ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Huangqi Gegentang （HGT） in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） through the application of proteomic techniques. MethodsThe rat model of T2DM was established by streptozotocin combined with a high-fat， high-sugar diet. Thirty-two male SD rats were randomized into four groups： blank， model， HGT （8.10 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and positive control （metformin hydrochloride， 76.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）. After 6 weeks of drug intervention， the fasting blood glucose level was measured， and an oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT） was performed. The area under the curve （AUC） was calculated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to assess the level of glycated hemoglobin （GHbA1c） in the serum. The limulus amebocyte lysate assay was employed to measure the serum level of lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. Pathological changes in the colon were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-6， and IL-1β in the colon tissue were quantified via Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Additionally， the protein and mRNA levels of zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1）， Occludin， and Claudin-1 in the colon tissue were assessed by Western blot and Real-time PCR， respectively. Label-free quantitative proteomics was employed to identify the differentially expressed proteins between the colon tissue samples from the blank， model， and HGT groups. Key proteins identified were subsequently validated by Western blot and Real-time PCR. Finally， bioinformatics analysis was conducted on the differentially expressed proteins. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited increased fasting blood glucose， AUC， and GHbA1c levels （P<0.01）， damaged colonic mucosal epithelial structure and inflammatory cell infiltration， up-regulated mRNA levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β in the colon and an increase in serum LPS content （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of ZO-1， Occludin， and Claudin-1 in the colon （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the HGT group showed reductions in fasting blood glucose， AUC， and GHbA1c （P<0.01）， alleviated damage to the colonic mucosal epithelium， down-regulated mRNA levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β in the colon， a reduction in serum LPS content （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of ZO-1， Occludin， and Claudin-1 in the colon （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Proteomics analysis identified 70 differentially expressed proteins that exhibited a downward trend in the model group relative to the blank group and an upward trend in the HGT group relative to the model group. These findings were corroborated by Western blot and Real-time PCR， which confirmed that the protein and mRNA levels of mucin 2 （Muc2） and transforming growth factor （TGF）-beta receptor 1 （Tgfbr1） in the colon tissue were consistent with the proteomic data. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these 70 differentially expressed proteins identified were significantly enriched in multiple signaling pathways， among which the TGF-β and advanced glycation endproduct （AGE）/receptor for advanced glycation endproduct （RAGE） signaling pathways were closely associated with damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. This suggests that HGT may ameliorate intestinal mucosal barrier damage by regulating these pathways. ConclusionHGT potentially exerts anti-T2DM effects by influencing AGE/RAGE and TGF-β signaling pathways， thereby contributing to the restoration of the intestinal mucosal barrier.

Background::Although overnight fasting is recommended prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the benefits and safety of high-carbohydrate fluid diet (CFD) intake 2 h before ERCP remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze whether high-CFD intake 2 h before ERCP can be safe and accelerate patients’ recovery.Methods::This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involved 15 tertiary ERCP centers. A total of 1330 patients were randomized into CFD group ( n = 665) and fasting group ( n = 665). The CFD group received 400 mL of maltodextrin orally 2 h before ERCP, while the control group abstained from food/water overnight (>6 h) before ERCP. All ERCP procedures were performed using deep sedation with intravenous propofol. The investigators were blinded but not the patients. The primary outcomes included postoperative fatigue and abdominal pain score, and the secondary outcomes included complications and changes in metabolic indicators. The outcomes were analyzed according to a modified intention-to-treat principle. Results::The post-ERCP fatigue scores were significantly lower at 4 h (4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 4.8 ± 2.8, t = 4.23, P <0.001) and 20 h (2.4 ± 2.1 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, t= 7.94, P <0.001) in the CFD group, with least-squares mean differences of 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.71, P <0.001) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.57–0.95, P <0.001), respectively. The 4-h pain scores (2.1 ± 1.7 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7, t = 2.60, P = 0.009, with a least-squares mean difference of 0.21 [95% CI: 0.05–0.37]) and positive urine ketone levels (7.7% [39/509] vs. 15.4% [82/533], χ2 = 15.13, P <0.001) were lower in the CFD group. The CFD group had significantly less cholangitis (2.1% [13/634] vs. 4.0% [26/658], χ2 = 3.99, P = 0.046) but not pancreatitis (5.5% [35/634] vs. 6.5% [43/658], χ2 = 0.59, P = 0.444). Subgroup analysis revealed that CFD reduced the incidence of complications in patients with native papilla (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.95, P = 0.028) in the multivariable models. Conclusion::Ingesting 400 mL of CFD 2 h before ERCP is safe, with a reduction in post-ERCP fatigue, abdominal pain, and cholangitis during recovery.Trail Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT03075280.

