ObjectiveTo explore the dose-effect relationship and safety of high， medium， and low doses of raw Astragali Radix in the modified Huangqi Chifengtang （MHCD） for treating proteinuria in immunoglobulin A （IgA） nephropathy， and to provide scientific evidence for the clinical use of high-dose Astragali Radix in the treatment of proteinuria in IgA nephropathy. MethodsA total of 120 patients with IgA nephropathy， diagnosed with Qi deficiency and blood stasis combined with wind pathogen and heat toxicity， were randomly divided into a control group and three treatment groups. The control group received telmisartan combined with a Chinese medicine placebo， while the treatment groups were given telmisartan combined with MHCD containing different doses of raw Astragali Radix （60， 30， 15 g）. Each group contained 30 patients， and the treatment period was 12 weeks. Changes in 24-hour urinary protein （24 hUTP）， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， effective rate， and renal function were observed before and after treatment. Safety was assessed by monitoring liver function and blood routine. ResultsAfter 12 weeks of treatment， 24 hUTP significantly decreased in the high， medium， and low-dose groups， as well as the control group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The TCM syndrome scores in the high， medium， and low-dose groups also significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Comparisons between groups showed that the 24 hUTP in the high-dose group was significantly lower than in the medium， low-dose， and control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 24 hUTP in the medium-dose group was significantly lower than in the control group （P<0.05）. The TCM syndrome scores in the high and medium-dose groups were significantly lower than in the low-dose and control groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The total effective rates for proteinuria in the high， medium， low-dose， and control groups were 92.59% （25/27）， 85.19% （23/27）， 60.71% （17/28）， and 57.14% （16/28）， respectively. The effective rates in the high and medium-dose groups were significantly higher than in the low-dose and control groups （χ²=13.185， P<0.05， P<0.01）. The effective rates for TCM syndrome scores in the high， medium， low-dose， and control groups were 88.89% （24/27）， 81.48% （22/27）， 71.43% （20/28）， and 46.43% （13/28）， respectively. The efficacy of TCM syndrome scores in the high and medium-dose groups was significantly higher than in the control group （χ²=14.053， P<0.01）. Compared with pre-treatment values， there was no statistically significant difference in eGFR and serum creatinine in the high and medium-dose groups. However， eGFR significantly decreased in the low-dose and control groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and serum creatinine levels increased significantly in the control group （P<0.05）. No statistically significant differences were observed in urea nitrogen， uric acid， albumin， total cholesterol， triglycerides， liver function， and blood routine before and after treatment in any group. ConclusionThere is a dose-effect relationship in the treatment of IgA nephropathy with high， medium， and low doses of raw Astragali Radix in MHCD. The high-dose group exhibited the best therapeutic effect and good safety profile.

ObjectiveTo study the effect and mechanism of Yixintai on mitochondrial fission proteins in the rat model of chronic heart failure. MethodTen of 60 SD rats were randomly selected as the sham operation group， and the remaining 50 rats were subjected to ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for the modeling of heart failure post myocardial infarction. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （1.4， 2.8， and 5.6 g·kg^-1， respectively） Yixintai， and trimetazidine （10 mg·kg^-1） groups. The rats were administrated with corresponding doses of drugs by gavage， and the rats in the model group and sham operation group were given an equal volume of normal saline by gavage for 28 consecutive days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was then employed to measure the levels of amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide （NT-pro BNP）， B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP）， and adenosine triphosphate （ATP） in the serum. Color Doppler ultrasound imaging was conducted to examine the cardiac function indicators. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining were conducted to observe the pathological changes in the heart， and Image J was used to calculate collagen volume fraction （CVF）. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructural changes of myocardial cells. Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling （TUNEL） was employed to measure the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of mitochondrial fission protein 1 （Fis1） and mitochondrial fission factor （Mff） in the outer mitochondrial membrane of the myocardial tissue. ResultCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed elevated levels of NT-pro BNP and BNP in the serum， decreased ATP content， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， and left ventricular fraction shortening （LVFS）， increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVIDd） and left ventricular end-systolic diameter （LVIDs）， disarrangement of myocardial cells， inflammatory cell infiltration， increased collagen fibers and CVF， damaged myocardium and mitochondria， and increased apoptosis rate of myocardial cells， and up-regulated expression of Fis1 and Mff in the cardiac tissue （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， different doses of Yixintai and trimetazidine lowered the serum levels of NT-pro BNP and BNP （P<0.05）， increased the ATP content （P<0.05）， increased LVEF and LVFS （P<0.01）， decreased LVIDd and LVIDs （P<0.01）. Moreover， the drugs alleviated the myocardial inflammatory damage and fibrosis， reduced CVF （P<0.01）， repaired the myocardial mitochondrial structure， and decreased the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells （P<0.01）. Medium- and high-dose Yixintai and trimetazidine down-regulated the expression of Fis1 and Mff in the myocardial tissue （P<0.05）. ConclusionYixintai can improve mitochondrial structure， reduce myocardial cell apoptosis， and improve cardiac function by inhibiting the expression of Fis1 and Mff in the myocardial tissue.

