/L),NLR rate(0.61±0.26,0.26±0.11,0.22±0.09)were decreased significantly,APEACHE Ⅱ score,CRP,PCT,0 h NLR,48 h NLR were increased obviously((18.5±2.3)points,(20.4±3.6)points,(23.1±3.9)points;(72.6±10.4)mg/L,(78.2±11.6)mg/L,(85.2±12.5)mg/L;(1.5±0.4)μg/L,(2.3±0.6)μg/L,(2.7±0.9)μg/L;11.3±2.6,14.2±3.4,15.7±3.5;3.4±0.9,9.7±2.4,11.2±2.6),the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with death group,the time of mechanical ventilation in survival group was prolonged((4.1±0.3)d vs.(8.7±1.4)d),APEACHE Ⅱ score,CRP,PCT,0 h NLR,48 h NLR were decreased obviously((21.4±3.5)points vs.(18.3±2.6)points,(78.2±11.6)mg/L vs.(71.5±10.8)mg/L,(2.5±0.7)μg/L vs.(1.4±0.6)μg/L,(15.0±3.3)vs.(11.6±2.4),(10.5±2.8)vs.(3.2±0.8)),and PLT,NLR rate were increased significantly((106.5±41.5)×109/L vs.(148.4±50.8)×109/L,0.24±0.10 vs.0.65±0.24),the differences were statistically significant(t=16.18,4.26,2.44,6.99,5.01,16.73,3.54,8.15,P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that APEACHE Ⅱ score,0 h NLR were the independent risk factors of death in patients with bacterial sepsis(OR=3.99,3.01,95％CI:1.65-2.38,1.99-4.54,P＜0.05),and NLR rate was independent protection factor(OR=0.95,95％CI:0.91-0.97,P＜0.05).Conclusion Dynamic monitoring of peripheral blood NLR can help to judge the prognosis and severity of illness of patients with bacterial sepsis,and NLR before treatment and change rate of NLR are an independent predictors of death.

AIM: To demonstrate the effects of telmisartan on the proliferation and apoptosis of U937 cells.METHODS: The proliferation ability of the U937 cells was assessed by CCK-8 assay and colony formation test with methylcellulose.The CD11b expression rate of the U937 cells was identified by flow cytometry.The apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V-PI double staining and Hoechst 33342 staining.The protein levels of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: The results of CCK-8 assay confirmed that the viability of U937 cells was inhibited by telmisartan.The colony formation capacity of U937 cells was also significantly inhibited by telmisartan.The differentiation of U937 cells was induced by telmisartan with the expression of CD11b.The results of flow cytometry analysis with Annexin V-PI double staining and Hoechst 33342 staining identified that the apoptosis of U937 cells was induced by telmisartan in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners with the up-regulation of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3 proteins.CONCLUSION: Telmisartan inhibits the proliferation and induces the differentiation of U937 cells.Telmisartan also induces the apoptosis of U937 cells through the caspase pathway.

BACKGROUND:Our previous studies have shown that the poly(hydroxybutyrate- co-hydroxyvalerate) - sol-gel bioactive glass (PHBV-SGBG) has good biocompatibility and promote bone tissue repair, but its specific role in periodontal tissue regeneration has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the periodontal regenerative effects of a PHBV-SGBG scaffold in beagle dogs. METHODS:Alveolar bone defects (5 mm×5 mm) were surgicaly created bilateraly at the buccal side of the mandibular third and fourth premolars of four beagle dogs. PHBV-SGBG scaffold was randomly filed in the defects as experimental group and nothing was put into the contralateral as control group. Histological and scanning electron microscopy observations, cone-beam CT evaluation and the Ca/P concentration ratio analysis were processed at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After surgery, the height of the regenerated tissue increased with time in both groups, and the regenerated tissue height in the experiment group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). At 12 weeks after surgery, the Ca/P concentration ratio of the experiment group was close to that in the normal tissue (P > 0.05), but higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05); the histological observation showed that the regenerated tissue of the experimental group was close to the normal tissue, and the regenerated tissue of the control group tended to be mature, with a smal amount of new blood vessels. Under the scanning electron microscope, no scaffold structure was visible in the experimental group with the presence of bone lacuna at 8 weeks after surgery, while in the control group, there was no bone lacuna and obvious osteoblasts; at 12 weeks after surgery, the structure of the regenerated tissue of experimental group was more regular and close to the normal tissue with no remarkable osteoblasts, and in the control group, the regenerated tissue was disordered, with several cavity. These results show that the PHBV-SGBG scaffold can enhance periodontal bone regeneration effectively.

