Xihuang pills are a classic Chinese patent medicine following the theoretical principle of combining eliminating pathogen with reinforcing healthy qi in both local areas and the whole body， with the effects of clearing heat， detoxifying， alleviating edema， and dissipating mass. This medicine is traditionally used for treating carbuncle， furuncle， multiple abscess， carcinoma of breast， phlegm nodule， scrofula， lung abscess， and intestine abscess caused by fire depression， phlegm stasis， and heat toxin stagnation. It is used for treating malignant tumors， breast hyperplasia， herpes zoster， lymphadenitis， pelvic inflammatory disease， mastitis， vocal cord leukoplakia， and acne in modern medicine. Xihuang pills are now included in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The use of high-quality medicinal materials and modern technology enables full retaining of the active components in the medicinal materials. The chemical components in this medicine mainly include amino acids， terpenoids， fatty acids， fatty acid esters， phenols， bile acids， bile pigments， and volatile oils. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that a variety of active components such as bilirubin， bile acid， boswellic acid， and volatile oil in Xihuang pills interact with each other to exert anti-tumor， anti-breast hyperplasia， immunomodulatory， anti-inflammatory， and neuroendocrine-regulating effect. This paper reviews the research progress in the active components and pharmacological effects of Xihuang pills and predicts the quality markers （Q-markers） of this medicine according to the transmission， traceability， specificity， efficacy， measurability， and compound compatibility in the concept of Q-marker. It is suggested that bilirubin， bile acid， taurine， muskone， 11-carbonyl-β-boswellic acid， β-boswellic acid， 3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid， octyl acetate， β-elemene， and myrrhone can be used as Q-markers of Xihuang pills， which can provide a basis for research on the material basis and the quality control of Xihuang pills.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of serological indicators and evaluate the diagnostic value of a new established combined serological model on identifying the minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:This prospective multicenter study enrolled 263 compensated cirrhotic patients from 23 hospitals in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China between October 2021 and August 2022. Clinical data and laboratory test results were collected, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was calculated. Ammonia level was corrected to the upper limit of normal (AMM-ULN) by the baseline blood ammonia measurements/upper limit of the normal reference value. MHE was diagnosed by combined abnormal number connection test-A and abnormal digit symbol test as suggested by Guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis. The patients were randomly divided (7∶3) into training set ( n=185) and validation set ( n=78) based on caret package of R language. Logistic regression was used to establish a combined model of MHE diagnosis. The diagnostic performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve. The internal verification was carried out by the Bootstrap method ( n=200). AUC comparisons were achieved using the Delong test. Results:In the training set, prevalence of MHE was 37.8% (70/185). There were statistically significant differences in AMM-ULN, albumin, platelet, alkaline phosphatase, international normalized ratio, MELD score and education between non-MHE group and MHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AMM-ULN [odds ratio ( OR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.05-3.14, P=0.038] and MELD score ( OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.20, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for MHE, and the AUC for predicting MHE were 0.663, 0.625, respectively. Compared with the use of blood AMM-ULN and MELD score alone, the AUC of the combined model of AMM-ULN, MELD score and education exhibited better predictive performance in determining the presence of MHE was 0.755, the specificity and sensitivity was 85.2% and 55.7%, respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ( P=0.733). The AUC for internal validation of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.752. In the validation set, the AUC of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.794, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration ( P=0.841). Conclusion:Use of the combined model including AMM-ULN, MELD score and education could improve the predictive efficiency of MHE among patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Objective:To compare the differences in the prevalence of mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) among patients with cirrhosis by using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) and the Stroop smartphone application (Encephal App) test.Methods:This prospective, multi-center, real-world study was initiated by the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Alliance and registered with International ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05140837). 