Objective·To investigate the efficacy and safety of hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy(DPT)in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.Methods·Seventy-eight patients with postherpetic neuralgia who visited the Department of Pain of The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2019 to December 2022 were selected.The patients were randomly assigned to a control group and a research group in a 1∶1 ratio,with 39 patients in each group.The control group was treated with traditional analgesic solution,while the research group was treated with traditional analgesic solution combined with DPT.Visual analog scale(VAS)was used to evaluate the patients'pain level before and after treatment,flow cytometry was used to measure the patients'T-cell subsets,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin-6(IL-6),and IL-10 cytokines.The VAS scores were compared between the two groups of patients before and at 1,2,4,8,and 12 weeks after treatment.CD4+/CD8+,CRP,IL-6,IL-10 levels,and the incidence of adverse reactions before and 2 weeks after treatment were compared between the two groups.Results·There was no statistically significant difference in sex ratio,age,and disease duration between the two groups of patients.The VAS scores of the two groups of patients at 1,2,4,8,and 12 weeks after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).The VAS scores of the research group at 1,2,4,8,and 12 weeks after treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group(all P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in basal CD4+/CD8+,CRP,IL-6 and IL-10 levels between the two groups of patients.IL-6 and CRP levels in the research group were significantly lower after treatment than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P=0.000).CD4+/CD8+ and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the research group than those in the control group after treatment,and the difference was statistically significant(all P=0.000).No adverse reactions such as local nerve damage,epidural hematoma,infection,pneumothorax or allergy occurred in both groups of patients during the treatment.Conclusion·DPT can significantly reduce the pain of PHN patients,improve patients'T lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokine expression,and can be safely applied to the clinic.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of intestinal schwannoma(IS)in order to improve the diagnostic ability of the disease.Methods The clinical and imaging data of 14 patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed IS were retrospectively analyzed,including the location,size,morphology,nature,growth pattern,CT density,MRI signal,PET/CT metabolism and other characteristics of the tumors.Results Of the 14 IS cases,the lesions of 3 cases were located in the duodenum,2 cases in the cecum,8 cases in the colon and 1 case in the rectum.The lesions were all round or oval,with an average maximum diameter of(2.4±1.1)cm.The lesions were solid in 13 cases,extraluminal growth in 10 cases,cystic degeneration in 1 case and myxoid degeneration in 1 case.Chronic inflammatory lymph nodes were seen around the diseased intestines in 9 cases,and the short diameter of lymph nodes was greater than 5 mm in 6 cases.All 14 cases of IS showed low attenuation on plain CT scan,and progressive enhancement after contrast injection,including 1 case of mild enhancement,2 cases of moderate enhancement,and 11 cases of obvious enhancement.Two cases of IS showed low signal intensity on T1WI,slightly high signal intensity on T2WI,significantly high signal intensity on DWI,and obvious progressive enhancement after contrast injection on MRI.Two cases of IS showed high metabolism on 18F-FDG-PET/CT,and the SUVmax was 9.4 and 8.8,respectively.Conclusion The imaging findings of IS were characteristic to a certain extent.They mainly manifested as solid nodules or masses derived from the intestinal submucosa,with uniform attenuation or signal intensity,obvious progressive enhancement after contrast injection,obvious hypermetabolism on 18F-FDG-PET/CT,and slightly larger homogeneous lymph nodes were common around the lesions.

Objective To investigate the dietary patterns of rural residents in the high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer (EC), and to explore the clustering and influencing factors of risk factors associated with high-incidence characteristics. Methods A special structured questionnaire was applied to conduct a face-to-face survey on the dietary patterns of rural residents in Yanting county of Sichuan Province from July to August 2021. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the influencing factors of risk factor clustering for EC. Results There were 838 valid questionnaires in this study. A total of 90.8% of rural residents used clean water such as tap water. In the past one year, the people who ate fruits and vegetables, soybean products, onions and garlic in high frequency accounted for 69.5%, 32.8% and 74.5%, respectively; the people who ate kimchi, pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, barbecue, hot food and mildew food in low frequency accounted for 59.2%, 79.6%, 68.2%, 90.3%, 80.9% and 90.3%, respectively. The clustering of risk factors for EC was found in 73.3% of residents, and the aggregation of two risk factors was the most common mode (28.2%), among which tumor history and preserved food was the main clustering pattern (4.6%). The logistic regression model revealed that the gender, age, marital status and occupation were independent influencing factors for the risk factors clustering of EC (P<0.05). Conclusion A majority of rural residents in high-incidence areas of EC in Yanting county have good eating habits, but the clustering of some risk factors is still at a high level. Gender, age, marital status, and occupation are influencing factors of the risk factors clustering of EC.