Objective To explore the diagnostic consistency and correlation between MR discography (MRD) and CT discography (CTD) in diagnosing chronic low back pain. Methods Guided by C - arm fluoroscopy the mixed solution of gadoterate meglumine (GD-DOTA) and Iohexol (GD-DOTA at a dilution of 1 ∶ 400 with Iohexol) was injected into 96 lumbar intervertebral discs of the 36 patients. CT scanning was performed at 15 minutes after the injection of contrast, and axial together with sagittal SE T1WI MR scanning was carried out one hour after the injection. CTD and MRD images were randomly numbered and were independently evaluated by two experienced radiologists according to Dallas discogram scale in order to assess the diagnostic consistency and correlation between (MRD) and (CTD). In addition the diagnostic value of MRD was evaluated. Results The results revealed that in determining disc degeneration grade CTD and MRD were highly consistent with each other(Kappa = 0.836, P < 0.01), and the diagnostic results judged by the two reviewers were essentially in agreement (ICC = 1.00, P < 0.01; r = 0.997, P < 0.01). Higher consistency (Kappa = 0.836, P < 0.01) and correlation(ICC = 0.90, P < 0.01; r = 0.869, P < 0.01; Kappa =0.836, P < 0.01) in determining annulus rupture extent were also obtained. Conclusion MRD is an accurate diagnostic method for the determination of disc degeneration and the severity of annulus rupture, and this technique has greater consistency and correlation with CTD in diagnosing chronic low back pain.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of serun procalcitonin (PCT) and adrenomedullin(ADM) levels in elderly patients with pneumonia diagnosis.Methods Thirty-eight elderly patients with pneumonia who were admitted to our hospital were collected as the study group.Thirty-two cases of non-pneumonic patients hospitalized in respiratory department at the same period for lung tumor,non-infective interstitial lung diseases and pulmonary edema were chosen as the control group.According to CURB-65 score,the study group was divided into three subgroups as mild,moderate and severe group.Levels of serum PCT and ADM at the 1st day,3rd day and 7th day were measured by ELISA,and data were statistically analyzed.Results Serum PCT ((1.98 ± 0.32) μg/L vs.(1.63 ± 0.44) μg/L,t =3.989,P =0.040) and ADM levels ((0.92±0.31) μg/L vs.(0.52±0.12) μg/L,t =5.987,P ＜0.001) on the first day of the treatment was significantly higher than in the control group.Serum PCT and ADM levels in the three subgroups decreased after treatment,and at each time point serum PCT (1st day:(2.19 ±:0.36) μg/L vs.(1.80 ± 0.28) μg/L vs.(1.83 ±0.22) μg/L;3rd day:(2.08 ±0.34) μg/L vs.(1.73 ±0.35) μg/L vs.(1.75 ±0.24) μg/L;7th day:(2.05 ±0.32) μg/L vs.(1.65 ±0.30) μg/L vs.(1.61 ±0.31) μg/L) and ADM levels (1st day:(1.08 ± 0.31) μg/L vs.(0.80 ± 0.25) μg/L vs.(0.77 ± 0.22) μg/L; 3rd day:(1.09 ± 0.32) μg/L vs.(0.77 ±0.23) μg/L vs.(0.75 ±0.21) μg/L;7th day:(1.08 ±0.33) μg/L vs.(0.66 ±0.18) μg/L vs.(0.72 ±0.25) μg/L) in the severe group were significantly higher than in the other two subgroups (P ＜0.05).Serum PCT and ADM levels in survived patients on the 1 st day,3rd day,and 7th day after treatment were significantly lower than in patients who were deceased (PCT:1 st day:(1.82 ± 0.26) μg/L vs.(2.16 ± 0.37)μg/L;3rd day:(1.74 ± 0.29) ~L vs.(2.06 ±0.31) μg/L;7th day:(1.62 ± 0.30) μg/L vs.(2.03 ±0.30) μg/L;P ＜0.05 ;ADM:1st day:(0.78 ± 0.23) μg/L vs.(1.06 ± 0.29) μg/L;3rd day:(076 ± 0.21)μg/L vs.(1.08 ± 0.30) μg/L; 7 th day:(0.70 ± 0.20) μg/L vs.(1.09 ± 0.35) μg/L; P ＜ 0.05),and serum PCT and ADM levels did not change significantly in deceased patients after treatment.Conclusion Serum PCT and ADM levels can serve as serum markers in early diagnosis,the severity of pneumonia and estimating prognosis in elderly patients.