An excerpt of Asia-Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver guidelines on management of ascites in liver disease （2023） / 临床肝胆病杂志

Asia-Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver published the guidelines on management of ascites in liver disease in May 2023， which introduces the diagnosis， differential diagnosis， and treatment of ascites， hyponatremia， hepatic hydrothorax， and hepatorenal syndrome in patients with liver cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure. This article summarizes the main recommendations in the guidelines， so as to provide a reference for the treatment of ascites in patients with liver diseases in China.

Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the era of precision medicine / 中国医师杂志

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous chronic respiratory disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms, airflow limitations, and local and systemic inflammation. In the past 20 years, Precision medicine has been continuously integrated into the individualized management of COPD, bringing benefits to patients. With a deeper understanding of specific biomarkers and more treatable features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, its application prospects are broad.

"Double-driven" teacher development model and its driving pathway in Medical Colleges / 中华医学教育探索杂志

"Double-driven" teacher professional development is a transformation from a novice teacher to an expert teacher through both internal and external driving pathway based on education ecology and teacher encouragement theory. The internal driving pathway of teacher professional development includes socialist belief, professional conscience, and professional consciousness, while the external driving pathway includes standardized management system, school-based teaching and research activities, medicine-education cooperation, and campus positive culture.

The Nucleus Accumbens CRH-CRHR1 System Mediates Early-Life Stress-Induced Sleep Disturbance and Dendritic Atrophy in the Adult Mouse / 神经科学通报·英文版

Adverse experiences in early life have long-lasting negative impacts on behavior and the brain in adulthood, one of which is sleep disturbance. As the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) system and nucleus accumbens (NAc) play important roles in both stress responses and sleep-wake regulation, in this study we investigated whether the NAc CRH-CRHR1 system mediates early-life stress-induced abnormalities in sleep-wake behavior in adult mice. Using the limited nesting and bedding material paradigm from postnatal days 2 to 9, we found that early-life stress disrupted sleep-wake behaviors during adulthood, including increased wakefulness and decreased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep time during the dark period and increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time during the light period. The stress-induced sleep disturbances were accompanied by dendritic atrophy in the NAc and both were largely reversed by daily systemic administration of the CRHR1 antagonist antalarmin during stress exposure. Importantly, Crh overexpression in the NAc reproduced the effects of early-life stress on sleep-wake behavior and NAc morphology, whereas NAc Crhr1 knockdown reversed these effects (including increased wakefulness and reduced NREM sleep in the dark period and NAc dendritic atrophy). Together, our findings demonstrate the negative influence of early-life stress on sleep architecture and the structural plasticity of the NAc, and highlight the critical role of the NAc CRH-CRHR1 system in modulating these negative outcomes evoked by early-life stress.

Serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfuoroalkyl substances and determinants in men of childbearing age / 环境与职业医学

Background Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) exposure may affect male reproductive health. There are regional differences in PFASs exposure levels among men of childbearing age in China, and current research results on associated influencing factors are inconsistent. Objective To investigate the levels of PFASs in serum and their determinants among men of childbearing age. Methods The participants (n=113, 22-45 years old) were from a cross-sectional study of exposure to environmental pollutants and male reproductive health damage in Hubei Province conducted from April to June 2013 at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province. Eleven kinds of PFASs were measured in serum by isotopic dilution-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The included PFASs were prefluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Information about participants' demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and habits was collected by a set of self-designed questionnaires. The associations of demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and habits with exposure to PFASs were analyzed by linear regression. Results The major components of PFASs were PFOS and PFOA, and the concentrations expressed as M (P25, P75) were 8.31 (4.90, 17.79) ng·mL−1 and 2.77 (2.18, 3.46) ng·mL−1, respectively. The positive rates of six PFASs (PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUdA, PFHxS, and PFOS) were 100%, followed by PFDoA and PFTrDA (87.61% and 88.59%, respectively). The linear regression results showed that age was positively associated with the levels of Σ8PFASs (sum of the concentrations of the eight PFASs with a positive rate greater than 80%) (P < 0.05). The concentration of serum PFOA in men with monthly family income of 2000-4000 yuan was 53.73% (P < 0.01) higher than those in men with monthly family income of <2000 yuan. The serum concentrations of PFNA and PFTrDA were both 32.31% (P < 0.05) higher in men with monthly family income ≥4000 yuan than those in men with monthly family income <2000 yuan. The serum concentration of PFHxS in men who used plastic cups was 33.64% (P < 0.01) higher than that in men who did not report oral contact with plastic products (plastic tableware, plastic cups, and plastic bags for packing food). The serum concentrations of PFHxS, PFOS, and Σ8PFASs were 33.64% (P < 0.01), 43.33% (P < 0.01), and 36.34% (P < 0.05) higher in men who bathed with laundry soap than those in men who did not use detergents. Men who bathed with toilet soap had a 34.99% (P < 0.05) higher serum concentration of PFHxS than those who bathed without detergents. Conclusion Men of childbearing age are exposed to PFASs extensively. Age, monthly household income, usage of laundry soap or toilet soap in bathing, and usage of plastic cups may influence the level of PFASs in serum. However, further investigation is needed to confirm these results.

Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of kidney: Clinicopathology and prognosis / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate and summarize the clinicopathological features, immunophenotype, differential diagnosis and prognosis analysis of mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC).@*METHODS@#The data of thirteen cases of MTSCC were retrospectively analyzed, the clinical and pathological characteristics and immunohistochemical expression were summarized, and fluorescence in situ hybridization was detected.@*RESULTS@#Among the thirteen patients, four were males and nine females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1 ∶2.25. The average age was 57.1 years, ranging from 39 to 78 years. The maximum diameter of the tumor was 2-12 cm. All cases had no symptoms, and were accidentally discovered, 3 cases underwent partial renal resection, 10 cases underwent radical renal resection, 9 cases were located in the left kidney, and 4 cases were located in the right kidney. Most of the cases showed the classical morphological changes, with 11 cases of nuclear grading [World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grading system] being G2 and 2 cases being G3. There were 6 cases of stage PT1a, 3 cases of PT1b, 2 cases of PT2a, and 1 case of PT2b and 1 case of PT3a. The positive rates of immunohistochemical staining were: vimentin, AE1/AE3, α-methylacyl-CoA racemase (αMACR) and cytokeratin (CK) 8/18, 100% (13/13); CK7, 92.3% (12/13); epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), 92.3% (12/13); CK20, 46.2% (6/13); CD10, 30.8% (4/13); synaptophysin (Syn), 7.7% (1/13); chromogranin A (CgA), CD57, WT1 and Ki-67, 0 (0/13), and fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that no trisomy of chromosomes 7 and 17 were observed in any of the cases. The follow-up period was 6 months to 7 years and 6 months, 2 cases died after lung metastasis (one with ISUP/WHO grade G3, one with necrosis), and the remaining 11 cases had no recurrence and metastasis.@*CONCLUSION@#MTSCC is a unique type of low-grade malignancy kidney tumor, occurs predominantly in females, widely distributed in age, the current treatment method is surgical resection, and cases with necrosis and high-grade morphology are prone to recurrence and metastasis, although most cases have a good prognosis, but they still need close follow-up after surgery.

Correlation Between Gene Polymorphism and Breast Cancer Incidence and Prognosis for Patients with Diabetes / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To analyze the effects of fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene, IL-6, and HSP-60 gene polymorphism on the incidence rate and prognosis of breast cancer (BCa) for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Results A total of 1551 patients with BCa were included in the experimental group and 1605 women of the same age who participated in physical examination were included in the control group. The clinical data of the 3156 participants were collected through the baseline data questionnaire, and the genotypes of FTO, IL-6, and HSP-60 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were determined through blood sample detection. The predictive value of the three SNPs for the incidence risk of BCa for T2DM patients was evaluated. The OS of 1168 patients with BCa was obtained through follow-up, and the effects of the three SNPs and T2DM on OS of BCa patients were evaluated. Results The three loci were FTO rs3751812, IL-6 rs1800796, and HSP-60 rs2605039. The BCa incidence rate for T2DM women with wild homozygous SNP genotype was significantly higher than that for non-T2DM women (FTO: χ2=3.530, P=0.013; IL-6: χ2=6.288, P=0.029; HSP-60: χ2=4.926, P=0.005). The three wild homozygous genotypes were independent risk factors that influenced the incidence rate of BCa (all P < 0.05). Patients with HSP-60 rs2605039 (GT+TT) genotype had better OS (P=0.031). Conclusion FTO, IL-6, and HSP-60 gene polymorphisms have certain value in BCa prediction for T2DM patients. Patients with BCa and HSP-60 rs2605039 GT+TT genotype have high OS.

