Background::Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is purported to accurately distinguish uric acid stones from non-uric acid stones. However, whether DECT can accurately discriminate ammonium urate stones from uric acid stones remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether they can be accurately identified by DECT and to develop a radiomics model to assist in distinguishing them.Methods::This research included two steps. For the first purpose to evaluate the accuracy of DECT in the diagnosis of uric acid stones, 178 urolithiasis patients who underwent preoperative DECT between September 2016 and December 2019 were enrolled. For model construction, 93, 40, and 109 eligible urolithiasis patients treated between February 2013 and October 2022 were assigned to the training, internal validation, and external validation sets, respectively. Radiomics features were extracted from non-contrast CT images, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to develop a radiomics signature. Then, a radiomics model incorporating the radiomics signature and clinical predictors was constructed. The performance of the model (discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness) was evaluated.Results::When patients with ammonium urate stones were included in the analysis, the accuracy of DECT in the diagnosis of uric acid stones was significantly decreased. Sixty-two percent of ammonium urate stones were mistakenly diagnosed as uric acid stones by DECT. A radiomics model incorporating the radiomics signature, urine pH value, and urine white blood cell count was constructed. The model achieved good calibration and discrimination {area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC; 95% confidence interval [CI]), 0.944 (0.899–0.989)}, which was internally and externally validated with AUCs of 0.895 (95% CI, 0.796–0.995) and 0.870 (95% CI, 0.769–0.972), respectively. Decision curve analysis revealed the clinical usefulness of the model.Conclusions::DECT cannot accurately differentiate ammonium urate stones from uric acid stones. Our proposed radiomics model can serve as a complementary diagnostic tool for distinguishing them in vivo.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of external application of Piyan Formula in treating epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor(EGFR-TKIs)-related rashes.Methods Sixty cases of EGFR-TKIs-related rash patients were randomly allocated into either a treatment group or a control group.The treatment group received external application of Piyan Formula to the rash area twice daily for 14 days.The control group received external application of fucidic acid cream to the rash area twice daily for 14 days.Changes in rash grading,itching grading,quality of life scores and adverse event were observed and recorded in both groups.At the same time,levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein,interleukin(IL)-6,and IL-1β were measured before treatment and 24 hours after treatment.Results After treatment,the rash severity,itching severity,and quality of life scores were notably lower in the treatment group compared to the control group(P<0.05).The levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein,IL-6,and IL-1β exhibited a significant decrease compared to their pre-treatment values.(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein,IL-6,and IL-1β decreased in the treatment group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).No adverse events related to Piyan Formula or fucidic acid cream occurred during the treatment process.Conclusion External application of Piyan Formula in treating EGFR-TKIs-related rashes shows significant clinical efficacy,can effectively reduce the levels of inflammatory factors,and has high safety,thus warranting clinical promotion.

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of curcumin on oxidative stress in BCG-infected macrophages based on the Nrf2 pathway.Methods:THP-1-derived macrophages were infected.The experiment was divided into control group,BCG group,BCG+curcumin group and BCG+curcumin+ML385 group.Cellular ROS fluorescence intensity were observed under a fluores-cence microscope;Glutathione(GSH)levels were measured by Colorimetry;Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO1;MTT was used to detect the proliferation rate of macrophages.Results:BCG infection significantly enhanced ROS fluorescence intensity,reduced cell GSH content(P<0.01),inhibited protein expressions of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO1,at the same time inhibited cell proliferation(P<0.01);curcumin significantly weakened ROS fluorescence intensity,increased GSH level(P<0.05),promoted Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO1 protein expressions and cell proliferation(P<0.01);Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 reversed the effect of curcumin.Conclusion:Curcumin can alleviate BCG-induced oxidative stress in macrophages by increasing the expression of Nrf2 and inducing the transcription of downstream antioxidant molecules.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the mRNA level of cell proliferation-related genes Twist1, SIRT1, FGF2 and TGF-β3 in placenta mesenchymal stem cells (PA-MSCs), umbilical cord mensenchymals (UC-MSCs) and dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (DP-MSCs). METHODS: The morphology of various passages of PA-MSCs, UC-MSCs and DP-MSCs were observed by microscopy. Proliferation and promoting ability of the three cell lines were detected with the MTT method. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA levels of Twist1, SIRT1, FGF2, TGF-β3. RESULTS: The morphology of UC-MSCs and DP-MSCs was different from that of PA-MSCs. Proliferation ability and promoting ability of the PA-MSCs was superior to that of UC-MSCs and DP-MSCs. In PA-MSCs, expression level of Twist1 and TGF-β3 was the highest and FGF2 was the lowest. SIRT1 was highly expressed in UC-MSCs. With the cell subcultured, different expression levels of Twist1, SIRT1, FGF2, TGF-β3 was observed in PA-MSCs, UC-MSCs and DP-MSCs. CONCLUSION Up-regulated expression of the Twist1, SIRT1 and TGF-β3 genes can promote proliferation of PA-MSCs, UC-MSCs and DP-MSCs, whilst TGF-β3 may inhibit these. The regulatory effect of Twist1, SIRT1, FGF2 and TGF-β3 genes on PA-MSCs, UC-MSCs and DP-MSCs are different.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Cells, Cultured ; Dental Pulp/cytology* ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/genetics* ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology* ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Placenta/cytology* ; Pregnancy ; Sirtuin 1/genetics* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3/genetics* ; Twist-Related Protein 1/genetics* ; Umbilical Cord/cytology*