354 cases of cirrhosis were enrolled in 19 hospitals across the country. PHES (including digital connection tests A and B, digital symbol tests, trajectory drawing tests, and serial management tests) and the Stroop test were conducted in all of them. PHES was differentiated using standard diagnostic criteria established by the two studies in China and South Korea. The Stroop test was evaluated based on the criteria of the research and development team. The impact of different diagnostic standards or methods on the incidence of MHE in patients with cirrhosis was analyzed. Data between groups were differentiated using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ2 test. A kappa test was used to compare the consistency between groups. Results:After PHES, the prevalence of MHE among 354 cases of cirrhosis was 78.53% and 15.25%, respectively, based on Chinese research standards and Korean research normal value standards. However, the prevalence of MHE was 56.78% based on the Stroop test, and the differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups were statistically significant (kappa = -0.064, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis revealed that the MHE prevalence in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C was 74.14%, 83.33%, and 88.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Chinese researchers, while the MHE prevalence rates in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C were 8.29%, 23.53%, and 38.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Korean researchers. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of MHE in the three groups of patients with Child-Pugh grades A, B, and C were 52.68%, 58.82%, and 73.53%, respectively, according to the Stroop test standard. However, among the results of each diagnostic standard, the prevalence of MHE showed an increasing trend with an increasing Child-Pugh grade. Further comparison demonstrated that the scores obtained by the number connection test A and the number symbol test were consistent according to the normal value standards of the two studies in China and South Korea ( Z = -0.982, -1.702; P = 0.326, 0.089), while the other three sub-tests had significant differences ( P < 0.001). Conclusion:The prevalence rate of MHE in the cirrhotic population is high, but the prevalence of MHE obtained by using different diagnostic criteria or methods varies greatly. Therefore, in line with the current changes in demographics and disease spectrum, it is necessary to enroll a larger sample size of a healthy population as a control. Moreover, the establishment of more reliable diagnostic scoring criteria will serve as a basis for obtaining accurate MHE incidence and formulating diagnosis and treatment strategies in cirrhotic populations.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of jejunal interposed single-tract and doubletract reconstruction after proximal gastrectomy for Siewert type Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG).Methods The prospective study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 108 patients with Siewert type Ⅱ and Ⅲ AEG who were admitted to the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between August 2013 and November 2016 were collected.All the patients underwent proximal gastrectomy and were allocated into the 2 groups by random number table,including patients using single-tract jejunal interposition reconstruction in the single-tract group and patients using double-tract jejunal interposition reconstruction in the double-tract group.Digestive tract reconstruction:after end-to-side anastomosis between distal jejunum and esophagus and side-to-side anastomosis between posterior wall of the gastric remnant and jejunum,single-tract jejunal reconstruction was done through ligating jejunum at 3 cm below the anastomotic stoma,and then side-to-side anastomosis between proximal