Establishment of induced pluripotent stem cell model of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome mutated in TREX1 / 中华预防医学杂志

To establish and identify induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) with TREX1 gene 667G>A mutation, and obtain a specific induced pluripotent stem cell model for Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS-iPSCs). A 3-year-old male child with Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome was admitted to Zhongshan People's Hospital in December 2020. After obtaining the informed consent of the patient's family members, 5 ml peripheral blood samples from the patient were collected, and mononuclear cells were isolated. Then,the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) were transduced with OCT3/4, SOX2, c-Myc and Klf4 by using Sendai virus, and PBMCs were reprogrammed into iPSCs. The pluripotency and differentiation ability of the cells were identified by cellular morphological analysis, real-time PCR, alkaline phosphatase staining (AP), immunofluorescence, teratoma formation experiments in mice. The results showed that the induced pluripotent stem cell line of Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome was successfully constructed and showed typical embryonic stem-like morphology after stable passage, RT-PCR showed mRNA expression of stem cell markers, AP staining was positive, OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, SSEA4, TRA-1-81 and TRA-1-60 pluripotency marker proteins were strongly expressed. In vivo teratoma formation experiments showed that iPSCs differentiate into the ectoderm (neural tube like tissue), mesoderm (vascular wall tissue) and endoderm (glandular tissue). Karyotype analysis also confirmed that iPSCs still maintained the original karyotype (46, XY). In conclusion, induced pluripotent stem cell line for Aicardi-Goutières syndrome was successfully established using Sendai virus, which provided an important model platform for studying the pathogenesis of the disease and for drug screening.

Research progress on application of multi-enzyme-catalyzed cascade reactions in enzymatic synthesis of natural products / 中国中药杂志

As a biocatalyst, enzyme has the advantages of high catalytic efficiency, strong reaction selectivity, specific target products, mild reaction conditions, and environmental friendliness, and serves as an important tool for the synthesis of complex organic molecules. With the continuous development of gene sequencing technology, molecular biology, genetic manipulation, and other technologies, the diversity of enzymes increases steadily and the reactions that can be catalyzed are also gradually diversified. In the process of enzyme-catalyzed synthesis, the majority of common enzymatic reactions can be achieved by single enzyme catalysis, while many complex reactions often require the participation of two or more enzymes. Therefore, the combination of multiple enzymes together to construct the multi-enzyme cascade reactions has become a research hotspot in the field of biochemistry. Nowadays, the biosynthetic pathways of more natural products with complex structures have been clarified, and secondary metabolic enzymes with novel catalytic activities have been identified, discovered, and combined in enzymatic synthesis of natural/unnatural molecules with diverse structures. This study summarized a series of examples of multi-enzyme-catalyzed cascades and highlighted the application of cascade catalysis methods in the synthesis of carbohydrates, nucleosides, flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, and chiral molecules. Furthermore, the existing problems and solutions of multi-enzyme-catalyzed cascade method were discussed, and the future development direction was prospected.

