Ancient forest plants possess cytotoxic properties causing liver cancer HepG2 cell apoptosis.

Here, we collected 154 plant species in China ancient forests looking for novel efficient bioactive compounds for cancer treatments. We found 600 bioactive phyto-chemicals that induce apoptosis of liver cancer cell in vitro. First, we screen the plant extract's in vitro cytotoxicity inhibition of cancer cell growth using in vitro HepG2 cell lines and MTT cytotoxicity. The results from these initial MTT in vitro cytotoxicity tests show that the most efficient plants towards hepatoma cytoxicity is Cephalotaxus sinensis, mint bush (Elsholtzia stauntonii) and winged spindle tree (Euonymus alatus). We then used in cell-counting kit-8 (CCK-8) to further understand in vivo tumor growth using nude mice and GC-MS and LC-QTOF-MS to analyze the composition of compounds in the extracts. Extracted chemically active molecules analyzed by network pharmacology showed inhibition on the growth of liver cancer cells by acting on multiple gene targets, which is different from the currently used traditional drugs acting on only one target of liver cancer cells. Extracts from Cephalotaxus sinensis, mint bush (Elsholtzia stauntonii) and winged spindle tree (Euonymus alatus) induce apoptosis in hepatoma cancer cell line HepG2 with a killing rate of more than 83% and a tumor size decrease by 62-67% and a killing rate of only 6% of normal hepatocyte LO2. This study highlight efficient candidate species for cancer treatment providing a basis for future development of novel plant-based drugs to help meeting several of the UN SDGs and planetary health.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine on treatment outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients: a single-centre study / 中国天然药物

As the search for effective treatments for COVID-19 continues, the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) presents a profound challenge. This study explores the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a supplementary treatment for severe COVID-19. A total of 110 critically ill COVID-19 patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vulcan Hill Hospital between Feb., 2020, and April, 2020 (Wuhan, China) participated in this observational study. All patients received standard supportive care protocols, with a subset of 81 also receiving TCM as an adjunct treatment. Clinical characteristics during the treatment period and the clinical outcome of each patient were closely monitored and analysed. Our findings indicated that the TCM group exhibited a significantly lower mortality rate compared with the non-TCM group (16 of 81 vs 24 of 29; 0.3 vs 2.3 person/month). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, TCM treatment was associated with improved survival odds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that TCM treatment could partially mitigate inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and contribute to the recovery of multiple organic functions, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

High-throughput screening of ancient forest plant extracts shows cytotoxicity towards triple-negative breast cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, women's breast cancer is among the most common cancers with 7.8 million diagnosed cases during 2016-2020 and encompasses 15 % of all female cancer-related mortalities. These mortality events from triple-negative breast cancer are a significant health issue worldwide calling for a continuous search of bioactive compounds for better cancer treatments. Historically, plants are important sources for identifying such new bioactive chemicals for treatments. Here we use high-throughput screening and mass spectrometry analyses of extracts from 100 plant species collected in Chinese ancient forests to detect novel bioactive breast cancer phytochemicals. First, to study the effects on viability of the plant extracts, we used a MTT and CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay employing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 and normal epithelial MCF-10A cell lines and cell cycle arrest to estimate apoptosis using flow cytometry for the most potent three speices. Based on these analyses, the final most potent extracts were from the Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) wood/root bark and Nigaki (Picrasma quassioides) wood/root bark. Then, 5 × 106 MDA-MB-231 cells were injected subcutaneously into the right hind leg of nude mice and a tumour was allowed to grow before treatment for seven days. Subsequently, the four exposed groups received gavage extracts from Amur honeysuckle and Nigaki (Amur honeysuckle wood distilled water, Amur honeysuckle root bark ethanol, Nigaki wood ethanol or Nigaki root bark distilled water/ethanol (1:1) extracts) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), while the control group received only PBS. The tumour weight of treated nude mice was reduced significantly by 60.5 % within 2 weeks, while on average killing 70 % of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells after 48 h treatment (MTT test). In addition, screening of target genes using the Swiss Target Prediction, STITCH, STRING and NCBI-gene database showed that the four plant extracts possess desirable activity towards several known breast cancer genes. This reflects that the extracts may kill MBD-MB-231 breast cancer cells. This is the first screening of plant extracts with high efficiency in 2 decades, showing promising results for future development of novel cancer treatments.

