Aim To explore the effects of chrysin on endothelial dysfunction induced by acute high glucose.Methods ① The effects of chrysin on normal isolated aortic at contraction induced by PE and on endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose were tested in the following medium: normal group,chrysin group;normal-glucose group: glucose 11mmol·L-1 in Krebs' solution;high-glucose group: glucose 44 mmol·L-1 in Krebs' solution;mannitol group: mannitol 33 mmol·L-1 in Krebs' solution and chrysin group: 44 mmol·L-1 Glu+chrysin 1.0 μmol·L-1 in Krebs' solution.② The effects of chrysin on HUVEC cell viability after incubated in high glucose were observed in the following groups: normal-glucose group: glucose 5.5 mmol·L-1 in culture solution;high-glucose group: glucose 33.3 mmol·L-1 in culture solution;mannitol group: mannitol 27.8 mmol·L-1 in culture solution and chrysin group: chrysin(25,50 μmol·L-1)in culture solution.And the NO release was also testd in these groups.Results ① Chrysin could induce vaso-dilation in a dose-dependent manner at normal glucose.The Emax was(58.94±9.61)％,and the EC50 value was 51.9 μmol·L-1.After incubating the aortic rings with high glucose(44 mmol·L-1)for 4 h,there were significant differences in ACh-induced vascular relaxation between the normal glucose group and the high glucose group.The Emax was(32.12±3.92)％and the EC50 value was 78.0 μmol·L-1 of high glucose group(P<0.01).The endothelium-independent relaxation induced by SNP was not significantly different between the two groups.And chrysin(1.0 μmol·L-1)could reverse the decline of ACh-induced vasorelaxation response induced by high glucose(44 mmol·L-1).The Emax was(70.7±3.87)％and the EC50 value was 0.852 μmol·L-1.② The cell viability of HUVEC was depressed after incubated in high glucose,and chrysin could reverse the decline in a concentration-dependent way.And chrysin in defferent concentrations could increase the cell NO release.Conclusion Chrysin could prevent the acute high glucose-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction and could increase the NO release.

Objective To understand the diagnostic values of procalcitonin (PCT),C-reactive protein (CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),white blood cell (WBC) and neutmphilic granulocyte ratio (NE％) in distinguishing concurrent bacterial infection from idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (ⅡM).Methods Clinical data and laboratory examinations of 118 ⅡM patients were collected.The ⅡM patients were assigned to the bacterial infection group (n=66) or the non-infection group (n=52).The levels of PCT,CRP,ESR,WBC and NE％ were compared by the Mann-Whitney U tests between the two groups and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated in order to evaluate the diagnostic value.Results The levels of PCT (0.06 ng/ml,0.03 ng/ml,U=2.637,P＜0.01);CRP (15.80 mg/L,4.40 mg/L,U=5.944,P＜0.01);ESR (43.50 mm/1 h,27.00 mm/1 h,U=2.266,P＜0.05);WBC (9.85×109/L,7.70×109/L,U=2.675,P＜0.01) and NE％ (80.70％,75.75％,U=2.344,P＜0.01) were significantly higher in the ⅡM patient group with concurrent infection than in the noninfection ⅡM patient group.CRP showed the highest diagnostic value with sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 72.7％,82.7％,84.2％ and 70.5％,respectively.Conclusion The inflammatory biomarkers PCT,CRP,ESR,WBC and NE％ offer diagnostic accuracy in detecting bacterial infection in ⅡM patients.Particularly,CRP is the most sensitive and specific biomarker indetecting bacterial infection in ⅡM patients.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the patients with primary liver cancer complicating cirrhosis portal hypertension.Methods Twenty-two cases of TACE combined with TIPS due to decompensation of liver cancer complicating cirrhosis portal hypertension in this hospital from January 2011 to January 2015 were collected as the combined group and 28 cases of liver cancer complicating cirrhosis portal hypertension treated only by TACE without conducting TIPS were screened out as the control group.The curative effect and prognosis of the two groups were observed.Results The success rate of TIPS was 100％,the preoperative portal pressure was (38.4±7.6) cm H2O and the postoperative portal pressure was (28.4±7.7)cm H2O,the difference was statistically significant (P＜ 0.05);the preoperative portal vein diameter was (16.2 ±2.5)mm and postoperative portal vein diameter was (13.3±1.8)mm,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The postoperative 1-year stent patency rate was 95％ and 2-year stent patency rate was 90％.The postoperative 1-year and 2-year re-bleeding rates in the control group were 60.7 ％ and 78.5 ％ respectively,which in the combined group were 9.1％ and 13.6 ％ respectively,the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).The 1-year accumulated survival rate in the combined group was 81％,2-year accumulated survival rate was 68％,and the median survival time was 53 months,while the 1-year accumulated survival rate in the control group was 78 ％,2-year accumulated survival rate was 15 ％,and the median survival time was 17 months,the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Conducting TACE combined with TIPS in the patients with primary liver cancer complicating cirrhosis portal hypertension can safely and effectively control the tumor development,reduce and even eliminate the portal hypertension syndrome,and increase the life quality and survival rate.

