Objective:To investigate the value of quantitative parameters of amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI for preoperative assessment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) gene expression in endometrial cancer (EC).Methods:This research conducted a diagnostic pilot study involving 68 patients with pathologically confirmed EC at the First Hospital of Dalian Medical University from August 2019 to August 2023. Patients were categorized into Her-2-positive group (33 cases) and Her-2-negative group (35 cases) based on postoperative Her-2 gene expression results. Utilizing the APTw and DCE-MRI sequences, quantitative parameters including the asymmetric magnetization transfer ratio (MTR asym) for APTw and the volumetric transfer constant (K trans), plasma volume fraction (V p), extracellular mesenchymal space (V e), and rate constant (K ep) for DCE-MRI were acquired for the lesion site. Statistical differences in the values of each quantitative parameter between the two groups were evaluated using two independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test. The study incorporated quantitative parameters and clinicopathological data of patients to identify independent predictors of EC Her-2 gene expression through logistic regression analysis. A diagnostic model was developed using binary logistic regression analysis. The effectiveness of the parameters and diagnostic model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. DeLong test was used to compare the differences between the areas under the curves (AUC). Results:The study found statistically significant differences in MTR asym, K trans, and V e between the Her-2-positive group and the Her-2-negative group ( Z=2.55, P=0.011; t=-2.03, P=0.047; t=-2.13, P=0.037). However, the differences in V p and K ep were not statistically significant ( Z=0.58, P=0.560; Z=0.19, P=0.849). MTR asym emerged as a significant independent predictor of Her-2 gene expression in EC ( OR=1.016, 95% CI 1.003-1.030, P=0.014). Incorporating MTR asym, K trans, and V e, the diagnostic model yielded an AUC (95% CI) of 0.745 (0.625-0.864). The AUC (95% CI) for MTR asym, K trans, and V e alone were 0.680 (0.551-0.808), 0.623 (0.485-0.760), and 0.656 (0.523-0.789) respectively. The differences in AUC between the diagnostic model and individual predictors MTR asym, K trans, and V e were not found to be statistically significant ( Z=1.40, 1.92, 1.37, P=0.163, 0.055, 0.171). Conclusion:The quantitative parameters of APTw and DCE-MRI sequences can preoperatively assess EC Her-2 gene expression from a different perspective, with MTR asym potentially serving as a valuable independent predictor.

Objective:To use inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS)to screen biomarkers of element omics of thyroid cancer,and to establish a risk assessment model of element omics of thyroid cancer,so as to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer.Methods:A total of 200 patients with thyroid cancer who admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital from February to November 2020 were selected as the thyroid cancer group,and 50 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinations at hospital during the same period were selected as the healthy control group.The total amount of 28 trace elements,including iodine(I),calcium(Ca),iron(Fe),nickel(Ni),copper(Cu),zinc(Zn),selenium(Se),antimony(Sb),etc.,in their serum were determined by ICP-MS.The content of trace element,thyroid function,free triiodothyronine(FT3),free tetraiodothyronine(FT4),triiodothyronine(T3),tetraiodothyronine(T4),and thyroid volume of ultrasound examination of were analyzed,and then,a risk assessment model of elemental omics of thyroid diseases was established.Results:There were statistically significant differences in the contents of eight trace elements,including I,Ca,Fe,Ni,Cu,Zn,Se and Sb between the thyroid cancer group and the healthy control group(U=2.601,1.972,2.607,2.611,2.603,2.605,2.601,2.605,P<0.05),respectively.The I,Cr and Mn levels of female patients with thyroid cancer appeared increase,while there were significant differences