Analysis of Medication Rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Malaria Treatment Based on Data Mining.

Objective To analyze the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for malaria treatment.Methods Statistical analysis was conducted on the basic attributes of TCM drugs with regard to property, therapeutic methods, flavor, and meridian tropism. A complex network of TCM drug associations was constructed. Cluster analysis was applied to obtain the core drugs for malaria treatment. The Apriori algorithm was applied to analyze the association rules of these core drugs.Results A total of 357 herbs were used 3,194 times in 461 prescriptions for malaria treatment. Radix Glycyrrhizae (), Rhizoma Pinelliae (), Radix Bupleuri (), and Radix Dichroae () were the frequently used herbs through supplementing, exterior-releasing, heat-clearing, qi-rectifying, and damp-resolving therapeutic methods. Such herbs had warm, natural, and cold herbal properties; pungent, bitter, and sweet flavors; and spleen, lung, and stomach meridian tropisms. Cluster analysis showed 61 core drugs, including Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Pinelliae, Radix Bupleuri, and Radix Scutellariae (). Apriori association rule analysis yielded 12 binomial rules (herb pairs) and 6 trinomial rules (herb combinations). Radix Bupleuri plus Radix Scutellariae was the core herbal pair for treating malaria. This pair could be combined with Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae () for treating warm or cold malaria, combined with Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae () or Radix Dichroae () for treating miasmic malaria, or combined with turtle shells () for treating malaria with splenomegaly.Conclusions TCM can be used to classify and treat malaria in accordance with the different stages of development. As the core herbal pair, Radix Bupleuri and Radix Scutellariae can be combined with other drugs to treat malaria with different syndrome types.

Establishment of infection prevention and control strategy in nursing managements during surgical operations in COVID-19 patients based on Delphi method.

AIM: The aim of this study was to establish an infection prevention and control strategy for nursing managements during surgical operations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. DESIGN: A Delphi method. METHODS: Between November 2021 and March 2022, we first formulated a preliminary infection prevention and control strategy based on the literature review and institutional experience. Then, we applied Delphi method and performed expert surveys to reach a final strategy for nursing managements during surgical operations in COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: The strategy included seven dimensions with 34 items. The positive coefficients of Delphi experts in both surveys were 100%, indicating a high coordination among experts. The degree of authority and expert coordination coefficient were 0.91 and 0.097-0.213. After the second expert survey, value assignments for importance of each dimension and item were 4.21-5.00 and 4.21-4.76 points, respectively. The coefficients of variation for dimension and item were 0.09-0.19 and 0.05-0.19, respectively. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Except the medical experts and research personnel, there was no other patient or public contribution involved in the study.

The willingness of Chinese healthcare workers to receive monkeypox vaccine and its independent predictors: A cross-sectional survey.

The global monkeypox outbreak in 2022 has severely affected the life and health of people. Currently, partial smallpox vaccines have been approved for monkeypox prevention. Considering the potential occupational health risks of monkeypox infection among healthcare workers (HCWs), this study explored the willingness of Chinese HCWs to receive the monkeypox vaccine and analyzed the factors influencing their decision. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey among HCWs of 10 Chinese hospitals from May 30th, 2022 to August 1st, 2022. Specifically, a self-report questionnaire was administered to evaluate the attitude and acceptance of HCWs toward the monkeypox vaccine, followed by a multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the independent predictors of vaccination. The survey included 1032 participants, of whom 90.12% expressed their willingness for vaccination (vaccine hesitancy rate = 9.88%). Univariate analysis showed that 11 variables differed significantly between the vaccine acceptance and vaccine hesitancy groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the age of 30-40 years (odds ratio [OR] = 0.504, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.284-0.893, p = 0.019 vs. age of <30 years old), working in a secondary hospital (OR = 0.449, 95% CI: 0.249-0.808, p = 0.019 vs. working in a tertiary hospital), considering vaccination necessary for controlling monkeypox infection (OR = 4.135, 95% CI: 2.109-8.106, p < 0.001 vs. not considering it necessary), willingness to pay for the monkeypox vaccine (OR = 2.125, 95% CI: 1.206-3.745, p = 0.009 vs. no willingness to pay), considering implementation of mandatory vaccination necessary (OR = 1.990, 95% CI: 1.023-3.869, p = 0.043 vs. not considering it necessary), and recommending family members and friends to take the vaccine (OR = 13.847, 95% CI: 7.487-25.609, p < 0.001 vs. not recommending) were crucial independent predictors of the willingness to receive monkeypox-related vaccination. This study evaluated the acceptance and hesitancy rates of Chinese HCWs toward the monkeypox vaccine and found that the willingness to receive vaccination was mainly correlated to age, hospital level, and attitude toward vaccination. Therefore, to promote vaccine absorption, we recommend expanding publicity, formulating reasonable policies, and improving the recognition of vaccines.