Progress in phytoremediation of chromium from the environment.

As chromium (Cr) in ecosystems affects human health through food chain exposure, phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and efficient way to reduce chromium pollution in the environment. Here, we review the mechanism of absorption, translocation, storage, detoxification, and regulation of Cr in plants. The Cr(VI) form is more soluble, mobile, and toxic than Cr(III), reflecting how various valence states of Cr affect environmental risk characteristics, physicochemical properties, toxicity, and plant uptake. Plant root's response to Cr exposure leads to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis. Cell wall immobilization, vacuole compartmentation, interaction of defense proteins and organic ligand with Cr, and removal of reactive oxygen species by antioxidants continue plant life. In addition, the combined application of microorganisms, genetic engineering, and the addition of organic acids, nanoparticles, fertilization, soil amendments, and other metals could accelerate the phytoremediation process. This review provides efficient methods to investigate and understand the complex changes of Cr metabolism in plants. Preferably, fast-growing, abundantly available biomass species should be modified to mitigate Cr pollution in the environment as these green and efficient remediation technologies are necessary for the protection of soil and water ecology.

Comparison of the efficacy of autologous platelet gel and medical chitosan in the prevention of recurrence of intrauterine adhesions after transcervical resection of adhesion: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Intrauterine adhesion (IUAs) in women is a debatable topic and there is no clear consensus in its management and treatment strategies. Previous treatment measures have limitations which necessitates to consider effective measures for prevention of recurrence of IUAs. Hence, the aim of this study to explore the efficacy and safety of intrauterine infusion of autologous platelet gel (APG) and medical chitosan in preventing recurrence of IUAs in females after transcervical resection of adhesion (TCRA). METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted among 80 patients presented with moderate to severe IUAs. Patients were randomized into two groups, APG group (n = 40) and medical chitosan group (n = 40). All patients were injected with either APG or medical chitosan after TCRA. RESULTS: The postoperative recurrence rate of adhesions in APG group was significantly lower than those in medical chitosan group (21% vs 49%). The median AFS score during the second-look hysteroscopy was significantly lower in APG group than in medical chitosan group (P = 0.008). The median AFS score reduction after TCRA surgery was significantly higher in APG group than in medical chitosan group (median, 95% CI 7.000, 6.0 to 8.3 vs. 6.000, 5.0 to 7.0, P = 0.004). Subgroup analysis of platelet concentration (1000 as cut-off value) into high- and low-dose subgroups reported no significant correlation existed between APG and baseline characteristics, recurrence rate and postoperative AFS reduction score except for previous intrauterine operation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Thus, after TCRA, intrauterine injections of APG provides better efficacy and safety compared with intrauterine injections of medical chitosan in preventing recurrence of intrauterine adhesions.

Relationship between human serum albumin and in-hospital mortality in critical care patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The relationship between human serum albumin levels and the prognosis of critical care patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains controversial. Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum albumin levels and in-hospital mortality in critical care patients with COPD. METHODS: This study used a retrospective observational cohort from the Medical Information in Intensive Care database (MIMIC-IV) in the United States. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between serum albumin levels and in-hospital mortality. A restricted cubic spline line was also used to explore nonlinear relationship. Results: A total of 3,398 critical care patients with COPD were included. The overall in-hospital mortality was 12.4%. We found a negative relationship between human serum albumin and in-hospital mortality (HR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.99, p = 0.002). Conclusion: In critical care patients with COPD, there was a negative association between human serum albumin and in-hospital mortality.

