TIE2 expression in hypertensive ICH and its therapeutic modulation with AKB-9778: Implications for brain vascular health.

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating condition, the molecular underpinnings of which remain not fully understood. By leveraging high-throughput transcriptome sequencing and network pharmacology analysis, this study unveils the significant role of the tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and EGF-like domains 2 (TIE2) in ICH pathogenesis. Compared to controls, a conspicuous downregulation of TIE2 was observed in the cerebral blood vessels of hypertensive ICH mice. In vitro assays with human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), HBEC-5i revealed that modulation of TIE2 expression significantly influences cellular proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, mediated via the Rap1/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Notably, the small molecule AKB-9778 was identified to target and activate TIE2, affecting the functional attributes of HBEC-5i. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that combining AKB-9778 with antihypertensive drugs could mitigate the incidence and volume of bleeding in hypertensive ICH mouse models, suggesting potential therapeutic implications.

Synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, DFT, docking, MD and antioxidant activity of tetrahydrocurcumin.

In recent years, numerous researchers have made local chemical modifications to the structure of curcumin while its basic structure remains unchanged, thus, producing curcumin derivatives. In this article, tetrahydrocurcumin was obtained by hydrogenation of curcumin, DFT calculation and characterization at the theoretical level of B3LYP/6 -311++G(d,p) were carried out. The observed IR and Raman spectra are in good agreement with the theoretical spectra. The FMO and ESP of tetrahydrocurcumin are predicted. The interaction in the system is shown graphically and analyzed by IGMH. Compared with curcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin lacks the unsaturated C = C bond, which makes it more stable and more bioavailable. Molecular docking with antioxidant targets elucidated the ligand-protein interaction and molecular dynamics simulation showed the antioxidant activity of tetrahydrocurcumin. The antioxidant activity of tetrahydrocurcumin was proved by DPPH• and •OH radical scavenging experiments. In essence, these derivatives exhibit enhanced physiological activity in certain aspects compared to the original curcumin. Moreover, the computational pharmacology techniques lay a theoretical groundwork for the development and modification of high-efficiency, low-toxicity drugs that interface with various targets of curcumin in the future.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Mechanism of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy based on a protein interaction network and molecular docking.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a severe manifestation or intermediate stage of cardiovascular disease progression with a significantly poor prognosis. Based on a protein interaction network and molecular docking, the present study determined the genes and mechanism of action of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in the treatment of DCM, providing a direction for future studies on ACEI drugs for DCM. Methods: This is a retrospective study. DCM samples and healthy controls were downloaded from the GSE42955 dataset, and the targets of the potential active ingredients were obtained from PubChem. Hub genes in ACEIs were analyzed by constructing network models and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was performed using Autodock vina software. Results: Twelve DCM samples and five control samples were finally included. A total of 62 intersected genes were obtained by intersecting the differentially expressed genes with six ACEI target genes. PPI analysis identified 15 intersecting hub genes from these 62 genes. Enrichment analysis showed that the hub genes were associated with T helper type 17 (Th17) cell differentiation as well as the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappa B), interleukin 17 (IL-17), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) (PI3K-Akt), and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways. Molecular docking indicated that the compound Benazepril to produce favorable interactions with TNF proteins with a relatively higher score (-8.3). Conclusions: This study primarily revealed that the preventive and curative effects of ACEI treatment on DCM could be realized through multiple targets and pathways, and its mechanism of action is related to genes such as TNF, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), interleukin 6 (IL6), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), Cyclin D1 (CCND1), and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), with immune- and inflammation-related signaling pathways involvement.

Changes and significance of serum ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein in patients with glioma.

