Objective: To explore the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN), so as to enhance the clinical awareness of this disease. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of one EPN patient at The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, and a literature review was performed on articles published in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and PubMed databases from Jan.1, 2015 to Dec.31, 2024. Results: The patient, a 62-year-old male with a 5 years' history of type 2 diabetes, was admitted due to left flank pain for 4 days, with a temperature of 39.4 ℃.Laboratory tests indicated significantly elevated inflammatory markers, decreased platelet count, and abnormal coagulation function.Preoperative blood and urine cultures showed positivity for Escherichia coli.Computed tomography (CT) revealed complete erosion of the left kidney, with gas in the left ureter and surrounding effusion, as well as multiple free gas in the abdominal cavity, bilateral ureteral stones, right renal lower calyx stones.After a multidisciplinary consultation, he underwent emergency phase Ⅰ left pyeloplasty and perirenal drainage with ureteral stenting.After discharge, the patient received maintenance hemodialysis once every two days in the outpatient clinic.One week after-discharge, the patient was readmitted due to polypnea.Following symptomatic management, vital signs stabilized.Approximately 2 months after the first-stage surgery, ureteroscopic stone extraction was successfully performed.One month after the stone extraction procedure, a follow-up CT showed normalization of the left kidney, renal pelvis and calyces, leading to phase Ⅱ laparoscopic left nephrectomy via the abdominal approach, with postoperative pathology indicating renal necrosis.Among 89 EPN patients reported in 35 articles, the median age was 58(24-92) years old；there were 59（66.3%） females and 30（33.7%） males；fever was the most common clinical symptom (60.7%)；73(82.0%) had diabetes, 12 (13.5%) had urinary tract obstruction；55 (61.8%) were infected with Escherichia coli, and 7 (7.9%) were infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae; 13 died due to ineffective treatmen. Conclusion: EPN presents acutely and progresses rapidly, often leading to misdiagnosis due to the lack of specific early symptoms.Abdominal CT is the preferred imaging modality for rapid diagnosis, and proactive interdisciplinary intervention can improve survival rates, reduce the need for nephrectomy, and enhance prognosis.

Objective:To compare the preoperative presentation, intraoperative findings, and postoperative outcomes between middle ear cholesteatoma with tympanosclerosis （MECwTS） and middle ear cholesteatoma without tympanosclerosis （MECw/oTS）, thereby investigating the clinical characteristics of MECwTS. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 120 patients with middle ear cholesteatoma. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of concomitant tympanosclerosis: the MECwTS group （n=49） and the MECw/oTS group （n=71）. All patients underwent preoperative evaluations including temporal bone CT, otoscopic examination, pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, and assessment using the Zurich Chronic Middle Ear Inventory （ZCMEI-21） quality of life scale. All patients underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty. Concurrent ossicular chain reconstruction was performed: partial ossicular replacement prosthesis （PORP） in 83 cases and total ossicular replacement prosthesis （TORP） in 37 cases. Intraoperative disease severity was assessed using the Cholesteatoma Comprehensive Score Scale （CCSS）. Postoperative follow-up lasted at least one year and included pure-tone audiometry, otoscopic examination, and the ZCMEI-21 scale administered at ≥1 year post-surgery. Preoperative and postoperative air-bone gap （ABG） and ZCMEI-21 scores were compared between the MECwTS and MECw/oTS groups. Additionally, surgical efficacy was defined as a postoperative ABG ≤20 dB; the hearing improvement efficacy of PORP versus TORP was compared based on this criterion. Results: ①Preoperative ABG showed no significant difference between the MECw/oTS and MECwTS groups（P>0.05）. Postoperative ABG was （18.65±10.21） dB in the MECw/oTS group versus （22.55±9.53） dB in the MECwTS group, demonstrating a statistically significant intergroup difference （P<0.05）. ②Intraoperative CCSS scores were significantly higher in the MECwTS group （8.04±2.18） compared to the MECw/oTS group （5.93±1.44） （P<0.05）. ③Preoperative ZCMEI-21 scores showed no significant difference between groups （P>0.05）. Postoperative ZCMEI-21 scores were （22.24±8.11） in the MECw/oTS group versus （27.02±7.21） in the MECwTS group, indicating a statistically significant difference （P<0.05）. ④Postoperative ABG ≤20 dB was achieved in 54 patients （65.06%, 54/83） in the PORP group and 16 patients （43.24%, 16/37） in the TORP group. This difference in efficacy rates was statistically significant （P<0.05）. The overall efficacy rate for ossiculoplasty was 58.33% （70/120）. Conclusion: Patients with MECwTS exhibit more severe middle ear and mastoid pathology compared to those with MECw/oTS, resulting in poorer postoperative hearing levels and quality of life outcomes. Both PORP and TORP implantation can improve postoperative hearing to some extent; however, PORP appears to offer superior hearing improvement efficacy compared to TORP.
