OBJECTIVES: To study the significance of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ [25-(OH)D₃] level in the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of children with immunoglobulin A vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with IgAVN who underwent renal biopsy at Suzhou Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University and Jinling Hospital of the Medical School of Nanjing University from June 2015 to June 2020. Based on serum 25-(OH)D₃ level, the patients were divided into a normal group and a lower group. The clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up data of the two groups were collected and compared. RESULTS: A total of 359 children with IgAVN were included. Compared to the normal group (62 cases), the lower group (297 cases) exhibited higher incidences of hematochezia and gross hematuria, higher levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary retinol protein, urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, and quantitative urinary protein, and a longer duration from renal biopsy to urinary protein becoming negative, as well as lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and albumin level (P<0.05). Renal pathology in the lower group showed a higher occurrence of tubular interstitial injury, crescent formation, segmental sclerosis in glomeruli, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the renal interstitium compared to the normal group (P<0.05). Survival analysis indicated that the cumulative renal survival rate was lower in the lower group (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that low serum 25-(OH)D₃ level is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in children with IgAVN. CONCLUSIONS Children with IgAVN and low serum 25-(OH)D₃ level have relatively severe clinicopathological manifestations. Low serum 25-(OH)D₃ level is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in children with IgAVN.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Calcifediol/blood* ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/mortality* ; Vasculitis/pathology* ; IgA Vasculitis/mortality*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Chronic visceral pain is a persistent and debilitating condition arising from dysfunction or sensitization of the visceral organs and their associated nervous pathways. Increasing evidence suggests that imbalances in central nervous system function play an essential role in the progression of visceral pain, but the exact mechanisms underlying the neural circuitry and molecular targets remain largely unexplored. In the present study, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was shown to mediate visceral pain in mice. Visceral pain stimulation increased c-Fos expression and Ca²⁺ activity of glutamatergic VTA neurons, and optogenetic modulation of glutamatergic VTA neurons altered visceral pain. In particular, the upregulation of NMDA receptor 2A (NR2A) subunits within the VTA resulted in visceral pain in mice. Administration of a selective NR2A inhibitor decreased the number of visceral pain-induced c-Fos positive neurons and attenuated visceral pain. Pharmacology combined with chemogenetics further demonstrated that glutamatergic VTA neurons regulated visceral pain behaviors based on NR2A. In summary, our findings demonstrated that the upregulation of NR2A in glutamatergic VTA neurons plays a critical role in visceral pain. These insights provide a foundation for further comprehension of the neural circuits and molecular targets involved in chronic visceral pain and may pave the way for targeted therapies in chronic visceral pain.
Animals ; Male ; Visceral Pain/metabolism* ; Up-Regulation/physiology* ; Ventral Tegmental Area/metabolism* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Neurons/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism* ; Chronic Pain/metabolism* ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism*

Patients with periodontal disease often require combined periodontal-orthodontic interventions to restore periodontal health, function, and aesthetics, ensuring both patient satisfaction and long-term stability. Managing these patients involving orthodontic tooth movement can be particularly challenging due to compromised periodontal soft and hard tissues, especially in severe cases. Therefore, close collaboration between orthodontists and periodontists for comprehensive diagnosis and sequential treatment, along with diligent patient compliance throughout the entire process, is crucial for achieving favorable treatment outcomes. Moreover, long-term orthodontic retention and periodontal follow-up are essential to sustain treatment success. This expert consensus, informed by the latest clinical research and practical experience, addresses clinical considerations for orthodontic treatment of periodontal patients, delineating indications, objectives, procedures, and principles with the aim of providing clear and practical guidance for clinical practitioners.
Humans ; Consensus ; Orthodontics, Corrective/standards* ; Periodontal Diseases/complications* ; Tooth Movement Techniques/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Diabetic retinopathy, a prevalent and vision-threatening microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, is the leading cause of blindness among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Natural diterpenoids isolated from Siegesbeckia pubescens demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to identify novel bioactive diterpenoids from S. pubescens and investigate their effects on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in diabetic retinopathy, both in vitro and in vivo. Three new ent-pimarane-type diterpenoids (1-3) and six known compounds (4-9) were isolated from the aerial parts of S. pubescens. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic data interpretation, and absolute configurations were determined by comparing calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Among these compounds, 14β,16-epoxy-ent-3β,15α,19-trihydroxypimar-7-ene (5) exhibited the most potent protective effect against high glucose and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-stimulated human retinal endothelial cells. Mechanistically, compound 5 promoted endothelial cell survival while ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammatory response in diabetic retinopathy, both in vivo and in vitro. These findings not only suggest that diterpenoids such as compound 5 are important anti-inflammatory constituents in S. pubescens, but also indicate that compound 5 may serve as a lead compound for preventing or treating vascular complications associated with diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy/metabolism* ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Animals ; Diterpenes, Kaurane/administration & dosage* ; Asteraceae/chemistry* ; Male ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects* ; Abietanes/administration & dosage* ; Molecular Structure ; Mice ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective:To understand the pathogenic situation of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Linyi City, and to analyze the gene characteristics of Coxsackievirus A10 complete VP1 region.Methods:The samples of HFMD cases from Linyi City in 2023 were tested for typing and strain isolation, and the VP1 gene of CV-A10 isolate was amplified and sequenced. The obtained sequences were compared with those in the NCBI database, and the phylogenetic tree was constructed for gene characteristics and molecular epidemiological analysis.Results:In 2023, a total of 861 samples of HFMD were collected, and 594 (68.99%) were positive for nucleic acid tests. The male to female ratio of positive cases was 1.56∶1. Children under 5 years old accounted for 81.65%, and the highest incidence season was from June to August (83.84%). CV-A6 was the main pathogen (84.51%), followed by CV-A10 (9.93%). The nucleotide and amino acid homology of VP1 gene sequence among 13 isolates were 93.29%-100.00% and 97.65%-100.00%, respectively. The nucleotide and amino acid homology with AF081300-Kowalik/USA/1950 was lower (75.95%-76.62%, 91.72%-92.41%). The amino acid and nucleotide homology with C2c was the highest (94.28%-96.76%, 98.28%-100.00%), and the genetic distance was the closest (0.04-0.06). Amino acid site variation analysis showed that compared with the prototype strain AF081300-Kowalik/USA/1950, the isolates had more site variation, while only some isolates had I80V, E141K, P147S, T219I, E240K and V261I mutations compared with the representative strain C2c. The genetic evolution tree showed that the isolates were all in the same clade as the C2c representative strains, and they all belonged to the C2c genotype, and the isolates were further divided into two smaller clades.Conclusions:In 2023, CV-A6 was the main pathogen of HFMD in Linyi City, followed by CV-A10. All CV-A10 isolates were C2c genotypes and can be divided into two evolutionary clades. Continuous monitoring and genetic characterization of CV-A10 should be strengthened.

