1. Recent advances in gene polymorphism of endometriosis
Journal of Medical Postgraduates 2020;33(2):206-209
Endometriosis(EMs), whose pathogenesis is complicatedand is not fully understood, is a common gynecological disease. The association between gene polymorphism and EMs is a hot spot of research for its pathogenesis and pathogenic mechanism, which provides a research basis for detection of susceptible disease loci inhigh-risk groups and the identification and genetic analysis ofdiseases and related genes, and offers more help for EMs patients in clarifying diagnosis at source and improving therapy outcome. This paper reviews the research status of EMs gene polymorphism.
2.Exploring the Protective Effect of Bloodletting Acupuncture at Jing-Well Points on Acute High-Altitude Hypoxia Brain Injury Based on PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway
Mengxin LI ; Chao WANG ; Li TONG ; Yuping SA ; Yanming REN ; Yongping LI
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;25(7):2509-2517
Objective To investigate the protective effect and molecular mechanism of bloodletting acupuncture at Jing-well points on acute high-altitude hypoxia brain injury through regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-mediated mitochondrial autophagy,and to provide an effective target and theoretical basis for the clinical use of bloodletting acupuncture at Jing-well points to prevent and treat acute high-altitude hypoxia brain injury.Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into Control group(n=15)and experimental group,and the experimental group was divided into Model group(n=15),Bloodletting Acupuncture at Jing-well Points of hand group(BAJP group,n=15),Bloodletting Acupuncture at Non-Acupoint group(BANA group,n=15).The low pressure oxygen chamber was depressurized to 6000 m altitude,and the rats in each experimental group were treated with low-pressure hypoxia for 72 h to replicate the acute high-altitude hypoxia brain injury rat model.The rats in the BAJP group were bled according to the order of"Shaoshang"(LU11),"Shangyang"(LI1),"Zhongchong"(PC9),"Guanchong"(SJ1),"Shaochong"(HT9),"Shaoze"(SI1),once a day for 7 days.The rats in the BANA group were bled by cutting the tail tip daily,and the amount of blood bled was 15-20 μL in both groups.The expression levels of PI3K,AKT and mTOR in hippocampal tissues of rats were detected by Western blot;AKT and mTOR mRNA expression levels in hippocampal tissues of rats were detected by PCR.Results Compared with the Control group,the number of degenerative necrotic vertebral cells in CA1 area of hippocampal tissue,swelling of mitochondria,appearance of autophagosomes,and increase of apoptosis in hippocampal tissue of Acute High-altitude Hypoxia(AHH)rats were significantly increased;After bloodletting acupuncture at Jing-well points of hand treatment,various brain injury manifestations in AHH rats were alleviated;Bloodletting acupuncture at non-acupoint had no significant ameliorating effect on AHH rats′ brain injury.Western blot detected a significant decrease in the phosphorylation levels of PI3K,AKT,and mTOR in the hippocampal tissues of AHH rats compared to Control group rats(P<0.01),and the phosphorylation levels of the three molecules were further decreased after bloodletting acupuncture at Jing-well points of hand treatment(P<0.01),and bloodletting acupuncture at non-acupoint treatment did not have significantly affect on the phosphorylation levels of these molecules(P>0.05),and AKT,mTOR mRNA expression levels further demonstrated the above trend.Conclusion Bloodletting acupuncture at Jing-well points of hand can play a protective role against acute high-altitude hypoxia brain injury with points specificity,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to promote the elevated level of mitochondrial autophagy,improve mitochondrial physiology,and enhance the body′s ability to resist apoptosis and hypoxia.
3.Clinical characteristics of hypersensitivity pneumonitis: non-fibrotic and fibrotic subtypes.
Xueying CHEN ; Xiaoyan YANG ; Yanhong REN ; Bingbing XIE ; Sheng XIE ; Ling ZHAO ; Shiyao WANG ; Jing GENG ; Dingyuan JIANG ; Sa LUO ; Jiarui HE ; Shi SHU ; Yinan HU ; Lili ZHU ; Zhen LI ; Xinran ZHANG ; Min LIU ; Huaping DAI
Chinese Medical Journal 2023;136(23):2839-2846
BACKGROUND:
The presence of fibrosis is a criterion for subtype classification in the newly updated hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) guidelines. The present study aimed to summarize differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis of non-fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (NFHP) and fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (FHP) and explore factors associated with the presence of fibrosis.
METHODS:
In this prospective cohort study, patients diagnosed with HP through a multidisciplinary discussion were enrolled. Collected data included demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and radiologic and histopathological features. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore factors related to the presence of fibrosis.
RESULTS:
A total of 202 patients with HP were enrolled, including 87 (43.1%) NFHP patients and 115 (56.9%) FHP patients. Patients with FHP were older and more frequently presented with dyspnea, crackles, and digital clubbing than patients with NFHP. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 153, gastrin-releasing peptide precursor, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, and antigen cytokeratin 21-1, and count of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophils were higher in the FHP group than in the NFHP group. BAL lymphocytosis was present in both groups, but less pronounced in the FHP group. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that older age, <20% of lymphocyte in BAL, and ≥1.75% of eosinophil in BAL were risk factors for the development of FHP. Twelve patients developed adverse outcomes, with a median survival time of 12.5 months, all of whom had FHP.
CONCLUSIONS
Older age, <20% of lymphocyte in BAL, and ≥1.75% of eosinophil in BAL were risk factors associated with the development of FHP. Prognosis of patients with NFHP was better than that of patients with FHP. These results may provide insights into the mechanisms of fibrosis in HP.
Humans
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Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
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Prospective Studies
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Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/diagnosis*
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Fibrosis
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Carbohydrates