Objective To systematically evaluate the impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on the prognosis of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods A computerized search was conducted in CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, CBM, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, and Web of Science databases from inception to June 2023 for cohort studies on the prognostic impact of PH in severe AS patients undergoing TAVR. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. Stata 17.0 software was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 16 cohort studies were included, all with Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores≥7. Meta-analysis results showed that, compared with AS patients without PH, those with PH had significantly higher 1-year all-cause mortality after TAVR [OR=2.10, 95%CI (1.60, 2.75), P<0.01], 30-day all-cause mortality [OR=2.09, 95%CI (1.54, 2.83), P<0.01], and cardiovascular mortality [OR=1.49, 95%CI (1.18, 1.90), P<0.01]. The differences between the two groups in major bleeding events, stroke, myocardial infarction, pacemaker implantation, and postoperative renal failure were not statistically significant. For outcome indicators with significant heterogeneity, subgroup analyses were performed based on PH measurement methods, diagnostic criteria, and different types of PH. The results showed that most subgroup combined results were consistent with the overall findings and that heterogeneity was significantly reduced. Conclusion PH significantly increases the 30-day all-cause mortality, 1-year all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality in patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR.

Objective:This study aimed at investigating the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag in the treatment of adult primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and evaluated the factors influencing its efficacy and side effects.Methods:A total of 198 patients with adult ITP who were admitted to Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between January 2018 and March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The efficacy of each starting dose of eltrombopag was evaluated, and adverse events were analyzed. The factors influencing efficacy were investigated, including sex, age, adult ITP type, platelet antibodies, and combined drug treatments.Results:Of the 198 patients, 70 males and 128 females with a median age of 45 years (18-88 years) were included; 130 (65.7%) had newly diagnosed adult ITP, 25 (12.6%) had persistent adult ITP, and 43 (21.7%) had chronic adult ITP. The bleeding event scores at baseline were assessed; 84.3% had scores of<4 and 15.7% had scores of ≥4. The eltrombopag response rate (initial response) at 6 weeks was 78.8% (complete response [CR]: 49.0%; CR1: 14.6%; CR2: 15.2%). The median response time to eltrombopag was 7 (7, 14) days. The initial response rates to 25, 50, and 75 mg eltrombopag were 74.1%, 85.9%, and 60.0%, respectively ( P=0.031). The initial response rate to the 50 mg dose was significantly higher than that of the 25-mg and 75-mg doses. Two patients received 100 mg as the starting dose, and their initial response was 0. Regarding dose adjustment, 70.7% of the patients remained on the starting dose, 8.6% underwent dose adjustment to 50 mg, and 6.1% underwent dose adjustment to 75 mg. Another two patients underwent dose adjustment to 100 mg. After dose adjustment, the persistent response rates were 83.6%, 85.3%, and 85.7% for the 25-, 50-, and 75-mg doses, respectively, with no significant difference. After dose adjustment, the sustained efficacy rate for the 100-mg dose (4 patients) was 100.0%. After 6 weeks of treatment with eltrombopag, the overall bleeding score of patients with ITP decreased. The number of patients with a score of ≥4 decreased to 0, the number of patients with a score of<4 decreased, and there was no significant change in the number of patients with a score of 1-2. The most common adverse event associated with eltrombopag was impaired liver function (7.7%). No thrombosis events or other adverse events were observed. ITP type and number of megakaryocytes significantly affected the initial response to eltrombopag. The initial response rates to eltrombopag for newly diagnosed adult ITP, persistent adult ITP, and chronic adult ITP were 85.3%, 56.0%, and 76.2%, respectively ( P=0.003). For megakaryocytes, the initial response rates were 61.8%, 87.1%, and 84.3% ( P=0.009) for the decreased, normal, and increased megakaryocyte groups, respectively. Conclusion:Eltrombopag, as a second-line or higher treatment for adult ITP, has a rapid onset of action and good safety. The initial response rate is significantly higher with a dose of 50 mg than with a dose of 25 mg. Patients with newly diagnosed ITP and those with normal or increased megakaryocyte numbers have a higher initial response rate to eltrombopag.