Heart failure is a group of complex clinical syndromes in the middle and late stages of cardiovascular diseases.Mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance is one of the pathological mechanisms in the occurrence and development of heart failure.This article revolved around the"yin-yang theory"in TCM and explained the pathological mechanism of heart failure through mitochondrial homeostasis.Heart failure is the syndrome of deficiency in nature and excess in superficiality fundamental.Its basic pathogenesis is"yang deficiency and yin excess".Based on the deficiency of heart yang qi and the stagnation of yin pathogens,the combination of deficiency and excess runs through the entire disease.Mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance is a manifestation of yin-yang imbalance at the cellular micro level,mainly manifested as inhibition of mitochondrial biosynthesis,mitochondrial dynamics imbalance,mitophagy disorder,etc.,which affects mitochondrial structure and function and leads to abnormal myocardial energy metabolism.Therefore,based on the"yin-yang theory",the basic treatment method is to"tonify deficiency and damage excess"to regulate mitochondrial biosynthesis,mitochondrial dynamics,and mitophagy,thereby maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and improving myocardial energy metabolism,which is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of heart failure.

Background::Few evidence is available in the early prediction models of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to develop and validate a novel genetic-clinical-radiological nomogram for evaluating BPSD in patients with AD and explore its underlying nutritional mechanism.Methods::This retrospective study included 165 patients with AD from the Chinese Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle (CIBL) cohort between June 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022. Data on demographics, neuropsychological assessments, single-nucleotide polymorphisms of AD risk genes, and regional brain volumes were collected. A multivariate logistic regression model identified BPSD-associated factors, for subsequently constructing a diagnostic nomogram. This nomogram was internally validated through 1000-bootstrap resampling and externally validated using a time-series split based on the CIBL cohort data between June 1, 2022, and February 1, 2023. Area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability of the nomogram.Results::Factors independently associated with BPSD were: CETP rs1800775 (odds ratio [OR] = 4.137, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.276-13.415, P = 0.018), decreased Mini Nutritional Assessment score (OR = 0.187, 95% CI: 0.086-0.405, P <0.001), increased caregiver burden inventory score (OR = 8.993, 95% CI: 3.830-21.119, P <0.001), and decreased brain stem volume (OR = 0.006, 95% CI: 0.001-0.191, P = 0.004). These variables were incorporated into the nomogram. The area under the ROC curve was 0.925 (95% CI: 0.884-0.967, P <0.001) in the internal validation and 0.791 (95% CI: 0.686-0.895, P <0.001) in the external validation. The calibration plots showed favorable consistency between the prediction of nomogram and actual observations, and the DCA showed that the model was clinically useful in both validations. Conclusion::A novel nomogram was established and validated based on lipid metabolism-related genes, nutritional status, and brain stem volumes, which may allow patients with AD to benefit from early triage and more intensive monitoring of BPSD.Registration::Chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2100049131.