BACKGROUND: Brain gliomas are malignant tumors with high postoperative recurrence rates. Early prediction of prognosis using specific indicators is of great significance. AIM: To assess changes in ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels in patients with glioma pre-and postoperatively. METHODS: Between June 2018 and June 2021, 91 patients with gliomas who underwent surgery at our hospital were enrolled in the glioma group. Sixty healthy volunteers were included in the control group. Serum UCH-L1 and GFAP levels were measured in peripheral blood collected from patients with glioma before and 3 d after surgery. UCH-L1 and GFAP levels in patients with glioma with different clinicopathological characteristics were compared before and after surgery. The patients were followed-up until February 2022. Postoperative glioma recurrence was recorded to determine the serum UCH-L1 and GFAP levels, which could assist in predicting postoperative glioma recurrence. RESULTS: UCH-L1 and GFAP levels in patients with glioma decreased significantly 3 d after surgery compared to those before therapy (P < 0.05). However, UCH-L1 and GFAP levels in the glioma group were significantly higher than those in the control group before and after surgery (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative serum UCH-L1 and GFAP levels among patients with glioma according to sex, age, pathological type, tumor location, or number of lesions (P > 0.05). Serum UCH-L1 and GFAP levels were significantly lower in the patients with WHO grade I-II tumors than in those with grade III-IV tumors (P < 0.05). Serum UCH-L1 and GFAP levels were lower in the patients with tumor diameter ≤ 5 cm than in those with diameter > 5 cm, in which the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Glioma recurred in 22 patients. The preoperative and 3-d postoperative serum UCH-L1 and GFAP levels were significantly higher in the recurrence group than these in the non-recurrence group (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted. The areas under the curves of preoperative serum UCH-L1 and GFAP levels for predicting postoperative glioma recurrence were 0.785 and 0.775, respectively. However, the efficacy of serum UCH-L1 and GFAP levels 3 d after surgery in predicting postoperative glioma recurrence was slightly lower compared with their preoperative levels. CONCLUSION: UCH-L1 and GFAP efficiently reflected the development and recurrence of gliomas and could be used as potential indicators for the recurrence and prognosis of glioma.

Retrospective study of intrapartum fever in term pregnancies and adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Background: Intrapartum fever is a well-known predisposing factor for severe perinatal outcomes. Herein, we explored the intrapartum features, obstetric outcomes, and neonatal outcomes in relation to the extent of intrapartum fever via three group analyses. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis consisting of 575 term, singleton live births in one medical center from January 1st to December 31st, 2020 was carried out. Parturients who had experienced a maximal intrapartum fever of <38.0 °C were compared with two sub-groups of parturients who had experienced respective maximal fevers of 38.0-38.9 °C and ≥39.0 °C. We computed the adjusted risks for adverse perinatal outcomes via multiple logistic regression models to control for confounders. Results: There were statistically remarkable differences among the three groups in 13 items including body mass index, epidural, and WBC before delivery (p < 0.05). In contrast with intrapartum fevers of 37.5-37.9 °C, intrapartum fevers of 38.0-38.9 °C were linked to an elevated risk of neonatal sepsis and neonatal intensive care unit admission with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.28 (95% CI 2.162-8.479) and 1.73 (95% CI 1.125-2.666), nonetheless, the relationship was remarkably higher for intrapartum fever ≥39.0 °C, with an OR of 6.40 (95% CI 2.450-16.725) and 2.23 (95% CI 1.021-4.854). Additionally, intrapartum fevers of 38.0-38.9 °C and ≥39.0 °C were related to remarkably higher risk for operative deliveries (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.373-3.648; OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.398-9.226; respectively) and histological chorioamnionitis (OR 3.77, 95% CI 2.261-6.271; OR 19.24, 95% CI 7.385-50.111, respectively). Conclusions: Intrapartum fever is an important indicator of adverse perinatal outcomes. The higher the temperature, the higher risk of histological chorioamnionitis, as well as the risk of neonatal sepsis and neonatal intensive care unit admission.