Mechanism of Yanghe Decoction against subcutaneous tumor in pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer through HIF-1α signaling pathway regulating glycolysis:based on network pharmacology and animal experiment / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to explore the mechanism of Yanghe Decoction(YHD) against subcutaneous tumor in pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer, which is expected to lay a basis for the treatment of breast carcinoma with YHD. The chemical components of medicinals in YHD, and the targets of the components were retrieved from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) and SwissTargetPrediction. The disease-related targets were searched from GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM). Excel was employed to screen the common targets and plot the Venn diagram. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed. R language was used for Gene Ontology(GO) term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment. A total of 53 female SPF Bablc/6 mice were randomized into normal group(same volume of normal saline, ig), model group(same volume of normal saline, ig), and low-dose and high-dose YHD groups(YHD, ig, 30 days), with 8 mice in normal group and 15 mice in each of the other groups. Body weight and tumor size was measured every day. Curves for body weight variation and growth of tumor in situ were plotted. In the end, the subcutaneous tumor sample was collected and observed based on hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining. The mRNA and protein levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), pyruvate kinase M2(PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA), and glucose transporter type 1(GLUT1) were detected by PCR and Western blot. A total of 213 active components of YHD and 185 targets against the disease were screened out. The hypothesis that YHD may regulate glycolysis through HIF-1α signaling pathway to intervene in breast cancer was proposed. Animal experiment confirmed that the mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1α, PKM2, LDHA, and GLUT1 in the high-and low-dose YHD groups were lower than those in the model group. YHD has certain inhibitory effect on subcutaneous tumor in pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer in the early stage, which may intervene pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer by regulating glycolysis through HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Research Progress in Preoperative Evaluation of Lymph Node Metastasis of Bladder Cancer / 中国医学科学院学报

Bladder cancer is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system.The prognosis of patients with positive lymph nodes is worse than that of patients with negative lymph nodes.An accurate assessment of preoperative lymph node statushelps to make treatmentdecisions,such as the extent of pelvic lymphadenectomy and the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Imaging examination and pathological examination are the primary methods used to assess the lymph node status of bladder cancer patients before surgery.However,these methods have low sensitivity and may lead to inaccuate staging of patients.We reviewed the research progress and made an outlook on the application of clinical diagnosis,imaging techniques,radiomics,and genomics in the preoperative evaluation of lymph node metastasis in bladder cancer patients at different stages.

Assessment of the upper motor neuron degeneration by detailed motor homunculus cortex thickness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 The involvement of upper motor neuron (UMN) degeneration is crucial to the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to determine objective and sensitive UMN degeneration markers for an accurate and early diagnosis. 【Methods】 A total of 108 ALS patients and 90 age- and gender-matched control subjects were recruited from ALS Clinic of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. The motor homunculus cortex thickness data in MRI were collected from all the participants. The clinical characteristics and UMN clinical examination of bulbar, cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral regions were collected from the ALS patients. 【Results】 Cortical thickness was significantly thinner in the ALS group than in the control group in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). The cortical thickness of the global UMN positive group was significantly thinner than that of control groups in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). The cortical thickness of the UMN positive group in the corresponding region was significantly thinner than that of control groups in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 The thinning of the motor homunculus cortex can be used as an objective marker of UMN involvement in ALS patients in clinical practice.

MRI cortical thickness of bulbar region and impacts on survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To investigate cortical thickness changes in the face-head region of the primary motor cortex (PMC) and its effect on survival in amyotrophy lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. 【Methods】 A retrospective analysis was performed on 105 ALS patients who underwent head MRI scan at the same time. The A4hf (face-head) region of PMC was used as the region of interest (ROI). According to clinical symptoms, patients were divided into two groups: bulbar involvement and non-bulbar involvement. The differences of clinical features and cortical thickness in ROI were analyzed. According to the symptoms of bulbar palsy, physical examination of nervous system and EMG of tongue muscle, the patients with bulbar palsy were divided into lower motor neuron (LMN), upper motor neuron (UMN) and LMN+UMN groups. The differences of bulbar subgroup score and ROI of cortical thickness were analyzed. Age at onset, body mass index, delayed time of diagnosis, bulbar subgroup score, and ROI cortical thickness were included in survival analysis. 【Results】 ① The ROI cortical thickness was significantly lower in bulbar involvement group than non-bulbar involvement group (-0.198±0.87 vs. 0.235±0.95, P=0.017). ② There were no significant differences in the bulbar subgroup scores or cortical thickness of ROI between LMN, UMN and LMN+UMN groups (P>0.05). ③ Survival analysis showed age of onset (HR=3.296, 95% CI:1.63-6.664, P=0.001), delayed time of diagnosis (HR=0.361, 95% CI:0.184-0.705, P=0.003), bulbar subgroup score (HR 0.389, 95% CI:0.174-0.868, P=0.021), and ZRE_ROI cortical thickness (HR=2.309, 95% CI:1.046-5.096, P=0.038) were independent influencing factors of ALS survival. 【Conclusion】 Cortical thickness in A4hf (face-head) region can more objectively reflect UMN signs of region bulbar. In addition to age of onset and delayed time of diagnosis, bulbar subgroup score and cortical thickness of face-head region are also independent influencing factors, and cortical thinning in face-head region is a protective factor for survival of ALS patients.

