The purpose of this paper is to explore the decoction and dosing methods of rhubarb root and rhizome in classical prescriptions and to provide a reference basis for the clinical use of rhubarb root and rhizome. By collating the relevant classical prescriptions of rhubarb root and rhizome in Shanghan Lun and Jingui Yaolüe, the relationship between its decoction and dosing methods and the syndrome was analyzed. The decoction of rhubarb root and rhizome in classical prescriptions can be divided into three categories: simultaneous decoction, decoction later, and other methods (impregnation in Mafei decoction, decoction with water from the well spring first taken in the morning, and pills). If it enters the blood level or wants to slow down, rhubarb root and rhizome should be decocted at the same time with other drugs. If it enters the qi level and wants to speed up, rhubarb root and rhizome should be decocted later. If it wants to upwardly move, rhubarb root and rhizome should be immersed in Mafei decoction. If it wants to suppress liver yang, rhubarb root and rhizome should be decocted with water from the well spring first taken in the morning. If the disease is prolonged, rhubarb root and rhizome should be taken in pill form. The dosing methods of rhubarb root and rhizome can be divided into five categories: draught, twice, three times, before meals, and unspecified. For acute and serious illnesses with excess of pathogenic qi and adequate vital qi, we choose draught. For gastrointestinal diseases, we choose to take the medicine twice. For achieving a moderate and long-lasting effect, we choose to take the medicine three times. If the disease is located in the lower part of the heart and abdomen, we choose to take it before meals. The use of rhubarb root and rhizome in clinical practice requires the selection of the appropriate decoction and dosing methods according to the location of the disease, the severity of the disease, the patient′s constitution, and the condition after taking the medicine.

Objective We aimed to investigate the TCM syndrome characteristics and risk factors of early death in higher-risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes with excess blasts (HR-MDS-EB). Methods The data of 57 HR-MDS-EB patients in the hematology ward of Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences admitted between January 2013 and August 2020 were analyzed. Patients were divided into an early death group and a non-early death group according to the survival time. The basic information, clinical characteristics, specialized examination, complete blood cell counts and laboratory examination result for first diagnosis, TCM syndrome characteristics, and other data of patients were collected and analyzed to screen the risk factors of death.Results There were statistically significant differences in Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, Barthel index score, platelet count at first diagnosis, blast ratio in peripheral blood, lactate dehydrogenase levels, blazing pathogenic heat pattern, and constipation between the early death group and the non-early death group (P<0.05). According to the result of the above univariate analysis, logistic multivariate regression analysis was performed for significant factors P<0.05. CCI score had statistically significant effects on the risk of death (P<0.05).Conclusion Higher CCI score is an independent risk factor for early death in HR-MDS-EB patients.

Objective:To compare the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic external tension band fixation versus open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of greater tubercle fracture of the humerus.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 55 patients with greater tubercle fracture of the humerus admitted to Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province from September 2019 to June 2022, including 24 males and 31 females, aged 26-80 years [(61.7±10.5)years]. Out of them, 35 patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation (open reduction group), and 20 patients were treated with external anchor tension band under arthroscopy (arthroscopy group). The operation time, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant-Murley score and shoulder active range of motion (anterior flexion, abduction and posterior extension) before operation, at 1 month after operation and at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. Bone healing was observed in both groups at the last follow-up. Postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-29 months [(16.9±4.0)months]. There was no significant difference in operation time between the two groups ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the VAS score, ASES score, Constant-Murley score and shoulder active range of motion between the two groups before operation ( P>0.05). The VAS score of the arthroscopy group was 3(2, 3)points at 1 month after operation, which was significantly lower than that of the open reduction group [4(3, 4) points] ( P<0.01). No significant difference was found in the VAS score at the last follow-up between the two groups ( P>0.05).The ASES scores of the arthroscopy group were (70.6±4.2)points and (90.2±3.7)points at 1 month after operation and at the last follow-up respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the open reduction group [(64.7±6.4)points and (87.5±4.9)points respectively] ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference in the Constant-Murley score between the arthroscopy group [(71.8±4.3)points] and the open reduction group [(70.9±5.3)points] at 1 month after operation ( P>0.05), while the Constant-Murley score of the arthroscopy group was (94.1±3.1)points at the last follow-up, which was significantly higher than that of the open reduction group [(89.2±4.7)points] ( P<0.01). At 1 month after operation and at the last follow-up, ranges of motion of the anterior flexion, abduction and posterior extension were (52.7±12.3)° and (140.0±16.9)°, (57.4±8.6)° and (125.0±14.3)°, and 16(15, 19)° and 25(20, 30)° in the arthroscopy group respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the open reduction group [(42.2±5.2)° and (110.9±14.0)°, (52.8±6.0)° and (103.7±11.7)°, and 10(10, 20)° and 16(15, 25)° respectively] ( P<0.05 or 0.01). At the last follow-up, it was found that bony union was achieved in both groups. There were no obvious complications such as incision infection or joint stiffnessin both groups. In the open reduction group, 2 patients had internal fixation failure within 1-3 months after operation but was treated with revision operation; 6 patients developed shoulder stiffness at 3-6 months after operation but had outpatient rehabilitation. The incidence rate of postoperative complications in the arthroscopy group [0%(0/20)] was significantly lower than that in the open reduction group [23%(8/35)] ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws, arthroscopic external anchor tension band fixation in the treatment of greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus has the advantages of earlier pain relief, better shoulder functional improvement, better recovery of shoulder mobility, and fewer complications.

