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The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a serious impact on global public health and the economy. SARS-CoV-2 infiltrates host cells via its surface spike protein, which binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 on the host cell membrane. As a result, small molecules targeting spike protein have emerged as a hotspot in anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug research. Activity screening is an important step in seeking small molecule drugs. Therefore, this article aims to review the biological activity evaluation methods of small molecule inhibitors targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, with the goal of laying the foundation for the discovery of new anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and gastric-renal shunt （GRS）. MethodsThe patients who attended Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， due to liver cirrhosis and gastric varices from February to June 2023 were enrolled， and all patients were confirmed to have GRS and received endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips. The primary evaluation index was alleviation or disappearance of varicose veins after surgery， and the secondary evaluation indices were surgical completion and complications. ResultsA total of 11 patients were enrolled in this study， among whom there were 7 male patients and 4 female patients， with a median age of 55 years. Of all patients， 1 had Child class A liver function， 7 had Child class B liver function， and 3 had Child class C liver function. The maximum （median） diameter of the shunt was 8 mm， and the minimum （median） diameter of the shunt was 4 mm. The median blood flow velocity of the target vessel was 11 cm/s before treatment and 5 cm/s after occlusion with metal clips. The median amount of tissue adhesive injected was 2 mL， and the amount of lauromacrogol used was 1 mL. Disappearance of blood flow signals was observed in all patients after surgery （100%）， and the success rate of surgery was 100%. No patient experienced rebleeding after follow-up for 6 weeks. Gastroscopy at 1 month after surgery showed that gastric varices were eradicated or almost disappeared in 9 patients and were alleviated in 2 patients. ConclusionEndoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips is a feasible， safe， and effective treatment method for cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and GRS.
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ObjectiveSleep-related painful erections （SRPE） is a rare sleep disorder characterized by repeated awakening due to painful interruptions of penile erections during nighttime sleep， and its etiology is currently unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of potential risk factors on the incidence of SRPE. MethodsInformation was collected through questionnaires administered to patients who presented at the urology department and suffered from SRPE or did not suffer from SRPE. A total of 290 participants completed the study， including 145 controls and 145 cases. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of age， occupation， sleep initiation time per night， frequency of sexual intercourse per week， psychological status， erectile dysfunction， chronic prostatitis， prostate enlargement， lumbar spine disease， central nervous system disease， hypertension， diabetes and family history on the onset of SRPE. ResultsSingle-factor logistic regression analysis found that a history of chronic prostatitis， intellectual labor occupation， central nervous system disease， late sleep onset， frequency of sexual activity， and anxiety status might be related to the onset of SRPE. After incorporating these factors into a multivariate regression analysis model， it was found that having sexual activity ≥2 times/week （OR 95%CI = 0.326（0.179，0.592） and late sleep onset （after 24：00） （OR 95%CI = 0.494（0.265，0.918）might be protective factors for SRPE， while a history of chronic prostatitis（OR 95%CI = 3.779（2.082，6.859） might be a risk factor for SRPE. However， there was no significant statistical difference in the impact of central nervous system diseases and occupation on multivariate analysis. ConclusionChronic prostatitis and anxiety status may be independent risk factors for SRPE； having sexual activity ≥2 times/week and delaying sleep time appropriately may be independent protective factors.
