Objective The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze the clinical and imaging characteristics,treatment and prognosis of 13 patients with granulomatous prostatitis(GP),and to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment for GP.Methods The clinical information of 13 GP patients extracted from electronic medical records including demographic characteristic risk factors,clinical symptoms,laboratory findings,imaging findings(ultrasound,CT,MRI,FDG-PET-CT),treatment and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively from January 2018 to August 2023 at our center.Results The average age of 13 patients with GP was(65.69±6.46)years.And the average score of IPSS was(23.40±5.8).Five patients appeared positive results,of which 11 cases received digital rectal examination.The average level of pre-biopsy tPSA was(23.28±44.94)μg/L with fPSA/tPSA ratio of 0.11±0.05 and PSAD of(0.55±1.07)μg/l/mL.The pre-biopsy mean MRI PI-RADS 2.0 was(4.6±0.6)in this group of patients.Extraprostatic invasion was shown on imaging in 4 patients.The average number of biopsy needles was(19.6±3.9),and the pathological results showed tuber-culous granulomas in 2 cases(15.4％)and non-specific granulomatous inflammation in 11 cases(84.6％).Five patients received local treatment of the prostate after pathological confirmation(PVP in 4 cases,TURP in 1 case),2 patients re-ceived anti-tuberculosis therapy,and 3 cases were given antibiotics.Average follow-up was(20.6±11.2)months,and the average tPSA were(6.94±4.96)μg/L at 3-6 months after biopsy and/or surgery,with no obvious signs of malignancy during the follow-up period.Conclusion GP is the great mimicker of prostate cancer clinically and radiologically.Pros-tate biopsy is the method for confirming the diagnosis.For patients who are considering biopsy-free radical prostatectomy,it is important to consider the possibility of GP.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Xinxuetong Oral Liquid in the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods A total of 80 patients with ACS of blood stasis syndrome who were hospitalized in Shunde Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to September 2023 were randomly divided into the treatment group and control group according to random number table method,40 patients in each group.The patients in the two groups were given conventional western medicine treatment including lifestyle guidance,percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI),and conventional western medicine therapy.Additionally,the treatment group was treated with Xinxuetong Oral Liquid.The course of treatment for the two groups covered eight weeks.Before and after treatment the two groups were observed in the changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score,blood stasis syndrome score,angina pectoris score,blood lipid indicators,carotid ultrasonography indicators,echocardiography indicators,and serum levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide(TMAO),nitric oxide(NO),endothelin 1(ET-1),interleukin 8(IL-8),serine/threonine-protein kinase 1(AKT-1),and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A).After treatment,the efficacy on TCM syndrome efficacy and the safety of the regimen in the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)During the trial,there were two cases of loss to follow-up and one case of withdrawal due to pneumonia,and eventually a total of 77 patients completed the full course of treatment,among which 39 patients were in the treatment group and 38 patients were in the control group.(2)After eight weeks of treatment,the total effective rate of the treatment group was 89.74％(35/39),and that of the control group was 63.16％(24/38).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the effective rate of TCM syndrome efficacy in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the scores of TCM symptoms such as chest pain,chest distress,symptom aggravation at night,and palpitation in the two groups,as well as the score of gloomy complexion in the treatment group,were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the decrease of scores of chest distress,symptom aggravation at night,and palpitation in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the blood stasis syndrome score and angina pectoris symptom score of the two groups of patients were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the decrease in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)After treatment,the serum TMAO,ET-1,IL-8,AKT-1,and VEGF-A levels in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the serum NO level was significantly increased compared with that before treatment(P＜0.01).The decrease of serum TMAO,ET-1,IL-8,and AKT-1,VEGF-A levels and the increase of serum NO level in the treatment group were significantly superior to those of the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(6)After treatment,the total cholesterol(TCHO)and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)levels of the two groups(P＜0.01)and the triglyceride(TG)level of the treatment group(P＜0.05)were decreased significantly compared with those before treatment,while the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)level of the treatment group was increased significantly compared with that before treatment(P＜0.01).No obvious changes of TG and HDL-C levels before and after treatment were shown in the control group(P＞0.05).The comparison of blood lipid indicators after treatment between groups showed that there were no statistically significant differences(P＞0.05).(7)After treatment,the carotid ultrasonography indicators of carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)and Crouse score of the carotid plaque in the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(P＜0.01).However,there was no statistical significance in the comparison of the two indicators between the two groups after treatment(P＞0.05).(8)The observation of echocardiography indicators showed that only the post-treatment left ventricular diameter(LVd)of the treatment group was significantly larger than that before treatment(P＜0.05),while no obvious changes of the other echocardiography indicators before and after treatment were shown in the two groups(P＞0.05).The comparison between the groups after treatment also showed no statistically significant differences(P＞0.05).(9)During the treatment,no serious drug-induced adverse reactions or drug-related severe cardiovascular events and complications occurred in the two groups.Conclusion The combination of Xinxuetong Oral Liquid with conventional western medicine treatment exerts certain efficacy and safety on improving the clinical symptoms of patients with ACS of blood stasis syndrome,and its therapeutic mechanism may be related to the improvement of blood lipid levels,inflammatory response,and TMAO level.

Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has gained considerable attention as a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of psoriasis. Unfortunately, the activation of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) by PDT triggers innate and adaptive immune responses, which exacerbate skin inflammation. Herein, we combined glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a natural anti-inflammatory compound and immunomodulator derived from the herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., with PDT actuated by the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) by co-loading them in GA-based lipid nanoparticles coated with a catechol-modified quaternary chitosan salt (GC NPs/QCS-C). GC NPs/QCS-C exhibited high drug loading efficacy, uniform size distribution, an ideal topical adhesive property, enhanced skin retention and penetration in psoriasis-like lesions, and high intracellular uptake in epidermal cells compared with the counterparts. Subsequently, the transdermal administration of GC NPs/QCS-C followed by near-infrared laser radiation in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model significantly ameliorated psoriasis symptoms, promoted the apoptosis of hyperproliferative epidermal cells, and alleviated the inflammatory cascade. The significant therapeutic outcomes of GC NPs/QCS-C were attributed to the synergistic effects of GA and PDT on modulating immune cell recruitment and inhibiting dendritic cell maturation. Our results demonstrated that the topical bio-adhesive nanosystem that combines GA and Ce6 offers a synergistic chemo-phototherapeutic strategy for psoriasis treatment.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), and further explore the relationship of GDF15 with the cardiac and renal prognosis of IgAN patients.Methods:It was a single-center retrospective cohort study. From January 2018 to December 2022, the relevant data were collected from patients who were diagnosed with primary IgAN at the Department of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, and regularly followed up for at least 1 year. Serum samples were collected at admission and the baseline level of serum GDF15 was measured. Based on the median GDF15 level, IgAN patients were categorized into high-level GDF15 group and low-level GDF15 group, and their clinicopathological characteristics were compared. A multiple linear regression model was then constructed to identify independent factors associated with serum GDF15 level based on these comparisons. Subsequently, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to investigate the association between serum GDF15 level and the cardiorenal prognosis of IgAN patients.Results:A total of 104 IgAN patients were included in this study. The serum GDF15 level in these IgAN patients was 825.60 (556.84, 1 428.15) ng/L. Serum GDF15 level was positively correlated with 24 h urinary protein ( r=0.405, P<0.001), negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)( r=-0.606, P<0.001). The serum levels of GDF15 in patients with tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis (overall comparison among T0, T1, and T2, H=21.866, P<0.001), crescentic lesions (overall comparison among C0, C1, and C2, H=13.787, P=0.001), or intrarenal arteriolar lesions (overall comparison among none, mild, and moderate-to-severe, H=9.856, P=0.007) were significantly different. Compared with IgAN patients without tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis, those with Oxford classification T1 ( Z=-17.326, P=0.042) or T2 ( Z=-42.933, P<0.001) had higher serum GDF15 levels. Compared with IgAN patients without crescentic lesions, those with Oxford classification C2 had higher serum GDF15 levels ( Z=-45.929, P=0.001). Compared with IgAN patients without intrarenal arteriolar lesions, those with moderate-to-severe arteriolar sclerosis had higher serum GDF15 levels ( Z=-26.686, P=0.005). The median GDF15 was used as the cut-off value to divide IgAN patients into a high-level GDF15 group (≥825.60 ng/L, n=52) and a low-level GDF15 group (<825.60 ng/L, n=52). Compared to low-level GDF15 group, IgAN patients in high-level GDF15 group presented with a higher proportion of diabetes mellitus ( χ 2=9.420, P=0.002) and cardiovascular disease ( χ 2=7.792, P=0.005), a higher level