Factors affecting Babinski sign in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To explore the factors affecting Babinski sign in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 【Methods】 We enrolled 262 patients diagnosed with ALS with adequate data in Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from 2015 to 2020. The relationship between the clinical characteristics of patients with positive and negative Babinski sign was analyzed for both sides, respectively. Furthermore, for patients with left or right lower limb weakness complaint, the relationship between Babinski sign and the lower limb involvement characteristics was analyzed. 【Results】 Positive Babinski sign was positively correlated with higher diagnostic category (left correlation coefficient 0.297, P<0.001; right correlation coefficient 0.292, P<0.001). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score was lower in patients with positive Babinski sign (left P=0.001, right P=0.001); the proportion of complaints of ipsilateral lower limb weakness was higher (left P=0.008, right P=0.038); the positive rate of ipsilateral upper limb Hoffmann sign was higher (left P=0.004, right P=0.002). In patients with complaints of lower limb weakness, positive Babinski sign was positively correlated with better foot dorsiflexor muscle strength (left correlation coefficient 0.207, P=0.021; right correlation coefficient 0.264, P=0.003), and the proportion of ipsilateral tibialis anterior atrophy was lower in positive Babinski sign group (left P<0.001, right P=0.008); the ratio of ipsilateral common peroneal nerve compound muscle action potential (CMAP)/tibial nerve CMAP was different in positive Babinski sign and negative groups (left P=0.008, right P=0.015), which were positively correlated (left correlation coefficient 0.246, P=0.007; right correlation coefficient 0.223, P=0.015). 【Conclusion】 Patients with positive Babinski sign usually have a higher diagnostic category and more extensive clinical involvement. In ALS patients with complaints of lower limb weakness, Babinski sign is more likely to be elicited when the degree of weakness and atrophy of the anterior calf muscles is relatively low.

Clinical effects and pathological characteristics of gastric tumors of fundic gland type treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection / 中华消化内镜杂志

To evaluate the clinical effects and pathological characteristics of gastric tumors of fundic gland type treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), data of 7 patients who treated by ESD and whose postoperative pathology indicated gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type or gastric oxyntic gland adenoma in Endoscopic Center of Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital of Capital Medical University from August 2018 to June 2022 were collected. The clinical characteristics, surgical complications, preoperative and postoperative pathological data and follow-up data were evaluated. The lesions of the 7 patients were all located at gastric fundus, and were treated by ESD successfully. No bleeding, perforation or other complications occurred during and after the operation. Postoperative pathology showed that tumor cells originated from deep mucosa with an invasive growth pattern. Most of tumor surfaces were covered with normal concave epithelium. Tumors infiltrated into submucosa in 4 patients, and submucosa infiltration depth was more than 500 μm (550 μm) in 1 patient. Immunohistochemistry showed that MUC-6 was diffusely positive, indicating that the tumor originated from the main cell source. The expressions of MUC-2, MUC-5AC, CDX-2, CD10, and CgA were negative in all cases. With the mean follow-up time of 21 months, the ulcer healed well after the operation, with no recurrence. Gastric tumors of fundic gland type have relatively unique biological characteristics, and ESD is the preferred treatment. In addition, the histological characteristics can be used to differentiate from other gastric tumors by immunohistochemistry.

Variation of plantaris muscle: a case report with clinical significance / Variación del músculo plantar: reporte de un caso con significado clínico

SUMMARY: The plantaris muscle is located between the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles, within the posterior calf group. Due to degeneration and its loss of plantar-flexion function, the muscle is vestigial in human beings, but it retains clinical significance. Few cases of variation in the plantaris muscle have been reported, and this, therefore, appears to be rare. Nonetheless, absence of this muscle was identified via the dissection of a left lower limb (male), which also indicated the absence of an attachment in the usual position. The present report, which addresses such variation, may provide both inspiration and reference points for the clinical treatment of so-called "tennis leg", and for the use of plantaris muscle for the purposes of clinical, autologous graft repair.