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Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody against the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) ligand (RANKL) that significantly inhibits osteoclast activity and has been approved to treat osteoporosis, giant cell tumor of bone, and prophylactic as well as therapeutic entities for bone metastasis. However, the imbalance of RANKL/RANK/OPG has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of several other rare bone diseases and tumor-like disorders, including aneurysmal bone cyst, fibrous dysplasia of bone, and Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Nevertheless, there have been various clinical reports although these diseases have not been approved for indications. The review aims to summarize the available evidence for the off-label use of denosumab in metabolic bone diseases and tumor-like disorders and provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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The aim of this study is to analyze the research hotspots and development trends in the field of pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy in China from 2013 to 2022. Based on China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China Science and Technology Journal Database, China Biology Medicine disc, Web of Science core collection and PubMed database, the related literatures in the field of pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy in China from 2013 to 2022, were retrieved to establish the database, and the VOSviewer software was used for bibliometric analysis. A total of 1 664 Chinese and 2 149 English literatures are included in this study. The scientific research results from 2013 to 2022 have shown an overall increasing trend. The research hotspots in the field of pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy in China are mainly concentrated in Podocytes, Oxidative stress, Inflammation, Renal fibrosis, Urine protein, etc. The frontier hotspots in this field include Biomarkers, Nrf2, Gut microbiota, NLRP3 inflammasome, Apoptosis, MicroRNA, etc. Through visual analysis, the research hotspots and frontier trends of the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy in China can be visually presented, and then provide new ideas and directions for the further in-depth research on the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
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Humans , Apoptosis , Asian People , China/epidemiology , Diabetes Mellitus , Diabetic Nephropathies/etiology , MicroRNAs , Biomedical Research/trendsABSTRACT
Objective: Compare and analyze the results of the domestic Lanyi AH600 glycated hemoglobin analyzer and other different detection systems to understand the comparability of the detection results of different detectors, and establish the best cut point of Lanyi AH600 determination of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the diagnosis of diabetes. Methods: Multi center cohort study was adopted. The clinical laboratory departments of 18 medical institutions independently collected test samples from their respective hospitals from March to April 2022, and independently completed comparative analysis of the evaluated instrument (Lanyi AH600) and the reference instrument HbA1c. The reference instruments include four different brands of glycosylated hemoglobin meters, including Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong. Scatter plot was used to calculate the correlation between the results of different detection systems, and the regression equation was calculated. The consistency analysis between the results of different detection systems was evaluated by Bland Altman method. Consistency judgment principles: (1) When the 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) of the measurement difference was within 0.4% HbA1c and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was good; (2) When the measurement difference of 95% LoA exceeded 0.4% HbA1c, and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was relatively good; (3) The measurement score was less than 80 points, the comparison consistency was poor. The difference between the results of different detection systems was tested by paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test; The best cut-off point of diabetes was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: The correlation coefficient R2 of results between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument in 16 hospitals is≥0.99; The Bland Altman consistency analysis showed that the difference of 95% LoA in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180) was -0.486%-0.325%, and the measurement score was 94.6 points (473/500); The difference of 95% LoA in the Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant II) was -0.727%-0.612%, and the measurement score was 89.8 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.231%-0.461%, and the measurement score was 96.6 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.469%-0.479%, and the measurement score was 91.9 points. The other 14 hospitals, Lanyi AH600, were compared with 4 reference instrument brands, the difference of 95% LoA was less than 0.4% HbA1c, and the scores were all greater than 95 points. The results of paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument Arkray HA8180 (Z=1.665,P=0.096), with no statistical difference. The mean difference between the measured values of the two instruments was 0.004%. The comparison data of Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument of all other institutions had significant differences (all P<0.001), however, it was necessary to consider whether it was within the clinical acceptable range in combination with the results of the Bland-Altman consistency analysis. The ROC curve of HbA1c detected by Lanyi AH600 in 985 patients with diabetes and 3 423 patients with non-diabetes was analyzed, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.877, the standard error was 0.007, and the 95% confidence interval 95%CI was (0.864, 0.891), which was statistically significant (P<0.001). The maximum value of Youden index was 0.634, and the corresponding HbA1c cut point was 6.235%. The sensitivity and specificity of diabetes diagnosis were 76.2% and 87.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Among the hospitals and instruments currently included in this study, among these four hospitals included Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180), Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant Ⅱ), the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), and the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), the comparison between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instruments showed relatively good consistency, while the other 14 hospitals involved four different brands of reference instruments: Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong, Lanyi AH600 had good consistency with its comparison. The best cut point of the domestic Lanyi AH600 for detecting HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes is 6.235%.