Objective:To analyze the prognostic outcomes of 1 147 patients who underwent liver transplantation at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital and to summarize measures to enhance the efficacy of liver transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and follow-up data of 1 147 liver transplant patients at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital.Results:The overall postoperative 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates for the 1 147 liver transplant patients were 87.20%, 73.40%, and 65.60%, respectively. The survival rates for benign disease liver transplant recipients were 88.01%, 84.98%, and 81.39% at 1, 3, and 5 years post-transplant, respectively, compared to recipients transplanted for malignancies of 78.11%, 64.41%, and 60.06% (all P<0.001). Among the mid vs more recent period, patients' 1-year and 3-year postoperative survival rates were 84.20%, 70.80% vs 90.50%, 71.70%, respectively,significantly in favor of recently enrolled patients ( P=0.022). In the complex surgery group, patients' 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 82.70%, 65.50%, 56.70%, while in less complicated group, it was 89.00%, 76.50%, 69.20% ( P<0.001). The primary causes of death for benign disease recipients were multi-organ failure (4.1%), while in recipients with malignant disease primary cause of death was tumor recurrence (23.7%). Postoperative complications included primary graft dysfunction, delayed graft function recovery, portal vein thrombosis, hepatic artery thrombosis, biliary stricture, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, and graft-versus-host disease, with occurrence rates of 1.05%, 6.89%, 1.92%, 0.44%, 2.00%, 0.61%, and 0.44%, respectively. Conclusions:With the continuous improvement in surgical techniques and perioperative care levels, the 3-year survival rate of recipients at our center has increased. Malignant diseases and complex liver transplantation remain crucial factors affecting recipient prognosis, highlighting the need to further enhance comprehensive treatment capabilities for patients with malignant diseases and complex surgeries.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of selective dorsal rhizotomy with small incision under electrophysiological monitoring in lower limb spasticity.Methods:Twenty patients with lower limb spasticity due to craniocerebral injury admitted to Department of Neurosurgery,Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023 were selected. Target muscles (Ashworth Scale graded 1 + or higher) were identified preoperatively. Intraoperatively, the lower L 1 spinous process and the upper L 2 spinous process were resected to expose the cauda equina nerves. A bipolar stimulator was applied to electrically stimulate the cauda equina nerves root by root to identify the sensory nerves of the target muscles; subsequently, strings of electrical stimulation were given, 50% cauda equina nerves were cut off if no contraction of the contralateral muscles was seen, and 75% were cut off if contraction of the contralateral muscles was noted. Motor function and muscle tension were assessed and compared before and 6 months after surgery by Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and Ashworth spasticity scale. Complications early after surgery and 6 months after surgery were observed. Results:The most common targeted muscles in these 20 patients included the gastrocnemius (the medial and lateral side, n=20), followed by the biceps femoris ( n=12) and the adductor muscles of thigh ( n=9). Number of nerves intraoperatively cut in patients with GMFCS grading 1-4 was 5.40±1.84, 9.50±6.36, 11.67±5.86, and 14.00±5.66, respectively, with significant differences ( F=5.506 , P=0.009). Grading of Ashworth spasticity scale of the target muscles before surgery in these 20 patients showed significant difference compared with that at 6 months after surgery ( P<0.05), and average rank indicated that Ashworth spasticity scale of target muscles 6 months after surgery was graded obviouly better than that before surgery. In addition, the GMFM-66 total scores and major joint motion scores of the patients 6 months after surgery were significantly higher than those before surgery ( P<0.05). Fifteen patients had fever early after surgery, 18 patients had incisional pain, and 1 patient developed reversible hypesthesia of the lower extremities; these symptoms disappeared 0.5-4.0 years after surgery. No patients developed lower limb hypokinesia, urinary and defecation disorders, or spinal deformities. Conclusion:Selective dorsal rhizotomy with small incision under electrophysiological monitoring used in this study can effectively reduce surgical trauma and relieve lower limb spasticity due to craniocerebral injury, enjoying high surgical safety.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of berberine (BBR) against ionizing radiation injury in rats and its mechanism of action. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups: normal control group, 1-Gy radiation group, 1-Gy radiation plus low-dose BBR (50 mg/kg) group, 1-Gy radiation plus high-dose BBR (150 mg/kg) group, 3-Gy radiation group, 3-Gy radiation plus low-dose BBR (50 mg/kg) group, and 3-Gy radiation plus high-dose BBR (150 mg/kg) group. All the groups except the normal control group were exposed to external irradiation with a medical electron linear accelerator, followed by BBR administration by gavage for consecutive ten days. The serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by using the micromethod. The pathological changes of the bone marrow and small intestine were observed with HE staining. Results Compared with the normal control group, the radiation groups showed significantly increased MDA levels (P < 0.05), significantly decreased SOD and GSH levels (P < 0.05), and more severe pathological damage of the bone marrow and small intestine. Compared with the radiation groups, the BBR groups showed significantly decreased MDA levels (P < 0.05), significantly increased SOD and GSH levels (P < 0.05), and reduced pathological damage to the bone marrow and small intestine, which were more marked in the high-dose BBR group. Conclusion BBR has a certain protective effect against radiation injury in rats, which may be through increasing the activity of antioxidant substances, enhancing free radical clearance, and thereby alleviating free radicals-caused oxidative damage.