of systolic blood pressure ( Z=-2.266, P=0.023), body mass index ( Z=-2.183, P=0.031), 24 h urinary protein ( Z=-3.485, P<0.001), blood total cholesterol ( Z=-2.002, P=0.045) and left ventricular mass index ( Z=-2.649, P=0.008), and a lower level of blood albumin ( Z=-3.053, P=0.002) and eGFR ( Z=6.480, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum GDF15 level was independently associated with systolic blood pressure (regression coefficient B=29.453, 95% CI 14.139–44.767, P<0.001), blood albumin ( B=-81.412, 95% CI -113.084–-49.740, P<0.001) and eGFR ( B=-9.797, 95% CI -17.554–-2.040, P=0.014). Moreover, IgAN patients in high-level GDF15 group exhibited significantly poorer cardiac and renal prognosis compared to low-level GDF15 group ( χ 2=9.955, P=0.002). Conclusion:High serum GDF15 level correlates with disease severity in IgAN, and high serum GDF15 level may suggest a poorer cardiorenal prognosis in IgAN patients.

Objective The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze the clinical and imaging characteristics,treatment and prognosis of 13 patients with granulomatous prostatitis(GP),and to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment for GP.Methods The clinical information of 13 GP patients extracted from electronic medical records including demographic characteristic risk factors,clinical symptoms,laboratory findings,imaging findings(ultrasound,CT,MRI,FDG-PET-CT),treatment and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively from January 2018 to August 2023 at our center.Results The average age of 13 patients with GP was(65.69±6.46)years.And the average score of IPSS was(23.40±5.8).Five patients appeared positive results,of which 11 cases received digital rectal examination.The average level of pre-biopsy tPSA was(23.28±44.94)μg/L with fPSA/tPSA ratio of 0.11±0.05 and PSAD of(0.55±1.07)μg/l/mL.The pre-biopsy mean MRI PI-RADS 2.0 was(4.6±0.6)in this group of patients.Extraprostatic invasion was shown on imaging in 4 patients.The average number of biopsy needles was(19.6±3.9),and the pathological results showed tuber-culous granulomas in 2 cases(15.4％)and non-specific granulomatous inflammation in 11 cases(84.6％).Five patients received local treatment of the prostate after pathological confirmation(PVP in 4 cases,TURP in 1 case),2 patients re-ceived anti-tuberculosis therapy,and 3 cases were given antibiotics.Average follow-up was(20.6±11.2)months,and the average tPSA were(6.94±4.96)μg/L at 3-6 months after biopsy and/or surgery,with no obvious signs of malignancy during the follow-up period.Conclusion GP is the great mimicker of prostate cancer clinically and radiologically.Pros-tate biopsy is the method for confirming the diagnosis.For patients who are considering biopsy-free radical prostatectomy,it is important to consider the possibility of GP.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), and further explore the relationship of GDF15 with the cardiac and renal prognosis of IgAN patients.Methods:It was a single-center retrospective cohort study. From January 2018 to December 2022, the relevant data were collected from patients who were diagnosed with primary IgAN at the Department of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, and regularly followed up for at least 1 year. Serum samples were collected at admission and the baseline level of serum GDF15 was measured. Based on the median GDF15 level, IgAN patients were categorized into high-level GDF15 group and low-level GDF15 group, and their clinicopathological characteristics were compared. A multiple linear regression model was then constructed to identify independent factors associated with serum GDF15 level based on these comparisons. Subsequently, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to investigate the association between serum GDF15 level and the cardiorenal prognosis of IgAN patients.Results:A total of 104 IgAN patients were included in this study. The serum GDF15 level in these IgAN patients was 825.60 (556.84, 1 428.15) ng/L. Serum GDF15 level was positively correlated with 24 h urinary protein ( r=0.405, P<0.001), negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)( r=-0.606, P<0.001). The serum levels of GDF15 in patients with tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis (overall comparison among T0, T1, and