OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effects and potential mechanisms of water extract from Chrysanthemum morifolium on skeletal muscle atrophy in rats after ischemic stroke. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， ATP group （10 mg/kg）， C. morifolium water extract high-dose and low-dose groups （1.08， 0.54 g/kg）. Except for sham operation group， ischemic stroke models were induced in rats from the other groups using middle cerebral artery occlusion. Starting from the first day after surgery， rats in each group were given corresponding drug/normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 7 days. On the 7th day post-surgery， the rats’ body weights were measured， and their motor functions were evaluated， including Longa scores， exercise distance， grip strength； the electrophysiological signals of the skeletal muscles in rats were measured； the pathological morphology of the soleus muscle in rats was observed； the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in serum and soleus muscle were measured； the expressions of proteins related to TNF-α/c-Jun N- terminal kinase （JNK）/mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway in the soleus muscle were determined. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group， the body weight， grip strength and exercise distance of rats were decreased/ shortened significantly （P＜0.01）； additionally， there was a notable reduction in the interpeak value of skeletal muscle electrophysiology （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Longa score， as well as the levels of TNF-α in serum and soleus muscle， and the expression levels of TNF-α， phosphorylated JNK， phosphorylated MAPK， muscle ring-finger protein-1， and muscle atrophy Fbox- 1 protein in the soleus muscle， were all significantly elevated （P＜0.01）. The skeletal muscle cells of the soleus muscle in the model group showed significant atrophy， with a markedly decreased cross-sectional area （P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the levels of the aforementioned indicators were significantly reversed in C. morifolium water extract groups （P＜0.05 or P＜ 0.01）， and the skeletal muscle cells of the soleus muscle were markedly enlarged. CONCLUSIONS C. morifolium water extract can improve skeletal muscle atrophy in rats after ischemic stroke， the mechanism of which may be associated with suppressing the activation of the TNF- α/JNK/MAPK E-mail：19932015@cdutcm.edu.cn signaling pathway.

The quality evaluation of the blind method is to evaluate the clinical blind data obtained from clinical trials adopting the blind method and judge the effectiveness of the blind method by investigating the blind effect of different blind objects. A successful blind method can avoid the influence of subjective factors on the test results of subjects and researchers to a certain extent. The quality evaluation of the blind method can reflect not only the effectiveness of the blind method but also the accuracy and credibility of clinical trial results. In recent years， randomized controlled trials have been widely used in the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， but the quality of the implementation of blind methods is uneven， and the evaluation criteria have not yet been formed. In this paper， the data collection methods， calculation principles， advantages， and disadvantages of two quantitative quality evaluation methods of blind methods， namely James Blinding Index （JBI） and Bang Blinding Index （BBI）， were introduced. The two indexes were analyzed in a randomized controlled trial of acupuncture and moxibustion to relieve postoperative oral pain. The calculation process of the results was demonstrated by R software and visualized by forest map. At the same time， a tool table was designed to facilitate the collection of evaluation data of blind methods in TCM clinical trials at different stages. Finally， the necessity and feasibility of quality evaluation of blind method in TCM research were discussed to provide a basis for evaluating and improving the quality of blind method implementation in TCM clinical trials.

Trials within cohorts （TwiCs） are design methods derived from randomized controlled trials （RCTS）. They have been widely used in chronic disease areas such as tumors and cardiovascular diseases. The basis of the TwiCs design is a prospective cohort of specific diseases. When RCTS need to be implemented， some patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria are randomly sampled from the cohort to receive "trial interventions"， while the remaining patients in the cohort who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria continue to receive conventional treatment as control groups. By comparing the efficacy differences between the intervention measures of the trial group and the control group， the efficacy of intervention measures was evaluated. Within the cohort， the same process could be repeated to carry out multiple RCTS， so as to evaluate different intervention measures or compare the efficacy of different doses or timing of interventions. Compared with classical RCTS， TwiCs make it easier to recruit patients from the cohort and have higher external validity， providing a new research paradigm for improving the efficiency and applicability of RCTS in clinical practice. However， TwiCs may also face the challenge of poor compliance of patients in the cohort. Researchers need to take effective measures to control these patients in the design and operation of TwiCs. This article focused on the methodological key points during the implementation of TwiCs， including multi-stage informed consent （patients are informed of consent at three stages： entering the cohort， entering the trial group， and after the trial）， randomization procedures （only random sampling of patients from the cohort to receive "trial interventions"）， sample size calculation， and statistical analysis methods. The article also compared the differences between TwiCs and traditional RCTS and illustrated TwiCs research design and analysis with examples， so as to provide new research ideas and methods for clinical researchers.

