Tumor-associated macrophage-derived itaconic acid contributes to nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression by promoting immune escape via TET2.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor of epithelial origin in head and neck with high incidence rate in South China, Southeast Asia and North Africa. The intervention of tumor-associated macrophages (Mφs) (TAMs)-mediated immunosuppression is a potential therapeutic strategy against tumor metastasis, but the exact mechanisms of TAM-mediated immunosuppression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma are unclear. Furthermore, how TAM affects the occurrence and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through metabolism is rarely involved. In this work, we revealed that NPC cells promoted M2-type Mφ polarization and elevated itaconic acid (ITA) release. Also, TAMs facilitated NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through immune response gene 1 (IRG1)-catalyzed ITA production. Then, IRG1-mediated ITA production in TAMs repressed the killing of CD8+ T cells, induced M2-type polarization of TAMs, and reduced the phagocytosis of TAMs. Moreover, we demonstrated ITA played a tumor immunosuppressive role by binding and dampening ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2) expression. Finally, we proved that ITA promotes NPC growth by facilitating immune escape in CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell humanized mice. In Conclusion, TAM-derived ITA facilitated NPC progression by enhancing immune escape through targeting TET2, highlighting that interfering with the metabolic pathway of ITA may be a potential strategy for NPC treatment.

Functional dissection of parabrachial substrates in processing nociceptive information.

Painful stimuli elicit first-line reflexive defensive reactions and, in many cases, also evoke second-line recuperative behaviors, the latter of which reflects the sensing of tissue damage and the alleviation of suffering. The lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN), composed of external- (elPBN), dorsal- (dlPBN), and central/superior-subnuclei (jointly referred to as slPBN), receives sensory inputs from spinal projection neurons and plays important roles in processing affective information from external threats and body integrity disruption. However, the organizational rules of lPBN neurons that provoke diverse behaviors in response to different painful stimuli from cutaneous and deep tissues remain unclear. In this study, we used region-specific neuronal depletion or silencing approaches combined with a battery of behavioral assays to show that slPBN neurons expressing substance P receptor ( NK1R) (lPBN NK1R) are crucial for driving pain-associated self-care behaviors evoked by sustained noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli applied to skin or bone/muscle, while elPBN neurons are dispensable for driving such reactions. Notably, lPBN NK1R neurons are specifically required for forming sustained somatic pain-induced negative teaching signals and aversive memory but are not necessary for fear-learning or escape behaviors elicited by external threats. Lastly, both lPBN NK1R and elPBN neurons contribute to chemical irritant-induced nocifensive reactions. Our results reveal the functional organization of parabrachial substrates that drive distinct behavioral outcomes in response to sustained pain versus external danger under physiological conditions.

