To test the hypothesis that dermal fibroblasts (DF) are an important source of cytokines which elicit major changes in hepatic synthesis of acute phase reactants(APRs). Metkods: Condi-tioned medium(CM) from human DF challenged with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (I,PS) was collected andIL-10 and IL-6 levels were measured- The ability of DF conditioned medium(fLPS) and dexamethasone(Dex) to mediate an hepatic acute phase response was tested on rat hepatoma H4 cells- Various concentra-tions and combinations of CM (?LPS), recombinant IL-6 (rhIL-6) and Dex were tested for their abilitiesto stimulate albumin, Q,-acid glycoprotein (AGP), a,-antitrypsin (AT) and transferrin mRNA synthesis.Results: LPS stimulated IL-6 production by DF and Dex inhibited this producti0n. IL-6 and CM+LPS in-hibited the production of albumin mRNA,while the expression of AT and AGP 0ccurred 0nly with CM+LPS+Dex. However,IL-6 alone had an inhibitory effect 0n albumin and transferrin mRNA producti0n.Dex maximized the effects 0f lL-6 and CM, and was essential f0r AGP gene expression. C0nclusion: (l)LPS-treated human DF can secrete IL-6, but not IL-101 (2)DF may als0 pr0duce other cyt0kines whichmodulate hepatic pr0tein synthesis during the acute phase response l (3) Dex inhibits IL-6 production byDF, but enhances its ability to stimulate the acute phase response.

Objective To evaluate the effects of compound glycyrrhizin on the percentage of Th17 cells and expression of interleukin(IL)-17A in peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis vulgaris, and to explore their relationship with therapeutic effects. Methods A total of 30 patients with mild to moderate progressive psoriasis vulgaris were randomly and equally divided into two groups:group 1 treated with compound glycyrrhizin injection, antihistamines and topical drugs, group 2 treated with antihistamines and topical drugs. Twelve healthy human subjects served as the control group. Blood samples were collected from the patients 1 day before start of treatment and after 3 weeks of treatment, and from the control group. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)were performed to determine the percentage of Th17 cells and expression level of IL-17A respectively in the peripheral blood samples. Results Before the treatment, the percentage of Th17 cells and expression level of IL-17A were both significantly higher in the two patient groups than in the control group (all P<0.05). After the treatment, group 1 showed significant decreases in the percentage of Th17 cells and expression level of IL-17A compared with those before the treatment (both P<0.05), while no significant differences were observed in group 2 between pre-and posttreatment IL-17A expression level or Th17 cell percentage (both P>0.05). Furthermore, both Th17 cell percentage and IL-17A expression were significantly different between the two patient groups after the treatment (both P< 0.05). Conclusion Compound glycyrrhizin may treat psoriasis vulgaris by regulating Th17 cell percentage and IL-17A expression in peripheral blood.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and technique in laparoscopic cholecystectomy and exploration of common bile duct (CBD) in patients who have previous subtotal gastrectomy.Methods From January 2001 to October 2010,22 patients who had a history of subtotal gastrectomy received laparoscopic cholecystectomy and CBD exploration in our hospital.In addition,these patients received cholangioscopic lithotomy,electrohydraulic lithotripsy,T-tube drainage,or primary suturing of the CBD wound.Results The procedures were completed successfully in 18 patients.In 4 patients,conversion to laparotomy was necessary because of multiple stones in a stenosed CBD (n=1),severely congested CBD wall with edema (n=1),CBD carcinoma associated with impacted stones (n=1) or Mirzzi syndrome (n =1).T tube drainage was employed in 16 patients,and primary suturing in 2 patients at the end of the operation.There was no hemorrhage,biliary leakage or abdominal infection.At a mean follow-up of 13 (range 3 to 60) months there was no residual stone,biliary stenosis or cholangitis.In 3 patients Stone recurred,and another 3 patients were lost to follow-up.Conclusions A history of subtotal gastrectomy is not a contradiction to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and CBD exploration.With choledocoscopy,surgery can be safe and feasible even for patients with previous gastectomy.