Establishing a comprehensive mechanism for the initiation and review of investigator-initiated trial(IIT) plays an important role in ensuring the scientific validity of clinical research and improving research quality.Since 2021, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University had actively explored improvements in the project management of IIT. The hospital had established a standardized grading review management process, developed an integrated clinical research management system, established a three-level clinical research training system, built a methodological support platform, and formulated research plan templates, gradually formed a standardized grading project approval review management mode. As of February 2024, the hospital had completed 400 quick reviews and more than 400 expert letter reviews based on the integrated clinical research management system. The efficiency and quality of IIT project approval had been improved. At the same time, over 40 academic salons and forums had been held, cultivating a group of young clinical research talents, providing data management training for more than 30 clinical departments, and promoting the improvement of the quality of research protocol. In the future, hospitals should further optimize their information systems, expand the influence of their training systems, enhance the capabilities of their methodological support platforms, and improve the efficiency of the application of clinical research protocol templates, so as to escort the establishment and implementation of high-quality clinical research projects and provide references for other hospitals′ IIT project management.

Objective The incidence of coronary microvascular disease(CMVD)is increasing annually.According to traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),CMVD belongs to the category of"collaterals",and qi deficiency and blood stasis are the main syndrome type of CMVD.Notably however,no studies have reported on the use of animal models of CMVD with qi deficiency and blood stasis.The current study therefore aimed to establish and evaluate a rat model of CMVD with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome.Methods Forty-five male SD rats were divided randomly into sham group,CMVD group,and CMVD + QXXY group(n = 15 rats per group).Rats in the CMVD + QXXY group were randomly deprived of sleep for 14～16 h/day for 6 weeks,and the model of qi deficiency syndrome was established.Animals in the sham group and the CMVD group were fed normally for 6 weeks.After 6 weeks,rats in the CMVD and CMVD + QXXY groups were anesthetized,their chests were opened,and embolic microspheres(40～120 μm)were injected into the left ventricle.Rats in the sham group underwent thoracotomy without injection of embolic microspheres.On day 7 after operation,relevant detection indicators were measured in each group.Results Compared with the sham group,the CMVD group showed a significant decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular shortening rate,while the activities of creatine kinase MB isoenzyme(CK-MB)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)were significantly increased.Heart function,hemorheology,myocardial enzyme index,and the degree of myocardial cell damage differed significantly between the CMVD + QXXY group compared with the sham group.Conclusions A rat model of CMVD + qi deficiency + blood stasis syndrome can be successfully established by sleep deprivation combined with intraventricular injection of embolic microspheres.This model will be suitable for the study of the pathogenesis of CMVD and the mechanisms of TCM.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Buyang Huanwutang （BYHWT） on platelet function and inflammatory cytokines in the rat model of acute blood stasis. MethodThe model of acute blood stasis was established with SD rats by ice water bath combined with injection of epinephrine. Rats were randomly assigned into four groups： normal group， model group， BYHWT （3.2 g·kg^-1） group， and aspirin （60 mg·kg^-1） group. The rats were injected with epinephrine hydrochloride on day 8 after 7 days of modeling. The macroscopic indexes of triditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome including tongue manifestation and pulse manifestation were observed， while hemorheological indexes， blood coagulation， and platelet aggregation were detected. The serum levels of the inflammatory cytokine matrix metalloprotein-9 （MMP-9） and the adhesion factor intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） and were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultThe pulse distention of rats in the model group was lower than that in the normal group （P<0.01）， while BYHWT improved the pulse distention of the rats with the syndrome of blood stasis （P<0.01）. In the model group， the tongue showed the characteristics of blood stasis syndrome， with dark purple veins at the tongue bottom and lower values of R， G， B on the tongue surface than those in the normal group （P<0.01）， which， however， can be recovered by BYHWT （P<0.01）. The blood viscosity at high， medium， and low shear stress and the plasma viscosity in the model group were higher than those in the normal group （P<0.01， P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， BYHWT restored the whole blood viscosity under high， medium and low shear stress and plasma viscosity （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The model group had shorter prothrombin time （PT）， shorter thrombin time （TT）， and higher fibrinogen （FIB） than the normal group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. BYHWT improved the TT and reduced the FIB in the rats with blood stasis syndrome （P<0.01）. The platelet aggregation rate induced by arachidonic acid （AA） and adenosine diphosphate （ADP） in the model group was higher than that in normal group （P<0.01） and BYHWT decreased the platelet aggregation rate of the rats with blood stasis syndrome （P<0.01）. The results of scanning electron microscopy showed that the model group exhibited excessive platelet activation， obvious pseudopodia， and increased aggregation of platelets compared with the normal group， while platelet activation and aggregation were rare in the BYHWT group. The serum levels of MMP-9 and ICAM-1 in the model group were higher than those in the normal group （P<0.01）， which were decreased in the BYHWT group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe SD rats with the syndrome of acute blood stasis induced by ice water bath combined with injection of epinephrine demonstrate obvious changes in platelet function and morphology， inflammation， and abnormal cell adhesion. In the treatment of acute blood stasis in rats， BYHWT may reduce thrombosis and improve blood consistency and cohesion by mitigating inflammation， down-regulating cell adhesion factor overexpression， and improving platelet shape and function.