RESUMEN: El músculo plantar se ubica entre los músculos sóleo y gastrocnemio, dentro del grupo posterior de la pierna. Debido a la degeneración y la pérdida de la función de flexión plantar, el músculo es un vestigio en los seres humanos, pero conserva su importancia clínica. Se han informado pocos casos de variación en el músculo plantar y, por lo tanto, esto parece ser raro. No obstante, se observó la ausencia de este músculo durante la disección de un miembro inferior izquierdo (masculino). El presente informe, que aborda dicha variación, puede proporcionar puntos de referencia para el tratamiento clínico de la llamada "pierna de tenista" y para el uso del músculo plantar con fines de reparación clínica con injerto autólogo.

Reconstruction and Biomechanical Design of Microvascular Models / 医用生物力学

Neovascularization plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes, but its mechanism is still unclear. Since vascular cells are subjected to a variety of biochemical and biomechanical stimulations in vivo and live in a complex microenvironment, it is necessary to construct the vascular model in vitro and simulate the in vivo microenvironment to explore the mechanism of neovascularization. Recently, owing to the advance of micromachining and microfluidic technology, various in vitro microvascular models have emerged. Variables such as shear stress, interstitial flow and biochemical gradient of angiogenic factors have been controlled in these models, which greatly promotes the research of neovascularization. The construction, development and biomechanical design of various microvascular models are reviewed in this paper.

Clinical characteristics of idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To analyze and summarize the clinical manifestations, imaging and colonoscopy characteristics, treatment and prognosis of idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis(IMP), so as to raise clinicians' awareness of this rare disease.Methods:One case of IMP admitted into the Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Hospital, was reported.The patient was admitted primarily due to abdominal pain, distension, and obstructed defecation and flatulence for 3 months, and recurrent vomiting for 2 days.Combining the patient's medical history, symptoms, physical signs, imaging and colonoscopy results, IMP was suspected to be the most likely cause for incomplete intestinal obstruction in this case.The literatures on IMP published before April 2021, including case reports, reviews and articles, were collected and analyzed.Based upon information mentioned above, the epidemiological characteristics, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of IMP were systematically reviewed.Results:A total of 206 cases of idiopathic mesenteric vein sclerosing enteritis had been reported up to April 2021 in the literature, with a male to female ratio of about 2.75∶1.Age was clearly mentioned in 111 case reports, with a median age of 59 years and 36 patients(32.4%)≥65 years old.Common clinical manifestations include abdominal pain, distension, diarrhea, hematochezia, nausea and vomiting, obstructed defecation and flatulence, among others.The lesion is usually at the right side of the colon, including the cecum, ascending colon and transverse colon, with the ascending colon as the most commonly involved site.Imaging characteristics include linear, serrated or tortuous calcification of vessels inside the involved colon segments and adjacent mesenterium, edema and thickening of the intestinal wall, and reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes, etc.Endoscopic features include edema and thickening of the intestinal wall, discoloration of the mucosa, and tortuous and dilated submucosal vessels.Complications include intestinal obstruction, perforation and necrosis.In most cases, symptoms subside after patients stop taking herbal medicines and go through conservative treatment for microcirculation improvement, anti-inflammation, anti-coagulation, anti-infection, etc.Overall, the prognosis of IMP is satisfactory.Conclusions:IMP is a type of non-obstructive, non-thrombotic and non-inflammatory mesenteric phlebosclerosis that causes intestinal ischemia.The pathogenesis of the disease is still unclear.Combination of characteristic clinical manifestations, imaging especially CT findings, endoscopic and histopathological examinations will help the diagnosis of IMP.

