Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic simultaneous bilateral adrenalectomy in treating ectopic ACTH syndrome (ACTH)caused by medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC).Methods:A 56-year-old male patient was admitted after MTC surgery and 7 months of general fatigue. The patient had a history of two open thyroid surgeries for medullary thyroid carcinoma, with previous pathological reports indicating lymph node metastasis in the upper mediastinum and mediastinum, accompanied by weak cytoplasmic expression of ACTH and negative CRH staining. After the operation, the patient developed diabetes, hypertension, and hypokalemia. Upon admission, the patient presented with a blood pressure reading of 200/95 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), a weight of 61.5 kg, a height of 160 cm, a body mass index (BMI)of 24.02 kg/cm 2, and a waist circumference of 83 cm. Laboratory tests revealed the following: blood potassium level of 2.71 mmol/L, blood calcium level of 1.47 mmol/L, parathyroid hormone level of 6.0 pg/ml, fasting blood glucose level of 10.51 mmol/L, glycated hemoglobin level of 8.2%, blood calcitonin level exceeding 2 000 pg/ml, and blood CEA level of 70.8 μg/L. The plasma ACTH levels at 8∶00, 16∶00, and 24∶00 were 189.0, 125.0, and 65.0 pg/ml, respectively. Serum cortisol levels at 08∶00, 16∶00, and 24∶00 were 429.30, 408.14, and 446.61 μg/L, respectively. The 24-hour urine free cortisol measurement was 1 200 μg, and after the midnight 1mg dexamethasone suppression test at 8∶00, the plasma ACTH level was 183.0 pg/ml, and the serum cortisol level was 538.27 μg/L. The aldosterone level in standing position after 2 hours was 8.2 pg/ml. There were no significant abnormality in catecholamine hormone detection or thyroid function in blood and urine samples. An 18F-FDG-PET/CT examination showed multiple lymph node metastases in the neck, while an abdominal CT scan revealed bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Enhanced MRI revealed pituitary gland thinning, and lung CT and sputum culture examinations showed scattered multiple lung infections. After a multidisciplinary discussion, the patient was diagnosed with EAS, postoperative MTC metastasis, diabetes, hypertension, hypokalemia, pulmonary infection, mild anemia, liver dysfunction, hypoparathyroidism, and hypocalcemia. The patient were accepted laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy via an abdominal approach under general anesthesia. The left adrenal gland was removed first, followed by the right adrenal gland after repositioning. Results:The surgery was successful with a surgical duration of approximately 60 minutes and an intraoperative bleeding volume of about 20 ml. No surgical complications occurred during the perioperative period. Pathological examination confirmed nodular hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex and bilateral adrenal medullary hyperplasia with negative ACTH staining. After a 3-month postoperative follow-up, blood calcitonin levels remained above 2000 pg/ml. The blood ACTH levels at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery were 183.0, 220.0, and 731.0 pg/ml, respectively. However, hypertension, diabetes, and hypokalemia rapidly improved. One month after surgery, blood pressure was 100/80 mmHg, fasting blood glucose was 4.4 mmol/L, and blood potassium was 3.87 mmol/L. Pulmonary infection showed improvement, and no adrenal crisis occurred. Glucocorticoid replacement therapy consisted of 20 mg of hydrocortisone tablets in the morning and 10 mg in the afternoon, and thyroid hormone replacement therapy involved daily administration of 100 μg of levothyroxine. Genetic testing revealed heterozygous mutations in the Ret gene. The patient is currently undergoing clinical trial treatment with Ret inhibitors.Conclusions:Based on the data from this case and existing literature reports, laparoscopic simultaneous bilateral adrenalectomy might be safe and effective treatment option for EAS caused by unresectable MTC metastasis. It can correct hypertension, diabetes, and hypokalemia and increase the opportunity for MTC treatment.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

ObjectiveAt the end of November 2022， Guangzhou implemented the latest Covid-19 epidemic prevention policy and began to gradually lift the lockdown. However， under the new epidemic prevention situation， the situation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized patients in China is still unclear. Accordingly， this paper aims to study the SARS-CoV-2 infection of hospitalized patients in Guangzhou under the new epidemic prevention and control situation. MethodsThe results of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid tests in our hospital from the end of November 2022 to the beginning of February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid tests in outpatients and inpatients under the new epidemic prevention situation， and the nosocomial infection of SARS-CoV-2 in inpatients were statistically analyzed. ResultsThis study retrospectively analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results of 13 959 patients， including 6 966 outpatients and 6 993 inpatients. On November 30， 2022， the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results of outpatients began to be positive， indicating that the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 infection had begun. On December 7， one case of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results of hospitalized patients was positive， and nosocomial infections began to break out. On December 15， the positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test among patients exceeded 40 %， and the epidemic entered its peak period. After the end of December， the test positive rate gradually decreased， but the positive rate of inpatients was always higher than that of outpatients. Compared with December 2022， the positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test of patients in many departments in January 2023 decreased， but the positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test of inpatients in the oncology department increased significantly （P < 0.001）. Further analysis found that the nosocomial infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in inpatients was 86.57 % （329/380）. However， the nosocomial infection rate in lymphoma patients ［58.33 % （14/24）］ was significantly lower than that of the hospitalized patients with other disease types （P < 0.001）. ConclusionThe positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing among patients reached its peak in mid-December 2022. In January 2023， the positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing gradually decreased， while the number or positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing positive patients in some departments increased. The nosocomial infection rate among hospitalized patients is as high as 90 %. There are differences in the nosocomial infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 among inpatients with different disease types. In summary， this study provides preliminary data on the epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospitalized patients in Guangzhou， as well as the protection against infection among hospitalized patients and cross-infection between medical staffs and patients.