Humans ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tympanoplasty ; Myringosclerosis/surgery* ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Ossicular Replacement ; Ossicular Prosthesis ; Young Adult ; Ear, Middle ; Treatment Outcome ; Mastoidectomy ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Adolescent ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the synergistic mechanism of the traditional Chinese medicine Rosa laevigata Michx. (RLM) for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). METHODS: Network pharmacological analysis was carried out to screen the active ingredients of RLM and PAH disease targets and construct the "component-target-disease" interaction network, followed by gene enrichment analysis and molecular docking studies. In the cell experiments, primary cultures of rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells were exposed to hypoxia for 24 h and treated with solvent or 100, 200 and 300 mg/mL RLM, and the changes in cell proliferation were detected using Western blotting for PCNA and immunofluorescence staining. In the animal experiment, male SD rats were randomized into 5 control group, monocrotaline (MCT) solvent group, and MCT with RLM (100, 200 and 300 mg/mL) treatment groups. HE staining and immunofluorescence staining were used to observe histopathological changes in the pulmonary blood vessels of the rats. RESULTS: Seven core active ingredients (including β-sitosterol and kaempferol) in RLM and 39 key disease targets were identified, and molecular docking showed that SRC was a high-affinity target. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differential genes were significantly enriched in calcium signaling and PI3K-AKT pathways. In rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, hypoxic exposure significantly up-regulated cellular expression of PCNA and phosphorylation levels of Src and AKT1, which were obviously lowered by RLM treatment. In RLM-treated rat models, the mean pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy index (Fulton index) were significantly reduced, the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was improved, and pulmonary vascular wall thickening and fibrosis were obviously ameliorated. CONCLUSIONS RLM inhibits pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation in rat models of hypertension possibly by regulating the Src-AKT1 axis, suggesting the potential of RLM as a new natural drug for treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Pulmonary Artery/cytology* ; Male ; Rats ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/cytology* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/pathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology* ; src-Family Kinases/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured

Objective To explore the correlation between the incidence of foodborne diseases and meteorological factors in Jinan, and to provide targeted measures for the prevention and control of foodborne diseases. Methods Data from the reporting systems of two sentinel hospitals for active surveillance of foodborne diseases from 2013 to 2021 in Jinan were collected. The meteorological data in the same period in Jinan were also collected. The generalized additive model was used to explore the nonlinear relationship between meteorological factors and the incidence of foodborne diseases, and threshold function analysis was use to perform subsection regression. Results The incidence of foodborne diseases was positively correlated with daily average temperature (r_s=0.23), relative humidity (r_s=0.05), and daily average wind speed (r_s=0.01), and negatively correlated with daily average air pressure (r_s=-0.19). Based on the GAM results and segmented regression analysis of meteorological factors, it was found that when the daily average temperature was below or above the threshold of 24.63°C, for every 1°C increase in daily average temperature, the incidence of foodborne diseases correspondingly increased by 0.04% and 0.18%. When the daily average wind speed was above the threshold of 2.26 m/s, the incidence of foodborne diseases decreased by 0.36% for every 1 m/s increase in the daily average wind speed. Conclusion Nine years of observation and data analysis have shown that meteorological factors such as daily average temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and wind speed are related to the incidence of foodborne diseases. These findings suggest that meteorological factors may be important factors leading to foodborne diseases, which provides an important scientific basis for formulating effective prevention and control measures.