Clinical efficacy of Qianjin Weijing Decoction in the treatment of severe pneumonia with accumulation of phlegm and heat in the lung / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of Qianjin Weijing Decoction in the treatment of severe pneumonia with the accumulation of phlegm and heat in the lung. Methods:Eighty patients with severe pneumonia with the accumulation of phlegm and heat in the lung received treatment in Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2018 to December 2020. They were randomly allocated to undergo routine treatments (control group, n = 40) or routine treatments combined with Qianjin Weijing Decoction (observation group, n = 40) for 7 days. Clinical efficacy, blood gas analysis, oxygenation index, inflammatory factors (C-reactive protein and procalcitonin), and sequential organ failure score were compared between the two groups. Results:Total response rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [87.50% (35/40) vs. 65.00% (26/40), χ2 = 5.59, P < 0.05]. Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2) post-treatment was significantly lower in the observation group than that in the control group [(30.24 ± 2.68) mmHg vs. (39.95 ± 3.27) mmHg, t = 14.52, P < 0.05]. The partial pressure of blood oxygen (PaO 2) and oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) in the observation group were (76.85 ± 4.56) mmHg and (326.84 ± 8.49) mmHg, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group [(68.39 ± 4.12) mmHg, (284.16 ± 15.56) mmHg, t = -8.70, -15.22, both P < 0.05). Serum levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin post-treatment in the observation group were (23.12 ± 6.56) mg/L and (0.31 ± 0.08) μg/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(38.92 ± 5.62) mg/L, (0.78 ± 0.20) μg/L, t = 11.56, 13.80, both P < 0.05]. Sequential organ failure score was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group [(2.31 ± 0.46) points vs. (5.12 ± 1.25) points, t = 13.34, P < 0.05)]. Conclusion:Qianjin Weijing Decoction has a good therapeutic effect on severe pneumonia with the accumulation of phlegm and heat in the lung. The treatment can improve blood gas analysis and decrease inflammatory factor levels with a good prognosis.

Early-stage language characteristics of language-related developmental diseases / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To explore the early-stage language characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), global developmental delay (GDD), and developmental language disorder (DLD) at the same deve-lopmental level, thus providing references for their diagnosis.Methods:Clinical data of 719 children, involving 382 ASD patients, 198 DLD patients and 139 GDD patients presented to the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University from January 2018 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Chi- square test was used to compare the developmental distribution of 3 groups.Variance analysis was used to analyze difference of developmental levels among 3 groups.Correlation analysis was used to analyse relationship between language and nonverbal abilities.At the same developmental, student′s t test was used to compare ASD with GDD, ASD with DLD in language ability, and difference of expression with receptive and visual related language. Results:The nonverbal developmental levels of ASD, GDD, DLD children were significantly different ( χ2=414.64, P<0.01). Language abilities were correlated with non-verbal developmental levels( r=0.60, P<0.05). The receptive and visual-related language abilities of ASD children with abnormal developmental level were more delayed compared with that of expressive language ( t=6.97, 3.58, 13.29, 6.85, 9.09, 7.27, all P<0.01). Expressive language of DLD children with normal developmental level was worse than visual-related and receptive language( t=-2.21, -3.61, all P<0.05). In GDD children with mild delayed development, receptive language was worse than expressive and visual-related language ( t=4.12, -4.24, all P<0.01), GDD children with moderate and worse development had worse visual-related and receptive language than the expression ( t=2.46, 2.68, all P<0.01). No significant differences in the expressive, receptive and visual-related language were detected in ASD and DLD children with normal development level and those with delayed development level (all P>0.05). Receptive and visual related language of ASD children with marginal delayed development level were significantly worse than those of DLD children ( t=-4.64, -4.60, all P<0.01), whereas no significant diffe-rence in the expression was detected ( P>0.05). In ASD children with mild delayed developmental level, the receptive and visual-related language were worse than those of GDD children( t=-4.11, -4.68, all P<0.01), whereas no significant difference in the expression was detected ( P>0.05). Conclusions:In early childhood, ASD children with abnormal developmental levels present severe delay in receptive and visual related language.DLD children with normal development have an obvious delay in expressive language.The language abilities of GDD children are globally delayed, especially the receptive language.In the marginal and mild delayed developmental level, ASD is featured by obvious delay of receptive and visual-related language.In normal and worse delayed development levels, the development of language in ASD, DLD and GDD children is similar.