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Pregnancy , Child , Humans , Female , Glycated Hemoglobin , Cohort Studies , Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis , Sensitivity and Specificity , ROC CurveABSTRACT
Objective: To report gene mutations in nine patients with hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) and analyze the characteristics of pathogenic gene mutations in HE. Methods: The clinical and gene mutations of nine patients clinically diagnosed with HE at Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital from June 2018 to February 2022 were reported and verified by next-generation sequencing to analyze the relationship between gene mutations and clinical phenotypes. Results: Erythrocyte membrane protein gene mutations were detected among nine patients with HE, including six with SPTA1 mutation, one with SPTB mutation, one with EPB41 mutation, and one with chromosome 20 copy deletion. A total of 11 gene mutation sites were involved, including 6 known mutations and 5 novel mutations. The five novel mutations included SPTA1: c.1247A>C (p. K416T) in exon 9, c.1891delG (p. A631fs*17) in exon 15, E6-E12 Del; SPTB: c.154C>T (p. R52W) ; and EPB41: c.1636A>G (p. I546V) . Three of the six patients with the SPTA1 mutation were SPTA1 exon 9 mutation. Conclusion: SPTA1 is the most common mutant gene in patients with HE.
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Humans , Mutation , Elliptocytosis, Hereditary/metabolism , Erythrocyte Membrane/metabolism , Exons , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Spherocytosis, Hereditary/metabolismABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo mine the compatibility rules of patented traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescriptions for treating chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) by systems pharmacology and molecular docking methods, and predict the targets and molecular mechanisms of Chinese medicinals with different efficacy in the treatment of CAG. MethodThe TCM compound prescriptions for treating CAG were extracted from the patent system of the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The active components and targets of the prescriptions were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrative Database (TCMID), and UniProt. The candidate targets and pathways of CAG were obtained from GeneCards, DisGeNet, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), MalaCards, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Reactome. The gene ontology (GO) functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment were realized by R Studio 4.1.2. STRING11.0 was employed to build the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and AutoDock Vina 4.2.6 was used for the docking between key targets and components. ResultA total of 228 TCM compound prescriptions for treating CAG were extracted. The medicinals used in these prescriptions mainly had warm or cold nature, bitter or sweet taste, tropism to the spleen, stomach, and liver meridians, and the efficacy of tonifying Qi, regulating Qi movement, clearing heat, and activating and toniying blood. The prescriptions mainly treated CAG via p53, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), forkhead box protein O (FoxO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathways. Molecular docking results confirmed that the active components in the prescriptions had docking activities with key receptor proteins. ConclusionThis study preliminarily analyzed the compatibility rules of TCM compound prescriptions in the treatment of CAG. The medicinals with different efficacy treat CAG by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress response, preventing carcinogen production, promoting gastric acid secretion, and improving local microcirculation in a multi-target, multi-pathway, multi-link manner. The findings facilitate the research on the TCM treatment of CAG.
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OBJECTIVE@#To explore characteristics of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images features and diagnostic value of rotator cuff tear subtypes.@*METHODS@#From January 2019 to March 2022, percutaneous ultrasound-guided subacromial bursography (PUSB) with persutaneous ultrasound-guide tendon lesionography (PUTL) was performed on 114 patients with suspected rotator cuff injury were evaluated, including 54 males and 60 females ranged in age from 35 to 75 years old with an average of (58.8±8.7 ) years old;76 patients on the right side and 38 patients on the left side;the course of disease ranged from 0.13 to 111 months with an average of (10.2±9.8) months. GE LOGIQ E9 color doppler ultrasound diagnostic high frequency(6 to 12 MHz) was used to CEUS Using arthroscopy as gold standard, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate diagnostic efficacy of US, MRI and CEUS for rotator cuff injury, also sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were calculated.@*RESULTS@#The sensitivity of US in diagnosing full-thickness tears was 72.1%, specificity was 93.0%, and accuracy was 85.1%. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI diagnosis of full-thickness tear were 90.9%, 92.6% and 92.1% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CEUS in diagnosis of full-thickness tear were 100%. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of US in the diagnosis of partial tear were 85.7%, 77.2% and 79.8% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI diagnosis of partial tear were 83.7%, 81.7% and 82.5% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CEUS in diagnosis of partial tear were 95.7%, 92.6% and 93.9% respectively. There were significant differences in diagnosis results of US, MRI and CEUS for rotator cuff bursa tear (P<0.001). Kapp test showed good consistency between CEUS and arthroscopy in diagnosing rotator cuff tear subtypes (full-thickness and partial tears).@*CONCLUSION@#Using PUSB/PUTL to observe distribution of contrast media in bursa, tendon and joint cavity to evaluate the type of rotator cuff tear, its diagnostic performance is significantly better than US and MRI. Therefore, percutaneous contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be a reliable method for diagnosing subtypes of rotator cuff tears.
