OBJECTIVES: To investigate the regulatory role of nucleotide-bound oligomerized domain-like receptor containing pyrin-domain protein 6 (NLRP6) in liver lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Mouse models with high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 16 weeks (n=6) or with methionine choline-deficient diet (MCD) feeding for 8 weeks (n=6) were examined for the development of NAFLD using HE and oil red O staining, and hepatic expressions of NLRP6 were detected with RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. Cultured human hepatocytes (LO2 cells) with adenovirus-mediated NLRP6 overexpression or knock-down were treated with palmitic acid (PA) in the presence or absence of compound C (an AMPK inhibitor), and the changes in cellular lipid metabolism were examined by measuring triglyceride, ATP and β-hydroxybutyrate levels and using oil red staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting. RESULTS: HFD and MCD feeding both resulted in the development of NAFLD in mice, which showed significantly decreased NLRP6 expression in the liver. In PA-treated LO2 cells, NLRP6 overexpression significantly decreased cellular TG content and lipid deposition, while NLRP6 knockdown caused the opposite effects. NLRP6 overexpression in PA-treated LO2 cells also increased mRNA and protein expressions of PGC1A and CPT1A, levels of ATP and β-hydroxybutyrate, and the phosphorylation level of AMPK pathway; the oxidative decomposition of lipids induced by Ad-NLRP6 was inhibited by the use of AMPK inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS NLRP6 overexpression promotes lipid oxidation and decomposition through AMPK/CPT1A/PGC1A to alleviate lipid deposition in hepatocytes.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism* ; Animals ; Hepatocytes/metabolism* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Humans ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase/metabolism* ; Diet, High-Fat ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Signal Transduction

The Yin-Fire theory is the core content of Li Dongyuan's academic thought and has profound and extensive clinical guidance value.This paper analyzes the connotation and background of the Yin-Fire theory,and proposes that the core pathogenesis of Yin-Fire syndrome is qi deficiency without movement,and stagnation turning into fire;qi deficiency without rise,and dampness and turbidity flowing downward;qi deficiency without astringent,and Xiang-Fire rushing upward;qi deficiency and fire hyperactivity,which hurts body fluid and burns blood.This article summarizes the key points of diagnosis and treatment of various diseases by sorting out the commonly used prescriptions and medicines of Yin-Fire theory and its clinical application in miscellaneous internal medicine diseases,and deepens the understanding of the connotation of Yin-Fire syndrome.

AIM:This study aims to examine the ependymin-related protein 1(EPDR1)expression in various tissues from wild-type C57BL/6 mice and type 2 diabetes(db/db)mice.The impact of EPDR1 on lipid accumulation in al-pha mouse liver 12(AML12)hepatocytes was also investigated.METHODS:Western blot was used to detect EPDR1 protein expression in the heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,gastrocnemius,brown adipose and brain tissues of C57BL/6 mice.Western blot and immunohistochemical(IHC)staining were also used to compare EPDR1 protein expression in the liver,gastrocnemius muscle,heart and kidney tissues of db/db and C57BL/6 mice.To develop an AML12 cell lipid deposi-tion model,palmitic acid(PA)+oleic acid(OA)was used,and the cells were transfected with adenovirus overexpressing EPDR1 or treated with exogenous recombinant EPDR1 protein(rEPDR1).ELISA was conducted to determine intracellu-lar triglyceride(TG)content,and oil red O staining was employed to assess the effect of EPDR1 on lipid accumulation in AML12 cells.RESULTS:Western blot and IHC staining results revealed that EPDR1 was widely expressed in various tis-sues of wild-type mice,with the liver exhibiting the highest protein expression level.However,EPDR1 expression was down-regulated in the liver,gastrocnemius muscle,heart and kidney tissues in diabetic db/db mice compared with wild-type mice.Oil red O staining revealed that overexpression of EPDR1 in AML12 liver cells or rEPDR1 treatment led to re-duced lipid accumulation.Furthermore,the TG content significantly decreased compared with the model group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:EPDR1 is expressed in various tissues of wild-type mice,but showed diminished expression in the liver tissues of diabetic mice.Nevertheless,enhancing the expression of EPDR1 can aid in reducing lipid accumula-tion in hepatocytes.These findings provide an experimental foundation for further exploration of the role of EPDR1 in the development of fatty liver in diabetic liver tissue.

