ObjectiveTo investigate the immunomodulatory effect of polysaccharides from Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix herb pair（Qi-gui polysaccharides） on lipopolysaccharide（LPS）-induced RAW264.7 macrophages and to characterize the structure of the active component Qi-gui homogeneous polysaccharide（AAPS-4a）， and evaluate its protective effect on ulcerative colitis（UC）. MethodsThe effects of six Qi-gui polysaccharides（0.01-100 mg·L^-1） on the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells were assessed by cell proliferation and activity assay（CCK-8）， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to investigate the effects of the six polysaccharides（3， 10 mg·L^-1） on the secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α， interferon（IFN）-β， and nitric oxide（NO） in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. After screening for active polysaccharides， high-performance size-exclusion chromatography（HPSEC） was used to determine its homogeneity and relative molecular weight， then its characteristic functional groups were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FT-IR）， monosaccharide composition was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）， methylation analysis combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（GC-MS） was performed to determine the types and linkage modes of sugar residues， and one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance（NMR） were used to identify the sugar residue composition and configuration of the active polysaccharide. Finally， experimental animals were divided into the normal group， model group， AAPS-4a low-dose group（50 mg·kg^-1）， AAPS-4a high-dose group（100 mg·kg^-1）， and sulfasalazine（SASP） group （75 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， the acute UC mouse model was induced using 3.5% dextran sulfate sodium salt（DSS）. Each treatment group was administered the corresponding dose via oral gavage for 7 days， and changes in body weight were recorded. After treatment， the spleen index and disease activity index（DAI） score were calculated， TNF-α and interleukin-6（IL-6） levels in the serum were detected by ELISA， and histopathological changes in colon tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining. ResultsAt the cellular level， AAPS-4a exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of LPS-induced increases in TNF-α， IFN-β， and NO levels（P<0.01）. Structural characterization of AAPS-4a revealed that it was a homogeneous polysaccharide with a relative molecular weight of 7.6×10³ Da， consisting of mannose（Man）， glucose（Glc）， and galactose（Gal） in a molar ratio of 1.3∶23.9∶1.0. It was primarily composed of five sugar residues of 1，6-α-D-Glcp， T-α-D-Glcp， 1，3-β-D-Galp， 1，4-α-D-Manp， and 1，2-α-D-Galp. In vivo experiments showed that compared with the normal group， the model group demonstrated markedly increased DAI score and spleen index， significantly reduced colon length， and significantly elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-6（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the AAPS-4a high-dose group significantly reduced the DAI score and spleen index， as well as TNF-α and IL-6 levels， and improved colonic atrophy（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological observations showed that AAPS-4a significantly inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration in colon tissue and alleviated pathological damage. ConclusionAAPS-4a， a neutral homogeneous polysaccharide composed of 1，6-α-D-Glcp， T-α-D-Glcp， 1，3-β-D-Galp， 1，4-α-D-Manp and 1，2-α-D-Galp， is identified as a key bioactive component contributing to the anti-UC effect of the Qi-gui herb pair. Its immunoregulatory and anti-UC properties suggest its potential as a therapeutic agent for UC.

Objective To discuss the correlation of serum visceraladiposetissue-derived serineproteinase inhibitor(vaspin)and atrial fibrosis biochemical markers in atrial fibrillation(AF)patients.Methods The subjects were selected from inpatients in Shanghai Putuo District People's Hospital during January 2021 to October 2022.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine the levels of serum vaspin,C-terminal propeptide of prollagen type Ⅰ(PⅠCP),matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1),N-terminal type Ⅲ collagen peptide(PⅢNP),tissue matrix metalloproteinase inhibitory factor-1(TIMP-1)of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(PAF)group,persistent atrial fibrillation(PeAF)group,and control group.The correlation between serum vaspin and the above serum biochemical markers was analyzed.Results ①Levels of serum vaspin(9.51±1.47)ng/ml,PⅠCP(704.83±120.45)ng/ml,MMP-1(5.92±0.73)ng/ml,PⅢNP(63.34±12.24)ng/ml,and TIMP-1(7.56±0.90)ng/ml in PeAF group were significantly higher than those of PAF group and control group(P<0.05);②vaspin was significantly and positively correlated with PⅠCP,MMP-1,PⅢNP,TIMP-1 in PAF group and PeAF group.Conclusion Serum vaspin level of AF patients were significantly high and positively correlated with atrial fibrosis biochemical markers,which indicated that serum vaspin level might be closly related to atrial fibrosis in AF patients.It may be a potential marker to identify the degree of fibrosis in atrial fibrillation.

