OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of interleukin-8 monoclonal antibody on smooth muscle cell proliferation and balloon inflation-induced abdominal aorta stenosis in rabbits.

METHODSThirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to balloon inflation group (group A, n = 12), interleukin-8 monoclonal antibody pre-treated rabbits (2 mg/kg for 3 days before balloon inflation, group B, n = 12) and sham-operated control group (group C, n = 12). Peripheral blood was collected before experiment and at 4 h, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post balloon inflation or sham operation and the levels of IL-8 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ratio of positive and negative masculine cells in the high power microscopic field was determined in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) stained slide. Histopathologic examination was performed in abdominal aorta and luminal area, intima and tunica media area were measured.

RESULTSPlasma interleukin-8 began to rise at 4 h and peaked at 1 day and remained increased up to 28 days after balloon inflation in rabbits of group A, plasma interleukin-8 level in group A was significantly higher than in group B and C at 4 h and thereafter post operation. The ratio of positive and negative masculine cells was significantly increased in group A compared to group C and was significantly lower in group B than in group A. Abdominal aorta stenosis, luminal area, intima and tunica media area were significantly reduced in group B than in group A. Correlation analysis indicated that there were positive relations between plasma IL-8 level and intima thickness, area of intima and tunica media, respectively (r = 0.894, 0.783, 0.801, 0.912, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPlasma IL-8 level is increased in this abdominal aorta stenosis model and is positively correlated to the severity of abdominal aorta stenosis. IL-8 monoclonal antibody could significantly reduce abdominal aorta stenosis in this abdominal aorta stenosis model.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Aorta, Abdominal ; pathology ; Aortic Coarctation ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-8 ; immunology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Rabbits

Background/Aims: The discrepancies between the diagnosis of preoperative endoscopic forceps biopsy (EFB) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in patients with early gastric neoplasm (EGN) exist objectively. Among them, pathological upgrading directly influences the accuracy and appropriateness of clinical decisions. The aims of this study were to investigate the risk factors for the discrepancies, with a particular focus on pathological upgrading and to establish a prediction model for estimating the risk of pathological upgrading after EFB. Methods: We retrospectively collected the records of 978 patients who underwent ESD from December 1, 2017 to July 31, 2021 and who had a final histopathology determination of EGN. A nomogram to predict the risk of pathological upgrading was constructed after analyzing subgroup differences among the 901 lesions enrolled. Results: The ratio of pathological upgrading was 510 of 953 (53.5%). Clinical, laboratorial and endoscopic characteristics were analyzed using univariable and binary multivariable logistic regression analyses. A nomogram was constructed by including age, history of chronic atrophic gastritis, symptoms of digestive system, blood high density lipoprotein concentration, macroscopic type, pathological diagnosis of EFB, uneven surface, remarkable redness, and lesion size. The C-statistics were 0.804 (95% confidence interval, 0.774 to 0.834) and 0.748 (95% confidence interval, 0.664 to 0.832) in the training and validation set, respectively. We also built an online webserver based on the proposed nomogram for convenient clinical use. Conclusions The clinical value of identifying the preoperative diagnosis of EGN lesions is limited when using EFB separately. We have developed a nomogram that can predict the probability of pathological upgrading with good calibration and discrimination value.

Biomarkers ; Gastric Mucosa ; Helicobacter Infections ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

Objective:To explore the effect of enteral nutrition on gut microbiota for ischemic stroke. Methods:From March to April, 2017, 121 patients with convalescent ischemic stroke were enrolled. The patients received routine rehabilitation combing with 1-week enteral nutrition. The patients' fresh feces and blood samples were obtained at admission, one week and one month after the enteral nutrition, while nutritional status was assessed with Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS2002). Cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 were tested with ELISA. Ten patients were tested with 16S rDNA Illumina HiSeq/MiSeq for gut microbiota alterations. Results:The scores of NRS2002 decreased (P < 0.05), the level of serum IL-1β and IL-6 raised, while the level of IL-8 dropped one month after enteral nutrition (P < 0.05). In addition, the enteral nutrition altered the dominant bacterial community, and alleviated the diversity and species richness of bacteria, while the difference was statistically significant one week after enteral nutrition. Conclusion:Enteral nutrition can alter gut microbiota to facilitate to recover ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveExisting artificial vision devices can be divided into two types: implanted devices and extracorporeal devices, both of which have some disadvantages. The former requires surgical implantation, which may lead to irreversible trauma, while the latter has some defects such as relatively simple instructions, limited application scenarios and relying too much on the judgment of artificial intelligence (AI) to provide enough security. Here we propose a system that has voice interaction and can convert surrounding environment information into tactile commands on head and neck. Compared with existing extracorporeal devices, our device can provide a larger capacity of information and has advantages such as lower cost, lower risk, suitable for a variety of life and work scenarios. MethodsWith the latest remote wireless communication and chip technologies, microelectronic devices, cameras and sensors worn by the user, as well as the huge database and computing power in the cloud, the backend staff can get a full insight into the scenario, environmental parameters and status of the user remotely (for example, across the city) in real time. In the meanwhile, by comparing the cloud database and in-memory database and with the help of AI-assisted recognition and manual analysis, they can quickly develop the most reasonable action plan and send instructions to the user. In addition, the backend staff can provide humanistic care and emotional sustenance through voice dialogs. ResultsThis study originally proposes the concept of “remote virtual companion” and demonstrates the related hardware and software as well as test results. The system can not only achieve basic guide functions, for example, helping a person with visual impairment to shop in supermarkets, find seats at cafes, walk on the streets, construct complex puzzles, and play cards, but also can meet the demand for fast-paced daily tasks such as cycling. ConclusionExperimental results show that this “remote virtual companion” is applicable for various scenarios and demands. It can help blind people with their travels, shopping and entertainment, or accompany the elderlies with their trips, wilderness explorations, and travels.