This study aims to explore the effects of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction(BYD) on the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes(STING) signaling pathway in the mouse model of autoimmune thyroiditis(AIT) and the mechanism of BYD in alleviating the immune injury. Forty-eight NOD.H-2~(h4) mice were assigned into normal, model, low-, medium-, and high-dose BYD, and selenium yeast tablets groups(n=8). Mice of 8 weeks old were treated with 0.05% sodium iodide solution for 8 weeks for the modeling of AIT and then administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 8 weeks before sampling. High performance liquid chromatography was employed to measure the astragaloside Ⅳ content in BYD. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological changes in the mouse thyroid tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPO-Ab), thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb), and interferon-γ(IFN-γ). Flow cytometry was employed to detect the distribution of T cell subsets in the spleen. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of cGAS, STING, TANK-binding kinase 1(TBK1), and interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3). Real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to determine the mRNA and protein levels, respectively, of markers related to the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in the thyroid tissue. The results showed that the content of astragaloside Ⅳ in BYD was(7.06±0.08) mg·mL~(-1). Compared with the normal group, the model group showed disrupted structures of thyroid follicular epithelial cells, massive infiltration of lymphocytes, and elevated levels of TgAb and TPO-Ab. Compared with the model group, the four treatment groups showed intact epithelial cells, reduced lymphocyte infiltration, and lowered levels of TgAb and TPO-Ab. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed increases in the proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells, a decrease in the proportion of Th2 cells, and an increase in the IFN-γ level. Compared with the model group, the four treatment groups presented decreased proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells and lowered levels of IFN-γ, and the medium-dose BYD group showed an increase in the proportion of Th2 cells. Compared with the normal group, the modeling up-regulated the mRNA levels of cGAS, STING, TBK1, and IRF3 and the protein levels of cGAS, p-STING, p-TBK1, and p-IRF3. Compared with the model group, the four treatment groups showed reduced levels of cGAS, STING, TBK1, and IRF3-positive products, down-regulated mRNA levels of cGAS, STING, and TBK1, and down-regulated protein levels of cGAS and p-STING. The high-dose BYD group showed down-regulations in the mRNA level of IRF3 and the protein levels of p-TBK1 and p-IRF3. The above results indicate that BYD can repair the imbalance of T cell subsets, alleviate immune injury, and reduce thyroid lymphocyte infiltration in AIT mice by inhibiting the cGAS-STING signaling pathway.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/metabolism* ; Mice ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Humans ; Female ; Nucleotidyltransferases/metabolism* ; Male ; Disease Models, Animal

Objective:To investigate the effect of pre-treatment plasma Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)DNA copy number on the clinical features and prognosis of patients with adult secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(sHLH).Methods:The clinical characteristics,survival rate,and prognostic factors of 171 patients with adult sHLH treated at Jiangsu Province Hospital from June 2017 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed in this study.Patients were divided into three groups,including the EBV DNA-negative group(＜5.0 × 102 copies/ml),lower EBV-DNA loads group(5.0 × 102-8.51 × 104 copies/ml),and higher EBV-DNA loads group(＞8.51 × 104 copies/ml),according to pre-treatment plasma EBV-DNA copy number.Cox regression model was established for screening prognostic factors.Adult sHLH survival prediction model was constructed and realized through the nomogram based on EBV-DNA load after adjusted the factors affecting survival of etiology and treatment strategy.Concordance index(C-index)and calibration curves were calculated to verify model predictive and discriminatory capacity.Results:Among 171 adult sHLH patients,84 patients were not infected with EBV(EBV DNA-negative group),and 87 with EBV(EBV DNA-positive group,48 lower EBV-DNA loads group and 39 higher EBV-DNA loads group).Consistent elevations in the levels of liver enzymes(ALT and AST),LDH,TG,β2-microglobulin and ferritin across the increasing of EBV-DNA load(all P＜0.05),while the levels of fibrinogen decrease(P＜0.001).The median follow-up time was 52 days(range 20-230 days),and 123 patients died.The overall survival(OS)rate of patients in EBV DNA-positive group was lower than that in EBV DNA-negative group(median OS:40 days vs 118 days,P＜0.001).Higher EBV-DNA loads had worse OS(median OS:24 days vs 45 days vs 118 days,P＜0.0001 for trend)compared to lower EBV-DNA loads and EBV DNA-negative group.Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that higher EBV-DNA loads(P=0.005),fibrinogen≤ 1.5 g/L(P=0.012),ferritin(P=0.041),associated lymphoma(P=0.002),and anti-tumor based strategy(P=0.001)were independent prognostic factors for OS.The C-indexes of 30 day,90 days,365 days survival rate were all greater than 0.8 of the nomogram model and calibration curves provided credibility to their predictive capability.Subgroup analysis showed that patients with higher EBV-DNA loads had a significantly worse prognosis in adult sHLH who were women,ferritin＞5 000 μg/L,β2-microglobulin＞7.4 mmol/L and regardless of age,etiologies,HScore points.Conclusion:The EBV-DNA load is a strong and independent predictor for survival in patients with sHLH.The prognostic nomogram based on EBV-DNA loads was dependable and provides a visual tool for evaluating the survival of adult sHLH.