Objective:To analyze the application value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the detection of pathogenic bacteria in brain abscesses.Methods:The data of patients with brain abscess in Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent stereotaxic abscess puncture and drainage. According to the different methods of pathogen detection, they were divided into bacterial culture group (bacterial culture only) and mNGS group (bacterial culture with mNGS). The clinical symptoms, abscess site, bacterial culture and mNGS results, antibiotic application protocol and prognosis of the patients were analyzed. The bacterial detection results of the two groups were analyzed, and the antibiotic application and prognosis were compared. χ 2 test, exact probability method and Mann Whitney test were used to compare the difference between the two groups. Results:A total of 43 patients with brain abscess were enrolled, including 21 cases in bacterial culture group and 22 cases in mNGS group. The positive rate of bacteria culture group was 42.9% (9/21), the positive rate of bacteria culture group was 45.5% (10/22), and the positive rate of mNGS detection was 100% (22/22). Only 3 cases in the bacterial culture group could have a clear bacterial source, while 17 cases in the mNGS group could have a clear bacterial source according to the bacterial results, showing a significant statistical difference between the two groups (χ 2=19.69, P<0.001). The return time of bacterial culture was 7.0 (4.0,7.0) days, and the average return time of mNGS was 1.5 (1.5,1.5) days, the difference of bacterial return time between the two groups was statistically significant ( Z=0.00, P<0.001). The cost of antibiotic use in bacterial culture group was 24.00 (5.60,31.00) thousands yuan, and the cost of antibiotic use in mNGS group was 12.00 (2.10, 20.00) thousands yuan, and there was significant statistical difference between them ( Z=5.22, P=0.026). Conclusions:MNGS can quickly and accurately identify the types and sources of brain abscess pathogens, guide the clinical application of antibiotics more targeted, reduce the cost of antibiotic use, and is an effective method for the detection of brain abscess pathogenic bacteria.

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis,diagnosis and treatment of negative pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the 5 patients with NPH admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. All of the patients underwent lumbar puncture and ventricular puncture to test the pressure. Three patients underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), the outcome of the patients was observed.Results:The pressure of subarachnoid was not equal to intraventricular, and the pressure of intraventricular was negative. Cisternography showed cerebrospinal fluid circulation obstruction in all 5 cases. The symptoms of 1 patient were improved after external negative pressure drainage, 3 patients were improved after further ETV and 1 patient had pulmonary infection without further surgical treatment.Conclusion:With the obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid circulation, the pressure of lateral ventricle and subarachnoid is different, when the pressure of brain or subarachnoid drop, the ventricular expansion under the effect of pressure gradient, intraventricular pressure drop even for the negative pressure. CT cisternography provides strong evidence for the diagnosis of this disease. External ventricular drainage with negative pressure and ETV are effective treatment methods.