Background and purpose:Effective treatment for cervical cancer patients is one of the global strategies to eliminate cervical cancer.By analyzing the metastasis characteristics and survival status of patients with distant metastasis of cervical cancer from a hospital-based cancer registry data,our study provided real-world evidence for better survival of cervical cancer and finally eliminating cervical cancer.Methods:A total of 572 cervical cancer patients who had metastasis cancer at the initial diagnosis or developed distant metastasis during follow-up in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from 2008 to 2017 were included in this study.Medical records review,telephone visits and death registry data linkage were applied in collecting endpoint data.The first follow-up date was the diagnose date of metastasis,and the last follow-up date was November 1,2020.Kaplan-Meier method was applied in evaluating the 1-,3-and 5-year overall survival(OS)rates for overall and site-specific patients.Results:The median follow-up time was 38.93 months,and 348 cases died during the follow-up.72.55%were single site metastasis,and 27.45%were multiple metastases.Among all metastatic sites,the proportion of lung metastasis was the highest,41.26%,15.21%to bone,and 11.54%to liver.After metastasis,the 1-year,3-year and 5-year OS rates were 62.29%(95%CI:62.25-62.33),33.13%(95%CI:33.08-33.18)and 23.42%(95%CI:23.37-23.47),respectively.In single site metastasis,1-year OS was the highest after metastasis to the lung(72.52%).Besides,there was no significant difference among different metastatic sites,both in 3-year and 5-year OS.Conclusion:The most frequent distant metastatic sites of cervical cancer are lung,bone and liver.The survival rate after metastasis is poor.Further research with systematic treatment strategy is required for better survival.

Objective To investigate the effect of Inonotus obliquus extract on Crohn's disease and its mechanism by proteomics technology.Methods Crohn's disease(CD)model was induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS).A total of 48 SD male rats were randomized into control,model,Inonotus obliquus low-dose(200 mg/kg),medium-dose(400 mg/kg),high-dose(800 mg/kg)groups,and positive control group(mesalazine,225 mg/kg).The disease activity index(DAI)score and the colonic mucosal injury index(CMDI)score were assessed after one week of drug intervention.HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the colon,and ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α in the serum.Proteins were extracted from the colonic tissues of the control group,model group,and Inonotus obliquus high-dose group,and bioinformatics analysis was performed for the proteins identified by quantitative proteomics.Finally,Western blot and RT-qPCR were employed to verify the key proteins.Results Compared with the model group,the DAI,CMDI and HE staining scores were significantly decreased in the medium and high dose groups(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),as well as the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-αin serum(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Proteomic tests showed that there were 199 differentially expressed proteins(DEPs)between the Inonotus obliquus high-dose group and the model group,of which 63 DEPs were related to CD.Bioinformatics analysis showed that these 63 DEPs were mainly involved in NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,calcium signaling pathway,necroptosis,and other pathways.Consistent with proteomic result,expressions of Vdac1 and Trpv2 were confirmed by Western blot and RT-qPCR in colon tissue.Conclusions Inonotus obliquus extract may regulate NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,calcium signaling pathway,and necroptosis by interfering with the expression of Vdac1 and Trpv2,so as to achieve the effect of treating CD.