The effects of Xuebijing injection combined with ulinastatin as adjunctive therapy on sepsis: An overview of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Xuebijing injection (XBJ) has increasingly been used for sepsis in China. We aimed to evaluate the methodological quality and summarize the evidence regarding the effectiveness of XBJ combined with ulinastatin (UTI) for sepsis from systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs). METHODS: From the inception to May 23, 2021, eight databases were searched to screen the SRs/MAs of XBJ combined with UTI in the treatment of sepsis. Methodology Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) was used to evaluate the quality of the methods. Grading of Recommendation,Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used in the assessment of evidence quality. RESULTS: Seven SRs/MAs on XBJ combined with UTI treatment for sepsis were included. The AMSTAR-2 showed that the methodological quality of all included SRs/MAs was rated as critically low. According to the evaluation results of GRADE, 30% (13/44), 30% (13/44), and 40% (18/44) were rated to be of moderate, low, and critically low quality, respectively. Descriptive analysis results showed that XBJ combined with UTI was an effective treatment modality for sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: All included SRs/MAs showed that XBJ combined with UTI was more effective than UTI alone in the treatment of sepsis on the basis of conventional treatment, but the reliability of the results was limited due to the disadvantages of lower methodological quality and higher risk of bias in the included SRs/MAs. Further high-quality clinical studies and SRs/MAs are recommended to verify whether XBJ combined with UTI is more effective than UTI alone.

A retrospective study of risk factors for early-onset neonatal sepsis with intrapartum maternal fever.

Background: Intrapartum fever is a well-known risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the clinical features for intrapartum maternal fever and investigated the risk factors for neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) with intrapartum maternal fever. Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved a total of 568 neonates born to mothers with intrapartum maternal fever (temperature peak ≥38 degree Celsius) in Hangzhou Women's Hospital from January 1st to December 31st, 2019. Neonates were assigned to the EOS and non-sepsis groups based on the diagnostic criteria for early-onset neonatal sepsis,. Demographic data, clinical information and laboratory test results were evaluated to assess the risk factors for EOS. Results: A total of 568 neonates were included in this study, 84 of whom were diagnosed with EOS. The EOS group was significantly different from the non-sepsis group in 11 items including the both white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) level of the mother before delivery (p < 0.05). A logistic regression analysis revealed that a high maternal WBC count before delivery (OR = 3.261, p = 0.019) and a maternal histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) diagnosis (OR = 5.608, p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for EOS. The optimal cut-off value for WBC (before delivery) was 16.75 × 10*9/L for EOS, according to receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under curve was 0.821). Conclusions: Elevated prenatal maternal WBC counts and maternal HCA diagnosis are both independently associated with EOS. Prenatal maternal WBC counts can be used as a sensitive indicator to predict EOS early.

Observation of Clinical Efficacy of Anisodamine and Chlorpromazine in the Treatment of Intractable Hiccup after Stroke.

Objective: This study is aimed at investigating the clinical efficacy of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine on intractable hiccups after stroke. Methods: 150 patients admitted to Affiliated Hospital of the Hebei University of Engineering from 2017 to 2021 were selected as the research objects, all of which received the computed tomography (CT) examination. During CT examination, intelligent algorithms were used to segment the images. An unsupervised multilayer image threshold segmentation algorithm was proposed by using Kullback-Leibler (K-L) divergence and the modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) algorithm. All patients were divided into three groups, with each group of 50 patients. Patients in the control group (group A) took the calcium tablets, vitamin C tablets, and vitamin B1 tablets orally. Patients in the control group (group B) received the acupoint injection of anisodamine, and those in the observation group (group C) received the acupoint injection of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine. The therapeutic effect and patient satisfaction of the three groups were compared. Results: The two-dimensional (2D) K-L divergence was applied for the multilayer segmentation of images, which was helpful to obtain accurate images. The MPSO algorithm was adopted to reduce the computational complexity. The total efficiency of group C was 98%, that of group B was 56%, and that of group A was 22%. The total efficiency and satisfaction rate of group C were signally better than those of group A and group B (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The combination of 2D K-L divergence and MPSO algorithm could improve the accuracy of multilayer image segmentation and CT imaging. Acupoint injection of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine had better efficacy than the injection of anisodamine alone for the treatment of intractable hiccups after stroke, with high safety and clinical promotion value.