jejunum and jejunum was performed in the single-tract group.Patients in the double-tract group used the same digestive tract reconstruction,but jejunum was not ligated.The postoperative pathological examinations showed that patients with positive lymph nodes or tumor invading all layers of gastric wall underwent chemotherapy.Observation indicators:(1) intra-and post-operative situations;(2) follow-up situations.Follow-up using telephone interview was performed to detect postoperative complication,gastrointestinal function and body mass index (BMI) up to November 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as-x± s and comparison between groups was analyzed using t test.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range),and comparison between groups was analyzed using the nonparametric test.Repeated measurement data were analyzed by the repeated measures ANOVA.Comparisons of count data were done using chi-square test.Ordinal data were analyzed by the Kruskal Wallis H test.Results One hundred and eight patients were screened for eligibility,including 55 in the single-tract group and 53 in the double-tract group.(1) Intra-and post-operative situations:total operation time,digestive tract reconstruction time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,time to initial anal exsufflation,postoperative complications,cases with gastroesophageal reflux,intestinal obstruction and Visick grading ＞ Ⅱ and duration of postoperative hospital stay were respectively (145±26) minutes,(30±6) minutes,(181±37) mL,(53± 16) hours,1,1,1,(10.0±2.4) days in the singletract group and (139±29)minutes,(26±3)minutes,(176±31)mL,(50±17) hours,3,0,3,(9.4±l.4)days in the double-tract group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (t =0.725,0.219,0.162,-0.576,x2 =2.960,5.830,t =-0.993,P＞0.05).Four patients with gastroesophageal reflux received motilium and omeprazole therapy for 2 weeks,and were improved by symptomatic treatment such as increasing the solid food intake.One patient in the single-tract group had internal hernia-induced intestinal obstruction and was cured by reoperation.There was no anastomotic leakage,bleeding,infection,dumping syndrome and gallstone between groups.Of 108 patients,71 underwent 6-cycle SOX chemotherapy,including 67 with perigastric lymph node metastasis and 4 with tumor invading all layers of gastric wall.(2) Follow-up situations:108 patients were followed up for 12.0-48.0 months,with a median time of 28.6 months.During the follow-up,bowel sound in the double-tract group and single-tract group was 8 times / minute (range,5-12 times / minute) and 3 times /minute (range,2-5 times/ minute),with a statistically significant difference between groups (Z=-0.692,P＜0.05).The single food intake,serum gastrin level,ratio of serum pepsinogen Ⅰ and Ⅱ levels and BMI from preoperation to postoperative 12 months were from (1 117± 129)mL to (817± 127)mL,from (12±5)pmol/L to (41±13) pmol/L,from 11.3±2.8 to 5.1±2.2,(65±7)kg to (63±5) kg in the single-tract group and from (1 095±118)mL to (783±80)mL,from (10±4)pmol/L to (40±10)pmol/L,from 12.4±2.9 to 4.2±1.3,from (63±6) kg to (58±6)kg in the double-tract group,respectively,with no statistically significant difference in single food intake,serum gastrin level and ratio of serum pepsinogen Ⅰ and Ⅱ levels between groups (F =0.468,0.108,0.161,P＞0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in changing trend of BMI between groups (F=24.930,P＜0.05).Conclusion Jejunal interposed single-tract and double-tract reconstruction after proximal gastrectomy for Siewert type Ⅱ and Ⅲ AEG have the same surgical safety and don't affect secretion function of gastric remnant,but there are frequent bowel sounds and obvious weight loss.

Objective To investigate the protective effects and mechanism of insulin(INS) on brain in septic rats,and explore the possible role of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in these effects.Methods Fifty male specific pathogen free(SPF) Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control (CN) group(n=10),lipopolysaccharide(LPS) group(n=20) and INS group (n=20) according to random number table.The septic rat model was established through an intraperitoneal injection of 15 mg/kg LPS of gram-negative bacteria.The rats in the INS group received a 1 U/kg INS injection subcutaneously 30 minutes before the injection of LPS,and the rats in the CN group were given equivalent 9 g/L saline in the same way.Eight rats in each group were killed,and their cerebral cortex were collected after the injection of