Objective:To standardize the origin of Rubi Fructus by using ITS2 and matK molecular markers to identify Rubi Fructus and its analogues. Methods:The ITS and matK sequences of Rubus chingii Hu, Rubus corchorifolius L.f., Rubus hirsutus Thunb., Rubus parvifolius L., Rubus buergeri Miq. and Rubus lambertianus Ser. were amplified and sequenced. The hidden Markov model was used to remove 5.8S and 28S from ITS sequences. A total of 25 ITS2 sequences were obtained. And a total of 22 matK sequences were obtained by proofreading by Glustal software. MEGA software was used for matK and ITS2 sequences analysis, intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances caculation, and neighbor joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree construction. ITS2 secondary structure was predicted by ITS2 database and aligned by 4Sale software. Profile neighbor-joining (PNJ) phylogenetic tree was constructed based on combined ITS2 sequence and its secondary structure by ProfDistS software. Results:An obvious barcoding gap between Rubi Fructus and its analogues was showed. The topological relationship between NJ tree and PNJ tree was consistent, and each taxon exhibits monophyly. The ITS2 secondary structure of Rubi Fructus was significant different from its analogues.Conclusions:It is recommended that both ITS2 and matK markers can serve as DNA barcodes for identifying Rubi Fructus and its analogues. The addition of ITS2 secondary structure information can enrich the identification results and provide theoretical support for resource research and variety selection of Rubi Fructus.

Objective:To compare the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic duodenal-preserving pancreatic head resection(LDPPHR) with laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy(LPD) in the treatment of borderline and benign diseases of the pancreatic head.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. Perioperative data from 87 patients with non-malignant pancreatic head diseases who underwent LDPPHR or LPD were retrospectively collected in the Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery,Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2020 to December 2022. There were 49 male and 38 female patients with an age ( M(IQR)) of 57.0(16.5) years (range: 20 to 75 years). Forty patients underwent LDPPHR and 47 patients underwent LPD. Quantitative data following a normal distribution were compared using Student′s t-test, while quantitative data not following a normal distribution were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparisons of categorical or ordinal variables were made using χ2 test or Fisher′s exact test. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the risk factors associated with the rate of complications. Results:There were no statistically significant differences between the LDPPHR group and the LPD group in terms of reoperation rate,total hospital stay duration,postoperative hospital stay duration,90-day mortality rate,30-day and 90-day readmission rates,and 2-year tumor recurrence rate (all P>0.05). The complication rate was higher in the LDPPHR group compared to the LPD group (80.0%(32/40) vs. 51.1%(24/47), χ2=7.89, P=0.005),but there was no difference in the rate of Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications ≥Ⅲ between the two groups (10.0%(4/40) vs. 12.8%(6/47), χ2<0.01, P=0.947). Additionally,the rate of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) was higher in the LDPPHR group compared to the LPD group ( χ2=10.79, P=0.001),but there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of B,C grade DGE between the two groups ( χ2=0.48, P=0.487). There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula,bile leakage,post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage,intra-abdominal infection,and pulmonary infection between the two groups (all P>0.05). The results of the univariate logistic regression analysis showed that LDPPHR (compared to LPD, OR=3.83, 95% CI: 1.46 to 10.04, Z=2.73, P=0.006) and preoperative biliary stent placement (compared to non-use of biliary stent, OR=5.30, 95% CI: 1.13 to 25.00, Z=2.11, P=0.035) were risk factors for the complication rate,but neither was an independent risk factor for complication rate (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The preliminary results suggest that LDPPHR can achieve perioperative safety and effectiveness comparable to LPD.

The protein kinase B(Akt)pathway can regulate the growth,proliferation,and metabolism of tumor cells and stem cells through the activation of multiple downstream target genes,thus affecting the development and treatment of a range of diseases.Thioesterase superfamily member 4(THEM4),a member of the thioesterase superfamily,is one of the Akt kinase-binding proteins.Some studies on the mechanism of cancers and other diseases have shown that THEM4 binds to Akt to regulate its phosphorylation.Initially,THEM4 was considered an endogenous inhibitor of Akt,which can inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt in diseases such as lung cancer,pancreatic cancer,and liver cancer,but subsequently,THEM4 was shown to promote the proliferation of tumor cells by positively regulating Akt activity in breast cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma,which contradicts previous findings.Considering these two distinct views,this review summarizes the important roles of THEM4 in the Akt pathway,focusing on THEM4 as an Akt-binding protein and its regulatory relationship with Akt phosphorylation in various diseases,especially cancer.This work provides a better understanding of the roles of THEM4 combined with Akt in the treatment of diseases.