Objective To explore the causal relationship between inflammatory protein markers and the risk of colorectal cancer using a Mendelian randomization(MR)approach.Methods We obtained data pertaining to colorectal cancer from Genome-Wide Association Study(GWAS)datasets and used 91 inflammatory protein markers as the exposure variables.A two-sample MR analysis model was used to assess the causal link between the inflammatory markers and colorectal cancer risk.The robustness of the results was evaluated through heterogeneity,pleiotropy,and sensitivity analyses using 5 MR models:Inverse Variance Weighted(IVW),Weighted Median,MR Egger,Simple Mode,and Weighted Mode.We examined the mRNA expressions of PD-L1,AXIN1,and β-NGF using RT-qPCR in 86 untreated patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma admitted in Nanfang Hospital between December,2021 and December 2023,and analyzed their correlation with the clinical characteristics of the patients.Results Using the IVW model,MR analysis revealed significant causal associations between a reduced risk of colorectal cancer and lowered expressions of AXIN1(OR=0.866,95%CI:0.754-0.994,P=0.040),β-NGF(OR=0.914,95%CI:0.843-0.990,P=0.028;OR=0.884,95%CI:0.784-0.998,P=0.047 using Weighted Median model),and PD-L1(OR=0.903,95%CI:0.824-0.989,P=0.028).No significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy was observed,indicating good stability of the results.Sensitivity analysis confirmed the reliability of the findings.The clinical study demonstrated a significant correlation between PD-L1 expression and TNM staging,particularly in stage IV patients(P=0.007).AXIN1 and β-NGF expression levels were significantly correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation,and their expressions were higher in poorly differentiated samples(P<0.001).Conclusion Lowered expressions of inflammatory protein markers AXIN1,β-NGF,and PD-L1 are causally correlated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer and their expression levels are associated with TNM staging and tumor differentiation.These markers may thus serve as potential targets for colorectal cancer treatment and prevention.

Objective To investigate the pathogenic distribution characteristics and drug resistance of opportunistic Candida in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Methods 3 012 hospitalized cases of pulmonary tuberculosis at Qinghai Province Fourth People's Hospital from March 1,2020 to December 31,2020 were analyzed,sputum samples were collected,Candida identification was carried by VITEK-32-YBC automatic bacterial analysis system,and the detected Candida was tested for drug sensitivity.Results Among the 3 012 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in this investigation,283 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with Candida infection,accounting for 9.40%.Among them,Candida albicans was the main type of Candida,accounting for 79.86%of the total.Conclusion The prevalence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with Candida infection was high in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Therefore,the selection of antimicrobial drugs should be based on a comprehensive analysis of the patient's condition,in order to select the best and most effective drugs for treatment.

Objective:To investigate the current situation and related factors of children's growth and development in drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis areas after water improvement, and provide a basis for improving the control strategies.Methods:The stratified random sampling method was used to select children aged 7 to 13 in villages with different years of water improvement in Xi'an from November 2019 to June 2020. The height and weight of children were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The height development level of children was graded according to the "Standard for Height Level Classification among Children and Adolescents Aged 7 - 18 Years" (WS/T 612-2018), and the physical development (BMI) level of children was determined according to the "Comprehensive Evaluation of Development Level for Children and Adolescents" (GB/T 31178-2014). At the same time, according to the standard of "Diagnosis of Dental Fluorosis" (WS/T 208-2011), the diagnosis of dental fluorosis in children was performed. The serum fluoride level was determined by ion selective electrode method, and the levels of other chemical elements (calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, iodine, selenium, lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel) in blood were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Results:A total of 469 children were included in the investigation. After water improvement, 67.38% (316/469) of the children in the disease area were at the moderate level of height development, 7.89% (37/469) were at the medium to upper and upper levels, and 24.73% (116/469) were at the medium to lower and lower levels. The BMI of the children in the emaciation group was 8.53% (40/469), while it was 10.87% (51/469) in the overweight group and 8.74% (41/469) in the obesity group. There was statistically significant difference in the distribution of height development level of children in areas with different water improvement years ( P = 0.005), but no statistically significant difference in BMI distribution ( P = 0.154). There was no significant difference in height development level and BMI distribution of children with or without dental fluorosis ( P > 0.05). There were significant differences in serum levels of iron and zinc among children with different height development levels ( P < 0.05). There were significant differences in serum levels of magnesium, copper, iodine and chromium among children with different BMI ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:The growth and development of children in drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis area after water improvement are not correlated with the prevalence of dental fluorosis, but may be related to the levels of chemical elements such as iron, magnesium, copper, and iodine in the body.

OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of sanguinarine （SG） on inflammatory pain in rats with lumbar disc herniation （LDH） and its mechanism. METHODS LDH model rats were established and divided into model group， SG low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （1.00， 2.50， 6.25 mg/kg）， high-dose of SG+Anisomycin [mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） activator] group （6.25 mg/kg SG+5 mg/kg Anisomycin）， with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 rats were included as the control group. Each group was given corresponding drugs intraperitoneally， while the control group and model group were given an equal volume of normal saline intraperitoneally， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. The general situation and neurological changes of rats in each group were observed， and the pain threshold [including paw withdrawal mechanical threshold （PWMT） and paw withdrawal thermal latency （PWTL）] of rats was determined； the histopathological changes of dorsal root ganglion （DRG） were observed in rats. The serum levels of inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）] and pain factors [neuropeptide Y （NPY）， 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）] in rats were detected.The positive expressions of ionized-calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 （Iba-1） in spinal cord microglia and glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） in astrocytes were observed. The expressions of proteins related to MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK）/nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway， TNF-α and IL-1β proteins were detected in DRG tissue of rats. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the rats in the model group showed decreased appetite， hindlimb movement disorders， and disordered neuronal cell arrangement， the neurological score， the levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， NPY， the positive expressions of Iba-1 and GFAP， the phosphorylations of p38 MAPK， ERK1/2 and NF-κB p65， the protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； PWMT， PWTL and the levels of 5-HT were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the rats of SG groups showed some relief in their mental appetite and hindlimb motor disorders， the intervertebral disc structure of DRG was restored， and the levels of the above quantitative indicators had significantly reversed （P＜0.05）. Anisomycin reversed the improvement effect of SG on inflammatory pain in LDH rats. CONCLUSIONS SG can improve inflammatory pain by inhibiting the activation of microglia in DRG tissue of LDH rats， reducing the release of inflammatory factors， and increasing pain threshold， and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of MAPK/ERK/NF- κB signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,drug resistance and risk factors for poor prognosis in children patients with carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infection.Methods The samples of CRKP isolated from the children inpatients in this hospital from August 5,2016 to December 31,2020 were collected.The clinical data and drug resistance of CRKP in the patients with CRKP positive were analyzed.The risk factors in the poor prognosis group and good prognosis group of children pa-tients with CRKP infection conducted the correlation analysis.Results A total of 106 strains of non-repeti-tive CRKP were collected,which were mainly isolated from the patients ≤ 1 year old.The department distri-bution was dominated by the neonatal ICU and comprehensive ICU.CRKP showed the high resistance to mul-tiple antibacterial drugs,and its resistance rates to amikacin,levofloxacin,gentamicin,ciprofloxacin,minocy-cline and chloramphenicol were less than 30％.The poor prognosis rate in the children patients with CRKP in-fection reached 27.4％.The logistic multivariate regression analysis results showed that the multiple organ dysfunction and anemia were the independent risk factors for poor prognosis in the children patients with CRKP infection(P＜0.05).Conclusion The children CRKP infection is mainly the infants ≤1 years old,and CRKP shows the high resistance to multiple antibacterial drugs,the independent risk factors of poor prognosis include the multiple organ dysfunction and anemia