Relationship between rs128912 single nucleotide polymorphism in promoter region of Toll-like receptor 3 gene and cataract in Chinese Han population / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To analyze the relationship between rs128912 single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)in the promoter region of Toll-like receptor 3(TLR3)gene and cataract in Chinese Han population.METHODS: A total of 263 patients with cataract admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to June 2021 were selected as study group, and 150 patients with lens dislocation were included in control group. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of TLR3 protein in the anterior capsular tissues of lens in the two groups, and direct sequencing method was applied to analyze the polymorphism of rs128912 locus in the promoter region of TLR3 gene. The expression of peripheral blood TLR3 mRNA of patients with different genotypes was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).RESULTS: The expression level of TLR3 protein in the anterior capsular tissues in the study group was higher than that in the control group(P&#x003C;0.05). The frequencies of genotypes(AA, AT, TT)at rs128912 locus in the TLR3 gene promoter region in the study group and the control group were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium, and there were differences in the frequencies of genotypes(AA, AT, TT)and frequencies of alleles(A, T)at rs128912 locus in the TLR3 gene promoter region between both groups(P&#x003C;0.05). The relative expression level of peripheral blood TLR3 mRNA in patients with TT genotype in the study group was higher than that in patients with AA or AT genotypes(P&#x003C;0.05).CONCLUSION: The expression of TLR3 protein in anterior capsular tissues of lens of patients with cataract is significantly up-regulated, and rs128912 locus polymorphism in the TLR3 gene promoter region is related to the susceptibility of cataract in Chinese Han population, and people with TT genotype are more prone to cataract.

18F-FDG hybrid PET/MR radiomics based on different segmentation methods for distinguishing Parkinson′s disease from multiple system atrophy / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To explore the impact of different segmentation methods on differential diagnostic efficiency of 18F-FDG PET/MR radiomics to distinguish Parkinson′s disease (PD) from multiple system atrophy (MSA). Methods:From December 2017 to June 2019, 90 patients (60 with PD and 30 with MSA; 37 males, 53 females; age (55.8±9.5) years) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/MR in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were retrospectively collected. Patients were randomized to training set and validation set in a ratio of 7∶3. The bilateral putamina and caudate nuclei, as the ROIs, were segmented by automatic segmentation of brain regions based on anatomical automatic labeling (AAL) template and manual segmentation using ITK-SNAP software. A total of 1 172 radiomics features were extracted from T 1 weighted imaging (WI) and 18F-FDG PET images. The minimal redundancy maximal relevance (mRMR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm were used for features selection and radiomics signatures (Radscore) construction, with 10-fold cross-validation for preventing overfitting. The diagnostic performance of the models was assessed by ROC curve analysis, and the differences between models were calculated by Delong test. Results:There were 63 cases in training set (42 PD, 21 MSA) and 27 cases in validation set (18 PD, 9 MSA). The Radscore values were significantly different between the PD group and the MSA group in all training set and validation set of radiomics models ( 18F-FDG_Radscore and T 1WI_Radscore) based on automatic or manual segmentation methods ( z values: from -5.15 to -2.83, all P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that AUCs of 18F-FDG_Radscore and T 1WI_Radscore based on automatic segmentation in training and validation sets were 0.848, 0.840 and 0.892, 0.877, while AUCs were 0.900, 0.883 and 0.895, 0.870 based on manual segmentation. There were no significant differences in training and validation sets between Radiomics models based on different segmentation methods ( z values: 0.04-0.77, all P>0.05). Conclusions:The 18F-FDG PET/MR radiomics models based on different segmentation methods achieve promising diagnostic efficacy for distinguishing PD from MSA. The radiomics analysis based on automatic segmentation shows greater potential and practical value in the differential diagnosis of PD and MSA in view of the advantages including time-saving, labor-saving, and high repeatability.