Survival of cancer patients in Fujian, Southeast China: a population-based cancer registry study.

Survival rates are usually used to evaluate the effect of cancer treatment and prevention. No study has focused on the characteristic of population-based cancer survival in Fujian, which is regarded as one of the high-risk areas of cancer in China. This study aims to analyze the 5-year relative survival of patients in Fujian Province using population-based cancer registry data. A total of 8 population-based registries in Fujian Province reported cancer cases diagnosed in 2012-2014. Relative survival was calculated as the ratio between observed survival and expected survival. The 5-year relative survival for all cancers combined was 36.19% and the age-standardized 5-year relative survival for all patients was 31.80%. Females had higher relative survival than males (38.90% and 27.00%). The patients in urban areas had higher relative survival than those in rural areas (32.34% and 31.29%). Lung, gastric, liver, colorectal, and esophageal cancers were the five most common cancers, with 5-year relative survival below 50%. This is the first study that evaluated the population-based cancer relative survival in Fujian, China. Our study suggests that the overall survival of cancer patients in Fujian Province is poor. Furthermore, the results of this study can be used as a baseline for further research in Fujian, and provide important evidence for cancer etiology research.

[Aesthetic effect of orthodontics treatment combined with periodontal splint in the treatment of fan-shaped displacement of anterior teeth caused by periodontitis].

PURPOSE: To explore the aesthetic effect of orthodontics treatment combined with periodontal splint in the treatment of fan-shaped displacement of anterior teeth caused by periodontitis. METHODS: Fifty patients with fan-shaped displacement of anterior teeth caused by periodontitis in PLA air force hospital from January 2013 to October 2018 were selected and randomly divided into the control group (n=25) and the experimental group (n=25). Patients in the control group were treated with conventional periodontal splint, while patients in the experimental group were treated with combined orthodontic treatment on the basis of the control group. Florida periodontal probe exploration depth (PD), gingival index (GI), attachment loss (AL), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), plaque index (PLI) and mobility were observed and compared before and 1 month after treatment between both groups. The levels of serum inflammatory factors interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP) and osteocalcin (OC) were measured and compared by ELISA before treatment and 1 month after treatment in both 2 groups. The data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 software package. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, PD and GI in both groups decreased significantly after treatment, and significantly lower in the experimental group than that in the control group (P<0.05); the levels of AL, SBI, PLI and tooth looseness in both 2 groups were significantly lower after treatment, and significantly lower in the experimental than in the control group (P<0.05); compared with before treatment, the levels of IL-4, IL-6, TNF-a and serum CRP in both 2 groups were significantly lower after treatment, and the experimental group was much lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The level of osteocalcin in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group at different time points after treatment (P<0.05). The level of osteocalcin in the experimental group reached its peak one day after treatment, and then gradually declined, the preoperative level was basically restored 7 days after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Using orthodontics combined with periodontal splint in the treatment of fan-shaped displacement of anterior teeth caused by periodontitis has a remarkable effect. The symptoms of periodontitis can be effectively improved, the teeth can be effectively corrected and facial profiles of the patients can be improved.

SATB2-AS1 Suppresses Colorectal Carcinoma Aggressiveness by Inhibiting SATB2-Dependent Snail Transcription and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

Accumulating evidence suggests that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays important regulatory roles in cancer biology. However, the involvement of lncRNA in colorectal carcinoma progression remains largely unknown, especially in colorectal carcinoma metastasis. In this study, we investigated the changes in lncRNA expression in colorectal carcinoma and identified a new lncRNA, the antisense transcript of SATB2 (SATB2-AS1), as a key regulator of colorectal carcinoma progression. SATB2-AS1 was frequently downregulated in colorectal carcinoma cells and tissues, and patients whose tumors expressed SATB2-AS1 at low levels had a shorter overall survival and poorer prognosis. Downregulation of SATB2-AS1 significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that it acts as a tumor suppressor in colorectal carcinoma. SATB2-AS1 suppressed colorectal carcinoma progression by serving as a scaffold to recruit p300, whose acetylation of H3K27 and H3K9 at the SATB2 promoter upregulated expression of SATB2, a suppressor of colorectal carcinoma growth and metastasis. SATB2 subsequently recruited HDAC1 to the Snail promoter, repressing Snail transcription and inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Taken together, these data reveal SATB2-AS1 as a novel regulator of the SATB2-Snail axis whose loss facilitates progression of colorectal carcinoma. SIGNIFICANCE: These data show that the lncRNA SATB2-AS1 mediates epigenetic regulation of SATB2 and Snail expression to suppress colorectal cancer progression.See related commentary by Li, p. 3536.