Decreased Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Poststroke Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Backgrounds: There were conflicting results on the comparison of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels between poststroke depression (PSD) patients and stroke patients without PSD among previous studies. Thus, we conducted this systemic review and meta-analysis to explore the alteration of serum BDNF levels in PSD. Methods: This study included articles from the Web of Science and PubMed databases that were published before December 2021. STATA 12.0 software was used to compute the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) regarding the comparison of serum BDNF in PSD and stroke patients without PSD. Results: We collected the mean value and standard deviation (SD) of serum BDNF in PSD and stroke patients without PSD from six studies (PSD: n = 268, stroke patients without PSD: n = 425). The present meta-analysis showed decreased serum BDNF level in patients with PSD, compared to stroke patients without PSD with a random-effects model (mean value of BDNF level [PSD vs. stroke patients without PSD]: 14.106 vs. 17.995 ng/ml; SMD = -1.578; 95% CI: -2.820, -0.337; I 2 = 97.8%, p-value for Q test < 0.001). Conclusion: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor may work as a potential biomarker to predict the risk of PSD among stroke survivors. More large-sample clinical trials exploring the alteration of serum BDNF levels in PSD among stroke patients need to be conducted to verify this result.

[Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Jingfang Granules in treatment of common cold(wind-cold syndrome)].

Jingfang Granules have the effects of inducing sweating to releasing exterior, dispersing wind and dispelling dampness. Modern studies have demonstrated that it has antipyretic and antiviral activities. Therefore, this trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jingfang Granules in the treatment of common cold(wind-cold syndrome). A total of 138 common cold(wind-cold syndrome) patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly assigned into the experimental group(n=92) and the placebo group(n=46) at a ratio of 2∶1 and respectively received Jingfang Granules and Jingfang Granules simulation agent. The treatment lasted for 5 d, and the follow-up time was 8 d. Recovery time was employed as the main indicator of efficacy. The median reco-very time of the experimental group was 3.33 d, shorter than that 7.00 d of the placebo group. The efficacy of the experimental group was better than that of the placebo group(P<0.000 1). The major symptom severity score-time AUC of the experimental group was 489.90±206.95, which was smaller than that of the placebo group(763.50±339.53). The recovery rate and marked effective rate of the experimental group were higher than those of the placebo group, The above outcomes were statistically significant between the two groups(P<0.05). The disappearance time and rate of single symptoms including aversion to cold, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, headache, pharyngeal itching/pain, white sputum, and somatalgia also had significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05), indicating that Jingfang Granules had good performance in alleviating the above symptoms. During the study period, one case of the experimental group had a slight increase in serum creatinine, which returned to the normal level after re-examination. The incidence of adverse reactions was 1.10%, and no serious adverse reaction was found. The two groups had no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions. In conclusion, Jingfang Granules can significantly shorten the course of common cold(wind-cold syndrome) and quickly alleviate the clinical symptoms, demonstrating good safety and clinical advantages.

Changes in gene expression in rat placenta at gestational day 16.5 in response to hyperglycemia.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a serious pregnancy complication. Hyperglycemia induces abnormal placental development and function. However, the mechanism is unclear. Previous research showed streptozocin (STZ) injection sustained hyperglycemia throughout pregnancy in rodents. Our current results showed that the placenta from hyperglycemic STZ-treated rats was about 20% heavier than that of controls. The relative thickness of each layer of the placenta was also significantly different on gestational day (GD) 16.5. Gene expression was analyzed by RNA sequencing to explore reasons for the abnormal placenta. In total, 2100 differential expressed genes (DEGs), including 1327 up-regulated and 773 down-regulated genes, were identified. Gene ontogeny (GO) analysis revealed DEGs involved in developmental process, growth, metabolic process, cell junction, molecular transducer activity and signaling. By KEGG analysis, DEGs were mainly related to the endocrine system, development, signal transduction and cell growth and death. The KEGG results were partly consistent with GO results, with DEGs mainly focused on biochemical signal pathways such as cell growth and death (e.g., Abl1, Bbc3 and Camk2d), and signal transduction (e.g., Abl1, Ceacam1 and Arnt). These genes may play a dominant role in abnormal cell proliferation and signaling disorders. These results suggest that DEGs play a role in diabetic-induced placental abnormalities. One or more of these DEGs may be involved in the etiology of placental weight increase caused by hyperglycemia.

