ObjectiveTo develop a scale for evaluating the syndrome of internal retention of dampness and turbidity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） that combines disease and syndrome and has the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. MethodsAn item pool was established for evaluating the syndrome of internal retention of dampness and turbidity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） with reference to the guideline for developing international scales. A clinical survey was conducted among the outpatients and inpatients who were diagnosed with NAFLD and had the syndrome of internal retention of dampness and turbidity in Department of Hepatology and Spleen-Stomach， The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine， from June to August， 2023， and the items were screened based on the classical test theory and the item response theory. An expert questionnaire was developed， and expert discussions were conducted using the Delphi method to identify the items for evaluating the syndrome of internal retention of dampness and turbidity in NAFLD. Finally， the scale was given scientific scores. ResultsA preliminary item pool was established， with 16 primary items and 22 secondary items， and it was divided into the two dimensions of disease and syndrome type. Clinical pre-survey suggested to retain 9 primary items and 14 secondary items， while the Delphi expert questionnaire recommended to retain 11 primary items and 15 secondary items， and tongue manifestation and pulse manifestation were no longer used for assessing the severity of syndrome. After hierarchical analysis and scientific assignment of scores， the scale for evaluating the syndrome of internal retention of dampness and turbidity in NAFLD had a total score of 123 points and 9 important items， i.e.， discomfort in the hypochondrium， abdominal fullness and distension， obesity， heaviness of the head and body， loose stool， anorexia， coughing up phlegm， nausea with a tendency to vomit， and lethargy. ConclusionA preliminary scale is established for evaluating the syndrome of internal retention of dampness and turbidity in NAFLD， which fills the gap in this research field and provides a basis for further clinical application.

OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of remimazolam and propofol in general anesthesia induction and maintenance for elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy. METHODS A total of 86 elderly lung cancer patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy at Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital from February to July 2024 were selected and divided into the propofol group and the remimazolam group according to the randomized numerical table method， with 43 cases in each group. During anesthesia induction， patients in the propofol group and the remimazolam group were intravenously administered 2 mg/kg of Propofol medium- and long-chain fat emulsion injection or 0.25 mg/kg of Remimazolam tosilate for injection， respectively； during anesthesia maintenance， the two groups received intravenous infusion of 6-10 mg/（kg·h） of Propofol medium- and long- chain fat emulsion injection or 1-3 mg/（kg·h） of Remimazolam tosilate for injection， respectively. The anesthesia effects， anesthesia-related indicators， intraoperative opioid and muscle relaxant dosages， Ramsay sedation score， numerical rating scale （NRS） score， and hemodynamic parameters were compared between the two groups， and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions was recorded. RESULTS A total of 41 patients in the propofol group and 43 patients in the remimazolam group completed the trial. The proportion of patients with grade Ⅰ anesthesia effect in the remimazolam group was significantly higher than that in the propofol group， while the proportion of patients with grade Ⅱ anesthesia effect was significantly lower than that in the propofol group （P＜0.05）. In this group， the disappearance time of eyelash reflex， the time taken for the bispectral index to drop to 60， and the Ramsay sedation scores （2 and 6 hours after operation） were all significantly prolonged or increased， while the recovery time， NRS scores （2 and 6 hours after operation）， and the incidence of intraoperative hypotension were all significantly shortened or reduced； moreover， the improvements of the above sedation/NRS scores exhibited a time-dependent pattern within 2 to 24 hours after operation （P＜0.05）. Compared with before anesthesia induction （T0）， the heart rate [except at 2 min after medication （T1）， 60 min after anesthesia （T4）， and at the end of surgery （T5） in the remimazolam group] and mean arterial pressure [except at T1 in the remimazolam group] of patients in both groups significantly decreased at T1， 5 min after medication （T2）， at the start of surgery （T3）， T4， and T5 （P＜0.05）. Meanwhile， regional cerebral oxygen saturation significantly increased in both groups. Furthermore， the heart rate and mean arterial pressure of patients in the remimazolam group were significantly higher than those in the propofol group at T1， T2 and T4 （P＜0.05）. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of postanesthesia care unit stay time， dosage of opioids and muscle relaxants， regional cerebral oxygen saturation， or peripheral oxygen saturation at various time points （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Compared to propofol， remimazolam demonstrates superior anesthesia effects when used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy. It not only provides more stable intraoperative hemodynamics and shortens the postoperative recovery time but also effectively reduces the incidence of intraoperative hypotension.