in I,Mn,Fe,Ni,Cu,Zn,Se and Sb contents of male patients between the thyroid cancer group and the health control group(U=2.601,2.608,2.603,2.602,1.973,2.603,2.601,2.602,P<0.05),respectively.In thyroid cancer group,the FT3,FT4,T3,T4 correlated with I content(r=06209,0.5116,0.557,0.5923,P<0.05),respectively.There were correlations in the concentrations between Fe and Zn,between Cr and Mn,between Ca and Zn,between Se and Fe,and between Zn and Se in the thyroid cancer group(r=0.5523,0.5528,0.7158,0.5699,0.6371,0.5420,P<0.05),respectively.High concentrations of I and Mn were risk factors for thyroid cancer.The specificity and sensitivity of the risk assessment model of elemental omics of thyroid cancer were all larger than 95%.Conclusion:In patients with thyroid cancer,both of the serum Ca of female patients and serum Fe of male patients play important role besides cobalt(Co),Ni,Cu,Zn,Se and Sb play role,which can provide basis for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer.The risk assessment model based on elemental omics of thyroid cancer has favorable diagnostic performance.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in China. The integration of Chinese and Western medicine is an important feature of Chinese COVID-19 prevention and treatment. According to a series of evidence-based studies, TCM can reduce the infection rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in high-risk groups. For patients with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19, TCM can relieve the related signs and symptoms, shorten the period of nucleic-acid negative conversion, and reduce conversion rate to the severe form of the disease. For COVID-19 patients with severe and critical illnesses, TCM can improve inflammatory indicators and blood oxygen saturation, shorten the hospital stay, and reduce the mortality rate. During recovery, TCM can improve patients' symptoms, promote organ function recovery, boost the quality of patients' life, and reduce the nucleic-acid repositive conversion rate. A series of mechanism research studies revealed that capability of TCM to treat COVID-19 through antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, immune regulation, and protection of organ function via a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway approach.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Epidemics

Objective:To collect data on urinary flow rate in the elderly female population across the country and to analyze the range of reference values.Methods:This study enrolled 333 subjects from July 2020 to June 2022.The study implementation process was divided into two steps.In the first step, subjects completed an electronic questionnaire, which included basic information about the subject, a short form for urinary incontinence, and a scoring form for the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome.In the second step, the staff introduced the use of a mobile uroflowmetric device and distributed the instrument and materials.Uroflow rate data were automatically uploaded to a cloud database via the mobile phone.Subsequently, two or more physicians specializing in urinary control performed Uroflow rate-qualifying screenings and conducted statistical analyses.Results:A total of 333 subjects were enrolled in the study, and the researchers collected 1375 qualified urine flow rate records using a mobile urine flow rate instrument.The age of the subjects ranged from 60 to 84 years, with a mean age of 69 years.The reference ranges for urinary flow rate were found to be 24.8-26.2 s, with a mean urinary flow rate of 12.2-12.9 ml/s, a maximum urinary flow rate of 22.2-23.4 ml/s, and a time to peak of 8.5-9.7 s. The study observed a tendency for both maximal and mean urinary flow rates to decrease in older women as their age increased(Pearson correlation coefficient: -0.1, P<0.001). Conclusions:The uroflow rate of older women decreases with aging.Specifically, the average uroflow rate of women over 80 years old is lower than that of other age groups.This study aims to establish normal uroflow parameters for uroflowmetry in healthy older women in China.

