ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Liuwei Dihuang Erzhiwan combination inhibit the lung metastasis of spontaneous breast cancer in mice by regulating the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs）. MethodThree hundred and eighty SPF-grade 10-month-old female breeders of Kunming mouse were palpated at the mammary gland site once every 3 days. Mice that have not had a lump touched after being raised for 6 months are used as control group. After tumor development， the mice were randomized into model， positive control （paclitaxel， intraperitoneal injection at 0.01 g·kg^-1 every other day for 22 d）， Liuwei Dihuangwan （0.65 g·kg^-1·d^-1 by gavage）， Erzhiwan （5.41 g·kg^-1·d^-1 by gavage）， and Liuwei Dihuang Erzhiwan combination （6.05 g·kg^-1·d^-1 by gavage） groups. The mice were euthanised when the tumor reached a diameter of about 15 mm， and the tumor and lung tissues were collected. The survival time， tumor mass， and lung metastasis rate of tumor-bearing mice were recorded. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the histopathological and morphological changes of mouse tumor and lung tissues. Immunofluorescence （IF） was used to detect the distribution of MDSCs in tissues of mice in each group by double-staining of MDSCs cells with lymphocyte antigen 6 complex site G6D （Ly6G） and CD11 antigen-like family member B （CD11b）. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， zinc finger transcription factor 1 （Snail1）， and E-cadherin in the tumor tissue and CC motif chemokine 9 （CCL9） and CC motif chemokine receptor 1 （CCR1） in the lung tissue. ResultDuring the modelling period， the paclitaxel group and Chinese medicine intervention groups had longer median number of days of survival and lower tumor weight， lung metastasis rate， and lung nodule than the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE staining showed an increase in tumor cell necrosis in the paclitaxel group and the Liuwei Dihuang Erzhiwan combination group. The paclitaxel group and Chinese medicine intervention groups had lower fluorescence intensity of MDSCs in the tumor tissue than the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the normal control group， the model group showed increased fluorescence intensity of MDSCs in the metastatic lung tissue （P<0.01）， which， however， was decreased in the paclitaxel group and Chinese medicine intervention groups （P<0.01）. The model group showed higher protein levels of MMP-9， TGF-β， and Snail1 and lower protein level of E-cadherin in the tumor tissue than in the normal control group （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， paclitaxel and Chinese medicine interventions downregulated the protein levels of MMP-9， TGF-β， and Snail1 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and upregulated the protein level of E-cadherin in the tumor tissue （P<0.01）. Moreover， the Liuwei Dihuang Erzhiwan combination group had lower protein levels of TGF-β and Snail1 than the Liuwei Dihuangwan group and Erzhiwan group （P<0.05）. In the metastatic lung tissue， the expression of CCL9 and CCR1 was higher in the model group than in the normal control group， paclitaxel group， and Chinese medicine intervention groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLiuwei Dihuang Erzhiwan combination inhibit tumor growth， prolong survival time， and reduce the occurrence of lung metastasis in the mouse model of spontaneous breast cancer by reducing the recruitment of MDSCs in the tumor and lung tissues and modulating the phenotypes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）-related molecules and the expression of CCL9/CCR1.

This article reports a patient with extensive high-pressure injection injury of the hand combined with deep chemical burn caused by high-pressure injection of industrial cement materials was diagnosed and treated in the Department of Hand Surgery, Xiaolan Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University in 2022. The nerves, tendons and blood vessels of the left hand were involved, and the ulnar skin of the left thumb was extensively necrosis, and a large number of extensive cement foreign bodies remained under the skin. Part of the cement was inserted into the joint capsule of the interphalangeal joint. After emergency surgical treatment, the patient was saved successfully, and the wound healed well without chemical poisoning and other related complications, which created conditions for the second stage of flap repair.

This article reports a patient with extensive high-pressure injection injury of the hand combined with deep chemical burn caused by high-pressure injection of industrial cement materials was diagnosed and treated in the Department of Hand Surgery, Xiaolan Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University in 2022. The nerves, tendons and blood vessels of the left hand were involved, and the ulnar skin of the left thumb was extensively necrosis, and a large number of extensive cement foreign bodies remained under the skin. Part of the cement was inserted into the joint capsule of the interphalangeal joint. After emergency surgical treatment, the patient was saved successfully, and the wound healed well without chemical poisoning and other related complications, which created conditions for the second stage of flap repair.

