Background and purpose:Differentiation of tumor tissue is an important factor on determining the prognosis of gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the expression levels and clinical signiifcance of gender determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) gene and octamer binding factor 4 (OCT4) gene in gastric cancer tissues varying different differentiation degrees. Methods: Sixty cases with gastric cancer were recruited in this study. The gastric cancer tissues and corresponding normal mucosa of the 60 cases were obtained. The mRNA and protein level of SOX2, OCT4 gene are evaluated by the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The relationship between the expression levels of SOX2, OCT4 gene and clinical pathological parameters were also analyzed in this study. Results:The expression of SOX2 in both mRNA and protein levels had no signiifcant difference between the well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosa (mRNA levels:t=0.1033, P>0.05;protein levels:t=0.116, P>0.05). However, both the mRNA and protein expression of SOX2 in patients with well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues were signiifcant higher than not only in patients with moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma (mRNA levels: t=12.48, P<0.05; protein levels: t=22.78, P<0.05) but also in patients with than poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (mRNA levels:t=17.56, P<0.05;protein levels:t=30.00, P<0.05). In contrast to SOX2, both the mRNA and protein expression of OCT4 in patients with well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues were signiifcant lower than not only in patients with moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma (mRNA levels:t=13.23, P<0.05; protein levels: t=25.56, P<0.05) but also in patients with poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (mRNA levels: t=12.10, P<0.05; protein levels: t=69.48, P<0.05). There was no significance of OCT4 mRNA and protein expression between the well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosa (mRNA levels:t=2.436, P>0.05;protein levels:t=1.064, P>0.05). Immunohistochemical study demonstrated that the positive rate of SOX2 in patients with well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues (10/21) were higher than in patients with not only moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma (7/20) but also poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (2/19, P<0.05), while the positive rate of OCT4 in cases with well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues (2/21) were lower than in cases with not only moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma (6/20) but also the poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (12/19, P<0.05). There was no correlation between the expression of SOX2, OCT4 in gastric cancer and gender or age (P>0.05). Nevertheless, the expression of SOX2, OCT4 were positive or negative correlated with the pathological staging, the degree of inifltration and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Conclusion:Decreased SOX2 expression and increased expression level of OCT4 can promote the formation, development and invasion of gastric cancer and they may become biomarkers or the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis evaluation in gastric carcinoma.

MicroRNA (miRNA) is an endogenous, non-coding single-stranded RNA that regulates a variety of signal pathways or cytokines.Recent studies have confirmed that miRNA can affect alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization in bone formation, and plays an important role in osteogenic differentiation and cartilage differentiation.Abnormalities in the osteogenesis process can lead to osteogenesis imperfecta, Feingold syndrome, and femoral head necrosis.This review summarizes the specific mechanism of osteogenic differentiation and cartilage differentiation regulated by miRNA, suggesting the new clue for the future research about the underlying mechanism of bone development and clinical treatment of bone dysplasia from epigenetics.

Objective:To investigate the incidence, drug sensitivity and drug resistance characteristies, and theraputic effect of staphylococcal peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP), aim to provide clinical evidences for standardizing treatment therapy of staphylococcal PDAP. Methods:Clinical data of PDAP patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Jilin University, the First Hospital of Jilin University-the Eastern Division, Jilin Central Hospital and Jilin First Automobile Work General Hospital during January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2019 were retrospectively collected. The results of etiology, drug sensitivity and drug resistance of staphylococcal PDAP patients were collected. According to the pathogenic bacteria, patients were divided into staphylococcus aureus group ( n=48) and coagulase-negative staphylococcus group ( n=232). According to the results of methicillin resistance, patients were divided into drug-resistant group ( n=71) and drug-sensitive group ( n=30). The prognosis of antibiotic therapy in each group were compared. Poisson regression was used to test the changing trend of the incidence of staphylococcal PDAP. The changes of drug sensitivity and drug resistance of staphylococcus were compared between 2013 and 2019 by linear trend χ2 test. Results:A total of 1 085 cases of PDAP occurred in 625 patients were screened, and 280 cases of staphylococcal PDAP were finally included. The incidences of staphylococcal PDAP, staphylococcus aureus PDAP and coagulase-negative staphylococcal PDAP were 0.063 times per patient year, 0.010 times per patient year and 0.053 times per patient year respectively. In addition, the incidence of PDAP caused by staphylococcus, staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus decreased year by year (all P<0.05). With the change of years, the sensitivity rate of staphylococcus to rifampicin increased, while the sensitivity rate of staphylococcus to moxifloxacin decreased (both P<0.05). The drug resistance rate of staphylococcus to levofloxacin increased ( P<0.05). The staphylococcus aureus group was more prone to refractory PDAP and catheter removal than that in coagulase-negative staphylococcus group, and the recurrence rate was higher than that in coagulase-negative staphylococcus group (all P<0.05). The proportion of vancomycin used during the whole course of antibiotic therapy in drug-resistant group was higher than that in drug-sensitive group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of staphylococcal PDAP decreases year by year, and the drug sensitivity characteristics of staphylococcus also change. The therapeutic outcomes of staphylococcus aureus PDAP are worse than that of coagulase-negative staphylococcus.

Objective To observe the effects of Shengxue Tongbian Granules on colonic myoelectricity and Ca2+/CaM/MLCK signaling pathway in rats with slow transit constipation(STC)of blood deficiency and intestinal dryness syndrome;To explore its mechanism for the treatment of STC.Methods The STC model of blood deficiency and intestinal dryness syndrome was established by intragastric administration of loperamide combined with tail bloodletting.The rats were divided into control group,model group,mosapride citrate group and Shengxue Tongbian Granules group,with 8 rats in each group.The administration group was given corresponding drugs by gavage for 14 days.The general condition of rats before and after treatment was observed,the fecal water content was detected,the slow wave frequency,amplitude,and coefficient of variation of colonic electromyography were detected using a biological function experimental system,and intestinal propulsion rate was detected.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue,the concentration of Ca2+ in colonic smooth muscle cells was detected by colorimetry,the expression of Cx43,calmodulin(CaM),myosin light chain kinase(MLCK)and p-MLC20 in smooth muscle tissue were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the body mass,fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in the model group decreased(P<0.01),the slow wave frequency of colonic electromyography slowed down,the coefficient of variation of frequency increased(P<0.01),and the amplitude and coefficient of variation of slow wave increased(P<0.01);colonic mucosal structure was damaged,with visible inflammatory changes and significant erosion,and the concentration of Ca2+ and the expressions of Cx43,CaM,MLCK,p-MLC20 proteins in colonic smooth muscle cells were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the body mass,fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate of the rats in the mosapride citrate group and the Shengxue Tongbian Granules group significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the slow wave frequency of colonic electromyography increased and the coefficient of variation of frequency decreased(P<0.01),and the slow wave amplitude and amplitude variation coefficient decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01);the colonic mucosal structure was relatively intact,the erosion situation was improved,and the Ca2+ concentration,Cx43,CaM,MLCK and p-MLC20 protein expressions in colonic smooth muscle cells significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion Shengxue Tongbian Granules can improve defecation symptoms and promote colonic motility in STC rats with blood deficiency and intestinal dryness syndrome,which may be related to regulating colonic myoelectric rhythm and activating Ca2+/CaM/MLCK signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of different types of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP).Methods:The clinical data of PDAP patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Second Part of the First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin Central Hospital and Jilin First Automobile Work General Hospital in Jilin province from 2013 to 2019 were reviewed. According to the type of PDAP, the patients were divided into relapsing group, recurrent group, repeat group and control group, and the baseline data, pathogens culture and treatment outcomes among the four groups were compared.Results:A total of 542 patients with PDAP were enrolled in the study, including 43 cases in relapsing group, 32 cases in recurrent group, 27 cases in repeat group and 440 cases in control group. The median follow-up time was 30.5 (16.0, 50.0) months. The rate of Gram-positive bacteria in repeat group was higher than that of control group (70.37% vs 42.95%, P=0.030); the rate of fungi in recurrence group was higher than that of control group (21.88% vs 3.86%, P=0.006). Compared with control group, relapsing group had a lower cure rate (67.44% vs 83.64%, P=0.048) and a higher relapse rate (23.26% vs 2.27%, P=0.002), and recurrent group had a higher catheter removal rate (28.13% vs 8.18%, P=0.012). Multivariate logistic regression showed that recurrence was an independent risk factor for catheter removal ( OR=5.137, 95% CI 2.105-12.539, P<0.001). The technical failure rates in relapsing group and recurrent group were both higher than those in control group (41.86% vs 17.05%, P=0.002; 46.88% vs 17.05%, P=0.002). Multivariate Cox regression showed that relapse and recurrence were both independent risk factors for technical failure ( HR=2.587, 95% CI 1.525-4.389, P<0.001; HR=3.571, 95% CI 2.022-6.306, P<0.001), and also were independent risk factors for composite endpoint ( HR=1.565, 95% CI 1.045-2.344, P=0.030; HR=2.004, 95% CI 1.269-3.164, P=0.003). Conclusion:Compared with common PDAP, the therapeutic effects and prognosis of relapsing and recurrent PDAP are worse.

Objective:To investigate the level and clinical significance of peripheral blood CD4 +T cell subpopulations in late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods:This study included 260 SLE patients hospitalized in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to December 2021: of whom 58 and 202 were late- (≥50 years) and adult-(18~49 years) onset patients. This study also included 160 subjeces as healthy controls(HCs), of whom 35 and 125 were Control Group 1 (≥50 years) and Control Group 2 (18~49 years). Peripheral blood CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets of these participants were assessed by flow cytometry. The clinical data of all patients and healthy controls (HCs)were recorded. The differences between the groups were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test. Results:(1)The time of diagnosis of late-onset SLE was longer than that of adult-onset SLE [Median time: 5.0 (2.0, 24.0)months vs 3.0 (1.0, 7.3)months, Z=-3.13, P=0.002]. Compared with adult-onset SLE, the SLEDAI score of late-onset SLE was lower [12.0 (8.0, 15.2) vs 14.0 (10.0, 18.0), Z=-2.12, P=0.034]. Some manifestations occurred more frequently in late-onset SLE, such as weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, cerebral infarction, interstitial pneumonitis, Sj?gren′s syndrome and infection. The manifestations of skin and mucos a occurred less frequently in late-onset SLE. (2)CD4 +T cell subpopulations: ①The absolute counts of Treg, Th17, Th1 and Th2 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with late-onset SLE were significantly lower than those of HCs [Treg: 10.94 (6.14, 19.23) vs 32.65 (28.07, 41.65), Z=-6.79, P<0.001; Th17: 3.43 (0.94, 5.64) vs 6.13 (3.77, 7.82), Z=-3.24, P=0.001; Th1: 36.02 (10.80, 76.38) vs 128.70(89.82, 159.89), Z=-5.29, P<0.001; Th2:3.56 (1.56, 6.06) vs 8.25 (4.69, 12.98), Z=-4.57, P<0.001]. The ratio of Th17/Treg cells was higher than that of HCs[0.28(0.13, 0.59) vs 0.17 (0.12, 0.28), Z=-2.38, P=0.017].②The absolute counts of Treg, Th17, Th1 and Th2 cells in peripheral blood of patients with adult-onset SLE were significantly lower than those of HCs [Treg: 10.28 (5.37, 17.04) vs.30.19 (21.20, 39.75), Z=-11.28, P<0.001; Th17: 3.44 (1.84, 6.14) vs 6.48 (4.23, 10.66), Z=-6.53, P<0.001; Th1: 29.59(15.14, 56.81) vs 90.75(42.67, 162.00), Z=-7.01, P<0.001; Th2: 2.74 (1.62, 4.77) vs 8.25 (4.75, 11.99), Z=-9.91, P<0.001]. The ratio of Th17/Treg was higher than that of HCs[0.35 (0.17, 0.65) vs 0.23(0.14, 0.37), Z=-3.89, P<0.001].③The ratios of Th17/Treg in patients with late-and adult-onset SLE were higher than those of HCs. The ratio of Th17/Treg was the highest in adult-onset SLE patients. Conclusion:Patients with late-onset SLE have reduced numbers of Treg cells and the immune imbalanced of Th17/Treg. However, the immune imbalance of Th17/Treg in late-onset SLE patients is milder than that in adult-onset SLE patients, which may be related to lower disease activity.

Objective:To establish and validate a predictive model for treatment failure of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis(PDAP)in elderly patients.Methods:Clinical data of peritoneal dialysis(PD)patients who were followed up from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2019 at four Grade A tertiary hospitals in Jilin Province were collected.A total of 362 elderly patients with PDAP were eventually included as study subjects.Subjects recruited from 2013 to 2017 were used for model construction and the logistic regression model was used to screen risk factors for treatment failure of PDAP in elderly patients.A nomogarm was constructed to predict treatment failure of secondary PDAP using R language.The receiver operating curve(ROC)and calibration curve were used to evaluate discrimination accuracy of the model.Subjects from 2018 to 2019 were used as the cohort for validation of discrimination accuracy of the model.Results:Of 258 PDAP patients in the modeling cohort, 29 experienced treatment failure, including 15 PDAP-related deaths and 14 cases requiring catheter removal.The multivariate logistic regression model showed that types of pathogens( OR=8.849, 95% CI: 1.656-47.269, P=0.011), long dialysis age( OR=1.023, 95% CI: 1.005-1.042, P=0.013), pre-hospitalization antibiotic treatment( OR=5.123, 95% CI: 1.338-19.610, P=0.017), and dialysate white blood cell count on day 5>100×10 6/L( OR=7.085, 95% CI: 2.162-23.217, P=0.001)were independent risk factors for treatment failure of PDAP in elderly patients.For the nomogarm predictive model, the areas under the ROC curve(AUC)in the modeling cohort and the validation cohort were 0.818(95% CI: 0.735-0.902)and 0.762(95% CI: 0.656-0.889), respectively, and the calibration curves were close to a straight line with a slope of 1. Conclusions:Our nomogram predictive model based on types of pathogens, months of dialysis, pre-hospital admission antibiotic treatment, and dialysate white blood cell count on day 5 has demonstrated satisfactory discrimination accuracy for treatment failure of PDAP in elderly patients.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of E. coli peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) and the risk factors for its occurrence and treatment failure.Methods:The clinical data of patients with episodes of PDAP in four general hospitals in Jilin Province from 2013 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. According to the pathogenic bacteria, the patients were divided into E. coli and non- E. coli groups. The incidence of E. coli PDAP in the last seven years was calculated and the clinical characteristics were compared between two PDAP groups. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence and treatment failure of E. coli PDAP. Results:A total of 693 PDAP episodes/cases were enrolled in this study, including 100 episodes/cases in the E. coli group and 593 episodes/cases in the non- E. coli group. The incidence rate of E. coli PDAP in the four hospitals showed a decreasing trend during 2013 to 2019. Compared with the non-E.coli group, the proportion of diabetic patients and the average blood albumin levels in the E. coli group were lower ( χ2=5.006, Z=-2.992, P<0.05), while the proportion of refractory peritonitis was higher, and the duration of antibiotic therapy was longer ( χ2=6.350, Z=-2.779, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that history of PDAP ( OR=1.577, 95% CI: 1.015-2.448) and low baseline serum albumin level ( OR=0.958, 95% CI: 0.923-0.995) were independent risk factors for the development of E. coli PDAP, while concomitant diabetes was an independent protective factor for E. coli PDAP ( OR=0.538, 95% CI: 0.330-0.876). Moreover, long-term dialysis was an independent risk factor for treatment failure of E. coli PDAP ( OR=1.047, 95% CI: 1.018-1.076). Conclusion:The incidence rate of E. coli PDAP in study institutions has declined in the past 7 years, but the rate of refractory PDAP is still high. The history of PDAP and low blood albumin level are independent risk factors for the occurrence of E. coli PDAP, while concomitant diabetes is an independent protective factor for the occurrence of E. coli PDAP. Long-term dialysis is an independent risk factor for treatment failure of E. coli PDAP.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of the first episode of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) in patients receiving long-term peritoneal dialysis. METHODS: The clinical data of patients with the first episode of PDAP in 4 general hospitals in Jilin Province from 2013 to 2019 were collected retrospectively. According to the duration of dialysis, the patients were divided into long-term (≥36 months) and short-term (< 36 months) dialysis groups for comparison of the clinical data, treatment outcomes and long-term prognostic events. RESULTS: A total of 625 patients with PDAP were enrolled, including 93 on long-term and 532 on short-term dialysis. Compared with those on short-term dialysis, the patients on long-term dialysis had significantly higher hemoglobin levels and lower glomerular filtration rates when the first episode of PDAP occurred ( CONCLUSIONS Compared with those on short-term dialysis, patients on long-term dialysis are prone to gram-negative bacterial infection when the first episode of PDAP occurs with worse treatment outcomes but similar long-term outcomes. Long-term dialysis is an independent risk factor of extubation and treatment failure for the first episode of PDAP, and fungal and mixed bacterial infections are independent risk factors for treatment failure of the first PDAP in patients with long-term dialysis.
Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy* ; Peritoneal Dialysis/adverse effects* ; Peritonitis/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone containing a peroxide group isolated from the plant Artemisia annua. It has antimalarial activity and is effective for the treatment of malaria. With the deepening of research on artemisinin， the pharmacological effects of artemisinin and its derivatives in other systems have gradually become a research hotspot. This article reviews the research progress of artemisinin and its derivatives in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Artemisinin and its derivatives in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease have shown anti-atherosclerosis， lipid- lowering， inhibition of vascular remodeling， reducing vascular pressure， improving ventricular remodeling， anti-arrhythmia， protection of vascular endothelium， prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiovascular complications and protection of myocardial cells and other pharmacological effects. It provides a new treatment strategy for common cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension， arrhythmia， coronary heart disease complications after stent implantation， hyperlipidemia， etc. However， there are few studies on the antiplatelet aggregation and antithrombotic effects of artemisinin and its derivatives， the molecular mechanisms behind many pharmacological effects have not yet been clarified， and there is little clinical application. A large number of basic studies and clinical trials are still needed to answer these questions.