OBJECTIVES: To investigate the regulatory effect of LINC00837/miR-671-5p/SERPINE2 functional axis on pathological processes of fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: RA-FLS were transfected with a LINC00837 overexpression plasmid (pcDNA3.1-LINC00837), a LINC00837 interference plasmid (siRNA-LINC00837), or their respective negative control plasmids (pcDNA3.1-NC and siRNA-NC). Dual luciferase was used to verify the targeting relationship between LINC00837 and miR-671-5p and between miR-671-5p and SERPINE2. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of LINC00837, miR-671-5p and SERPINE2 in normal FLS or the transfected cells, whose proliferation and migration abilities were assessed using Edu assay and scratch healing assay and by detecting the expression levels of Ki-67, PCNA, E-cadherin and N-cadherin with Western blotting. The changes in cellular secretion of the inflammatory cytokines (TNF‑α, IL-17, IL-4 and IL-10) were examined using ELISA. RESULTS: Dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that LINC00837 was capable of binding to the 3'-UTR of miR-671-5p, and the latter bound to the 3-UTR of SERPINE2 at specific binding sites between them. Compared with normal FLS, RA-FLS showed significantly increased expressions of LINC00837 and SERPINE2, lowered miR-671-5p expression and enhanced proliferation and migration abilities with increased expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Transfection of RA-FLS with pcDNA-LINC00837 further enhanced cell proliferation and migration and the changes in the inflammatory cytokines, while transfection with si-LINC00837 produced the opposite changes. CONCLUSIONS RA-FLS have a LINC00837/miR-671-5p/SERPINE2 functional axis, which regulates cell proliferation, migration and secretion of inflammatory factors, and interventions targeting LINC00837 may provide a potential strategy to regulate the pathological processes in RA-FLS.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Humans ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Synovial Membrane/pathology* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Synoviocytes/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Transfection

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of serum Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 （AKR1B10） in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） in northern China， and to provide a new and valuable biomarker for the clinical diagnosis of HCC. MethodsThis study was conducted among 102 patients with HCC， 119 patients with benign liver disease， and 132 patients with other malignant tumors who attended The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University and 148 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination from May 2020 to May 2024. ELISA and chemiluminescence were used to measure the serum levels of AKR1B10 and alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）. 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 three groups and further comparison between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The area under the ROC curve （AUC） was used to assess diagnostic efficiency. ResultsThe expression level of AKR1B10 was 3 053.79 （1 475.67‍ ‍—‍ ‍4 605.86） pg/mL in the HCC group， 1 324.42 （659.68‍ ‍—‍ ‍2 023.88） pg/mL in the benign liver disease group， 660.68 （377.56‍ ‍—‍ ‍2 087.77） pg/mL in the other malignant tumor group， and 318.30 （82.73‍ ‍—‍ ‍478.82） pg/mL in the healthy group， with a significant difference between the four groups （H=240.86， P<0.001）， and further comparison between two groups showed that the HCC group had a significantly higher level than the other three groups （all P<0.001）. The ROC curve analysis of the HCC group and the other three groups showed that serum AKR1B10 had an optimal cut-off value of 1 584.97 pg/mL in the diagnosis of HCC， with an AUC of 0.86 （95% confidence interval ［CI］： 0.82‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.90）， a sensitivity of 74.3%， and a specificity of 85.2%. Compared with each indicator alone， a combination of AKR1B10 and AFP could improve the sensitivity （81.8%） and specificity （91.4%） of HCC diagnosis. AKR1B10 had an AUC of 0.84 （95%CI： 0.78‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.90） in the diagnosis of patients with early- or middle-stage HCC， with a sensitivity of 76.2% and a specificity of 81.2%. AKR1B10 had an AUC of 0.85 （95%CI： 0.77‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.92） in the diagnosis of patients with AFP-negative HCC， with a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 79.9%. ConclusionAKR1B10 is a promising serological marker for the diagnosis of HCC， and a combination of AKR1B10 and AFP can improve the detection rate of HCC patients in northern China， especially those with early- or middle-stage HCC and AFP-negative HCC.

