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In 2022, the European Association for the Study of the Liver issued Clinical practice guidelines on sclerosing cholangitis. With reference to the 2017 edition of Role of endoscopy in primary sclerosing cholangitis: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Clinical Guideline (2017) and in comparison to the corresponding contents in Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of primary sclerosing cholangitis (2021) issued by Chinese Society of Hepatology, Chinese Medical Association, in 2021, this article summarizes the updates in diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and management of special populations and analyzes the basis for updated recommendations and their guiding significance in optimizing the clinical management of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The comparative analysis shows that the new version of the guidelines is similar to the Chinese guidelines in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, and it is worth learning from the technical details such as the recommended dose of ursodeoxycholic acid and long-term follow-up plan. Since PSC is a chronic refractory disease, the drugs recommended by current guidelines cannot delay or reverse disease progression, and there is still a lack of consensus statements on immunotherapy and screening protocols for end-stage complications, which might be the directions for further research.
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Objective:To evaluate the effect of superior cervical ganglion block (SCGB) on cardiac function and nucleotide like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R).Methods:Sixty healthy SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, aged 2-3 months, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (sham group), myocardial I/R group (IR group), myocardial I/R + normal saline group (IR+ NS group), and myocardial I/R + SCGB group (IR+ SCGB group). Myocardial I/R model was developed by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery for 45 min followed by restoration of blood flow in anesthetized aninals. IR+ SCGB group received SCGB (0.25% ropivacaine 0.1 ml) at 10 min before reperfusion once a day for 2 consecutive weeks, while 0.9% sodium chloride was given instead of ropivacaine in IR+ NS group. Blood samples were collected at 24 h and 14 days of reperfusion for determination of serum concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), troponin T (TnT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-1β by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Echocardiography was performed before ischemia and at 14 days of reperfusion, and left ventricular short axis shortening rate (FS), ejection fraction (EF), and cardiac output (CO) were measured. The rats were sacrificed at 14 days of reperfusion and the hearts were taken for determination of the contents of norepinephrine (NE) in myocardial tissues in the infarction area (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), percentage of myocardial fibrosis area (by Masson staining), M1 macrophage marker CD68 + cell count in the infarction area (by immunohistochemical method), and expression of NLRP3 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in myocardial tissues (by Western blot). Results:Compared with Sham group, the serum concentrations of TnT, TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-1β, percentage of myocardial fibrosis area, and NE levels in serum and myocardial tissues were significantly increased, the expression of NLRP3 and GSDMD in myocardial tissues was up-regulated, CD68 + cell count was increased, and EF, CO and FS were decreased in IR group ( P<0.05). Compared with IR group, the serum concentrations of TnT, TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-1β, percentage of myocardial fibrosis area, and NE levels in serum and myocardial tissues were significantly decreased, the expression of NLRP3 and GSDMD in myocardial tissues was down-regulated, CD68 + cell count was decreased, and EF, CO and FS were increased in IR+ SCGB group ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in IR+ NS group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:SCGB can improve the cardiac function in a rat model of myocardial I/R, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 signaling pathway.
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Exosomes (EXOs) are formed by intracellular multivesicular bodies and carry a variety of biomacromolecules such as lipids, proteins, encoding and non-coding RNAs, and mitochondrial DNA. EXOs can be released in vivo by different cell types, including hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and immune cells and play the role of intercellular communication. More and more studies have shown that EXOs are involved in the development, progression, and prognosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and are expected to become potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of HBV-related HCC. This article reviews the role of EXOs in the host infection process of HBV and the importance of EXOs in the development, progression, and prognosis of CHB and HCC, in order to provide new ideas for the basic and clinical research in this field.
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Intestinal flora is closely associated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Recent studies have shown that the imbalance of intestinal flora is associated with the development, progression, and prognosis of CHB, and the environment of intestinal flora may also change with disease progression, suggesting that intestinal flora and CHB interact with each other. This article reviews the influence of intestinal flora on the progression of CHB and related liver diseases and the role of intestinal flora regulation in the diagnosis and treatment of CHB and related liver diseases, in order to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of CHB.
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Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a sulfurated glycosaminoglycan, a major component of the extracellular matrix, widely distributed in skin, cartilage and vascular tissue. CS plays an important role in the physiological state regulation of articular cartilage, which affects tensile strength and elasticity of tissues by influencing aggrecan. Previous studies have shown that CS sulfate modification may be related to the growth and development disorders of cartilage tissue and the occurrence of osteoarticular diseases. At the same time, CS is also a common joint supplement, often used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and Kashin-Beck disease. In this paper, the research progress of CS sulfate modification characteristics in Kashin-Beck disease and osteoarthritis and the application of the preparation in the treatment of Kashin-Beck disease and osteoarthritis are reviewed, aiming to provide help for the investigation of the etiology of Kashin-Beck disease and the treatment of osteoarthritis and Kashin-Beck disease.
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Objective To explore the clinical and serological features of patients with pneumomdiastinum (PNM) and dermatomyositis associated interstitial lung disease (DM-ILD).Methods A total of 145 polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) patients hospitalized in our department from March,2010 to December,2012 were recruited.The sera,clinical and laboratory data were collected.Anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (anti-ARS) and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibodies were detected by RNA-immunoprecipitation (RNA-IP) and ELISA,respectively.Anti-NXP2,anti-TIF1γ,anti-SRP,anti-SAE and antiMi2 antibodies were detected by immunoprecipitation-Western blotting.Variables were compared between DM patients with and without PNM,as well as between DM-ILD patients with and without PNM.Chi square test,Fisher's exact test,t test,Mann-Whitney U test and a multivariate logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis.Results A total of 11 DM patients (10 patients positive for anti-MDA5 and 1 patient positive for anti-Mi2) developed spontaneous PNM.No PM patient developed PNM.No differences of sex,age at the onset of DM,serum ferritin levels and C reactive protein (CRP) levels was observed between DM patients with and without PNM.Compared with DM patients without PNM,DM patients with PNM had significantly higher frequencies of rapidly progressive ILD (RP-ILD) (63.6％ vs 24.4％,x2=7.25,P=0.01),anti-MDA5 antibodies (90.9％ vs 52.4％,x2=5.86,P=0.02),clinically amyopathic DM (CADM) (63.6％ vs 22.0％,x2=8.57,P=0.007) and cutaneous ulcers (36.4％ vs 11％,x2=5.20,P=0.04),but significantly lower creatine kinase (CK) levels [58.5 (30.5,394.3) U/L vs 284 (73.0,917.0) U/L,t=207.5,P=0.04].The logistic multivariate analysis indicated that cutaneous ulcer was the only independent risk factor for the occurrence of PNM in DM [OR=5.98,95％ confidence interval (CI) (1.12,31.98),P=0.037].In the comparisons between DM-ILD patients with and without PNM,a higher frequency of CADM was observed in the PNM group (63.6％ vs 27.9％,x2=5.37,P=0.03),but no significant difference of the frequencies of RP-ILD,anti-MDA5 antibodies,cutaneous ulcers and CK levels was found in these two groups.All patients with PNM were treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.During the follow-up period,6 patients died of respiratory failure.Conclusion Spontaneous PNM is a refractory complication with poor prognosis,and tends to occur in DM patients with RP-ILD,anti-MDA5 antibody,CADM diagnosis and low CK level,especially in patients with cutaneous ulcers.
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BACKGROUND:Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeling can trace the migration of stem cells in vivo, and the fluorescent DiI dye is suitable for marking and tracing cells because of its less influence on cellviability, proliferation and differentiation. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect and safety of SPIO and fluorescent DiI dye to double label bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS:The bilateral lower limbs of rats were isolated sterilely. Bone marrow was obtained by rinsing using low-glucose DMEM. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated by the whole bone marrow adherence method and purified by differential attachment method. Purified cells were dual-labeled with SPIO particle and fluorescent DiI dye. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could be separated at 8-10 days after primary culture and the subculturing cycle was 3-4 days. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could be effectively labeled with SPIO-DiI and the labeling efficiency was almost 100%. Blue irons contained in intracytoplasmatic vesicles could be observed clearly with Prussian blue staining, and the fluorescence microscopy showed red fluorescence at cytoplasm. Survival and apoptosis percentages obtained by MTT analysis were similar among labeled and unlabeled bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells that were both about 95%.These findings indicate that the rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could be efficiently labeled with SPIO-DiI to construct a nano-bioprobe, without significant changes in morphology, viability and proliferation.
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Objective To investigate the clinical features of polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) with anti-nuclear matrix protein (anti-2NXP2) antibodies in Han-Chinese.Methods ImmunoprecipitationWestern Blotting (IP-WB) method was used for screening anti-NXP2 antibodies in 141 adult Han-Chinese patients with PM/DM.The clinical and laboratory data were collected,analyzed and compared with the antiNXP2-positive patients reported in the literature.Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.Results Seven (5％) patients,including 6 with DM and 1 with PM,were identified as anti-NXP2 positive.Consistent with the 114 anti-NXP2-positive patients reported in the literature,Han patients with anti-NXP2 had higher frequencies of weakness,heliotrope rash and Gottron's sign.Compared with anti-NXP2-negative patients,anti-NXP2-positive patients presented significantly higher frequencies of dysphagia [43％(3/7) vs 9％(12/134),x2=8.04,P=0.027] and edema [43％(3/7) vs 2％(3/134),x2=26.94,P=0.001 4],while an absence of PM/DM related cancer was observed in Han patients with anti-NXP2.Conclusion Adult Han-Chinese patients with anti-NXP2 are DM predominant,and are characterized by a high frequencies of edema and dysphagia.