1.Interpretation of guideline for diagnosis and treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure (2025 edition)
Manman XU ; Huaibin ZOU ; Zhongping DUAN ; Tao HAN ; Yu CHEN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(5):844-850
In 2025, Severe Liver Disease and Artificial Liver Group and Nutrition and Regeneration in End-Stage Liver Disease Group of Chinese Society of Hepatology, Chinese Medical Association, convened a panel of national experts to jointly develop China’s first guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Based on the latest research findings and clinical practice in China and globally, this guideline establishes a standardized definition of ACLF and provide recommendations for its diagnosis, treatment, and clinical management. This article gives an interpretation of the key points in the guideline, in order to provide a reference for standardized diagnosis and treatment of ACLF.
2.Polygonatum Sibiricum Polysaccharides Improve Colonic Injury in a Mouse Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Regulating Bile Acid Metabolism in the Colon
Wanrong LI ; Mengting TAO ; Yuanfeng ZOU ; Dan HE ; Nengyuan TANG ; Xin TAN ; Lixia LI ; Dandan CHEN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):431-443
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Polygonatum neutral polysaccharides from sibiricum (PSP-NP) on colon injury in mice with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, a COPD model group, and a PSP-NP group. The COPD model was established using smoke exposure combined with intranasal LPS administration. The PSP-NP group was simultaneously treated daily with 200 mg/kg of PSP-NP via intragastric gavage, while the other groups received an equal volume of saline. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the colon. ELISA was employed to detect the levels of LPS in serum and the expressions of ZO-1, Occludin, IL-6, and TNF-α in colon tissue. UPLC-MS was used to detect the types and contents of bile acids in colonic content, and to screen for differential bile acids. Differential microbial flora were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and correlation analysis was conducted with differential bile acids. PSP-NP was combined with the differential bile acids cholic acid (CA), and deoxycholic acid (DCA) in vitro to analyze the binding capacity of PSP-NP for CA and DCA. PSP-NP was applied to NCM460 normal colonic epithelial cells cultured in CA and DCA. Cell migration ability was assessed using the scratch assay, and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB were measured by RT-qPCR. ResultsPSP-NP effectively improved colonic damage in COPD model mice, enhanced mechanical barrier function, alleviated inflammatory response, and regulated abnormal changes in colonic flora and bile acid metabolism. Correlation analysis further revealed that PSP-NP regulated colonic bile acid metabolism and reduced the redundancy of secondary bile acids by increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota, Bacteroides, and Akkermansia, while decreasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Notably, in vitro binding assays demonstrated that PSP-NP bound to differential bile acids DCA and CA, with the strongest binding capacity for DCA at 58.2%. In cellular functional studies, DCA inhibited the migration ability of colonic epithelial cells NCM460 and significantly increased the relative mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB. Importantly, co-treatment with PSP-NP significantly ameliorated the impact of DCA on NCM460 cells. ConclusionsPSP-NP may significantly improve colonic damage in COPD model mice. The mechanism may involve the regulation of colonic bile acid metabolism and bile acid profiles through both microbial modulation and direct binding, thereby reducing the damage caused by secondary bile acids such as DCA to colonic epithelial cells.
3.Effects of Cldn14 gene knockout on the formation of calcium oxalate stones in rats and its mechanism
Peiyue LUO ; Liying ZHENG ; Tao CHEN ; Jun ZOU ; Wei LI ; Qi CHEN ; Le CHENG ; Lifeng GAN ; Fangtao ZHANG ; Biao QIAN
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(2):168-173
Objective: To explore the effects of Cldn14 gene knockout on renal metabolism and stone formation in rats,so as to provide reference for research in the field of urinary calium metabolism and stone formation. Methods: Cldn14 gene knockout homozygous rats and wild-type rats of the same age were randomly divided into 4 groups:wild-type control (WC) group,wild-type ethylene glycol (WE) group,gene knockout control (KC) group and gene knockout ethylene glycol (KE) group,with 10 rats in each group.The WE and KE groups were induced with ethylene glycol + ammonium chloride to form kidney stones,while the WC and KC groups received normal saline gavage.After 4 weeks of standard maintenance feeding,the urine samples were collected to detect the venous blood.The kidneys were collected for HE,Pizzolatto's staining and transmission electron microscopy.The protein in renal tissues was extracted to detect the expressions of Claudin16 and Claudin19. Results: Crystal deposition was observed in the renal tubular lumen of the WE and the KE groups,and more crystals were detected in the KE group.The WE group had a large number of intracytoplasmic black crystalline inclusions observed in renal tubular epithelial cells under transmission electron microscope,followed by the KE and KC groups.Compared with WC and WE groups,KC and KE groups had significantly decreased serum calcium and magnesium levels but significantly increased urinary calcium level.In addition,the urinary calcium level was higher in the WE group than in the WC group and higher in the KE group than in the KC group.The KE group had lower level of Claudin16,but there was no significant difference in the level of Claudin19 among the 4 groups(P>0.05). Conclusion: Knockout of Cldn14 gene alone cannot effectively reduce urinary calcium excretion or reduce the risk of stone formation in rats,which may be related to the decrease of Claudin16 level.