T2, H=21.866, P<0.001), crescentic lesions (overall comparison among C0, C1, and C2, H=13.787, P=0.001), or intrarenal arteriolar lesions (overall comparison among none, mild, and moderate-to-severe, H=9.856, P=0.007) were significantly different. Compared with IgAN patients without tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis, those with Oxford classification T1 ( Z=-17.326, P=0.042) or T2 ( Z=-42.933, P<0.001) had higher serum GDF15 levels. Compared with IgAN patients without crescentic lesions, those with Oxford classification C2 had higher serum GDF15 levels ( Z=-45.929, P=0.001). Compared with IgAN patients without intrarenal arteriolar lesions, those with moderate-to-severe arteriolar sclerosis had higher serum GDF15 levels ( Z=-26.686, P=0.005). The median GDF15 was used as the cut-off value to divide IgAN patients into a high-level GDF15 group (≥825.60 ng/L, n=52) and a low-level GDF15 group (<825.60 ng/L, n=52). Compared to low-level GDF15 group, IgAN patients in high-level GDF15 group presented with a higher proportion of diabetes mellitus ( χ 2=9.420, P=0.002) and cardiovascular disease ( χ 2=7.792, P=0.005), a higher level of systolic blood pressure ( Z=-2.266, P=0.023), body mass index ( Z=-2.183, P=0.031), 24 h urinary protein ( Z=-3.485, P<0.001), blood total cholesterol ( Z=-2.002, P=0.045) and left ventricular mass index ( Z=-2.649, P=0.008), and a lower level of blood albumin ( Z=-3.053, P=0.002) and eGFR ( Z=6.480, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum GDF15 level was independently associated with systolic blood pressure (regression coefficient B=29.453, 95% CI 14.139–44.767, P<0.001), blood albumin ( B=-81.412, 95% CI -113.084–-49.740, P<0.001) and eGFR ( B=-9.797, 95% CI -17.554–-2.040, P=0.014). Moreover, IgAN patients in high-level GDF15 group exhibited significantly poorer cardiac and renal prognosis compared to low-level GDF15 group ( χ 2=9.955, P=0.002). Conclusion:High serum GDF15 level correlates with disease severity in IgAN, and high serum GDF15 level may suggest a poorer cardiorenal prognosis in IgAN patients.

Objective lo investigate the recovery of urinary function and related influencing factors in patients with stress urinary incontinence(SUI)after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure at the mid-urethra.Methods A total of 112 SUI patients who underwent the tension-free vaginal tape procedure at the mid-urethra in Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from October 2018 to October 2023 were selected as the research subjects.The postoperative urinary function recovery of all patients was recorded.According to the postoperative urinary function recovery time,patients with a recovery time of≤3 days were included in the rapid recovery group,and those with a recovery time of＞3 days were included in the non-rapid recovery group.Clinical data including age,body mass index,menopausal status,vaginal delivery history,number of deliveries,disease severity,comorbid hypertension,diabetes,history of pelvic organ prolapse,maximum urinary flow rate,postoperative urinary retention,preoperative bladder residual urine volume,maximum bladder volume,hemoglobin(Hb)level,white blood cell(WBC)count,red blood cell(RBC)count,and platelet(PLT)count of patients between the two groups were compared.Factors affecting the recovery of urinary function in SUI patients were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Results The recovery time of urinary function in 112 patients with SUI ranged from 1 to 15(4.10±0.78)days.Specifically,64 patients(57.14％)recovered within 3 days,and 48 patients(42.86％)recovered in more than 3 days.The proportions of patients with menopause,history of vaginal delivery,history of pelvic organ prolapse,and postoperative urinary retention in the non-rapid recovery group were significantly higher than those in the rapid recovery group,and the maximum urinary flow rate was significantly lower than that in the rapid recovery group(P＜0.01).There were no significant differences in age,body mass index,number of deliveries,preoperative bladder residual urine volume,maximum bladder volume,Hb level,WBC count,RBC count,PLT count,disease severity,proportion of patients with comorbid hypertension and proportion of patients with diabetes between the two