Systemic application of effective antifungal drugs is the basic treatment for pulmonary mycosis,meanwhile,drug spraying under bronchoscope is one of the most important treatment options for tracheal,bronchial and pulmonary mycosis.Compared with bronchoscopic drug injection,indwelling guided drug injection cannula through nasal suspension with or without anchoring has more advantages in the treatment of pulmonary mycosis,including the ability to connect to a syringe pump for continuous and slow injection of drugs,which can avoid repeatedly performing bronchoscopy.This article describes the standard operating procedure of indwelling nasal cannula with or without anchoring for the treatment of pulmonary mycosis.

Recognizing upper airway obstruction and stenosis is critical to determine the subsequent treatment options in patients with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).Drug-induced sleep endoscopy(DISE)is a 3D visual evaluation technology for the anatomical structure of the upper respiratory tract of OSA patients during"sleeping"state after being anesthetized.The dynamic situation of upper respiratory tract obstruction and collapse can be observed safely and quickly through endoscopy,which provides important reference for formulating surgical methods and positive airway pressure(PAP)intervention treatments.With the assistance of polysomnography(PSG),DISE plays an important role in optimizing individualized treatment plans for OSA.The present article introduces the technical operating points of PSG-assisted drug-induced sleep endoscopic positive airway pressure titration.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of hawthorn leaves flavonoids(HLF)on angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)-induced myocardial hypertrophy.Methods The H9c2 cells were divided into control group(normal culture),model group(100 nmol·L-1 Ang Ⅱ for 24 h),experimental-L,-M,-H groups(received 100 nmol·L-1 Ang Ⅱ for 24 h,then treated with 25,50 and 100 mg·L-1 HLF for 24 h,respectively),anti-miR-NC and anti-miR-21a-5p groups(transfected with anti-miR-NC and anti-miR-21a-5p,then treated with 100 nmol·L-1 Ang Ⅱ for 24 h),miR-NC+high-dose and miR-21a-5p+high-dose group(transfected with miR-NC and miR-21a-5p mimics,then treated with 100 nmol·L-1 Ang Ⅱ for 24 h+100 mg·L-1 HLF for 24 h).The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8.The cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry.The expression levels of miR-21a-5p was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.The expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2(COX2)and prostaglandin E2(PGE2)was measured by Western blot.Results The cell viabilities of control,model group experimental-H groups were 1.03±0.09,0.51±0.05 and 0.93±0.08;cell apoptosis rates were(7.69±0.61)％,(23.04±1.82)％and(9.43±0.71)％;the expression levels of miR-21a-5p were 1.00±0.09,2.43±0.18 and 1.09±0.08;the relative expression levels of COX2 protein were 0.42±0.03,0.85±0.08 and 0.40±0.04;the relative expression levels of PGE2 protein were 0.34±0.03,0.75±0.07 and 0.35±0.03;the differences of above indexes were statistically significant between the model group and the control and experimental-H groups(all P＜0.05).The cell viabilities of anti-miR-NC,anti-miR-21a-5p,miR-NC+high dose and miR-21a-5p+high dose groups were 0.52±0.04,1.12±0.08,0.94±0.09 and 0.57±0.04;the cell apoptosis rates were(23.04±1.82)％,(9.86±0.73)％,(9.47±0.64)％and(24.96±1.94)％;the expression levels of miR-21a-5p were 1.00±0.10,0.43±0.04,1.00±0.09 and 2.12±0.18;the relative expression levels of COX2 protein were 0.86±0.05,0.39±0.04,0.41±0.03 and 0.78±0.07;the relative expression levels of PGE2 protein were 0.74±0.06,0.38±0.07,0.36±0.02 and 0.71±0.05.Compared the anti-miR-21a-5p group with the anti-miR-NC group,compared the miR-21a-5p+high-dose group with the miR-NC+high-dose group,the differences of above indexes were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion HLF can inhibit Ang Ⅱ-induced myocardial hypertrophy by regulating the expression of miR-21a-5p and COX2/PGE2 pathway.

Objective Little is known about the association between whole-blood nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+)levels and nabothian cysts.This study aimed to assess the association between NAD+levels and nabothian cysts in healthy Chinese women. Methods Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between NAD+levels and nabothian cysts. Results The mean age was 43.0±11.5 years,and the mean level of NAD+was 31.3±5.3 μmol/L.Nabothian cysts occurred in 184(27.7%)participants,with single and multiple cysts in 100(15.0%)and 84(12.6%)participants,respectively.The total nabothian cyst prevalence gradually decreased from 37.4%to 21.6%from Q1 to Q4 of NAD+and the prevalence of single and multiple nabothian cysts also decreased across the NAD+quartiles.As compared with the highest NAD+quartile(≥34.4 μmol/L),the adjusted odds ratios with 95%confidence interval of the NAD+Q1 was 1.89(1.14-3.14)for total nabothian cysts.The risk of total and single nabothian cysts linearly decreased with increasing NAD+levels,while the risk of multiple nabothian cysts decreased more rapidly at NAD+levels of 28.0 to 35.0 μmol/L. Conclusion:Low NAD+levels were associated with an increased risk of total and multiple nabothian cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electro-scalp acupuncture （ESA） on the expression of microglial markers CD206 and CD32, as well as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 in the ischemic cortex of rats with ischemic stroke, and to explore the mechanisms of ESA on alleviating inflammatory damage of ischemic stroke. METHODS: Sixty 7-week-old male SD rats were randomly selected, with 15 rats assigned to a sham surgery group. The remaining rats were treated with suture method to establish rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The rats with successful model were randomly divided into a model group, a VitD₃ group, and an ESA group, with 15 rats in each group. In the ESA group, ESA was performed bilaterally at the "top-temporal anterior oblique line" with disperse-dense wave, a frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz, and an intensity of 1 mA. Each session lasted for 30 min, once daily, for a total of 7 days. The VitD₃ group were treated with intragastric administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25-VitD₃) solution (3 ng/100 g), once daily for 7 days. The neurological deficit scores and neurobehavioral scores were assessed before and after the intervention. After the intervention, the brain infarct volume was evaluated using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Immunofluorescence double staining was performed to detect the protein expression of CD32 and CD206 in the ischemic cortex. Western blot analysis was conducted to measure the protein expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 in the ischemic cortex. RESULTS: Compared with the sham surgery group, the model group showed increased neurological deficit scores and neurobehavioral scores (P<0.01), increased brain infarct volume (P<0.01), increased protein expression of CD32, IL-6, and IL-1β in the ischemic cortex (P<0.01), and decreased protein expression of CD206 and IL-10 in the ischemic cortex (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, both the ESA group and the VitD₃ group showed decreased neurological deficit scores and neurobehavioral scores (P<0.01), reduced brain infarct volume (P<0.01), decreased protein expression of CD32, IL-6, and IL-1β in the ischemic cortex (P<0.01), and increased protein expression of CD206 and IL-10 in the ischemic cortex (P<0.01). Compared with the VitD₃ group, the ESA group had lower neurological deficit score (P<0.05), larger brain infarct volume (P< 0.05), and lower protein expression of CD32, CD206, IL-1β, and IL-10 in the ischemic cortex (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION ESA could improve neurological function in MCAO rats, and its mechanism may be related to promoting microglial M1-to-M2 polarization and alleviating inflammatory damage.
Male ; Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ischemic Stroke ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Microglia ; Scalp ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Vitamins ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery

Objective:To investigate the cosmetic effects of botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A) in the prevention and treatment of cicatrix on split-thickness skin graft donor site.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled study was commenced to recruit patients with functional burns and chronic wounds who were repaired with split-thickness skin graft in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Zhongshan People’s Hospital from September 2021 to September 2022. Ten days after wound healing in the donor area of the thigh (about 4 weeks after surgery), the patients were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group was injected with BTX-A solution at the skin donor site by equal interval injection method 1 and 3 months after surgery, 0.1 ml (1 U) was injected at each point, and the interval of each point was 1 cm. The control group was injected with equal amount of normal saline at the skin donor area by equal spacing method 1 and 3 months after operation. The adverse reactions was observed. Follow-up was performed six months after treatment. Evaluation indicators included the doctor’s Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score (including color, vascular distribution, softness and thickness), the visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the patient’s scar pain and itching degree. Both VSS scores and VAS scores were in line with normal distribution, expressed as Mean±SD, and analyzed by independent sample t-test. Results:A total of 60 subjects were recruited, 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. In the experimental group, there were 16 males and 14 females, aged (32.7±5.4) years (18-60 years). In the control group, there were 13 males and 17 females, aged (31.4±4.8) years (18-55 years). There were no significant differences in gender composition and age between the two groups (all P > 0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in the experimental group during and after treatment. At the follow-up six months after treatment, the total score of VSS in the experimental group [(3.57±0.60) points vs. (8.52±0.84) points] and the scores of scar color, vascular distribution, flexibility and thickness[(0.88±0.22) points vs. (2.30±0.52) points; (0.73±0.27) points vs. (2.16±0.40) points; (1.29±0.39) points vs. (2.49±0.39) points; (0.66±0.23) points vs. (1.56±0.34) points] were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.01). The VAS score of scar pain and itching degree in the experimental group was also significantly lower than that in the control group [(1.06±0.34) points vs. (2.92±0.63) points], and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.01). Conclusion:BTX-A injection is safe and effective in preventing and treating cicatrix in the donor area of split-thickness skin graft, and also has a good effect on relieving the pain and itching symptoms of cicatrix patients.

Objective:To investigate the cosmetic effects of botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A) in the prevention and treatment of cicatrix on split-thickness skin graft donor site.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled study was commenced to recruit patients with functional burns and chronic wounds who were repaired with split-thickness skin graft in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Zhongshan People’s Hospital from September 2021 to September 2022. Ten days after wound healing in the donor area of the thigh (about 4 weeks after surgery), the patients were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group was injected with BTX-A solution at the skin donor site by equal interval injection method 1 and 3 months after surgery, 0.1 ml (1 U) was injected at each point, and the interval of each point was 1 cm. The control group was injected with equal amount of normal saline at the skin donor area by equal spacing method 1 and 3 months after operation. The adverse reactions was observed. Follow-up was performed six months after treatment. Evaluation indicators included the doctor’s Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score (including color, vascular distribution, softness and thickness), the visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the patient’s scar pain and itching degree. Both VSS scores and VAS scores were in line with normal distribution, expressed as Mean±SD, and analyzed by independent sample t-test. Results:A total of 60 subjects were recruited, 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. In the experimental group, there were 16 males and 14 females, aged (32.7±5.4) years (18-60 years). In the control group, there were 13 males and 17 females, aged (31.4±4.8) years (18-55 years). There were no significant differences in gender composition and age between the two groups (all P > 0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in the experimental group during and after treatment. At the follow-up six months after treatment, the total score of VSS in the experimental group [(3.57±0.60) points vs. (8.52±0.84) points] and the scores of scar color, vascular distribution, flexibility and thickness[(0.88±0.22) points vs. (2.30±0.52) points; (0.73±0.27) points vs. (2.16±0.40) points; (1.29±0.39) points vs. (2.49±0.39) points; (0.66±0.23) points vs. (1.56±0.34) points] were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.01). The VAS score of scar pain and itching degree in the experimental group was also significantly lower than that in the control group [(1.06±0.34) points vs. (2.92±0.63) points], and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.01). Conclusion:BTX-A injection is safe and effective in preventing and treating cicatrix in the donor area of split-thickness skin graft, and also has a good effect on relieving the pain and itching symptoms of cicatrix patients.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a complication in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The Chinese Children's Cancer Group-ALL-2015 protocol was carried out in China, and epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and risk factors associated with VTE were analyzed. We collected data on VTE in a multi-institutional clinical study of 7640 patients with ALL diagnosed in 20 hospitals from January 2015 to December 2019. First, VTE occurred in 159 (2.08%) patients, including 90 (56.6%) during induction therapy and 108 (67.92%) in the upper extremities. T-ALL had a 1.74-fold increased risk of VTE (95% CI 1.08-2.8, P = 0.022). Septicemia, as an adverse event of ALL treatment, can significantly promote the occurrence of VTE (P < 0.001). Catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) accounted for 75.47% (n = 120); and, symptomatic VTE, 58.49% (n = 93), which was more common in patients aged 12-18 years (P = 0.023), non-CRT patients (P < 0.001), or patients with cerebral thrombosis (P < 0.001). Of the patients with VTE treated with anticoagulation therapy (n = 147), 4.08% (n = 6) had bleeding. The VTE recurrence rate was 5.03% (n = 8). Patients with VTE treated by non-ultrasound-guided venous cannulation (P = 0.02), with residual thrombus (P = 0.006), or with short anticoagulation period (P = 0.026) had high recurrence rates. Thus, preventing repeated venous puncture and appropriately prolonged anticoagulation time can reduce the risk of VTE recurrence.
Humans ; Child ; Venous Thromboembolism/etiology* ; East Asian People ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis/chemically induced* ; China/epidemiology* ; Anticoagulants/adverse effects* ; Recurrence