ObjectiveTo compare the feasibility of establishing the rat model of acute coronary syndrome with combined blood stasis and poison by lipopolysacharide （LPS） injection， ligation of coronary artery and different combinations of the two methods. MethodA total of 225 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， simple coronary artery ligation group， first injected LPS group ［LPS（5 mg·kg）injection 24 h before coronary artery ligation］ and follow injected LPS group ［LPS（5 mg·kg）injection 10 min after coronary artery ligation］. The indexes of each group were detected at 3， 24， 72 h after modeling， and the model was comprehensively evaluated. The general state and macroscopic evaluation indexes of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome （tongue and pulse） of rats in each group were observed. ECG and echocardiography were used to evaluate cardiac function， and the myocardial ischemia and infarction areas were measured by Evans blue/2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. The content of creatine kinase isoenzyme （CK-MB）， lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）， creatine kinase （CK）， and troponin T （cTnT） in serum as well as interleukin-1 β （IL-1β） and IL-6 changes were determined by biochemical method or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Hematology analyzer was adopted to determine the white blood cell （WBC） count， and the four coagulation indexes， platelet aggregation rate， hemorheology and other coagulation evaluation indexes were also detected. The myocardial tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining. ResultAfter 3 h of modeling， compared with the conditions in sham operation group， the R， G and B values of tongue of rats （P<0.01）， pulse amplitude （P<0.01）， and cardiac function in simple coronary artery ligation group were decreased， and the color of hypoglossal veins became purple（P<0.01）. The content of CK， LDH， cTnT， IL-1β and IL-6 in serum（P<0.05）， myocardial infarction area（P<0.01）， and total number of WBCs （P<0.05）were increased. Compared with simple coronary artery ligation group， first injected LPS group and follow injected LPS group had increased hypoglossal veins， decreased R value of tongue and elevated cTnT content （P<0.01）， while follow injected LPS group had reduced B value of tongue， decreased cardiac output （CO）（P<0.05）， increased IL-1β content， and thinned left ventricular anterior walls at end-systole （LVAWs）（P<0.01）. After 24 h of modeling， compared with sham operation group， simple coronary artery ligation group presented significantly decreased R， G and B values of tongue， lengthened purplish dark hypoglossal veins （P<0.01）， reduced pulse amplitude（P<0.01） and cardiac function， enlarged myocardial infarction area（P<0.01）， increased whole blood viscosity， platelet aggregation rate， fibrinogen （FIB）， shortened prothrombin time （PT） and thrombin time （TT）（P<0.01）， and elevated total number of WBCs （P<0.01）and content of CK， LDH， cTnT and IL-6 in serum（P<0.05）. Compared with the conditions in simple coronary artery ligation group， the pulse amplitude， R， G and B values of tongue （P<0.01）， and ejection fraction （EF） and fractional shortening （FS） scores （P<0.05）dropped， and hypoglossal veins were deepened and lengthened（P<0.05）， and cTnT content was increased（P<0.01）in first injected LPS group and follow injected LPS group. However， follow injected LPS group had thinned LVPWs， increased LDH content， platelet aggregation rate（P<0.05）， myocardial infarction area， and total number of WBC， level of IL-1β（P<0.05）， and shortened TT（P<0.01）. Additionally， 72 h after modeling， compared with sham operation group， simple coronary artery ligation group showed significantly reduced pulse amplitude， lowered R， G and B values of tongue， thickened and lengthened hypoglossal veins（P<0.01）， decreased cardiac function， and increased content of cTnT， FIB， whole blood viscosity（P<0.01），platelet aggregation rate， level of IL-6 and IL-1β（P<0.05）. Compared with the conditions in simple coronary artery ligation group， the hypoglossal veins of the first injected LPS group and the follow injected LPS group were more purple， and the content of cTnT was boosted（P<0.01）， whereas follow injected LPS group had decreased pulse amplitude， R， G and B values of tongue， EF and FS scores （P<0.05）， and enlarged myocardial infarction area（P<0.01）. ConclusionCompared with the other modeling methods and models at different modeling time， the established model by LPS injection 10 min after coronary artery ligation for 24 h was more consistent with the clinical characteristics of acute coronary syndrome with combined blood stasis and poison.

