The morbidity and mortality of pulmonary infection are high among infectious diseases worldwide. Rapid and accurate etiological diagnosis is the key to timely and effective treatment. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology has brokenthrough the limitations of traditional pathogenic microorganism detection methods and improved the detection rate of pathogens. In this paper, the application and advantages of mNGS technology in the diagnosis of bacteria, fungi, viruses and mixed infections in the lungs are analyzed, and the challenges and breakthroughs in RNA detection, wall breaking of firmicutes and host DNA clearance are described, in order to achieve targeted and accurate etiological diagnosis through mNGS, so as to effectively treat pulmonary infections.
Through searching and evaluating the evidence on advanced prostate cancer, we found that different types of androgen deprivation had similar effect, and immediate androgen deprivation had survival benefit. For the patient with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, therapies including mitoxantrone, prednisone, docetaxel and surmine were more effective. Strontium-89 provided more effective pain relief than external beam radiation. And bisphophonate had no effect. Antiandrogen withdrawal suggested prostate specific antigen would decline, but the clinical outcome wasn’t reported.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of Yangyinqingfei decoction for chronic cough and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.MethodsWe electronically searched databases including PubMed, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Yangyinqingfei decoction for chronic cough and COPD patients from inception to August 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.ResultsTwenty-four RCTs involving 2 268 patients with COPD and chronic cough were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, Yangyinqingfei decoction combined with the conventional medicine could significantly improve clinical effective rate (RR=1.21, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.27, P<0.000 01) and lung function (SMD=0.76, 95%CI 0.59 to 0.94, P<0.000 01) in patients with COPD. Yangyinqingfei decoction combined with the conventional medicine group was superior to the control group (RR=1.41, 95%CI 1.22 to 1.64, P<0.000 01) in clinical efficacy for adults patients with chronic cough. In terms of safety, seven cases occurred adverse reactions in the Yangyinqingfei decoction group, while 13 were found in the control group, the types and degree of adverse reactions in both groups were almost the same.ConclusionThe combination of Yangyinqingfei plus conventional medicine may significantly improve the clinical efficacy for chronic cough and COPD with reliable safety. However, due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, the above conclusions are needed to verify by more high quality studies.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine on clinical symptoms during the recovery period of COVID-19. Methods The CNKI, WanFang Data, SinoMed, VIP, PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMbase databases were electronically searched to collect studies related to objectives from inception to February 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results A total of 8 studies involving 740 patients were included in the meta-analysis, including 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 4 non-RCTs. The results of the meta-analysis showed that traditional Chinese medicine could effectively relieve patients’ fatigue symptoms compared with blank control (MD=?1.07, 95%CI ?1.46 to ?0.68, P<0.01). Chinese patent medicine combined with conventional Western medicine treatment effectively improved cough symptoms in patients compared with conventional Western medicine treatment (MD=?0.80, 95%CI ?1.30 to ?0.30, P<0.01), symptoms of dry pharynx (MD=?0.86, 95%CI ?1.22 to ?0.51, P<0.01), symptoms of chest tightness (MD=?0.58, 95%CI ?0.79 to ?0.36, P<0.01), and total efficiency (RR=1.42, 95%CI 1.18 to 1.71, P<0.01). Conclusion?Current evidence shows that traditional Chinese medicine can effectively improve the clinical symptoms such as fatigue, cough, dry pharynx and chest tightness in patients with novel coronavirus infection in the recovery period. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma.MethodThe articles about colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma in recent years were reviewed.ResultsThe colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma was a pathological subtype of colorectal cancer, which had unique clinicopathologic characteristics, relatively low incidence, and poor prognosis. The current studies suggested that the BRAF mutation, microsatellite instability, CpG island methylation, and mucin expression were related to the occurrence and development of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma, but its molecular mechanism was still unclear. The colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma was more common in the proximal colon and female patients. The multiple metastases, extrahepatic and peritoneal metastases were also common. The preoperative MRI examination was very valuable. The main treatment was surgery, and the multidisciplinary discussions were still needed to determine the best treatment for patients in the advanced stage. Compared with other types of colorectal adenocarcinoma, patients with colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma had a poor prognosis.ConclusionsAlthough we have a certain understanding of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma, the study results are limited due to the small sample size of many related articles and the lack of prospective randomized controlled studies. Therefore, more studies are needed in the future to improve the cognition of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma. Future research should focus on the molecular mechanism and treatment of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma.
Objective
To construct the rhesus monkey Schwann cells (SCs) modified with human glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (hGDNF) gene.
Methods
The coding sequence of hGDNF amplified by PCR from pUC19-hGDNF was inserted into eukaryotic expression vector pBABE-puro. The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pBABE-puro-hGDNF was identified with restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. The SCs were isolated from rhesus monkeys, cultured and purified. The SCs were transfected with the recombinant retrovirus vector containing hGDNF gene. The mRNA and protein expressions of hGDNF were analyzed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot.