4.Study on extraction technology of Sophora flavescens-Phellodendron chinense drug pair
Yongmei GUAN ; Ying TAO ; Chengyu ZOU ; Zhenzhong ZANG ; Lihua CHEN ; Lili LIU ; Limei CHEN ; Weifeng ZHU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(7):793-800
OBJECTIVE To study the extraction technology of Sophora flavescens-Phellodendron chinense drug pair and provide a reference for the development of new drugs for the treatment of anorectal diseases. METHODS Using the contents of total alkaloids of S. flavescens (matrine+oxymatrine), berberine hydrochloride and total flavonoid, and extract yield as evaluation indicators, analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight method was used to calculate the weight coefficient of each indicator, and was combined with Box-Behnken design-response surface method to study the extraction technology of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair and verify it. RESULTS The optimal extraction technology of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair was immersed in 12-fold amount of 58% ethanol for 30 minutes and extracted twice, each time for 120 minutes. The relative error between the verification experimental results and the predicted value was 1.88%. CONCLUSIONS The obtained extraction technology is stable and feasible and can provide reference for the application of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair and development of new drugs.
5.Application of deep learning image reconstruction combined with computer-aided diagnosis in CT screening of pulmonary nodules
Jing LU ; Tao LI ; Bimiao WEI ; Hang CHEN ; Da ZOU ; Hongfeng LIANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(1):135-139
Objective To analyze the effects of deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR)and adaptive statistical iterative recon-struction V(ASIR-V)on the imaging quality of chest CT in patient with pulmonary nodules,and to evaluate the differences based on different image reconstruction techniques in the detection of efficiency of computer-aided diagnosis(CAD)for pulmonary nodules.Methods The image data of pulmonary nodules of eighty patients with chest CT screening were reconstructed with ASIR-V 80%,DLIR-low(DLIR-L),DLIR-medium(DLIR-M)and DLIR-high(DLIR-H)images,respectively.The objective image quality and sub-jective image quality of the four groups were compared and analyzed.Objective image quality includes CT value of region of interest(ROI),noise,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)and image average gradient.The diagnostic efficacy of CAD in detecting pulmonary nodules of reconstructed images among four groups were further evaluated.Results There were no signifi-cant difference in CT value of ROI of reconstructed images among the four groups(P>0.05).The noise,SNR and CNR of DLIR-H images were similar to those of ASIR-V 80%(P>0.05),but significantly better than those of DLIR-L and DLIR-M(P<0.05).The average gradient of DLIR-L,DLIR-M and DLIR-H images were significantly higher than those of ASIR-V 80%(P<0.05).The subjective image quality scores of DLIR-L,DLIR-M and DLIR-H images were significantly higher than those of ASIR-V 80%(P<0.05),and the subjective image quality score of DLIR-H image was the highest.CAD showed the highest true positive rate in DLIR-H images for detecting pulmonary nodules(P<0.05),and CAD showed the highest false positives per capita in ASIR-V 80%images for detecting pulmonary nodules(P<0.05).Conclusion The noise,SNR and CNR of DLIR-H images are similar to those of ASIR-V 80%,with the significantly higher image clarity and subjective image quality scores.DLIR-H has advantages in CAD detection of pulmonary nodules,which is an ideal image reconstruction technology for chest CT pulmonary nodule screening.