Objective:To explore the abundance, diversity, and structural changes of early postoperative pulmonary bacterial microbiota in lung transplant recipients.Methods:Recruiting 40 recipients who underwent lung transplantation surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from October 2020 to May 2022 for the study.All recipients did not receive antibiotic treatment within 4 weeks prior to surgery, and all recipients received a unified immunosuppressive and anti infection regimen after surgery.The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was collected from the amputated lung in vitro before the transplantation for 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and flora analysis.BALF was also collected at the scheduled time from the transplanted lung on the 7th, 14th and 30th days post transplantaion for analysis.Results:The study included a total of 40 recipients who did not receive antibiotic treatment within 4 weeks before surgery, including 35 males.Among the study participants, there were 14 cases of primary obstructive pulmonary disease, 19 cases of interstitial lung disease, 3 cases of occupational lung disease, and 4 others.Microbiome in BALF of transplanted and detached autologous lungs at the first week after surgery α( P<0.05) and β diversity is statistically significant( R2=0.08, P=0.001), and the bacterial community in the transplanted lungs α Diversity is lower than that of explant lungs.Starting from the second week after surgery, the richness and species diversity of the transplanted lung microbiota gradually increase.The bacterial structure was also changed with postoperative time, and the relative abundance of the same bacterial species were varied at different time points.The bacterial community in BALF was mainly dominated by Proteobacteria both explant lungs and transplant lungs.The relative abundance of Staphylococcus and Acinetobacter genera at the BALF in transplanted lungs was higher than that in explant lung samples, but their relative abundance decreased over time after surgery. Conclusions:The α diversity of the early postoperative pulmonary microbiota after lung transplantation was lower than that of the amputated autologous lung, and the bacterial richness and species diversity in the microbiota of the transplanted lung gradually increased at the second week after the transplantation.The bacterial microbiota of the transplanted lung is changed complicatedly with time.

CCAAT enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ), as a nuclear transcription factor necessary for the development of liver, airway epithelium, and adipose tissue, plays a vital role in physiological processes related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. However, the up-regulation of C/EBPβ activates signal pathways related to inflammatory response, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell proliferation and invasion, immune response, and angiogenesis by regulating a series of downstream genes transcription promotes the development of lung diseases. Therefore, targeting C/EBPβ may be a potential treatment strategy for lung diseases. This paper summarizes the regulatory effects of C/EBPβ and related signaling pathways in lung infection, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer to provide a theoretical basis for the precision medicine of lung diseases.