Objective:To explore the differences of microenviroment between peri-implant tissue and oral mucosal tissue.Methods:The gene chip data GSE43744 was downloaded from the GEO database,bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the differentially ex-pressed genes between the peri-implant tissue and normal oral mucosal tissue in rat.Results:1315 differentially expressed important genes,including 797 upregulated genes and 518 downregulated genes,were screened out.Gene enrichment analysis showed that com-pared with normal oral mucosal tissue,the gene expression of innate immune activity,cell activation,inflammatory response,and func-tional expression related to external and bacterial stimuli in peri-implant tissue were significantly upregulated,while that of extracellular matrix tissue,adhesion,extracellular matrix polysaccharides,response to mechanical stimuli and response to toxic substances was sig-nificantly downregulated.Meanwhile,multiple molecular functions and biological pathways related to T cells were highly expressed,which may play an important role in the peri-implant microenvironment.In addition,PPI network was constructed,and screened 7 core genes including FCER1G,TYROBP,PTPRC,ITGB2,AIF1,EMR1 and RAC2,which may be target genes for studying peri-implant microenvironment.Conclusion:There is a significant difference of microenvironment characteristics between peri-implant tissue and o-ral mucosa.The target genes screened using PPI network may be the key to future research on the peri-implant microenvironment.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST),with a certain malignant potential,are currently the most common subepithelial tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.Early diagnosis and prediction of malignant potential are very important for the formulation of a treatment plan and determining the prognosis of GIST.Deep learning technology has made significant progress in the diagnosis of digestive tract diseases,and it can also effectively assist physicians in diagnosing GIST and predicting their malignant potential,preoperatively.The application of deep learning technology in the diagnosis of GIST includes CT,gastrointestinal endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound.This paper aims to review the application of deep learning technology in the diagnosis and prediction of malignant potential of GIST.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognostic factors of 125I seeds implantation in the treatment of patients with advanced lung cancer after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Methods:From January 2017 to December 2019, 44 patients (39 males, 5 females, age 41-84 years) with advanced lung cancer after radiotherapy and chemotherapy who received 125I seeds implantation in Hebei General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed up for ≥12 months, and the clinical efficacies were observed. χ2 test was used to analyze the difference of effective rates between groups. The cut-off value of postoperative dose delivered to 90% gross tumor volume ( D90) was obtained by ROC curve analysis. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate and log-rank test was used for univariate analysis. Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis to find the influencing factors for clinical efficacy. Results:The total effective rate was 72.73%(32/44) after 6 months treatment. The cut-off value of D90 was 120 Gy with the AUC of 0.771. The short-term effective rate of D90≥120 Gy group was better than that of D90<120 Gy group (18/19 vs 56.00%(14/25); χ2=8.17, P=0.004). The 1-year survival rate was 77.27%(34/44). Univariate analysis showed that age ( χ2=3.99, P=0.046), preoperative Hb ( χ2=10.60, P=0.001), tumor maximum diameter ( χ2=11.50, P=0.001) and postoperative D90( χ2=5.81, P=0.016) could affect the survival of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative Hb (hazard ratio ( HR)=0.023, 95% CI: 0.001-0.882, P=0.043) and tumor maximum diameter ( HR=40.889, 95% CI: 1.458-1 146.586, P=0.029) were prognostic factors. Conclusions:125I seeds implantation shows a good effect in the treatment of lung cancer patients after the progress of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The short-term effect of patients with D90≥120 Gy is better than that of patients with D90<120 Gy. Preoperative Hb and tumor maximum diameter are prognostic factors of survival after implantation.

