This paper analyzed the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment of 4 asymptomatic patients with ureteral calculi without hydrops in our hospital from October 2018 to January 2019, and comprehensively discussed the previous literature. The 4 patients in this group had no obvious clinical symptoms, no positive stones were found in the B-ultrasound of the urinary system, and no hydroureter and hydroureter of the affected side was found. Urinary CT scan confirmed ureteral stones. They were all located in the lower ureter, and the stones obstructed the lumen. The stones were round and smooth, and there was no obvious hyperplasia and edema in the surrounding mucosa. The lithotripsy was completed in the first-stage operation, and the DJ catheter was left behind for one month after the operation. Based on the clinical diagnosis and treatment process of the 4 cases of asymptomatic calculi in this group and the analysis of previous studies, these patients were mostly detected by imaging examinations or other systematic imaging examinations during the regular review of urinary calculi. Ureteral stones with obstruction did not necessarily have stone-related symptoms. The onset of renal colic involved an increase in intraluminal pressure, related stimulation of nerve endings, smooth muscle spasms caused by stretching of the ureteral wall, and systemic changes in cytokines and related hormones. Cascade reactions, etc., were associated with the movement of stones down. Ureteral stones without hydrops were mostly located in the lower ureter, which had a certain buffering effect on obstructive pressure. Asymptomatic ureteral calculi could also induce irreversible damage to renal function, and the proportion of damage increased with the diameter of the stone. Patients with a history of urinary calculi, especially those with asymptomatic stones for the first time, should be paid attention to during clinical follow-up. At present, there are few research reports on asymptomatic and non-accumulating ureteral calculi. We analyze the clinical diagnosis and treatment process and characteristics of this group of patients combined with previous literature to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of such patients.
Humans ; Ureteral Calculi/therapy* ; Urinary Calculi/therapy* ; Ureter ; Lithotripsy/methods* ; Edema/therapy* ; Kidney Calculi/therapy*

Objective: To investigate the impact of combined use and timing of arterial-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) on the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated with cardiogenic shock (AMICS). Methods: This was a prospective cohort study, patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock who received VA-ECMO support from the Heart Center of Lanzhou University First Hospital from March 2019 to March 2022 in the registration database of the Chinese Society for Extracorporeal Life Support were enrolled. According to combination with IABP and time point, patients were divided into VA-ECMO alone group, VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group and VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group. Data from 3 groups of patients were collected, including the demographic characteristics, risk factors, ECG and echocardiographic examination results, critical illness characteristics, coronary intervention results, VA-ECMO related parameters and complications were compared among the three groups. The primary clinical endpoint was all-cause death, and the safety indicators of mechanical circulatory support included a decrease in hemoglobin greater than 50 g/L, gastrointestinal bleeding, bacteremia, lower extremity ischemia, lower extremity thrombosis, acute kidney injury, pulmonary edema and stroke. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze the survival outcomes of patients within 30 days of follow-up. Using VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group as reference, multivariate Cox regression model was used to evaluate the effect of the combination of VA-ECMO+IABP at different time points on the prognosis of AMICS patients within 30 days. Results: The study included 68 AMICS patients who were supported by VA-ECMO, average age was (59.8±10.8) years, there were 12 female patients (17.6%), 19 cases were in VA-ECMO alone group, 34 cases in VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group and 15 cases in VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group. The success rate of ECMO weaning in the VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group was significantly higher than that in the VA-ECMO alone group and the VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group (all P<0.05). Compared with the ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group, the other two groups had shorter ECMO support time, lower rates of acute kidney injury complications (all P<0.05), and lower rates of pulmonary edema complications in the ECMO alone group (P<0.05). In-hospital survival rate was significantly higher in the VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group (28 patients (82.4%)) than in the VA-ECMO alone group (9 patients) and VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group (7 patients) (all P<0.05). The survival rate up to 30 days of follow-up was also significantly higher surviving patients within were in the ECMO+IABP concurrent group (26 cases) than in VA-ECMO alone group (9 patients) and VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group (4 patients) (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that compared with the concurrent use of VA-ECMO+IABP, the use of VA-ECMO alone and non-concurrent use of VA-ECMO+IABP were associated with increased 30-day mortality in AMICS patients (HR=2.801, P=0.036; HR=2.985, P=0.033, respectively). Conclusions: When VA-ECMO is indicated for AMICS patients, combined use with IABP at the same time can improve the ECMO weaning rate, in-hospital survival and survival at 30 days post discharge, and which does not increase additional complications.