[A multicenter study of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen, China]. / 深圳市新生儿脑卒中多中心现况调查.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence rate, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen, China. METHODS: Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital, the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022. The incidence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137, 1/6 060, and 1/7 704, respectively. Ischemic stroke accounted for 75% (27/36); boys accounted for 64% (23/36). Among the 36 neonates, 31 (86%) had disease onset within 3 days after birth, and 19 (53%) had convulsion as the initial presentation. Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates (61%) had left cerebral infarction and 13 (36%) had basal ganglia infarction. Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates, among whom 9 (75%) had involvement of the middle cerebral artery. Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates, with sharp waves in 21 neonates (72%) and seizures in 10 neonates (34%). Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals. Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates (33%, 12/36), with a mean score of (32±4) points. The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age, with 44% (12/27) of the neonates having a good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke, often with convulsions as the initial presentation, involvement of the middle cerebral artery, sharp waves on electroencephalography, and a relatively low neurodevelopment score. Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method, and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Simultaneous determination of bepotastine and hydroxychloroquine concentrations in human breast milk by LC-MS/MS / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To establish a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） method for the simultaneous determination of bepotastine and hydroxychloroquine concentrations in human breast milk and apply it in clinical practice. METHODS The milk samples （50 μL） were precipitated with 200 μL methanol containing the internal standard （100 ng/mL chloroquine）， and the supernatant was taken for analysis after vortexing and centrifugation. The separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column with mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid-10 mmol/L ammonium acetate solution （phase A） and methanol （phase B） at gradient elution of 0.35 mL/min. The injection volume was 2 μL， and the analysis time was 4 min. The detection of the analytes was performed by electrospray ionization in positive mode by multiple reaction monitoring with the transition of m/z 388.9→201.9 （bepotastine）， m/z 336.3→247.1 （hydroxychloroquine）， and m/z 320.2→247.2 （chloroquine）. The established LC-MS/MS method was researched in methodology and used to determine the drug concentrations in the breast milk of 1 case of lactating patient. RESULTS The linear range of bepotastine was 2-200 ng/mL（ r＝0.999）， and hydroxychloroquine was 50-1 000 ng/mL （r＝0.998）. The intra-assay and inter-assay precisions were both ≤15%， and the accuracy， extraction recovery， matrix effect， and stability all met the acceptance criteria for bioanalytical method validation. The concentration result of bepotastine and hydroxychloroquine in the breast milk of the lactating patient showed， after 2 h and 14 h， the concentrations of bepotastine in the breast milk of the patient were 34.95 ng/mL and 5.72 ng/mL； those of hydroxychloroquine were 211.92 ng/mL and 104.18 ng/mL， respectively. The relative infant doses were 1.83% and 0.56%， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established method is simple， rapid， and sensitive. It is suitable for simultaneous determination of bepotastine and hydroxychloroquine concentrations in human milk and can provide reference for safe drug use during lactation.

Simultaneous determination of bepotastine and hydroxychloroquine concentrations in human breast milk by LC-MS/MS / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To establish a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） method for the simultaneous determination of bepotastine and hydroxychloroquine concentrations in human breast milk and apply it in clinical practice. METHODS The milk samples （50 μL） were precipitated with 200 μL methanol containing the internal standard （100 ng/mL chloroquine）， and the supernatant was taken for analysis after vortexing and centrifugation. The separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column with mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid-10 mmol/L ammonium acetate solution （phase A） and methanol （phase B） at gradient elution of 0.35 mL/min. The injection volume was 2 μL， and the analysis time was 4 min. The detection of the analytes was performed by electrospray ionization in positive mode by multiple reaction monitoring with the transition of m/z 388.9→201.9 （bepotastine）， m/z 336.3→247.1 （hydroxychloroquine）， and m/z 320.2→247.2 （chloroquine）. The established LC-MS/MS method was researched in methodology and used to determine the drug concentrations in the breast milk of 1 case of lactating patient. RESULTS The linear range of bepotastine was 2-200 ng/mL（ r＝0.999）， and hydroxychloroquine was 50-1 000 ng/mL （r＝0.998）. The intra-assay and inter-assay precisions were both ≤15%， and the accuracy， extraction recovery， matrix effect， and stability all met the acceptance criteria for bioanalytical method validation. The concentration result of bepotastine and hydroxychloroquine in the breast milk of the lactating patient showed， after 2 h and 14 h， the concentrations of bepotastine in the breast milk of the patient were 34.95 ng/mL and 5.72 ng/mL； those of hydroxychloroquine were 211.92 ng/mL and 104.18 ng/mL， respectively. The relative infant doses were 1.83% and 0.56%， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established method is simple， rapid， and sensitive. It is suitable for simultaneous determination of bepotastine and hydroxychloroquine concentrations in human milk and can provide reference for safe drug use during lactation.

Antifungal Activity and Action Mechanisms of 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol against Ustilaginoidea virens.

Ustilaginoidea virens is a destructive phytopathogenic fungus that causes false smut disease in rice. In this study, the natural product 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP) was found to be an environmentally friendly and effective agent for the first time, which exhibited strong antifungal activity against U. virens, with an EC50 value of 0.087 mmol/L. The scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence staining, and biochemical assays indicated that 2,4-DTBP could destroy the cell wall, cell membrane, and cellular redox homeostasis of U. virens, ultimately resulting in fungal cell death. Through the transcriptomic analysis, a total of 353 genes were significantly upregulated and 367 genes were significantly downregulated, focusing on the spindle microtubule assembly, cell wall and membrane, redox homeostasis, mycotoxin biosynthesis, and intracellular metabolism. These results enhanced the understanding of the antifungal activity and action mechanisms of 2,4-DTBP against U. virens, supporting it to be a potential antifungal agent for the control of false smut disease.

