Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

ObjectiveBased on the AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signaling pathway， this study aimed to observe the effect of the Huazhuo Jiedu prescription on renal fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomy rats and explore its underlying mechanism. MethodsA total of 67 SPF-grade male SD rats were used， of which 11 were randomly selected as the normal group. A chronic renal failure （CRF） model was established using 5/6 nephrectomy. The successfully modeled rats were randomly assigned to the model group， losartan potassium group （4.5 mg·kg^-1）， and low- （1.175 g·kg^-1）， medium- （2.35 g·kg^-1） and high-dose （4.7 g·kg^-1） Huazhuo Jiedu prescription groups， with 9 rats per group. Each group received an equivalent volume of saline or the corresponding concentration of Huazhuo Jiedu prescription by gavage once daily for 8 weeks. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Masson staining were used to observe renal tissue pathological changes. Transmission electron microscopy examined renal ultrastructure. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） detected expressions of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） and transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁）. Western blot analyzed expression levels of microtubule-associated protein Ⅰ light chain 3Ⅱ （LC3Ⅱ）， Beclin1， p62， AMPK， phosphorylated AMPK （p-AMPK）， mTOR， and phosphorylated mTOR （p-mTOR）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited glomerular shrinkage， mesangial and interstitial thickening， and tubular vacuolar degeneration， with no evident autophagosomes or autophagolysosome structures. Expression levels of α-SMA and TGF-β₁ were significantly increased （P0.01）， while p-AMPK/AMPK， Beclin1， and LC3Ⅱ were significantly decreased （P0.01）， and p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 were significantly increased （P0.01）. Compared with the model group， the medium- and high-dose Huazhuo Jiedu prescription groups and the losartan potassium group showed varying degrees of pathological improvement. Autophagosomes with double- or multiple-layer membranes and autophagolysosomes with monolayer membranes containing undegraded organelles were observed. Renal α-SMA and TGF-β₁ protein expression levels were markedly reduced （P0.05， P0.01）， p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 were significantly decreased （P0.05， P0.01）， and p-AMPK/AMPK， Beclin1， and LC3Ⅱ expression levels were significantly increased （P0.05， P0.01）. ConclusionHuazhuo Jiedu prescription may improve renal fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomy rats by regulating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and enhancing autophagy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of baseline red cell distribution width （RDW） and alkaline phosphatase （ALP） level after ursodeoxycholic acid （UDCA） treatment for one month in predicting the response to UDCA treatment in patients with primary biliary cholangitis （PBC）. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 127 patients with PBC who were diagnosed in Department of Hepatology， The Third People’s Hospital of Jiangsu University， from January 2015 to July 2022， with data collected at baseline， after one month of treatment， and after one year of follow-up. Based on the Paris-I criteria， the patients were divided into good response group and poor response group， and the two groups were analyzed in terms of clinical and laboratory features and their association with response to UDCA. The Logistic regression method was used to investigate the independent risk factors for response to UDCA treatment. The area under the ROC curve （AUC） was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of related indicators； the patients were divided into two groups based on such values， and the two groups were compared in terms of baseline indicators and response. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. ResultsCompared with the good response group， the poor response group had significantly higher levels of total bilirubin， aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase， ALP， RDW， and RDW-CV at baseline and a significantly higher level of ALP after one month of UDCA treatment （Z=-4.792， -3.697， -2.399， -4.102， -3.220， and -4.236， all P<0.05）. Compared with the good response group， the poor response group had significantly lower levels of albumin， hemoglobin， lymphocytes， hematocrit， and body mass index at baseline （Z=-3.592， -3.603， -2.602， -3.829， -2.432， all P<0.05）， as well as significantly lower levels of prealbumin， albumin/globulin ratio， apolipoprotein A， and free triiodothyronine at baseline （t=4.530， 3.402， 3.485， and 3.639， all P<0.001）. Compared with the poor response group， the good response group had a significantly lower proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis， gallstones/cholecystitis， or anemia （χ²=20.815， 3.892， and 12.283， all P<0.05）. Baseline RDW （odds ratio ［OR］=1.157， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.028‍ — ‍1.301， P=0.015） and ALP level after one month of treatment （OR=1.012， 95%CI： 1.005‍ — ‍1.020， P=0.002） were independent risk factors for response to UDCA， with an AUC of 0.713 and 0.720， respectively. The patients with baseline RDW≥upper limit of normal （ULN） and ALP≥2.2×ULN after one month of UDCA treatment had a lower UDCA response rate （42.6% vs 8.2%， χ²=20.813， P<0.001）. ConclusionPatients with baseline RDW≥ULN and ALP≥2.2×ULN after one month of UDCA treatment tend to have a low biochemical response rate to UDCA.

Yinchenhao Tang has definite clinical efficacy. It has been inherited and documented since the ancestor of Shanghanlun in the Eastern Han dynasty and is a classical formulas for clearing away heat， promoting diuresis， and eliminating jaundice adopted by medical experts of successive generations. It has been included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classical Formulas （the Second Batch of Han Medicine） published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） in 2023. By means of bibliometrics， 801 pieces of ancient literature data related to Yinchenhao Tang were collected， and 36 pieces of effective data were selected， involving 36 ancient books of TCM. The origin， name， composition， efficacy， formula and meaning analysis， drug origin， dosage， preparation method and usage， indications， and modern clinical application of Yinchenhao Tang were analyzed. It was suggested that the modern dosage and application of Yinchenhao Tang should be as follows： The 82.8 g of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba， 12.6 g of Gardeniae Fructus， and 27.2 g of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. The formulas was prepared by firstly adding 2 400 mL of water into Artemisiae Scopariae Herba and boiling it to about 1 200 mL， then adding Gardeniae Fructus and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma to boil it for 600 mL， and removing the residue. It could be orally taken for 200 mL each time in warm conditions， three times a day. Yinchenhao Tang has the effect of clearing away heat， promoting diuresis， and eliminating jaundice， and it mainly treats symptoms of hygropyretic jaundice. In the formulas， Yinchenhao Tang is the monarch drug， which is mainly to remove dampness and jaundice. Gardeniae Fructus is the ministerial drug， which is mainly responsible for clearing the triple energizer and facilitating urination. Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is an adjuvant， mainly responsible for clearing away heat and eliminating jaundice. The modern application of this formulas involves the hepatobiliary system， skin system， endocrine system， digestive system， etc.， and it has more advantages in treating jaundice， icteric hepatitis， and hepatitis B. In this study， the ancient literature related to Yinchenhao Tang was sorted out to determine its key information， so as to provide a scientific reference for clinical application of classic formulas and new drug development.