Emerging paradigms of long non-coding RNAs in gastrointestinal cancer.

A large number of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been discovered by genome-wide transcriptional analyses. Emerging evidence has indicated that lncRNAs regulate gene expression at epigenetic, transcription, and post-transcription levels, are widely involved in various pathobiology of human diseases, and may play an important role in the biology of cancer stem cells. Alterations of specific lncRNAs have been revealed to interact with the major pathways of cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, invasion and metastasis in many human malignancies, such as gastrointestinal cancer. This review summarizes the current understandings in biological functions and implications of lncRNAs in gastrointestinal cancer.

Increased CD34+CD38 -CD123 + cells in myelodysplastic syndrome displaying malignant features similar to those in AML.

Leukocyte interleukin-3 receptor α (CD123) is regarded as a marker of leukemia stem cells. We previously found that CD123 was also highly expressed on CD34(+)CD38(-) cells in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients, but it is unclear whether the level and the characteristics of CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells in MDS are similar to those in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Based on previous research by our team, we further enlarged the specimens and found that the mean proportion and the mean MFI of CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells in low-grade MDS were lower than that in AML, and those in high-grade MDS were similar to those in AML. CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells expressed lower granulocyte stimulating factor receptor, CD11b, and apoptosis molecule (Annexin V), meanwhile, these cells showed upregulation of transcription factors (GATA-1, GATA-2) and transferrin receptor (CD71) in MDS and AML. Furthermore, an increase in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells was closely related to the number of cytopenias involving hematopoietic lineages, anemia, blast count in bone marrow smear, fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis and WHO prognostic scoring system score. Thus, increases in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells may reflect malignant clonal cells with aberrant differentiation, overproliferation, and decreased apoptosis in MDS, which were similar to AML. CD123 may thus be a promising indicator for identifying malignant clonal cells in MDS and a candidate for targeted therapy.

Elevated TIM3+ hematopoietic stem cells in untreated myelodysplastic syndrome displayed aberrant differentiation, overproliferation and decreased apoptosis.

TIM3, as a negative regulator of anti-tumor immunity, is highly expressed on LSCs, but not on normal HSCs. TIM3 on HSCs in MDS patients has not been clarified. Here, both the percentage of TIM3 on HSCs and the MFI of TIM3+ HSCs were higher in untreated MDS than control and were closed to AML, and excessive TIM3+ HSCs was closely related to clinical parameters: WPSS score, karyotype analysis, morphologic blasts, the number of cytopenia involving hematopoietic lineages, anemia and granulocytopenia. TIM3+ HSCs expressed lower CD11b, TpoR, EpoR, G-CSFR and Annexin V, and higher CD71 and GATA2. TIM3+ HSCs displayed aberrant differentiation, overproliferation and decreased apoptosis. TIM3 might be a promising marker for identifying malignant clone cells in MDS and a candidate for targeted therapy.

[Telomere length and gene expression of shelterin in CD3(+) T cell of severe aplastic anemia patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes in telomere length and gene expression of complex shelterin (composed of 6 core components: TRF1, TRF2, POT1, TIN2, TPP1 and RAP1) in severe aplastic anemia (SAA). METHODS: Bone marrow samples were obtained from 20 SAA patients and 10 normal controls. CD3(+)T cells were sorted by immunomagnetic separation. Telomere length was tested by Southern blot and the gene expressions of TRF1, TRF2, POT1, TIN2, TPP1 and RAP1 were detected by reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR). RESULTS: Telomeres of CD3(+)T cells were found significantly shorter in SAA untreated ((4.4 ± 1.1) kb, n = 9) and recovering groups((5.8 ± 1.0) kb, n = 11) than control group ((9.2 ± 3.3) kb, P < 0.05). Telomere length of CD3(+)T cells shortened with TH/S decreasing (r = 0.564, P = 0.029). The mRNA expression of POT1 decreased in untreated SAA patients (0.16(0.02-0.29)) and over-expressed in recovering patients (1.17(0.82-1.86), P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of RAP1 was significantly higher in untreated patients (4.14 (1.93-6.92)) than that in recovering group (0.87 (0.30-1.73) ) and controls (0.62 (0.45-4.07) , both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Changes in telomere length and shelterin gene expression occur in CD3(+)T cells of SAA patients and may be correlated with disease severity.