The differential associative relationship between early risk factors, neonatal morbidities and early neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants <29 weeks' gestation.

BACKGROUND: Very preterm infants of <29 weeks' gestation are at high risk for adverse neurodevelopment due to multiple risk factors in the early stages of life. There is little information regarding the associative effects of risk factors in early life, neonatal morbidities and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes. AIMS: Investigate the association of early neurodevelopmental outcomes, neonatal complications and the risk factors in the early hours of life in a cohort of preterm infants <29 weeks' gestational age. METHODS: We enrolled all surviving preterm neonates born at gestation <29 weeks between January 2015 and June 2021 in the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected from a database of the neonatal intensive care unit. Neurodevelopmental outcomes of the survivors were evaluated using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) which were measured at the adjusted age of 12 to 18 months. The multivariate linear regression model was used to determine correlation presented as ß coefficient (ß) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: In this cohort of 56 survivors <29 weeks' gestation, urine output within the first 12 h of life and Apgar score at 5 min were positively associated with different domains of ASQ-3 score, however male sex and highest fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) in the first 12 h of life were negatively related with at least one of neurocognitive domains of ASQ-3 at adjusted age of 12 to 18 months. During hospitalization, in addition to the frequency of packed red cell transfusions, the development of severe necrotizing enterocolitis was inversely associated with both neuromotor and neurocognitive skills (gross motor domain: ß = -16.93, CI: -32.04, -1.82; fine motor domain: ß = -16.42, CI: -28.82, -4.02; problem solving domain: ß = -13.14, CI: -24.45, -1.83; all P < 0.05), whereas severe intraventricular hemorrhage had adverse effects on gross motor only (ß = -13.04, CI: -24.42, -1.65; P = 0.03). Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity were not related with ASQ-3. CONCLUSIONS: In this small cohort study of very preterm neonates born at <29 weeks' gestation, risk factors in the early hours of life and neonatal morbidities during hospitalization had differential associative relationships with ASQ-3 at 12-18 months adjusted age. This information may be important for parental counseling and management including early diagnosis and intervention.

Natural occurrence of ustiloxins in rice from five provinces in China and the removal efficiencies of different milling steps.

BACKGROUND: The widespread incidence of "false smut" disease in rice has caused extensive ustiloxin contamination around the world. Until now there has been a lack of knowledge regarding the natural occurrence of ustiloxins in paddy. The development of efficient removal methods is also still a challenge that remains unexplored. RESULTS: In the current study, three main ustiloxins - ustiloxin A (UA), ustiloxin B (UB), and ustiloxin G (UG) - were determined simultaneously by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) in 206 paddy samples collected in 2021 from five rice-producing provinces in China. The predominant ustiloxin was UA with an occurrence of 46.1% and an average concentration of 49.71 µg kg-1 . This was followed by UB (31.1%, 13.31 µg kg-1 ) and UG (18.4%, 9.19 µg kg-1 ). No targeted ustiloxins were detected in white rice samples randomly collected from supermarkets in Shanghai. To reveal the causes, two approaches were tested for the removal of the ustiloxins: most of the targeted ustiloxins (>93%) were removed in brown rice by husking and, subsequently, all targeted ustiloxins (100%) were removed by whitening. CONCLUSION: A wide distribution of ustiloxins was discovered in paddy samples in this study. The UA contaminations were significantly different depending on their origin, with the highest occurrence in paddy from Shanghai and Jiangsu, southeast coast provinces in China. Contamination by UG was also found in paddy for the first time and was strongly correlated with those of UA and UB. A combination of husking and whitening has been verified to be a practicable and promising way to ensure efficient removal and food safety. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lichen myxedematosus associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: A case report and literature review.

