Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of Jiuweirougan granule in the treatment of chronic hepatitis with hepatic fibrosis. Methods A double-blind, double dummy and randomized controlled method was adopted. Forty-six patients were selected by using the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomizedly allocated to the treatment group (n=23, Jiuweirougan 10 g, twice a day) and the control group (n=23, treated with Biejiaruangan 4 pills, three times a day). The duration of treatment for both groups lasted for 6 months. Results Two patients in the treatment group dropped out halfway through the study, while one patient in the control group was withdrawal for irregular treatment. Analysis according to intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) was conducted. In the treatment group, the effective rates of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) on the syndrome were 82.61% (19/23) (ITT) and 90.48% (19/21) (PP), while in the control group, there were 86.96% (20/23) (ITT) and 86.36% (19/20) (PP). There was no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05). The improvement rate of serum parameters in the treatment group such as hyaluronic acid (HA), type Ⅲ procollagen (PCⅢ), type Ⅳ collagewn (CⅣ) and laminin (LN) were 28.57% (6/21), 23.81% (5/21), 28.57% (6/21) and 4.76% (1/21), respectively, while in control group, the rates were 36.37% (8/22),13.64% (3/22), 36.37% (8/22) and 9.09% (2/22), respectively. No significant difference was seen between the two groups (P＞0.05). ITT and PP analysis revealed similar results. No obvious adverse effects were noted. Conclusion Jiuweirougan granule may improve chronic hepatitis with fibrosis, and its effect is equal to that of Biejiaruangan. No obvious toxic-adverse effects were seen.
Objective To improve the awareness of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( AEIPF) and discuss its clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Methods The clinical data of patients with AEIPF from June 2006 to June 2011 in 11 hospitals in Jiangsu were collected and analyzed. Resluts There were 18 males and 3 females in the AEIPF patients with mean age of ( 67.4 ± 8.1) years. The duration from IPF diagnosis was ( 7.4 ±8.2) months. The duration of acute symptom before admission was ( 7.0 ±5.3) days. The distribution pattern of new groud-glass opacity was peripheral in 3 patients,multifocal in 5 patients, and diffuse in13 patients. All patients were treated with corticosteroid pulse therapy. Nine patients survived and 12 patients died. The mortality rate was 57.1% . Conclusions AEIPF progresses quickly and the mortality rate is very high. Corticosteroid pulse therapy is the mainstay of therapy in AEIPF patients.
Objective To investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) and its clinical significance. Methods Sleep quality and breathing disorders were measured by polysomnography and the relationship with lung function was analyzed in 20 IPF patients. Results Thirteen of 20 subjects ( 65% ) had OSAHS as defined by an AHI ≥5 events per hour. Three subjects ( 15% ) had mild OSAHS ( AHI,5 to 20 events per hour) , and 10 subjects ( 50% ) had moderate-to-severe OSAHS ( AHI≥20 events per hour) . The sleep architecture in these patients showed a reduction in sleep efficiency, rapid eye movement ( REM) sleep and slow wave sleep, and a marked sleep fragmentation due to an increased arousal index. The AHI was negatively correlated with FVC% pred ( r =-0.672, P=0.001) and FEV1% pred ( r =-0.659, P=0.002) , and positively correlated with body mass index ( BMI) ( r=0.791, Plt;0.0001) . Conclusions OSAHS is a common comorbidity in IPF. Early treatment of OSAHS may improve quality of life and the prognosis of patients with IPF.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at the end of December 2019, more than 85% of the population in China has been infected. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly affects the respiratory system, especially the lungs. The mortality rate of patients with severe infection is high. A percentage of 6% to 10% of patients will eventually develop into COVID-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS), which requires mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Some patients who survive acute lung injury will subsequently develop post COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (PCPF). Both fully treated CARDS and severe PCPF are suitable candidates for lung transplantation. Due to the special course, evaluation strategies are different from those used in patients with common end-stage lung disease. After lung transplantation in COVID-19 patients, special treatment is required, including standardized nucleic acid testing for the novel coronavirus, adjustment strategy of immunosuppressive drugs, and rational use of antiviral drugs, which is a big challenge for the postoperative management of lung transplantation. This consensus was evidence-based written and was reached by experts after multiple rounds of discussions, providing reference for assessment and postoperative management of patients with interstitial pneumonia after COVID-19 infection.