6.Simultaneous detection of 34 emerging contaminants in tap water by HPLC-MS/MS and health risk assessment
Yixuan CAO ; Ziwei YUAN ; Xiaoxi MU ; Chenshan LV ; Haiyan CUI ; Tao WANG ; Zhiwen WEI ; Zhongbing CHEN ; Hongyan ZOU ; Keming YUN ; Meng HU
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;39(1):31-38
Objective To establish a simultaneous detection approach for 34 emerging contaminants(ECs)in tap water by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS).Human health risk assessment was performed according to the detection results from 43 tap water samples.Methods Tap water samples were concentrated and extracted by solid phase extraction,and then blown to near dry by nitrogen at 40℃.The sample extracts were dissolved in methanol-water solution(95:5,VN)to 0.5 mL for analyzing.Agilent Jet Stream Electrospray Ionization(AJS ESI)and the multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)mode were performed for MS to acquire the data of 34 ECs.A database including precursor ion,product ion and retention times was established accordingly.Results The average linear correlation coefficients(r)of 34 kinds of ECs was 0.995 9.The limits of detection were 0.01~0.60 ng/L and the recoveries were between 60.7%and 119.8%.The intra-group precisions were between 0.05%~9.89%and the intra-day precisions were between 0.20%~14.40%for the spiked samples.The method was applied to analyze 43 tap water samples and a total of 15 ECs were detected.According to the results,the detection rate of caffeine was the highest(84%),and the concentration range was ND~74.42 ng/L.Among all the ECs detected,1,2,3-benzotriazole had the highest concentration(ND~361.15 ng/L),where detection rate was 44%.Humans may be exposed to these ECs by drinking the tap water.The human health risk assessments of 12 kinds of ECs were carried out,however,the estimated risk was negligible(risk quotient<0.01).Conclusion The method is simple,highly sensitive and selective,and could meet the detection needs of ECs at trace level in tap water.There was no human health risk posed for ECs identified in 43 tap water samples analyzed by this method.
7.Hewei Anshe Formula (和胃安神方) for Stress-induced Insomnia in Male Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial of 52 Cases
Chujiao TIAN ; Liang WANG ; Shuo WANG ; Tao ZOU ; Zihan LIU ; Shaodan LI ; Qi CHEN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(22):2326-2331
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness and safety of Hewei Anshen Formula (和胃安神方) for stress-induced insomnia. MethodsA total of 104 male patients with stress-induced insomnia were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, with 52 cases in each group. The treatment group was given Hewei Anshen Formula once a day, while the control group was given zolpidem tartrate tablets 10 mg per time and once a day, and both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to evaluate sleep quality before and after treatment, Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST) was used to evaluate insomnia susceptibility, MOS 36-tem Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) [which includes the domains of Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Health Component Summary (MCS), with the PCS including the General Health (GH), Physical Functioning (PF), Role Physical (RP), and Body Pain (BP), and the MCS including Role Emotional (RE), Social Functioning (SF), Vitality (VT), Mental Health (MH)] was used to evaluate the quality of life, and Fatigue Scale 14 (FS-14) [including somatic fatigue and brain fatigue scores] to evaluate the degree of fatigue, and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores using a self-developed TCM syndrome survey for insomnia. Clinical effectiveness and TCM syndrome improvement were determined after treatment. The occurrence of adverse events and adverse reactions was recorded during treatment. ResultsThe total effective rate of clinical effectiveness was 90.38% (41/52) in the treatment group and 80.77% (42/52) in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The total effective rate of TCM syndrome effectiveness in the treatment group was 80.77% (42/52), which was higher than 44.23% (23/52) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The TCM syndrome score, FIRST score, brain fatigue scores, brain fatigue score and total score of FS-14 score all reduced after treatment in both groups, and all scores were lower in the treatment group than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). All transformed scores of SF-36 scores were higher in both groups after treatment than before treatment in this group, and they were better than the control group in the four dimensions of PF, RP, VT, and MH (P<0.05). There were no adverse events and adverse reactions in the two groups. ConclusionHewei Anshen Formula can improve patients' sleep quality, effectively relieve clinical symptoms such as fatigue and pain, alleviate TCM syndromes, enhance the quality of life, reduce the susceptibility to insomnia, and shows good safety.