Lichen myxedematosus (LM) is an idiopathic cutaneous mucinosis disorder, and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a preneoplastic plasma cell disease with a monoclonal increase in globulin. Patients with LM combined with monoclonal gammopathy are normally diagnosed with scleromyxedema. However, we report a case of generalized papules combined with MGUS in a 78-year-old man who was eventually diagnosed with atypical or intermediate forms of LM because it only involved the skin, and the pathological type was not consistent with scleromyxedema. Few cases of atypical or intermediate forms of LM have been reported, so the course of atypical or intermediate forms of LM is unpredictable. We report the diagnosis and treatment of a case of atypical forms of LM to discuss the current understanding of the disease, hoping to provide a reference for clinical research on this disease.

Natural Plant-derived Polysaccharides Against Cervical Cancer： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Cervical cancer is a gynecological malignant tumor with a high incidence in the world. With the insidious onset and lack of obvious symptoms and signs in the early stage， 13% of cervical cancer patients are diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease， and the 5-year survival rate of metastatic cervical cancer is only 16.5%. So far， surgery and radiotherapy/chemotherapy are still the basic means for the treatment of cervical cancer. However， with the emergence of toxicity， drug resistance， and other side effects， there are still some limitations in the clinical application of these therapies. In recent years， natural compounds represented by polysaccharides have been found to have a significant anti-cervical cancer effect， which has attracted extensive attention from researchers in China and abroad. Widely distributed in the roots， stems， leaves， flowers， and fruits of higher plants， plant-based polysaccharides are important components of natural polysaccharides， as well as multimers with a complex structure and biological response regulators， which have been widely studied in the fields of cancer， cardiovascular， endocrine， and other diseases. This study reviewed the research on the anti-cervical cancer effect and mechanism of natural plant-derived polysaccharides by consulting the literature in the past 20 years to bring breakthroughs in the research and development of anti-cervical cancer new drugs. Through the literature review， the results indicated that natural plant-derived polysaccharides could exert anti-tumor effects by inhibiting cell proliferation， promoting apoptosis， inhibiting invasion and migration， promoting autophagy， arresting cell cycle of cervical cancer cells， regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）， resisting oxidative stress， inhibiting tumor angiogenesis， improving immunomodulatory activity， and regulating signaling pathways. It should be noted that in the current research on natural plant-derived polysaccharides against cervical cancer， the bioavailability of some natural polysaccharides is low and a considerable proportion of the research is limited to the in vitro experiment. Therefore， it is urgent to carry out more clinical experimental studies on the anti-cervical cancer of natural plant-based polysaccharides to obtain a more reliable theoretical and practical basis.

Short-term efficacy of dapagliflozin in children with hereditary proteinuric kidney disease / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To explore the short-term efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in children with hereditary proteinuric kidney disease. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. From August 2020 to December 2021, 23 children with hereditary kidney disease from Children's Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled. Patients received dapagliflozin 5 mg/d (weight≤30 kg) or initial dose 5 mg/d for 1 week, then 10 mg/d (weight>30 kg) and the dose of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors was stable during treatment. Clinical data including demographic parameters, primary diagnosis, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 24 h proteinuria and characteristics in the follow-up were collected. The primary outcome was the change in 24 h proteinuria at 12 (±2) weeks, secondary outcomes included changes of 24 h proteinuria at 24 (±2) weeks, eGFR at both 12 (±2) and 24 (±2) weeks. The data were analysed by using mixed linear model. Results: Totally 23 patients were enrolled, including 16 males and 7 females. The age was (10.8±2.9) years. The primary diseases were Alport syndrome (12 cases), Dent disease (5 cases), proteinuria (4 cases), and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (2 cases) respectively. Primary outcome showed that 24 h proteinuria decreased from baseline at 12 (±2) weeks during treatment (1.75 (1.46, 2.20) vs. 1.84 (1.14, 2.54) g/m2, P<0.05). Secondary outcomes showed that there was no significant difference in 24 h urine protein at 24 (±2) weeks (P>0.05). eGFR decreased slightly at 12 (±2) weeks ((107±21) vs. (112±28) ml/(min·1.73m2), P<0.05), and there was no significant difference at 24 (±2) weeks (P>0.05). Serum albumin increased at 12 (±2) and 24 (±2) weeks following the treatment ((39±8) vs. (37±8) g/L, (38±7) vs. (37±8) g/L, both P<0.05). No hypoglycemia event was reported during the treatment. Conclusion: The dapagliflozin had therapeutic effects on decreasing proteinuria and increasing serum albumin in short-term treatment in children with hereditary proteinuric kidney disease, no hypoglycemia or serious adverse events were observed.