Objective To observe the value of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of hypertonic glucose(HG)for treating knee osteoarthritis in plateau area.Methods Ninety-one patients with knee osteoarthritis in plateau area(124 affected knee joints)were enrolled.The knee joints were divided into 20％HG group(n=67),25％HG group(n=42)or sodium hyaluronate group(n=15)based on the medication.Clinical and ultrasound scores were compared before and after treatment,and the efficacy of injection of HG was evaluated.Results At the 12th and 48th weeks after treatment,visual analog scale(VAS)scores decreased in all 3 groups(all P＜0.05),and Lysholm scores of 20％HG group and 25％HG group increased compared to those before treatment(all P＜0.05).The difference of Lysholm score before and in the 12th week after treatment,and of VAS score before and in the 48th week after treatment of 25％HG group were higher than those of 20％HG group(both P＜0.05).The joint exudation score of 20％HG group decreased in the 48th week after treatment compared to that before treatment(P＜0.05),and the synovial blood flow score decreased in the 12th and 48th weeks after treatment compared to those before treatment(both P＜0.05).The joint exudation score of 25％HG group decreased in the 48th week after treatment compared to that before treatment(P＜0.05),and the synovial hyperplasia and synovial blood flow score decreased in the 12th and 48th weeks after treatment compared to before treatment(all P＜0.05).The joint exudation score of sodium hyaluronate group decreased in the 48th week after treatment compared to that before treatment(P＜0.05),and the synovial hyperplasia score decreased in the 12th and 48th weeks after treatment compared to that before treatment(both P＜0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of HG,esp.25％HG,had certain value for treating knee osteoarthritis in plateau area.

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 ( MALAT1) is a well-established oncogenic long non-coding RNA, the higher expression of which is strongly correlated with cancer events such as tumorigenesis, progression, metastasis, drug resistance, and treatment outcome in solid cancers. Recently, a series of studies has highlighted its potential role in hematological malignancies in terms of these events. Similar to solid cancers, MALAT1 can regulate various target genes via sponging and epigenetic mechanisms, but the miRNAs sponged by MALAT1 differ from those identified in solid cancers. In this review, we systematically describe the role and underlying mechanisms of MALAT1 in multiple types of hematological malignancies, including regulation of cell proliferation, metastasis, stress response, and glycolysis. Clinically, MALAT1 expression is related to poor treatment outcome and drug resistance, therefore exhibiting potential prognostic value in multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemia. Finally, we discuss the evaluation of MALAT1 as a novel therapeutic target against cancer in preclinical studies.

Norovirus is the global leading cause of epidemic and endemic acute gastroenteritis in people of all ages.To inves-tigate the genetic diversity of GⅡ genogroup noroviruses linked to clustered infections in northeast Chongqing,we collected anal swabs or environmental smears from 11 norovirus outbreaks during 2021-2022.Norovirus RNA was detected by quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR),and partial viral RdRp/capsid genes were amplified by reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR)and sequenced.Among samples from 11 outbreaks in 4 districts and counties,55 strains of GⅡ genogroup norovirus were detected.Six genotypes were identified with an online norovirus genotyping tool(http://www.rivm.nl/mpf/norovirus/typingtool).Genotype GⅡ.17[P17]was associated with four outbreaks;the co-circulating GⅡ.17[P17]and GⅡ.1[P16]caused another out-break;GⅡ.6[P7]and GⅡ.8[P8]respectively were linked to two outbreaks;and GⅡ.3[P12]and GⅡ.2[P16]respectively ac-counted for one outbreak.Phylogenetic analysis also indicated that 55 GⅡ genogroup strains formed five clusters,with norovir-uses of identical genotypes from diverse events belonging to the same cluster,and that genetically distinct genotypes from di-verse events belonged to different clusters.Therefore,our results revealed that multiple genotypes associated with norovirus outbreaks were circulating in northeast Chongqing,and GⅡ.17[P17]was the predominant genotype linked to these out-breaks during 2021-2022.Most norovirus outbreak events were caused by single sources,and genetic relationships were demonstrated among noroviruses of identical genotypes from diverse events.