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Male , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Rotator Cuff Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Rotator Cuff/diagnostic imaging , Sensitivity and Specificity , Ultrasonography , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Rupture , ArthroscopyABSTRACT
Based on the CX3C chemokine ligand 1(CX3CL1)-CX3C chemokine receptor 1(CX3CR1) axis, this study explored the potential mechanism by which Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula(ZGJTJY) improved neuroinflammation and enhanced neuroprotective effect in a rat model of diabetes mellitus complicated with depression(DD). The DD rat model was established by feeding a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin(STZ) intraperitoneal injection for four weeks and chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) combined with isolated cage rearing for five weeks. The rats were divided into a control group, a model group, a positive control group, an inhibitor group, and a ZGJTJY group. The open field test and forced swimming test were used to assess the depression-like behaviors of the rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was performed to measure the expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in plasma. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(Iba1), postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD95), and synapsin-1(SYN1) in the hippocampus. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, Nissl staining, and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) fluorescence staining were performed to assess hippocampal neuronal damage. Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of CX3CL1, CX3CR1, A2A adenosine receptor(A2AR), glutamate receptor 2A(NR2A), glutamate receptor 2B(NR2B), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the hippocampus. Compared with the model group, the ZGJTJY group showed improved depression-like behaviors in DD rats, enhanced neuroprotective effect, increased expression of PSD95, SYN1, and BDNF(P<0.01), and decreased expression of Iba1, IL-1β, and TNF-α(P<0.01), as well as the expression of CX3CL1, CX3CR1, A2AR, NR2A, and NR2B(P<0.01). These results suggest that ZGJTJY may exert its neuroprotective effect by inhibiting the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis and activation of hippocampal microglia, thereby improving neuroinflammation and abnormal activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR) subunits, and ultimately enhancing the expression of synaptic-related proteins PSD95, SYN1, and BDNF in the hippocampus.
Subject(s)
Rats , Animals , Depression/drug therapy , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor , Neuroprotective Agents , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Neuroinflammatory Diseases , Diabetes Mellitus , Receptors, Glutamate , CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1/geneticsABSTRACT
Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease. Its pathogenesis is complex， and it presents a significant challenge in treatment， gradually becoming a major global public health issue. One of the main pathological changes in DKD is tubulointerstitial fibrosis， clinically characterized by proteinuria and declining kidney function， which severely impacts the daily life of patients. Currently， western medicine commonly uses methods such as controlling blood sugar and blood pressure， and reducing proteinuria to treat DKD， but the efficacy is unsatisfactory， and there are many side effects. As reported， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment for DKD has many advantages， such as low cost， significant efficacy， and minimal adverse reactions. More researchers focusing on DKD are turning their attention to TCM， and progress has been made in related studies both in China and abroad. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is relatively evolutionarily conserved and plays a crucial role in normal biological development and the entire life process. Studies have demonstrated that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is related to renal fibrosis， which coincides with TCM theory of "collateral diseases". By reviewing relevant literature， this article reviewed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its role in DKD and summarized the research status of TCM monomers， single drug extracts， and TCM formulas in improving renal fibrosis and treating DKD through the improvement of glomerular mesangial cells， renal tubular epithelial cells， and podocyte injury， aiming to provide new ideas and directions for TCM treatment of DKD.