groups(P＞0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that menopause,history of vaginal delivery,history of pelvic organ prolapse,postoperative urinary retention and maximum urinary flow rate were influencing factors for the recovery of urinary function in SUI patients after surgery(P＜0.05).Conclusion The recovery of urinary function in SUI patients after a transvaginal tension-free vaginal tape procedure at mid-urethra is not ideal.Menopause,history of vaginal delivery,history of pelvic organ prolapse,postoperative urinary retention and maximum urinary flow rate are the influencing factors for the recovery of urinary function in SUI patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the positional relationship between protective channel and sural nerve while treating acute Achilles tendon rupture with channel assisted minimally invasive repair (CAMIR) technique based on anatomical observations of cadaver specimens. METHODS: Twelve adult cadaveric lower limb specimens (6 left, 6 right) were utilized. A CAMIR device was implanted at a distance of 4 cm from the proximal end of the specimen to the Achilles tendon insertion. The skin was incised along the tendon's medial side, the sural nerve was dissected, and the positional relationship with the protective channel was observed. The distance from the sural nerve-Achilles tendon intersection to the calcaneal insertion, the vertical distance between protective channel and the calcaneal insertion, and the horizontal distance between the sural nerve and protective channel were measured by using vernier caliper. RESULTS: Anatomical examination demonstrated a variable positional relationship between the sural nerve and protective channel, with the sural nerve positioned above (8 specimens) or below (4 specimens) the protective channel. The distance from the sural nerve-Achilles tendon intersection to the calcaneal insertion was (105.67±14.94) mm, the vertical distance between protective channel and the calcaneal insertion was (93.20±9.57) mm, and the horizontal distance between the sural nerve and protective channel was (0.31±0.14) mm. CONCLUSION The use of CAMIR technique for the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture can effectively avoid iatrogenic injury to the sural nerve.
Humans ; Achilles Tendon/injuries* ; Sural Nerve/anatomy & histology* ; Cadaver ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Tendon Injuries/surgery* ; Rupture/surgery* ; Adult ; Male ; Calcaneus/injuries* ; Female ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*

Cancer stands as one of the predominant causes of mortality globally, necessitating ongoing efforts to develop innovative therapeutics. Historically, natural products have been foundational in the quest for anticancer agents. Bulbocodin D (BD) and Bulbocodin C (BC), two bibenzyls derived from Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, have demonstrated notable in vitro anticancer activity. In human lung cancer A549 cells, the IC_50s for BD and BC were 11.63 and 11.71 μmol·L^-1, respectively. BD triggered apoptosis, as evidenced by an upsurge in Annexin V-positive cells and elevated protein expression of cleaved-PARP in cancer cells. Furthermore, BD and BC markedly inhibited the migratory and invasive potentials of A549 cells. The altered genes identified through RNA-sequencing analysis were integrated into the CMap dataset, suggesting BD's role as a potential signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor. SwissDock and MOE analyses further revealed that both BD and BC exhibited a commendable binding affinity with STAT3. Additionally, a surface plasmon resonance assay confirmed the direct binding affinity between these compounds and STAT3. Notably, treatment with either BD or BC led to a significant reduction in p-STAT3 (Tyr 705) protein levels, regardless of interleukin-6 stimulation in A549 cells. In addition, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was activated after BD or BC treatment. An enhancement in cancer cell mortality was observed upon combined treatment of BD and U0126, the MEK1/2 inhibitor. In conclusion, BD and BC emerge as promising novel STAT3 inhibitors with potential implications in cancer therapy.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry* ; A549 Cells ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation