AIM: To investigate the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE_2) in the renal of spontaneously hypertensive rats and the effects of angiotensin type-1 receptor blockade. METHODS: Twenty of 14-week-old male SHR were randomly divided into two groups (n=10 in each): SHR group and irbesartan group. Ten of 14-week-old male WKY group were served as control. Irbesartan group were given a daily dose of 50 mg?kg -1 irbesartan for 12 weeks by gavage and the other two groups were fed with a normal diet. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 was examined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: ACE_2 in the renal was significantly down-regulated in the SHR group compared with the WKY group ( 0.72? 0.11 vs 1.11? 0.15). After 12 weeks treatment with irbesartan, the attenuated ACE_2 expression in irbesartan group was markedly enhanced compared with the SHR group ( 1.03? 0.13 vs 0.72? 0.11). CONCLUSION: Hypertension induces the reduction of ACE_2 in the renal in rats and irbesartan markedly increases ACE_2 expression. It suggests that up-regulation ACE_2 which is one of counter-regulatory particular components in the renin-angiotensin system may be a new mechanism of curing hypertension beyond blockade angiotensin type-1 receptor.

Hiatal hernia (HH) is a prevalent medical condition characterized by the protrusion of abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity through an enlarged diaphragmatic esophageal hiatus. The most common clinical manifestations of HH include acid reflux, heartburn, belching, coughing, and chest pain. Currently, there is a lack of standardized comprehensive treatment protocols for different types of HH, presenting significant challenges in their clinical management. In light of this, individualized treatment approaches should be followed by surgical practitioners when dealing with HH, in order to formulate the most appropriate clinical treatment plan tailored to each patient′s specific circumstances.

A 26-year-old male presented with tremor of bilateral shoulders and hands as the major symptom and also had cognitive and emotional abnormalities for more than 1 year, who was diagnosed as cerebral hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) in Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in October 2021. The serum ceruloplasmin and urine copper levels of the patient were 0.023 g/L and 3760.00 μg/24 h, respectively, and the Kayser-Fleischer (K-F) ring was seen in the cornea. Genetic testing revealed a homozygous mutation of ATP7B gene c.2975C>T (p.Pro992Leu), while transcranial sonography (TCS) showed lenticular nucleus hyper-echogenicity. The literature was searched using hepatolenticular degeneration and transcranial sonography as key words; and 9 articles involving 150 HLD cases were obtained. The lenticular nucleus hyper-echogenicity was presented in 76.9% HLD patients (150/195), while only in 12.7% healthy subjects (17/134) ( P<0.001), suggesting that advanced transcranial sonography can detect the metal deposition and may be used for diagnosis of cerebral HLD.

Objective To study the curative effects of jejunal exclusion surgery for STZ-induced T2DM SD rats.Methods 60 SD rats were induced to be the T2DM SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocini.As a result,55 T2DM SD rats were successfully acquired which were randomly divided into 3 groups,20 rats in the jejunal exclusion group (A),20 rats in the sham operation group (B) and 15 rats in the control group (C).Jejunal exclusion surgery was performed in group A,jejunojejunostomy was performed in group B,and group C were fed normally.The body weight,fasting blood glucose,fasting plasma insuhn level and GLP-1 level were measured before operation and at the 1st,2rid,4th,8th and 16th week after operation.Results As compared with that before operation and that of the control group,the body weight in group A markedly declined at the 2nd,4th,8th and 16th week (352.14±9.00,342.84±8.90,336.64±10.26,330.34±9.12,P＜0.05).The fasting plasma glucose levels in group A markedly declined at the 2nd,4th,8th and 16th week (14.62±1.10,12.12±1.38,8.75± 1.06,7.55±1.00,P＜0.05).The fasting plasma insulin level in group A was maikedly increased at the 2nd,4th,8th and 16th week (14.62±3.10,16.12±3.38,17.75±4.06,17.55±3.10,P＜0.05).GLP-1 level in group A was markedly increased at the 1st,2nd,4th,8th and 16th week (11.02±0.85,14.42±1.18,16.02±1.59,17.62±1.02,18.12±0.71,P＜0.05).Conclusions The jejunal exclusion surgery is effective in controlling blood glucose,which is an ideal and lasting method.This surgery has also showed influence on body weight.

PURPOSE: The significance of neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in gastric carcinoma (GC) is controversial, leading to ambiguous concepts in traditional classifications. This study aimed to determine the prognostic threshold of meaningful NED in GC and clarify its unclear features in existing classifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and neural cell adhesion molecule was performed for 945 GC specimens. Survival analysis was performed using the log-rank test and univariate/multivariate models with percentages of NED (PNED) and demographic and clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: In total, 275 (29.1%) cases were immunoreactive to at least 1 neuroendocrine (NE) marker. GC-NED was more common in the upper third of the stomach. PNED, and Borrmann's classification and tumor, lymph node, metastasis stages were independent prognostic factors. The cutoff PNED was 10%, beyond which patients had significantly worse outcomes, although the risk did not increase with higher PNED. Tumors with ≥10% NED tended to manifest as Borrmann type III lesion with mixed/diffuse morphology and poorer histological differentiation; the NE components in this population mainly grew in insulae/nests, which differed from the predominant growth pattern (glandular/acinar) in GC with <10% NED. CONCLUSIONS: GC with ≥10% NED should be classified as a distinct subtype because of its worse prognosis, and more attention should be paid to the necessity of additional therapeutics for NE components.
Adenocarcinoma ; Chromogranin A ; Classification ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Prognosis ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Synaptophysin