Palliative and hospice care is an emerging medical care model for the development of modern medicine,and its emergence is not only a sign of social demand and the development of human civilization,but also an important manifestation of the change in the modern medical model.Hospice care is the final stage of palliative care,which is of great significance for the end-of-life treatment of incurable diseases.Palliative and hospice care has become an independent discipline in many countries,and its development has been rapid.However,the develop-ment of hospice and palliative care in China is not satisfactory,and the lack of money and human resources are the main reasons limiting its development.Many scholars have carried out a lot of useful practices in this regard.How to explore a road of hospice and palliative care development suitable for China′s national conditions is an urgent problem to be solved.By reviewing domestic and foreign literature,this paper summarizes the development mode and payment method of palliative and hospice care abroad,identifies the challenges encountered in the practice of hospice care in China,and draws on the development experience of palliative and hospice care in foreign countries.We aimed to identify pain points and difficulties faced in developing palliative and hospice care in China,so as to better serve patients at the end of life,gradually promote the concept of palliative and hospice care,and contribute to the sustainable development of palliative and hospice care in China.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for the development of advanced liver fibrosis by analyzing the clinical features of patients with in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and advanced liver fibrosis,and to establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of advanced liver fibrosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 406 NAFLD patients who attended The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to October 2023,and according to whether liver stiffness measurement(LSM)measured by FibroScan was≥11.0 kPa,the patients were divided into advanced liver fibrosis group with 65 patients and non-advanced liver fibrosis group with 341 patients.Related data were collected,including general information,laboratory markers,and medical history.The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups,and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups;the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups.A multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors,and a nomogram model was established based on these factors.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the discriminatory ability of the nomogram model,and the calibration curve was used to evaluate its effectiveness.Results The univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences between the advanced liver fibrosis group and the non-advanced liver fibrosis group in age,controlled attenuation parameter(CAP),total bilirubin,direct bilirubin(DBil),indirect bilirubin,globin,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase(ALP),gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT),glucose,body mass index(BMI),and history of diabetes(all P<0.05).The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CAP(odds ratio[OR]=1.015,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.006-1.024,P=0.010),DBil(OR=1.345,95%CI:1.139-1.590,P=0.001),ALP(OR=1.019,95%CI:1.008-1.029,P=0.001),GGT(OR=1.004,95%CI:1.000-1.008,P=0.035)and BMI(OR=1.240,95%CI:1.137-1.353,P=0.001)were independent risk factors for the development of advanced liver fibrosis in NAFLD.A nomogram model was established based on the results of the multivariate Logistic regression analysis.The ROC curve analysis showed that this nomogram model had an area under the ROC curve of 0.841(95%CI:0.791-0.891)in predicting the development of advanced liver fibrosis in the NAFLD population,and the calibration curve showed a good degree of fitting between the observed and predicted values for the development of advanced liver fibrosis.Conclusion Elevated levels of CAP,BMI,DBil,ALP,and GGT are independent risk factors for advanced liver fibrosis in NAFLD.The nomogram model established based on these factors has good predictive performance and a certain value in predicting advanced liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of propofol and remimazolam on the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and related mechanisms.Methods Human prostate cancer cell lines DU145 and PC3 were selected and cultured to the logarithmic growth phase.Cells were randomly divided into four groups:the control group(group C),the propofol group(group P),the remimazolam group(group R),and the propofol combined with remimazolam group(group PR).Group C was cultured with complete medium,groups P and R were cultured with semi-inhibitory concentrations(IC50)of propofol and remimazolam(IC50 of propofol in DU145 and PC3 cells were 120 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml,IC50 of remimazolam were 500 μmol/L and 400 μmol/L),and DU145 cells in group PR were co-cultured with low concentration propofol 100 μg/ml and remimazolam 400 μmol/L,PC3 cells were co-cultured with low concentrations of propofol 80 μg/ml and remimazolam 300 μmol/L.The absorbance of 0,6,12,24,and 36 hours after incubation of the wells was determined by CCK-8.The number of colonies of 14 days after incubation was calculated by colony for-mation assay.qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of mRNA and protein of c-Myc and cyclin D1.The key target genes of propofol and remimazolam on prostate cancer cells were identified by net-work pharmacological analysis,and the expression of mRNA and protein of the target gene were