Progress in the effect of maternal diabetes on the kidney development in offspring / 国际儿科学杂志

Maternal diabetes not only affects the mother′s own health but also has a significant influence on offspring.Adverse prenatal and intrauterine condition can influence fetal kidney development, which may increase the risk of kidney disease in the adulthood.This article reveiws the impact of maternal diabetes on kidney structure and function.Maternal diabetes can increase the risk of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract(CAKUT)and impair early and long-term renal function of offspring.In addition, this article reveiws the research progress of the potential mechanisms of how maternal diabetes affects kidney development including oxidative stress, key signal pathway changes of kidney development and epigenetic changes.

Progress on the mechanism of rituximab in the treatment of primary nephrotic syndrome / 国际儿科学杂志

In recent years, rituximab(RTX) has been increasingly used in the treatment of refractory primary nephrotic syndrome in children, and has achieved positive effects.Experimental evidence suggests that RTX may exert its therapeutic effects by directly acting on B cells and T cells, interfering with the interaction between B cells and T cells, and directly protecting podocytes.However, the number of studies on the mechanism of RTX in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome is limited and there is no definitive evidence, so there is no consensus in the academic community.This article summarizes experimental research results and reasonable speculations put forward by many scholars in recent years, and summarizes the significance of the research on the mechanism of RTX and the existing research gaps in this field, in order to provide theoretical guidance for the clinical application of RTX.

Qualitative study on maternal and infant care experience and needs of spouses of puerperal women / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To explore the real maternal and infant care experience and needs of spouses of puerperal women, so as to provide a basis for improving maternal and infant care capacity and participation of spouses and promoting maternal and infant health.Methods:Guided by dyadic coping theory, the semi-structured interviews were conducted among 18 spouses of puerperal women who gave birth at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from July to September 2022 using the phenomenological research method, and the recording data were analyzed by Colaizzi phenomenon analytical method.Results:Three themes were extracted, including positive experience of maternal and infant care of spouses of puerperal women (positive psychological emotions, adjustment of perceptions and behaviors, understanding of social support), negative experience of maternal and infant care of spouses of puerperal women (negative psychological emotions, poor care competence, imbalance during life and work), diversified needs for maternal and infant care of spouses of puerperal women (the need for multidimensional knowledge and skills, the suggestion of building continuous health education platform, the expectation of support from family).Conclusions:Medical staff should provide the spouses of puerperal women with diversified maternal and infant care and professional continuing nursing according to their experience and needs. Meanwhile, the family support system should be improved to enhance their sense of competence and participation in maternal and infant care and promote maternal and infant health.

Clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radical surgery for elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) combined with radical surgery for elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC).Methods:One hundred and fourty eight patients with LAGC after NACT and gastrectomy between 2012 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into two groups: (1) <65 years old (111 cases) and (2) ≥65 years old (37 cases) and their clinicopathological and prognostic data were compared.Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of hematological complications such as anemia ( χ2=0.235, P=0.628), leukopenia ( χ2=0.613, P=0.434), neutropenia ( χ2=0.011, P=0.918) and thrombocytopenia ( χ2=0.253, P=0.615) and non-hematological complications such as nausea ( χ2=0.092, P=0.762), vomiting ( χ2=0.166, P=0.683), diarrhea ( χ2=0.015, P=0.902) and mucositis ( χ2=0.199, P=0.766) due to NACT. There were no statistical differences between the older patients and the younger in operation duration ( t=0.270, P=0.604), intraoperative bleeding ( t=1.140, P=0.250) and R 0 resection rate ( χ2=0.105, P=0.750). The incidence of postoperative complications was 25.2% and 37.8% in the younger patients and the olders ( χ2=2.172, P=0.141). Pleural effusion ( χ2=7.007, P=0.008) and pulmonary infection ( χ2=10.204, P=0.001) was significantly higher in the older patients than in the youngers. The 3-year progression-free survival rate ( t=0.494, P=0.482) and 3-year overall survival rate ( t=0.013, P=0.908) were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions:NACT combined with radical surgery is safe and effective in elderly patients with LAGC, except for higher perioperative pulmonary-related complications.