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Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to develop the career growth scale for nurses (CGSN) and evaluate its psychometric properties. @*Methods@#This study was conducted in four phases: (1) creating a pool of potential items through a qualitative design; (2) developing a preliminary scale using a modified two-round Delphi process; (3) refining the preliminary scale to finalize the scale using a cross-sectional survey; and (4) evaluating the psychometric properties of the final scale using another cross-sectional survey. A sample of 858 registered nurses from 12 general hospitals was recruited for this study. @*Results@#The final scale consisted of 17 items categorized into three factors: career goal progress, professional ability and attribute improvement, and career promotion and prestige increase. The three factors accounted for 75.4% of the observed variance in career growth. The overall Cronbach's α was .96, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was .92. The content validity index was .97. Confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable model fitness. @*Conclusions@#These results showed that the CGSN has good psychometric properties and can be used to evaluate specific career growth among nurses. This new instrument can further help nurse managers and clinical nurses themselves assess career growth and identify unsatisfactory aspects of growth, thereby designing tailored training programs and evaluating the effectiveness of such interventions.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the value of serum complement C3 level in determining the stage of liver fibrosis in primary biliary cholangitis （PBC）. MethodsClinical data were collected from 108 patients with PBC who attended Tianjin Second People’s Hospital and underwent liver biopsy from January 2012 to October 2022. The degree of liver fibrosis （S0-4） was assessed according to the Scheuer scoring system， with ≥S2 defined as significant liver fibrosis， ≥S3 defined as progressive liver fibrosis， and S4 defined as liver cirrhosis. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups； the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups； the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The area under the ROC curve （AUC） was used to evaluate the efficacy of complement C3 in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with PBC. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between complement C3 and liver fibrosis stage. ResultsAmong the 108 patients with PBC， there were 87 （80.6%） female patients and 102 patients （94.4%） with positive autoantibody. As for the stage of liver fibrosis， there were 5 patients （4.6%） in S0 stage， 41 （38.0%） in S1 stage， 23 （21.3%） in S2 stage， 25 （23.1%） in S3 stage， and 14 （13.0%） in S4 stage. There was a significant difference in the level of complement C3 between the patients with different liver fibrosis stages （H=42.891， P<0.001）. The level of complement C3 gradually decreased with the aggravation of liver fibrosis， with a negative correlation between them （r=-0.565， P<0.001）. Liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio， aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index， and fibrosis-4 were negatively correlated with complement C3， with a correlation coefficient of -0.439 （P<0.001）， -0.323 （P=0.001）， -0.206 （P=0.033）， and -0.291 （P=0.002）， respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that complement C3 level was an independent predictive factor for significant liver fibrosis， progressive liver fibrosis， and liver cirrhosis， while LSM was an independent predictive factor for significant liver fibrosis and progressive liver fibrosis. The ROC curve analysis showed that complement C3 had an AUC of 0.731， 0.832， and 0.968， respectively， in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis， progressive liver fibrosis， and liver cirrhosis， with a corresponding cut-off value of 1.445， 1.235， and 1.005， respectively， and complement C3 combined with LSM had an AUC of 0.811， 0.941， and 0.976， respectively， in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis， progressive liver fibrosis， and liver cirrhosis. There was a significant difference in AUC between complement C3 combined with LSM and complement C3 alone in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis （Z=2.604， P=0.009）， and there was also a significant difference in AUC between complement C3 combined with LSM and complement C3 alone in the diagnosis of progressive liver fibrosis （Z=3.033， P=0.002）； there was no significant difference in AUC between complement C3 combined with LSM and complement C3 alone in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis （Z=1.050， P=0.294）， while There was a significant difference in AUC between complement C3 combined with LSM and LSM alone in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis （Z=2.326， P=0.020）. ConclusionSerum complement C3 level has a certain clinical value in assessing the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with PBC， and complement C3 combined with LSM can further improve the efficacy of complement C3 or LSM in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in PBC.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs)-derived exosomes in the anti-apoptotic effect of Danhong Injection (DHI) and the mechanism of DHI-induced exosomal protection against postinfarction myocardial apoptosis.@*METHODS@#A mouse permanent myocardial infarction (MI) model was established, followed by a 14-day daily treatment with DHI, DHI plus GW4869 (an exosomal inhibitor), or saline. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-induced ECs-derived exosomes were isolated, analyzed by miRNA microarray and validated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The exosomes induced by DHI (DHI-exo), PBS (PBS-exo), or DHI+GW4869 (GW-exo) were isolated and injected into the peri-infarct zone following MI. The protective effects of DHI and DHI-exo on MI hearts were measured by echocardiography, Masson's trichrome staining, and TUNEL apoptosis assay. The Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression levels of miR-125b/p53-mediated pathway components, including miR-125b, p53, Bak, Bax, and caspase-3 activities.@*RESULTS@#DHI significantly improved cardiac function and reduced infarct size in MI mice (P<0.01), which was abolished by the GW4869 intervention. DHI promoted the exosomal secretion in ECs (P<0.01). According to the results of exosomal miRNA microarray assay, 30 differentially expressed miRNAs in the DHI-exo were identified (28 up-regulated miRNAs and 2 down-regulated miRNAs). Among them, DHI significantly elevated miR-125b level in DHI-exo and DHI-treated ECs, a recognized apoptotic inhibitor impeding p53 signaling (P<0.05). Remarkably, treatment with DHI and DHI-exo attenuated apoptosis, elevated miR-125b expression level, inhibited capsase-3 activity, and down-regulated the expression levels of proapoptotic effectors (p53, Bak, and Bax) in post-MI hearts, whereas these effects were blocked by GW4869 (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#DHI and DHI-induced exosomes inhibited apoptosis, promoted the miR-125b expression level, and regulated the p53 apoptotic pathway in post-infarction myocardium.
Subject(s)
Mice , Animals , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Exosomes/metabolism , bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism , Myocardium/metabolism , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Apoptosis , MicroRNAs/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the protective effect of bloodletting acupuncture at twelve Jing-well points on hand (BAJP) on acute hypobaric hypoxia (AHH)-induced brain injury in rats and its possible mechanisms.@*METHODS@#Seventy-five Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups by a random number table (n=15), including control, model, BAJP, BAJP+3-methyladenine (3-MA), and bloodletting acupuncture at non-acupoint (BANA, tail tip blooding) groups. After 7-day pre-treatment, AHH models were established using hypobaric oxygen chambers. The levels of S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling method were used to assess hippocampal histopathology and apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy assay was used to observe mitochondrial damage and autophagosomes in hippocampal tissues. Flow cytometry was used to detect mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, III and IV activities and ATPase in hippocampal tissue were evaluated, respectively. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expressions of Beclin1, autophagy protein 5 (ATG5), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3B), phosphatase and tensin homolog induced kinase 1 (PINK1), and Parkin in hippocampal tissues. The mRNA expressions of Beclin1, ATG5 and LC3-II were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.@*RESULTS@#BAJP treatment reduced hippocampal tissue injury and inhibited hippocampal cell apoptosis in AHH rats. BAJP reduced oxidative stress by decreasing S100B, GFAP and MDA levels and increasing SOD level in the serum of AHH rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Then, BAJP increased MMP, the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, III and IV activities, and the mitochondrial ATPase activity in AHH rats (all P<0.01). BAJP improved mitochondrial swelling and increased the autophagosome number in hippocampal tissue of AHH rats. Moreover, BAJP treatment increased the protein and mRNA expressions of Beclin1 and ATG5 and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio in AHH rats (all P<0.01) and activated the PINK1/Parkin pathway (P<0.01). Finally, 3-MA attenuated the therapeutic effect of BAJP on AHH rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#BAJP was an effective treatment for AHH-induced brain injury, and the mechanism might be through reducing hippocampal tissue injury via increasing the PINK1/Parkin pathway and enhancement of mitochondrial autophagy.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the associated factors of endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) and its association with 10-year risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in a Chinese community-based general population.