ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Shenge Bushen Capsules （SBC） on sexual development in normal 3-week-old mice. MethodsThe experiment consisted of two parts. In the first part， mice were divided into four groups： The control group and the low， medium， and high-dose SBC groups （234.7， 469.4， 938.7 mg·kg^-1， respectively）. In the second part， mice were divided into four groups： Control group， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide （PRP） group， total flavonoids group， and SBC group， all receiving a dose of 469.4 mg·kg^-1. After 7 days of administration， the vaginal opening of female mice and the descent of testes and scrotum in male mice， as well as the ovarian and testicular organ indices， were observed. After 4 weeks of administration， female and male mice were housed together for 2 days， and the pregnancy rate of females was monitored. After delivery， the pregnant female mice continued receiving the treatment for 4 weeks， and the sexual development of their offspring， including vaginal opening， testicular descent， and organ indices of ovaries and testes， was observed. Serum sex hormones were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） and growth hormone （GH） proteins in the hypothalamus was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， there was no significant effect on the vaginal opening of female mice or the descent of testes in male mice after 7 days of SBC administration. After 4 weeks of administration， the pregnancy rate in the low-dose group was significantly reduced （P<0.05）， but no significant effects were observed in the other groups. The three doses of SBC did not significantly affect the ovarian or testicular organ indices， and there was no significant upregulation in the expression of GnRH or GH in the hypothalamus. The primary component of SBC， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide， significantly reduced the vaginal opening in female mice after 7 days of administration （P<0.05）. After 4 weeks， the serum estradiol levels of non-pregnant female mice were decreased （P<0.05）， but there was no significant effect on the expression of GnRH or GH proteins in the hypothalamus of either male or female mice. Additionally， there were no significant effects on precocious puberty indicators， such as vaginal opening and testicular descent， in the offspring mice. ConclusionSBC does not significantly promote precocious puberty in young mice， and it does not have any noticeable effects on the pregnancy rate of adult mice or the sexual development of their offspring.

Objective To observe the pharmacokinetic effect of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium tablets on amoxicillin in Chinese healthy subjects under fasting and high fat and high calorie diet.Methods 71 healthy subjects were given a single dose of amoxicillin potassium clavulanate tablets(0.375 g)on fasting or high fat diet,and venous blood samples were collected at different time points.The concentrations of amoxicillin in human plasma were determined by HPLC-MS/MS method,and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-atrioventricular model using PhoenixWinNonlin 8.0 software.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of amoxicillin potassium clavulanate tablets after fasting and high fat diet were(5 105.00±1 444.00),(4 593.00±1 327.00)ng·mL-1,and postprandial-fasting ratio 89.40％,90％confidence interval(79.55％-100.19％);t1/2 were(1.52±0.16),(1.39±0.22)h;AUC0-t were(12 969.00±1 841.00),(11 577.00±1 663.00)ng·mL-1·h,and postdietary/fasting ratio 89.20％,90％confidence interval(83.92％-94.28％);AUC0-∞ were(13 024.00±1 846.00),(11 532.00±1 545.00)ng·mL-1·h,and postprandial-fasting ratio 88.60％,90％confidence interval(83.48％-93.50％).The median Tmax(range)were 1.63(0.75,3.00)and 2.50(0.75,6.00)h,respectively,and the Tmax of postprandial medication was delayed(P＜0.01).Conclusion Compared with fasting condition,amoxicillin Tmax was significantly delayed after high fat diet,while Cmax,AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ were not significantly changed,indicating that food could delay the absorption of amoxicillin,but did not affect the degree of absorption.