Taste is an important factor affecting the medicinal properties of oral preparations and patient compliance with medication, and also an important evaluation index for oral preparation design and clinical application. How to characterize the taste objectively, accurately, simply, and efficiently is a bottleneck problem that restricts the taste design, development, and utilization of oral preparations. At present, the commonly used taste assessment methods for oral preparations are traditional human taste panel, electronic tongue, animal preference test, in vitro release study, and electrophysiological test. The traditional human taste panel is the first choice for taste evaluation, but it is limited by poor subjectivity and reproducibility. Therefore, despite some limitations, the other four taste assessment methods have been applied in the pharmaceutical industry as auxiliary methods. This study reviewed the detection principles, applicability, advantages, and disadvantages of the above methods to provide references for the taste correction research and taste assessment of oral preparations, improve patient compliance and the competitiveness of oral preparation products in the industry, and promote the development of oral preparation technologies.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Electronic Nose ; Humans ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Reproducibility of Results ; Taste

The detection method of characteristic spectrum for reference samples was established by preparing 15 batches of the reference samples of Huagan Decoction, and the peak attribution and the similarity range in the characteristic spectrum were clarified. The ranges of paste-forming rate, content, and transfer rate of the index components including geniposide, paeonol, and paeoniflorin were analyzed. The key quality attribute of the reference samples of Huagan Decoction was defined. The results showed that the 15 batches of the reference samples of Huagan Decoction had good similarities in the characteristic spectrum, which were all higher than 0.9. According to the information of characteristic peak, there were 18 characteristic peaks in the whole prescription, including seven common characteristic peaks from green tangerine peel and dried tangerine peel, four characteristic peaks from tree peony root bark(three of them were common characteristic peaks from tree peony root bark and red peony root), five characteristic peaks from cape jasmine fruit, one characteristic peak from paniculate bolbostemma, and one characteristic peak from oriental waterplantain rhizome.The paste-forming rate of the 15 batches of reference samples was 14.73%-18.83%. The content of geniposide was 1.68%-2.87%, with the average transfer rate of 70.05%±11.13%. The content of paeonol was 0.10%-0.16%, with the average transfer rate of 9.38%±1.78%. The content of paeoniflorin was 1.94%-2.74%, with the average transfer rate of 36.69%±4.63%. This study analyzed the quality value transfer of the reference samples of Huagan Decoction by the evaluation mode of combining the characteristic spectrum, the paste-forming rate, and the content of index components. The findings of this study initially established a stable and feasible standard decoction evaluation method and provided references for the quality control and the subsequent development of relevant preparations of Huagan Decoction.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Paeonia ; Prescriptions ; Quality Control

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are major public health and social issues worldwide. The long-term follow-up of COVID-19 with pulmonary TB (PTB) survivors after discharge is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively describe clinical outcomes, including sequela and recurrence at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge, among COVID-19 with PTB survivors. Methods From January 22, 2020 to May 6, 2022, with a follow-up by August 26, 2022, a prospective, multicenter follow-up study was conducted on COVID-19 with PTB survivors after discharge in 13hospitals from four provinces in China. Clinical outcomes, including sequela, recurrence of COVID-19, and PTB survivors, were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Results Thirty-two COVID-19 with PTB survivors were included. The median age was 52 (45, 59) years, and 23 (71.9％) were men. Among them, nearly two-thirds (62.5％) of the survivors were moderate, three (9.4％) were severe, and more than half (59.4％) had at least one comorbidity (PTB excluded). The proportion of COVID-19 survivors with at least one sequela symptom decreased from 40.6％ at 3 months to 15.8％ at 24 months, with anxiety having a higher proportion over a follow-up. Cough and amnesia recovered at the 12-month follow-up, while anxiety, fatigue, and trouble sleeping remained after 24 months. Additionally, one (3.1％) case presented two recurrences of PTB and no re-positive COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Conclusion The proportion of long symptoms in COVID-19 with PTB survivors decreased over time, while nearly one in six still experience persistent symptoms with a higher proportion of anxiety. The recurrence of PTB and the psychological support of COVID-19 with PTB after discharge require more attention.