Application of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in three infants with chronic kidney disease / 中华肾脏病杂志

The paper summarizes the clinical and follow-up data of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in three infants with chronic kidney disease to explore the safety and reliability of using PEG to improve the growth and development, and nutritional status. During follow-up, the weight and height of case 1 and 3 were obviously improved. Case 2 was followed up for 3 months, due to dying of cardiac arrest, and the infant's height and weight were not significantly improved. Serum albumin and prealbumin improved in 3 cases after PEG. No PEG-related infection occurred in 3 infants.

CHESS endoscopic ruler in objective measurement of diameter of esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension: a prospective multicenter study / 中华消化杂志

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of the CHESS endoscpic ruler (CHESS ruler), and the consistency between the measured values and the interpretation values by endoscopic physician experience.Methods:From January 2021 to January 2022, a total of 105 liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension were prospectively enrolled from General Hospital, Xixia Branch Hospital, Ningnan Hospital of People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (29 cases), and the First People′s Hospital of Yinchuan (25 cases), General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (18 cases), Wuzhong People′s Hospital (10 cases), the Fifth People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (10 cases), Shizuishan Second People′s Hospital (6 cases), Yinchuan Second People′s Hospital (5 cases), and Zhongwei People′s Hospital (2 cases) 8 hospitals. The clinical characteristics of all the patients, including gender, age, nationality, etiolog of liver cirrhosis, and Child-Pugh classification of liver function were recorded. A big gastroesophageal varices was defined as diameter of varices ≥5 mm. Endoscopist (associated chief physician) performed gastroscopy according to the routine gastroscopy procedures, and the diameter of the biggest esophageal varices was measured by experience and images were collected, and then objective measurement was with the CHESS ruler and images were collected. The diameter of esophageal varices of 10 randomly selected patients (random number table method) was determined by 6 endoscopists (attending physician or associated chief physician) with experience or measured by CHESS ruler. Kappa test was used to test the consistency in the diameter of esophageal varices between measured values by CHESS ruler and the interpretation values by endoscopic physician experience.Results:Among 105 liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension, male 65 cases and female 40 cases, aged (54.8±12.2) years old, Han nationality 82 cases, Hui nationality 21 cases and Mongolian nationality 2 cases. The etiology of liver cirrhosis included chronic hepatitis B (79 cases), alcoholic liver disease (7 cases), autoimmune hepatitis (7 cases), chronic hepatitis C (2 cases), and other etiology (10 cases). Liver function of 32 cases was Child-Pugh A, Child-Pugh B 57 cases, and Child-Pugh C 16 cases. All 105 liver cirrhosis patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension were successfully measured the diameter of gastroesophageal varices by CHESS ruler, and the success rate of application of CHESS ruler was 100.0% (105/105). The procedure time from the CHESS ruler into the body to the exit of the body after measurement was (3.50±2.55) min. No complications happened in all the patients during measurement. Among 105 liver cirrhosis patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension, 96 cases (91.4%) were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopists. Totally 93 cases (88.6%) were considered as big gastroesophageal varices by CHESS ruler. Eight cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopist, however not by the CHESS ruler; 5 cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices by the CHESS ruler, but not by the endoscopists; 4 cases were not recognized as big gastroesophageal varices both by the endoscopists and CHESS ruler; 88 cases were recognized as big gastroesophageal varices both by the endoscopists and CHESS ruler. The missed diagnostic rate of big gastroesophageal varices by the endoscopists experience was 5.4% (5/93), and the Kappa value of consistency coefficient between the measurement by the CHESS ruler and the interpretation by endoscopists experience was 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.03 to 0.60). The overall Kappa value of consistency coefficient by 6 endoscopists measured by CHESS ruler in big gastroesophageal varices diagnosis was 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.61 to 0.93).Conclusion:As an objective measurement tool, CHESS ruler can make up for the deficiency of subjective judgment by endoscopists, accurately measure the diameter of gastroesophageal varices, and is highly feasible and safe.