Objective:The treatment of head and neck in plexiform neurofibroma (PNF) is a major clinical problem, lacking consensus on surgical treatment, classification, operation timing, and treatment method. The purpose of this study was to provide a basis for further consensus formation by analyzing the clinical manifestations, surgical conditions, tumor recurrence, post-operation satisfaction, and changes in quality of life of patients undergoing PNF surgery in head and neck.Methods:Through medical record review and telephone follow-up, a retrospective analysis was conducted on neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients admitted for surgical treatment for PNF patient in head and neck from May 2012 to July 2022 in Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Complete collection and statistical analysis of patients’clinical data, using telephone follow-up to investigate the immediate postoperative satisfaction and long-term surgical satisfaction of patients and/or their families, as well as standardized quality of life questionnaires HRQol(health related quality of life) and PlexiQol(plexiform neurofibroma quality of life). Based on the data about changes in quality of life before and after surgery and long-term surgical satisfaction, patients were divided into surgical benefit and non-benefit groups. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with long-term surgical benefit.Results:Totally 512 patients with head and neck NF1 were admitted for surgery with complete medical records. 121 patients were identified as NF1 related PNF diagnosed by medical history and radiological examination, and effective follow-up was obtained. There were 70 males and 51 females, aged (25.60±12.85) years old, ranging from 7 to 63 years old, with 41 patients who were ≤ 18 years old and 80 patients over 18 years old. 62.81%(76/121) of patients exhibiting clinical dysfunctions, and the tumor mass were mainly characterized by invasive growth. 41.32%(50/121) of patients underwent multiple surgical treatments, with a total of 215 surgeries performed on 121 patients. The surgical objective included appearance improvement and functional repair. The incidence of postoperative complications was 6.05%(13/215). The follow-up period after last operation was (51.41±27.66) months, and 42.15%(51/121) of patients reported postoperative tumor recurrence. 76.03%(92/121) of patients were satisfied with immediate postoperative result, while the rate decreased to 46.28%(56/121) during long-term follow-up. Family members of patients who were ≤ 18 years old had a higher proportion of dissatisfaction with the scars caused by surgery and a stronger willingness to undergo another surgery. The tumor recurrence was closely related to surgical benefits ( OR=2.32, P<0.05). Further analysis found that the gender and age of patients were the main risk factors for the recurrence. The recurrence risk in patients ≤ 18 years old was significantly higher than in that over 18 years old( OR=3.49, P=0.004), and the highest in the 7-12 year-old group, reaching 68.42%(13/19). The recurrence risk in male patients was significantly lower than that in females ( OR=0.40, P=0.026). Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of PNF patients in head and neck region are complex. Clinical diagnosis and treatment in PNF should focus on the applications in comprehensive method such as full preoperative evaluation, active multi-disciplinary treatment cooperation and combined therapies in order to improve the safety and effectiveness of treatment and reduce tumor recurrence.

Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes,promoting the onset and progression of cancer.Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks,tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes,which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy,cancer immunotherapy,and their combinations.Herein,we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes,DNA methylation,histone post-translational modification,and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity,and introduce these epigenetic research methods.We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immuno-therapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.

Background::Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as the leading cause of death from prostate cancer (PCa) in recent decades, bringing a great disease burden worldwide. Men with preexisting CVD have an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events when treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The present study aimed to explore the prevalence and risk evaluation of CVD among people with newly diagnosed PCa in China.Methods::Clinical data of newly diagnosed PCa patients were retrospectively collected from 34 centers in China from 2010 to 2022 through convenience sampling. CVD was defined as myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, heart failure, stroke, ischemic heart disease, and others. CVD risk was estimated by calculating Framingham risk scores (FRS). Patients were accordingly divided into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. χ2 or Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical variables. Results::A total of 4253 patients were enrolled in the present study. A total of 27.0% (1147/4253) of patients had comorbid PCa and CVD, and 7.2% (307/4253) had two or more CVDs. The enrolled population was distributed in six regions of China, and approximately 71.0% (3019/4253) of patients lived in urban areas. With imaging and pathological evaluation, most PCa patients were diagnosed at an advanced stage, with 20.5% (871/4253) locally progressing and 20.5% (871/4253) showing metastasis. Most of them initiated prostatectomy (46.6%, 1983/4253) or regimens involving ADT therapy (45.7%, 1944/4253) for prostate cancer. In the present PCa cohort, 43.1% (1832/4253) of patients had hypertension, and half of them had poorly controlled blood pressure. With FRS stratification, as expected, a higher risk of CVD was related to aging and metabolic disturbance. However, we also found that patients with treatment involving ADT presented an originally higher risk of CVD than those without ADT. This was in accordance with clinical practice, i.e., aged patients or patients at advanced oncological stages were inclined to accept systematic integrative therapy instead of surgery. Among patients who underwent medical castration, only 4.0% (45/1118) received gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists, in stark contrast to the grim situation of CVD prevalence and risk.Conclusions::PCa patients in China are diagnosed at an advanced stage. A heavy CVD burden was present at the initiation of treatment. Patients who accepted ADT-related therapy showed an original higher risk of CVD, but the awareness of cardiovascular protection was far from sufficient.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Low-level patent foramen ovale nonocclusion(PFO)is a rare type of PFO in which the PFO opening is low during transcatheter closure of PFO and the distance between the PFO left atrial opening and the root of the septal side of the mitral valve is less than 9 mm,and the smallest model of the current double-disk PFO occluder(18/18)commonly used in clinical practice for low-level PFOs can touch the mitral valve,resulting in increased risk of mitral regurgitation or leaflet abrasion.The risk of mitral regurgitation or leaflet abrasion is increased,and transcatheter closure of PFO procedure can only be abandoned when encountered intraoperatively.In this article,we present a case of successful transcatheter closure of a low-level PFO using the Amplatzer ADOⅡ occluder,which provides new ideas and strategies to deel wtih this rare type of PFO.