detected by qPCR and Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the absorbance at 36 hours,the number of colo-nies and the expression of mRNA and protein of c-Myc and cyclin D1 were decreased significantly in groups P,R,and PR of DU145 and PC3 cells(P＜0.05).Compared with group P,in DU145 cells,the absor-bance at 36 hours and the expression of mRNA of cyclin D1 in groups R and PR were significantly reduced,the expression of mRNA of c-Myc in group R was increased significantly,the number of colonies and the ex-pression of protein of c-Myc in group PR were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).In PC3 cells,the expres-sion of mRNA and protein of cyclin D1 in the group R were significantly reduced,the absorbance at 36 hours and the expression of mRNA and protein of c-Myc and cyclin D1 in group PR were significantly re-duced(P＜0.05).Compared with group R,the number of colonies and the expression of mRNA and pro-tein of c-Myc in group PR of DU145 and PC3 cells were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).The results of network pharmacological analysis showed that the common target of propofol,remimazolam and prostate cancer was signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3).Compared with group C,the expres-sion of mRNA and protein of STAT3 were decreased significantly in groups P,R,and PR in DU145 and PC3 cells(P＜0.05).Compared with group P,in DU145 cells,the expression of mRNA and protein of STAT3 were increased significantly in group R,the expression of protein of STAT3 was increased signifi-cantly in group PR(P＜0.05).In PC3 cells,the expression of mRNA of STAT3 was decreased significant-ly in group R(P＜0.05).Compared with group R,the expression of protein of STAT3 was decreased sig-nificantly in group PR in DU145 cells(P＜0.05).Conclusion The proliferation of prostate cancer cells can be inhibited by propofol and remimazolam alone or synergistically and they can also reduce the expres-sion of mRNA and protein of c-Myc and cyclin D1,the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of ex-pression of STAT3 which is the member of the HIF-1α pathway.

Objective:To analyze the etiology of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in children and associated factors affecting the disease severity.Methods:A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted. Children aged ≤ 17 years with CSU were prospectively enrolled at the Department of Dermatology, Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from November 2021 to November 2022. Clinical data were collected, serum total IgE and allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) were detected, and basophil activation test (BAT) and autologous serum skin test (ASST) were performed. According to the ASST and BAT results, the children were divided into the chronic autoimmune urticaria (CAU) group (positive for both ASST and BAT), non-CAU group (negative for both ASST and BAT), and partial CAU group (positive for either ASST or BAT). Differences in the etiology and clinical characteristics were analyzed between the CAU group and the non-CAU group. Based on the weekly urticaria activity score (UAS7), the children with CSU were divided into the mild group (UAS7 < 16 points) and moderate to severe group (UAS7 ≥ 16 points). Factors associated with the severity of CSU in children were analyzed using logistic regression. Non-normally distributed quantitative data were expressed as M ( Q1, Q3), and the non-parametric rank sum test (Kruskal-Wallis test) was used to compare quantitative data among multiple groups. Results:This study enrolled a total of 93 children with CSU, including 50 males (53.8%) and 43 females (46.2%), with the age being 5.9 (2.9, 9.2) years, and the disease duration being 4 (2, 8) months; 32 patients (34.4%) were complicated by angioedema, 28 (30.1%) had a family history of chronic urticaria, 49 (52.7%) had a family history of atopic diseases, 14 (15.1%) had a family history of autoimmune diseases, and 26 (28.0%) had at least one atopic comorbidity. Etiologic analysis showed that 32 cases (32/69, 46.4%) were positive for ASST and 28 (28/70, 40.0%) were positive for BAT. Both ASST and BAT were performed in 57 cases, and they were divided into the CAU group (18 cases), non-CAU group (24 cases), and partial CAU group (15 cases) according to the test results. There were no significant differences in the age, disease duration, gender ratio, proportion of patients with atopic comorbidity, or proportion of patients having a family history of atopic diseases among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05), while the proportion of patients with moderate to severe CSU (UAS7 ≥ 16 points) was higher in the CAU group (16/18) than in the non-CAU group (11/24, P < 0.05). Triggering factors were identified in 19 cases (20.4%), including 18 (19.3%) cases of food allergy and 1 case (1.0%) of antibiotic allergy. The serum total IgE level was elevated in 22 cases (22/89, 24.7%), and 40 (40/81, 49.4%) showed elevated levels of at least 1 sIgE. The UAS7 of the children with CSU was 16 (15, 21) points, and there were 31 (33.3%) children with mild CSU and 62 (66.7%) with moderate to severe CSU. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that BAT positivity was associated with disease severity ( OR = 7.566, 95% CI: 2.238 - 25.572, P < 0.05). After adjustment for age and gender, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BAT positivity was associated with moderate to severe CSU ( OR = 6.725, 95% CI: 1.361 - 33.227, P < 0.05) . Conclusions:Autoimmunity may be the main cause of CSU in children, followed by allergic factors. ASST could be used as a primary screening test for the diagnosis of CAU in children, and BAT may help identify CAU and predict disease severity.

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.

Objective:To study the characteristics of tumor microvascular perfusion by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in patients with breast cancer, and to analyze its relationship with pathology.Methods:The clinical data of 180 breast cancer patients admitted to Tangshan People′s Hospital from February 2019 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were examined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound before surgery, and the specimens were sent for pathological biopsy after surgery. The characteristics of tumor microvascular perfusion under CEUS were observed, and the correlation between the characteristics and pathological classification and grade were analyzed.Results:The results of the CEUS showed that the contrast agentrapid infusion was 47.78%(86/180), slowly filled was 60.00%(108/180), the mass showed hyperenhancement when the contrast agent reached its peak was 42.78%(77/180), the contrast agent slowly withdrew was 42.78% (77/180), and the contrast agent retention in clearance was 65.56% (118/180). Pathological biopsy revealed that among 180 patients, 16 patients (8.89%) were non-invasive carcinoma, 41 patients (22.78%) were invasive lobular carcinoma, 88 patients (48.89%) were invasive ductal carcinoma, 10 patients (5.56%) were mucinous adenocarcinoma, 11 patients (6.11%) were medullary carcinoma, 8 patients (4.44%) were squamous carcinoma, 6 patients (3.33%) were hard carcinoma (3.33%). There was no correlation between tumor microvascular perfusion characteristics and pathological classification under CEUS ( P>0.05). Pathological biopsy showed that 95 patients (52.78%) were grade Ⅰ, 49 patients (27.22%) were gradeⅡand 36 patients (20.00%) were grad Ⅲ. There was a certain correlation between tumor microvascular perfusion characteristics and pathological grade under CEUS ( P<0.05). Conclusions:There is a certain relationship between tumor microvascular perfusion characteristics detected by CEUS and pathological grading in patients with breast cancer. Analysis of the microvascular perfusion characteristics can provide an important basis for pathological grading.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of miR-4443 expression on migration and invasion of breast cancer. METHODS: We examined the expression of miR-4443 in breast carcinoma in situ and paired adjacent tissues from 3 breast cancer patients with high-throughput sequencing and verified the results using TCGA database. We also detected miR-4443 expressions using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in low invasive and highly invasive breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively). The changes in apoptosis, migration and invasion of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells after transfection with miR-4443 mimics, mimics-NC, miR-4443 inhibitor or inhibitor-NC were analyzed using flow cytometry, wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay. The target gene of miR-4443 was predicted by bioinformatics software and validated by a dual luciferase reporter gene system. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression of recombinant human phosphatidyl ethanolamine binding protein 1 (PEBP1) in the transfected cells. RESULTS: The expression of miR-4443 was significantly higher in the breast cancer tissues than in the adjacent tissues ( CONCLUSIONS MiR-4443 promotes the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of PEBP1, suggesting the possibility of suppressing miR-4443 expression as a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics* ; Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein

Objective:To compare the differences between Chinese and Korean residential elderly depression status,life satisfaction and relatedfactors in Xiamen China and Daejeon Korea.Methods:A survey was conducted on 201 elder people (≥60 years old) in Xiamen,China and 206 elder ones in Daejeon,Korea.The Geriatric Depression Scale,Life Satisfaction Index-A Scale and self-designed demographic questions were used.Data were analyzed with t-test and multiple stepwise regression analysis.Results:The LSI-A scores were higher in Korean elderly than in Chinese elderly (P ＜0.05).In Chinese elderly,social activities (β =0.37),living status (β =-0.30) and education level (β =0.16) were associated with GDS scores,and social activity (β =-0.36) and living status (β=0.17) were associated with LSI-A scores.In Korea elderly,health status (β =-0.33),social activity (β =0.24)and living status (β =-0.13) were associated with GDS scores,and health status (β =0.32),social activity (β =-0.15) and living status (β =0.16) were associated with LSI-A scores.Conclusion:It indicates that Korea elderly have better life satisfaction than Chinese elderly.