Minimally invasive surgery experienced a rapid development in the past thirty years, of which the laparoscopy has been widely used in gastrointestinal surgery. Lymph node dissection is one of the difficulties of laparoscopic radical resection of gastric cancer. The lymph node dissection along the left gastroepiploic vessels is a difficult part, which usually causes bleeding and splenic injury. This article mainly introduce the indications, contraindications, surgical preparations, the difficulties and techniques during the lymph nodes dissection when the operator stood on the left side of the patients, and perioperative complications of lymph nodes dissection along the left gastroepiploic vessels.

Objective:To analyze the antibody levels and dynamic changes in patients infected with 2019-novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV).Methods:The average age of 72 corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients was (45.53±16.74)years(median age:47 year), including (44.88±17.09) years(median age:46 year) for 38 males and (46.32±16.52)years (median age:46 year) for 34 females in Loudi City, Hunan Province. There is no significant difference in genders between the severe and mild groups (χ2=0.916, P>0.05). There is a significant difference in the age between the severe and mild groups ( F=3.315, P<0.05). The blood samples of 72 discharged patients were collected and the consistence of IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by chemiluminescence method. SPSS25.0 was used for gender, age, case type and antibody analysis of variance, χ 2 test and other analysis. Results:The average time of the serum samples collection of 72 patients was (34.89±9.02)days (median time: 34 days) from onset of COVID-19, and (14.53±8.35) days (median time: 14 days) from discharge. The positive rate of IgM or IgG was 97.22% (70/72), and the positive rate of IgM and IgG was 48.61% (35/72) and 97.22% (70/72) respectively. Serum COVID-19 antibodies were detected in 72 patients from 1st to 40th days after discharge. The average concentration of IgM in 1-7 days, 8-14 days, 15-21 days, 22-28 days, above 29 days were 21.91(7.07-52.84)AU/ml, 14.16(6.19-32.88)AU/ml, 11.36(6.65-42.15)AU/ml, 8.15(3.66-30.12)AU/ml, 2.98(0.46-6.37)AU/ml. There was no significant difference in the time of IgM antibody concentration ( H= 8.439, P>0.05). The average concentrations of IgG in 1-7 days, 8-14 days, 15-21 days, 22-28 days, 29 days and above were 169.90 (92.06-190.91) AU/ml, 163.89 (91.19-208.02) AU/ml, 173.31 (95.06-191.28) AU/ml, 122.84 (103.19-188.34) AU/ml, 101.98 (43.75-175.30) AU/ml, respectively, ( H=2.232, P>0.05). The IgM becomes negative after the 3rd week of discharge and decreases rapidly with time. The IgG concentration higher than IgM during the same period, and keep at high level without any change, and decrease in the fourth week. Among them, 5 cases developed "re-infection" within 1-3 weeks after discharge, and the rate of "re-infection" was 6.94% (5/72 cases). Conclusions:After the COVID-19 patients are discharged from the hospital, the level of antibodies produced varies greatly among individuals, but the overall changes in antibodies have a certain pattern. It is recommended to strengthen the antibody monitoring during hospitalization and after discharge from the hospital to reduce the "re-infection" rate and potential risk of infection.