Objective:To study the influencing factors of thyroid diseases among residents in a coastal area, Dongtai City, and provide scientific basis for further prevention and control of thyroid diseases.Methods:Thyroid disease patients of Dongtai City in the coastal area diagnosed by Dongtai People's Hospital from January to December 2019 were selected as the survey subjects, and diagnosis of various diseases and their gender and age distribution were analyzed. In the case-control study, confirmed new cases were selected as the case group, and healthy individuals matched 1∶1 by village group, gender, and age as the control group. A questionnaire survey and related examinations such as urinary iodine test and thyroid ultrasound examination were conducted. The survey results were summarized and analyzed (Wilcoxon rank sum test, conditional logistic regression multivariate analysis).Results:(1) A total of 3 508 patients with thyroid diseases were diagnosed, accounting for 319.46/100 000 of the total population, including 2 616 female patients, accounting for 74.57%; 2 824 cases aged 30 to 69 years old, accounting for 80.50%; 1 539 cases of hyperthyroidism, accounting for 43.87%; and 961 cases of hypothyroidism, accounting for 27.39%. (2) A total of 984 cases were surveyed in a 1∶1 paired manner. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for thyroid diseases included monthly average income, family history, related surgeries, personality, working pressure, interpersonal relationships, and urinary iodine grading ( P < 0.05). The risk factors for hyperthyroidism included occupation, family history of hyperthyroidism, personality, family financial pressure, and interpersonal relationships ( P < 0.05), while the risk factor for goiter included urinary iodine grading ( P = 0.008). Conclusions:The occurrence of thyroid diseases in a coastal area, Dongtai City, may be related to family history, gender, age, personality, and working pressure. There is a correlation between goiter and low iodine nutrition level, which further confirms the correctness of the strategy of salt iodization in preventing and treating iodine deficiency disorders in coastal areas.

Objective:To compare the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic duodenal-preserving pancreatic head resection(LDPPHR) with laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy(LPD) in the treatment of borderline and benign diseases of the pancreatic head.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. Perioperative data from 87 patients with non-malignant pancreatic head diseases who underwent LDPPHR or LPD were retrospectively collected in the Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery,Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2020 to December 2022. There were 49 male and 38 female patients with an age ( M(IQR)) of 57.0(16.5) years (range: 20 to 75 years). Forty patients underwent LDPPHR and 47 patients underwent LPD. Quantitative data following a normal distribution were compared using Student′s t-test, while quantitative data not following a normal distribution were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparisons of categorical or ordinal variables were made using χ2 test or Fisher′s exact test. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the risk factors associated with the rate of complications. Results:There were no statistically significant differences between the LDPPHR group and the LPD group in terms of reoperation rate,total hospital stay duration,postoperative hospital stay duration,90-day mortality rate,30-day and 90-day readmission rates,and 2-year tumor recurrence rate (all P>0.05). The complication rate was higher in the LDPPHR group compared to the LPD group (80.0%(32/40) vs. 51.1%(24/47), χ2=7.89, P=0.005),but there was no difference in the rate of Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications ≥Ⅲ between the two groups (10.0%(4/40) vs. 12.8%(6/47), χ2<0.01, P=0.947). Additionally,the rate of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) was higher in the LDPPHR group compared to the LPD group ( χ2=10.79, P=0.001),but there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of B,C grade DGE between the two groups ( χ2=0.48, P=0.487). There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula,bile leakage,post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage,intra-abdominal infection,and pulmonary infection between the two groups (all P>0.05). The results of the univariate logistic regression analysis showed that LDPPHR (compared to LPD, OR=3.83, 95% CI: 1.46 to 10.04, Z=2.73, P=0.006) and preoperative biliary stent placement (compared to non-use of biliary stent, OR=5.30, 95% CI: 1.13 to 25.00, Z=2.11, P=0.035) were risk factors for the complication rate,but neither was an independent risk factor for complication rate (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The preliminary results suggest that LDPPHR can achieve perioperative safety and effectiveness comparable to LPD.

This paper summarizes the current situation and problems of the research on the theory of "Taibai Seven Medicines" through literature summary and surveys. Although the "Four Beams and Eight Pillars" theory of compounding has a long history, the current research progress of "Taibai Seven Medicines" is mostly focused on plant resources. There lacks researches on the theory of compounding, or development of compounding and large varieties based on "Taibai Seven Medicines". We call for the inheritance and protection of folk experience, and hope that the "Four Beams and Eight Pillars" theory can guide the application and development of the seven Taibai medicines. Therefore, increasing the research on the theory and teaching in undergraduate courses formulary in Chinese medicine are necessary in our province.