Objective Through studying the chemical composition changes before and after the compatibility of Hedysari Radix Paeparata Cum Melle(HRPCM)-vinegar processed Curcumae Rhizoma(VPCR);To discuss the significance of the compatibility of HRPCM and VPCR;To establish the fingerprints before and after their compatibility.Methods ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column was used;acetonitrile-0.01%phosphoric acid water was set as mobile phase,with gradient elution;column temperature was 30℃;detection wavelength was 214 nm;sample injection was 10 μL,which was used to investigate the content difference of major chemical components such as vanillic acid,calycosin-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,ononin,calycosin,onocerin,curdione,cincumol and germacrone,and establish the fingerprint of HRPCM,VPCR and HRPCM-VPCR.Results HPLC chromatographic conditions were established for the determination of 8 components in HRPCM-VPCR.Meanwhile,fingerprints were established before and after the compatibility of HRPCM-VPCR.26 common peaks were identified,among which 11 components such as vanillic acid were derived from HRPCM,14 components such as curcuma zedoariae were derived from VPCR,and 1 component was shared by both.Conclusion The material basis of the compatibility of HRPCM-VPCR differs from that of HRPCM and VPCR.The content of most chemical components decreases while the content of some components increases.The established HPLC method for content determination and fingerprint is simple,stable and reproducible,which can be used to evaluate and control the quality of HRPCM and VPCR.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and prognosis of surgical patients with traumatic epidural hematoma straddling the transverse sinus (TEHSTS).Methods:Clinical data of 4 360 patients with epidural hematoma admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology from January 2010 to April 2024 were collected. Among them, 109 cases (2.5%) were diagnosed with TEHSTS. Based on the rapid progression criteria for posterior fossa epidural hematoma [sudden deterioration of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score within hours (a decrease of ≥1 point in the best motor response and/or a decrease of ≥2 points in GCS score), and progressive enlargement of TEHSTS on repeat CT scan], the timing and method of surgery were determined. Two surgical approaches were compared: combined supratentorial and infratentorial craniotomy (craniotomy group) and modified supratentorial burr-hole drainage (burr-hole group). Clinical data, surgical timing, surgical outcomes, and prognosis were compared between the two groups.Results:There were 57 cases (52.3%) in the craniotomy group and 52 cases (47.7%) in the modified burr-hole group. The proportion of patients presenting with vomiting upon admission was higher in the craniotomy group than in the burr-hole group [77.2%(44/57) vs 59.6%(31/52), P=0.048], and the proportion of patients with linear occipital fractures on CT was also higher in the craniotomy group [91.2%(52/57) vs 75.0%(39/52), P=0.023]. No significant differences were observed in other admission symptoms or CT findings between the two groups (all P>0.05). The GCS score upon admission was significantly lower in the craniotomy group [(11.0±1.0)points] than in the modified burr-hole group [(13.0±1.0)points] ( P<0.05). Four cases in the burr-hole group developed delayed hematomas, including two cases of bilateral delayed epidural hematomas. The preoperative GCS score in the craniotomy group [(9.0±0.5)points] was significantly lower than upon admission [(11.0±1.0)points] ( P<0.05), and the surgical timing was (6.5±1.5)hours after injury. The preoperative GCS score in the burr-hole group [(11.5±0.5)points] was also significantly lower than upon admission [(13.0±1.0)points] ( P<0.05), with surgical timing at (19.5±5.5)hours after injury. Preoperative CT scans showed no significant difference in hematoma volume between the burr-hole group [(35.5±7.5)ml] and the craniotomy group [(36.5±9.5)ml] ( P>0.05). The preoperative GCS score was significantly lower in the craniotomy group than in the burr-hole group ( P<0.05). The GCS scores at 24 hours postoperatively were significantly improved compared to preoperative scores in both groups (all P<0.05). The burr-hole group had significantly shorter operative time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and shorter hospital stay than the craniotomy group (all P<0.01). The incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection was lower in the burr-hole group than in the craniotomy group ( P<0.05). At 3-month follow-up, the rate of good recovery [Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score≥4 points] was significantly higher in the burr-hole group (98.1%) than in the craniotomy group (93.0%) ( P<0.01). Conclusions:TEHSTS should be managed with different surgical approaches based on admission symptoms, GCS score, and the speed of disease progression. The modified burr-hole drainage procedure is convenient, safe, and associated with better prognosis.