Objective:To investigate the biological effects of acute high-dose radon exposure on mice.Methods:BALB/c male mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were exposed once in an HD-3 ecological radon chamber with an average radon concentration of 7 × 10 5 Bq/m 3 for 10 h. Mice were weighed, their lung tissues and blood samples were collected at 1, 2 and 3 months after exposure. Control groups were set up at the three time points with four mice in each group. For these mice, the lung tissue pathology was observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining method, routine blood tests were conducted using a hematology analyzer and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and lung tissues were measured using corresponding assay kits. Results:The HE staining result revealed that compared to the control groups, the experimental groups exhibited thickening of alveolar walls and increased infiltration of granulocyte, whose degrees, however, reduced over time and displayed no significant difference at 3 months after exposure. There was no significant difference in body weight or blood routine between the experimental and control groups. The detection result revealed decreased SOD levels in the lung tissues at 2 months after exposure, which were (11.34 ± 1.03) U/mgprot and (9.75 ± 0.71) U/mgprot, respectively for the control and experimental groups ( t = 2.54, P < 0.05). The MDA levels in lung tissue increased at 1 month after exposure, which were(2.30 ± 0.24) and (2.77 ± 0.29) nmol/mgprot, respectively for the control and experimental groups ( t = 2.49, P < 0.05). At 3 months after exposure, the SOD and MDA levels differed insignificantly between the control and experimental groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:After acute high-dose radon exposure, the mice suffered damage to the lung tissue, with changes in their oxidative stress indicators being detected. However, these effects gradually diminished at 3 months after exposure. Additionally, acute high-dose radon exposure did not give rise to significant changes in the body weight or routine blood result of the mice.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of seven patients (four men and three women) with primary hyperoxaluria (PH) type 1 (PH1) in the Department of Nephrology of Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University from January 2018 to October 2023. The mean age at disease onset was 32.1 (range: 26-42) years. The mean age at diagnosis was 40.6 (range: 28-51) years. All patients initially had kidney stones, and three patients were found to have renal insufficiency at the time of disease onset. Among them, two patients underwent hemodialysis immediately. Symptoms at the first visit included bone pain ( n=7), joint pain or deformity ( n=5), fatigue ( n=5), hypotension ( n=3), and subcutaneous nodules ( n=2). Four patients had a family history of PH. All patients had varying degrees of anemia (60-114 g/L), significant hypoalbuminemia (16.5-32.1 g/L), and hypercoagulable state (D-dimer: 2 230-12 781 μg/L). Seven patients received maintenance hemodialysis; their mean age was 37.7 (range: 26-50) years. The mean duration from disease onset to hemodialysis was 5.6 (range: 0-20) years. Five patients repeatedly experienced dialysis access dysfunction. Three patients underwent kidney transplantation before a diagnosis was made, and all transplanted kidneys lost function due to oxalate deposition. The mean follow-up duration was 14.43 (range: 4-38) months. Unfortunately, one patient died. All seven patients underwent computed tomography of the abdomen. All patients suffered skeletal abnormalities, bilateral nephrolithiasis, and nephrocalcinosis. Six patients carried AGXT gene mutations, including four compound heterozygous mutations and two pure homozygous mutations.The mutation sites included: c.823-824dup.AG (p.S275Rfs*38)(exon 8), c.815-816ins.GA (p.S275Rfs*38)(exon 8), c.595G>A (p.G199S) (exon 5), c.32C>G (p.P11R) (exon 1), and c.638C>T (p.A213V)(exon 6). According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines, two loci were identified as likely pathogenic variants, seven were identified as pathogenic variants, and one locus was identified as having uncertain significance. In addition, patients 1 and 4 underwent skin biopsy, patient 2 underwent renal transplant biopsy, and patient 3 underwent bone marrow biopsy. Interestingly, significant oxalate deposition was found in the tissues. Therefore, PH1 is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disease. This study not only enhanced the understanding of the clinical characteristics of PH1 patients but also had great significance in early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, collectively referred to the " Three Highs, " represent increasingly prevalent metabolic risk factors in China. Many individuals experience all three conditions concurrently, significantly heightening the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Although the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has been established for over eight years and has its unique features, the awareness, treatment, and control rates of these diseases in China remain low, and the efficiency of community management is insufficient. According to the previous two editions of management guidelines and the most recent domestic and international diagnostic and treatment guidelines, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the operational experience and management strategies of the MMC. Its aim is to improve the efficiency of grassroots MMC mode management for " Three Highs" patients and ensure that patients receive more standardized management.

Diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, collectively referred to the " Three Highs, " represent increasingly prevalent metabolic risk factors in China. Many individuals experience all three conditions concurrently, significantly heightening the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Although the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has been established for over eight years and has its unique features, the awareness, treatment, and control rates of these diseases in China remain low, and the efficiency of community management is insufficient. According to the previous two editions of management guidelines and the most recent domestic and international diagnostic and treatment guidelines, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the operational experience and management strategies of the MMC. Its aim is to improve the efficiency of grassroots MMC mode management for " Three Highs" patients and ensure that patients receive more standardized management.

The latest epidemiological data suggests that the situation of adult diabetes in China is severe, and metabolic diseases have become significant chronic illnesses that have a serious impact on public health and social development. After more than six years of practice, the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has developed distinctive approaches to manage metabolic patients and has achieved a series of positive outcomes, continuously advancing the standardized diagnosis and treatment model. In order to further improve the efficiency, based on the first edition, the second edition guideline was composed by incorporating experience of the past six years in conjunction with the latest international and domestic guidelines.

Objective    To investigate the morbidity of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients after transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR). Methods    A prospective cohort study enrolled 19 patients who were diagnosed with severe or greater tricuspid regurgitation in West China Hospital from October 11, 2020 to March 1, 2021, and would receive TTVR using LuX-valve for valve replacement. The patients were divided into a PPCs group and a non-PPCs group according to the presence of PPCs. The incidence of PPCs after tricuspid valve intervention between the two groups was compared. Results    Of 19 patients diagnosed with severe or greater tricuspid regurgitation registered in the database, 17 met the inclusion criteria, including 15 females and 2 males, with a mean age of 68.4±8.0 years. PPCs occurred in 9 of 17 (52.9%) patients. At discharge, compared with the non-PPCs group, the PPCs group had a longer postoperative hospital stay [11.0 (10.0, 17.0) d vs. 7.5 (7.0, 8.0) d, P=0.01], longer ICU stay [72.0 (45.5, 95.0) h vs. 20.5 (16.0, 22.8) h, P<0.01], and more hospital cost [74.3 (65.9, 98.3) thousand yuan vs. 52.6 (44.2, 57.4) thousand yuan, P<0.01]. At 30 days of follow-up, the PPCs group was found that the rate of New York Heart Association cardiac function≥class Ⅲ (66.7% vs. 12.5%, P<0.01) was higher, the six-minute walk distance (170.2±169.3 m vs. 377.9±80.5 m, P<0.01) was shorter and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire heart failure score (40.9±31.2 vs. 80.4±5.8, P<0.01) was less than those of the non-PPCs group. Conclusion    PPCs are common in the patients undergoing TTVR and severely affect patients' cardiac function, exercise function and quality-of-life recovery. Proactive preoperative intervention as well as early postoperative rehabilitation management should be provided to those at high risk of PPCs.

Objective:To analyze the serum levels of integrin-associated proteins (CD47) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to explore its association with disease activity and bone destruction in RA.Methods:Serum and clinical data were collected from 65 RA patients and 25 healthy subjects. RA patients were grouped into low, moderate, and high bone erosion groups according to 7-joint ultrasonography score (US7). The levels of serum CD47, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay (ELISA) in patients with RA and healthy subjects. The statistical analysis was carried out with independent t-test, analysis of variance, nonparametric rank sum test, pearson or Spearman correlation and logistic regression. Results:① The Serum levels of CD47, TSP-1, and RANKL were higher in the RA group than in the healthy controls ( P<0.01). ② In RA patients, serum CD47 level was positively correlated with disease course ( r=0.301, P<0.05), C-reactionprotein (CRP)( r=0.316, P<0.05), number of tender joints (TJC) ( r=0.254, P<0.05), number of swollen joints (SJC) ( r=0.316, P<0.05), disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) ( r=0.255, P<0.05), RANKL ( r=0.252, P<0.05) and TSP-1 ( r=0.260, P<0.05). Serum TSP-1 level was positively correlated with CRP ( r=0.299, P<0.05), TJC ( r=0.335, P<0.01), DAS28 ( r=0.315, P<0.05), RANKL ( r=0.305, P<0.05). ③ The disease course [ OR(95% CI)=1.048(1.033, 1.017)] and TSP-1 [ OR(95% CI)=1.013(1.000, 1.026)] were independently relevant factors affecting bone destruction. Conclusion:CD47 levels is significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy controls, and is associated with disease activity and bone destruction. CD47 may be involved in the bone destruction process of RA by acting on TSP-1.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of NOV/CCN3 in regulating the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and its regulatory mechanism and assess the value of CCN3 as a proliferative factor in bone tissue engineering. METHODS: Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were used as the MSC model, in which CCN3 expression was up-regulated and downregulated by transfection with the recombinant adenovirus vectors Ad-CCN3 and Ad-siCCN3, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the changes in cell cycle and apoptosis of the transfected cells. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of the proliferation indicators (PCNA, cyclin E, and cyclin B1) and the apoptosis indicators (Bax and Bcl-2) to assess the effect of modulation of CCN3 expression on MEF proliferation and apoptosis. CCN3 protein secretion by the cells was detected using ELISA. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were employed to analyze the changes in the expressions of Notch1, ligand DLL1, the downstream key proteins or genes (Hey1, P300, H3K9) and MAPK pathway-related proteins ERK1+2 and p-ERK1+2. RESULTS: Flow cytometry showed that compared with the control cells, MEFs transfected with Ad-CCN3 exhibited significantly increased cell proliferation index ( CONCLUSIONS CCN3 over-expression promotes the proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of MEFs possibly by inhibiting the classical Notch signaling pathway and activating the MAPK pathway
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibroblasts ; Mice ; Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein

To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of sodium formononetin-3′-sulphonate (SFS) on collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis in mice, C57 mice were induced with chicken type II collagen to establish a model of rheumatoid arthritis (collagen-induced arthritis, CIA), and were injected intraperitoneally with different doses of SFS (50,100,200 mg/kg). Body weight, food intake and foot swelling of all groups were observed during the experiment.After the treatment, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in the serum were detected with the CBA kit; NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65 (p-p65), TIPE2, PCNP and IκB-α in spleen tissue were determined by Western blot; the organ index, pathological changes of ankle joint cartilage tissue and the positive expression of NF-κB p65 in ankle joint tissue were also observed.The results showed that, compared with the model group, the body weight and food intake of mice in the treatment group increased, while the degree of foot swelling decreased; the expression levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 in serum decreased, while the expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 increased; the expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-p65 and PCNP in spleen tissue decreased, while the expression of TIPE2 and IκB-α protein increased; the index of spleen and thymus of the CIA mice in the treatment group, the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the ankle joint, the destruction of synovial tissue and cartilage, and the positive expression of NF-κB p65 decreased.Among them, the high-dose group of SFS showed a better therapeutic effect.It is suggested that SFS has a therapeutic effect on CIA mice, and the mechanism may be achieved by regulating the NF-κB p65 signaling pathway and inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors.

Objective:To investigate the body composition and sarcopenia in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to analyze the influencing factors.Methods:A total of 220 patients with stable COPD were enrolled in the study from China-Japan Friendship Hospital during July 2018 to December 2019; 220 age and sex-matched healthy subjects (control group 1) and 220 healthy young adults aged 20-40 years (control group 2) were enrolled from the community. The body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance method. The demographic characteristics, disease conditions, living background and other related factors were collected by questionnaire. T test or one-way ANOVA were used for comparison between groups, and non parametric test was used for non normal distribution data.Results:Compared with the control group 1 and control group 2, the body fat rate ( Z=-10.037, t=-8.411), the fat free mass index ( Z=-8.165, t=-7.856), and appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) ( t=-7.158, t=-11.989) were significantly lower in stable COPD patients ( P<0.05). Among 220 patients with stable COPD, 51 (23.2%) were diagnosed as sarcopenia; the prevalence of sarcopenia was 18.3% (24/131) in men and 30.3% (27/89) in women (χ2=4.297, P=0.038). The decreased ASMI and grip strength in COPD patients with sarcopenia were significantly associated with age≥75 (χ2= 15.746, F= 14.048), female sex ( Z=5.805, t=2.672), low income ( Z=-4.291, t=-4.789), Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grade Ⅳ (χ2=22.644, F=3.905), Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale grade 4 (χ2=12.475, F=4.369), not receiving systematic health education ( Z=-4.239, Z=-2.474), no exercise (χ2=14.786, F=3.402), insufficient nutrition intake (χ2=40.531, F=10.529). The range of 6-min walking distance was (110-268) m, that was even shorter for patients with mMRC dyspnea scale grade 4 ( F=3.468, P<0.05). Conclusion:The impairment of body composition is common in COPD patients, which will further affect the body function. It is suggested that the routine evaluation of COPD should include the measurement of body composition.