Objective:To comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of preventive measures for acute kidney injury (AKI) in children and identify the effective strategies.Methods:Databases were systematically searched including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, and the reference lists of relevant papers for randomized controlled trials on preventing pediatric AKI up to December 2023. Literature screening was conducted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by data extraction and quality assessment of included studies. Traditional and network meta-analyses were performed, along with trial sequential analysis (TSA).Results:A total of 21 studies involving 3 483 children were included. Traditional and network meta-analysis showed that dexmedetomidine was effective in preventing AKI in children undergoing cardiac surgery or cardiac angiography ( OR=0.26, 0.27; 95% CI 0.11-0.64, 0.13-0.58). Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) was effective in preventing AKI in children after cardiac surgery ( OR=0.43, 0.44; 95% CI 0.24-0.79, 0.23-0.83). Traditional and network meta-analysis specific to children with sepsis or septic shock showed that balanced solution was effective in preventing pediatric AKI ( OR=0.58, 0.52; 95% CI 0.42-0.79, 0.37-0.73). TSA indicated that the total sample sizes of dexmedetomidine (348 cases) and RIPC (666 cases) both reached the required information size (320 and 534 cases); additionally, the Z-curve for balanced solution (cumulative Z=3.38) crossed the TSA monitoring boundary ( Z=3.29). Conclusion:Dexmedetomidine reduces the risk of AKI in children undergoing cardiac surgery or cardiac angiography, RIPC decreases the risk of AKI in children after cardiac surgery, and balanced solution lowers the risk of AKI in children with sepsis or septic shock.

Chronic inflammation is critical in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis (AS). The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level in the circulation system is elevated in AS patients and animal models, which is correlated with the severity of AS. Inspired by the underlying mechanism that LPS could drive the polarization of macrophages toward the M1 phenotype, aggravate inflammation, and ultimately contribute to the exacerbation of AS, LPS in the circulation system was supposed to be the therapeutic target for AS treatment. In the present study, polymyxin (PMB) covalently conjugated to PEGylated liposomes (PLPs) were formulated to adsorb LPS through specific interactions between PMB and LPS. In vitro, the experiments demonstrated that PLPs could adsorb LPS, reduce the polarization of macrophages to M1 phenotype and inhibit the formation of foam cells. In vivo, the study revealed that PLPs treatment reduced the serum levels of LPS and pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreased the proportion of M1-type macrophages in AS plaque, stabilized AS plaque, and downsized the plaque burdens in arteries, which eventually attenuated the progression of AS. Our study highlighted LPS in the circulation system as the therapeutic target for AS and provided an alternative strategy for AS treatment.

Objective:To investigate the associations of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) with grip strength and gait speed among older Chinese adults.Methods:This study included participants aged ≥60 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey during 2011-2015. Generalized estimating equation models were employed to estimate the associations of CMM with grip strength and gait speed.Results:A total of 6 357 participants were included to measure grip strength and 6 250 participants to measure gait speed. Compared with no cardiometabolic disease, participants with 1 ( β=-0.018, 95% CI: -0.026--0.010), 2 ( β=-0.029, 95% CI: -0.041- -0.018), and ≥3 ( β=-0.050, 95% CI: -0.063- -0.037) cardiometabolic diseases were associated with a decreased grip strength. The associations between cardiometabolic disease counts (1: β=-0.052, 95% CI: -0.326 -0.222; 2: β=-0.083, 95% CI: -0.506 -0.340; ≥3: β=-0.186, 95% CI: -0.730 -0.358) and gait speed were not statistically significant. The predictive value of gait speed of the participants with 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 cardiometabolic diseases were found to be 1.98 (95% CI: 1.38-2.58), 1.93 (95% CI: 1.34-2.51), 1.89 (95% CI: 1.18-2.61), and 1.79 (95% CI: 1.10-2.48) m/s respectively, which was clinically significant for the magnitude of the decrease. Cardiometabolic combinations with a higher risk of decreased grip strength and gait speed mainly seen in diabetes. Conclusions:Cardiometabolic disease counts and combinations were associated with grip strength and gait speed. Grip strength and gait speed can be used to measure CMM severity.