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular disease,whose early manifestations are vascular intimal hyperplasia and plaque formation,and the late vascular events can be caused by plaque rupture after erosion.In the process of ather-osclerosis,vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC)in the arterial media play a key role in vascular remodeling,and their phe-notype conversion has an important impact on maintaining vascular homeostasis.Due to methodological limitations,the previous understanding of VSMC function is limited;With the rapid development of lineage tracing and single-cell sequen-cing technology,the role of VSMC in atherosclerosis has been deeply explored in recent years.This paper summarizes the emerging research methods of VSMC in recent years,and reviews the literature on the roles and mechanisms of phenotypic switching of VSMC in vascular remodeling.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular disease,whose early manifestations are vascular intimal hyperplasia and plaque formation,and the late vascular events can be caused by plaque rupture after erosion.In the process of ather-osclerosis,vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC)in the arterial media play a key role in vascular remodeling,and their phe-notype conversion has an important impact on maintaining vascular homeostasis.Due to methodological limitations,the previous understanding of VSMC function is limited;With the rapid development of lineage tracing and single-cell sequen-cing technology,the role of VSMC in atherosclerosis has been deeply explored in recent years.This paper summarizes the emerging research methods of VSMC in recent years,and reviews the literature on the roles and mechanisms of phenotypic switching of VSMC in vascular remodeling.

Objective Through studying the chemical composition changes before and after the compatibility of Hedysari Radix Paeparata Cum Melle(HRPCM)-vinegar processed Curcumae Rhizoma(VPCR);To discuss the significance of the compatibility of HRPCM and VPCR;To establish the fingerprints before and after their compatibility.Methods ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column was used;acetonitrile-0.01%phosphoric acid water was set as mobile phase,with gradient elution;column temperature was 30℃;detection wavelength was 214 nm;sample injection was 10 μL,which was used to investigate the content difference of major chemical components such as vanillic acid,calycosin-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,ononin,calycosin,onocerin,curdione,cincumol and germacrone,and establish the fingerprint of HRPCM,VPCR and HRPCM-VPCR.Results HPLC chromatographic conditions were established for the determination of 8 components in HRPCM-VPCR.Meanwhile,fingerprints were established before and after the compatibility of HRPCM-VPCR.26 common peaks were identified,among which 11 components such as vanillic acid were derived from HRPCM,14 components such as curcuma zedoariae were derived from VPCR,and 1 component was shared by both.Conclusion The material basis of the compatibility of HRPCM-VPCR differs from that of HRPCM and VPCR.The content of most chemical components decreases while the content of some components increases.The established HPLC method for content determination and fingerprint is simple,stable and reproducible,which can be used to evaluate and control the quality of HRPCM and VPCR.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and prognosis of surgical patients with traumatic epidural hematoma straddling the transverse sinus (TEHSTS).Methods:Clinical data of 4 360 patients with epidural hematoma admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology from January 2010 to April 2024 were collected. Among them, 109 cases (2.5%) were diagnosed with TEHSTS. Based on the rapid progression criteria for posterior fossa epidural hematoma [sudden deterioration of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score within hours (a decrease of ≥1 point in the best motor response and/or a decrease of ≥2 points in GCS score), and progressive enlargement of TEHSTS on repeat CT scan], the timing and method of surgery were determined. Two surgical approaches were compared: combined supratentorial and infratentorial craniotomy (craniotomy group) and modified supratentorial burr-hole drainage (burr-hole group). Clinical data, surgical timing, surgical outcomes, and prognosis were compared between the two groups.Results:There were 57 cases (52.3%) in the craniotomy group and 52 cases (47.7%) in the modified burr-hole group. The proportion of patients presenting with vomiting upon admission was higher in the craniotomy group than in the burr-hole group [77.2%(44/57) vs 59.6%(31/52), P=0.048], and the proportion of patients with linear occipital fractures on CT was also higher in the craniotomy group [91.2%(52/57) vs 75.0%(39/52), P=0.023]. No significant differences were observed in other admission symptoms or CT findings between the two groups (all P>0.05). The GCS score upon admission was significantly lower in the craniotomy group [(11.0±1.0)points] than in the modified burr-hole group [(13.0±1.0)points] ( P<0.05). Four cases in the burr-hole group developed delayed hematomas, including two cases of bilateral delayed epidural hematomas. The preoperative GCS score in the craniotomy group [(9.0±0.5)points] was significantly lower than upon admission [(11.0±1.0)points] ( P<0.05), and the surgical timing was (6.5±1.5)hours after injury. The preoperative GCS score in the burr-hole group [(11.5±0.5)points] was also significantly lower than upon admission [(13.0±1.0)points] ( P<0.05), with surgical timing at (19.5±5.5)hours after injury. Preoperative CT scans showed no significant difference in hematoma volume between the burr-hole group [(35.5±7.5)ml] and the craniotomy group [(36.5±9.5)ml] ( P>0.05). The preoperative GCS score was significantly lower in the craniotomy group than in the burr-hole group ( P<0.05). The GCS scores at 24 hours postoperatively were significantly improved compared to preoperative scores in both groups (all P<0.05). The burr-hole group had significantly shorter operative time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and shorter hospital stay than the craniotomy group (all P<0.01). The incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection was lower in the burr-hole group than in the craniotomy group ( P<0.05). At 3-month follow-up, the rate of good recovery [Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score≥4 points] was significantly higher in the burr-hole group (98.1%) than in the craniotomy group (93.0%) ( P<0.01). Conclusions:TEHSTS should be managed with different surgical approaches based on admission symptoms, GCS score, and the speed of disease progression. The modified burr-hole drainage procedure is convenient, safe, and associated with better prognosis.

Based upon the experiences of planning and implementation of "Dynamic changes of Torque Teno virus load in Chinese renal transplant recipients with immunosuppressive therapy: A multi-center prospective observational double-blind cohort study", this article explored the current status and major difficulties of investigator-initiated multi-center prospective clinical trials of kidney transplantation in China. Various issues of organization design and implementation process management were discussed for enhancing the quality of implementing the relevant trials.

Objective To explore the value of blood inflammatory load in predicting overall survival of elderly patients with epithelial ovarian cancer(EOC).Methods Elderly patients with EOC were selected,and their clinical data and peripheral blood parameters were collected.We constructed an inflammation-related blood scoring system using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.We used Cox proportional hazards analysis to identify the independent prognostic factors.A nomogram model was constructed based on independent prognostic factors,and the receiver operating characteristic curve,C-index,and calibration curve were used to evaluate the model.Results Patients with high blood inflammatory load had worse prognosis(P=0.002).Compared with the low inflammatory load group,patients with high inflammatory load had later clinical stages and larger ascites volume(P<0.05).Cox regression analysis showed that ACCI,CA125,residual lesions,and blood score were independent factors affecting overall survival(P<0.05).Conclusion The blood inflammatory load is the biomarker for the prognosis of elderly patients with EOC.Scoring the inflammatory load in the blood can assist in efficacy monitoring and treatment intervention of ovarian cancer patients.