To analyze the imaging features of thyroid papillary carcinoma diagnosed by CEUS and the diagnostic efficacy of CEUS in cervical lymph node metastasis / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To analyze the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and related parameters in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis.Methods:The clinical data of 130 patients who underwent ultrasonography in Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and postoperative pathological examination. According to the pathological diagnosis of benign and malignant tumors, they were divided into PTC group and benign nodule group. In the PTC group, there were 46 males and 40 females, aging 51.79±5.01 years old, ranging from 32 to 63 years old; In the nodule group, there were 25 males and 19 females, aging 52.05±4.89 years old, ranging from 33 to 64 years old. According to the presence or absence of cervical LNM, they were divided into a metastasis group of 31 cases, 17 males and 14 females; age (51.69±6.14 years), ranging from 36 to 63 years; 55 cases in the non-transfer group, 29 males and 26 females, aging (51.75±6.18) years, ranging from 36 to 62 years. Comparative analysis of different nodule properties, presence or absence of LNM, different lesion diameters in imaging manifestations and time-intensity curve (time-intensity curve, TIC) parameters differences, measurement data between groups were conducted by independent sample t test, count data between groups were compared by χ2. The receiver operating characteristic curve (receiver operating characteristic, ROC) was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic performance of TIC parameters for cervical LNM. Results:The proportion of PTC nodules with low enhancement, irregular enhancement, heterogeneous enhancement, unclear lesion boundary, and perfusion defect (72.09%, 87.21%, 88.64%, 69.77%, 70.93%) was significantly higher than that of benign nodules (38.64%, 11.36%) %, 27.27%, 77.27%, 27.27%) ( χ2=13.67, 70.75, 49.69, 25.92, 18.24, P<0.05) ; PTC nodule peak intensity (peak intensity, PI), TIC area under the curve (area under curve, AUC) was significantly lower than that of benign nodules (14.86±2.11dB vs 23.94±3.51dB, 985.14±105.31dB·s vs 1621.14±182.61dB·s) ; time to peak (TTP) was significantly higher than that of benign nodules ( 44.82±5.01s vs 36.95±4.18s) ( t=18.39, 21.36, 8.94, P<0.05) ; there was no significant difference in mean transit time (MTT) ( P>0.05) ; AUC was significantly higher than that of the non-metastatic group (16.86±2.09) dB vs (13.73±1.42) dB, (1163.54±131.41) dB·s vs (884.59±93.25) dB·s ( t=8.25, 11.46, P<0.05) ; The PI and AUC of PTC patients with lesion diameter ≤1.5 cm were significantly lower than those of patients with lesion diameter > 1.5 cm (11.56±1.94) dB vs (15.93±2.46) dB, (876.97±100.21) dB·s vs (1020.09±125.41) dB·s ( t=8.39, 5.34, P< 0.05), there was no significant difference in terms of TTP or MTT ( P>0.05) ; the AUC of PI in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC patients was 0.888 (95% CI: 0.807-0.969), the sensitivity was 90.91%, and the specificity was 77.42%; The AUC for the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC patients was 0.972 (95% CI: 0.943-1.000), with a sensitivity of 87.10% and a specificity of 96.36%. Conclusion:The CEUS manifestations of PTC nodules are mostly irregular and heterogeneous low-enhancement, and the TIC-related parameters of PTC nodules and benign nodules are significantly different, and TIC-related parameters have good diagnostic efficiency for patients with cervical lymph node metastasis.