Objective:To explore the safety and reliability of retrosigmoid approach BONEBRIDGE implantation in patients with auricle reconstruction using skin expansion flap.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 43 congenital aural atresia cases (43 ears) who underwent BONEBRIDGE implantation from September 2019 to January 2023 in Beijing Tongren Hospital. 30 males and 13 females were included in this work. The implantation age was 9-36 years old (median age=10 y/o). All cases underwent auricle reconstruction surgery using the posterior ear flap expansion method, with 36 cases using the single expanded postauricular flap method and 7 cases using two-flap method. BONEBRIDGE implant surgery was performed during the third stage of auricle reconstruction or after all stages. The hearing improvements were evaluated by comparing the changes in pure tone hearing threshold and speech recognition rate of patients before and after BONEBRIDGE implantation. Routine follow-up was conducted to observe the hearing results and complications. SPSS 14.0 software was applied for data statistical analysis.Results:All 43 patients healed well and had no surgical complications when discharge. The average bone conduction hearing threshold after surgery was (8.2±6.6) dBHL, and there was no statistically significant difference compared to the preoperative [(8.1±5.7) dBHL] ( P=0.95). After surgery, the threshold of hearing assistance with power on was significantly lower than that without hearing assistance [(32.8±4.6) dBHL vs (60.5±5.5) dBHL], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). The speech recognition rate of monosyllable words, disyllabic words and short sentences in quiet environment increased to 72%, 84%, and 98% respectively. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001). The speech recognition rate of monosyllabic words, disyllabic words, and short sentences in noise environment was significantly increased by 70%, 80%, and 92% respectively ( P<0.001). After a follow-up of 4 to 47 months (median=24 months), the hearing results were stable and the aesthetic outcomes were satisfying. One patient had delayed hematoma around coil of the implant. After aspiration and compressed dressing for one week, hematoma was not recurrent. Conclusion:For patients after auricle reconstruction using expanded postauricular flap, the preference of retrosigmoid approach is a good choice in terms of safety and reliability of operation, as well as aesthetic appearance.

Objective:To explore the impact of donor cold ischemia time(CIT)on early recovery after liver transplantation(LT).Methods:From January 2016 to December 2020, the relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 456 LT recipients.According to the value of CIT of donor liver, they were assigned into two groups of CIT >5 h and CIT≤5 h. T, Mann-Whitney U or Chi square test was employed for statistical processing.Intraoperative findings and liver function(LF)parameters of two groups were compared, including operative duration, intraoperative volume of hemorrhage, erythrocyte transfusion and anhepatic phase.LF parameters included alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and total bilirubin(TB)within Day 1-7 post-LT.Postoperative recovery was evaluated by postoperative stay of intensive care unit(ICU), normalization time of liver function recovery, length of postoperative hospitalization and incidence of postoperative complications.Results:Among them, 407(89.3%)patients underwent classic orthotopic LT.Median CIT of donor liver was 309 min.In CIT≤5 h and CIT >5 h groups, operative duration was[(446.3+ 76.8)vs.(526.0+ 98.1)min], anhepatic phase time[(51.9+ 13.3)vs.(62.6+ 18.9)min]and intraoperative volume of erythrocyte transfusion[(7.3+ 5.8)vs.(10.0+ 6.87)U]. And the differences were statistically significant( P<0.001, 0.001 & 0.001). Postoperative hospitalization stay was longer[(29.1±15.9)vs.(27.1±13.0)]day.And the incidence of postoperative complications was higher in CIT >5 h group[22.7%(54/238)vs.12.4%(27/218)]. And the difference was statistically significant( P=0.045 & 0.004). As compared with CIT≤5 h group, ALT, AST & TB spiked in CIT >5 h group at Day 1 post-operation and the differences were statistically significant( P=0.002, P<0.001, P=0.001). In CIT >5 h group, ALT rose at Day 2/5/6/7 post-LT( P=0.026, 0.026, 0.015 & 0.011), AST jumped from Days 2-6( P=0.002, 0.004, 0.035, 0.029 and 0.019)and TB increased from Days 2-7 post-LT and the differences were statistically significant( P=0.003, 0.014, 0.030, 0.039, 0.027 & 0.009). LF recovered at CIT≤5 h and CIT>5 h group[(10.0±3.2)vs.(10.7±3.3)day]. There were significantly statistical differences( P=0.044). Conclusions:Non-conducive to patient recovery, prolonged cold ischemic time aggravates early LF injury post-LT.