Alcohol abuse is a serious public health problem and biomedical safety problem that can lead to a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that alcohol can induce structural and functional disregulation in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Alcohol exposure and withdrawal can cause negative emotion such as anxiety and fear, primarily mediated by glutamatergic neurons and inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid ergic(GABAergic) interneurons in the BLA. Glutamatergic neurons are responsible for excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate release, while γ-aminobutyric acid ergic(GABAergic) interneurons provide feedback inhibition to suppress BLA function and alleviate negative emotions. However, alcohol intake can disrupt the balance of glutamatergic-GABAergic neural network, altering neuron excitability and subsequently leading to the generation of anxiety and fear. Moreover, alcohol also interferes with the corticotropin-releasing factor(CRF) system within the BLA, increasing the release of CRF, further stimulating anxiety-related emotions. Additionally, alcohol affects BLA-related neural circuits, such as BLA →medial prefrontal cortex, BLA →nucleus accumbens, and BLA →bed nucleus of the stria terminali pathways, thereby impacting anxiety-like behaviors.This review discusses the progress of neural signaling and circuits within the BLA in mediating alcohol-induced negative emotions, aiming to further elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying anxiety triggered by alcohol exposure and withdrawal, in order to provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment in the future.

Objective To establish a nomogram model for efficiently predicting overall survival(OS)and cancer-specific survival(CSS)in patients with CRCHBM.Method 2239 patients from 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results Program(SEER)databases and Wuhan Union Hospital Cancer Center.SEER is randomly assigned to the training and internal validation cohorts,and the Wuhan database serves as the external validation.Cox regression analyses were used to determine the independent clinicopathological prognosis factors affecting OS and CSS,and a nomogram was constructed to predict OS and CSS.The clinical utility of columnar plots was assessed using calibration curves,area under the curve(AUC),and decision curve analysis(DCA).Result OS column line graphs were constructed based on nine independent predictors:age,tumor location,degree of differentiation,tumor size,TNM stage,chemotherapy,primary focus surgery,number of lymph nodes sampled,and serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)level.The C-index of the nomogram to predict the 1-,3-,and 5-year OS were 0.764,0.790,and 0.805 in the training group,0.754,0.760,and 0.801 in the internal validation group,and 0.822,0.874,and 0.906 in the external validation group.CSS column line graphs were constructed based on 3 independent predictors of TNM staging,radiotherapy and chemotherapy.The 1-,3-,and 5-year CSS AUROC values of the training group were 0.791,0.757,and 0.782,respectively.0.682,0.709,0.625 in the internal validation group and 0.759,0.702,0.755 in the external validation group,respectively.The results of receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC),ROC and DCA showed that the use of our model was more effective in predicting OS and CSS than other single clinicopathological features.Conclusion In summary,the nomogram based on significant clinicopathological features can be conveniently used to predict OS and CSS individually in patients with CRCHBM.

The latest epidemiological data suggests that the situation of adult diabetes in China is severe, and metabolic diseases have become significant chronic illnesses that have a serious impact on public health and social development. After more than six years of practice, the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has developed distinctive approaches to manage metabolic patients and has achieved a series of positive outcomes, continuously advancing the standardized diagnosis and treatment model. In order to further improve the efficiency, based on the first edition, the second edition guideline was composed by incorporating experience of the past six years in conjunction with the latest international and domestic guidelines.

This study aimed to explore the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and reduced risk of readmission in patients having rheumatoid arthritis with hypoproteinemia(RA-H). A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 2 437 rheumatoid arthritis patients in the information system database of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from 2014 to 2021, and 476 of them were found to have hypoproteinemia. The patients were divided into TCM users and non-TCM users by propensity score matching. Exposure was defined as the use of oral Chinese patent medicine or herbal decoction for ≥1 month. Cox regression analysis was performed to explore the risk factors of clinical indicators of rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, the use of TCM during hospitalization was analyzed, and analysis of association rules was conducted to investigate the correlation between TCM, improvement of indicators and readmission of patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted to compare the readmission rate of TCM users and non-TCM users. It was found the readmission rate of RA-H patients was significantly higher than that of RA patients. By propensity score matching, 232 RA-H patients were divided into TCM group(116 cases) and non-TCM group(116 cases). Compared with the conditions in the non-TCM group, the readmission rate of the TCM group was lowered(P<0.01), and the readmission rate of middle-aged and elderly patients was higher than that of young patients(P<0.01). Old age was a risk factor for readmission of RA-H patients, while TCM, albumin(ALB) and total protein(TP) were the protective factors. During hospitalization, the TCMs used for RA-H patients were mainly divided into types of activating blood and resolving stasis, relaxing sinew and dredging collaterals, clearing heat and detoxifying, and invigorating spleen and resolving dampness. The improvement of rheumatoid factor(RF), immunoglobulin G(IgG), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP) and ALB was closely related to TCM. On the basis of western medicine treatment, the application of TCM could reduce the readmission rate of RA-H patients, and longer use of TCM indicated lower readmission rate.
Middle Aged ; Aged ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Patient Readmission ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Hypoproteinemia/drug therapy*