Background::Oral anti-coagulants (OAC) are the intervention for the prevention of stroke, which consistently improve clinical outcomes and survival among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The main purpose of this study is to identify problems in OAC utilization among hospitalized patients with AF in China.Methods::Using data from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation (CCC-AF) registry, guideline-recommended OAC use in eligible patients was assessed.Results::A total of 52,530 patients with non-valvular AF were enrolled from February 2015 to December 2019, of whom 38,203 were at a high risk of stroke, 9717 were at a moderate risk, and 4610 were at a low risk. On admission, only 20.0% (6075/30,420) of patients with a diagnosed AF and a high risk of stroke were taking OAC. The use of pre-hospital OAC on admission was associated with a lower risk of new-onset ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack among the diagnosed AF population (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.43–0.68; P <0.001). At discharge, the prescription rate of OAC was 45.2% (16,757/37,087) in eligible patients with high stroke risk and 60.7% (2778/4578) in eligible patients with low stroke risk. OAC utilization in patients with high stroke risk on admission or at discharge both increased largely over time (all P <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that OAC utilization at discharge was positively associated with in-hospital rhythm control strategies, including catheter ablation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 11.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.04–13.47; P <0.001), electronic cardioversion (adjusted OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.65–3.51; P <0.001), and anti-arrhythmic drug use (adjusted OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.38–1.53; P <0.001). Conclusions::In hospitals participated in the CCC-AF project, >70% of AF patients were at a high risk of stroke. Although poor performance on guideline-recommended OAC use was found in this study, over time the CCC-AF project has made progress in stroke prevention in the Chinese AF population.Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02309398.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and cardiovascular protective effect of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor(SGLT-2i)on patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy(T2DN).Methods:A total of 376 T2DN patients admitted in our Department of Endocrinology and Department of Cardiology from January 2018 to December 2021 were selected.According to therapeutic program,they were divided into control group(n=177,re-ceived routine treatment program)and SGLT-2i group(n=199,received SGLT-2i based on routine treatment program),both groups were continuously treated for 1 year.Blood glucose,blood pressure,blood lipids,uric acid,body mass index,renal function-related indexes and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events were compared between the two groups after 12 months,as well as the adverse drug reactions.Results:After 12-month treatment,compared with control group,there were significant reductions in levels of blood pressure,fasting blood glucose(FBG),glycosylated hemoglobin A1e(HbA1c),urinary albumin/creatinine ratio(UACR),creatinine(Cr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and uric acid(UA),and significant rise in estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),albumin(Alb)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)in SGLT-2i group(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Incidence rates of acute myocardial infarction(1.51％vs.6.21％)and heart failure caused-readmission(2.51％vs.6.78％)in SGLT-2i group were significantly lower than those of control group,and inci-dence rate of urinary system infection(8.54％vs.1.69％)was significantly higher than that of control group(P＜0.05 all).Conclusion:SGLT-2i can not only effectively control blood glucose,but also reduce body weight and blood pressure,improve blood lipids,reduce uric acid,improve renal hyperfiltration,reduce urinary protein and possess unique cardiovascular benefits,but risk of urinary system infection calls for attention.

Objective:To provide evidence-based recommendations for the prevention and management of lower limb ischemia in veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) patients during treatment according to search, evaluate, and summarize the best evidence on the prevention and management of lower limb ischemia in patients with VA-ECMO.Methods:Based on the PIPOST framework (population, intervention, professional, outcome, setting, and type of evidence), an evidence-based question was formulated. A systematic search was conducted according to the "6S" evidence pyramid model in both domestic and international databases, as well as professional association websites, for all evidence related to the prevention and management of lower limb ischemia in VA-ECMO patients (aged ≥18 years). The types of evidence included clinical decisions, guidelines, expert consensus, systematic reviews, evidence summaries, and original studies. The search was conducted from the construction of the databases to February 2024. Two researchers independently conducted a literature quality evaluation, extracted and summarized evidence from the studies that met the quality criteria.Results:A total of 13 articles were included, consisting of 3 clinical decisions, 3 guidelines, 3 expert consensus, 3 systematic reviews, and 1 randomized controlled trial. A total of 18 pieces of evidence in 7 dimensions were summarized, including risk factors of VA-ECMO lower limb ischemia, evaluation before catheterization, evaluation and monitoring during treatment, prevention of lower limb ischemia, treatment of lower limb ischemia, management of distal perfusion catheter (DPC), and monitoring after VA-ECMO weaning.Conclusion:This evidence summary provides evidence-based recommendations for the prevention and management of lower limb ischemia in VA-ECMO patients, aiming to assist clinical healthcare professionals in developing tailored strategies for the prevention and management of lower limb ischemia based on during VA-ECMO support.