Efficacy and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of 28 patients with hepatitis-related aplastic anemia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for hepatitis-related aplastic anemia (HRAA) patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia patients who received haplo-HSCT at our center between January 2012 and June 2022. October 30, 2022 was the final date of follow-up. Results: This study included 28 HRAA patients receiving allo-HSCT, including 18 males (64.3% ) and 10 females (35.7% ), with a median age of 25.5 (9-44) years. About 17 cases of severe aplastic anemia (SAA), 10 cases of very severe aplastic anemia (VSAA), and 1 case of transfusion-dependent aplastic anemia (TD-NSAA) were identified. Among 28 patients, 15 patients received haplo-HSCT, and 13 received MSD-HSCT. The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate, the 2-year failure-free survival (FFS) rate, the 2-year transplant-related mortality (TRM) rate, the 100-day grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) cumulative incidence rate, and the 2-year chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) cumulative incidence rate were 81.4%, 81.4% (95% CI 10.5% -20.6% ), 14.6% (95% CI 5.7% -34.3% ), 25.0% (95% CI 12.8% -45.4% ), and 4.2% (95% CI 0.6% -25.4% ), respectively. After transplantation, all patients had no significant liver function damage. Compared with the MSD-HSCT group, only the incidence of cytomegaloviremia was significantly higher in the haplo-HSCT group [60.0% (95% CI 35.2% -84.8% ) vs 7.7% (95% CI 0-22.2% ), P=0.004]. No statistically significant difference in the Epstein-Barr virus was found in the 2-year OS, 2-year FFS, 2-year TRM, and 100-day grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ aGVHD cumulative incidence rates and 2-year cGVHD cumulative incidence rate. Conclusion: Allo-HSCT is safe and effective for HRAA, and haplo-HSCT can be used as a safe and effective alternative for newly diagnosed HRAA patients who cannot obtain HLA-matched sibling donors.

Treatment responses, outcomes, and prognostic factors associated with them in patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To evaluate treatment responses, outcomes, and prognostic factors in adults with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) . Methods: Between January 2008 and February 2021, date of consecutive cases of younger than 65 years of adults with sAML were assessed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics at diagnosis, treatment responses, recurrence, and survival were evaluated. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards model were employed to determine significant prognostic indicators for treatment response and survival. Results: 155 patients were recruited, including 38, 46, 57, 14 patients belonging to t-AML, and AML with unexplained cytopenia, post-MDS-AML, and post-MPN-AML, respectively. In the 152 evaluable patients, the rate of MLFS after the initial induction regimen was 47.4%, 57.9%, 54.3%, 40.0%, and 23.1% in the four groups (P=0.076) . The total rate of MLFS after the induction regimen was 63.8%, 73.3%, 69.6%, 58.2%, and 38.5% (P=0.084) , respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that male gender (OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9, P=0.038 and OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.8, P=0.015) , SWOG cytogenetic classification into unfavorable or intermediate (OR=0.1, 95% CI 0.1-0.6, P=0.014 and OR=0.1, 95% CI 0.1-0.3, P=0.004) and receiving low-intensity regimen as induction regimen (OR=0.1, 95% CI 0.1-0.3, P=0.003 and OR=0.1, 95%CI 0.1-0.2, P=0.001) were typical adverse factors impacting the first CR and the final CR; PLT<45 × 10(9)/L (OR=0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.9, P=0.038) and LDH ≥258 U/L (OR=0.3, 95%CI 0.1-0.7, P=0.005) were independent factors for CR. Among the 94 patients with achieving MLFS, 46 cases had allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. With a median follow-up period of 18.6 months, the probabilities of relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at 3 years were 25.4% and 37.3% in patients with transplantation, and in patients with chemotherapy, the probabilities of RFS and OS at 3-year were 58.2% and 64.3%, respectively. At the time of achieving MLFS, multivariate analysis revealed that age ≥46 years (HR=3.4, 95%CI 1.6-7.2, P=0.002 and HR=2.5, 95%CI 1.1-6.0, P=0.037) , peripheral blasts ≥17.5% at diagnosis (HR=2.5, 95%CI 1.2-4.9, P=0.010 and HR=4.1, 95%CI 1.7-9.7, P=0.002) , monosomal karyotypes (HR=4.9, 95%CI 1.2-19.9, P=0.027 and HR=28.3, 95%CI 4.2-189.5, P=0.001) were typical adverse factors influencing RFS and OS. Furthermore, CR after induction chemotherapy (HR=0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.8, P=0.015) and transplantation (HR=0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.9, P=0.028) were substantially linked to longer RFS. Conclusion: Post-MDS-AML and post-MPN-AML had lower response rates and poorer prognoses than t-AML and AML with unexplained cytopenia. In adults with male gender, low platelet count, high LDH, and SWOG cytogenetic classification into unfavorable or intermediate at diagnosis, and receiving low-intensity regimen as the induction regimen predicted a low response rate. Age ≥46 years, a higher proportion of peripheral blasts and monosomal karyotype had a negative effect on the overall outcome. Transplantation and CR after induction chemotherapy were greatly linked to longer RFS.