Objective To observe the value of susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI)based on 5.0T MRI for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)complicated with vein tumor thrombi.Methods Totally 63 HCC patients were retrospectively enrolled,among them 17 complicated with vein tumor thrombi.The efficacy of 5.0T SWI for detecting vein tumor thrombus was observed,and the image quality were compared between 5.0T and 3.0T.Results 5.0T SWI displayed vein tumor thrombi in 16 cases,except for 1 case with vein tumor thrombi in the upper segment of the left lateral lobe of the left portal vein.The liver edge score,overall image quality score,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of portal venous phase and hepatobiliary phase in 5.0T enhanced MRI were all higher than those in 3.0T(all P＜0.05).Conclusion 5.0T SWI was helpful for diagnosing HCC complicated with vein tumor thrombi.

Objective:To analyze the distribution of blood lipids and apolipoprotein E ( ApoE) gene in patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, and their relationship with ethnicity, gender, and age. Methods:A total of 102 patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases who received treatment in Southern Central Hospital of Yunnan Province (The First People's Hospital of Honghe State) from May 2019 to June 2020 were included in this study. Their blood lipid and ApoE gene distributions were analyzed. The correlations between blood lipid and ApoE gene distribution and ethnicity, gender, and age were analyzed. Results:There was a significant difference in total cholesterol level between male and female patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province [(4.10 ± 1.27) mmol/L vs. (4.70 ± 1.83) mmol/L, t = 1.87, P = 0.048]. There was no significant difference in total cholesterol level among different ethnic groups and different ages ( P = 0.343, 1.000). There were no significant differences in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels among different ethnic groups, different sexes, and different ages ( P = 0.562, 0.125, 0.158; 0.884, 0.068, 0.681; 0.262, 0.367, 0.965). There were no significant differences in blood lipid levels among different ethnic groups, different sexes, and different ages ( P = 0.890, 0.336, 0.142). No E2/E4 gene was found in all patients. E2/E2 and E2/E3 genes of ApoE accounted for 16.67%, E3/E3 gene accounted for 70.59%, and E3/E4 and E4/E4 genes accounted for 12.74%. There was no significant difference in the distribution of ApoE gene among different ethnic groups, different sexes, and different ages ( χ2 = 0.13, 0.69, 0.44, P = 0.936, 0.429, 0.804). Conclusion:Female patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province have higher total cholesterol levels than male patients. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels are not significantly correlated with ethnicity, sex, and age. Blood lipid abnormalities mainly manifest as low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels. The E2/E4 gene has not been found in this region so far.

Objective:To study the expression of forkhead box P1 (FOXP1) in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and its clinicopathological and prognostic significance.Methods:The clinical data of ICC patients treated with radical resection at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 1, 2013 to December 12, 2019 were retrospectively analysed. Of 48 ICC patients, there were 24 males and 24 females, with age of (59.1±10.1) years old (range 42 to 83 years old). Their clinicopathological data, including age, gender, tumor size, degree of differentiation, and staging were recorded. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of FOXP1 protein in ICC cancer tissues and the corresponding adjacent normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates and to construct survival curves of patients. Cox regression model was used to analyze factors affecting prognosis of patients.Results:Forty-eight ICC cancer tissues and 40 corresponding paracancerous tissues were collected. The positive rates of FOXP1 proteins in ICC were significantly lower than the adjacent normal tissues [54.2%(26/48) vs. 92.5%(37/40), χ 2=15.76, P<0.05]. The degrees of tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, organ invasion and TNM staging were related to expression of FOXP1 ( P<0.05). Forty-two patients were followed-up with a median follow-up time of 11.5 (7.75, 19.25) months. Cox multivariate analysis revealed that invasion to adjacent organs, lymph node metastasis, high TNM staging (stage Ⅲ) and negative expression of FOXP1 were independent risk factors affecting overall survival of ICC patients. The overall survival and recurrence-free survival of FOXP1-positive ICC patients were 17.5 months and 15.5 months, which were significantly higher than the 14.0 months and 11.1 months, respectively, in FOXP1-negative patients. Conclusion:Negative FOXP1 expression was closely correlated with aggressive biological behavior and poor prognosis of ICC. FOXP1 may be used as new diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Objective:To analyze the distribution of solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1b1 ( SLCO1B1) and apolipoprotein E ( ApoE) genes in a population from southern Yunnan. Methods:The data of 104 patients who received treatment in Southern Central Hospital of Yunnan Province (The First People's Hospital of Honghe State) between May 2019 and June 2020 were collected. The distribution of SLCO1B1 and ApoE genes and their relationship with nationality, sex, and age were analyzed and compared between different regions. Results:The percentage of patients carrying *1a/*1a, *1a/*1b, *1b/*1b, *1a/*15, *1b/*15, five phenotypes of SLCO1B1 gene, in the population from southern Yunnan was 4.81%, 32.69%, 42.31%, 12.50% and 7.69% respectively. Phenotypes *1a/*5, *5/*5, *5/*15 and *15/*15 were not detected. Normal metabolic phenotype of SLCO1B1 accounted for 79.81%, and intermediate metabolic phenotype of SLCO1B1 accounted for 20.19%. Weak metabolic phenotype was not detected. The percentage of patients carrying E2/E2, E2/E3, E3/E3, E3/E4, E4/E4, five phenotypes of ApoE gene in the population from southern Yunnan was 0.96%, 16.35%, 70.19%, 11.54% and 0.96% respectively. E2/E4 phenotype was not detected. The percentage of patients with ApoE protective phenotype, ApoE normal phenotype, and ApoE risk phenotype was 17.31%, 70.19% and 12.50% respectively. The observed polymorphism mutation frequency of SLCO1B1 and ApoE genes was consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium ( P > 0.05), suggesting constancy and a population representation. The Fisher test showed that SLCO1B1 gene distribution differed significantly between ethnic minorities and Han nationality in southern Yunnan ( P = 0.013). There was no significant difference in SLCO1B1 gene distribution between different sexes and between different ages (all P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in ApoE gene distribution between ethnic minorities and Han nationality, between different sexes, and between different ages in the population from southern Yunnan (all P > 0.05). Conclusion:SLCO1B1 gene distribution is related to nationality in the population from southern Yunnan, but it is unrelated to sex and age. ApoE gene distribution is unrelated to nationality, sex and age.

