Objective:To investigate the influence of nutritional therapy on short-term efficacy of gastric cancer patients with malnutrition after radical gastrectomy.Methods:The prospec-tive randomized control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of patients with malnutri-tion after radical resection of gastric cancer who were admitted to the Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from December 2020 to December 2022 were selected. Based on random number table, all patients were allocated into the nutritional therapy group and the control group. Patients in the nutritional therapy group were given dietary guidance and daily oral nutrition supplements for 90 days after discharge, while patients in the control group were only given the same dietary guidance. Observation indicators: (1) grouping situations of the enrolled patients; (2) follow-up; (3) comparison of nutritional indicators at 90 days after discharge; (4) comparison of inflammation and physical function indicators at 90 days after discharge; (5) comparison of clinical outcome indicators at 90 days after discharge. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and independent sample t test was used for comparison between groups. Measurement data with skewed distribution were expressed as M(IQR), and non-parameter rank sum test was used for comparison between groups. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the chi-square test. Results:(1) Grouping situations of the enrolled patients. A total of 187 patients were selected for eligibility. There were 131 males and 56 females, aged (65±12)years. Of the 187 patients, there were 95 patients in the nutritional therapy group and 92 patients in the control group, respectively. The gender (male, female), age, cases with cardiovascular complications, cases with respiratory complications, cases with diabetes, surgical methods (partial gastrectomy, total gastrectomy), tumor staging (Ⅰ stage, Ⅱ stage, Ⅲ stage), body mass, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle index, albumin (Alb), hemoglobin (Hb), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), 6-minutes walking distance, grip strength were 68, 27, (64±12)years, 21, 4, 7, 59, 36, 17, 27, 51, (59±11)kg, (21.5±3.1)kg/m 2, (42±7)cm 2/m 2, (39±5)g/L, (112±25)g/L, 2.3(8.0), (456±97)m, (29±8)kg in patients of the nutritional therapy group, versus 63, 29, (66±13)years, 22, 3, 9, 56, 36, 14, 24, 54, (58±11)kg, (21.1±2.9)kg/m 2, (42±7)cm 2/m 2, (39±4)g/L, (111±26)g/L, 2.2(8.4), (459±98)m, (29±8)kg in patients of the control group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( χ2=0.21, t=-1.29, χ2=0.09, 0, 0.35, 0.03, 0.51, t=0.80, 0.85, 0.19, 0.14, 0.16, Z=-0.28, t=-0.17, 0.43, P>0.05). (2) Follow-up. All 187 patients were followed up for 90 days after surgery. During the follow-up period, all patients had good compliance and were able to follow the dietary guidance. Five patients in the nutrition therapy group experienced diarrhea and nausea adverse reactions, which were relieved after symptomatic treatment. No adverse reactions were found in the control group. (3) Comparison of nutritional indicators at 90 days after discharge. The body mass, body mass loss, BMI, skeletal muscle index, Alb, Hb were (58±10)kg, 2(6)kg, (21.0±2.9)kg/m 2, (41±7)cm 2/m 2, (41±4)g/L, (125±18)g/L in patients of the nutritional therapy group, versus (56±10)kg, 3(6)kg, (20.4±2.7)kg/m 2, (39±7)cm 2/m 2, (41±4)g/L, (121±21)g/L in patients of the control group. There were significant differences in body mass loss and skeletal muscle index between the two groups ( Z=-4.70, t=2.39, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in body mass, BMI, Alb, and Hb ( t=1.30, 1.51, 0.80, 1.32, P>0.05). (4) Comparison of inflammation and body function indicators at 90 days after discharge. The NLR, 6-minutes walking distance, grip strength were 2.1(5.1), (478±99)m, and (33±9)kg in patients of the nutritional therapy group, versus 2.2(5.7), (465±96)m, (30±8)kg in patients of the control group. There was a significant difference in grip strength between the two groups ( t=2.08, P<0.05), and there were no significant difference in NLR and 6-minutes walking distance ( Z=-1.28, t=0.91, P>0.05). (5) Comparison of clinical outcome indicators at 90 days after discharge. The quality of life score and readmission rate were (79±14)points, 4.2%(4/95) in patients of the nutritional therapy group, versus (78±16)points, 6.5%(6/92) in patients of the control group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=0.58, χ2=0.14, P>0.05). Conclusion:Nutritional therapy with daily oral nutrition supplements can improve the short-term nutritional status and body function of patients with malnutrition after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between vaccination doses and the duration of positive nucleic acid or antigen tests in Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients during omicron epidemic.