ObjectiveAlthough evidence links idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and diabetes mellitus (DM), the exact underlying common mechanism of its occurrence is unclear. This study aims to explore further the molecular mechanism between these two diseases. MethodsThe microarray data of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and diabetes mellitus in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were downloaded. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify co-expression genes related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and diabetes mellitus. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis and three public databases were employed to analyze and screen the gene targets related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and diabetes mellitus. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed by Metascape. In addition, common microRNAs (miRNAs), common in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and diabetes mellitus, were obtained from the Human microRNA Disease Database (HMDD), and their target genes were predicted by miRTarbase. Finally, we constructed a common miRNAs-mRNAs network by using the overlapping genes of the target gene and the shared gene. ResultsThe results of common gene analysis suggested that remodeling of the extracellular matrix might be a key factor in the interconnection of DM and IPF. Finally, hub genes (MMP1, IL1R1, SPP1) were further screened. miRNA-gene network suggested that has-let-19a-3p may play a key role in the common molecular mechanism between IPF and DM. ConclusionsThis study provides new insights into the potential pathogenic mechanisms between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and diabetes mellitus. These common pathways and hub genes may provide new ideas for further experimental studies.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of Heluo Shugan capsule in the treatment of hepatitis B fibrosis. MethodWe searched PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 8, 2015), CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data from their inception to August 2015, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Heluo Shugan capsule for hepatitis B fibrosis. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 15 RCTs involving 1 840 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: (1) As for reduced level of serum hyaluronic acid (HA), Heluo Shugan capsule was superior to placebo (MD=82.31, 95%CI 37.44 to 127.19, P=0.000 3), but worse than Fuzheng Huayu capsule (MD=-137.45, 95% CI-196.29 to-78.62, P < 0.000 01), Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet (MD=-51.19, 95% CI-67.58 to-34.81, P < 0.000 01) and Anti-fibrosis decoction (MD=-82.13, 95% CI-102.37 to-61.88, P < 0.000 01). (2) As for reduced level of serum laminin (LN), Heluo Shugan capsule was superior to placebo (MD=36.83, 95% CI 11.84 to 61.82, P=0.004), but worse than Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet (MD=-36.00, 95% CI-64.29 to-7.71, P=0.01), Ganfujian capsule (MD=-22.14, 95% CI-37.28 to-7.00, P=0.004) and Anti-fibrosis decoction (MD=-38.64, 95% CI-75.00 to-2.29, P=0.04). (3) As for reduced level of serum procollagen type III peptide (PCIII), Heluo Shugan capsule was superior to placebo (MD=47.17, 95% CI 32.68 to 61.66, P < 0.000 01), but worse than Fuzheng Huayu capsule (MD=-4.80, 95% CI-9.08 to-0.51, P=0.03), Dahuang Zhechong pills (MD=-53.77, 95% CI-105.01 to-2.53, P=0.04), Ganfujian capsule (MD=-46.82, 95% CI-66.30 to-27.34, P < 0.000 01) and Anti-fibrosis decoction (MD=-28.68, 95% CI-55.59 to-1.77, P=0.04). (4) As for reduced level of serum type-IV-collagen (IV-C), Heluo Shugan capsule was superior to placebo (MD=72.77, 95% CI 47.65 to 97.89, P < 0.000 01), but worse than Fuzheng Huayu capsule (MD=-34.69, 95% CI-56.65 to-12.73, P=0.002), Dahuang Zhechong pills (MD=-21.26, 95%CI-38.79 to-3.73, P=0.02), Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet (MD=-69.04, 95%CI-124.38 to-13.69, P=0.01), Ganfujian capsule (MD=-19.84, 95% CI-37.41 to-2.27, P=0.03) and Anti-fibrosis decoction (MD=-37.98, 95% CI-72.99 to-2.96, P=0.03). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that, Heluo Shugan capsule was superior to placebo, but worse than Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet, Fuzheng Huayu capsule, Dahuang Zhechong pills, Ganfujian capsule and Anti-fibrosis decoction in reducing the level of serum hepatic fibrosis. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high-quality, large-scale RCTs are need to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo construct a luciferase reporter fusion containing the human connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) gene promoter.MethodsThe promoter region of the human CTGF gene (-835/+214) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specially-designed primers, and subsequently cloned into the pGL3.0-Basic vector. Following screening and verification by single colony PCR, double digestion, and sequencing, the resulting pGL3.0-Basic-CTGF was used to transfect the human embryonic kidney cells 293T, human bronchial epithelial cells HBE and human lung epithelial cells A549, and its function in each cell line was determined by luciferase assay.ResultsSequence alignment showed 99.5% identity, suggesting successful construction of the pGL3.0-Basic-CTGF reporter fusion. Promoter activities were detected 48 hours after transfection of pGL3.0-Basic-CTGF into the 293T, HBE, and A549 cells, and the promoter activities were 2.416, 0.027, and 0.121, respectively (P<0.01). Moreover, the luciferase activity in the A549 cells was statistically higher than that in the HBE cells (P<0.01).ConclusionsThe human pGL3.0-Basic-CTGF luciferase reporter fusion has been successfully constructed. The construct exhibits promoter activity in the bronchial epithelial cells HBE and the lung epithelial cells A549, and can therefore serve as a useful tool for