8.Effects of Hewei Anshe Formula (和胃安神方) on the CLOCK and BMAL1 Gene Expression of Hypothalamic Biological Clock in Insomnia Rat Models
Shuo WANG ; Changzhen WANG ; Zhihui LI ; Tianke HUANG ; Liang WANG ; Chujiao TIAN ; Tao ZOU ; Zihan LIU ; Qi CHEN ; Shaodan LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(20):2145-2151
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Hewei Anshen Formula (和胃安神方) in the treatment of insomnia. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group, the model group, the eszopiclone group and the low-, medium- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups. The insomnia model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) for 2 days in all groups except the normal group. After successful modelling, the eszopiclone group was given 0.33 mg/(kg·d) eszopiclone aqueous solution by gavage, the low-, medium- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups were given 10 ml/kg of Hewei Anshen Formula with a concentration of 1, 2 and 4 g/ml, respectively, and the rats in the normal group and the model group were given 10 ml/kg of saline by gavage, once a day for 7 consecutive days. The general condition of the rats was observed during the experiment, and the body mass of the rats was measured every day after medication administration. The following day after the last medication administration, pentobarbital sodium co-test was used to observe the sleep condition, and the sleep latency and sleep duration were recorded; immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of hypothalamic clock rhythm regulating protein (CLOCK) and brain and muscle aromatic hydrocarbon receptor nuclear transporter-like protein 1 (BMAL1) in the rats. ResultsThe body mass of rats in the model group was lower than that of rats in the normal group at all time points (P<0.01); compared with the same time in the eszopiclone group, the body mass of rats in the low-dose Hewei Anshen Formula group was elevated on the 5th, 6th and 7th days of medication administration (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the sleep duration of rats in the model group was shortened (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the sleep duration of rats in each dosage group increased (P<0.01), and the difference between the high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula group and the eszopiclone group showed no statistically significant (P>0.05), while the sleep duration of the low- and medium-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups were shorterned than the eszopiclone group (P<0.01). The difference in sleep latency showed no statistically significant among each group (P>0.05). The results of both immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed that the expression of CLOCK and BMAL1 in the hypothalamus of rats in the model group was significantly reduced compared with that in the normal group (P<0.01); the expression of CLOCK and BMAL1 in the hypothalamus of rats in the low- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups increased than that in the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionHewei Anshen Formula can improve insomnia in model rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the up-regulation of the expression of the hypothalamic biological clock genes CLOCK and BMAL1 protein.
9.Biomechanical Evaluation of 2 Endoscopic Spine Surgery Methods for Treating Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Finite Element Study
Yang ZOU ; Shuo JI ; Hui Wen YANG ; Tao MA ; Yue Kun FANG ; Zhi Cheng WANG ; Miao Miao LIU ; Ping Hui ZHOU ; Zheng Qi BAO ; Chang Chun ZHANG ; Yu Chen YE
Neurospine 2024;21(1):273-285
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 2 endoscopic spine surgeries on the biomechanical properties of normal and osteoporotic spines.
Methods:
Based on computed tomography images of a healthy adult volunteer, 6 finite element models were created. After validating the normal intact model, a concentrated force of 400 N and a moment of 7.5 Nm were exerted on the upper surface of L3 to simulate 6 physiological activities of the spine. Five types of indices were used to assess the biomechanical properties of the 6 models, range of motion (ROM), maximum displacement value, intervertebral disc stress, maximum stress value, and articular protrusion stress, and by combining them with finite element stress cloud.
Results:
In normal and osteoporotic spines, there was no meaningful change in ROM or disc stress in the 2 surgical models for the 6 motion states. Model N1 (osteoporotic percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy model) showed a decrease in maximum displacement value of 20.28% in right lateral bending. Model M2 (unilateral biportal endoscopic model) increased maximum displacement values of 16.88% and 17.82% during left and right lateral bending, respectively. The maximum stress value of L4–5 increased by 11.72% for model M2 during left rotation. In addition, using the same surgical approach, ROM, maximum displacement values, disc stress, and maximum stress values were more significant in the osteoporotic model than in the normal model.
Conclusion
In both normal and osteoporotic spines, both surgical approaches were less disruptive to the physiologic structure of the spine. Furthermore, using the same endoscopic spine surgery, normal spine biomechanical properties are superior to osteoporotic spines.
10.Research on the application of PBL case library in integrated teaching of circulation system
Fang QIN ; Huang ZHOU ; Jun'an CHEN ; Lili ZOU ; Xiexin TAO ; Qingsong XIONG ; Zulong XIE ; Xinting ZHU ; Yunlin CHEN ; Zhiyu LING
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(11):1519-1522
To evaluate the advantages of using PBL case library in teaching circulatory system diseases to clinical medicine undergraduate students, a PBL case library was established and applied in teaching practice in the reform of circulatory system teaching. The PBL case library achieved the characteristics of combining theories with cases, morphology with functions, and basic knowledge with clinical knowledge. The PBL case library also realized the informatization, query, and update of cases. Preliminary application showed that the median practical score of students in the case library group was 94.00 points, which was significantly higher than the 92.00 points in the control group ( P=0.005). The average lesson preparation time for teachers in the case library group was (5.00±1.00) hours, which was significantly shorter than the (6.89±0.42) hours in the control group ( P<0.001). The difficulty score for lesson preparation among teachers in the case library group was significantly lower than that of the control group [(1.89±1.05) vs. (3.22±0.44), P<0.001]. However, there were no significant difference in theoretical scores and student satisfaction with teachers and courses. These results suggest that the construction of case library can improve practical teaching effectiveness and enhance the efficiency of lesson preparation for teachers.

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