Purpose: We aimed to explore whether the prognosis of patients treated with capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) or S-1 and oxaliplatin (SOX) regimens who received fewer cycles of chemotherapy after D2 radical resection for gastric cancer (GC) would be non-inferior to that of patients who received the standard number of cycles of chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Data on patients who received XELOX or SOX chemotherapy after undergoing D2 radical resection at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital between January 2011 and May 2016 were collected. Results: In patients who received 4, 6, and 8 cycles of chemotherapy, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 59.4%, 64.8%, and 62.7%, respectively. Compared to patients who received 4 cycles of chemotherapy, those who received 6 cycles (hazard ratio [HR], 0.882; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.599–1.299; P=0.52) or 8 cycles (HR, 0.882; 95% CI, 0.533–1.458; P=0.62) of chemotherapy did not exhibit significantly prolonged OS. The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of patients who received 4, 6, and 8 cycles of chemotherapy was 62.1%, 67.2%, and 60.8%, respectively. Compared to patients who received 4 cycles of chemotherapy, those who received 6 cycles (HR, 0.835; 95% CI, 0.572–1.221; P=0.35) or 8 cycles (HR, 0.972; 95% CI, 0.606–1.558; P=0.91) of chemotherapy did not show significantly prolonged DFS. However, the 3-year DFS and 5-year OS rates of patients who received 6 cycles of chemotherapy appeared to be superior to those of patients who received 4 and 8 cycles of chemotherapy. Conclusions For patients with stage III GC, 4 to 6 cycles of XELOX or SOX chemotherapy may be a favorable option. This study provides a rationale for further randomized clinical trials.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a lysosome-dependent selective degradation pathway implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms that regulate CMA are not fully understood. Here, using unbiased drug screening approaches, we discover Metformin, a drug that is commonly the first medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes, can induce CMA. We delineate the mechanism of CMA induction by Metformin to be via activation of TAK1-IKKα/β signaling that leads to phosphorylation of Ser85 of the key mediator of CMA, Hsc70, and its activation. Notably, we find that amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) is a CMA substrate and that it binds to Hsc70 in an IKKα/β-dependent manner. The inhibition of CMA-mediated degradation of APP enhances its cytotoxicity. Importantly, we find that in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), activation of CMA by Hsc70 overexpression or Metformin potently reduces the accumulated brain Aβ plaque levels and reverses the molecular and behavioral AD phenotypes. Our study elucidates a novel mechanism of CMA regulation via Metformin-TAK1-IKKα/β-Hsc70 signaling and suggests Metformin as a new activator of CMA for diseases, such as AD, where such therapeutic intervention could be beneficial.

Objective:To investigate changes in the bladder morphological structure and function and the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) pathway-related proteins in the bilateral spinal nerve amputated neurogenic bladder(NB) rat.Methods:A total of 64 female SD rats were included, and 32 of them underwent bilateral spinal nerve L6+ S1 amputation to construct the NB model and the others were used as sham operation controls.Rats in both NB and control groups received bladder cystometry 3, 6, 12, 24 weeks after corresponding operation.Collagen fibers in their bladder tissues were detected by Masson staining and Sirius scarlet staining.TGF-β1, Smad2 and Smad6 proteins were checked by immunohistochemical staining.TGF-β1 receptor Ⅰ protein was measured by Western blot.Results:Bladders in the NB group were instable, with bladder leak point pressure(BLPP) and underactive voiding pressures.The basal pressure [(22.10±2.51), (18.20±1.52), (31.20±2.82), (41.10±3.41) cmH 2O(1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa)] and bladder volume [(22.30±1.72), (49.10±5.54), (30.30±2.68), (13.50±1.52) mL] of the NB rats at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks were significantly higher than those of the sham operation controls[(3.51±0.45) cmH 2O and (0.52±0.04) mL], and the difference were significant(all P<0.05). The bladder size and thickness in the NB group firstly increased (3, 6 weeks) and then decreased (12, 24 weeks), but the bladder weight increased continuously.Masson staining showed disordered fibrous connective tissues, disintegrated layered bla-dder wall, hypertrophied smooth muscle tissues and deposited intramuscular collagen on the nerve-amputated bladder wall.Sirius scarlet staining suggested that 24 weeks after nerve amputation, collagen Ⅲ increased greatly, and the ratio of type Ⅲ/Ⅰ collagen fibers (3.14±0.71) was significantly higher than that in the sham group (0.88±0.21) ( t= 7.48, P<0.01). According to the immunohistochemical staining