Objective:To investigate the application status of emergency radiology in China, and to provide data support for the standardized development, scientific management and big data research of emergency radiology.Methods:From August 12th to October 19th, 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted through WeChat"Questionnaire Star"to send targeted questionnaires to investigate the relevant data of the current status of emergency radiology in China, mainly including digital radiography (DR) and computed tomography (CT). This study was initiated by the Chinese Emergency Radiology Database Collaboration Group, and comprehensively investigated emergency imaging personnel, equipment, workload, critical value reporting process, and artificial intelligence (AI) application status.Results:There were 123 hospitals in the study. The survey showed that emergency DR/CT reports were mainly completed by residents and above (69.1%). There were 21 DR brands, 10 CT brands and 8 MR brands used for emergency imaging examinations. The median number of DR examinations in tertiary hospitals and secondary hospitals investigated from January to June 2022 was 4 642 and 2 015 cases respectively, and the median number of CT examinations was 16 512 and 3 762 cases respectively. The average single-shift workload of DR in the emergency radiology department during the day and night shift in tertiary hospitals was mainly ≤20 copies and 21-50 copies, and the average single-shift workload of CT in the emergency radiology department during the day and night shift was mainly 21-50 copies and 51-100 copies, while the average single-shift workload of DR/CT in the emergency radiology department during the day/night shift in secondary hospitals was mainly ≤20 copies. In terms of critical value reporting process, 74.8% of emergency imaging doctors and 84.6% of emergency imaging technicians took the way of phone/text message to notify the clinical doctor or the patients′ family. The overall deployment rate of AI in emergency imaging was about 60.2%. 75% of the respondents believed that in the future, AI can improve emergency radiology work from aspects such as emergency screening, aided diagnosis and process optimization.Conclusions:The emergency medical imaging mainly based on DR and CT has the current situations such as generally low seniority of doctors, diverse brands of imaging equipments, large volume of examinations and intense workload per doctor, especially in tertiary hospitals, and dependence on traditional means for critical value reporting. At present, AI is emerging in the field of emergency imaging, and there is still a long way to go to play the huge potential of AI in the intelligent whole process of emergency imaging in the future.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

Objective:To investigate the clinical application value of left ventricular myocardial strain obtained by cardiac MR (CMR) in recent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:From January 2020 to December 2020, a total of 163 patients successfully underwent primary PCI and underwent CMR examination within one week after surgery at Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University. The scan sequences included rapid balance-fast field echo and late-gadolinium enhancement. CVI42 post-processing software was used to analyze and measure the left ventricular myocardial strain indices, including left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), left ventricular global circumferential strain (GCS), and left ventricular global radial strain (GRS). According to the results of the 1-year follow-up after surgery, the patients were divided into the MACE group ( n=28) and the non-MACE group ( n=135). For continuous variables with a normal distribution, the t test of two independent samples was used for comparisons between groups. For continuous variables with an abnormal distribution, the variables were compared and analyzed by the rank sum test. For categorical variables, the χ 2 tests were used for between-group comparisons. Cox regression was used to analyze the prognostic value of myocardial strain on the development of MACE in patients with STEMI. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of myocardial strain parameters, and the optimal cut-off value was evaluated by calculating the Youden index. Results:The GLS, GCS, and GRS of the MACE group were (-10.4±3.3)%, [-11.9 (-14.5, -9.3)]%, and (18.3±6.3)%, respectively, and those of the non-MACE group were (-13.7±3.4)%, [-14.6 (-16.4, -11.7)]%, and (22.3±6.1)%, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t/ Z=-4.71, -3.04, 3.21, P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that GLS was an independent predictor of MACE (HR=1.546, 95%CI 1.180-2.027, P=0.002). The ROC curve analysis showed that GLS had the largest area under the curve (AUC) (AUC=0.754, 95%CI 0.658-0.851, P<0.001), with a cut-off value of -12.45%. Its diagnostic sensitivity was 71.4%, and the specificity was 67.4%. The value was better than that of the traditional predictor of STEMI prognosis, namely, left ventricular ejection fraction (AUC=0.680, 95%CI 0.567-0.793, P=0.003). Conclusion:GLS of CMR is an independent predictor of MACE in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Objective: To investigate the association between the urinary arsenic level and serum total testosterone in Chinese men aged 18 to 79 years. Methods: A total of 5 048 male participants aged 18 to 79 years were recruited from the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) from 2017 to 2018. Questionnaires and physical examinations were used to collect information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle, food intake frequency and health status. Venous blood and urine samples were collected to detect the level of serum total testosterone, urinary arsenic and urinary creatinine. Participants were divided into three groups (low, middle, and high) based on the tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urinary arsenic concentration. Weighted multiple linear regression was fitted to analyze the association of urinary arsenic with serum total testosterone. Results: The weighted average age of 5 048 Chinese men was (46.72±0.40) years. Geometric mean concentration (95%CI) of urinary arsenic, creatinine-adjusted urinary arsenic and serum testosterone was 22.46 (20.08, 25.12) μg/L, 19.36 (16.92, 22.15) μg/g·Cr and 18.13 (17.42, 18.85) nmol/L, respectively. After controlling for covariates, compared with the low-level urinary arsenic group, the testosterone level of the participants in the middle-level group and the high-level group decreased gradually. The percentile ratio (95%CI) was -5.17% (-13.14%, 3.54%) and -10.33% (-15.68%, -4.63). The subgroup analysis showed that the association between the urinary arsenic level and testosterone level was more obvious in the group with BMI<24 kg/m² group (P_interaction=0.023). Conclusion: There is a negative association between the urinary arsenic level and serum total testosterone in Chinese men aged 18 to 79 years.
Humans ; Male ; Arsenic/urine* ; Creatinine ; East Asian People ; Testosterone/blood* ; Urinalysis ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged

A retrospective study was conducted on data of 23 patients with pancreatic duct diseases who were underwent peroral pancreatoscopy (POPS) at the Pancreatic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from August 2020 to October 2022. The intraoperative observation, postoperative complications, and the diagnosis and treatment of POPS for pancreatic duct diseases were analyzed. All patients underwent POPS and achieved technical success. Among them, 7 patients were diagnosed as having intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of pancreas and 3 pancreatic malignant tumor. Eight patients with pancreatolithiasis accepted laser or eletrohydraulic lithotripsy under POPS. Abdominal pain improved in 2 patients with chronic pancreatitis after treatment. Melena disappeared in 2 patients with pancreatic duct hemorrhage or pancreatic enterostomy inflammation after conservative treatment. The symptom of 1 patient with pancreatic enterostomy stenosis improved after balloon dilation. There was no complication in the 23 patients, and the operation time was 35-90 min. The results indicate POPS is safe, effective with distinctive advantages in the diagnosis and treatment for pancreatic duct diseases.

Objective:To detect the expression levels of laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2), retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 (MDA5) in children with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and to explore their possible clinical significance in HFMD.Methods:Fifty children with HFMD, who visited Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiao Tong University, Xi ′an Children′s Hospital and Xi ′an Central Hospital from May 2020 to May 2021, were selected as the research subjects, and 20 children with physical examination at the same age during the same period were selected as the control group.Children with HFMD were divided into enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) type and coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) type according to the results of pathogen detection, and then divided into mild group and severe group according to the severity of the disease.The relative mRNA expression levels of LGP2, RIG-I and MDA5 in each group, and the correlation among the three proteins were compared and analyzed.Results:Among 50 cases of HFMD, 26 cases were EV-A71 type (16 cases were mild and 10 cases were severe) and 24 cases were CV-A6 type (17 cases were mild and 7 cases were severe). There was no significant difference in age and sex between HFMD group and control group ( P>0.05). The relative expression levels of LGP2 mRNA in EV-A71 and CV-A6 HFMD cases were 2.37(1.78, 3.25)% and 1.88 (1.35, 3.13)%, lower than that in control group [2.97(2.61, 3.55)%]. Only the difference between CV-A6 HFMD children and control group was statistically significant ( Z=-2.310, P=0.021). The relative expression levels of RIG-I mRNA in EV-A71 and CV-A6 HFMD cases were 9.95 (7.79, 14.62)% and 9.78(7.04, 15.83)%, lower than that in control group [18.47(13.00, 21.07)%]. The differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05). The relative expression levels of MDA5 mRNA in EV-A71 and CV-A6 HFMD cases were 4.41(2.82, 5.99)% and 3.98 (2.18, 7.41)%, lower than that in control group [5.10(3.52, 7.71)%], but the differences were not statistically significant.There were no significant differences in the relative expression levels of the three indicators between the mild and severe groups of children with EV-A71 or CV-A6 HFMD.The expression levels of LGP2, RIG-I and MDA5 mRNA were highly correlated( P<0.001). Conclusion:The relative expression levels of LGP2, RIG-I and MDA5 mRNA in children with HFMD are decreased in different degrees than those in normal children.And there is a correlation among them.