Objective:To analyze the treatment effects and side effects of non-surgical comprehensive treatment for locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma invading cervical esophagus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on sixty-six patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma invade the esophagus. These patients were treated in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of Chinese People′s Liberation Army General Hospital between January 2011 and May 2022, including sixty-five males and one female, aged 43-71 years. Treatment regimen consisted of induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiothrapy and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy, three of these cases were treated with programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immunotherapy. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Side effects were evaluated with the established CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) 5.0 criteria. The factors affecting prognosis were analyzed by Cox multivariate regression analysis.Results:Sixty-four (97.0%, 64/66) patients completed the radiotherapy and chemotherapy plan. The most common grade three side effects were radioactive oropharyngeal mucositis (89.1%, 57/64) and leukopenia (23.4%, 15/64). Five (7.8%, 5/64) patients showed grade three hoarseness; two patients (3.1%, 2/64) suffered from grade three swallowing dysfunction and required feeding tube and intravenous nutrition; the remaining patients(89.1%) retained good vocal and swallowing functions. The overall survival (OS) of all patients was 81.5% after one year, 54.0% after three years, and 39.9% after five years; the progression-free survival (PFS) was 78.3% after one year, 54.9% after three years, and 42.6% after five years; local control rate (LCR) was 80.9% after one year, 62.5% after three years, and 52.0% after five years. T4a patients showed better OS, PFS and LCR than T4b patients, with statistically significant differences (χ 2=8.10, 8.27, and 6.64, respectively, all P<0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that lymph node metastasis was an independent factor affecting prognosis (χ 2=10.21, P<0.05). Conclusion:Non-surgical comprehensive treatment can provide with another option of radical treatment for locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma with cervical esophagus invasion, offering the patients higher rate of larynx and esophageal preservation with tolerable side effects.

Objective    To review the characteristics of patients who underwent atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD) repair with prosthetic valve ring implantation in our hospital, and to analyze the safety and effectiveness of this intervention. Methods    The clinical data of all patients diagnosed with AVSD who received surgery repair and prosthetic valve ring implantation from January 1, 2018 to July 12, 2020 in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were collected and analyzed. There were 22 patients with 9 males and 13 females at a median age of 35.00 (14.10, 53.00) years. There were 9 (40.9%) patients with prosthetic half or full rings placed on the left atrioventricular valve and 18 (81.8%) patients with prosthetic half or full rings placed on the right atrioventricular valve. Results    The median postoperative hospital stay was 7.00 (6.00, 8.80) d, and the postoperative mechanically assisted ventilation time was 11.00 (6.25, 19.00) h. There were 2 (9.1%) patients of moderate or higher postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation, 1 on the left and 1 on the right. There was one patient (4.5%) of the postoperative residual septal defect. There was no left ventricular inflow or outflow tract obstruction and no postoperative residual atrial septal defect during the follow-up of 152.00 (124.00, 1 030.00) d. Conclusion    Implantation of a prosthetic ring is safe and effective in patients with AVSD, and the structural strength of  the ring may be improved after the implantation. The physiological development of the AVSD annulus after prosthetic ring implantation and the results of long-term follow-up needs further attention.

Objective    To study the clinical characteristics of patients with partial and transitional atrioventricular septal defects (P/TAVSDs) in our hospital, and to evaluate the early follow-up outcomes from a real-world research perspective. Methods    The clinical data of all patients diagnosed with P/TAVSDs from January 1, 2018 to July 12, 2020, in our hospital were collected, and all patients' examination results were used as the real-world follow-up data, univariable Cox risk proportional model was used to analyze the outcomes. A total of 93 patients were finally included in the analysis, 72 with partial and 21 with transitional AVSD. There were 38 males and 55 females at age of 182.0 months (20.0 d to 779.5 months). Results    Univariable Cox proportional risk model suggested that at least one cardiac malformation (HR=15.00, 95%CI 3.00 to 75.00, P=0.001), preoperative moderate or greater mitral regurgitation (HR=6.60, 95%CI 1.70 to 26.00, P=0.007), and preoperative moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation (HR=13.00, 95%CI 3.10 to 51.00, P<0.000 1) were  risk factors for moderate or greater postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Conclusion    Children with coarctation of the aorta or partial pulmonary vein connection, moderate or greater preoperative mitral regurgitation, and moderate or greater preoperative tricuspid regurgitation need to be alerted to the risk of moderate or greater postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Real-world data, with relaxed statistical P values and combined expertise, can suggest clinical conclusions that are close to those of high-quality retrospective studies.

Downstaging treatment by local therapy combined with systemic therapy before liver transplantation for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can control tumor progression and reduce tumor burden, which resulting in reducing the push-out rate of patients during the waiting period for liver transplantation, providing an oncological observation window, enabling patients of beyond Milan criteria downstaged with better survival benefit. The authors introduce the clinical experience of a case with recurrent HCC of beyond Milan criteria who under-went liver transplantation after receiving atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combined with local therapy. Results show the patient achieving pathological complete remission without postoperative rejection and obtaining a good prognosis with life status improved.