ObjectiveTo study the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes of children with alopecia areata， and provide evidence for TCM differentiation and treatment in clinic. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 800 children with alopecia areata admitted to the Hair Medicine Center of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January 1， 2012 to December 31， 2021. The clinical data of the children were collected using a four-examination information questionnaire， including clinical characteristics （age of consultation， age of onset， course of disease， family history， severity grading）， alopecia areata-related factors （triggers）， and four-examination information （including sleep， diet， emotions， bladder and bowel function， etc.）. Descriptive frequency analyses， rank sum tests， factor analyses and cluster analyses were performed， and the distribution of the major TCM syndromes was summarised with the clinical data. ResultsThere were 800 children with alopecia areata， including 449 males and 351 females； 8 cases （1.00%） were in infancy， 36 cases （4.50%） were in early childhood， 180 cases （22.50%） were in preschool， 380 cases （47.50%） were in school age， and 196 cases （24.50%） were in puberty at the time of consultation； the average age of consultation was 8.31±3.86 years， the average age of onset of disease was 5.40±3.82 years， and the average duration of disease was 2.94±2.77 years； 527 children （65.87%） with severe alopecia areata； 85 children （13.56%） had a family history of alopecia areata； 772 children （96.50%） had unknown triggers for their first alopecia areata， and 28 children （3.50%） reported the presence of obvious triggers， including fright （9 cases）， high fever （5 cases）， allergic reactions （4 cases）， micronutrient （zinc， iron， etc.） deficiencies （4 cases）， inappropriate diet （2 cases）， environmental factors （1 case， new house renovation）， atopic dermatitis （1 case）， atopic asthma （1 case）， and pneumonia （1 case）. A total of 40 four-examination information items were collected， among which the frequency of kicking quilts was the highest with 380 cases （47.50%）， followed by picky eating （369 cases， 46.13%）， sleeplessness （334 cases， 41.75%）， irritability （334 cases， 41.75%）， partiality towards certain foods （306 cases， 38.25%）， impulsiveness （297 cases， 37.13%）， dry stools （233 cases， 29.13%）， yellow urine （215 cases， 26.88%）， nail biting （213 cases， 26.63%）， bad breath （211 cases， 26.38%）. According to factor analysis and cluster analysis， five types of TCM syndromes were obtained， in order as qi and blood deficiency syndrome （110 cases， 13.75%）， spleen deficiency syndrome （114 cases， 14.25%）， kidney essence deficiency syndrome （140 cases， 17.50%）， dietary stagnation syndrome （150 cases， 18.75%）， and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome （286 cases， 35.75%）. Patients in each age group and SALT grading are mainly liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome. ConclusionThe TCM symptoms of children with alopecia areata are mainly based on qi and blood deficiency syndrome， spleen deficiency syndrome， kidney essence deficiency syndrome， dietary stagnation syndrome， and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome， of which liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome is the most common type at different ages and stages of the disease.

The construction of experimental animal models plays an important supporting role in research into the mechanisms of action of Chinese medicines.There have been increasing reports of the construction and evaluation of animal models of spleen deficiency;however,the construction method have involved different standards and there has been insufficient objectification of the evaluation indexes.In this review,we summarize the construction and evaluation method of animal models of spleen deficiency from the aspects of animal selection,model establishment,macroscopic characterization,behavioral experiments,and objective indexes of spleen deficiency,with a view to providing theoretical guidance for the construction of experimental animal models of spleen deficiency and references for the selection of animal model platforms for spleen deficiency.

