Vascular access type and prognosis in elderly hemodialysis patients: a propensity-score-matched study.

Background: To compare the impact of tunneled cuffed catheters (TCCs) and arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) on outcomes in elderly hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: A retrospective matched cohort study was performed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the baseline conditions, and we compared all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), hospitalization, and infection rates between AVF and TCC patients ≥70 years old.

Endoscopic lithotripsy combined with drug lithotripsy vs. drug lithotripsy for the treatment of phytobezoars: analysis of 165 cases.

Aim: To analyze efficacy of endoscopic lithotripsy combined with drug lithotripsy as compared with drug lithotripsy for the treatment of phytobezoars.

Methods: We collected and evaluated case records of 165 patients with phytobezoars from 2014 to 2023. And we analyzed demographic and clinical characteristics, imaging features, endoscopic features, complications of phytobezoars, and compared efficacy between endoscopic lithotripsy combined with drug lithotripsy (Group A) and drug lithotripsy (sodium bicarbonate combined with proton pump inhibitor) (Group B).

Impact of initial dialysis modality on the survival of patients with ESRD: a propensity-score-matched study.

Background: Studies comparing the survival of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are controversial. This study evaluated the impact of initial dialysis modality on the survival of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a matched-pair cohort.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on ESRD patients who initiated renal replacement treatment between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018.

Effect of structured pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor muscle contraction and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse in postpartum women: ultrasound and clinical evaluations.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of structured pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction and the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in postpartum women.

Methods: Sixty patients who volunteered for a PFMT assessment at 6-8 weeks after delivery were included in this retrospective analysis. For 5 weeks, all patients had structured PFMT, which included supervised daily pelvic muscle contractions, biofeedback therapy, and electrical stimulation.

Meplazumab in hospitalized adults with severe COVID-19 (DEFLECT): a multicenter, seamless phase 2/3, randomized, third-party double-blind clinical trial.

Meplazumab, a humanized CD147 antibody, has shown favourable safety and efficacy in our previous clinical studies. In DEFLECT (NCT04586153), 167 patients with severe COVID-19 were enroled and randomized to receive three dosages of meplazumab and a placebo. Meplazumab at 0.

A bioequivalence study of trifluridine/tipiracil tablets in Chinese metastatic colorectal cancer patients under fed conditions.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Trifluridine (FTD) remained at higher concentrations longer when administered along with tipiracil (TPI) compared with FTD alone. Lonsurf is a combination formulation consisting of FTD and TPI.

Lonicerae japonicae flos ameliorates radiotherapy-induced mesenteric artery endothelial dysfunction through GTPCH1/BH/eNOS pathway.

Background: As a traditional Chinese medicine, Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJF) and its main component chlorogenic acid (CGA) have anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-tumor effects. However, there is no research on the potential of LJF for vascular protection in radiotherapy.

Purpose: To elucidate the potential and possible mechanisms of the LJF extract and CGA in alleviating endothelial dysfunction caused by abdominal radiotherapy.

Transperineal pelvic floor ultrasound for analyzing the outcomes of pelvic floor surgery for the treatment of anterior compartment prolapse: A comparative study of transvaginal mesh and native-tissue repair.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of transvaginal mesh (TVM) and native-tissue repair (NTR) for the repair of anterior compartment prolapse.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 90 patients with anterior compartment prolapse who underwent pelvic organ prolapse surgery between January 2018 and October 2020. A TVM was used to treat 53 patients and 37 underwent NTR.

Safety and efficacy of meplazumab in healthy volunteers and COVID-19 patients: a randomized phase 1 and an exploratory phase 2 trial.

Recent evidence suggests that CD147 serves as a novel receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Blocking CD147 via anti-CD147 antibody could suppress the in vitro SARS-CoV-2 replication. Meplazumab is a humanized anti-CD147 IgG monoclonal antibody, which may effectively prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Identification of a new orthonairovirus associated with human febrile illness in China.

The genus Orthonairovirus, which is part of the family Nairoviridae, includes the important tick-transmitted pathogens Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and Nairobi sheep disease virus, as well as many other poorly characterized viruses found in ticks, birds and mammals. In this study, we identified a new orthonairovirus, Songling virus (SGLV), from patients who reported being bitten by ticks in Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China. SGLV shared similar genomic and morphological features with orthonairoviruses and phylogenetically formed a unique clade in Tamdy orthonairovirus of the Nairoviridae family.

Clinical Features, Risk Factors, and Endoscopic Treatment of Bezoars: A Retrospective Analysis from a Single Center in Northern China.

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to summarize the clinical characteristics and risk factors for bezoars and to analyze the effectiveness and safety of the endoscopic treatment of bezoars. MATERIAL AND METHODS From January 2015 to February 2020, 75 of the 23 950 patients who underwent gastroscopic examination in our medical center were diagnosed with bezoars. Clinical and treatment information for these patients was collected retrospectively and analyzed.