LPS for 24 h.Pathological change of cerebral cortex was detected by Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE) staining.The cerebral cortex mitochondia were extracted for detecting the levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS),malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD).Neuronal apoptosis was detected by terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining.UCP2 mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time(RT)-PCR.Apoptosis-associated protein B lymphocyte tumor-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax),cleaved cysteinyl aspartate specific protease(cleaved Caspase-9) and UCP2 protein expression were determined by Western blot.Results (1)Compared with the CN group,obvious abnormal pathological change was revealed by HE staining in cerebral cortex of rats in the LPS group and the INS group,but the pathological change was attenuated in the INS group compared with the LPS group.(2)Compared with the CN group,the levels of mitochondrial ROS[(210.01±14.09) RFU vs.(49.06±7.28) RFU] and MDA[(2.19±0.18) nmol/mg pro vs.(1.25±0.11)nmol/mg pro]in the LPS group significantly increased,whereas SOD activity significantly decreased [(238.49±35.60) U/g pro vs.(446.66±24.90)U/g pro],and the differences were significant(all P<0.05).Compared with the LPS group,the levels of ROS [(152.69±15.83) RFU vs.(210.01±14.09) RFU] and MDA[(1.55±0.14) nmol/mg pro vs.(2.19±0.18) nmol/mg pro] in the INS group decreased,while SOD activity increased[(327.8±23.26) U/g pro vs.(238.49± 35.60) U/g pro],and the differences were significant(all P<0.05).(3)Compared with the CN group,the neuronal apoptosis index of cortex in the LPS group was elevated[(54.16±6.84)% vs.(5.45±1.43)%],while the expression of Bcl-2 decreased (627±0.018 vs.0.739±0.020),but the expressions of Bax(0.768±0.019 vs.0.520±0.010) and cleaved Caspase-9(0.739±0.016 vs.0.467±0.030) increased,and the differences were significant(all P<0.05).Compared with the LPS group,the neuronal apoptosis index of cortex in the INS group decreased [(33.30±3.07)% vs.(54.16±6.84)%],but the Bcl-2 expression increased (0.743±0.022 vs.0.627±0.018),and Bax (0.687±0.034 vs.0.768±0.019) and cleaved Caspase-9(0.551±0.013 vs.0.739±0.016) were reduced,and the differences were significant (all P<0.05).(4)Compared with the CN group,the mRNA (2.248±0.155 vs.1.000±0.100) and protein expression of UCP2 (0.659±0.016 vs.0.599±0.018) were elevated in the LPS group.Compared with the LPS group,the UCP2 mRNA (2.944±0.117 vs.2.248±0.155) and UCP2 protein (0.719±0.018 vs.0.659±0.016) increased,and the differences were significant(all P<0.05).Conclusions INS can protect the brain of septic rats through alleviating mitochondrial oxidative stress and inhibiting the mitochondrial-initiated apoptotic pathway to reduce neuronal apoptosis.INS upregulates UCP2 expression in the brain of septic rats,which may play a role in the protective effects mentioned above.

Objective To design safe and beautiful curved osteotomy line for mandibular angle osteotomy .Methods Expo‐sing 150 cases(300 sides) of mandible tube in the mandible bone of adults;Observing the characteristics of the movement of man‐dibular canal;measuring the distance from the critical dot of mandibular canal to marginal mandibular ;observing the positional rela‐tionship between mandibular foramen and the inferior alveolar arch;designing the curved osteotomy line based on observations to meet the individual needs .Results T he distance betw een the key points of mandibular canal A1 ,B1 ,C1 ,and D1 ,E1 and the mandib‐ular edge come as (14 .02 ± 2 .23)mm ,(21 .06 ± 3 .90)mm ,(14 .08 ± 3 .68)mm ,(13 .60 ± 2 .80)mm ,(14 .55 ± 3 .34)mm ,respective‐ly ;the maximum width each were (10 .05 ± 4 .00)mm ,(15 .06 ± 2 .88)mm ,(8 .08 ± 3 .88)mm ,(6 .09 ± 3 .45)mm ,(7 .06 ± 3 .56) mm ;the probability that mandibular foramen and inferior alveolar of the bow was located in the same plane falls on 96% ;the rear end of the point A of the osteotomy line should not be higher than the plane of the lower jaw holes ,the front point of three osteoto‐my line C ,D ,E ,fall respectively on the point intersection where the vertical line led downward via the edge of the ramus ,the man‐dibular teeth M2 ,P4 met the marginal mandibular .Conclusion The design of curved osteotomy line for mandibular angle osteotomy meets the individual needs ,in line with the anatomical features and aesthetic requirements which takes the advantages as easy‐opera‐tion with clear signs ,high security and preferable effect after operation .