@*METHODS@#The participants of this study were from an atherosclerosis cohort survey which was established by the Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital in 2011. The cohort survey was performed in the Gucheng and Pingguoyuan communities of Shijingshan district in Beijing, China. The inclusion criteria of this study were: (1) endogenous EPO was measured; (2) health questionnaire data and other clinical data were complete; (3) participatants who had cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases (defined as self-reported coronary heart disease, stroke or transient ischemic attack) or anemia or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/(min·1.73 m2) at baseline were excluded. Multivariate linear regression model was used to examine the associated factors of endogenous EPO. The participants were grouped into low (< 5%), moderate (5%-10%) and high risk (≥10%) groups, based on predicted 10-year cardiovascular disease risk using the prediction for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in China (China-PAR) equations.@*RESULTS@#A total of 4 013 participants were included. Mean age of them was (55.9±8.2) years, 62.2% (n=2 496) of them were female, and 46.3% (n=1 859), 70.9% (n=2 845), 21.9% (n=879) had hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes, individually. The average body mass index was (26.1±3.3) kg/m2. The median of EPO level was 12.8 (9.3-17.4) IU/L and 25.1% (n=998) were at high 10-years risk of cardiovascular disease. Hemoglobin (β=-0.05, 95%CI: -0.07 to -0.04) and eGFR ≥90 mL/(min·1.73 m2) (β=-0.05, 95%CI: -0.07 to -0.04) were associated with lower in transformed EPO levels while hypertension (β=0.08, 95%CI: 0.05 to 0.12) and obesity (β=0.14, 95%CI: 0.09 to 0.18) were associated with higher in transformed EPO levels in multivariate linear regression analyses. Ten-year cardiovascular disease risks were positively associated with in transformed EPO levels (β=0.07, 95%CI: 0.05 to 0.09). The participants at moderate and high cardiovascular disease risks had significant higher EPO levels than the low risk group (all P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#In community-based Beijing populations, endogenous EPO was associated with hemoglobin, renal function, obesity and hypertension. Individuals at high 10-years cardiovascular disease risks have higher endogenous EPO levels. Endogenous EPO may be a potential risk marker of cardiovascular disease.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Erythropoietin , Hemoglobins , Hypertension/epidemiology , Obesity , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are the most common driver genes in the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), of which mutations in exons 18-21 are frequent, especially the loss of exon 19 and exon 21 L858R mutation are the most frequent. Other rare gene mutations are rare. Simultaneous occurrence of two or more rare EGFR mutations are extremely rare in lung cancer, and the incidence of EGFR L833V/H835L rare gene compound mutations is very low, and there is little clinical data and evidence of relevant treatment methods. Some EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are effective in treating lung cancer patients with rare gene mutations. In this article, we reported a case of NSCLC patient with a rare gene compound mutation EGFR L833V/H835L, who responded to Afatinib in combination with Anilotinib treatment well after 5 months of treatment, and computed tomography (CT) showed shrinkage of lung lesions. Meanwhile, we also compiled previously reported NSCLC patients with EGFR L833V/H835L rare gene compound mutation and summarized the characteristics of this group of patients and the effect of applying different kinds of EGFR-TKIs treatment. .
Subject(s)
Humans , Adenocarcinoma of Lung/genetics , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , ErbB Receptors/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Mutation , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Objective@#To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and genetic characteristics of sapovirus (SaV) in a cluster of schools in Changzhou, so as to provide a reference for the treatment of clustered vomiting and diarrhea events in schools.@*Methods@#The epidemiological data and laboratory test data of sapovirus clusters in Changzhou from 2019 to 2022 were collected and analyzed. Partial VP1 genes of SaV positive samples were amplified and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis.@*Results@#A total of 8 cases of clusters of SaV epidemics were reported in Changzhou City from 2019 to 2022, with 118 reported cases. The total attack rate was 1.47%, and the median of the attack number was 15. There were 6 outbreaks in kindergartens and 2 outbreaks in primary schools, which were reported in the epidemic period from September to December. The main clinical manifestations were vomiting (113 cases, 95.76 %), abdominal pain (39 cases, 33.05%), and diarrhea (16 cases, 13.56%). Among the 8 outbreaks, 17 sample strains were successfully sequenced. 5 outbreaks were GII.3 , and the other 3 outbreaks were GI.1, GI .3 and GII.2. GI and GII were the main genotypes in this area, and GII .3 was the predominant strain.@*Conclusion@#SaV is an important pathogen in the clusters of vomiting and diarrhea in schools after the transmission of norovirus. Continuous surveillance of SaV should be carried out to further understand its epidemiological characteristics and genotype distribution, so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of the epidemic in schools.