future research in transcriptional regulation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of right atrial myocardial fibrosis in the prognosis of isolated tricuspid regurgitation surgery after left heart valve surgery. MethodsThe patients who underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty by the same operator in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from April 2016 to August 2021 due to long-term isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation after left heart valve surgery were included in the study. According to the degree of right atrial myocardial fibrosis, the patients were divided into three groups: a mild group, a moderate group, and a severe group. The clinical data of these patients were compared and analyzed. ResultsA total of 75 patients were enrolled, including 16 males and 59 females with an average age of 57.0±8.4 years. There were 30 patients in the mild group, 29 patients in the moderate group and 16 patients in the severe group. In terms of the preoperative data, there were statistical differences in cardiac function grade, right atrial diameter, tricuspid incompetence area among the three groups (P<0.05). In terms of the postoperative data, there were statistical differences among the three groups in the cardiopulmonary bypass time, mechanical ventilation time, ICU monitoring time, complication rate and mortality (P<0.05). Further pairwise comparison showed that, compared with the mild group, the severe group had longer mechanical ventilation time (P=0.024), longer ICU monitoring time (P=0.003) and higher incidence of postoperative complications (P=0.024), while the moderate group had no statistical difference in all aspects (P>0.05); compared with the moderate group, the severe group had longer ICU monitoring time (P=0.021) and higher incidence of complications (P=0.006). ConclusionThe early outcome of tricuspid valvuloplasty in patients with isolated tricuspid regurgitation after left heart valve surgery with severe right atrial myocardial fibrosis is worse than that in the patients with mild and moderate fibrosis, suggesting that the degree of myocardial fibrosis in the right atrium can be a predictor of the effect of tricuspid regurgitation surgery and a judgement indicator of the surgery timing.
ObjectiveTo investigate the restoration of left atrial function and its relationship with atrial fibrosis of patients after mitral valve replacement (MVR)and concomitant radiofrequency ablation (RFA)for atrial fibrillation (AF). MethodsClinical data of 32 patients with mitral valve disease and chronic AF who underwent surgical treatment in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command from January to August 2010 were retrospectively analyzed in this cohort study. There were 11 male and 21 female patients with their age of 49.8±8.7 years. There were 14 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), 8 patients with rheumatic MS and mitral regurgitation, and 10 patients with mitral valve prolapse. Preoperative AF duration was 3.6±4.6 years. All the patients received MVR and concomitant RFA for AF. According to the cutting off extent of left atrial fibrosis (10.9%), all the 32 patients were divided into 2 groups. There were 19 patients with more severe left atrial fibrosis ( > 10.9%)in group A and 13 patients with milder left atrial fibrosis ( < 10.9%)in group B. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examined left atrial fibrosis, and echocardiography was performed to examined the structure and function of left atrium. ResultsThere was no perioperative death. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 84.6±22.6 minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 47.6±15.6 minutes, and ICU stay was 3.2±1.5 days. All the 32 patients were followed up for longer than 6 months (1.3±0.6 years). The extent of left atrial fibrosis of the 32 patients was 4.8%-18.3% (10.7%±4.2%). There was no statistical difference in left atrial diameter (LAD), left atrial fractional area change (LAFAC)or mitral annular motion between group A and group B preoperatively and 3 months after surgery respectively (P > 0.05). At 6 month after surgery, LAD of group B was significantly smaller than that of group A (P < 0.05), late diastolic mitral annular velocity (Am)of group B was significantly higher than that of group A (P < 0.05), and there was also some improvement in LAFAC of group B compared with group A (P=0.067). Among the 32 patients, 28 patients (87.5%)restored sinus rhythm (SR)3 months after surgery, and 21 patients (65.6%)maintained SR longer than 6 months after surgery. Patients in group B were more likely to maintain SR than patients in group A (P=0.010). ConclusionImprovement of left atrial function can be observed 6 month after MVR and concomitant RFA for AF, which is related to the extent of left atrial fibrosis.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.MethodsDatabases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, VIP, CNKI and WanFang Data were electronically searched from inception to August 2018 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on ciprofloxacin in the treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 9 RCTs involving 1 666 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: compared with control group, the ciprofloxacin more efficiently eradicate bacteria from sputum (RR=4.34, 95%CI 2.04 to 9.23, P=0.000 1), decrease risk of the exacerbations (RR=0.81, 95%CI 0.71 to 0.93, P=0.002) and the mean bacterial load (MD=–4.08, 95%CI –6.29 to –1.87, P=0.001). However, there were no significant differences between two groups in clinical efficiency and adverse events.ConclusionsThe current evidence shows that, ciprofloxacin can decrease the mean bacterial load and risk of the exacerbation, and more efficiently eradicate bacteria from sputum in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more studies are required to verify the conclusions.