Human exhaled breath has great application prospects,e.g.,monitoring pharmacokinetics,disease diagnosis,due to its advantages such as non-invasive and high-frequency sampling.Breath samples can be collected from the oral and nasal cavity.However,the oral and nasal environment affect the chemical composition of breath sample.Therefore,the investigation on the chemical composition of mouth-exhaled breath and nose-exhaled breath is crucial for selection of appropriate sampling strategy for individual studies.In this work,secondary electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry(SESI-HRMS)was applied to analysis of respiratory metabolomics in real time.A quantitative analysis approach was established for 9 kinds of volatile organic compounds(VOCs)e.g.2-butanone,2-pentanone,ethyl acetate,methyl methacrylate,toluene,styrene,mesitylene,isoprene and limonene.The limit of detection was 2.3?240.8 ng/m3.The intra-day(n=6)and inter-day(n=18)relative standard deviations were 0.6%?4.6%and 4.3%?12.2%,respectively.Nine healthy subjects were recruited to investigate the chemical composition of mouth-exhaled and nose-exhaled breath.The results showed the good performance in quantitative analysis of 9 VOCs in breath air.It was found that the number of unique component(m/z)detected in mouth-exhaled breath(167)was 2.2 times greater than that detected in nose-exhaled breath(76),which might result from the complex environment in oral cavity.The signal intensity of commun component(163)was significantly different between mouth-exhaled breath and nose-exhaled breath.Additionally,the elemental composition analysis showed that the proportion of polar compounds detected in nose-exhaled breath was higher than that in mouth-exhaled breath.This study demonstrated that there was significant differences in the chemical composition between mouth-exhaled and nose-exhaled breath,which provided a theoretical basis for selection of exhalation mode.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of ixazomib-containing regimens in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma(MM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of 32 MM patients treated with a combined regimen containing ixazomib in the Hematology Department of the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang from January 2020 to February 2022.Among the 32 patients,15 patients were relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma(R/RMM)(R/RMM group),17 patients who responded to bortezomib induction therapy but converted to ixazomib-containing regimen due to adverse events(AE)or other reasons(conversion treatment group).The treatment included IPD regimen(ixazomib+pomalidomide+dexamethasone),IRD regimen(ixazomib+lenalidomide+dexamethasone),ICD regimen(ixazomib+cyclophosphamide+dexamethasone),ID regimen(ixazomib+dexamethasone).Results:Of 15 R/RMM patients,overall response rate(ORR)was 53.3％(8/15),among them,1 achieved complete response(CR),2 achieved very good partial response(VGPR)and 5 achieved partial response(PR).The ORR of the IPD,IRD,ICD and ID regimen group were 100％(3/3),42.9％(3/7),33.3％(1/3),50％(1/2),respectively,there was no statistically significant difference in ORR between four groups(x2=3.375,P=0.452).The ORR of patients was 50％after first-line therapy,42.9％after second line therapy,60％after third line therapy or more,with no statistically significant difference among them(x2=2.164,P=0.730).In conversion treatment group,ORR was 88.2％(15/17),among them,6 patients achieved CR,5 patients achieved VGPR and 4 patients achieved PR.There was no statistically significant difference in ORR between the IPD(100％,3/3),IRD(100％,6/6),ICD(100％,3/3)and ID(60％,3/5)regimen groups(x2=3.737,P=0.184).The median progression-free survival(PFS)time of R/RMM patients was 9 months(95％CI:6.6-11.4 months),the median overall survival(OS)time was 18 months(95％CI:11.8-24.4 months).The median PFS time of conversion treatment group was 15 months(95％CI:7.3-22.7 months),the median OS time not reached.A total of 10 patients suffered grade 3-4 adverse event(AE).The common hematological toxicities were leukocytopenia,anemia,thrombocytopenia.The common non-hematological toxicities were gastrointestinal symptoms(diarrhea,nausea and vomit),peripheral neuropathy,fatigue and infections.Grade 1-2 peripheral neurotoxicity occurred in 7 patients.Conclusion:The ixazomib-based chemotherapy regimens are safe and effective in R/RMM therapy,particularly for conversion patients who are effective for bortezomib therapy.The AE was manageable and safe.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of ceftazidime/avibactam(CZA)plus aztreonam(ATM)for New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase(NDM)carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infection after kidney transplantation.Methods:Clinical data are retrospectively reviewed for 11 RT recipients infected with NDM metallo-β-lactamase CRKP admitted into First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Jiaotong University and Affiliated Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from November 2018 to December 2019.Based upon treatment protocol, they are divided into two groups of ceftazidime/avibactam plus aztreonam(CZA-ATM, 5 cases)and other effective antibiotics(OAA, 6 cases).Age, gender, infection type, drug resistance gene, changes in body temperature and leucocyte count, treatment course and prognosis are summarized.Results:A total of 11 patients with NDM-producing CRKP infection after RT are recruited.There are seven males and four females with an age range of(19~66)(38.9±14.4)years.There are mixed pulmonary and urinary tract infections(3 cases), urinary tract infection(2 cases), pulmonary infection(1 case)and perirenal infection(5 cases).All isolates harbore NDM carbapenemase gene, 5 isolates carry Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase(KPC)gene and 1 isolate contained both imipenemase metallo-β-lactamase(IMP)and verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase(VIM)gene concurrently.Ceftazidime-avibactam plus aztreonam(CZA-ATM)is prescribed in five patients while the remainders receive OAA.No adverse reactions occurred in individuals on CZA-ATM and 2 cases on OAA have adverse reactions with a poor appetite and diarrhea.After 30-day infection, the curative cases of CZA-ATM and OAAs groups reach 4 and 5 respectively.No death occurred in neither groups at Day 30.And 90-day mortality is 0 and 1 respectively.Conclusions:For RT patients infected with NDM-producing CRKP, CZA-ATM combination therapy may be another effective treatment.