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Shock, Cardiogenic/complications* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/methods* ; Pulmonary Edema/complications* ; Aftercare ; Prospective Studies ; Patient Discharge ; Myocardial Infarction/therapy* ; Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To investigate the impact of combined use and timing of arterial-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) on the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated with cardiogenic shock (AMICS). Methods: This was a prospective cohort study, patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock who received VA-ECMO support from the Heart Center of Lanzhou University First Hospital from March 2019 to March 2022 in the registration database of the Chinese Society for Extracorporeal Life Support were enrolled. According to combination with IABP and time point, patients were divided into VA-ECMO alone group, VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group and VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group. Data from 3 groups of patients were collected, including the demographic characteristics, risk factors, ECG and echocardiographic examination results, critical illness characteristics, coronary intervention results, VA-ECMO related parameters and complications were compared among the three groups. The primary clinical endpoint was all-cause death, and the safety indicators of mechanical circulatory support included a decrease in hemoglobin greater than 50 g/L, gastrointestinal bleeding, bacteremia, lower extremity ischemia, lower extremity thrombosis, acute kidney injury, pulmonary edema and stroke. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze the survival outcomes of patients within 30 days of follow-up. Using VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group as reference, multivariate Cox regression model was used to evaluate the effect of the combination of VA-ECMO+IABP at different time points on the prognosis of AMICS patients within 30 days. Results: The study included 68 AMICS patients who were supported by VA-ECMO, average age was (59.8±10.8) years, there were 12 female patients (17.6%), 19 cases were in VA-ECMO alone group, 34 cases in VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group and 15 cases in VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group. The success rate of ECMO weaning in the VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group was significantly higher than that in the VA-ECMO alone group and the VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group (all P<0.05). Compared with the ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group, the other two groups had shorter ECMO support time, lower rates of acute kidney injury complications (all P<0.05), and lower rates of pulmonary edema complications in the ECMO alone group (P<0.05). In-hospital survival rate was significantly higher in the VA-ECMO+IABP concurrent group (28 patients (82.4%)) than in the VA-ECMO alone group (9 patients) and VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group (7 patients) (all P<0.05). The survival rate up to 30 days of follow-up was also significantly higher surviving patients within were in the ECMO+IABP concurrent group (26 cases) than in VA-ECMO alone group (9 patients) and VA-ECMO+IABP non-concurrent group (4 patients) (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that compared with the concurrent use of VA-ECMO+IABP, the use of VA-ECMO alone and non-concurrent use of VA-ECMO+IABP were associated with increased 30-day mortality in AMICS patients (HR=2.801, P=0.036; HR=2.985, P=0.033, respectively). Conclusions: When VA-ECMO is indicated for AMICS patients, combined use with IABP at the same time can improve the ECMO weaning rate, in-hospital survival and survival at 30 days post discharge, and which does not increase additional complications.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Shock, Cardiogenic/complications* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/methods* ; Pulmonary Edema/complications* ; Aftercare ; Prospective Studies ; Patient Discharge ; Myocardial Infarction/therapy* ; Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To summarize the clinical features, management and outcome of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) associated with mediastinal malignancy in children. Methods: Clinical data of 42 children of SVSC associated with mediastinal malignancy in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 2015 to December 2021 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The clinical manifestations, pathological diagnosis, disease diagnosis process, and prognosis were summarized. Results: Among 42 children of SVCS associated with mediastinal malignancy, there were 31 males and 11 females. The age at diagnosis was 8.5 (1.9, 14.9) years. Cough and wheezing (33 cases, 79%), orthopnea (19 cases, 45%) and facial edema (18 cases, 43%) occurred most commonly. T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) was the most frequent pathological diagnosis (25 cases, 60%), followed by T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) (7 cases, 17%), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (4 cases, 10%) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (2 cases, 5%), peripheral T-lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Ewing's sarcoma and germ cell tumor (1 case each). Pathological diagnosis was confirmed by bone marrow aspiration or thoracentesis in 14 cases, peripheral lymph node biopsy in 6 cases, and mediastinal biopsy in 22 cases. Twenty-seven cases (64%) had local anesthesia. Respiratory complications due to mediastinal mass developed in 3 of 15 cases who received general anesthesia. Of the 42 cases, 27 cases had sustained remission, 1 case survived with second-line therapy after recurrence, and 14 cases died (2 cases died of perioperative complications and 12 cases died of recurrence or progression of primary disease). The follow-up time was 36.7 (1.2, 76.1) months for 27 cases in continuous complete remission. The 3-year overall survival (OS) and events free survival (EFS) rates of 42 children were 59% (95%CI 44%-79%) and 58% (95%CI 44%-77%) respectively. Conclusions: SVCS associated with mediastinal malignancy in children is a life-threatening tumor emergency with high mortality. The most common primary disease is T-LBL. The most common clinical symptoms and signs are cough, wheezing, orthopnea and facial edema. Clinical management should be based on the premise of stable critical condition and confirm the pathological diagnosis through minimal invasive operation.