Objective To analyze the influencing factors of postoperative subsyndromal delirium in elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery,and to develop a nomogram risk prediction model.Methods A convenience sampling method was used to select 497 elderly patients who underwent abdominal surgery in a tertiary hospital in Sichuan Province from February to October 2022.The risk prediction model and nomograms model were constructed using Logistic regression analysis and R software.The area under the subject's working characteristic curve(AUC)and Hosmer-Lemshow test were used to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the model.Results The results of Logistic regression showed that age(OR=1.066),functional activities(OR=1.143),patient controlled intravenous analgesia(OR=5.811),transanal drainage tube(OR=2.276)and postoperative blood transfusion(OR=4.322)were independent influences on the occurrence of postoperative subsyndromal delirium.The p-values of the prediction model in both the training and validation sets were greater than 0.05;the area under the ROC curves were 0.734 and 0.691;the model was presented in the form of nomogram.Conclusion The prediction model developed in this study has good discrimination and accuracy.It can be used to assist clinical staff in identifying patients at high risk of developing postoperative subsyndromal delirium and provide the reference for developing preventive and intervention measures.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of mucosal vascular pattern (MVP) under narrow-band imaging (NBI) enteroscopy in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in clinical remission for histological healing and clinical recurrence.Methods:A total of 142 patients with UC in clinical remission who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University from January 2018 to January 2021 were included in the study and underwent colonoscopy. The white light and NBI endoscopic images were collected and biopsies were obtained. The Mayo endoscopic score (MES) was calculated based on white light images, and MVP staging was evaluated based on mucosal vascular patterns under NBI. Nancy index (NI) was used to evaluate histological healing and patients were followed up for 1 year. The Spearman correlation coefficients of MES and MVP with histological healing and recurrence were calculated. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted and the area under curve (AUC) was applied to evaluate the accuracy of white light and NBI endoscopy for predicting histological healing of UC in clinical remission.Results:According to the MVP criteria, 47 were defined as clear, 63 blurred, and 32 invisible. Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between MVP under NBI and histological healing ( r=0.549, P<0.001) and a moderate correlation between MES under white light and histological healing ( r=0.462, P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed a moderate correlation between MVP under NBI and clinical recurrence ( r=0.451, P<0.001) and a moderate correlation between MES under white light and clinical recurrence ( r=0.352, P<0.001). AUC of NBI for diagnosing histological healing of UC in clinical remission was 0.809 (95% CI: 0.738-0.879), with a sensitivity of 84.6% (77/91) and specificity of 64.7% (33/51), superior to the white light endoscopy, of which AUC, sensitivity and specificity were 0.763 (95% CI: 0.678-0.848), 81.3% (74/91) and 66.7% (34/51). Conclusion:MVP staging under NBI could predict histological healing of UC patients in clinical remission and is superior to white light endoscopy.

We reported a case of fetus with right atrial isomerism diagnosed by ultrasound prenatally. Right atrial isomerism was suspected based on several kinds of abnormalities detected at 24 gestational weeks by ultrasound imaging, such as levocardia complicated by complex cardiovascular malformations (double outlet of right ventricle, atrioventricular septal defect, pulmonary artery dysplasia, bilateral superior vena cava and infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage), abnormal right-sided stomach bubble, midline liver, suspicious absence of the spleen, juxtaposition of the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava to the left side, and mirror-image right bronchia. Autopsy confirmed all of the prenatal diagnosis with an additional finding of splenic dysplasia. Right atrial isomerism should be considered when ultrasound findings indicate complex cardiovascular malformations. Given the high mortality rate of right atrium isomerism, prenatal diagnosis is of great importance.