Objective:The treatment of head and neck in plexiform neurofibroma (PNF) is a major clinical problem, lacking consensus on surgical treatment, classification, operation timing, and treatment method. The purpose of this study was to provide a basis for further consensus formation by analyzing the clinical manifestations, surgical conditions, tumor recurrence, post-operation satisfaction, and changes in quality of life of patients undergoing PNF surgery in head and neck.Methods:Through medical record review and telephone follow-up, a retrospective analysis was conducted on neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients admitted for surgical treatment for PNF patient in head and neck from May 2012 to July 2022 in Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Complete collection and statistical analysis of patients’clinical data, using telephone follow-up to investigate the immediate postoperative satisfaction and long-term surgical satisfaction of patients and/or their families, as well as standardized quality of life questionnaires HRQol(health related quality of life) and PlexiQol(plexiform neurofibroma quality of life). Based on the data about changes in quality of life before and after surgery and long-term surgical satisfaction, patients were divided into surgical benefit and non-benefit groups. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with long-term surgical benefit.Results:Totally 512 patients with head and neck NF1 were admitted for surgery with complete medical records. 121 patients were identified as NF1 related PNF diagnosed by medical history and radiological examination, and effective follow-up was obtained. There were 70 males and 51 females, aged (25.60±12.85) years old, ranging from 7 to 63 years old, with 41 patients who were ≤ 18 years old and 80 patients over 18 years old. 62.81%(76/121) of patients exhibiting clinical dysfunctions, and the tumor mass were mainly characterized by invasive growth. 41.32%(50/121) of patients underwent multiple surgical treatments, with a total of 215 surgeries performed on 121 patients. The surgical objective included appearance improvement and functional repair. The incidence of postoperative complications was 6.05%(13/215). The follow-up period after last operation was (51.41±27.66) months, and 42.15%(51/121) of patients reported postoperative tumor recurrence. 76.03%(92/121) of patients were satisfied with immediate postoperative result, while the rate decreased to 46.28%(56/121) during long-term follow-up. Family members of patients who were ≤ 18 years old had a higher proportion of dissatisfaction with the scars caused by surgery and a stronger willingness to undergo another surgery. The tumor recurrence was closely related to surgical benefits ( OR=2.32, P<0.05). Further analysis found that the gender and age of patients were the main risk factors for the recurrence. The recurrence risk in patients ≤ 18 years old was significantly higher than in that over 18 years old( OR=3.49, P=0.004), and the highest in the 7-12 year-old group, reaching 68.42%(13/19). The recurrence risk in male patients was significantly lower than that in females ( OR=0.40, P=0.026). Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of PNF patients in head and neck region are complex. Clinical diagnosis and treatment in PNF should focus on the applications in comprehensive method such as full preoperative evaluation, active multi-disciplinary treatment cooperation and combined therapies in order to improve the safety and effectiveness of treatment and reduce tumor recurrence.

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly desmoplastic tumor with poor prognosis even after curative resection. We investigated the associations between the composition of the ICC stroma and immune cell infiltration and aimed to develop a stromal-immune signature to predict prognosis in surgically treated ICC. Patients and methods: We recruited 359 ICC patients and performed immunohistochemistry to detect α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), CD3, CD4, CD8, Foxp3, CD68, and CD66b. Aniline was used to stain collagen deposition. Survival analyses were performed to detect prognostic values of these markers. Recursive partitioning for a discrete-time survival tree was applied to define a stromal-immune signature with distinct prognostic value. We delineated an integrated stromal-immune signature based on immune cell subpopulations and stromal composition to distinguish subgroups with different recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) time. Results: We defined four major patterns of ICC stroma composition according to the distributions of α-SMA and collagen: dormant (α-SMAlow/collagenhigh), fibrogenic (α-SMAhigh/collagenhigh), inert (α-SMAlow/collagenlow), and fibrolytic (α-SMAhigh/collagenlow). The stroma types were characterized by distinct patterns of infiltration by immune cells. We divided patients into six classes. Class I, characterized by high CD8 expression and dormant stroma, displayed the longest RFS and OS, whereas Class VI, characterized by low CD8 expression and high CD66b expression, displayed the shortest RFS and OS. The integrated stromal-immune signature was consolidated in a validation cohort. Conclusion We developed and validated a stromal-immune signature to predict prognosis in surgically treated ICC. These findings provide new insights into the stromal-immune response to ICC.

COVID-19 has been prevalent for three years. The virulence of SARS-CoV-2 is weaken as it mutates continuously. However, elderly patients, especially those with underlying diseases, are still at high risk of developing severe infections. With the continuous study of the molecular structure and pathogenic mechanism of SARS-CoV-2, antiviral drugs for COVID-19 have been successively marketed, and these anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs can effectively reduce the severe rate and mortality of elderly patients. This article reviews the mechanism, clinical medication regimens, drug interactions and adverse reactions of five small molecule antiviral drugs currently approved for marketing in China, so as to provide advice for the clinical rational use of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in the elderly.