The scientific basis of acupuncture on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating ischemic stroke (IS) is discussed. MSCs transplantation has great potential for the treatment of tissue damage caused by early stage inflammatory cascade reactions of IS, but its actual transformation is limited by various factors. How to improve the homing efficiency of MSCs is the primary issue to enhance its efficacy. As such, the possible mechanisms of acupuncture and MSCs transplantation in inhibiting inflammatory cascade reactions induced by IS are explored by reviewing literature, and a hypothesis that acupuncture could promote the secretion of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) from ischemic foci to regulate SDF-1α/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) axis, thereby improving the homing efficiency of MSCs transplantation, exerting its neuroprotective function, and improving the bed transformation ability, is proposed.
Humans ; Ischemic Stroke ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Inflammation

Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A) are a group of polyhydroxy alkaloids extracted and isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine mulberry twig, which is mainly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition to acting as a glycosidase inhibitor in the small intestine after oral administration, SZ-A can also be absorbed into blood and widely distributed to target organs related to diabetes, exerting multiple pharmacological effects. It is important to elucidate the possible pharmacokinetic influences of SZ-A for its clinical rational applications, such as drug interactions, the effects of food and alcohol on the absorption of SZ-A. However, studies in this area are limited. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic interactions between orally administrated SZ-A (50 mg·kg^-1) and metformin hydrochloride (Met, 200 mg·kg^-1) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were examined. Then, the effect of food (standard feed) on the pharmacokinetics of SZ-A was investigated using fasting administration of SZ-A (50 mg·kg^-1) in rats as a control. Finally, we investigated the pharmacokinetic characteristics of SZ-A (50 mg·kg^-1) in different concentrations alcohol solutions using aqueous solution of SZ-A administered to rats as a control to evaluate the effect of alcohol on the bioabsorption of SZ-A. The results showed no significant pharmacokinetic interactions between SZ-A and Met after combination treatment. The standard feed had little effect on the pharmacokinetic profile of SZ-A. Alcohol retarded the absorption of SZ-A, resulting in a significant decrease in the C_max of SZ-A. The decrease was greater at higher alcohol concentrations; however, no significant difference was observed in the AUC_0-t. These results support the clinical rational applications of SZ-A. All animal protocols were approved by the Ethics Committee of Kangtai Medical Laboratory Service Hebei Co., Ltd. (Hebei, China) (No. MDL2022-01-17-1).

Esophageal cancer is a malignant tumor with a high incidence in China. At pesent, advanced esophageal cancer patients are still frequently encountered. The primary treatment for resectable advanced esophageal cancer is surgery-based multimodality therapy, including preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, such as chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy plus immunotherapy, followed by radical esophagectomy with thoraco-abdominal two-field or cervico-thoraco-abdominal three-field lymphadenectomy via minimally invasive approach or thoracotomy. In addition, adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy, or immunotherapy may also be administered if suggested by postoperative pathological results. Although the treatment outcome of esophageal cancer has improved significantly in China, many clinical issues remain controversial. In this article, we summarize the current hotspots and important issues of esophageal cancer in China, including prevention and early diagnosis, treatment selection for early esophageal cancer, surgical approach selection, lymphadenectomy method, preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, postoperative adjuvant therapy, and nutritional support treatment.
Humans ; Esophageal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Esophagectomy/methods*