ABSTRACT
Statistics plays an important role in medical research， and the selection of appropriate statistical methods is crucial for drawing reliable and valuable conclusions. This paper provides a brief introduction to commonly used statistical analysis methods for medical data， covering descriptive analysis， parametric test， nonparametric test， correlation analysis， regression analysis， and analysis of survival data. It focuses on discussing the assumptions of multiple linear regression， logistic regression and Cox proportional risk regression， as well as how to choose the appropriate statistical methods for analyzing and interpreting medical data based on different research objectives and data types.
ABSTRACT
Objective:Analysis of subtype distribution characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, pathological findings of HPV-positive patients operated colposcopy and cervical histopathological examination in Changsha from 2020 to 2022.Methods:Retrospective analysis of HPV infection status of 60 354 patients was treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from Jan. 2020 to Oct. 2022. They were divided into<25 years old group (3 250 cases), 25-34 years old group (19 406 cases), 35-44 years old group (17 297 cases), 45-54 years old group (13 104 cases), 55-64 years old group (4 793 cases) and≥65 years old group (2 504 cases). Cervical exfoliated cells were collected from women and specimen of lesion site were collected from men. HPV genotyping detection used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow fluorescence hybridization, which could detect 27 HPV genotypes. Analyze the distribution of HPV subtypes in patients of different age groups and different treatment departments. Analyze the relationship between the infection of HPV subtypes and the outcome of 224 patients with HPV positive who also underwent colposcopy and cervical histopathology. Pearson correlation test was used for correlation analysis, and two-tailed P<0.05 was statistically significant; Pearson chi-square test or continuous correction chi-square test was used to compare the rates between groups, and two-tailed P<0.05 was statistically significant; Chi-square split test was used to compare multiple sample rates. The standard test was corrected according to the number of groups and then compared. The difference was statistically significant when the two-tailed P value was less than the corrected standard test. Results:The overall positive rate of HPV was 16.4% (9 909/60 354). Among all HPV positive patients, affection of single type HPV accounted for 75.5% (7 479/9 909) and affection of multi-type HPV accounted for 24.5% (2 430/9 909). The top six HPV types with infection rates from high to low were: HPV52 22.8% (2 256/9 909), HPV58 11.1% (1 097/9 909), HPV53 10.5% (1 045/9 909), HPV16 9.0% (890/9 909), HPV61 7.8% (774/9 909) and HPV6 7.6% (750/9 909). The difference of overall infection rate between different age groups was statistically significant (χ 2=536.90, P<0.001). The HPV infection rate was the highest in the<25 years old group, 30.1% (978/3 250), and it is higher than the age groups of 25-34 years old, 15.6% (3 035/19 406), group of 35-44 years old, 14.2% (2 464/17 297), group of 45-54 years old, 16.1% (2 115/13 104), group of 55-64 years old, 19.1% (915/4 793) and group of≥65 years old, 16.1% (402/2 504), with statistical significance( P<0.001 respectively). The most common types of HPV infection were type 6, 16.7% (378/2 266) and type 11, 10.5% (239/2 266) in dermatology clinics. The positive rate of HPV16 accounted for 12/17 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 and cervical cancer cases, it was significantly higher than that in the inflammatory cases, 25.0% (35/140) and CIN1 cases, 23.0% (11/48), the statistical values were χ 2=15.02, P<0.001 and χ 2=12.48, P<0.001, respectively, all of which were statistically significant. Conclusions:HPV infection rate is highest in young people under 25 years old. Low-risk HPV6 and 11 are the main types of skin and venereal diseases. Among the total cases, high-risk HPV52, 58 and 53 are the most common types of infection with women in Changsha. However, high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer are more closely related to HPV16 infection.