Chapter 2292: with translation of chapter title

「Director, how could we know this in advance? 」 Su Yun said with a smile: 「Do our best to strive for it, anyway whether we get the Nobel Prize or not, the Shou Bing must be done. It's not like we would just toss the TIPS Surgery aside if we don't get the Nobel Prize. 」

Su Yun was speaking nonsense, Director Kong saw Zheng Ren not answering his question, then he smiled.

「Just put in the effort; we'll see later whether it succeeds or not. 」

「Director, I actually think it's possible. 」 Zheng Ren fell silent for a few seconds, then said seriously.

Su Yun was stunned for a moment.

This should be the boss facing the Nobel Prize Shou Bing, giving a clear judgment for the first time. Rather than the vague, ambiguous way doctors usually speak at length.

「Oh? 」 Director Kong became interested.

「Something happened while carrying out a mission. 」 Zheng Ren simply recounted what happened in the ancient castle in the Alps, 「Taking into account Lanke Company's current attitude, plus Dr. Mei Ha'er's persistence, I think the possibility has gone from nonexistent to possible. 」

「Boss, you're simply too optimistic. 」

「Haven't you heard Fugui'er always gossiping about things in Sweden? 」

「I thought you weren't interested in gossip at all. 」

「Really not interested. 」 Zheng Ren said: 「But what I just said isn't gossip; it's an analysis of objective matters. 」

「Hey, what are you talking about... 」 Su Yun hadn't finished speaking when Zheng Ren's phone rang.

Zheng Renye was also helpless; usually he hardly has any social interactions, so even though he has reached this point, his social engagements have only gradually increased, but not to the extent of overwhelming him.

What's wrong today?

He took out his phone, saw it was Lin Ge, made a gesture, intending to go out to answer the call.

But just as he stood up, a knock sounded, and Lin Ge hurriedly pushed the door open and came in.

「Director Lin, why are you in such a hurry? 」 Director Kong stood up, smiling as he asked.

「Director Kong, are you busy? 」 Lin Ge hurriedly greeted him, then looked at Zheng Ren.

He had come running after hearing the phone ring; Zheng Ren hung up, 「Director Lin, what's up? 」

「Zheng Lao Ban, is it convenient? 」 Lin Ge asked cautiously.

「It's fine, go ahead. 」

「Do you know about Section Chief Mao's matter? 」 Lin Ge closed the door and asked quietly.

「I know a bit, what about it? 」

「Director Mei came for a consultation, suggested symptomatic treatment. However, Section Chief Mao's mother refused the plan to take escitalopram, saying Mao Mao's depression was due to the pressure inside the hospital. 」

Lin Ge said this helplessly.

He is now at the forefront, facing limitless prospects, and the pressure he faces is also great; Zheng Ren knows this.

「Coincidentally, recently Dr. Lan Se·Pein from the United States National Institute of Mental Health is exchanging at An Ding Hospital; the hospital had no choice, so they invited him. 」

They've been inviting people one after another, and even invited a US expert; presumably the pressure inside the hospital is also great.

「What's the situation now? 」 Su Yun asked.

「Dr. Lan Se·Pein suggests doing a fecal transplant to treat severe depression. 」

「... 」 Zheng Ren was stunned speechless.

「Does that thing really work? 」 Su Yun said contemptuously.

「Director Mei said a few words, got scolded by Mao Mao's mother, and angrily left. 」 Lin Ge sighed and said.

「Director Lin, what's your purpose in rushing to see the boss like this? 」 Su Yun asked.

「I... I'm still worried. 」 Lin Ge felt conflicted, sighed and said.

Zheng Ren could understand this kind of conflict; it's just a feeling hard to put into words. He smiled and said: 「I'm not skilled at diagnosing and treating mental issues. 」

Lin Ge didn't know whether Zheng Lao Ban was stating a fact or just didn't want to get involved.

「Fecal transplant? Treat depression? 」 Director Kong asked in surprise.

「Hmm. 」 Zheng Ren nodded, 「It's said that the gut microbiota is an environmental factor that can shape the brain via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and mice whose gut microbiota has changed usually exhibit depression-related behaviors. 」

「Could that be useful? 」 Director Kong was speechless.

Liver transplants, kidney transplants, etc., are still imaginable. Fecal transplant sounds like a head transplant—just hearing it makes it seem unreliable.

「Transplanting the gut microbiota of depressed patients into germ-free mice can induce depressive behavior; likewise, transplanting it into mice receiving antibiotic treatment also results in depressive behavior. 」 Su Yun said.

「I've always thought this research is unreliable; how do you diagnose depression in lab mice? There's a considerable subjective factor involved. 」 Zheng Ren said.

「You sound like you've done the experiment yourself. 」 Su Yun said contemptuously.

「Immature technology had better not be used in clinical treatment. 」 Zheng Ren didn't argue with Su Yun, but stated a fact: 「The fecal transplant project itself still carries various risks. 」

「What is a fecal transplant? 」 Director Kong asked in astonishment.

Zheng Lao Ban understood each word he said, but put together they made no sense at all.

Taking it literally, it might be a therapeutic approach involving gut flora. But linking this treatment to depression is just too bizarre.

Even a veteran doctor wouldn't have every diagnosis and treatment crystal clear.

「Fecal transplant is a method of treating disease by rebuilding gut flora. 」

Indeed, just as Director Kong had guessed, Zheng Ren then said.

「Inject the processed healthy person's fecal liquid into the patient's intestine. The procedure requires strict screening and implementation of an experimental protocol; in 1958, American doctors used fecal water to save a dying infected patient, which is the earliest recorded case in the world. 」

「... 」 Director Kong found it hard to believe that a treatment involving enemas with feces could be used.

Just thinking about it makes one nauseous.

「There's been something like this in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, right? 」 Su Yun said disdainfully, 「Why are you biased against this treatment method? 」

Zheng Ren looked at Su Yun, knew what he was thinking, sighed, and said: 「Huanglong Tang? Sounds nice, but just thinking about it makes you feel uncomfortable all over. Besides, Ge Hong seems to be an alchemist, not a doctor. As for the so-called strained fecal juice, drinking several he to one or two liters is called Yellow Dragon Decoction; the older, the better. 」

Director Kong, a veteran of many battles, also felt a little uncomfortable upon hearing "the older, the better."

「There's also donkey dung, extract the juice five or six he, take it warm all at once, and it works immediately! Why don't you mention that? 」

「... 」 Zheng Ren looked at Su Yun helplessly, also understanding what he meant by saying that.

The diagnosis of Section Chief Mao's illness is becoming increasingly troublesome, and no one knows what it will become in the future. Since it's not a disease from our own department, it's best not to get involved; hand it over to the relevant specialists for the safest approach.

"It's also recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica." Su Yun continued.

"But that..."

"Don't talk about this, I can't take it anymore." Director Kong gave a wry smile. "Treating intestinal flora dysbiosis is still understandable. But treating depression, what's the principle?"