Investigation and analysis of myopia and ocular biological parameters of primary and secondary school students in Urumqi / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To investigate the differences of myopia and ocular biological parameters of primary and middle school students in Urumqi.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey. A total of 2 495 primary and middle school students aged 7 to 18 from 4 schools in Urumqi were selected by judgemental sampling from September 2021 to November 2021 for relevant eye examination. The differences of ocular biological parameters and refractive status of students of different ages, genders and nationalities were compared, and the correlation between spherical equivalent(SE)and ocular biological parameters was analyzed.RESULTS: The detection rate of poor vision among the students was 80.36%, the detection rate of myopia was 55.91%, and the detection rate of astigmatism was 42.96%, among which the detection rate of low myopia was 63.80%, the detection rate of moderate myopia was 27.60%, and the detection rate of high myopia was 8.60%. There were significant differences in the detection rate of poor vision, myopia, astigmatism, SE and some ocular biological parameters among students of different ages and nationalities(all P<0.05). Among them, the detection rate of myopia, astigmatism and poor vision among Uygur and Kazakh ethnic groups was significantly lower than that of Han. The detection rate of poor vision and myopia among boys was lower than that among girls, while the detection rate of astigmatism was higher than that of girls. Spearman correlation analysis showed that axis length of eye, axial length to axial ratio, anterior chamber depth, and pupil diameter were negatively correlated with SE(rs=-0.664, -0.724, -0.320, -0.086, all P<0.001), and lens thickness was positively correlated with SE(rs=0.147, P<0.001).CONCLUSION: The prevalence of myopia among primary and secondary school students in Urumqi is high, and there are differences in the distribution of ocular biological parameters among children and adolescents of different ages and ethnicities.

Sperm retrieval rate of microdissection testicular sperm extraction in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia based on different causes / 现代泌尿外科杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the sperm retrieval rate (SRR) of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (M-TESE) in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) caused by different causes. 【Methods】 A retrospective analysis was performed on 225 NOA patients during Jan.2020 and Dec.2022. The relation between SRR and patients’ age,body mass index (BMI),testicular volume,endocrine hormones and different etiological classifications were analyzed. 【Results】 According to whether sperm was obtained by surgery,the patients were divided into two groups,including 107 cases in the sperm group and 118 cases in the non-sperm group. There were no significant differences in patients’ age,testicular volume and levels of endocrine hormones between the two groups (P>0.05). According to the different causes,NOA patients with mumps history,cryptorchidism history,AZFc deletion or Klinefelter syndrome (KS) had higher SRR,while idiopathic NOA patients had the lowest SRR (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 M-TESE is an effective treatment of NOA. There is no correlation between SRR and patients’ age,MBI,testicular volume and levels of endocrine hormones. NOA caused by different etiological classifications may have different SRR.

