ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of artemisinin （ART） on histopathological damage and salivary secretion in the submandibular gland （SMG） of mice with Sjögren's syndrome （SS） model，and on the expression of aquaporin 5 （AQP5） in SMG cells. MethodsThe NOD/Ltj mice were used as a model of SS and randomly divided into the SS model group，the ART group，and the hydroxychloroquine sulfate （HCQ） group，with six mice per group. Another 6 female BALB/c mice at the same week were selected as the control group. Mice in the ART group was fed with the ART solution daily in the dosage of 50 mg·kg^-1，and mice in the HCQ group was given with the HCQ solution （1 300 mg·kg^-1）. Mice in the SS model and control groups were given saline daily. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks. The 24-hour average water intake，salivary flow rate，SMG pathology scores of mice in each group were measured，as well as the expression levels of AQP5 protein and gene in the SMG tissues. ResultsCompared with the control group，the 24-hour average water intake of mice in the model group was significantly increased （P<0.01），and the saliva flow rate was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared to the SS model group，the 24-hour average water intake of mice in the ART and HCQ groups was significantly reduced （P<0.01），and the salivary flow rate was significantly increased in the ART group（P<0.01），comparisons between groups showed that the ART was superior to the HCQ in reducing water intake and improving saliva flow rate in SS model mice （P<0.05）. The HE staining results showed that，compared with the normal group，the number of lymphocyte infiltration foci in SMG tissue in the model group increased，and the pathological score increased （P<0.01）. Compared to the SS model group，after the intervention of the ART and HCQ，the number of lymphocytic infiltration foci in the SMG tissue decreased，the area of the lymphocytic infiltration foci was reduced，and the pathology score of the SMG tissues was lowered in the ART group（P<0.01）. However，there was no difference in pathological scores between the ART and HCQ groups . The results of IHC，Western blot，and Real-time PCR showed that，compared with the normal group，the expression levels of AQP5 protein and gene in SMG tissue in the model group significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Comparing with the SS model group，the ART and HCQ groups could significantly up-regulated the expression levels of AQP5 protein and mRNA in the SMG tissue，and the treatment effect was better than that of HCQ. ConclusionART was able to ameliorate SMG structural damage and salivary secretion function in SS model mice，and its mechanism of action may be related to the up-regulation of AQP5 protein and gene expression levels in SMG cells.

Based on the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED) from the meridian-zangfu relationship and the "brain-heart-kidney-essence chamber" axis, it proposes that dysfunction of the "brain-heart-kidney-essence chamber" axis is closely related to the occurrence of ED. Among these, brain-heart disharmony is the key pathogenic factor, kidney deficiency and essence depletion constitute an important basis, and essence chamber stasis is a critical mechanism. The treatment approach emphasizes harmonizing the brain and heart, regulating the mind, tonifying the kidney and replenishing qi, unblocking qi and blood to harmonize the essence chamber. The primary acupoints include Baihui (GV20)-Neiguan (PC6)-Shenmen (HT7), Taixi (KI3)-Guanyuan (CV4)-Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zhongji (CV3)-Dahe (KI12)-Gongsun (SP4), with additional acupoints selected based on syndrome differentiation. This approach aims to restore the clarity of the brain and heart, replenish kidney qi, and unblock the essence chamber, thereby facilitating the restoration of normal functions of the brain, heart, kidney, and essence chamber, and alleviating ED symptoms and improving overall clinical efficacy.
Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Erectile Dysfunction/physiopathology* ; Kidney/physiopathology* ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Heart/physiopathology*

Research on IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), an autoimmune condition recognized to be a unique disease entity only two decades ago, has processed from describing patients' symptoms and signs to summarizing its critical pathological features, and further to investigating key pathogenic mechanisms. Challenges in gaining a better understanding of the disease, however, stem from its relative rarity-potentially attributed to underrecognition-and the absence of ideal experimental animal models. Recently, with the development of various high-throughput techniques, "omics" studies at different levels (particularly the single-cell omics) have shown promise in providing detailed molecular features of IgG4-RD. While, the application of omics approaches in IgG4-RD is still at an early stage. In this paper, we review the current progress of omics research in IgG4-RD and discuss the value of machine learning methods in analyzing the data with high dimensionality.
Humans ; Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease/metabolism* ; Immunoglobulin G/metabolism* ; Machine Learning ; Animals ; Proteomics/methods*

BACKGROUND: Despite some studies identifying a potential association between obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk, previous research had overlooked the dynamic nature of body weight over time, leading to inconsistent findings. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between adult weight change and COPD risk by adjusting for potential confounding factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from ten NHANES cycles (1999-2018), including adults aged 40-74 years. Weight change patterns were assessed using BMI at three time points and classified into five categories per period. Absolute weight change was also grouped into five levels. Multivariate logistic regression models, incorporating sampling weights, were used to examine associations between weight change and COPD, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle covariates. RESULTS: Compared with participants who maintained normal weight, stable obesity participants had increased risk of COPD from age 25 years to 10 years before the survey (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.15 to 1.83), in the 10 years period before the survey (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.47 to 2.08), and from age 25 years to survey (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.46 to 2.31). Three periods indicate that weight gain in adulthood was associated with risk of COPD. In addition, substantial weight gain of more than 20 kg was associated with a higher risk of COPD. In stratified analyses, we also observed a more significant association between weight change and the risk of COPD in never smokers compared to former smokers. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggested that stable obesity and weight gain in adulthood were associated with an increased risk of COPD compared to those who maintain a normal weight, and that the association between weight gain and the incidence of COPD appears closer in patients who have never smoked.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Gain ; Obesity/complications* ; Risk Factors ; United States/epidemiology* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Body Mass Index

Objective:To investigate the consistency of myocardial extracellular volume between systole and diastole using dual-layer detector spectral CT.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-five patients who underwent cardiac spectral CT examination in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from April 2022 to December 2022 were retrospectively collected. Hematocrit was collected within 3 days before the CT scan. The delayed phases holographic spectral images in systole (45%) and diastole (75%) were obtained using dual-layer spectral CT. CT data were processed using a spectral post-processing workstation, and the extracellular volume (ECV) based on iodine density images, referred as CT-ECV, in systolic and diastolic phases were calculated, respectively. According to the American Heart Association′s 16-segment model of left ventricular, the standard short-axis images were constructed, and the myocardium was standardized into 16 segments at the basal, mid-cavity, and apical levels of the left ventricle. Two radiologists performed a subjective evaluation in the image quality of the CT-ECV images of the whole heart and the three sections in systole and diastole using a "five-point" scale. The ECV of the 16 segments and the whole heart in systole and diastole was calculated. The consistency of subjective evaluations between systole and diastole was assessed using Kappa statistics. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the differences in scores between systole and diastole. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the differences in CT-ECV scores between systole and diastole. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to test the intra-and inter-observer consistency of CT-ECV measurements between two radiologists. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results:There was good agreement between the two radiologists on subjective scores of CT-ECV image quality between systole and diastole ( Kappa>0.80), and there was no statistical difference in image quality among the basal, mid-cavity, and apical levels of the left ventricle and whole heart between systole and diastole ( P>0.05). The systolic and diastolic CT-ECV for the entire heart obtained through the delay phase were (33.29±3.46)% and (33.50±3.39)%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( t=-0.78, P=0.442). CT-ECV in systole and diastole were (34.15±3.94)% and (35.30±3.99)% for segment 8, (34.03±3.76)% and (35.46±3.74)% for segment 9, and (33.98±3.32)% and (35.05±3.98)% for segment 14, respectively. The mean values of the systolic CT-ECV of segments 8, 9 and 14 were significantly lower than those of diastolic CT-ECV ( t=-2.65, -3.26, -2.42, P=0.012, 0.003, 0.022, respectively). The ICCs for CT-ECV measurements of 16 segments by the two radiologists were greater than 0.90 in both systolic and diastolic, indicating good agreement. Conclusions:There is no significant difference in whole heart CT-ECV values between systolic and diastolic myocardial ECV based on dual-layer spectral CT. However, minor differences (less than 2%) are found between systolic and diastolic myocardial CT-ECV for some segments. Myocardial CT-ECV measurement should be performed on the same segment during the same phase to obtain stable and accurate ECV values.

Objective To explore the effects of modulating the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway using Huashi Runzao Prescription(HRP)on the apoptosis and salivary secretion function of submandibular gland cells in a naive non-obese diabetic(NOD/Ltj)mouse model of Sj?gren's syndrome(SS).Methods Eight-week-old female BALB/c mice were selected as the blank group.Eight-week-old female NOD/Ltj were randomly divided into the model,HRP-L,HRP-M,HRP-H,and hydroxychloroquine sulphate(HCQ)groups.After eight weeks of drug administration,the water consumption and salivary flow rate of each group were recorded.The histopathological damage of the submandibular gland in each group was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining,the apoptosis rate of the submandibular gland was determined using TUNEL staining,and AQP5,Bax,Bcl-2,beclin-1,YAP,p-YAP,and TAZ expressions in submandibular gland tissues were determined using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank group,the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway was inhibited in the submandibular gland tissues of the model group,lymphocyte infiltration increased,water consumption increased,salivary flow rate decreased,AQP5 expression decreased,and submandibular gland cells apoptosis rate increased(P<0.05).Compared with all other administered groups,in the HRP-M group,the Hippo-YAZ/TAZ pathway was significantly activated,lymphocyte infiltration in submandibular gland tissues was reduced,water consumption was reduced,the salivary flow rate and AQP5 expression were increased,and the apoptosis rate of submandibular gland cells was reduced(P<0.05).Conclusion HRP reduced the pathological damage and apoptosis of submandibular gland cells in SS model mice.It improved the overall secretory function of submandibular gland tissues,which may be related to Hippo pathway activation and downregulating YAP/TAZ expression.