Background::The calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immune maintenance regimen that is commonly used after renal transplantation has greatly improved early graft survival after transplantation; however, the long-term prognosis of grafts has not been significantly improved. The nephrotoxicity of CNI drugs is one of the main risk factors for the poor long-term prognosis of grafts. Sirolimus (SRL) has been employed as an immunosuppressant in clinical practice for over 20 years and has been found to have no nephrotoxic effects on grafts. Presently, the regimen and timing of SRL application after renal transplantation vary, and clinical data are scarce. Multicenter prospective randomized controlled studies are particularly rare. This study aims to investigate the effects of early conversion to a low-dose CNI combined with SRL on the long-term prognosis of renal transplantation.Methods::Patients who receive four weeks of a standard regimen with CNI + mycophenolic acid (MPA) + glucocorticoid after renal transplantation in multiple transplant centers across China will be included in this study. At week 5, after the operation, patients in the experimental group will receive an additional administration of SRL, a reduction in the CNI drug doses, withdrawal of MPA medication, and maintenance of glucocorticoids. In addition, patients in the control group will receive the maintained standard of care. The patients’ vital signs, routine blood tests, routine urine tests, blood biochemistry, serum creatinine, BK virus (BKV)/cytomegalovirus (CMV), and trough concentrations of CNI drugs and SRL at the baseline and weeks 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 104 after conversion will be recorded. Patient survival, graft survival, and estimated glomerular filtration rate will be calculated, and concomitant medications and adverse events will also be recorded.Conclusion::The study data will be utilized to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early conversion to low-dose CNIs combined with SRL in renal transplant patients.Trial registration::Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800017277.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the first preferred treatment of benign gallbladder diseases such as gallbladder stones and gallbladder polyps, however bile duct injury is a serious complication of LC. Although bile duct injury is a rare complication, improper treatments will seriously affect the quality of life or even threaten life. Therefore, the prevention and correct treatments of bile duct injury in LC are crucial. Based on domestic and overseas researches, the authors investigate risk factors for bile duct injury in LC, share experiences of timely detection, diagnosis and treatment, so as to provide references for hepatic and biliary surgeons.

Biliary tract cancer is found in the middle and advanced stages mostly and patients will deprive surgical indications. Conversion therapy can make the stage of some patients down and thus make radical resection feasible. Biliary tract cancer is highly heterogeneous in clinical features, cell origin, histology, molecular biology and other aspects, resulting in a lack of specific and effective conversion therapy strategies. Currently, it is the important development direction to evaluate and classify different individual conditions and select individualized conversion therapy regimens. With the deepening of the research on the pathogenesis and the improvement of treatment protocols, the future conversion therapy will undoubtedly develop towards the direction of individualization and precision.

Biliary tract cancer is found in the middle and advanced stages mostly and patients will deprive surgical indications. Conversion therapy can make the stage of some patients down and thus make radical resection feasible. Biliary tract cancer is highly heterogeneous in clinical features, cell origin, histology, molecular biology and other aspects, resulting in a lack of specific and effective conversion therapy strategies. Currently, it is the important development direction to evaluate and classify different individual conditions and select individualized conversion therapy regimens. With the deepening of the research on the pathogenesis and the improvement of treatment protocols, the future conversion therapy will undoubtedly develop towards the direction of individualization and precision.