Effectiveness of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi root in pregnancy-related diseases: A review / 中西医结合学报

The root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, also called Huangqin, is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. In ancient China, S. baicalensis root was used to clear heat, protect the fetus, and avoid a miscarriage for thousands of years. In modern times, pregnancy-related diseases can seriously affect maternal and fetal health, but few systematic studies have explored the mechanisms and potential targets of S. baicalensis root in the treatment of pregnancy-related diseases. Flavonoids (baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A) and flavonoid glycosides (baicalin and wogonoside) are the main chemical components in the root of S. baicalensis. This study presents the current understanding of the major chemical components in the root of S. baicalensis, focusing on their traditional uses, potential therapeutic effects and ethnopharmacological relevance to pregnancy-related disorders. The mechanisms, potential targets and experimental models of S. baicalensis root for ameliorating pregnancy-related diseases, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and gestational diabetes mellitus, are highlighted.

Analysis of a child with X-linked intellectual disability due to a maternal de novo splicing variant of the PAK3 gene / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the genetic etiology for a child with profound intellectual disabilities and obvious behavioral abnormalities.@*METHODS@#A male child who had presented at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University on December 2, 2020 was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents were collected and subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. Short tandem repeat (STR) analysis was carried out to determine its parental origin. The splicing variant was also validated in vitro with a minigene assay.@*RESULTS@#WES results revealed that the child had harbored a novel splicing variant of c.176-2A>G in the PAK3 gene, which was inherited from his mother. The results of minigene assay have confirmed aberrant splicing of exon 2. According to the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, it was classified as a pathogenic variant (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PP3).@*CONCLUSION@#The novel splicing variant c.176-2A>G of the PAK3 gene probably underlay the disorder in this child. Above finding has expanded the variation spectrum of the PAK3 gene and provided a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for this family.

Prognostic Value of MRI Arterial-phase Enhancement Pattern in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Patients / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of the enhancement pattern in arterial phase of preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） in evaluating the disease-free survival （DFS） and overall survival （OS） in patients undergoing curative resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma （ICC）. MethodsA retrospective analysis was done on the clinical， preoperative MRI findings and postoperative follow-up results of 93 pathologically confirmed ICC patients undergoing surgery in our hospital between January 2018 and December 2021. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test were used to compare the DFS and OS of three groups with different arterial enhancement patterns. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting DFS and OS. ResultsThere were significant differences in DFS and OS among the 3 groups （log-rank test， P < 0.05）. The arterial enhancement pattern was an independent predictive factor for DFS （using diffuse hyperenhancement as a reference， peripheral rim enhancement： HR = 3.550； 95%CI： 1.16 ~ 10.8； P = 0.026；diffuse hypoenhancement： HR = 3.430； 95%CI： 1.04 ~ 11.3； P = 0.042）. The arterial enhancement pattern and tumor location were predictive factors for OS （（using diffuse hyperenhancement as a reference， diffuse hypoenhancement， HR = 8.500； 95%CI： 1.09-66.3； P = 0.041； using tumor distal location as a reference， tumor perihilar location HR=2.583，95%CI： 1.14-5.83， P =0.022）. The AUC of arterial enhancement patterns in predicting 1-， 2-， and 3- year DFS were 0.722， 0.748， and 0.617， respectively； in OS， 0.720， 0.704， and 0.730， respectively， which showed better prognostic efficacy than AJCC-TNM staging system. ConclusionArterial-phase enhancement pattern of preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI is an independent predictive factor for DFS and OS of ICC patients， with a better prognostic value than AJCC-TNM staging system， and can be used for the clinical management of ICC patients.