Clinical characteristics and one-year follow-up outcomes of 6 children with primary nephrotic syndrome infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron variant epidemic / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and short-term follow-up outcomes of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) children infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the Omicron variant outbreak in Shanghai, and to provide a reliable reference for clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment.Methods:It was a case-control study. The clinical data of children with PNS (PNS group) who were diagnosed and followed-up up to 1 year in the nephrology department of four children's medical centers in Shanghai, and the children (control group) who had no underlying diseases and were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Shanghai Jinshan Public Health Center, including the data when they were infected with SARS-CoV-2, were retrospectively analyzed.Results:(1) From March 30th to April 13th, 2022, 6 PNS children in Shanghai were infected with SARS-CoV-2, including 5 boys and 1 girl. The median age was 4.5 (2.0, 11.0) years old. And 30 children were matched by sex, age and disease type as control group, including 20 males and 10 females. The median age was 4.5 (2.0, 9.0) years. There were no significant differences between the PNS group and the control group in clinical symptoms (including fever duration), treatment regimens, vaccine doses and virus clearance time (all P>0.05). (2) The 6 children with PNS included 3 cases of steroid-sensitive type, 3 cases of steroid-resistant type, 2 cases of minimal change disease, 2 cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and 2 cases with no renal biopsy. Before SARS-CoV-2 infection, their primary disease-PNS were stable, and urine protein was negative, four of them were under maintenance treatment with oral steroids or immunosuppressive drugs. At the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the symptoms of all of the 6 cases were mild, no severe, critical or fatal cases, and they were all cured and discharged from hospital through medical isolation observation or symptomatic treatment of infections. (3) Five cases of them still had discomfort symptoms such as cough, anorexia, and fatigue after being discharged from the hospital, which lasted for about 1 week. Within 1 year of follow-up, none of the children have suffered from "recurrent positive PCR results" or "secondary infection" of the SARS-CoV-2. (4) Among them, 4 cases of PNS relapsed after SARS-CoV-2 infection, timely addition of steroids was effective, their urine protein quickly turned negative, and there was no recurrence after 1 year of follow-up. (5) Before infection with SARS-CoV-2, the levels of immunoglobulin IgG were lower than the normal reference value in the 4 cases with PNS recurrence. Conclusions:During the Omicron variant outbreak in Shanghai, the infection of SARS-CoV-2 in children with PNS are resulted in high transmission among household contacts. Most of them have mild symptoms and good prognosis. PNS is prone to relapse after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and steroid therapy is effective and safe for these relapse. IgG may be a potential marker for the prognosis of PNS children infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Efficacy and safety of antibody-drug conjugates in the treatment of breast cancer：a meta-analysis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antibody-drug conjugates （ADC） in the treatment of breast cancer， so as to provide an evidence-based reference for clinical medication. METHODS Retrieved from CNKI， Wanfang database， VIP， PubMed， the Cochrane Library， Embase， and Web of Science， randomized controlled trials （RCTs） about trastuzumab emtansine， trastuzumab deruxtecan and sacituzumab govitecan （trial group） versus chemotherapy or other anti-tumor drugs （control group）， were collected during the inception to April 2023. After screening the literature， extracting data， and evaluating the quality of the literature， a meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.4.1 software. RESULTS A total of 8 RCTs were included， with a total of 5 577 patients. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the progression-free survival （PFS） [HR＝0.76， 95%CI （0.69， 0.83）， P＜0.000 01]， overall survival （OS） [HR＝0.87， 95%CI （0.81， 0.93）， P＜0.000 1]， and clinical benefit rate （CBR） [OR＝2.70， 95%CI （1.15， 6.33）， P＝0.02] of the trial group were significantly higher than control group. There was no statistically significant difference in objective response rate （ORR） between the two groups [OR＝2.34， 95%CI （0.59， 9.33）， P＝0.23]. The results of subgroup analysis showed that the PFS of HER2-positive patients and HER2-negative patients， and the OS of HER2-positive patients in the trial group were significantly higher than control group （P＜0.05）. The incidence of anemia and increase of aspartic acid transaminase （AST） in the trial group was significantly higher than control group （P＜0.05）. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the results obtained with PFS， OS， and ORR as indicators were relatively robust， while the results obtained with CBR as indicators lacked robustness. CONCLUSIONS ADC drugs have significant effects on breast cancer， but will increase the risk of anemia and elevated AST.