results, the expressions of TGF-1β and Smad2 increased while the pathway inhibitory protein Smad6 decreased with time in the NB group.Western blot showed that the expression of TGF-β1 receptor Ⅰ in the amputated bladder was 1.3 and 1.6 folds higher than that in the sham group 12 weeks and 24 weeks after operation( t=6.06, 14.45, all P<0.01). Conclusions:In NB rats with bilateral spinal nerve amputated, bladder contraction becomes paralysis, intravesical pressure increases, bladder normal structure disintegrates and the fibrosis pathway TGF-β1/Smads is activated.Therefore, the key step of development of pediatric NB is bladder fibrosis, which should be prevented as early as possibly in the clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the effect of optimized construction of green channel under plan-do-check-action (PDCA) on shortening the door-to-needle time (DNT) and improving early neurological improvement in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with intravenous thrombolysis.Methods:The clinical data of 120 patients with AIS treated with intravenous thrombolysis from June 2018 to September 2019 in Liangxiang Teaching Hospital of Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 60 patients were admitted to hospital before optimized as non-optimized group, and 60 patients were admitted to hospital after optimized as optimized group. The time from visit to CT examination completion, time from CT examination completion to informed consent, time from informed consent to intravenous thrombolysis, DNT, DNT ≤ 60 min ratio, National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score 2 h after intravenous thrombolysis and at discharge from hospital, early neurological improvement (ENI) rate, hospital stays, adverse outcomes and mortality were compared between 2 groups.Results:The time from CT examination completion to informed consent and DNT in optimized group were significantly shorter than those in non-optimized group: 29 (14, 36) min vs. 37 (21, 54) min, 55 (45, 67) min vs. 76 (54, 93) min, the DNT ≤ 60 min ratio was significantly higher than that in non-optimized group: 68.3% (41/60) vs. 35.0% (21/60), the ENI rate was significantly lower than that in non-optimized group: 28.3% (17/60) vs. 46.7% (28/60), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or<0.01). There were no statistical differences in the time from visit to CT examination completion, time from informed consent to intravenous thrombolysis, NIHSS score 2 h after intravenous thrombolysis, hospital stays, NIHSS score at discharge from hospital, adverse outcomes rate and mortality between 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The optimized construction of green channel under PDCA can effectively shorten the DNT of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with AIS, and may be significantly important for improving the long-term prognosis of patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of eradication therapy based on Helicobacter pylori (Hp) susceptibility and CYP2C19 genotype in children with refractory Hp infection. Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, 156 children with Hp refractory to amoxicillin+clarithromycin+omeprazole triple regimen in Baoding Children′s Hospital from December 2017 to May 2018 were enrolled. Ninety-two of them underwent Hp culture and CYP2C19 detection. Seventy-five cases with positive Hp culture were defined as culture successful group and were treated according to Hp susceptibility and CYP2C19 genotype. Seventeen cases with negative Hp culture were defined as culture failed group and were treated only based on the results of CYP2C19 genotype. Sixty-four children who did not have Hp culture and CYP2C19 gene testing were defined as the empirical eradication therapy group and were treated with quadruple regimen (amoxicillin+metronidazole+omeprazole+bismuth). Bacterial resistance, CYP2C19 polymorphism and therapeutic effectiveness between the three groups were compared using chi-square test. Results: Among the 75 positive Hp culture results, 72 (96%) were resistant to clarithromycin, 3 (4%) were resistant to metronidazole, 5 (7%) were resistant to levofloxacin, 5 (7%) were resistant to rifampicin, 1 (1%) was resistant to tetracycline, and none was resistant to amoxicillin and furazolidone. The CYP2C19 polymorphism in 92 patients showed that 43 (47%) were extensive metabolizer (EM), 9 (10%) were poor metabolizer (PM), and 40 (43%) were intermediate metabolizer (IM). In terms of the effectiveness, eradication rate in the culture successful group,culture failed group and empirical eradication therapy group were 99% (74/75), 88% (15/17) and 72% (46/64), respectively (χ²=21.325, P<0.05). The eradication rate in the culture successful group was significantly higher than that in empirical eradication therapy group (χ²=21.005, P<0.05), while there was no difference between empirical eradication therapy group and culture failed group (χ²=1.154, P=0.283). Conclusion Eradication regimen based on bacterial susceptibility and CYP2C19 genotype should be considered in children with refractory Hp infection.