Analysis on survival time and influencing factors among reported HIV/AIDS in Yunnan Province, 1989-2021 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To analyze the survival time of reported HIV/AIDS and influencing factors of Yunnan Province from 1989 to 2021. Methods: The data were extracted from the Chinese HIV/AIDS comprehensive response information management system. The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The life table method was applied to calculate the survival probability. Kaplan-Meier was used to draw survival curves in different situations. Furthermore, the Cox proportion hazard regression model was constructed to identify the factors related to survival time. Results: Of the 174 510 HIV/AIDS, the all-cause mortality density was 4.23 per 100 person-years, the median survival time was 20.00 (95%CI:19.52-20.48) years, and the cumulative survival rates in 1, 10, 20, and 30 years were 90.75%, 67.50%, 47.93% and 30.85%. Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model results showed that the risk of death among 0-14 and 15-49 years old groups were 0.44 (95%CI: 0.34-0.56) times and 0.51 (95%CI:0.50-0.52) times of ≥50 years old groups. The risk for death among the first CD4+T lymphocytes counts (CD4) counts levels of 200-349 cells/μl, 350-500 cells/μl and ≥501 cells/μl groups were 0.52 (95%CI: 0.50-0.53) times, 0.41 (95%CI: 0.40-0.42) times and 0.35 (95%CI: 0.34-0.36) times of 0-199 cells/μl groups. The risk of death among the cases that have not received antiretroviral therapy (ART) was 11.56 (95%CI: 11.26-11.87) times. The risk for death among the cases losing to ART, stopping to ART, both losing and stopping ART was 1.66 (95%CI:1.61-1.72) times, 2.49 (95%CI:2.39-2.60) times, and 1.65 (95%CI:1.53-1.78) times of the cases on ART. Conclusions: The influencing factors for the survival time of HIV/AIDS cases were age at diagnosis in Yunnan province from 1989 to 2021. The first CD4 counts levels, antiretroviral therapy, and ART compliance. Early diagnosis, early antiretroviral therapy, and increasing ART compliance could extend the survival time of HIV/AIDS cases.

Effect and safety of 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 31 patients with acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To investigate the early effect and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with a 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) /myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) . Methods: From April 2021 to May 2022, 31 AML/MDS patients who received allo-HSCT with a 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen were analyzed. Results: AML (n=10), MDS-AML (n=6), CMML-AML (n=1), and MDS (n=14) were identified in 31 patients, 16 males, and 15 females, with a median age of 41 (20-55) yr. Neutrophils and platelets were successfully implanted in 31 patients (100%), with a median implantation duration of 12 (9-30) and 14 (9-42) days, respectively. During the preconditioning period, 16 patients (51.6%) developed oral mucositis, with 15 cases of Ⅰ/Ⅱ grade (48.4%) and one case of Ⅲ grade (3.2%). After transplantation, 13 patients (41.9%) developed CMV viremia, six patients (19.4%) developed hemorrhagic cystitis, and four patients (12.9%) developed a local infection. The median time of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) following transplantation was 33 (12-111) days. The cumulative incidence of aGVHD and Ⅲ/Ⅳ grade aGVHD was 41.9% (95% CI 26.9%-61.0%) and 22.9% (95% CI 13.5%-47.5%), respectively. There was no severe cGVHD, and mild and moderate chronic GVHD (cGVHD) incidence was 23.5% (95% CI 12.1%-43.6%). As of November 30, 2022, only one of the 31 patients had relapsed, with a 1-yr cumulative relapse rate (CIR) of 3.2% (95% CI 0.5%-20.7%). There was only one relapse patient death and no non-relapse deaths. The 1-yr overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 92.9% (95% CI 80.3%-100%) and 96.8% (95% CI 90.8%-100%), respectively. Conclusions: A 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen for allo-HSCT reduced relapse and was safe and feasible in treating AML/MDS.

Circulating circRNA expression profile and its potential role in late recurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation post catheter ablation / 老年心脏病学杂志（英文版）