Objective To investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Marsdeniae Tenacissimae Caulis(Tongguanteng)injection and extract in human osteosarcoma cells proliferation,migration,invasion,and apoptosis.Methods MNNG/HOS,Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells,and normal bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSC)were cultured in vitro.Cells were incubated with different concentrations of Tongguanteng injection and Tongguanteng extract(40,60,80 mg/mL).Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 assay and plate colony formation assay.Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by scratch assay and Transwell assay.Cell apoptosis was evaluated by Hoechst33342 staining and Annexin-V/PI double staining assay.Bax,Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 mRNA expression were detected using RT-qPCR.The protein expressions of JAK1,p-JAK1,STAT3,p-STAT3 and MMP9 were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,both Tongguanteng injection and extract significantly decreased the survival rate of MNNG/HOS and Saos-2 cells,inhibited cell clone formation,migration,and invasion,induced cell apoptosis(P<0.05,P<0.01),promoted Bax mRNA and protein expression,inhibited Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression,and up-regulated Caspase-3 mRNA and Cleaved Caspase-3 protein expression.Tongguanteng injection could significantly down-regulate the expressions of p-JAK1,p-STAT3 and MMP9 protein expression in Saos-2 cells(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Both Tongguanteng injection and Tongguanteng extract can significantly inhibit proliferation,migration and invasion of human osteosarcoma MNNG/HOS and Saos-2 cells,and induce apoptosis,with no significant difference in anti-tumor effect.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the activation of JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Marsdenia tenacissima in the treatment of breast cancer through network pharmacology and experimental verification.Methods Literature retrieval was conducted to obtain the active components of Marsdenia tenacissima.The SwissTargetPrediction database was used to predict the potential targets of these active components.Targets of breast cancer were obtained from GeneCards,GEPIA2,OMIM,PharmGKB and TTD databases.The intersection targets were obtained,and a Marsdenia tenacissima-breast cancer-targets network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.0 software.The core targets were identified through protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis,followed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis to screen relevant signaling pathways.Molecular docking validation was performed for the top 10 key targets and major active components.The human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was treated with Marsdenia tenacissima injection in vitro.Cell proliferation ability was detected by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay.Cell apoptosis was detected by Calcein-AM/PI staining and flow cytometry.Cell migration ability was detected by Transwell assay.Western blot experiment was used to validate the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.Results Totally 37 active components and 276 potential targets against breast cancer were screened from Marsdenia tenacissima,including 11alpha-O-Benzoyl-12beta-O-acetyl tenacigenin B,Caffeic acid,Drevogenin A and Kaempferol.25 core targets were screened by PPI network such as AKT1,EGFR,TNF,CTNNB1 and IL-6,which mainly affected the estrogen signaling pathway,ErbB signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,etc.The molecular docking results showed that the main active components of Marsdenia tenacissima exhibited good binding activities with the core targets AKT1,ALB,CASP3,ESR1 and TNF.The results of in vitro experiments showed that Marsdenia tenacissima injection could inhibit the proliferation and migration ability of MDA-MB-231 cells(P<0.01,P<0.001)and induce apoptosis(P<0.001),as well as inhibit the activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Marsdenia tenacissima may exert its anti-breast cancer effects through multiple targets and pathways,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness， safety and economics of Aidi injection combined with first-line chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）， and to provide evidence-based reference for clinical drug use and decision. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， Embase， the Cochrane Library， CNKI， Wanfang databases， VIP and Health Technology Assessment （HTA） related websites， HTA reports， systematic evaluation/meta-analysis and economic evaluations about Aidi injection combined with first-line chemotherapy for NSCLC were collected from the inception to Aug. 2022. After data extraction and quality evaluation， descriptive analysis was performed for the results of included studies. RESULTS A total of 16 pieces of literature were included， involving 1 piece of systematic review， 13 pieces of meta-analysis， 2 pieces of pharmacoeconomic studies. Compared with first-line chemotherapy， Aidi injection combined with first-line chemotherapy could improve response rate and disease control rate， prolonged survival time， improved survival quality， reduced the incidence of nausea and vomiting， leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia， and improved immune function， but had controversial effects on liver and kidney function. With the payment threshold set by 3 times the national per capita GDP in 2019， Aidi injection combined with first-line chemotherapy had a more economical probability. CONCLUSIONS Aidi injection combined with first-line chemotherapy for NSCLC has good efficacy and safety， and has certain economic benefits. However， given the limited pharmacoeconomic studies included， the economic conclusions obtained need to be carefully interpreted.

Objective    To investigate the diagnostic value and safety of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound in peripheral pulmonary nodules. Methods    The clinical imaging, surgical and pathological data of 60 patients with 76 peripheral pulmonary nodules who underwent electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound guided biopsy in the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from June 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis rate and complications were analyzed and summarized. The 76 pulmonary nodules were divided into a small pulmonary nodules group (10 nodules, diameter≤1 cm) and a pulmonary nodules group (1 cm

