Objective To develop a nomogram based on pulmonary nodules preoperative CT signs and 3D quantitative parameters for predicting mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients with clinical stage ⅠA lung adenocarcinoma.Methods The imaging data of 164 patients who underwent preoperative CT scan and systematic lymph node dissection were analyzed retrospectively.Commercially available AI software was used to extract 3D quantitative parameters of pulmonary nodules automatically,and CT signs of pulmonary nodules were analyzed.Logistic regression was used to explore the role of these parameters in predicting pathological nodal involvement.A nomogram prediction model was established,then discrimination and calibration of the model were evaluated.Results Among 164 enrolled patients,19(11.6％)were tested positive for mediastinal lymph node metastases at pathology review.The nomogram incorporated spiculation,lobulation,the largest cross-sectional area,and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA).The model showed great discrimination and calibration,with a C-index of 0.942[95％confidence interval(CI)0.923-0.961].The predicted value of the model fitted well with the actual observed value on the calibration curve.Conclusion The nomogram prediction model based on preoperative CT signs,3D quantitative parameters,and CEA can estimate the probability of mediastinal lymph node metastases in clinical stage ⅠA lung adenocarcinoma.This model may help with clinical decision-making and individualized evaluation.

We conducted a randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled, multicenter trial on the use of Shuanghuanglian (SHL), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, in treating cases of COVID-19. A total of 176 patients received SHL by three doses (56 in low dose, 61 in middle dose, and 59 in high dose) in addition to standard care. The control group was composed of 59 patients who received standard therapy alone. Treatment with SHL was not associated with a difference from standard care in the time to disease recovery. Patients with 14-day SHL treatment had significantly higher rate in negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 in nucleic acid swab tests than the patients from the control group (93.4% vs. 73.9%, P = 0.006). Analysis of chest computed tomography images showed that treatment with high-dose SHL significantly promoted absorption of inflammatory focus of pneumonia, which was evaluated by density reduction of inflammatory focus from baseline, at day 7 (mean difference (95% CI), -46.39 (-86.83 to -5.94) HU; P = 0.025) and day 14 (mean difference (95% CI), -74.21 (-133.35 to -15.08) HU; P = 0.014). No serious adverse events occurred in the SHL groups. This study illustrated that SHL in combination with standard care was safe and partially effective for the treatment of COVID-19.
COVID-19 ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To evaluate the effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonist DA-JC4 on postoperative neuroinflammatory responses in aged rats.Methods:Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 21-23 months, weighing 530-630 g, provided by the Animal Experiment Center of Medical School of Zhengzhou University, were assigned into 3 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (group S), operation group (group O) and DA-JC4 group (group G). Rats underwent exploratory laparotomy under anesthesia with chloral hydrate in O and G groups.In group G, DA-JC4 10 nmol/kg (dissolved in 1 ml of sterile normal saline) was intraperitoneally injected immediately after the end of operation and at 24 and 48 h after operation.Western blot was used to determine the expression of hippocampal Bax, Bcl-2, activated caspase-3, Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ (LC3Ⅱ), high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on day 3 after surgery.The Morris water maze test was performed on days 14-18 after operation to assess the cognitive function. Results:Compared with group S, the escape latency was significantly prolonged on days 15-18 after operation in group O and on day 18 after operation in group G, and the number of crossing the original platform was reduced, the time spent in the target quadrant was shortened, the expression of activated caspase-3, Bax, LC3Ⅱ, HMGB1, IL-1β and TNF-α in hippocampi was up-regulated, and the expression of Bcl-2, LC3Ⅱ and Beclin-1 was down-regulated in O and G groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group O, the escape latency was significantly shortened, and the number of crossing the original platform was increased, the time spent in the target quadrant was prolonged, the expression of activated caspase-3, Bax, LC3Ⅱ, HMGB1, IL-1β and TNF-α in hippocampi was down-regulated, and the expression of Bcl-2, LC3Ⅱ and Beclin-1 was up-regulated in group G ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism by which DA-JC4 reduces postoperative cognitive dysfunction may be related to inhibiting neuroinflammatory responses in aged rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of exercise training on heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression during endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats.Methods Thirty-two SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 8 weeks,weighing 175-220 g,were divided into 4 groups (n=8 each) using a random number table method:control group (group C),group ALI,low-intensity exercise training group (group ET1) and high-intensity exercise training group (group ET2).The rats in ET1 and ET2 groups received 2-and 4-week treadmill exercise training before establishing the ALI model,while the rats in C and ALI groups received no training.ALI was induced by intravenously injecting 5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide via the tail vein in ALI,ET1 and ET2 groups,and the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C.The animals were sacrificed,and the lungs were harvested for microscopic examination of the pathological changes of lung tissues which were also scored and for determination of wet to dry weight ratio (W/D ratio),concentrations of total protein,interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF),and expression of HSP70 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in lung tissues by Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the W/D ratio and pathological changes of lung tissues were significantly increased,the concentrations of total protein,IL-1 β and TNF-α in BALF were increased,the expression of NF-κB was up-regulated (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in HSP70 expression in group ALI(P＞0.05).Compared with group ALI,the W/D ratio and pathological changes of lung tissues were significantly decreased,the concentrations of total protein,IL-1β and TNF-α in BALF were decreased,the expression of HSP70 was up-regulated,and the expression of NF-κB was down-regulated in ET1 and ET2 groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion Exercise training can attenuate the endotoxin-induced ALI through relieving the inflammatory responses,which may be related to up-regulating HSP70 expression in the lung of rats.