The dynamic changes of immunoreactive dynorphin1-13 (ir-Dyn1-13) contents in 18 burned patients were studied by radioimmunoassay. It was found that ir-Dyn began to increase gradually at the onset of burn and remained at a relatively high levels by the time of preliminary wound healing. Plasma ir-Dyn increased gradually after bum and decreased abruptly before death in one severely burned patient who died of respiratory failure at the third week. The results suggest that Dyn may have a protective effect on the burned patients.

Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve accompanied by apoptosis of the retinal ganglion cells, atrophy and depression of the optic nerve, and visual field loss.However, the mechanism of high intraocular pressure and glaucomatous optic neuropathy has not yet been elucidated.Autophagy is a lysosomal degradative process, which eliminates bulk cytoplasmic constituents.In recent years, a large number of studies have shown autophagy to be closely related to the occurrence and development of glaucoma.These studies examined the stress response of ocular tissues to high intraocular pressure, optic nerve protection, optic disc remodeling, immune regulation, abnormal protein removal and scar regulation.This article summarizes the relationship between autophagy and glaucoma, and pays special attention to the progress of research concerning autophagy in the trabecular meshwork, retinal ganglion cells, exfoliation syndrome, and scarring after glaucoma filtering surgery.It will lay a foundation for a deeper understanding of glaucoma pathogenesis and provide a new idea for diagnosing and treating glaucoma in the future.

Objective:To observe the characteristics of early changes in choroidal thickness and choroidal microvascular morphology in the macula of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Thirty-seven patients (37 eyes) who were diagnosed with SLE without obvious ocular symptoms in Hebei General Hospital from January 2022 to July 2022 were enrolled in this study as a SLE group.At the same time, 35 normal adults (35 eyes) matched with age and sex were included as a control group.Swept-source OCT was used to perform a 9 mm×9 mm radial scan of the macular region of subjects to obtain the average choroidal thickness of the macular central concave area, the paracentral concave area (1-3 mm), and the pericentral concave area (3-6 mm). OCTA was used to perform a 3 mm×3 mm scan of the macular region and images of retinal superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) blood flow density, choroidal capillary plexus (CC) blood flow density, and microvascular blood flow in the macular region were obtained and binarized using ImageJ software (Phansalkar method) to calculate the choroidal capillary flow void area (FDa) and percentage of flow deficits (FD%). The study protocol followed the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hebei General Hospital (No.202310). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects.Results:The choroidal thickness of the subfoveal region in SLE group was (268.73±81.67)μm, which was significantly higher than (230.14±68.14) μm of control group ( t=2.170, P=0.033). The blood flow density of SCP, DCP and CC in the macular central zone area of SLE group were (16.58±3.90)%, (14.25±3.15)% and (51.80±4.27)%, respectively, which were significantly lower than (20.55±4.41)%, (16.57±3.74)% and (54.33±3.41)% of control group ( t=-4.043, -2.851, -2.763; all at P<0.05). The FDa and FD% in SLE group were 3.43(3.25, 3.56)mm 2 and 38.11%(36.13%, 39.52%), which were greater than 3.25(3.21, 3.32)mm 2 and 36.11%(35.64%, 36.84%) of control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-3.470, -3.476; both at P<0.05). Conclusions:OCTA can detect an increase in choroidal thickness and a decrease in blood flow density of CC in eyes with SLE without obvious ocular symptoms.

Objectives:To investigate the effect of inhibition of long non-coding RNA(lnc RNA)in human metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(MALAT1)on glycolipitoxicity-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell dysfunction. Methods:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with glucose and palmitic acid in vitro to establish the glycolipitoxic endothelial cell models.Following groups were examined:control group,high-glucose and high-fat group,high-glucose and high-fat + non-targeting RAN control group,high-glucose and high-lipid+MALAT1 siRNA group,and high-glucose and high-lipid+MAPK1 siRNA group.RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of MALAT1 and MAPK1.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of autophagy,mitochondrial fusion division,apoptosis,and pathway-related proteins.Immunofluorescence confocal localization was used to detect the fluorescence colocalization of autophagy and lysosome-related proteins.The number of autophagolysosomes in endothelial cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy.Mitochondrial probe staining was used to detect mitochondrial morphology,immunofluorescence was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)production,flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of cells in each group,cell proliferation and scratch assays were used to detect the proliferation and migration ability of cells in different groups at different time points.The angiogenesis was quantified by counting the number of new blood vessels in each group. Results:Compared with the control group,the expression of lncRNA MALAT1 mRNA and the expression of phosphorylated mito-activated protein kinase 1(p-MAPK1)were upregulated(both P＜0.05)and the expression of phosphorylated mammalian target protein(p-mTOR)was downregulated in the high-glucose and high-fat group and the high-sugar and high-fat control group(all P＜0.01).Compared with the high-glucose and high-fat non-targeting RNA control group,the expressions of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3(LC3)and p62 were downregulated(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),LC3 and lysosome-associated membrane protein 2(LAMP2)protein co-localized positive fluorescence particles were increased(both P＜0.01),number of lysosomes were decreased,the expression of ROS was decreased(P＜0.01),the expression level of mitochondrial fusion protein optic nerve atrophin 1(OPA1)was increased(P＜0.05),the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and BCL-2-related X protein(BAX)were decreased and BCL-2 was increased(all P＜0.05),cell proliferation,migration,and tube-forming ability were increased(all P＜0.01),and the expression of p-MAPK1 was decreased(P＜0.05)and p-mTOR expression was increased(both P＜0.05)in the high-glucose and high-lipid+si-MALAT1 group.Compared with the high-glucose and high-fat non-targeting RNA control group,the expression of p-MAPK1 in endothelial cells was decreased and the expression of p-mTOR was increased in the high-glucose and high-lipid+si-MAPK1 group(both P＜0.01). Conclusions:Inhibition of lncRNA MALAT1 expression can reduce the level of mitophagy in glycolipidotoxic environments,reduce apoptosis of endothelial cells and improve endothelial cell function,which may be related to the regulation of MAPK1/mTOR signaling pathway.

Acute respiratory failure due to acute hypoxemia is the major manifestation in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Rational and effective respiratory support is crucial in the management of COVID-19 patients. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been utilized widely due to its superiority over other non-invasive respiratory support techniques. To avoid HFNC failure and intubation delay, the key issues are proper patients, timely application and improving compliance. It should be noted that elder patients are vulnerable for failed HFNC. We applied HFNC for oxygen therapy in severe and critical ill COVID-19 patients and summarized the following experiences. Firstly, to select the proper size of nasal catheter, to locate it at suitable place, and to confirm the nose and the upper respiratory airway unobstructed. Secondly, an initial ow of 60 L/min and 37℃ should be given immediately for patients with obvious respiratory distress or weak cough ability; otherwise, low-level support should be given first and the level gradually increased. Thirdly, to avoid hypoxia or hypoxemia, the treatment goal of HFNC should be maintained the oxygen saturation (SpO) above 95% for patients without chronic pulmonary disease. Finally, patients should wear a surgical mask during HFNC treatment to reduce the risk of virus transmission through droplets or aerosols.
Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; isolation & purification ; Cannula ; Coronavirus Infections ; therapy ; Humans ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; therapy

Acute respiratory failure due to acute hypoxemia is the major manifestation in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Rational and effective respiratory support is crucial in the management of COVID-19 patients. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been utilized widely due to its superiority over other non-invasive respiratory support techniques. To avoid HFNC failure and intubation delay, the key issues are proper patients, timely application and improving compliance. It should be noted that elder patients are vulnerable for failed HFNC. We applied HFNC for oxygen therapy in severe and critical COVID-19 patients and summarized the following experiences. Firstly, to select the proper size of nasal catheter, to locate it at suitable place, and to confirm the nose and the upper respiratory airway unobstructed. Secondly, an initial flow of 60 L/min and 37℃ should be given immediately for patients with obvious respiratory distress or weak cough ability; otherwise, low-level support should be given first and the level gradually increased. Thirdly, to avoid hypoxia or hypoxemia, the treatment goal of HFNC should be maintained the oxygen saturation (SpO) above 95% for patients without chronic pulmonary disease. Finally, patients should wear a surgical mask during HFNC treatment to reduce the risk of virus transmission through droplets or aerosols.
Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; Cannula ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Masks ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; instrumentation ; standards ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; therapy