Objective To analyze the incidence and risk factors of contralateral radiculopathy in patients after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgery.Methods A retrospective study was conducted within 587 patients (average age 57.1 years,range 19-71 years) who underwent unilateral TILF from January 2010 to January 2014 in our hospital,including 334 males and 253 females.Patients were divided into a symptomatic group and an asymptomatic group.The causes of contralateral neurological symptom were evaluated according to the radiological data.The difference of pre-and post-operative contralateral foramen area (CFA),segmental angle (SA) and the clinical treatment outcomes (VAS,JOA score) were compared between two groups.Results Patients were followed up for 9-21 months,average 15.1 months.Post-operative contralateral radiculopathy occurred in 28 (4.8％) of the patients who underwent unilateral TLIF,including contralateral foraminal stenosis in 16 (57.1％,16/28),screw malposition in 5 (17.9％,5/28),contralateral lateral recess stenosis and/or newly developed disc herniation in 3 (10.7％,3/28),hematoma in 1 (3.6％,1/28),cement compression in 1 (3.6％,1/28),and unknown origin in 2 patients (7.1％,2/28).Nineteen (3.2％,19/587) of the 28 patients received revision surgery because of ineffective conservative treatment.Compared with the asymptomatic group,the difference of pre-and post-operative CFA was significantly smaller (-13.8±13.2 mm2) in symptomatic group,while the SA was significantly greater (7.0°±9.8°) in symptomatic group.The JOA score at 3 months after the surgery was significantly improved in asymptomatic group (63.0％±18.1％,P＜0.05).Conclusion The incidence rate of contralateral neurological symptom was 4.8％ in the present study.The potential risk factors associated with contralateral radiculopathy were predominantly contralateral foraminal stenosis and screw malposition.The excessive restoration of SA might have an effect on contralateral nerve compression,which should arouse the attention of the surgeon.

Objective To develop a three-dimensional finite element model of atlantoaxial instability and compare the biomechanical properties of percutaneous anterior transarticular screw (ATS) and posterior transarticular screw (PTS) fixations.Methods A pathologic three-dimensional finite element model of atlantoaxial instability was developed from CT images of the upper cervical spine of volunteers with the aid of softwares,such as Mimics,Freeform,and Ansys.Percutaneous C1-2 ATS and PTS fixation modes were simulated and implanted to the model.Under the preload of 40 N and force moment of 1.5 Nm in anterior flexion,posterior extension,lateral bending,and axial rotation,biomechanical properties of the two fixation modes were compared.Results Under the four loading modalities,both fixation techniques provided maximal inhibition on C1-2 movement.The maximal stress for ATS was larger than that for PTS and maximal displacement for ATS was smaller than that for PTS.Conclusions Both ATS and PTS provide similar outlook and are effective to stabilize the atlantoaxial joint.Biomechanical performance of percutaneous C1-2 ATS is better than that of percutaneous C1-2 PTS.

Complete burst fractures of the L₅ is relatively uncommon. How to accomplish a rigid internal fixation as well as preserve motor function is an enormous challenge. We report such a case treated via a single posterior vertebrectomy with 270-degree decompression and reconstruction using titanium mesh cage. The disc between L₅/S₁ was preserved by placing the titanium mesh cage on the inferior endplate of the L₅. We hope this method can offer a possible solution for other surgeons when they meet a similar fracture pattern.
Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Surgical Mesh ; Titanium

Objective To investigate complications associated with Coflex interspinous process device for degenerative lumbar disc diseases and methods to treat.Methods Clinical data of 121 patients with degenerative lumbar disc diseases,who had undergone surgical decompression and additional fixation of Coflex between November 2007 and June 2011,was analyzed retrospectively.There were 76 males and 45 females,aged from 37 to 75 years (average,54.6 years).Surgery-related complications and sequelae were recorded and analyzed.Results Surgery-related complications occurred in 10 patients,and the incidence was 8.3％ (10/121).There were 3 cases of device-related complications,including wing break in 1 case,prosthetic loosening in 1 case and spinal process fracture in 1 case; all 3 cases were treated conservatively and received good results.There were 7 cases of non-device-related complications,including dura mater dilaceration in 2 cases,superficial wound infection in 1 case,insufficient decompression of spinal canal in 2 cases,recurrence of disc herniation in 1 case,and intraspinal hematoma in 1 case; the former 3 patients recovered after corresponding treatment,and the latter 4 patients also recovered after re-operation.Conclusion The incidences of complications and re-operation associated with application of Coflex are low,and the incidence of device-related complications is also low.The precise intraoperative manipulation is the key to reduce incidence of device-related complications.It's absolutely necessary to strictly master surgical indications and perform sufficient decompression in order to receive good surgical results and avoid non-device-related complications.