Effect of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Risk of Stroke in Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on reducing the risk of stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. Thus, we conducted this systemic review and meta-analysis of all relevant studies and trials to explore the role of SGLT2 inhibitors on the stroke prevention. METHODS: The present study included articles published before October 2021 and searched in Web of Science, PubMed databases. We used STATA 12.0 software to compute hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Meta-analysis indicated that SGLT2 inhibitors showed no significant effects on risk of stroke in diabetes in randomized controlled trials with a fixed effects model (HR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.88-1.09, I2 = 22.3%, p = 0.272). Compared to other glucose-lowering drugs (oGLD) and insulin, SGLT2 inhibitors alone significantly affected risk of stroke in diabetes in observational studies with a random effects model (HR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.80-0.95, I2 = 72.2%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this meta-analysis indicated that the use of SGLT2 inhibitors did not decrease the risk of stroke. And for some T2DM patients with high-risk factor of stroke, SGLT2 inhibitors therapy may be more suitable compared to some oGLD such as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. The results of this meta-analysis are necessary to be confirmed with further studies and clinical trials.

The Development History and Research Tendency of Medical Informatics: Topic Evolution Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Medical informatics has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide. It is necessary to understand the development of its research hot spots as well as directions for future research. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the evolution of medical informatics research topics by analyzing research articles published between 1964 and 2020. METHODS: A total of 56,466 publications were collected from 27 representative medical informatics journals indexed by the Web of Science Core Collection. We identified the research stages based on the literature growth curve, extracted research topics using the latent Dirichlet allocation model, and analyzed topic evolution patterns by calculating the cosine similarity between topics from the adjacent stages. RESULTS: The following three research stages were identified: early birth, early development, and rapid development. Medical informatics has entered the fast development stage, with literature growing exponentially. Research topics in medical informatics can be classified into the following two categories: data-centered studies and people-centered studies. Medical data analysis has been a research hot spot across all 3 stages, and the integration of emerging technologies into data analysis might be a future hot spot. Researchers have focused more on user needs in the last 2 stages. Another potential hot spot might be how to meet user needs and improve the usability of health tools. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a comprehensive understanding of research hot spots in medical informatics, as well as evolution patterns among them, which was helpful for researchers to grasp research trends and design their studies.

Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of Zhenwu decoction as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) demonstrates a substanital threat to global public health. Several Chinese studies have been conducted to date evaluating the clinical efficacy of Zhenwu decoction (ZWD) as a treatment for HFrEF. The present systematic review will be conducted to more comprehensively evaluate the impact of ZWD on HFrEF outcomes. METHODS: For this systematic review, all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the effectiveness of ZWD as a treatment for HFrEF published as of December 30, 2021 in the Embase, PubMed, Springer, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Wan-Fang databases will be identified without any language or publication restrictions. Two researchers will independently choose investigations, extract information, and gauge research quality. Primary outcomes of interest will include all-cause mortality and HF-associated mortality. Secondary outcomes will include the incidence of adverse events, ultrasonic cardiographic indices (including left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular mass index), New York Heart Association grade, N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide, B-type natriuretic peptide, and 6-minute walking distance. RevMan v 5.3 will be used to conduct meta-analyses where possible, with descriptive or subgroup analyses otherwise being conducted. Data will be given as risk ratios for categorical variables and mean difference for continuous variables. RESULTS: This comprehensive protocol will aid in the systematic and objective evaluation of the efficacy and safety of ZWD as a treatment for HFrEF, providing a scientific basis for the clinical utilization of ZWD.