Background and Objectives: The search for a suitable alternative for urethral defect is a challenge in the field of urethral tissue engineering. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) possess multipotential for differentiation. The in vitro derivation of urothelial cells from mouse-iPSCs (miPSCs) has thus far not been reported. The purpose of this study was to establish an efficient and robust differentiation protocol for the differentiation of miPSCs into urothelial cells. Methods: and Results: Our protocol made the visualization of differentiation processes of a 2-step approach possible. We firstly induced miPSCs into posterior definitive endoderm (DE) with glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) inhibitor and Activin A. We investigated the optimal conditions for DE differentiation with GSK3β inhibitor treatment by varying the treatment time and concentration. Differentiation into urothelial cells, was directed with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and recombinant mouse fibroblast growth factor-10 (FGF-10). Specific markers expressed at each stage of differentiation were validated by flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay, immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting Assay. The miPSC-derived urothelial cells were successfully in expressed urothelial cell marker genes, proteins, and normal microscopic architecture. Conclusions We built a model of directed differentiation of miPSCs into urothelial cells, which may provide the evi-dence for a regenerative potential of miPSCs in preclinical animal studies.

Objective To explore the significance of the initial clinical symptoms and clinical manifestations of neuroblastoma(NB)to achive early identification of NB. Methods A retrospective study was performed on patients diagnosed with NB,who attended the Hematology Oncology Center,Beijing Childrenˊs Hospital from March 31st ,2007 to March 31st,2015. The clinical characteristics were compared between the children 〈1_year_old and≥1_year_old. The result was analyzed to compare the difference in clinical symptoms and tumor biologic characteristics of patients with different initial clinical symptoms between 2 groups. Results A total of 330 patients were included in the study,43 of them were younger than 1 year old,and their most common symptoms were cough and fever( each 17 cases,and accounted for 39. 5%,respectively);while the most common symptoms in patients≥1_year_old(287 cases)was fe_ver(177 cases,61. 7%),followed by lymphadenopathy(107 cases,37. 3%),bone pain(97 cases,33. 8%)and anemia (48 cases,16. 7%). The frequency of symptoms differed significantly between 2 groups(all P〈0. 05),such as fever (39. 5% vs. 61. 7%,χ2 ﹦6. 68),anemia(4. 7% vs. 16. 7%,χ2 ﹦6. 00),bone pain(0 vs. 33. 8%,χ2 ﹦18. 99),abdo_minal pain(0 vs. 25. 3%,χ2 ﹦10. 19),diarrhea(16. 3% vs. 3. 0%,χ2 ﹦12. 73),lymphadenopathy(7. 0% vs. 37. 3%, χ2 ﹦14. 12)and anorexia(9. 3% vs. 33. 4%,χ2 ﹦9. 21). Datients had fever,anemia,lymphadenopathy,cutaneous hemorrhagic spot or periorbital ecchymosis,bone pain,abdominal pain,exophthalmos,and anorexia early in the initial course of the disease,whose serum lactate dehydrogenase values were significantly increased(P〈0. 05). Datients suf_fered from fever,anemia,lymphadenopathy,bone pain,limbs dysfunctions,abdominal pain at the beginning of the disease,whose urine vanillymandelic acid values were higher than normal(P〈0. 05). Conclusions The study of sympto_mology suggests the most common symptoms in patients with NB 〈1_year_old are cough and fever,while those ≥1_year_old are fever,lymphadenopathy,bone pain,and anemia. Por patients with symptoms mentioned,carrying out the necessary NB_diagnose_related laboratory and imaging studies was statistically relevant to patientsˊ ages(〈1_year_old and≥1_year_old),which may contribute to earlier identification and diagnosis of NB.

Qinling is a treasury of medicine with abundant resources of herbs. Due to the goal of enriching teaching contents, quality of teaching and creating a Chinese materia medica teaching system. Based on the Qinling plant gene database, our education team presents a series of innovative thoughts, such as multidisciplinary contact, inheriting and carrying forward the folk medicine, attaching importance to the practical application of herbs in Qinling and theory with practice to enrich teaching contentsand creating Shanxi characteristic teaching system of Chinese materia madica.That makes a contribution to raise the level of teaching in modern traditional Chinese medicine and promote the development of medicine in Shannxi.