Niao Du Kang Mixture Increases the Expression of mir-129-5p to Relieve Renal Fibrosis.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Niao Du Kang (NDK) mixture in renal fibrosis of rats and to explore the mechanism underlying the effect of NDK on renal fibrosis.

Methods: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was used to replicate a rat renal interstitial fibrosis model. The drug-administered groups were given 20 ml/kg (NDK-H), 10 ml/kg (NDK-M), and 5 ml/kg (NDK-L) NDK mixture once a day for 21 days beginning 48 hours after surgery.

Correlation between ultrasound consolidated score and simple endoscopic score for determining the activity of Crohn's disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop an ultrasound consolidated score (UCS) in determining the activity of Crohn's disease (CD) and evaluate it with reference to simple endoscopic score (SES).

Methods: From June 2014 to June 2017, 66 patients with CD were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent endoscopy and transabdominal ultrasound (US) examination.

Multicenter-Based Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Ciclosporin in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients.

Purpose: To explore the contribution of physiological characteristics to variability in ciclosporin pharmacokinetics in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.

Methods: Clinical data from 563 patients were collected from centers in three regions. Ciclosporin concentrations were measured using immunoassays.

Matrine attenuates high-fat diet-induced in vivo and ox-LDL-induced in vitro vascular injury by regulating the PKCα/eNOS and PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathways.

Lipid metabolism disorders lead to vascular endothelial injury. Matrine is an alkaloid that has been used to improve obesity and diabetes and for the treatment of hepatitis B. However, its effect on lipid metabolism disorders and vascular injury is unclear.

Correction to: MicroRNA-125b reverses oxaliplatin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by negatively regulating EVA1A mediated autophagy.

Following publication of the article, the authors reported that Huixiong Xu had left the department, and requested that the author list be amended accordingly.

MicroRNA-125b reverses oxaliplatin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by negatively regulating EVA1A mediated autophagy.

EVA1A (also known as transmembrane protein 166) is a transmembrane protein involved in the regulation of autophagy that acts as an adaptor protein to recruit or bind proteins in the lysosome or endoplasmic reticulum. In the present study, we identified EVA1A as a target of microRNA-125b (miR-125b), a member of a highly conserved family of miRNAs that has been proposed as a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Analysis of oxaliplatin-sensitive and oxaliplatin-resistant HCC cell lines showed that miR-125b is downregulated in resistant cells and its overexpression in sensitive cells decreased resistance to oxaliplatin by inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Genome-Wide Search for Competing Endogenous RNAs Responsible for the Effects Induced by Ebola Virus Replication and Transcription Using a trVLP System.

Understanding how infected cells respond to Ebola virus (EBOV) and how this response changes during the process of viral replication and transcription are very important for establishing effective antiviral strategies. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide screen to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), micro RNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs differentially expressed during replication and transcription using a tetracistronic transcription and replication-competent virus-like particle (trVLP) system that models the life cycle of EBOV in 293T cells. To characterize the expression patterns of these differentially expressed RNAs, we performed a series cluster analysis, and up- or down-regulated genes were selected to establish a gene co-expression network.

Effect of 48-week pegylated interferon α-2a or nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy on renal function in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Controversy remains as to whether antiviral agents contribute to renal dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Thus, the aim of study was to analyze the changes in renal function of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in response to anti-HBV therapy and the association with treatments.

Method: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study to investigate factors associated with renal function in 249 Chinese CHB patients who were treated with pegylated interferon α-2a (PEG-IFN-α-2a) or nucleos(t)ide analogues for 48 weeks.

Integrin β4 promotes cell invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition through the modulation of Slug expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Integrin β4 (ITGB4) is a transmembrane receptor involved in tumorigenesis and the invasiveness of many cancers. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most prevalent human cancers worldwide, remains unclear. Here, we examined the involvement of ITGB4 in HCC and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging for Differential Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules: Additional Value of the Area Ratio.

Objectives: To evaluate the additional value of the area ratio on Virtual Touch tissue imaging (VTI; Siemens Medical Solutions, Mountain View, CA) for diagnosis of thyroid nodules referred to surgery.

Methods: From April 2013 to February 2014, 205 consecutive patients with 225 histologically proven thyroid nodules were enrolled in this retrospective study. Virtual Touch tissue imaging and area ratio measurements were performed for each nodule.

A Risk Model for Predicting Central Lymph Node Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma Including Conventional Ultrasound and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography.

The aim of this prospective study was to propose a new rating system using a risk model including conventional ultrasound (US) and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography for predicting central lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).A total of 252 patients with PTMCs were enrolled, who were preoperatively evaluated by US and ARFI elastography including virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) and virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ). Risk factors of independent variables for central LNM were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Helicobacter pylori with high thioredoxin-1 expression promotes stomach carcinogenesis in Mongolian gerbils.

Objective: Previous studies by this group have shown that Helicobacter pylori with high thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) expression might be involved in stomach carcinogenesis in vitro. To study histopathological changes of the stomach mucosa in vivo, a Mongolian gerbil model infected with H. pylori with high Trx1 expression was established.