Exosome miR-23a-3p from Osteoblast Alleviates Spinal Cord Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Down-Regulating KLF3-Activated CCNL2 Transcription.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury (SCIRI) is usually caused by spinal surgery or aortic aneurysm surgery and can eventually lead to paralysis or paraplegia and neurological dysfunction. Exosomes are considered as one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for SCIRI as they can pass the blood-spinal barrier. Previous studies have proved that exosomes secreted by osteocytes have a certain slowing effect on SCIRI. AIM: We aimed to explore the effect of osteoblast secreted exosomes on SCIRI. METHODS: First, neurons and osteoblasts were co-cultured under different conditions. GEO database was utilized to detect the expression of miR-23a-3p in osteoblast exosomes. SCIRI cells were treated with exosomes, and the detection was taken to prove whether miR-23a-3p could slow the progression of SCIRI. Downstream gene and the potential regulatory mechanism were explored through database and functional experiments. RESULTS: MiR-23a-3p was highly expressed in exosomes and it slowed down the process of SCIRI. Downstream mRNA KLF3 could bind to miR-23a-3p and was highly expressed in IRI. Moreover, CCNL2 was regulated by KLF3 and was highly expressed in IRI. Rescue experiments verified that miR-23a-3p suppressed the transcription of CCNL2 by targeting KLF3. CONCLUSION: Exosome miR-23a-3p from osteoblast alleviates SCIRI by down-regulating KLF3-activated CCNL2 transcription.

Short-Video Apps as a Health Information Source for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Information Quality Assessment of TikTok Videos.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become one of the most critical public health problems worldwide. Because many COPD patients are using video-based social media to search for health information, there is an urgent need to assess the information quality of COPD videos on social media. Recently, the short-video app TikTok has demonstrated huge potential in disseminating health information and there are currently many COPD videos available on TikTok; however, the information quality of these videos remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the information quality of COPD videos on TikTok. METHODS: In December 2020, we retrieved and screened 300 videos from TikTok and collected a sample of 199 COPD-related videos in Chinese for data extraction. We extracted the basic video information, coded the content, and identified the video sources. Two independent raters assessed the information quality of each video using the DISCERN instrument. RESULTS: COPD videos on TikTok came mainly from two types of sources: individual users (n=168) and organizational users (n=31). The individual users included health professionals, individual science communicators, and general TikTok users, whereas the organizational users consisted of for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, and news agencies. For the 199 videos, the mean scores of the DISCERN items ranged from 3.42 to 4.46, with a total mean score of 3.75. Publication reliability (P=.04) and overall quality (P=.02) showed significant differences across the six types of sources, whereas the quality of treatment choices showed only a marginally significant difference (P=.053) across the different sources. CONCLUSIONS: The overall information quality of COPD videos on TikTok is satisfactory, although the quality varies across different sources and according to specific quality dimensions. Patients should be selective and cautious when watching COPD videos on TikTok.

TikTok as a Health Information Source: Assessment of the Quality of Information in Diabetes-Related Videos.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes has become one of the most prevalent chronic diseases, and many people living with diabetes use social media to seek health information. Recently, an emerging social media app, TikTok, has received much interest owing to its popularity among general health consumers. We notice that there are many videos about diabetes on TikTok. However, it remains unclear whether the information in these videos is of satisfactory quality. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the quality of the information in diabetes-related videos on TikTok. METHODS: We collected a sample of 199 diabetes-related videos in Chinese. The basic information presented in the videos was coded and analyzed. First, we identified the source of each video. Next, 2 independent raters assessed each video in terms of the completeness of six types of content (the definition of the disease, symptoms, risk factors, evaluation, management, and outcomes). Then, the 2 raters independently assessed the quality of information in the videos, using the DISCERN instrument. RESULTS: In regard to the sources of the videos, we found 6 distinct types of uploaders; these included 3 kinds of individual users (ie, health professionals, general users, and science communicators) and 3 types of organizational users (ie, news agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations). Regarding content, our results show that the videos were primarily about diabetes management and contained limited information on the definition of the disease, symptoms, risk factors, evaluation, and outcomes. The overall quality of the videos was acceptable, on average, although the quality of the information varied, depending on the sources. The videos created by nonprofit organizations had the highest information quality, while the videos contributed by for-profit organizations had the lowest information quality. CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall quality of the information in the diabetes videos on TikTok is acceptable, TikTok might not fully meet the health information needs of patients with diabetes, and they should exercise caution when using TikTok as a source of diabetes-related information.