Child ; China ; Cough ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Respiratory Sounds ; Retrospective Studies ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome/therapy*

The core prescriptions and formulation characteristics in the treatment of edema by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) masters were analyzed through data mining and their mechanisms were explored by network pharmacology. We collected journal reports on the treatment of edema by TCM masters in three sessions from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) and constructed a database by Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System 3.0. The prescriptions in the case studies were analyzed by association rules and k-means clustering. The chemical components and targets of Chinese medicines in core prescriptions were collected through TCMSP and TCMID. Edema-related targets were collected from DrugBank and GeneCards. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was constructed by STRING and the core targets were screened out. FunRich 3.1.3 was used to enrich the expression sites of core prescriptions. Metascape was used to perform Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis of intersection targets. Cytoscape 3.6.0 was used to visualize the "Chinese medicine-active ingredient-core target-pathway" network. The results showed that 315 pieces of medical records in the treatment of edema by TCM masters were obtained and five core prescriptions were analyzed by association rules and k-means clustering. Core prescription 1 contained Poria, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, Alismatis Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Codonopsis Radix, involving 166 chemical components and 1 125 targets. Core prescription 2 contained Astragali Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Poria, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, involving 138 chemical components and 1 112 targets. Core prescription 3 contained Poria, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Alismatis Rhizoma, and Coicis Semen, involving 126 chemical components and 1 121 targets. Core prescription 4 contained Poria, Forsythiae Fructus, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Imperatae Rhizoma, Cicadae Periostracum, and Coicis Semen, involving 58 chemical components and 820 targets. Core prescription 5 contained Poria, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, Alismatis Rhizoma, Trionycis Carapax, and Dioscoreae Rhizoma, involving 68 chemical components and 919 targets. The core targets of core prescriptions included AKT1, ALB, CASP3, MAPK3, EGFR, SRC, MAPK1, and TNF. The potential targets of core prescriptions in the treatment were highly expressed in the stomach, bladder, lung, and kidney. KEGG pathways were enriched in inflammation and cell cycle pathways, especially the inflammation-relation pathways. The therapeutic effect of core prescriptions on edema is presumedly achieved by tonifying the spleen, draining water, activating blood, and benefiting Qi to resist inflammation and regulate the immune system. This study is expected to provide references for the summary of TCM masters' experience and new drug development.
Data Mining ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Edema/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prescriptions ; Rhizome

This study aims to explore the pharmacodynamic effect of baicalin on rat brain edema induced by cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury and discuss the mechanism from the perspective of inhibiting astrocyte swelling, which is expected to serve as a refe-rence for the treatment of cerebral ischemia with Chinese medicine. To be specific, middle cerebral artery occlusion(suture method) was used to induce cerebral ischemia in rats. Rats were randomized into normal group, model group, high-dose baicalin(20 mg·kg~(-1)) group, and low-dose baicalin(10 mg·kg~(-1)) group. The neurobehavior, brain index, brain water content, and cerebral infarction area of rats were measured 6 h and 24 h after cerebral ischemia. Brain slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin(HE) for the observation of pathological morphology of cerebral cortex after baicalin treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to determine the content of total L-glutathione(GSH) and glutamic acid(Glu) in brain tissue, Western blot to measure the content of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), aquaporin-4(AQP4), and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4(TRPV4), and immunohistochemical staining to observe the expression of GFAP. The low-dose baicalin was used for exploring the mechanism. The experimental results showed that the neurobehavioral scores(6 h and 24 h of cerebral ischemia), brain water content, and cerebral infarction area of the model group were increased, and both high-dose and low-dose baicalin can lower the above three indexes. The content of GSH dropped but the content of Glu raised in brain tissue of rats in the model group. Low-dose baicalin can elevate the content of GSH and lower the content of Glu. According to the immunohistochemical staining result, the model group demonstrated the increase in GFAP expression, and swelling and proliferation of astrocytes, and the low-dose baicalin can significantly improve this situation. The results of Western blot showed that the expression of GFAP, TRPV4, and AQP4 in the cerebral cortex of the model group increased, and the low-dose baicalin reduce their expression. The cerebral cortex of rats in the model group was severely damaged, and the low-dose baicalin can significantly alleviate the damage. The above results indicate that baicalin can effectively relieve the brain edema caused by cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats, possibly by suppressing astrocyte swelling and TRPV4 and AQP4.