Objective To observe the clinical characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with hyperuricemia (HUA), and to understand the correlation between AS and HUA, so as to improve the understanding of AS patients with HUA. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out in patients with the diagnosis with AS from November 2012 to August 2016. Patients were divided into two groups based on complicated with and without HUA. The clinical manifestations, inflammatory indicators, imaging manifest-ations, treatment and outcomes of the two groups were statistically analyzed, and the follow-up results of some patients with HUA were analyzed. The chi-square test was used for the counting data. The measurement data in line with the normal distribution were tested by t test, and the measurement data in non-normal distribution were tested by Mann-Whitney U test. Results Three hundred and sixty-two patients with AS were collected, consisting of 288 males (79.6％) and 74 females (20.4％), aged from 14 to 72 years, a course of disease was 3 months to 40 years. There were 87 cases (24.0％) with hyperuricemia, 77 cases were male (88.5％, 21.3％of all AS patients), and 10 were female (11.5％, 2.8％ of all AS patients). Shorter morning stiffness time [(13 ±31) min and (22 ±48) min, Z=-2.231, P=0.026], lower IgM level [(1.4 ±1.3) g/L and (3.0 ±4.3) g/L, Z=-2.040, P=0.041], and lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate [(25±17) mm/1 h and (33±22) mm/1 h, t=-2.617, P=0.007] in the HUA group when compared with patients without HUA. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Four cases (4.6％) had gout arthritis in the group with HUA, all were male, blood uric acid level all>420 μmol/L. There were 7 cases (8.0％) of urolithiasis in the group with HUA, and 24 cases (8.7％) of urolithiasis in the group without HUA, but there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of urolithiasis between the two groups. None developed hypertensive disease, heart disease, nephropathy, or diabetis. Conclusion The incidence of hyperuricemia is high in AS, and with lower disease activity, and fewer complications.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the determination of dendrobine and its metabolites M-250 and M-280 in mice plasma for the first time. METHODS:Mice were given dendrobine 60 mg/kg by intragastric administration,1 h later plasma were collected and treated. Using pseudoephedrine hydrochloride as internal standard and dendrobine reference substance as control, the plasma concentrations of dendrobine and its metabolites M-250 and M-280 were determined by UPLC-MS combined with quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker. The separation was performed on Hypersil Gold C18 column with 0.1％formic acid-acetonitrile(gradient elution)at the flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The column temperature was set at 40℃,and sample size was 5 μL. Heatable electrospray ionization (HESI) source, scan/ESI + were applied and operated in positive ion mode with atomization temperature of 300℃,ion transmission tube temperature of 350℃,the sheath gas velocity of 35 arb,the auxiliary air velocity of 15 arb,the spray voltage of 3.5 kV,the collision voltage of 30,40,50 eV. The mass-to-charge ratio of detection range were 100-1500. RESULTS:The endogenous substances of mice plasma had no interference with the content determination of dendrobine and its metabolites M-250 and M-280. The linear range of dendrobine were 9.13-912.94 ng/mL(r=0.9996). The limit of quantitation was 3.04 ng/mL. RSDs of intra-day and inter-day were all less than 7.5％(n=5 or n=3). The accuracy were 96.8％-107.5％(n=5). Matrix effects were 97.1％-106.0％(RSD=1.8％-4.7％,n=5). RSDs of the content of sample at 15℃ for 24 h,at -70 ℃ after three times freeze-thaw,at -70 ℃ for 15 d were lower than 12.8％ (n=3). The content of dendrobine in plasma sample of mice was (41.3 ± 5.7) ng/mL (n=12). The contents of its metabolites M-250 and M-280 were (493.0 ± 73.1) and (41.4 ± 3.0) ng/mL (n=12) with Relative correction factor of 1.0. CONCLUSIONS: The method is sensitive and accurate,and can be used for content determination of dendrobine and its metabolites M-250 and M-280 in mice plasma.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of 6-month and 12-month oral dual-antiplatelet therapy This work was supported by the National Key Technology Research and Development Program in the Twelfth Five-year Plan of China (2011BAIl1B07) and the Military Clinical Key Technology and Development Program (2010gxjs001)(DAPT) on patients implanted with biodegradable polymer-coated and drug-eluted long stents (BP-DES).Methods In the I-LOVE-IT 2 trial,574 patients implanted with biodegradable polymer-coated and sirolimus-eluted long stent (BP-SES) (total stent length ≥50mm) were randomized to accepting either 6-month (n=270) or 12-month (n=304) DAPT.The primary endpoint of present study was 12-month target lesion failure (TLF),including cardiac death,target vessel myocardial infarction and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization (CI-TLR).The major secondary endpoint was 12-month net adverse clinical events (NACE),including all-causes of death,myocardial infarction,stroke,all revascularization (CI-TLR plus clinically indicated nontarget lesion revascularization) and bleeding.Results For the patients implanted with BP-SES of total stent length≥ 50mm,the total stent length was 73.0 ± 22.5mm and 69.8 ± 19.4mm in the 6-month DAPT group and 12-month group,respectively (P=0.07).No significant difference existed in the incidence of 12-month TLF between 6-month DAPT group and 12-month DAPT group (11.1％ vs.9.2％,P=0.47).The incidence of NACE was similar between the 2 groups (21.9％ vs.19.7％,P=0.57).The incidence of revascularization was lower in 12-month DAPT group (5.6％) than in 6-month DAPT group (11.1％,P=0.01).Furthermore,6-month landmark analysis showed that 12-month DAPT was associated with significantly lower risk of TLF (2.6％ vs.6.3％,P=0.03) at a cost of slightly increased risk of all bleeding events (1.6％ vs.0.7％,Log-rank P=0.32) between 6 and 12-months compared to 6-month DAPT.Conclusions In patients treated with BP-SES of total stent length ≥ 50mm,12-month DAPT have similar impacts on 12-month clinical outcomes except for all revascularization.However,12 months DAPT decreased the incidence of TLF and total revascularization between 6 months to 12 months after PCI.