Objective To reveal the early elastic dysfunction of common carotid artery may have occurred in systemic lupus erythematosus( SLE) patients ,the circumferential strain parameters of common carotid artery intima in SLE patients at different serum complement levels were quantitatively evaluated by layer-specific strain imaging . Methods Seventy-two patients suffered from SLE without evidence of atherosclerosis were enrolled ,and the results of laboratory examination of serum complement C 3 in patients with SLE were recorded in detail ,49 cases of SLE patients whose serum C3 was lower than the normal reference range(SLE C3+ group) ,23 cases of SLE patients whose serum C3 was in the range of normal reference value(SLE C3 - group) . And a matched healthy control group ( n =38) were selected . Carotid ultrasound were performed in all three groups ,and the common carotid artery conventional parameters ,such as common carotid artery intima-media thickness ( CCA-IM T ) ,peak systolic velocity ( PSV ) ,end-diastolic velocity(EDV) ,resistance index(RI) and circumferential strain related parameters ,such as circumferential strain of common carotid artery intima(CSendo) and circumferential strain rate(CSr) were measured and derived.Therelatedparametersamongthosegroupswerecomparedfordifference.Results ①Therewas no significant difference in RI among the three groups(all P >0 .05) . The values of CCA-IMT in the SLE C3+ group and SLE C3- group were larger than that in the control group( all P <0 .05) . ②The values of CSendo and CSr in the SLE C3+ group and SLE C3 - group were lower than those in the control group ,the values of SLE C3+ group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P <0 .001) ,and there was no significant difference between the SLE C3- group and control group( P >0 .05) . ③The CSendo and CSr in the SLE C3+ group were lower than those in the SLE C3- group(all P < 0 .05) . Conclusions CSendo which is provided by new ultrasonic technology of layer-specific strain combined with recent changes in serum complement C3 may provide visual evidence for assessing early elastic disfunction of carotid intima in SLE patients .

Objective:To analyze the trend relevant factors leading to death and their patterns over a 10-year period in inpatients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs).Methods:All clinical data about death in inpatients with CTDs were retrospectively reviewed between 2005 and 2014 at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University.Results:In the 10-year time period,the overall hospital mortality was 15.689‰.The disease itself accounted for 44.71% of the total causes of death,infection accounted for 42.94%,and comorbidities accounted for 12.35%.The constituent ratio of deaths and the average hospital mortality caused by the disease itself declined gradually year by year,and the constituent ratio of deaths caused by infection and comorbidities increased gradually year by year (P<0.05).In 2013-2014,infection was the leading cause of death,which accounted for 51.06%.The survival time for CTDs inpatients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) was shorter than that of CTDs inpatients without ILD,and even the risk of death was 1.722 times of the latter.The proportion of deaths caused by the disease itself was the highest in systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus,that by infection was the highest in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM),and that by comorbidities was the highest in rheumatoid arthritis.Conclusion:The proportion of deaths and the hospital mortality in CTDs inpatients caused by the disease itself show a declining trend,while the proportion of deaths caused by infection and comorbidities increase.CTDs patients with ILD have shorter survival time and an increase in risk of death.

Objective:To observe the impact of core stability training in the sling exercise therapy pattern on the balance of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group ( n=30) and an experimental group ( n=30). In addition to routine rehabilitation training, the control group received traditional core stability training, while the experimental group underwent core stability training applying the sling exercise therapy pattern. Before and after 4 weeks of training, the standing balance of both groups was evaluated using the Prokin balance trainer, with the length and area of motion recorded when performing the balance test with the eyes open and closed. Surface electromyography was used to record the average EMG (AEMG) values of the bilateral erector spinae and multifidus muscles during the balance testing. Results:After the 4 weeks of training the length and the area of progression of the center of the pressure were both significantly smaller for both groups than before the training with the eyes both open and closed. The average length and area in the experimental group were significantly less than among the controls. The AEMG values recorded during the balance tests were significantly higher than those before the intervention for both groups, with the multifidus muscle averages on the affected side significantly greater in the experimental group than among the controls when performing the balance test with the eyes closed.Conclusion:Core stability training in the sling exercise therapy pattern is superior to conventional core stability training because it can better improve the balance of stroke survivors.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) combined with hyponatremia in Southern China and its risk factors for prognosis.Methods:The retrospective cohort study involved patients who met the diagnostic criteria of GBS from 18 upper first-class hospitals of 6 provinces/cities in southern China (south of Huaihe River) from January 1, 2013 to September 30, 2016. The clinical data of these patients were collected. According to serum sodium levels, they were divided into hyponatremia group (serum sodium concentration<135 mmol/L) and normal serum sodium group (serum sodium concentrations≥135 mmol/L). Based on Medical Research Coucil sum scores at nadir, these patients were divided into mild GBS group (>40), moderate GBS group (30-40), and severe GBS group (<30). Furthermore, according to the Hughes GBS disability scale (H-GBS-DS) scores at discharge, these GBS patients with hyponatremia were divided into favorable prognosis group (H-GBS-DS<3) and poor prognosis group (H-GBS-DS≥3). The incidence of hyponatremia in patients from the mild GBS group, moderate GBS group, and severe GBS group were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the clinical risk factors for hyponatremia in GBS patients. The clinical data of hyponatremia patients from favorable prognosis group and poor prognosis group were compared; multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for poor prognosis in GBS patients with hyponatremia.Results:(1) Among the 570 patients, 354 had mild GBS, 94 had moderate GBS, and 122 had severe GBS; 134 GBS patients were combined with hyponatremia, 436 GBS patients had normal serum sodium. The hyponatremia incidence in mild, moderate and severe GBS groups increased successively, ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that facial paralysis ( OR=1.979, 95%CI: 1.172-3.342, P=0.011), respiratory muscle paralysis ( OR=3.218, 95%CI: 1.611-6.428, P=0.001), secondary pulmonary infection ( OR=4.822, 95%CI: 2.835-8.201, P=0.000), severe GBS ( OR=2.611, 95%CI: 1.444-4.721, P=0.001) and length of hospital stay ( OR=1.029, 95%CI: 1.009-1.050, P=0.004) were risk factors for hyponatremia in GBS patients. (2) Among 134 GBS patients with hyponatremia, 80 had poor prognosis and 54 had favorable prognosis. As compared with the favorable group, the poor prognosis group had significantly lower proportion of patients with extraocular muscle paralysis, statistically higher proportions of patients with respiratory muscle paralysis and secondary pulmonary infection, significantly different severities of GBS, signficantly higher proportion of patients accepted intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and hormone treatments, statistically longer length of hospital stay ( P<0.05). Respiratory muscle paralysis ( OR=25.590, 95%CI: 9.433-69.423, P=0.000), moderate GBS ( OR=17.030, 95%CI: 8.441-34.361, P=0.000), and severe GBS ( OR=51.042, 95%CI: 24.596-105.926, P=0.000) were independent risk factors for poor short-term prognosis of GBS patients with hyponatremia. Conclusions:Severe GBS patients with facial paralysis, respiratory muscle palsy, secondary pulmonary infection, and long hospital stay trend to have hyponatremia. Hyponatremia patients with respiratory muscle paralysis and moderate/severe GBS have poor short-term prognosis.

Objective:To understand intensive care unit(ICU)doctors'opinions and suggestions on implementing palliative care,and provides a reference basis for the implementation of palliative care in Chinese ICU.Methods:A purposive sampling technique was used to conduct one-on-one semi-structured interviews with 11 ICU doctors.Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis method was utilized to code,classify,interpret,and comprehensively analyze the interview data.Results:A total of 4 themes and 18 sub-themes was extracted,including cognitive biases toward palliative care,the belief that implementing palliative care in the ICU has significant humanistic implications(palliative care practice is the most perfect embodiment of medical humanities,palliative care in the ICU can alleviate patient pain and reduce invasive operations,palliative care can achieve comfortable care for ICU patients,palliative care focuses on maintaining the dignity of ICU patients,palliative care can pay attention to the inner voice of ICU patients,and implementing palliative care will help to more effectively allocate resources),difficulties faced by ICU in carrying out palliative care(lack of clarity in relevant policies at the legal level,closed management environment in the ICU,insufficient manpower in the ICU and lack of palliative care professional team,inadequate understanding of ICU patients'families,lack of death education,not included in medical insurance payments,and lack of communication skills of young doctors),strategies to promote the development of palliative care in the ICU(ICU palliative care can be piloted first,the development of ICU palliative care screening tools will help with the development of palliative care,the palliative environment and the handling of death procedures can be further optimized,and the application and implementation of scientific methods to shorten the gap between evidence and practice of palliative care).Conclusions:The integration of palliative care and ICU in China is still blank.The significance of implementing palliative care in ICU should be emphasized,ICU doctors'knowledge and skills of palliative care should be improved from multiple perspectives,patient preference should be emphasized to improve the knowledge and acceptance of palliative care of ICU patients'families,and the promotion of palliative care in ICU clinical practice should be pioneered and piloted.

Objective:To analyze the genetic evolution and molecular characteristics of H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) isolated in a live poultry market.Methods:Samples such as poultry feces, sewage, and hair removal machine and chopping board swabs were collected. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect influenza A virus and H7N9 AIV in the samples. The whole genome of H7N9 AIV was amplified with influenza A virus universal primers and sequenced. BLAST and MEGA X were used for sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis and molecular characterization.Results:Seven poultry-related environment samples were collected in the live poultry market in Xuchang city in February 2023, and four were positive for H7N9 AIV. The whole genome sequences of three H7N9 AIV isolates were successfully obtained, and the isolates shared high nucleotide identity in different genes (98.37%-100.00%). BLAST analysis showed they were highly identical to H7N9 strains isolated from domestic poultry in China from 2020 to 2021. Genetic evolution analysis showed that the three isolates clustered in the same branch and were closer to the recent environmental isolates than to the recent strains isolated from human or avian. Through comparison with the sequences of the representative strains in different periods, it was found that the isolated strains in this study showed high avian pathogenicity with four amino acids KRAA inserted at the cleavage site; the hemagglutinin receptor-binding site was QSG, which was an avian binding receptor; there was a G186I mutation in hemagglutinin. Mammalian-adaptive mutation E627K was not detected in polymerase basic protein 2. Mutations (R292K and I38T) associated with drug resistance to neuraminidase inhibitor (oseltamivir) and polymerase acidic protein inhibitor (baloshavir) were not detected, suggesting that these isolates remained susceptible to these drugs. A S31N mutation was found in M2 protein, indicating they were resistant to alkamines.Conclusions:The three H7N9 AIV strains isolated in the live poultry market have high avian pathogenicity, but there are no significant increase in mutations related to the binding ability to human receptors, mammalian pathogenicity, viral transmissibility, or drug resistance as compared with previous representative strains causing human or avian infection.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with interstitial lung disease (ILD), and to analyze the effects of DNA methylation on Wnt/β-catenin and chemokine signaling pathways. METHODS: PBMCs were collected from 19 patients with SSc (SSc group) and 18 healthy persons (control group). Among SSc patients, there were 10 patients with ILD (SSc with ILD subgroup) and 9 patients without ILD (SSc without ILD subgroup). The genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression level were analyzed by using Illumina 450K methylation chip and Illumina HT-12 v4.0 gene expression profiling chip. The effect of DNA methylation on Wnt/β-catenin and chemokine signal pathways was investigated. RESULTS: Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis identified 71 hypermethylated CpG sites and 98 hypomethylated CpG sites in the SSc with ILD subgroup compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup. Transcriptome analysis distinguished 164 upregulated genes and 191 downregulated genes in the SSc with ILD subgroup as compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup. In PBMCs of the SSc group, 35 genes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were hypomethylated, while frizzled-1 (FZD1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 9 (MAPK9), mothers against DPP homolog 2 (SMAD2), transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), and wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 5B (WNT5B) mRNA expressions were upregulated as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup, the mRNA expressions of dickkopf homolog 2 (DKK2), FZD1, MAPK9 were upregulated in the SSc with ILD subgroup, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). In PBMCs of the SSc group, 38 genes in chemokine signaling pathway were hypomethylated, while β-arrestin 1 (ARRB1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), FGR, and neutrophil cytosolic factor 1C (NCF1C) mRNA expressions were upregulated as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup, the mRNA expressions of ARRB1, CXCL10, CXCL16 were upregulated in the SSc with ILD subgroup, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS There are differences in DNA methylation and transcriptome profiles between SSc with ILD and SSc without ILD. The expression levels of multiple genes in Wnt/β- catenin and chemokine signaling pathways are upregulated, which might be associatea with the pathogenesis of SSc.
Humans ; DNA Methylation ; Transcriptome ; beta Catenin ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Ligands ; DNA ; RNA, Messenger/genetics*