Comparison of Two Types of Staged Laparoscopic Orchiopexy for High Intra-Abdominal Testes in Children: A Retrospective Study From a Single Center.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 2nd-stage laparoscopic traction orchiopexy (Shehata technique) compared to Fowler-Stephens (F-S technique) for high intra-abdominal testes (IATs) in children. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all children (<14 years old) who underwent laparoscopic treatment of high IAT in the pediatric surgery center of Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College from April 2016 to April 2020. Participants were divided into the Fowler-Stephens (F-S) group and Shehata group according to the surgical method. We collected the medical records of all children and analyzed them statistically. Results: In this study, 43 patients in our center received 2nd-stage laparoscopic surgical treatment. The results showed that there were 23 high IATs in 22 patients in the F-S group and 22 IATs in 21 patients in the Shehata group. All patients completed the operation successfully. No significant difference in operation time was noted between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the testicular atrophy rate between the two groups (P = 0.323). The testicular retraction rate of the F-S group was greater than that of the Shehata group (P = 0.04). Conclusion:The results of this study indicate that the application of assisted laparoscopic testicular traction technology can effectively retain the main blood supply of the testis and vas deferens with a high survival rate and clear advantages. The preliminary results show that the Shehata technique is safe, reliable and effective in the treatment of high IAT in children.

Cell Population Data of Peripheral Leukocytes are Associated with Acute Rejection Episodes After Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to explore the association of peripheral leukocyte cell population data (CPD) with acute rejection episodes (ARE) after kidney transplantation surgery and search for potential parameters which contribute to the assessment of the occurrence of ARE. METHODS: A total of 68 patients with kidney transplants were classified into two groups according to the occurrence of ARE or not within three months after transplantation surgery (32 in ARE and 36 in non-ARE group). Hematological parameters including leukocyte CPD and serum biochemical indicators of renal function during occurrence of ARE were collected. The differences of CPD between the two groups and the association of CPD with occurrence of ARE were analyzed by SPSS software. RESULTS: Between ARE and non-ARE group, CPD parameters showed significant differences involving neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes (Ne-V-sd, Ne-UMS-sd, Ly-V, Ly-MS, Ly-UMS, Ly-LS, and Mo-UMS). Ne-UMS-sd and Ly-UMS made the strongest contribution in discrimination of ARE occurrence. Ly-UMS had the largest area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve (AUC = 0.756). Meanwhile, the AUC of Ne-UMS-sd combined with Ly-UMS reached 0.823. In the ARE group, Ne-UMS-sd and Ly-UMS were inversely and linearly associated with eGFR (r = -0.527, p = 0.002; r = -0.436, p = 0.013, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ne-UMS-sd and Ly-UMS may be useful for the diagnosis of acute rejection episodes after kidney transplantation.

Laparoscopic vs. Open Repair Surgery for the Treatment of Communicating Hydrocele in Children: A Retrospective Study From a Single Center.

Purpose: This study evaluated the outcomes of laparoscopic repair (LR) and open repair (OR) surgery for communicating hydrocele in children. Patients and Methods: We collected the clinical data and follow-up data of all boys (<14 years) who underwent communicating hydrocele surgery in the pediatric surgery department at Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College from January 2017 to December 2018 and retrospectively analyzed the data. Results: In this study, 155 patients were retrospectively enrolled, including 90 patients in the OR group and 65 patients in the LR group. There were significant differences in operation time and the recurrence of hydrocele between the two groups. The persistence of scrotal swelling in the LR group was significantly lower than that in the OR group. There was no significant difference in postoperative hospitalization time or incision infection rate between the two groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study shows that laparoscopic treatment of children with communicating hydrocele has the advantages of a hidden incision, a shortened operation time, and a reduced postoperative recurrence rate and can be used as the preferred surgical method. However, laparoscopic treatment should be selected according to the specific condition of each child and cannot completely replace traditional open surgery.