Objective To investigate therapeutic effect of endoscope?guided bougie dilatation on children with benign esophageal stricture. Methods Data of 71 patients with benign esophageal stricture were retrospective analyzed.Patients were divided into group A (reflux stricture),B (congenital esophageal atresia stricture) and C ( caustic injuries stricture) ,based on different causes. The expansion effectiveness and factors of the three groups were analyzed. Results A total of 885 expansions were performed on 71 patients with the total efficacy rate 94?37%( 67/71) . No statistic differences were shown in expansion effectiveness among the 3 groups; group C ( 14?9 times/case, P < 0?05 ) showed more expansion frequencies than group A (9?1 times/case,P<0?05)and group B(10?7 times/case, P<0?05),more complications than group A(1?22%VS 0,P<0?05) and group B(1?22% VS 0?31%,P<0?05). Conclusion Endoscope?guided bougie dilatation is safe and effective for childrens′ benign esophageal stricture. Caustic injuries, refractory benign esophageal stricture,need more expansions and may be accompanied with more complications.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of secondary unreamed intramedullary nailing following primary external fixation for open tibial shaft fractures.Methods From March 2011 to June 2014,we treated 28 open tibial shaft fractures.They were 17 men and 11 women,aged from 21 to 62 years (average,38.2 years).After thorough debridement,the tibia was stabilized temporarily with external fixation.The wounds were handled with primary closure or secondary repair with skin grafts or tissue flaps.After the wounds healed,the external fixation was replaced by unreamed intramedullary nailing.Fracture union and complications were documented.The clinical efficacy was evaluated at the final follow-ups according to the Johner-Wruhs scoring system.Results All the 28 patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months (average,13.5 months).Bony union was achieved in all after 4 to 15 months (average,4.9 months).Delayed union was observed in 4 cases which were healed after dynamic fixation.There was no deep infection,nail breakage,malunion or limb shortening in any one.Mild knee pain was reported by 5 cases after surgery.According to the Johner-Wruhs criteria,18 cases were excellent,7 good,and 3 moderate,giving an excellent to good rate of 89.3％.Conclusion Primary external fixation and secondary unreamed intramedullary nailing can result in good fracture union with satisfactory biomechanical stability and favorable early rehabilitation in the treatmeut of open tibial shaft fractures.

Objective:To evaluate the anxiety and depression symptoms of burning mouth syndrome (BMS), and to explore risk factors to BMS.Method:In this case-control study,147 patients with BMS and 140 sex-and age-matched healthy volunteers were recruited.Three questionnaires were used to collect information of psychical and mental condition.The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS)were applied to evaluate symptoms of anxiety and depression.The scores of SAS and SDS were statistically analyzed by t-test.The risk factors of BMS were statistically analyzed by Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.Result:The scores of SAS and SDS were higher in the patients with BMS than in the controls [SAS:(44.4 ±9.9)vs. (35.7 ±6.2);SDS:(48.1 ±11.6)vs.(37.5 ±8.9)].The risk factors of BMS included ischemic stroke (OR =4.46,95%CI:1.87 -10.95),low level of education (OR =1.91,95%CI:1.04 -3.49),anxiety symptom (OR =8.12,95%CI:2.60 -25.37)and depression symptom (OR =2.57,95%CI:1.26 -5.27).Conclusion:BMS is a multi-factorial disease.It indicates that ischemic stroke,lower level of education,anxiety symptom and depression symptom are the risk factors of BMS.A positive association could be established between psychological alterations and BMS.According to these findings it can be assumed that mental factors should be taking into account in the etiologyof BMS.It should be advocated to treat BMS patients by psychotherapy.