BACKGROUND@#Catheter-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an effective and well-established intervention for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Nevertheless, late recurrences of atrial fibrillation (LRAF) occurring during 3 to 12 months are common, and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) in atrial tissue have been linked to the pathophysiological mechanisms and progression of PAF in a few studies. However, their expression patterns in peripheral blood and regulatory function in LRAF are not clear.@*METHODS@#In the present study, the expression profile of circulating circRNAs in three paired nonvalvular PAF patients with or without LRAF was investigated by high-throughput sequencing and validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatics analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and circRNA/miRNA regulatory network, were performed to predict the functions and potential regulatory roles of differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs.@*RESULTS@#A total of 12,834 circRNAs, comprising 5,491 down-regulated and 7,343 up-regulated circRNAs, were found to be DE in blood smaples from the two groups in peripheral blood between LRAF and non-recurrence control individuals. The most enriched GO categories in terms of molecular function, biological process, and cellular component features were catalytic activity, cellular metabolic process, and intracellular part, respectively. The KEGG enrichment study revealed that the most important metabolic process controlled by DE circRNAs is endocytosis. In the circRNA/microRNAs interaction network, four up-regulated circRNAs (hsa_circ_0002665, hsa_circ_0001953, hsa_circ_0003831, and hsa_circ_0040533) and one down-regulated circRNA (hsa_circ_0041103) were predicted to play potential regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of LRAF.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This investigation discovered the expression pattern of circulating circRNAs that is indicative of PAF late recurrence, which may serve as risk markers or therapeutic targets for LRAF after PVI.

A comparison of sleep-wake patterns among school-age children and adolescents in Hong Kong before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundLifestyle of children and adolescents have changed extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic due to school suspension and social distancing measures, which can affect their sleep health. Existing studies in the area used convenient samples and focused on the initial months of the pandemic. MethodAs part of a territory-wide epidemiological study in Hong Kong, this cross-sectional study recruited primary and secondary school students by stratified random sampling. We investigated the pandemics effects on sleep parameters using multivariate regression, adjusting for age, sex, household income, seasonality and presence of mental disorders, and the effects moderators and mediators. FindingsBetween September 1, 2019 and June 2, 2021, 791 primary and 442 school students were recruited and analysed. After correcting for multiple testing, being assessed during COVID predicted a longer sleep latency in primary and secondary school students in school days (95% CI = 1.0-5.2 minutes, adjusted p-value = 0.010; and 95% CI= 3.9-13.0 minutes, adjusted p-value =0.004, respectively) and non-school days (95% CI = 1.7-7.2 minutes, adjusted p-value = 0.005; 95% CI = 3.4-13.7 minutes, adjusted p-value = 0.014, respectively). Low household income was a moderator for later bedtime (adjusted p-value = 0.032) and later sleep onset (adjusted p-value = 0.043) during non-school days among secondary school students. Sex and digital leisure time were not moderator and mediator of the pandemics effect on sleep parameters, respectively. InterpretationChanges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have a widespread and enduring effect on sleep health of school-aged students in Hong Kong. Household income play a role in adolescents sleep healths resilience against these changes, and anti-epidemic measures effects on the health gap of the youth should be considered. FundingGovernment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Food and Health Bureau, Health and Medical Research Fund (Ref. No.: MHS-P1(Part 1)-CUHK).

Analysis of specimen adequacy of fine needle non-aspiration cytology in thyroid nodules / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the occurrence of inadequate specimens of thyroid nodule fine needle non-aspiration cytology and its possible influencing factors.Methods:Clinical data of 1571 patients with FNAC of 1638 thyroid nodules were analyzed retrospectively, according to whether the FNAC specimen were adequate or not, all cases were divided into adequate group and inadequate group. The related influencing factors on inadequate specimen were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression.Results:Inadequate specimens occurred in 301 of 1638 (18.4%) nodules. Logistic regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of overall specimen adequacy included operator experience ( P=0.00) , nodules size≤0.5 cm ( P=0.00) , eggshell calcification ( P=0.00) , and cystic ( P=0.00) . Excluding the impact of operator experience, the influencing factors of specimen adequacy included nodules size≤0.5 cm ( P=0.00) , eggshell calcification ( P=0.00) , and cystic ( P=0.00) . Conclusions:Operator experience, nodules size≤0.5 cm, cystic, together with eggshell calcification are influencing factors of specimen adequacy of fine needle non-aspiration cytology in thyroid nodules. For experienced operators, what restrict specimen adequacy is the limitation of FNAC technique. For inexperienced operators, what restrict specimen adequacy is operator’s experience.