Objective To investigate the role of transient receptor potential melastatin 7(TRPM7) in sevoflurane preconditioning for inhibiting hippocampal neurons apoptosis and inflammation response induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD).Methods Fifty SD rats of postnatal 1 d were selected for extracting hippocampal neurons and randomly divided into 5 groups,including the control group(C),sevoflurane preconditioning group (Sev),OGD group,Sev preconditioningt OGD group (Sev + OGD) and Sev preconditioning+ bradykinin+OGD group(combined group).After 1.5 h oxygen-glucose deprivation,reintroduction was performed,and then the normal culture was performed again for preparing the OGD model.Hippocampal neurons in the control group were normally cultured only;which in the Sev group conducted 2 ％ Sev preconditioning for 1 h;which in the OGD group only prepared the OGD model;which in the SEv+OGD conducted 2％ Sev preconditioning for 1 h,and prepared the OGD model after 24 h;which in the combined group was simultaneously added with bradykinin(final concentration 200μmol/L) in Sev preconditioning,other treatment was same to that in the Sev+OGD group.After 24 h normal culture,the mRNA and protein levels of TRPM7,apoptosis rate,survival rate,mRNA and supernatant protein levels of IL-1β and TNF-α of the hippocampal neurons were detected.Results Compared with the control group,hippocampal neurons mRNA and protein levels of TRPM7,apoptosis rate,mRNA and supernatant protein levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the OGD group were significantly increased(P＜0.05),whereas the survival rate was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the OGD group,hippocampal neurons mRNA and protein levels of TRPM7,apoptosis rate,mRNA and supernatant protein levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the Sev group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),whereas the survival rate was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the Sev group,hippocampal neurons mRNA and protein levels of TRPM7,apoptosis rate,the mRNA and supernatant protein levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the combined group were significantly increased(P＜0.05),whereas the survival rate was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Sev preconditioning can attenuate hippocampal neurons apoptosis and inflammatory response after OGD via alleviating the overexpression of TRPM7.

Objective To explore the value of the molecular probe USPIO-PEG-sLeX on nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft in nude mice.Methods The USPIO nanoparticles was synthesized by physical deposition method,and which was modified by PEG to synthesize USPIO-PEG-sLeX .The nude mice of nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft were divided into experimental and control groups.USPIO-PEG-sLeX and USPIO-PEG were injected into nude mice of experimental and control groups by caudal vein,respectively.MR T2 mapping imaging was scanned before and after the injection,and analyzed the changes of T2 values between experimental and control groups. Results USPIO-PEG-sLeX had a good representation.The non-enhanced T2 values between control and experimental group had no statistical significance (P >0.05).However,T2 values of the mice in two groups before and after injections were statistically significant (P <0.05);and T2 values of experimental group were much lower than that of the control group after the injection,additionally,the difference of enhanced rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P <0.05).Conclusion USPIO-PEG-sLeX magnetic nanoparticles is potential to be a targeted contrast agent to ELAM-1 expression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma,and can be valuable in non-invasive dynamic monitoring the expression of ELAM-1.

Objective To determine the utility of single energy CT value and spectrum energy curve in identifying different cause of diffuse spleen enlargement.Methods 43 patients confirmed by either surgical pathology,aspiration biopsy or clinical comprehensive diagnosis and follow-up were assessed,including lymphoma with spleen infiltration(lymphoma group,n=18) and cirrhotic splenomegaly(liver cirrhosis group,n=25).All patients underwent upper abdomen CT scans in GSI mode and the GSI data were transferred to the Workstation AW 4.6 to acquire single energy CT value(40-140 keV,10 keV's interval) and spectrum energy curve of the spleen on the venous phase.All single energy CT values and the slope of curves were comparatively analyzed through independent-samples t test.The diagnostic efficiency were evaluated by ROC analysis.Results Under 40-140 keV energy range,single energy CT values were significantly lower in the lymphoma group than in the liver cirrhosis group(all P＜0.05).The spectrum energy curve were both types of decreasing.Under 40-90 keV,100-140 keV energy range,the slop of curves in the lymphoma group(2.42 ± 0.70,0.27± 0.08) were also significantly lower than in the liver cirrhosis group (3.11 ± 0.62,0.34± 0.07),respectively(all P ＜0.05).When the slope of curve under 40-90 keV energy range was selected as a diagnostic indicator,the area under the curve(AUC) would reach 0.77.If threshold value of 1.39 was taken,the sensitivity and specificity would be equal to 86 ％ and 64 ％,respectively.Conclusion Single energy CT value and spectrum energy curve are helpful for differentiation of lymphoma with spleen infiltration from cirrhotic splenomegaly.