Cor triatriatum sinister (CTS) is characterized by the presence of a fibromuscular membrane dividing the left atrium into two chambers. The postero-superior and proximal chamber of CTS receives blood from four pulmonary veins, whereas the antero-inferior and distal chamber (true left atrium) connects to mitral valve and left atrial appendage (LAA). CTS can be classified into two types, complete and partial CTS. We reported a case of fetal autopsy-confirmed complete CTS that had been misdiagnosed as atresia of the common pulmonary vein on prenatal ultrasound. At 25 gestational weeks, fetal sonography revealed that the pulmonary venous angle on the top of the left atrium disappeared and no vertical vein was found around the common pulmonary venous cava formed by bilateral pulmonary veins. Thus, atresia of the common pulmonary venous cava was considered. Fetal autopsy after induction further confirmed the case was complete CTS.

Objective To systematic review the influence of case-based payment on inpatient costs since China′s new medical reform. Methods Studies about inpatient costs before and after the implementation of case-based payment were collected. The literature collected underwent a meta-analysis by RevMan 5. 0. Results A total of 11 articles in compliance were included in the study. The meta-analysis of random effect model showed the overall effect size (SMD) was -1. 54 with 95% CI being -1. 79, -1. 29, showing a significant difference (P<0. 05). The subgroup analysis showed that the overall effect size (MD) in the low-cost disease group was -585. 57 yuan with 95% CI being -750. 34, -420. 80, showing a significant difference (P < 0. 05). The overall effect size (MD) in the high-cost disease group was-4 172.65 yuan with 95% CI being -5 368. 21, -2 977. 10, showing a significant difference ( P <0.05). The funnel plot was approximately symmetrical, suggesting a publication bias as less likely in the study. Conclusions The implementation of case-based payment has reduced the inpatient costs to some extent thanks to China′s new healthcare reform. And the effect in the high-cost disease group was more obvious than that in the low-cost disease group.

Objective To explore the correlation between personality characteristics and psychologi-cal craving in methamphetamine addicts,and to provide theoretical basis and empirical experience for the prevention of relapse. Methods Cattell 16 personality factor questionnaire and drug craving questionnaire were administered to 315 cases of methamphetamine addicts,to understand the personality factor of metham-phetamine addicts,psychological craving for drugs in the period of detoxification. Spearman correlation analy-sis was used to explore the relationship between personality traits and psychological craving. Results Intelli-gence(1. 13±2. 86),stability(4. 57±1. 42),perseverance(3. 39±2. 20),independence (4. 16±1. 39)and self-discipline (4. 81±1. 78)of methamphetamine addicts were significantly lower than the norm (P<0. 01), while the strength(7. 01±1. 96),bravity(6. 83±1. 54),sensitivity(6. 18±1. 81),suspicion(6. 31±2. 08), fantasy(8. 98±1. 32),anxiety(6. 33±2. 00) and tension(6. 21±2. 14) were significantly higher than the norm (P<0. 01). The total average score of craving for methamphetamine addicts was (3. 36±1. 85). The correlation between the total average score of craving and intelligence (r=-0. 201,P<0. 01),stability (r=-0. 275,P<0. 01),constant (r=-0. 184,P<0. 05),dominance (r=0. 269,P<0. 01),bravity ( r=0. 210,P< 0. 01),anxiety (r=0. 259,P<0. 01),independent (r=-0. 254,P<0. 01) were significant. Conclusion -Methamphetamine addicts are significantly different from ordinary people's personality traits, physiological withdrawal period still exists a certain degree of psychological craving for drugs. The stability of personality has a negative predictive effect on craving,while aggressiveness has a positive predictive effect on craving.

We reported a case of trisomy 18 with Abernethy malformation diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound, which was confirmed by chromosome karyotyping after cordocentesis and fetal autopsy. At 24 gestational weeks, fetal sonography revealed a fetus with multiple malformations (cleft lip/cleft palate of left side, left radial dysplasia, hooked hands, bilateral pes valgus, ventricular septal defect, and congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt), which was diagnosed as trisomy 18 syndrome with Abernethy malformation. The fetus's karyotype was 47, XX+18.