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease caused by many factors including colonic inflammation and microbiota dysbiosis.Previous studies have indicated that celastrol(CSR)has strong anti-inflammatory and immune-inhibitory effects.Here,we investigated the effects of CSR on colonic inflammation and mucosal immunity in an experimental colitis model,and addressed the mechanism by which CSR exerts the protective effects.We characterized the ther-apeutic effects and the potential mechanism of CSR on treating UC using histological staining,intestinal permeability assay,cytokine assay,flow cytometry,fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT),16S rRNA sequencing,untargeted metabolomics,and cell differentiation.CSR administra-tion significantly ameliorated the dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced colitis in mice,which was evidenced by the recovered body weight and colon length as well as the decreased disease activity index(DAI)score and intestinal permeability.Meanwhile,CSR down-regulated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and up-regulated the amount of anti-inflammatory mediators at both mRNA and protein levels,and improved the balances of Treg/Thl and Treg/Th1 7 to maintain the colonic immune homeostasis.Notably,all the therapeutic effects were exerted in a gut microbiota-dependent manner.Furthermore,CSR treatment increased the gut microbiota diversity and changed the compositions of the gut microbiota and metabolites,which is probably associated with the gut microbiota-mediated protective effects.In conclusion,this study provides the strong evidence that CSR may be a promising therapeutic drug for UC.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of dysplastic nodules with a focus of hepatocellular carcinoma ( DN-HCC ) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound ( CEUS ) and to improve the diagnostic accuracy . Methods The clinical data of 60 patients and CEUS imaging of 62 hepatic nodules [DN-HCCs , n =54 ;dysplastic nodules (DN) , n =8] pathologically proved were reviewed retrospectively . According to Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (CEUS LI-RADS) , the lesions were categorized . Results Significantly different CEUS patterns between DN-HCCs and DNs were observed ( P < 0 .05) . During the arterial phase ,54 DN-HCC lesions showed various enhancement patterns [ hypervascular ,59 .3％ ( 32/54 ) ;nodule-in-nodule ,9 .3％ ( 5/54 ) ;isovascular ,13 .0％ ( 7/54 ) and hypovascular ,18 .5％ (10/54)] . Of the 54 DN-HCC lesions ,44 .4％ (24/54) showed washout during the late phase .Of the 8 DN lesions ,62 .5％ (5/8) showed iso-enhancement during the arterial phase ,25％ (2/8) showed hypo-enhancement ,and 12 .5％ (1/8) showed hyper-enhancement . No DN lesion showed washout during the late phase .According to CEUS LI-RADS (LR) algorithm ,27 .8％ (15/54) DN-HCCs were LR-5 ,46 .3％ (25/54) DN-HCCs were LR-4 ,25 .9％ (14/54) DN-HCCs and 100％ (8/8) DNs were LR-3 . Regarding hyper-enhancement ( including local hyper-enhancement ) during the arterial phase or hypo-enhancement (including local hypo-enhancement) during the late phase as the diagnostic standard of DN-HCC , the diagnostic sensitivity , specificity and accuracy value were 83 .3％ , 87 .5％ and 83 .9％ , respectively . Conclusions The imaging features of hyper-enhancement during the arterial phase or hypo-enhancement during the late phase on CEUS are useful to diagnose DN-HCCs .

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, it is thus necessary for its patients to participate in its treatment and self-management. The emerging foreign and domestic methods for self-management of diabetes mellitus pa-tients were detected on different Websites and suggestions were proposed for its treatment and self-management in order to improve the quality of life in diabetes mellitus patients.

Objective By observing the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plusBu Shen Jie Yu Qing Xin decoction (herbal decoction for tonifying kidney, anti-depression and clearing heart fire) in treating perimenopausal depression, to discuss about the effect of acupuncture plus medication on Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (H-P-O) axis in perimenopausal depression patients.Method By following a completely randomized design, sixty perimenopausal depression patients were divided into a Chinese medication group (Bu Shen Jie Yu Qing Xin decoction) with 30 cases, and an acupuncture-medication group (acupuncture plusBu Shen Jie Yu Qing Xin decoction) with 30 cases, to receive 12-week treatment in total. The HAMD and SDS were estimated prior to the treatment and in the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks; the serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), and progesterone (P) contents were detected before and after the treatment.Result Acupuncture plus medication and Chinese medication alone were both effective in treating perimenopausal depression, and the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus medication was superior to that of Chinese medication alone (P<0.05). In the acupuncture-medication group, the HAMD score dropped significantly in the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks compared to that before the treatment, and the score dropped significantly in the 8th and 12th weeks compared to that before the treatment in the Chinese medication group (P<0.01). The HAMD score in the acupuncture-medication group was significantly lower than that in the Chinese medication group in the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks (P<0.01). After the treatment, the items including anxiety, insight, sleep, and despair were significantly changed in the Chinese medication group (P<0.05); 7 items were significantly changed in the acupuncture-medication group (P<0.05). The scores of anxiety, insight, sleep, diurnal-nocturnal, obstruction, and body weight in the acupuncture-medication group were significantly superior to those in the Chinese medication group (P<0.05). The SDS score dropped significantly in the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks in the acupuncture-medication group, and in the 8th and 12th weeks in the Chinese medication group (P<0.01,P<0.05); in the 4th and 8th weeks, the SDS score in the acupuncture-medication group was significantly lower than that in the Chinese medication group (P<0.05), while the between-group difference was statistically insignificant in the 12th week (P>0.05). After 12-week treatment, the contents of FSH and LH declined significantly in both groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the contents of E2 and T increased significantly in the acupuncture-medication group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The decrease of FSH and LH, and the increase of E2 were more significant in the acupuncture-medication group (P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture plus medication can improve the symptoms of perimenopausal depression, and it takes a faster action than Chinese medication alone. Acupuncture plus medication can mitigate 7 items in HAMD, while Chinese medication can improve anxiety, insight, sleep and despair. Acupuncture plus medication can produce a more significant efficacy in improving anxiety, insight, sleep, diurnal-nocturnal, obstruction, and body weight compared to Chinese medication. For perimenopausal depression, acupuncture plus medication can correct the endocrine disorder and improve depression state by down-regulating the levels of FSH and LH, and up-regulating the contents of E2 and T to improve the function of H-P-O axis.

Objective:In this study,a series of experiments were conducted to research the mechanism of anticancer and preliminary molecular effects of PAMs on the HEPG-2 cancer cells.Methods:Morphological observation and MTT assay were used to explore the inhibition and killing effect of PAMs acting on HEPG-2.AO/EB staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining were employed to observe the apoptosis of HEPG-2 treated with PAMs.The expression level of Foxm1,bcl-2 and others genes in HEPG-2 cells were detected by using qRT-PCR and western blot.Wound healing and transwell experiments determined if PAMs can inhibit the migration of HEPG-2.Results:PAMs can inhibit and kill HEPG-2 cells in time and dose-dependent manners,and the cytotoxic effects were closely related to the cell apoptosis.The mRNA expression of foxm1,bcl-2 and surviving gene were remarkably decreased in HEPG-2 cells after the treatment of PAMs.PAMs decreased the FoXM1 protein expression in HEPG-2 cells,while up-regulating thep53 protein expression.,and it could also inhibit the migration of cancer cells.Conclusions:The possible molecular mechanism for the killing of HEPG-2 cancer cells by PAMs was proposed.By down-regulating the expression of foxm1 and up-regulating the expression of p53,the transcriptional expression of their downstream target genes survivin and bcl-2 was inhibited or reduced,hence enhancing the cancer cell apoptosis.This study provides an important foundation for the development of anti-cancer Chinese folk medicine based on PAMs.

Objective To evaluate the role of spinal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway in the development of inflammatory pain in rats.Methods Thirty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n=12 each) using a random number table:control group,inflammatory pain group and TLR4 signaling pathway inhibitor epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) group (EGCG group).Inflammatory pain was induced by injecting 50 μl of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the ankle joint cavity of the left hindpaw of rats anesthetized with isoflurane.At 1-3 days after injection of CFA,EGCG 30 μg was intrathecally injected once a day in group EGCG.At 1,3 (30 min after intrathecal injection),5and 7 days after injection of CFA,the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured.The ipsilateral L4.5 segments of the spinal cord were removed at 3 days after CFA injcction for determination of TLR4 expression (by Western blot) and contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-oα),interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β in the spinal dorsal horn (by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay).Results Compared with control group,the MWT was significantly decreased and the TWL was shortened at each time point after injection of CFA,the expression of TLR4 in the spinal dorsal horn was up-regulated,and contents of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β in the spinal dorsal horn were increased in inflammatory pain group (P＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in EGCG group (P＞0.05).Compared with inflammatory pain group,the MWT was significantly increased and the TWL was prolonged at each time point after injection of CFA,the expression of TLR4 in the spinal dorsal horn was down-regulated,and contents of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β in the spinal dorsal horn were decreased in EGCG group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Spinal TLR4 signaling pathway is involved in the development of inflammatory pain in rats.