Objective:To investigate the treatment and prognosis of children with propionic acidemia (PA).Methods:This study involved 82 children with PA treated in the Department of Pediatric Endocrinol-ogy and Genetic Metabolism, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from December 2002 to June 2020. Clinical data, including manifestations, laboratory test results, treatment strategy, and follow-up data, were summarized and analyzed using t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Results:(1) Among the 82 cases consisting of 50 (61.0%) boys and 32 (39.0%) girls, 59 (72.0%) were diagnosed after clinical onset; 22 (26.8%) were diagnosed by newborn screening, including eight asymptomatic ones; the other one (1.2%) was asymptomatic but confirmed after the diagnosis of PA in the patient's sibling. The average age at first onset was 4.5 months (2 d-5 years) in 73 subjects, of which 28 (38.4%) were early-onset PA (within three months after birth). (2) Cranial MRI was performed on 26 cases, and abnormality was identified in 19 (73.1%) cases. (3) Hyperlactatemia was found in 16 cases among 30(53.3%) who underwent relevant examination with the average lactic acid level of 3.5 (2.1-4.3) μmol/L, while 35 out of 40 patients (87.5%) had hyperammonemia with an average blood ammonia level of 105.4 (34-907) μmol/L. (4) Among the 28 early-onset PA cases, 16 (57.1%) died, and 12 (42.9%) survived. There was no significant difference in the serum propionylcarnitine level, propionylcarnitine to acetylcarnitine ratio, urine 3-hydroxypropionic acid, or methylcitrate level between the survival and death cases. (5) Genetic mutations were detected in 75 patients (91.5%), among which 26 (34.7%) carried PCCA gene mutations and 48 (64%) with PCCB gene mutations. One patient (1.3%) harbored one known pathogenic mutation in each of the PCCA and PCCB genes. All mutations were inherited from the parents. (6) Followed up to June 2020, 57 (69.5%) patients survived, and 25 (30.5%) died from multiple organ failure secondary to severe acidosis, including 16 early-onset and nine late-onset cases. Conclusions:The primary treatment of PA is dietary control. Most PA patients are diagnosed after clinical onset, but symptoms may recur and even have developmental retardation despite treatment. Some of those diagnosed through newborn screening are asymptomatic after treatment. Newborn screening using tandem mass spectrometry is recommended for early diagnosis and treatment of PA.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the intervention effect of oral immunotherapy (OIT) on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) of premature infants.Methods:This study searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) , WanFang Database and VIP Database, and conducted a comprehensive search for randomized controlled trials of OIT applied to premature infants published from database establishment to October 2020. Two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality. RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis.Results:A total of 8 studies were included, with a total of 351 premature infants in the intervention group and 352 premature infants in the control group. Meta-analysis results showed that OIT could reduce the incidence of VAP in premature infants [ RR=0.36, 95% CI (0.23-0.56) , P<0.05] and the detection rate of pathogenic microorganisms in the tracheal tube [ RR=0.33, 95% CI (0.18-0.59) , P=0.000 2], and could shorten the length of hospital stay [ MD=-6.70, 95% CI (-13.34--0.06) , P=0.05]. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the mechanical ventilation time, detection rate of oropharyngeal pathogenic microorganisms and mortality rate between the two groups after the intervention (all P>0.05) . Conclusions:OIT can reduce the incidence of VAP in premature infants and the detection rate of pathogenic microorganisms in the tracheal tube, and shorten the length of hospital stay to a certain extent. However, high-quality, large-sample, multi-center randomized controlled studies are still needed for further verification in the future.

Objective    To compare the outcomes of sutureless technique and conventional technique in the surgical repair for infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Methods    The clinical data of 46 consecutive patients with infracardiac TAPVC undergoing surgical repair in our hospital between June 2014 and April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with combined congenital cardiac anomalies such as single ventricle and tetralogy of Fallot were excluded. Patients were divided into a conventional technique group and a sutureless technique group according to the surgical techniques. There were 35 patients in the conventional technique group, including 28 males (80.0%) and 7 females (20.0%) with a median age of 21 (8, 42) d and a median weight of 3.6 (3.0, 4.0) kg. There were 11 patients in the sutureless technique group, including 8 males (72.7%) and 3 females (27.3%) with a median age of 14 (6, 22) d and a median weight of 3.5 (2.9, 3.6) kg. The curative effect of the two groups was compared. Results    There were 5 deaths (10.9%) in the conventional technique group, including 4 in-hospital deaths (8.7%) and 1 late death (2.2%). Overall mortality of the conventional technique group (14.3%, 5/35) was higher than that of the sutureless technique group (0.0%, 0/11), although the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.317). Cox regression analysis showed that sex (P=0.042), age at repair (P=0.028), cardiopulmonary bypass time (P=0.007), aortic cross-clamping time (P=0.018) and duration of ventilation (P=0.042) were risk factors for postoperative mortality. The median follow-up was 18.00 (5.00, 37.75) months. Postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction occurred in 22 patients of the conventional technique group, which was significantly more than that of the sutureless technique group (P=0.000). Conclusion    For infracardiac TAPVC, sutureless technique can reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction compared with conventional technique.

Objective    To analyze the outcomes of surgical repair for mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Methods    Between 2006 and 2018, a total of 51 patients with mixed TAPVC underwent surgery in our hospital. Patients with such associated anomalies as single ventricle and tetralogy of Fallot were excluded. There were 35 males and 16 females with a median age of 102.0 (59.0, 181.0) days and a median weight of 5.0 (4.1, 6.4) kg. Patients were divided into three categories based on the anatomy: "3+1" pattern (n=38, three pulmonary veins drained at one site, and the other drained at the opposite site); "2+2" pattern (n=9, the pulmonary veins from each lung joined to form a confluence and drained at separate sites); bizarre pattern (n=4, the anatomy could not be classified into the above two patterns). Results    There was no in-hospital death. The median follow-up was 41.0 (18.0, 86.5) months. Postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction occurred in 10 patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed no statistically significant difference in postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction among the three groups (P=0.239). Cox risk regression showed that preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction was significantly associated with postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (P=0.024). Conclusion    Mixed TAPVC has various anatomic morphologies and requires individualized surgery.