Results
The PCR product of hGDNF coding sequence was a 596 bp specific segment. The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector was digested into a 596 bp specific segment by specific restriction enzyme and another segment. The 596 bp segment confirmed by DNA sequencing was consistent with hGDNF sequence on GenBank. Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing results showed that the coding sequence of hGDNF was successfully inserted into the recombinant retrovirus vector and the mRNA and protein expressions of hGDNF were significantly higher in transfected SCs than non-transfected SCs (P lt; 0.05).
Conclusion
The rhesus monkey SCs modified with hGDNF gene are successfully constructed and hGDNF can be released continuously and stably, which will provide a foundation for the further research about cell therapy of hGDNF-SCs in the repair of injured nerve.
Objective To investigate the predictive factors of clinical progression and short-term prognosis of cerebral infarction caused by large artery atherosclerosis (LAA). MethodsPatients with acute LAA cerebral infarction who were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, Lianyungang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2016 and May 2019 were included. On admission, the patients’ medical history was collected. The degree of neurological deficit was assessed, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, plasma homocysteine, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) were measured, and intracranial and extracranial blood vessels related test results were collected. Within 72 hours of onset, the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) was used to determine whether the patients’ condition progressed. The modified Rankin scale was used to evaluate the short-term prognosis at 30 days of onset. The related factors of clinical progression and short-term prognosis of LAA cerebral infarction were analyzed. Results Finally, 100 patients were included. According to the SSS assessment results within 72 hours of onset, 27 cases were divided into the progression group and 73 cases in the non-progression group. There was no significant difference in gender and age between the two groups (P>0.05). According to the evaluation results of the modified Rankin scale at 30 days of onset, they were divided into 31 cases in the poor prognosis group and 69 cases in the good prognosis group. There was no significant difference in gender and age between the two groups (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that plasma Lp-PLA2 [odds ratio (OR)=1.013, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.007, 1.018), P<0.001], SSS score [OR=0.910, 95%CI (0.842, 0.985), P=0.019], and history of hypertension [OR=5.527, 95%CI (1.241, 24.613), P=0.025] were the predictors of disease progression within 72 hours. SSS score [OR=0.849, 95%CI (0.744, 0.930), P<0.001], carotid artery stenosis [OR=9.536, 95%CI (1.395, 65.169), P=0.021] and progressive stroke [OR=8.873, 95%CI (1.937, 40.640), P=0.005] were the predictors of short-term prognosis of LAA cerebral infarction. Conclusions History of hypertension and high levels of plasma Lp-PLA2 are predictors of early progression of cerebral infarction. Carotid artery stenosis and progressive stroke are predictors of adverse outcomes in the acute phase of cerebral infarction. Neurological scores on admission was a predictor for short-term adverse outcomes in the early and acute phases.
Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of staging endovascular angioplasty in treatment for iliofemoral venous post-thrombotic syndrome （PTS）. Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with iliofemoral venous PTS from May 2008 to October 2011 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. After the identification of the stenosis or occlusion by angiography via femoral vein by percutaneous puncture or incision puncture， recanalization of the occlusion was done by guide wire. Then the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty （PTA） was performed. Results A total of 45 cases （45 legs） had been undergone PTA. The procedures were technically successful in all the patients. No serious complications such as lumen rupture happened. Follow-up time was 6-30 months with （18.06±3.12） months， the symptoms of the affected limb were obviously relieved in 31 cases， partly relieved in 10 cases， not relieved in 4 cases. Reexamination of venous angiography， 9 cases were cured， 18 cases were excellent， 14 cases were improved， 4 cases were ineffective. The total effective rate was 91.11% （41/45）. Conclusion PTA is a safe and effective method in treatment for iliofemoral venous PTS.
Objective To evaluate the clinical value of elasticity indicators in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods Gray-scale ultrasound and elasticity imaging were used to examine 116 thyroid nodules. The rate of diameter change and ratio of area in the elasticity and gray-scale imaging were calculated and compared with pathology. Results In nodules of the ultrasonic elasticity grade 4 level and above, the proportion of malignant nodules was significanty higher than that of benign thyroid nodules （P＜0.05）. The malignant nodules was significanty higher than benign thyroid nodules in the rate of diameter change and ratio of area in the elasticity and gray-scale imaging （P＜0.05）. According to ROC analysis, the value of diagnosis and the diagnostic accuracy of the ratio of area was superior to that of the rate of diameter change （P＜0.05）. Conclusion As diagnostic indicators for differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, the rate of diameter change and the ratio of area in elasticity can significantly improve the value of diagnosis and the accuracy of differential diagnosis level of thyroid nodules.