Animals ; Aquaporin 4/genetics* ; Astrocytes ; Brain Edema/drug therapy* ; Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Flavonoids ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; TRPV Cation Channels/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of the combined treatment with acupuncture and governor vessel moxibustion on ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at early-middle stage and investigate the effect on bone marrow edema of sacroiliac joint. METHODS: Seventy patients of AS at early-middle stage were randomized into an observation group (35 cases) and a control group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the control group, the recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor-antibody of type Ⅱ fusion protein for injection was injected subcutaneously, 25 mg each time, once on every Monday and Friday, consecutively for 3 weeks. In the observation group, on the base of the intervention as the control group, acupuncture combined with governor vessel moxibustion were provided. Acupuncture was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Changqiang (GV 1), Zhibian (BL 54), Baihui (GV 20), etc.; the thermal needling technique was adopted at Dazhui (GV 4) and Changqiang (GV 1) for promoting the circulation of the governor vessel, and the ginger-isolated moxibustion on the governor vessel was combined. Such intervention measure was provided once daily. One treatment session contained 7 treatments and 3 sessions were required. Before and after treatment, the scores of Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) and Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) and Bath ankylosing spondylitis patient global score (BAS-G) were observed in the two groups separately. The efficacy and adverse effects were assessed in the two groups after treatment. RESULTS: The scores of SPARCC, BASDAI, BASFI and BAS-G were all reduced after treatment compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 97.1% (34/35) in the observation group, higher than 82.4% (28/34) in the control group (P<0.05). There were 4 cases of gastrointestinal reactions and 1 case of skin rashes in the control group; and 3 cases of local skin redness and pruritus after governor vessel moxibustion, no any drug adverse effect was found in the observation group. CONCLUSION Based on the western medicine treatment, the combined therapy of acupuncture and governor vessel moxibustion may relieve bone marrow edema of sacroiliac joint in patients with AS at early-middle stage, control the progression of disease and improve the daily life activity. This therapy is relatively safe and effective.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Bone Marrow ; Edema/therapy* ; Humans ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/therapy*

To explore the mechanism of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium based on network pharmacology and inflammatory or pain mouse models. The effective components of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium were screened out by TCMSP database. And their potential corresponding targets were predicted by PharmMapper software. The possible targets relating to inflammation and pain were mainly collected through DrugBank, TTD and DisGeNET databases. The "active ingredient-gene-disease" network diagram was constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.0 software. The network pharmacology results showed 5 potential effective compounds, which were related to 29 targets; 132 targets relating to inflammation and pain were screened out in the DrugBank, TTD and DisGeNET databases. The network analysis results indicated that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit gamma isoform(PIK3 CG) gene may be the key to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of essential oil extract and dichloromethane extract of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium were explored through the mouse model of inflammation induced by xylene or carrageenan and the mouse model of pain induced by acetic acid or formalin. The experimental results showed that essential oil extract and dichloromethane extract of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium could reduce xylene-induced ear swelling and carrageenan-induced paw swelling and decrease the number of writhing responses in mice induced by acetic acid and the licking foot time of mice in phase Ⅱ induced by formalin. Western blot results showed that Zanthoxyli Pericarpium extract could inhibit the expressions of PIK3 CG, phosphonated nuclear factor kappaB(p-NF-κB) and phosphonated p38(p-p38 MAPK) protein. The present study showed the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium through multiple components and targets, so as to provide a pharmacodynamic basis for the study of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium and its mechanism.
Analgesics/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Edema/drug therapy* ; Inflammation/genetics* ; Mice ; Oils, Volatile ; Plant Extracts

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema(RS3PE),the inflammatory arthritis attacking mainly elderly males,is characterized by symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema of the dorsum of hands and feet and the absence of rheumatoid factor.RS3PE commonly accompanies malignant tumor,infections and other diseases.Here we report a case of RS3PE associated with lung malignancy and review other six cases to summarize the clinical features,treatment and prognosis.
Aged ; Edema/etiology* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/complications* ; Male ; Syndrome ; Synovitis/drug therapy*

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the major microvascular disease in diabetic patients,and it is also one of the main blinding eye diseases in the current population.The typical pathological change of DR in the eyes is vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-mediated neovascularization induced by retinal ischemic stimulation.Therefore,anti-VEGF drugs have gradually become one of the mainstream methods to treat DR and DR-induced diseases such as diabetic macular edema.Recent studies have proved that anti-VEGF drugs have certain effects on ocular blood vessels and blood flow in patients with DR,while the specific mechanism has not been fully elucidated.This article summarizes the research progress on the effects of intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs on the ocular blood vessels and blood flow in patients with DR.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Retinopathy/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Edema/drug therapy* ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors/therapeutic use*