Dissection of the role of paeoniflorin in the traditional Chinese medicinal formula Si-Ni-San against contact dermatitis in mice.

AIMS: The roles of specific active ingredients in Chinese medicinal formulas have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we selectively deleted and replenished paeoniflorin from Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese prescription, and aimed to identify the molecular basis of how paeoniflorin exerted its effect in Si-Ni-San. MAIN METHODS: Contact dermatitis was induced in mice with picryl chloride. Paeoniflorin was selectively deleted from Si-Ni-San by an immunoaffinity column. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used in this study. KEY FINDINGS: Both Si-Ni-San and paeoniflorin significantly reduced ear swelling in mice while the paeoniflorin-deleted Si-Ni-San (Si-Ni-San(PF-)) showed little ameliorative effect. In lipopolysaccharide-evoked macrophages, Si-Ni-San and paeoniflorin markedly inhibited tumor necrosis factor-alpha production, cyclooxygenase-2 activity, as well as extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation while Si-Ni-San(PF-) exhibited no or slight inhibitory effect. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha reappeared when different proportions of paeoniflorin were replenished in Si-Ni-San(PF-). In addition, the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in T cells, rather than macrophages, was significantly inhibited by Si-Ni-San, but not Si-Ni-San(PF-). Our data indicate paeoniflorin is the principal component of Si-Ni-San, exerting negative regulation on the function of macrophages in contact dermatitis. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study suggests that dissecting the role of specific constituents in medicinal formulas through selective deletion and replenishment may be a useful strategy in recognizing and validating an active ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine.

[Analysis on prognosis and correlative factors of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia].

To analyze the prognosis and risk factors of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), 94 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were enrolled in this study, while survival rate and risk factors of prognosis were analyzed. The results indicated that the complete remission (CR) ratio was 51.1%. Overall survival and event-free survival rates of month 6, 12, 18, 24 were 68.6%, 55.8%, 53.8%, 46.4%, 21.3% and 57.9%, 38.6%, 33.3%, 31.6%, 0% respectively. The factors such as age<40 years, WBC<10.0x10(9)/L before chemotherapy, WBC in the period of bone marrow suppression<1.0x10(9)/L, chemotherapy within 1 month after occurrence of leukemia, blood transfusion before chemotherapy of APL had favourable influence on remission and survival rates of ANLL patients. CR1, the time to get CR, length of CR and relapse significantly correlated with prognosis (p<0.05). It is concluded that the individualized therapy concerning the risk factors should be applied to ANLL patients for improving the remission, survival rate and prognosis.

[Clinical research of rehabilitating bilateral total maxillary defects with a new improved implants and magnetic attachments bar frameworks: report of 9 cases].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to research the clinical effects of a new improved implant-magnetic attachment bar framework supported the total maxillary prosthesis. METHODS: Nine patients underwent tumor resection with defect of bilateral maxilla, and after at least 1 year,4 implants was inserted into their bilateral zygomatics in every patient. A kind of new improved bar framework were fabricated with implants tightly. Based on these bar framework ,total maxillary prostheses were completed finally. RESULTS: The new improved bar framework was utilized to support the prosthesis, it was observed that the prosthesis was more stable. All patients were satisfied with mastication, speech and appearance after wearing the prosthesis. The prosthesis demonstrated a significant improvement in function and esthetics. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that from the practical point of view,the prosthesis with new bar framework is superior to the previous one, and its clinical prosperity is wide. But further studies are necessary to evaluate its long term effects.

[Analysis of patient's satisfaction with the mandibular implant-borne overdentures].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the subjective attitudes of fully edentulous patients in mandible toward the implant-borne overdentures and toward the previous complete dentures. METHODS: 16 fully edentulous patients in mandible were consecutively included in this study and the attitudes toward the implant-borne overdentures and the previous complete dentures were surveyed through questionnaires at the first visit and after the implant prosthesis. RESULTS: There exists significant difference regarding to the comfort, function and fixedness between implant-borne overdentures and the previous complete denture. CONCLUSION: It was revealed that mandibular bar-clip retention implant-borne overdentures can highly fulfill patient's demands.