Objective: To analyz the current situation of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of methylmalonic acidemia, the phenotypes, biochemical features and genotypes of the patients in the mainland of China, were investigated. Methods: Tottally 1 003 patients of methylmalonic acidemia from 26 provinces and municipalities of the mainland of China were enrolled. The clinical data, biochemical features and gene mutations were studied. Blood aminoacids and acylcarnitines, urine organic acids, and plasma total homocysteine were determined for the biochemical diagnosis. Gene analyses were performed for the genetic study of 661 patients. The patients were treated with individual intervention and long-term follow up. Prenatal diagnoses were carried out for 165 fetuses of the families. Results: Among 1 003 patients (580 boys and 423 girls), 296 cases (29.5%) had isolated methylmalonic acidemia; 707 cases (70.5%) had combined homocysteinemia; 59 patients (5.9%) were detected by newborn screening; 944 patients (94.1%) had the onset at the ages from several minutes after birth to 25 years and diagnosed at 3 days to 25 years of age. The main clinical presentations were psychomotor retardation and metabolic crisis. Multi-organ damage, including hematological abnormalities, pulmonary hypertension, kidney damage, were found. MMACHC, MUT, MMAA, MMAB, HCFC1, SUCLG1, SUCLA2 mutations were found in 631 patients (96.6%) out of 661 patients who accepted gene analysis. MMACHC mutations were detected in 460 patients (94.7%) out of 486 cases of methylmalonic acidemia combined with homocysteinemia. MUT mutations were found in 158 (90.3%) out of 169 cases of isolated methylmalonic acidemia. The development of 59 patients detected by newborn screening were normal; 918 cases (97.2%) were diagnosed after onset accepted the treatment. Forty-five of them completely recovered with normal development. Twenty-six patients (2.7%) died; 873 (92.5%) patients had mild to severe psychomotor retardation. Methylmalonic acidemia were found in 35 out of 165 fetuses by metabolites assay of amniotic fluid and amniocytes gene analysis. Conclusion Combined methylmalonic acidemia and homocysteinemia is the common type of methylmalonic acidemia in the mainland of China. CblC defect due to MMACHC mutations is the most common type of methylmalonic acidemia combined with homocysteinemia. MUT gene mutations are frequent in the patients with isolated methylmalonic acidemia. Newborn screening is key for the early diagnosis and the better outcome. Combined diagnosis of biochemical assays and gene analysis are reliable for the prenatal diagnosis of methylmalonic acidemia.

Objective To assess the risk of public health incidents in the Hankou River Beach during the 7th World Military Games, and to provide reference for risk early warning and emergency preparedness. Methods An expert consultation meeting was held to determine the evaluation index and risk scores. Based on the Kaiser model, a public health risk assessment system suitable for Hankou River Beach was established, and the risk value of each risk event was calculated by the method of risk value calculation. The risk matrix method was used to evaluate the risk levels of different risk events in different areas of Hankou River Beach. Then, according to the calculated Borda values and order values of risk events in different regions, the different risks were ranked in each area. Results The calculation revealed that the risk values of schistosomiasis in the first, second, third and fourth stages of the river beach were 8.43%, 14.68%, 25.26% and 27.56%, respectively; the risk values of vector infectious diseases in each stage were 13.42%, 16.40%, 18.67% and 19.22%; the risk values of accidental injury and other events were 20.34%, 22.94%, 19.00% and 16.53%. According to the risk matrix, the first and second stages of schistosomiasis and vector borne infectious diseases, as well as the fourth stage of accidental injuries were located in the low-risk zone, while the other risk events were in the medium risk zone. The ranking results of Borda sequence value showed that the highest risk public health events in the first and second phases of the river beach were accidental injuries and others, in the third phase was schistosomiasis and accidental injuries, and in the fourth phase was schistosomiasis. Conclusion Considering the results of each evaluation method, the public health events with the highest risk in phase I and phase II of the river beach were accidental injuries, while in phase III and phase IV were schistosomiasis. It is suggested that relevant departments should formulate different strategies and take targeted measures to ensure the public health and safety of Hankou river beach during the Military Games.

BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has a high mortality rate and is the most common indication for heart transplantation. Our study sought to develop a multiparametric nomogram to assess individualized all-cause mortality or heart transplantation (ACM/HTx) risk in DCM patients. METHODS: The present study is a retrospective cohort study. The demographic, clinical, blood test, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) data of DCM patients in the tertiary center (Fuwai Hospital) were collected. The primary endpoint was ACM/HTx. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model was applied for variable selection. Multivariable Cox regression was used to develop a nomogram. The concordance index (C-index), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram. RESULTS: A total of 218 patients were included in the present study. They were randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort. The nomogram was established based on eight variables, including mid-wall late gadolinium enhancement, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, free triiodothyronine, and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide. The AUCs regarding 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year ACM/HTx events were 0.859, 0.831, and 0.840 in the training cohort and 0.770, 0.789, and 0.819 in the validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curve and DCA showed good accuracy and clinical utility of the nomogram. CONCLUSIONS We established and validated a circulating biomarker- and CMRI-based nomogram that could provide a personalized prediction of ACM/HTx for DCM patients, which might help risk stratification and decision-making in clinical practice.
Humans ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/diagnostic imaging* ; Contrast Media ; Nomograms ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Gadolinium ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Biomarkers ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy