OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical characteristics of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) in children and to enhance the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 6 children diagnosed with DPB who were hospitalized at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2011 to December 2019. RESULTS: Among the 6 patients, there were 2 males and 4 females; the age at diagnosis ranged from 7 to 12 years. All patients presented with cough, sputum production, and exertional dyspnea, and all had a history of sinusitis. Two cases showed positive serum cold agglutinin tests, and 5 cases exhibited pathological changes consistent with chronic bronchiolitis. High-resolution chest CT in all patients revealed centrilobular nodules diffusely distributed throughout both lungs with a tree-in-bud appearance. Five patients received low-dose azithromycin maintenance therapy, but 3 showed inadequate treatment response. After empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment, non-tuberculous Mycobacteria were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Follow-up over 2 years showed 1 case cured, 3 cases significantly improved, and 2 cases partially improved. CONCLUSIONS The clinical presentation of DPB is non-specific and can easily lead to misdiagnosis. In cases where DPB is clinically diagnosed but does not show improvement with low-dose azithromycin treatment, special infections should be considered.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Bronchiolitis/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Haemophilus Infections/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical features of children with STAT gene mutations, and to explore corresponding immunotherapy strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 10 children with STAT gene mutations who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, from October 2015 to October 2024. Exploratory immunotherapy was implemented in some refractory cases, and the changes in symptoms, imaging manifestations, and cytokine levels were assessed after treatment. RESULTS: For the 10 children, the main clinical manifestations were recurrent rash since birth (7/10), cough (8/10), wheezing (5/10), expectoration (4/10), and purulent nasal discharge (4/10). Genotyping results showed that there was one child with heterozygous loss-of-function (LOF) mutation in the STAT1 gene, four children with heterozygous LOF mutation in the STAT3 gene, and five children with heterozygous gain-of-function (GOF) mutation in the STAT3 gene. Two children with LOF mutation in the STAT3 gene showed decreased interleukin-6 levels and improved clinical symptoms and imaging findings after omalizumab treatment. Three children with GOF mutation in the STAT3 gene achieved effective disease control after treatment with methylprednisolone (0.5 mg/kg per day). Two children with GOF mutation in the STAT3 gene received treatment with JAK inhibitor and then showed some improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS STAT gene mutation screening should be considered for children with recurrent rash and purulent respiratory tract infections. Targeted immunotherapy may improve prognosis in patients with no response to conventional treatment.
Humans ; Male ; Immunotherapy ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Gain of Function Mutation ; Retrospective Studies ; Infant ; Loss of Function Mutation ; STAT Transcription Factors/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate effect of Kuanxiong Aerosol (KXA) on perioperative coronary microcirculation in patients with unstable angina (UA) suffering from elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From February 2021 to July 2023, UA inpatients who underwent PCI alone in the left anterior descending (LAD) branch were included. Random numbers were generated to divide patients into the trial group and the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The index of coronary microcirculation resistance (IMR) was measured before PCI, and the trial group was given two sprays of KXA, while the control group was not given. IMR was measured again after PCI, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) were detected before and 24 h after surgery, and major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) were recorded for 30 days. The data statistics and analysis personnel were blinded. RESULTS: Totally 859 patients were screened, and 62 of them were involved into this study. Finally, 1 patient in the trial group failed to complete the post-PCI IMR and was excluded, 30 patients were included for data analysis, while 31 patients in the control group were enrolled in data analysis. There was no significant difference in baseline data (age, gender, risk factors, previous history, biochemical index, and drug therapy, etc.) between the two groups. In addition, differences in IMR, cTnI and CK-MB were not statistically significant between the two groups before surgery. After PCI, the IMR level of the trial group was significantly lower than that of the control group (19.56 ± 14.37 vs. 27.15 ± 15.03, P=0.048). Besides, the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) was lower in the trial group, but the difference was not statistically significant (6.67% vs. 16.13%, P=0.425). No MACEs were reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS KXA has the potential of improving coronary microvascular dysfunction. This study provides reference for the application of KXA in UA patients undergoing elective PCI. (Registration No. ChiCTR2300069831).
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Male ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Female ; Angina, Unstable/physiopathology* ; Pilot Projects ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Aerosols ; Troponin I/blood* ; Coronary Circulation/drug effects* ; Elective Surgical Procedures

Dental treatments for children and adolescents have unique clinical characteristics that differ from dental care for adults in terms of children's physiology, psychology, and behavior. These differences impose specific requirements on the application of local anesthesia in pediatric dental procedures. This article presents expert consensus on the principles of local anesthesia techniques in pediatric dental therapies, including the use of common anesthetic drugs and dosage control, safety and efficacy evaluation, and prevention and management of complications. The aim is to improve the safety and quality of pediatric dental treatments and offer guidance for clinical application by dentists.
Humans ; Child ; Anesthesia, Local/methods* ; Consensus ; Anesthesia, Dental/methods* ; Adolescent ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage* ; Dental Care for Children

Objective To explore the biomarkers and potential mechanisms of chronic restraint stress-induced myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia ApoE-/-mice.Methods The hyperlipidemia combined with the chronic stress model was established by restraining the ApoE-/-mice.Proteomics and bioinformatics techniques were used to describe the characteristic molecular changes and related regulatory mechanisms of chronic stress-induced myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia mice and to explore potential diagnostic biomarkers.Results Proteomic analysis showed that there were 43 significantly up-regulated and 58 sig-nificantly down-regulated differentially expressed proteins in hyperlipidemia combined with the restraint stress group compared with the hyperlipidemia group.Among them,GBP2,TAOK3,TFR1 and UCP1 were biomarkers with great diagnostic potential.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that fer-roptosis was a significant pathway that accelerated the myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia combined with restraint stress-induced model.The mmu_circ_0001567/miR-7a/Tfr-1 and mmu_circ_0001042/miR-7a/Tfr-1 might be important circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks related to ferroptosis in this model.Conclusion Chronic restraint stress may aggravate myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia mice via ferrop-tosis.Four potential biomarkers are selected for myocardial injury diagnosis,providing a new direction for sudden cardiac death(SCD)caused by hyperlipidemia combined with the restraint stress.

Objective:To observe the stimulation of cigarette smoke extract(CSE)at different times influencing the alveolar macrophage efferocytosis and phagocytosis function,and to explore the effect of CSE on inflammatory response in lung diseases and molecular mechanism.Methods:Rat alveolar macrophages NR8383 were intervened with 10%CSE for 6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,divided into 6 h blank control group,6 h-10%CSE group,12 h blank control group,12 h-10%CSE group,24 h blank control group,24 h-10%CSE group,48 h blank control group,48 h-10%CSE group.10%CSE intervention 12 h in combination with PPAR inhibitor/ago-nist,divided into PPAR inhibitor group and PPAR agonist group.Alamar Blue colorimetry was used to detect the proliferation and toxi-city of PPAR agonist on NR8383 cells.Flow cytometry was used to detect the efferocytosis and phagocytosis of NR8383 cells,and M1 and M2 polarizations.The contents of TNF-α,TGF-β1 and MFG-E8 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of PPARγ and CD36 protein.mRNA expressions of PPARγ and CD36 were detected by qPCR.Results:After 6 hours of 10%CSE stimulation,the phagocytosis and efferocytosis of NR8383 cells were increased,the expression of PPARγ was down-regulated,the expression of CD36 mRNA was increased,and the expressions of TNF-α,TGF-β1 and MFG-E8 were increased,but there was no obvious polarization direction.After 12 hours CSE stimulation,the efferocytosis and phagocytosis functione of NR8383 cells were significantly decreased,the expressions of PPARγ and CD36 were significantly down-regulated,the expression of TNF-α was increased,the expressions of TGF-β1 and MFG-E8 were decreased,and the cells were polarized to M1-type macrophages.After 24 hours of intervention,the efferocytosis rate of NR8383 cells were decreased,but the phagocytosis function of E.coli was increased,the expression of PPARγ was down-regulated,the expressions of CD36 protein was decreased,the expression of TNF-α was decreased,while there was no statistical difference,the expressions of TGF-β1 and MFG-E8 were still decreased,and there was obvious tendency of M1 polarization.After 48 h,the efferocytosis rate of NR8383 cells were still decreased,but the phagocy-tosis ability was significantly increased,the expression of PPARγ was significantly decreased,the expression of CD36 was significantly increased,the expression of TNF-α was decreased,the expressions of TGF-β1 and MFG-E8 were increased,and the polarization of macrophages towards M1 and M2 were increased.After 12 h stimulation with 10%CSE combined with PPAR agonist and inhibitor,it was found that PPAR agonist enhanced the efferocytosis and phagocytosis of NR8383 cells,up-regulated the expression of PPARγ and CD36,inhibited the expression of inflammatory factor TNF-α,and promoted the expressions of anti-inflammatory factor TGF-β1 and cytokinesis cofactor MFG-E8.Conclusion:With the stimulation time of CSE,alveolar macrophages gradually change from the activated state of early inflammatory response to chronic inflammatory response,which leads to alveolar macrophage efferocytosis and phagocyto-sis dysfunction,and the mechanism is related to the inhibition of PPARγ pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Qigesan （QGS） in intervening in the migration and invasion of esophageal carcinoma TE-1 cells. MethodMicroarray technology was used to screen differentially expressed genes （DEGs） in the normal group and the QGS group， and the ontological functions and signaling pathways of DEGs were analyzed. The thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） assay was used to detect the effect of QGS on the viability of TE-1 cells. In the subsequent experiments for verification， a blank group， a transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁） group， a TGF-β₁ + QGS group， and a TGF-β₁ + SB431542 group were set up. The cell morphology in each experimental group was observed by microscopy. The migration and invasion abilities of cells were detected by wound healing assay， and the mRNA expression levels of E-Cadherin， vimentin， Smad2， and Smad7 were detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein expression of E-Cadherin， vimentin， p-Smad2/3， Smad2/3， and Smad7 was detected by Western blot. ResultThere were 1 487 DEGs between the QGS group and the blank group， including 1 080 down-regulated ones （accounting for 72.63%） and 407 up-regulated ones. The down-regulated genes were mainly involved in biological processes such as cytoskeletal protein binding， ATP binding， adenylate nucleotide binding， and adenylate ribonucleotide binding， and the involved Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathways included TGF-β signaling pathway， cell cycle， extracellular matrix-receptor interaction protein， tumor pathways， and oocyte meiosis. The up-regulated genes were mainly involved in RNA binding， DNA binding， transcriptional regulator activity， transcriptional activator activity， and nucleotide binding， and the KEGG pathways involved mainly included mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway， bladder cancer， renal cell carcinoma， cancer pathways， and p53 signaling pathway. Compared with the blank group， the inhibition rate of cell viability of TE-1 cells increased after QGS （20， 30， 40， 60， 80 mg·L^-1） intervention for 12， 24， 36， 48， 60 h （P<0.05）， and the inhibition rate was time- and dose-dependent. Compared with the blank group， the TGF-β₁ group showed lengthened cells with fibroblast phenotype. Compared with the TGF-β₁ group， the TGF-β₁ + QGS group showed shortened cells with normal morphology and epithelial phenotype. The cell morphology in the TGF-β₁ + SB431542 group was similar to that of the TGF-β₁ + QGS group. Compared with the blank group， the TGF-β₁ group showed potentiated ability of cell migration and invasion （P<0.05）. Compared with the TGF-β₁ group， the TGF-β₁ + QGS group and the TGF-β₁ + SB431542 group showed inhibited and weakened migration and invasion abilities of cells （P<0.05）. However， there was no significant difference in migration and invasion abilities between the TGF-β₁ + QGS group and the TGF-β₁ + SB431542 group. The mRNA expression levels of vimentin and Smad2 in the TGF-β₁ group were higher （P<0.05）， and the mRNA expression levels of E-Cadherin and Smad7 were lower （P<0.05） than those in the blank group. Compared with the TGF-β₁ group， the TGF-β₁ + QGS group and the TGF-β₁+ SB431542 group exhibited decreased expression levels of vimentin and Smad2 mRNA （P<0.05）， and elevated expression levels of E-Cadherin and Smad7 mRNA （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， the TGF-β₁ group showed up-regulated protein expression levels of vimentin， p-Smad2/3， and Smad2/3 （P<0.05）， and reduced protein expression levels of E-Cadherin and Smad7 （P<0.05）. Compared with the TGF-β₁ group， the TGF-β₁ + QGS group and the TGF-β₁ + SB431542 group displayed decreased protein expression levels of vimentin， p-Smad2/3， and Smad2/3 （P<0.05）， and increased protein expression levels of E-Cadherin and Smad7 （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe ethyl acetate extract of QGS inhibits the epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） of TE-1 cells through the TGF-β₁ pathway to reduce the migration and invasion of TE-1 cells.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics and outcome in COVID-19 with brucellosis patients has not been well demonstrated, we tried to analyze clinical outcome in local and literature COVID-19 cases with brucellosis before and after recovery. METHODS: We retrospectively collected hospitalization data of comorbid patients and prospectively followed up after discharge in Heilongjiang Infectious Disease Hospital from January 15, 2020 to April 29, 2022. Demographics, epidemiological, clinical symptoms, radiological and laboratory data, treatment medicines and outcomes, and follow up were analyzed, and findings of a systematic review were demonstrated. RESULTS: A total of four COVID-19 with brucellosis patients were included. One patient had active brucellosis before covid and 3 patients had nonactive brucellosis before brucellosis. The median age was 54.5 years, and all were males (100.0%). Two cases (50.0%) were moderate, and one was mild and asymptomatic, respectively. Three cases (75.0%) had at least one comorbidity (brucellosis excluded). All 4 patients were found in COVID-19 nucleic acid screening. Case C and D had only headache and fever on admission, respectively. Four cases were treated with Traditional Chinese medicine, western medicines for three cases, no adverse reaction occurred during hospitalization. All patients were cured and discharged. Moreover, one case (25.0%) had still active brucellosis without re-positive COVID-19, and other three cases (75.0%) have no symptoms of discomfort except one case fell fatigue and anxious during the follow-up period after recovery. Conducting the literature review, two similar cases have been reported in two case reports, and were both recovered, whereas, no data of follow up after recovery. CONCLUSION These cases indicate that COVID-19 patients with brucellosis had favorable outcome before and after recovery. More clinical studies should be conducted to confirm our findings.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Brucellosis ; COVID-19 ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome ; Case Reports as Topic

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological surveys on heart failure (HF) in Chinese community are relatively lacking. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of HF among community residents in southern China. METHODS: Baseline data of this prospective study was collected from 2015 to 2017 among 12,013 permanent residents aged ≥ 35 years in Guangzhou, China. The same survey process was carried out for individuals aged ≥ 65 years after a three-year follow-up. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HF in community residents aged ≥ 35 years was 1.06%. Male had significantly higher risk of HF prevalence [odds ratio (OR) = 1.50, P = 0.027]. The gender-adjusted risk of HF was 1.48 times higher per 10 years aging. HF prevalence was statistically associated with atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after adjusting for age and gender (OR = 8.30, 5.17, 1.11, 2.28, respectively; all P < 0.05). HF incidence in individuals aged ≥ 65 years were 847 per 100,000 person-years. Baseline atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, and diabetes mellitus were risk factors for HF incidence for individuals aged ≥ 65 years adjusting for age and gender (OR = 5.05, 3.99, 2.11, respectively; all P < 0.05). Besides, residents with new-onset atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction were at significantly higher risk of progression to HF (OR = 14.41, 8.54, respectively; all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both pre-existing and new-onset cardiovascular diseases were associated with HF incidence in southern China. Management of related cardiovascular diseases may be helpful to reduce the incidence of HF.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanism of CAFs promoting energy metabolism of EC9706 cells by collecting conditioned media of cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs).Methods Cell viability was detected by MTT,and the CAFs conditioned medium(CAFM)most suitable for indirect co-culture was selected with EC9706 cultured in DMEM high glucose medium as control.The contents of lactic acid and glucose in the supernatant of EC9706 cells were determined by colorimetry.The energy metabolism of EC9706 cells in DMEM and CAFM was detected by seahorse system energy metabolism analysis system.Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of energy metabolism related molecules.Results Compared with normal esophageal fibroblast conditioned medium(NFM),CAFs conditioned medium of 50%-60%and 70%-80%cell fusion degree promoted the proliferation of EC9706 cells(P<0.01),and CAFM groups with 70%-80%cell fusion degree promoted the proliferation of EC9706 cells compared with the control group.When the CAFM content was 60%,the proliferation of EC9706 cells was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with DMEM,CAFM could increase glucose uptake,superlactate content,basal respiratory value,basal glycolysis,compensatory glycolysis(P<0.05),non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption,maximum respiratory value,oxygen consumption for ATP synthesis,and reserve respiratory capacity(P<0.01)of EC9706 cells.RT-qPCR results showed that CAFM could also up-regulate the Hypoxic-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),Hexokinase-2(HK2)and Monocarboxylic acid transporter 1(MCT1)of EC9706 cells(P<0.05).Expression of Glucose transporter 1(GLUT1),Pyruvate kinase 2(PKM2)mRNA(P<0.01).Western blot showed that compared with DMEM,the protein expression of HK2,PKM2,MCT1 and GLUT1 was significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion CAFM can promote energy metabolism of EC9706 cells by promoting mRNA and protein expressions of HK2,PKM2,HK2,GLUT1,MCT1 and MCT4 under in vitro culture conditions.