ObjectiveTo explore the methods and effectiveness of interventional revascularization of complex arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO)of lower extremity arteries according to their imaging characteristics.Methods Seventy-eight patients with lower extremity ASO complex lesions classified as TASC Ⅱ C/D ( n =68 ) and TASC Ⅱ B ( n =10) underwent antigrade or combined antigrade-retrograde subintimal angioplasty.Their clinical situations were Fontaine stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ or severe stage Ⅱ.All the long occlusion,flush occlusion,multiple occlusion,popliteal artery occlusion,below knee artery occlusion and aortoiliac artery occlusion were identified as complex lesion imaging features and as the indication of interventional treatment if only there were visible outflow vessels and suitable puncture site.Statistical analysis was used to compare ankle-brachial index (ABI) pretreatment and post-treatment by t test.Results Successful revascularization was achieved in 73 patients technically.No obvious complications occurred.Ischemia symptoms improved quickly after accomplishment of recanalization.Average ABI increased from 0.45 ±0.07 to 0.76 ±0.11 after the treatment(t =- 19.78,P ＜0.01 ).Symptoms in 5 patients who failed to get arterial recanalization were stable.Follow up of 6 to 12 months in 47 patients showed stable improvement in 22 of them.Conclusion It is more practical to choose and expand application of interventional treatment for complex ASO according to imaging characteristics of lesions than according to TASC classification.

Objective To investigate the value of percutaneous transsplenic varices embolization (PTSVE) for treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods Twenty cases with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension suffered upper gastrointestinal bleeding. PTSVE was administered to them with hardener and coils. Among them, 8 cases had massive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in right lobe; 10 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma had portal vein tumor thrombus and occlusion; the other two cases with liver cirrhosis had portal vein thrombosis. All of these cases were not suitable for percutaneous transhepatic varices embolization (PTHVE) . PTSVE was performed under the guidance of fluoroscopy. Results Technical success was achieved in 18 patients. A total of 35 gastric coronary veins were embolized. In all these cases, upper gastrointestinal bleeding stopped after PTSVE. There was no recurrence within 1 month follow-up. No serious complication occurred. Conclusion PTSVE is a safe and efficient alternative treatment for upper gastrointestinal bleeding, especially for cases with portal vein occlusion or with massive HCC in right lobe of liver.

Objective: To provide references for the locating the third ventriculos tomy by measuring normal brain MRI data. Methods: Three hundreds normal brain MRI data were tagged and measured. The relevant reference data about third ventricle fistulization were obtained after statistics processing. Rosults: There were no statistical differences in the ratio of the distance before and after into the skull (BC / AC) in all age groups (P＞0.05). There were statistical differences in parameters of surgical approach-the distance of the middle line beside the incision (L),the depth inside the scalp (H) and the angle between the long axle of endoscope and the center sagittal plane (a) between ≤ 9-year--old and other age groups. The 95 percent confidence interval about parameters of surgical approach was obtained among all age groups. Conclusion: The results provide the reference of surgical treatment for the individual, enjoying the advantage of accuracy location and wide application.

Objective To discuss the therapeutic efficacy of bidirectional subintimal angioplasty in the treatment of atherosclerotic occlusive of lower limbs.Methods Five patients with long segment of obstructed artery in lower limb were enrolled in the study.Of five patients,occlusion of the lower segment of abdominal aorta and bilateral iliac artery was seen in one,occlusion of iliac artery in 2 and occlusion of superficial femoral artery in the remaining two.Antegrade subintimal angioplasty procedure was unsuccessful in all five patients as the wire could not be placed into the true lumen,so retrograde subintimal angioplasty by puncturing the distal segment of the occlusive artery was employed.Through the newly created channel the retrograde guide wire was manipulated to be pulled out of vessel through the antegrade catheter.The subintimal tract was dilated with angioplasty balloon and the stent implantation was performed.Results Bidirectional subintimal angioplasty was successfully accomplished in all five patients,with a total of nine stents being implanted.Conclusion Bidirectional subintimal angioplasty is a safe and effective procedure for bringing the subintimal recanalization to success,this technique can be regarded as a remedial measure when unidirectional subintimal angioplasty ends up in failure.