Objective To investigate the effects of intrathecal dexmedetomidine administration on the development of morphine tolerance and spinal inflammatory responses.Methods Thirty-three male SD rats weighing 180～200 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=11):Saline group (group NS),Morphine group (group M) and Dexmedetomidine group (group Dex).Animals of group NS were intrathecally injected with 10 tμL of saline daily for seven days;Animals in group M were intrathecally injected with 15 μg of morphine daily for seven days;Animals in group Dex were intrathecally injected with a mixture of 15μg morphine and 1.5 μg dexmedetomidine daily for seven days.At 1,3,5 and 7 day of intrathecal injection,hot water tail-flick test were used to evaluate analgesic response to thermal stimuli.After the last episode of behavioral test,Western blot analysis was applied to determine the protein levels of Iba-1 (microglial marker),IL-1β,TNF-a and phospho-p38MAPK (p-p38) in the spinal cord.In addition,microglia in the spinal cord was immuno-stained with anti-Iba-1 antibody and the densities of microglia were calculated.Results In group M and Dex,the values of maximal possible effect (MPE) in tail-flick test decreased gradually along with repeated morphine administration (P＜0.05).Compared with group NS,the values of MPE in tail-flick test at 1,3,5 and 7 day of morphine tolerance were higher in group M (P＜0.05).Compared with group M,the values of MPE in tail-flick test at 3,5 and 7 day of morphine tolerance were higher in group Dex (P＜0.05).Compared with group NS,the spinal protein levels of Iba-1,IL-1L TNF-α and p-p38 as well as the density of Iba-1 positive cells in group M were increased (P＜0.05).However,Compared with group M,the of Iba-1,IL-1β,TNF-α and p-p38 as well as the density of Iba-1 positive cells were decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Intrathecal dexmedetomidine administration can attenuate morphine tolerance by inhibiting microglia-mediated inflammatory responses in the spinal cord.

Objective To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block on stress reaction in patients undergoing esophageal resection. Methods Eighty patients scheduled to do the operation of esophageal resection were randomly divided into two groups with 40 cases in each group. The patients in group A were given the general anesthesia combined with ultrasound-guided paravertebral block, and the patients in group B were given the general anesthesia only. Both of two groups received postoperative patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA). The amount of propofol and remifen-tanil used were recorded. The data of blood pressure, heart rate (HR) and pulseoxygen saturation (SpO2) before anesthesia (T1), before induction (T2), after intubation (T3), in 2 h of surgery (T4), after surgery (T5), 1 h after surgery (T6), 8 h after surgery (T7), 24 h after surgery (T8), 48 h after surgery (T9)were recorded. The analgesic effect was measured by VAS scores and Ramsay sedation scores were also recorded at T6-T10. The levels of blood glucose, epinephrine (E), norcpincphrinc (NE) and dopamine (DA) were also detected at T1, T4, T5, T9. Results The amount of propofol and remifentanil used in group A were lower than those in group B: (960.0 ± 216.9) mg vs. (1 242.5 ± 200.2) mg, (1.5 ± 0.4) mg vs. (2.3 ± 0.4) mg, P<0.05. The patients in two groups successfully completed surgery, and intraoperative vital signs was stable. The quiet and active VAS scores at T6-T9 in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P<0.05). The Ramsay sedation scores at each time point in two groups had no significant differences (P>0.05). The levels of blood glucose and NE at T9 were significantly higher than those at T1, T4 or T5 of same group, P<0.05.The level of E at T4 and T5 was significantly lower than that at T1 and T9 of same group, P<0.05. The level of DA at T9 was significantly higher than that at T1, T4 and T5 in group B (P<0.05). The levels of blood glucose, NE, E and DA at T9 in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.05). Conclusions General anesthesia combined with ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block could offer favorable anaesthesia effect. It could decrease stress reaction and anesthetics requirements in patients undergoing esophageal resection.

Endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule -1 ( ELAM -1 ) is a member of the cell adhesion molecules,which plays a great role in the distant metastasis of tumor in ligand interactions between sLe (x)and sLe(a).Recently,it becomes a new research hotspot on applying ELAM -1 in targeted cancer therapy.Many studies results show that by regulation of ELAM -1 in biological effects ,such as ELAM-1 and ligand inhibitors , monoclonal antibody ,targeting gene ,and other mediates of the path of blocking therapy ,thereby inhibiting or bloc-king tumor distant metastasis ,so as to achieve the purpose of tumor therapy and improve the prognosis .Therefore , ELAM-1 is expected to exert a critical role in the tumor targeted therapy .In this paper ,the application value of ELAM-1 in tumor related targeted therapy is reviewed .