The scientific basis of acupuncture on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating ischemic stroke (IS) is discussed. MSCs transplantation has great potential for the treatment of tissue damage caused by early stage inflammatory cascade reactions of IS, but its actual transformation is limited by various factors. How to improve the homing efficiency of MSCs is the primary issue to enhance its efficacy. As such, the possible mechanisms of acupuncture and MSCs transplantation in inhibiting inflammatory cascade reactions induced by IS are explored by reviewing literature, and a hypothesis that acupuncture could promote the secretion of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) from ischemic foci to regulate SDF-1α/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) axis, thereby improving the homing efficiency of MSCs transplantation, exerting its neuroprotective function, and improving the bed transformation ability, is proposed.
Humans ; Ischemic Stroke ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Inflammation

Objective: To explore the prognostic factors of extracellular NK/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL) treated with pegaspargase/L-asparaginase. Methods: The clinical data of 656 ENKTL patients diagnosed at 11 medical centers in the Huaihai Lymphoma Working Group from March 2014 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: a training set (460 cases) and a validation set (196 cases) at 7∶3, and the prognostic factors of the patients were analyzed. A prognostic scoring system was established, and the predictive performance of different models was compared. Results: Patients' median age was 46 (34, 57) years, with 456 males (69.5% ) and 561 nasal involvement (85.5% ). 203 patients (30.9% ) received a chemotherapy regimen based on L-asparaginase combined with anthracyclines, and the 5-year overall survival rate of patients treated with P-GEMOX regimen (pegaspargase+gemcitabine+oxaliplatin) was better than those treated with SMILE regimen (methotrexate+dexamethasone+cyclophosphamide+L-asparaginase+etoposide) (85.9% vs 63.8% ; P=0.004). The results of multivariate analysis showed that gender, CA stage, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score, HGB, and EB virus DNA were independent influencing factors for the prognosis of ENKTL patients (P<0.05). In this study, the predictive performance of the prognostic factors is superior to the international prognostic index, Korean prognostic index, and prognostic index of natural killer lymphoma. Conclusion: Gender, CA stage, ECOG PS score, HGB, and EB virus DNA are prognostic factors for ENKTL patients treated with pegaspargase/L-asparaginase.
Male ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Asparaginase/therapeutic use* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Etoposide ; Cyclophosphamide ; Methotrexate/therapeutic use* ; DNA/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To observe and analyze the morphological characteristic of bone marrow and peripheral blood in patients diagnosed with de novo acute leukemia.Methods:From October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021, 1151 patients aged 47 (26, 62) years, consisting of 602 males and 549 females with newly diagnosed acute leukemia in the Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, were collected to preform the morphological analysis in bone marrow and peripheral blood smears. Based on the comprehensive diagnosis results of morphology, immunology, cytogenetics, and molecular biology, comparison between acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), AML with RUNX1-RUNXITI gene, AML with CBFβ/MYH11 gene, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with PML/RARA gene, AML with NPM1 gene, the rest of the AML, Ph+ALL and Ph-ALL were performed by Chi-square test along with analysis of the differences in the ratio of wood bundle cells, pseudo-Chediak-Higashi (PCH) inclusions, cytoplasmic small particles, nuclear notches, leukemia cells with cup-like changes (cup cells); as well as the differences in the micromeganuclei, early immature granulocytes, plasma cells, high eosinophils and other accompanying cells and the distribution of "grape-like" aggregation. Finally, the morphological characteristics of acute leukemia cells, the appearance and arrangement of accompanying cells were summarized.Results:Between AML and ALL, there were statistically significant differences in cytoplasmic Auer bodies[(45.5%, 0%), χ 2=211.400, P<0.01], PCH inclusion bodies[(28.9%, 0%), χ 2=114.100, P<0.01], cytoplasmic fine particles[(20.7%, 2.9%), χ 2=53.798, P<0.01], nuclear notches[(0.7%, 6.1%), χ 2=30.906, P<0.01], and goblet cells[(4.9%, 0.3%), χ 2=13.495, P<0.01], micromegakaryus [(22.4%, 0.3%), χ 2=80.398, P<0.01], plasma cells[(87.6%, 10.6%), χ 2=604.241, P<0.01], hyperacidophils[(15.3%, 1.0%), χ 2=46.116, P<0.01] showed significant differences in the "grape-like" aggregation distribution. In AML with RUNX1-RUNXITI gene, the changes of vacuoles and PCH inclusion bodies are more obvious; in AML with CBFβ/MYH11 gene, the increase of hypereosinophils is more obvious; in APL with PML/RARA gene, the increase of woodbundle is more obvious. The morphology of nuclei chromatin, nucleolus, and vacuoles were also different among the groups. Comparison between Ph+ALL and Ph-ALL showed that Ph+ALL was more prone to develop early immature granulocytes and plasma cells (all P<0.05). Conclusion:There are significant differences between AML and ALL in the characteristics of leukemia cells, the regularity of accompanying cells, and the aggregation and distribution patterns. The subtypes of AML with specific genetic abnormalities have their own characteristics in the appearance of vacuoles, PCH inclusions, hypereosinophils, woodbundle cells, and goblet cells. Ph+ALL is more prone to present early immature granulocytes and plasma cells.

During coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic, the treatment of severe trauma has been impacted. The Consensus on emergency surgery and infection prevention and control for severe trauma patients with 2019 novel corona virus pneumonia was published online on February 12, 2020, providing a strong guidance for the emergency treatment of severe trauma and the self-protection of medical staffs in the early stage of the epidemic. With the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council renaming "novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "novel coronavirus infection" and the infection being managed with measures against class B infectious diseases since January 8, 2023, the consensus published in 2020 is no longer applicable to the emergency treatment of severe trauma in the new stage of epidemic prevention and control. In this context, led by the Chinese Traumatology Association, Chinese Trauma Surgeon Association, Trauma Medicine Branch of Chinese International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, and Editorial Board of Chinese Journal of Traumatology, the Chinese expert consensus on emergency surgery for severe trauma and infection prevention during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic ( version 2023) is formulated to ensure the effectiveness and safety in the treatment of severe trauma in the new stage. Based on the policy of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council and by using evidence-based medical evidence as well as Delphi expert consultation and voting, 16 recommendations are put forward from the four aspects of the related definitions, infection prevention, preoperative assessment and preparation, emergency operation and postoperative management, hoping to provide a reference for severe trauma care in the new stage of the epidemic prevention and control.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and significance of regulatory T cells (Tregs), FoxP3 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in different phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). METHODS: Peripheral blood of 73 CML patients in Department of Hematology, Heze Municipal Hospital from March 2018 to March 2021 were collected. According to patient's period in CML, they were divided into ND CML group (newly diagnosed), CP CML group (chronic period), and BP CML group (blast phase). The percentage of Tregs, expression level of FoxP3 mRNA and TGF-β were detected by flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and ELISA, respecitively. The roles of above indices in clinical pathogenesis of patients with CML were analyzed. RESULTS: The proportion of Treg in the ND CML group was slightly higher than the CP CML group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P =0.695), while the BP CML group was significantly higher than the other two groups (P =0.008, P <0.001). The expression levels of FoxP3 mRNA in ND CML group, CP CML group and BP CML group were 11.61±2.21, 6.46±1.35 and 8.54±2.13, respectively. Significant difference in FoxP3 mRNA levels was observed among patients in different phases of CML (F =55.199, P <0.001). The expression levels of FoxP3 mRNA both in ND CML group and BP CML group were significantly higher than that in CP CML group (P <0.001), and the ND CML group was the highest (P <0.001). However, the expression levels of TGF-β in different phases of CML showed no statistical differences (H =0.634, P =0.728). CONCLUSION The abnormal distribution of Treg subset in different phases of CML and the significant increase of the expression level of FoxP3 mRNA in the new onset and blast phase of CML suggest that Tregs may promote the occurrence and progression of CML through immune regulation.
Humans ; Blast Crisis/metabolism* ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*

Medicinal plants or Chinese materia medica (CMM) are now attracting worldwide attention as they have increasingly prominent advantages over chemical drugs in disease treatment and healthcare. Since the 1990s, World Health Organization (WHO) and International Organization for Standardization established the Technical Committee of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ISO/TC 249) have carried out the development of quality standards on medicinal plants or CMMs respectively, and a considerable number of monographs and international standards have been published. Since the two international organizations adhere to different principles, the standards they develop naturally have different emphasis. Driven by market demand and international trade, ISO mainly takes quality, efficacy and safety into consideration when developing standards, while WHO pays more attention to clinical practice, quality control and medication guidance. Up to now, there is a lack of comparative analysis on the records, background, principles, basic content, and main requirements of quality standards on medicinal plants or CMMs respectively published by WHO and ISO. Therefore, based on international standards of CMM developed by ISO/TC 249 platform and WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, this paper systematically compares the purposes, selected principles, standard-developing process, basic content, and main quality requirements to summarize their similarities and differences, and find their merits, aiming to serve as a reference to the development of international standards for CMMs that helps them go global.
Materia Medica/therapeutic use* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Commerce ; Internationality ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Reference Standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; China

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior stroke history have a high risk of cardiovascular events despite anticoagulation therapy. It is unclear whether catheter ablation (CA) has further benefits in these patients. METHODS: AF patients with a previous history of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) from the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study between August 2011 and December 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio to CA or medical treatment (MT) based on propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke (IS)/SE. RESULTS: During a total of 4.1 ± 2.3 years of follow-up, the primary outcome occurred in 111 patients in the CA group (3.3 per 100 person-years) and in 229 patients in the MT group (5.7 per 100 person-years). The CA group had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to the MT group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < 0.001]. There was a significant decreasing risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001), IS/SE (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97, P = 0.033), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.54, P < 0.001) and AF recurrence (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.37, P < 0.001) in the CA group compared to that in the MT group. Sensitivity analysis generated consistent results when adjusting for time-dependent usage of anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS In AF patients with a prior stroke history, CA was associated with a lower combined risk of all-cause death or IS/SE. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the benefits of CA in these patients.