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis

Objective: To analyze the incidence and the related risk factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, evaluate the accuracy of preoperative enhanced CT in judging retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis, and investigate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on the prognosis. Methods: Retrospective analyses were made on 398 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgery as the primary therapy and accepted retropharyngeal lymph node exploration and clearance during surgery in Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to clarify the related risk factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on prognosis. The retropharyngeal lymph nodes of 218 cases with available preoperative enhanced CT images were evaluated by two experienced radiologists and compared with postoperative pathological results. Results: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were confirmed in 54 of 398 (13.6%) cases according to postoperative pathology. The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative enhanced CT in the diagnosis of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were 34.6% and 91.1%, respectively, and the overall accuracy was 84.4%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the site of the primary lesion and pathological N stage were independent risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with primary lesion located in the posterior wall of hypopharynx (OR=4.83, 95% CI: 1.27-18.40), N2 stage (OR=6.30, 95% CI: 2.25-17.67), and N3 stage (OR=26.89, 95% CI: 5.76-125.58) were prone to retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. The 5-year overall survival rate of the 398 patients was 50.4%, and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 48.3%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that T stage, N stage, retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis, and radiotherapy were independent influencing factors for overall survival (T stage: HR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.54; N stage: HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.14-1.40; retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis: HR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.47-3.08; radiotherapy: HR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.38-0.76) and disease-free survival of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (T stage: HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.06-1.51; N stage: HR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.13-1.37; retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis: HR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.56-3.21; radiotherapy: HR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.40-0.77). Conclusions: Metastasis of retropharyngeal lymph nodes in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is not rare. Enhanced CT is of low accuracy and limited value in diagnosing retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Primary lesions located in the posterior wall of the hypopharyngx, N2 stage, and N3 stage are independent high-risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. The prognosis of hypopharyngeal cancer patients with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis is worse, and active surgical exploration and clearance can effectively reduce the mortality caused by retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis.
Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Prognosis ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoplasm Staging

Objective: To analyze the incidence and the related risk factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, evaluate the accuracy of preoperative enhanced CT in judging retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis, and investigate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on the prognosis. Methods: Retrospective analyses were made on 398 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgery as the primary therapy and accepted retropharyngeal lymph node exploration and clearance during surgery in Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to clarify the related risk factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on prognosis. The retropharyngeal lymph nodes of 218 cases with available preoperative enhanced CT images were evaluated by two experienced radiologists and compared with postoperative pathological results. Results: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were confirmed in 54 of 398 (13.6%) cases according to postoperative pathology. The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative enhanced CT in the diagnosis of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were 34.6% and 91.1%, respectively, and the overall accuracy was 84.4%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the site of the primary lesion and pathological N stage were independent risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with primary lesion located in the posterior wall of hypopharynx (OR=4.83, 95% CI: 1.27-18.40), N2 stage (OR=6.30, 95% CI: 2.25-17.67), and N3 stage (OR=26.89, 95% CI: 5.76-125.58) were prone to retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. The 5-year overall survival rate of the 398 patients was 50.4%, and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 48.3%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that T stage, N stage, retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis, and radiotherapy were independent influencing factors for overall survival (T stage: HR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.54; N stage: HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.14-1.40; retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis: HR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.47-3.08; radiotherapy: HR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.38-0.76) and disease-free survival of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (T stage: HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.06-1.51; N stage: HR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.13-1.37; retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis: HR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.56-3.21; radiotherapy: HR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.40-0.77). Conclusions: Metastasis of retropharyngeal lymph nodes in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is not rare. Enhanced CT is of low accuracy and limited value in diagnosing retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Primary lesions located in the posterior wall of the hypopharyngx, N2 stage, and N3 stage are independent high-risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. The prognosis of hypopharyngeal cancer patients with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis is worse, and active surgical exploration and clearance can effectively reduce the mortality caused by retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis.
Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Prognosis ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoplasm Staging

Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the main complications in patients with traumatic fractures, and for severe patients, the DVT can even affect arterial blood supply, resulting in insufficient limb blood supply. If the thrombus breaks off, pulmonary embolism may occur, with a high mortality. The treatment and rehabilitation strategies of thrombosis in patients with lower extremity fractures have its particularity. DVT in traumatic fractures patients has attracted extensive attention and been largely studied, and the measures for prevention and treatment of DVT are constantly developing. In recent years, a series of thrombosis prevention and treatment guidelines have been updated at home and abroad, but there are still many doubts about the prevention and treatment of DVT in patients with different traumatic fractures. Accordingly, on the basis of summarizing the latest evidence-based medical evidence at home and abroad and the clinical experience of the majority of experts, the authors summarize the clinical treatment and prevention protocols for DVT in patients with traumatic fractures, and make this consensus on the examination and assessment, treatment, prevention and preventive measures for DVT in patients with different fractures so as to provide a practicable approach suitable for China ′s national conditions and improve the prognosis and the life quality of patients.