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 26 to December 31, 2022 among COVID-19 patients from all community health service centers in 16 districts of Beijing municipality selected by multi-stage stratified cluster quota sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect the basic information, vaccination doses, results of nucleic acid or antigen tests of all subjects. The subjects were divided into 5 groups according to the doses of COVID-19 vaccination: the non-vaccination group, the 1, 2, 3 and 4 doses vaccination group. The relationship between vaccination doses and the duration of positive nucleic acid or antigen tests was analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.Results:A total of 10 506 COVID-19 cases were included in the study with the age of (43.3±13.7) years. The duration of positive nucleic acid or antigen tests was longer than 7 days in 59.4%(276/465), 51.5%(67/130), 50.6%(355/701), 46.1% (3 464/7 520) and 39.2%(662/1 690) of non-vaccination, and 1, 2, 3, 4 dose vaccination groups, respectively ( P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with non-vaccination patients, the vaccination dose was an independent protective factor for duration of positive nucleic acid or antigen tests>7 days, and the OR values were 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-0.9, P=0.015), 0.6 (95% CI 0.5-0.8, P<0.001) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.4-0.6, P<0.001) for 2, 3 and 4 doses of vaccination, respectively. Conclusion:The vaccination doses are independently related to the duration of positive nucleic acid or antigen tests in COVID-19 patients and the risk is gradually decreases with the increasing vaccination doses.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of brain-computer interface (BCI) training based on motor imagery on hand function in hemiplegic patients with subacute stroke. MethodsFrom June, 2020 to December, 2021, 40 patients with hemiplegia in subacute stroke from Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were divided into control group (n = 20) and experimental group (n = 20) using random number table. Both groups accepted medication and routine comprehensive rehabilitation, while the control group accepted hand rehabilitation robot training, and the experimental group accepted the robot training using motor imagery-based BCI, for four weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE), modified Barthel Index, modified Ashworth scale, and measured integrated electromyogram of the superficial finger flexors, finger extensors and short thumb extensors of the affected forearm during maximum isometric voluntary contraction with surface electromyography. ResultsTwo patients in the control group and one in the experimental group dropped off. All the indexes improved in both groups after treatment (t > 2.322, Z > 2.631, P < 0.05), and they were better in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.227, Z > 2.078, P < 0.05), except the FMA-UE score of wrist. ConclusionMotor imagery-based BCI training is more effective on hand function and activities of daily living in hemiplegic patients with subacute stroke.

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Objective:To evaluate the effects of berberine on necroptosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice and its relationship with adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 6(STAT6) pathway.Methods:Twenty-five 8-week-old male C57BL/6N mice were divided into control group, steatotic liver group, berberine treatment group(200 mg·kg -1·d -1), AMPK inhibitor Compound C treatment group(0.2 mg·kg -1·d -1), and STAT6 inhibitor AS1517499 treatment group(10 mg·kg -1·d -1). After 12 weeks of intervention, the mice and liver tissue were weighed, and serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), triglyceride, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β) as well as liver malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase were measured; liver tissue HE, Masson, and oil red O staining were performed. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of necroptosis related proteins[receptor interaction protein kinase 3(RIPK3), phosphorylated(p-) mixed lineage kinase domain-like(MLKL)], AMPK, p-AMPK, and p-STAT6. Results:Compared with control group, the steatotic liver group had higher quality of liver and liver index, and higher levels of serum AST, ALT, triglyceride, TNF-α, IL-1β, and oxidative stress( P<0.05); Liver tissue was full of cavity changes and inflammatory cell infiltration, widely distributed red lipid droplets and obvious blue fiber dyeing; The expressions of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were up-regulated ( P<0.05), but the levels of p-AMPK and p-STAT6 were relatively reduced ( P<0.05). Compared with the steatotic liver group, berberine intervention decreased liver quality and liver index, improved liver function, reduced blood lipid levels, pro-inflammatory factor expression and oxidative stress level, and significantly alleviated the degree of liver steatosis and fibrosis, the levels of RIPK3 and p-MLKL ( P<0.05), while the expressions of p-AMPK and p-STAT6 were increased significantly ( P<0.05). As compared with the berberine treatment, AMPK and STAT6 inhibitor treatment could offset the protective effect of berberine on steatotic liver, moreover, the expressions of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were increased ( P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in AMPK total protein content among the five groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Berberine can activate AMPK/STAT6 pathway to inhibit the necroptosis of hepatocyte, thus plays a protective role on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Objective:To explore the serum tenascin-C levels in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and its impact on the long-term prognosis.Methods:One hundred and thirteen STEMI patients who were admitted to the Department of Cardiology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University and successfully underwent emergency PCI from June 2015 to June 2016 were included in this prospective study. The serum tenascin-C levels were measured during hospitalization, and the patients were divided into tenascin-C ≥ 120 μg/L group and tenascin-C<120 μg/L group according to the serum tenascin-C level. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were observed during the 5 years follow up in all patients. According to the incidence of MACE, the patients were divided into MACE group and non-MACE group, and the predictive factors of MACE were analyzed. Continuous variables were presented as the mean±standard deviation and compared with the Student′s t-test. Categorical variables were presented as percentages and compared with the Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of serum tenascin-C level in predicting MACE in STEMI patients. Kaplan Meier survival analysis was used to compare the incidence of MACE between two groups. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of MACE during the 5 years follow up.Results:The serum tenascin-C levels in the STEMI patients increased on the first day after the onset of disease (46.5±24.8 μg/L), peaked on the third day (97.5±41.2 μg/L), and then gradually decreased. All patients were followed up for 5 years. There were 37 cases of MACE, including 4 cases of cardiac death (3.5%), 14 cases of heart failure (12.4%), 14 cases of recurrent myocardial infarction or revascularization (12.4%), and 5 cases of stroke (4.4%). For prediction of MACE, the area under the curve of the serum TN-C level was 0.953 (95% CI 0.918-0.988, P<0.05), which was thus a valuable biomarker in predicting MACE for STEMI patients. The incidence of MACE in the group of tenascin-C≥120 μg/L group was higher than that in the group of tenascin-C<120 μg/L group (86.4% [19/22] vs 19.8% [18/91]), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that serum tenascin-C level was an independent predictor of MACE for STEMI patients during the 5 years follow-up ( HR=1.007, 95% CI 1.001-1.012, P<0.05). In addition, other variables including high sensitivity C-reactive protein ( HR=1.028, 95% CI 1.007-1.049, P<0.05), and cardiac troponin Ⅰ ( HR=1.004, 95% CI 1.000-1.008, P<0.05) were also found to be the independent predictors of MACE. Conclusions:The serum tenascin-C levels in STEMI patients increased significantly during the acute disease phase. Detecting the serum tenascin-C levels is valuable for predicting MACE in STEMI patients, and serum tenascin-C is an independent predictor of MACE in STEMI patients during the long-term follow-up period after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: To investigate the effect of berberine on programmed necrosis of hepatocytes induced by metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in mice and its related molecular mechanism. Methods: Twenty male C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=5 in each group): control group (S), fatty liver group (H), berberine group(B), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 inhibitor group (Nrf2), and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) group (A). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations were detected at the end of week 12 to calculate fatty liver index (liver mass/body mass ratio). Liver tissue was stained with HE, Masson and Oil Red O, and SAF score was used to evaluate the degree of liver injury. The expression levels of hepatic programmed necrosis-related proteins, namely receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), phosphorylated mixed series protease-like domain (p-MLKL) and Nrf2 were detected by Western blot method. One-way ANOVA was used for intragroup comparisons and LSD-t tests were used for intergroup comparisons. Results: Compared with S group, H group serum ALT, AST, LDH, TG, TC, TNF-α, IL-1β levels and fatty liver index were significantly increased. The liver tissue was filled with vacuolar-like changes and inflammatory cell infiltration. Numerous red lipid droplets were observed with oil red O staining. Collagen fiber hyperplasia was evident with Masson staining. SAF scores (6.60 ± 0.55 and 0.80 ± 0.45) were significantly increased. The expressions of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were up-regulated. Nrf2 level was relatively increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with H group, berberine intervention group liver biochemical indexes, lipid levels, pro-inflammatory mediator expression, fatty liver index, and SAF score were significantly reduced, and the expression of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were down-regulated, while Nrf2 levels were further increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with B group, treatment with Nrf2 inhibitor had antagonized the protective effect of berberine on fatty liver. Serum ALT, AST, LDH, TG, TC and TNF-α, IL-1β levels, fatty liver index, and SAF scores were significantly increased and the expressions of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were relatively increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Berberine can significantly improve the metabolic-associated fatty liver disease injury in mice, and its mechanism is related to activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of programmed necrosis of hepatocytes.