Objective To investigate the effect of dexmedetom idine(DEX)on lung tissue and Ras homolog gene family member A(RhoA)/Rho kinase 1(ROCK1)signaling pathway in lung tissue of rats with ventilator-induced lung injury(VILI).Methods A VILI rat model was established and separated into control group,model group(VILI group),dexmedetomidine low and high dose groups(DEX-L,DEX-H group),and high dose dexmedetomi-dine+lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)group(DEX-H+LPA group).Determination of wet/dry mass ratio of rat lung tissue(W/D);HE staining microscopy was applied to observe morphology of lung tissue;ELISA kit was applied to detect the level of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF);TUNEL staining method was applied to detect lung epithelial cell death;Immunoblotting was applied to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins,and RhoA,ROCK1 pro-teins.Results DEX could reduce lung injury,lung injury score,W/D,apoptosis rate,levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,and expression of Bax,cleaved caspase-3,RhoA,ROCK,α-SMA in VILI rats(P＜0.05),while increased the expression of Bcl-2(P＜0.05);LPA could aggravate lung injury and increase lung injury score,W/D,apopto-sis rate,level of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and expressions of Bax,cleaved caspase-3,RhoA,ROCK and α-SMA(P＜0.05);Bcl-2 expression level was decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusions Dexmedetomidine may protect rats with ventilator-induced lung injury by the inhibition of RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 involved in epithelial mesenchymal transformation(EMT)in chronic sinusitis(CRS).Methods The expression of MMP-9 from polypoid middle turbinate tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining qPCR and Western blot assay in 42 patients with CRS and 8 patients underwent septoplasty.Primary human nasal epithelial cells HNEpc were cultured in vitro and divided into the control group,the TGF-β1 group(5 μg/L TGF-β1 intervention)and the TGF-β1+si-MMP-9 group(transfected with si-MMP-9 and 5 μg/L TGF-β1 intervention).The expression of MMP-9 was detected by cell immunofluorescence staining.Expression levels of TGF-β1,MMP-9 and EMT-related proteins E-cadherin,vimentin and α-SMA were detected by Western blot assay.Results(1)The positive expression rate of MMP-9 was significantly higher in the nasal mucosa of CRS with nasal polyps(CRSwNP)group(54.5%,12/22)than that of the CRS without polyps(25.0%,5/20)group and the control group(12.8%,1/8).The relative expression levels of MMP-9 mRNA and protein in nasal mucosa were higher in the CRSwNP group than those in the CRSsNP group and the control group(P＜0.05).(2)Compared with the control group,the expressions levels of TGF-β1,MMP-9,vimentin and α-SMA were increased in the TGF-β1 group,while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the TGF-β1 group,expression levels of TGF-β1,MMP-9,vimentin and α-SMA were decreased in the TGF-β1+si-MMP-9 group,and the expression of E-cadherin was increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of MMP-9 is increased in CRS patients,which may be involved in the development of CRS through the regulation of EMT.

Objective To discuss the clinical effect of biomimetic salivary gland induction technology in alleviating secondary xerostomia after endovascular intervention of isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection(ISMAD).Methods Using random number sampling method,a total of 80 patients with ISMAD,who received endovascular intervention at the Affiliated Nanjing Hospital of Nanjing Medical University of China between March 2020 and December 2022,were selected as the research subjects.For the patients of control group(n=40)the warm-water(25-35 ℃)cotton swab was adopted to moisten the lips from one hour to 48 hours after endovascular intervention,which was given once every 15 minutes within postoperative 1-2 hours,which was followed by once every 30 minutes within postoperative 3-48 hours.For the patients of study group(n=40)with the help of biomimetic salivary gland induction technology a continuous and controlled water flow at a rate of 15 mL/h was given from one hour to 48 hours after endovascular intervention to continuously keep the lips and mouth moist.The postoperative one-,12-,24-and 48-hour degrees of mouth dryness and oral comfort in both groups were analyzed.Results The postoperative one-,12-,24-,and 48-hour incidence of thirsty and the degrees of severity in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group(all P＜0.01),and the degrees of oral comfort at postoperative different time points in the study group were remarkably better than those in the control group(all P＜0.01).Conclusion The use of biomimetic salivary gland induction technology in patients with ISMAD after receiving endovascular intervention therapy can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of thirsty and improve oral comfort.