Animals ; Berberine/therapeutic use* ; Fatty Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Necrosis

Objective:To explore the treatment efficacy of neuroendoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle in patients with Chiari malformation type I.Methods:Ninety-five patients with Chiari malformation type I, admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to January 2020, were chosen in our study. Patients from observation group ( n=57) were treated with posterior cranial fossa decompression+subdural tonsillectomy+endoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle+enlarged reconstruction of the occipital cistern. Patients from control group ( n=38) were treated with posterior fossa decompression+subdural tonsillectomy+enlarged reconstruction of the occipital cistern. All patients were followed up for one year. Data of surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative length of hospital stay, and incidence of complications were retrospectively analyzed in patients from the two groups, and the imaging changes of spinal cavity were observed before surgery and during postoperative follow-up. Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale (CCOS) was used to evaluate the prognoses of all patients (scores of 11-16 were defined as good prognosis). The differences of good prognosis rate among patients with different gender, age, degrees of tonsillar herniation and distributions of spinal cavity segments were analyzed. Results:There was no significant difference in surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative length of hospital stay or incidence of complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). As compared with the control group (65.5%), the observation group had higher syringomyelia minification (75.5%) during postoperative follow-up, without significant difference ( P>0.05). The good prognosis rate of the observation group during postoperative follow-up (91.2%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (78.9%, P<0.05). Female patients, patients with age≤45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level below the atlas had significantly higher good prognosis rate than male patients, patients with age>45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level between the foramen magnum and the atlas during postoperative follow-up, respectively ( P<0.05). Conclusion:As compared with conventional surgery, neuroendoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle is more effective in patients with Chiari malformation type I, and the good prognosis rate is likely higher in female patients, patients with age≤45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level below the atlas.

This study probed the protective effect of recombinant

Objective:To evaluate the role of silencing information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factors E2-related factor2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in berberine-induced reduction of renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice.Methods:Thirty SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group), renal I/R group (RIR group), berberine+ I/R group (B group), berberine+ I/R+ SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 group (BE group) and berberine+ I/R+ Nrf2 inhibitor ATRA group (BA group). After the right kidney was removed, the left renal artery was clamped for 45 min followed by reperfusion to establish the model of renal I/R injury.In B, BE, and BA groups, berberine 100 mg·kg -1·d -1 was given for intragastric administration at 14 days before surgery.In group BE and group BA, EX527 5 mg·kg -1·d -1 and ATRA 10 mg·kg -1·d -1 were injected intraperitoneally at 3 days before surgery, respectively.The equal volume of normal saline was given for 14 consecutive days in group S and group RIR.Blood samples were collected from orbital vein at 24 h of reperfusion for measurement of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) concentrations, for determination of the interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) contents (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of SIRT1, Nrf2, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), caspase-1, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain (NLRP3) (by Western blot) and for examination of the pathological changes of renal tubules (with a light microscope). The damage to the renal tubules was scored. Results:Compared with group S, the concentrations of serum Cr and BUN, the contents of renal IL-1β and TNF-α and renal tubular injury score were significantly increased in RIR, B, BE and BA groups, the expression of SIRT1, Nrf2, ASC, caspase-1 and NLRP3 was up-regulated in RIR, BE and BA groups, and the expression of SIRT1, Nrf2, caspase-1 and NLRP3 was up-regulated in group B ( P<0.05). Compared with group RIR, the concentrations of serum Cr and BUN, the contents of renal IL-1β and TNF-α and renal tubular injury score were significantly decreased in B, BE and BA groups, the expression of SIRT1 and Nrf2 in group B, Nrf2 and ASC in BE group and SIRT1, ASC and caspase-1 in BA group was up-regulated, and the expression of ASC, caspase-1 and NLRP3 in group B, SIRT1 and NLRP3 in BE group and Nrf2 in BA group was down-regulated ( P<0.05). Compared with group B, the serum concentrations of Cr and BUN, the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α and renal tubular injury score were significantly increased in BE and BA groups, the expression of ASC, caspase-1 and NLRP3 in BE and BA groups was up-regulated, and the expression of SIRT1 in BE and Nrf2 in BA groups was down-regulated ( P<0.05). Conclusion:SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway is involved in the process of berberine-induced reduction of renal I/R, which is related to inhibiting pyroptosis in mice.