Objective To explore the effects of modulating the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway using Huashi Runzao Prescription(HRP)on the apoptosis and salivary secretion function of submandibular gland cells in a naive non-obese diabetic(NOD/Ltj)mouse model of Sj?gren's syndrome(SS).Methods Eight-week-old female BALB/c mice were selected as the blank group.Eight-week-old female NOD/Ltj were randomly divided into the model,HRP-L,HRP-M,HRP-H,and hydroxychloroquine sulphate(HCQ)groups.After eight weeks of drug administration,the water consumption and salivary flow rate of each group were recorded.The histopathological damage of the submandibular gland in each group was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining,the apoptosis rate of the submandibular gland was determined using TUNEL staining,and AQP5,Bax,Bcl-2,beclin-1,YAP,p-YAP,and TAZ expressions in submandibular gland tissues were determined using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank group,the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway was inhibited in the submandibular gland tissues of the model group,lymphocyte infiltration increased,water consumption increased,salivary flow rate decreased,AQP5 expression decreased,and submandibular gland cells apoptosis rate increased(P<0.05).Compared with all other administered groups,in the HRP-M group,the Hippo-YAZ/TAZ pathway was significantly activated,lymphocyte infiltration in submandibular gland tissues was reduced,water consumption was reduced,the salivary flow rate and AQP5 expression were increased,and the apoptosis rate of submandibular gland cells was reduced(P<0.05).Conclusion HRP reduced the pathological damage and apoptosis of submandibular gland cells in SS model mice.It improved the overall secretory function of submandibular gland tissues,which may be related to Hippo pathway activation and downregulating YAP/TAZ expression.

Objective To explore the effects of modulating the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway using Huashi Runzao Prescription(HRP)on the apoptosis and salivary secretion function of submandibular gland cells in a naive non-obese diabetic(NOD/Ltj)mouse model of Sj?gren's syndrome(SS).Methods Eight-week-old female BALB/c mice were selected as the blank group.Eight-week-old female NOD/Ltj were randomly divided into the model,HRP-L,HRP-M,HRP-H,and hydroxychloroquine sulphate(HCQ)groups.After eight weeks of drug administration,the water consumption and salivary flow rate of each group were recorded.The histopathological damage of the submandibular gland in each group was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining,the apoptosis rate of the submandibular gland was determined using TUNEL staining,and AQP5,Bax,Bcl-2,beclin-1,YAP,p-YAP,and TAZ expressions in submandibular gland tissues were determined using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank group,the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway was inhibited in the submandibular gland tissues of the model group,lymphocyte infiltration increased,water consumption increased,salivary flow rate decreased,AQP5 expression decreased,and submandibular gland cells apoptosis rate increased(P<0.05).Compared with all other administered groups,in the HRP-M group,the Hippo-YAZ/TAZ pathway was significantly activated,lymphocyte infiltration in submandibular gland tissues was reduced,water consumption was reduced,the salivary flow rate and AQP5 expression were increased,and the apoptosis rate of submandibular gland cells was reduced(P<0.05).Conclusion HRP reduced the pathological damage and apoptosis of submandibular gland cells in SS model mice.It improved the overall secretory function of submandibular gland tissues,which may be related to Hippo pathway activation and downregulating YAP/TAZ expression.

Objective To explore the effects of modulating the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway using Huashi Runzao Prescription(HRP)on the apoptosis and salivary secretion function of submandibular gland cells in a naive non-obese diabetic(NOD/Ltj)mouse model of Sj?gren's syndrome(SS).Methods Eight-week-old female BALB/c mice were selected as the blank group.Eight-week-old female NOD/Ltj were randomly divided into the model,HRP-L,HRP-M,HRP-H,and hydroxychloroquine sulphate(HCQ)groups.After eight weeks of drug administration,the water consumption and salivary flow rate of each group were recorded.The histopathological damage of the submandibular gland in each group was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining,the apoptosis rate of the submandibular gland was determined using TUNEL staining,and AQP5,Bax,Bcl-2,beclin-1,YAP,p-YAP,and TAZ expressions in submandibular gland tissues were determined using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank group,the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway was inhibited in the submandibular gland tissues of the model group,lymphocyte infiltration increased,water consumption increased,salivary flow rate decreased,AQP5 expression decreased,and submandibular gland cells apoptosis rate increased(P<0.05).Compared with all other administered groups,in the HRP-M group,the Hippo-YAZ/TAZ pathway was significantly activated,lymphocyte infiltration in submandibular gland tissues was reduced,water consumption was reduced,the salivary flow rate and AQP5 expression were increased,and the apoptosis rate of submandibular gland cells was reduced(P<0.05).Conclusion HRP reduced the pathological damage and apoptosis of submandibular gland cells in SS model mice.It improved the overall secretory function of submandibular gland tissues,which may be related to Hippo pathway activation and downregulating YAP/TAZ expression.

[Objective] To explore the clinical application of cutaneous ureterostomy-flap embedding in radical cystectomy plus urinary diversion. [Methods] The clinical data of 10 patients with bladder cancer treated with this method in our hospital during Feb.and May 2023 were involved.Cutaneous ureterostomy-flap embedding was used in urinary diversion.The stoma-free rate and stenosis rate of stomas within 1 year postoperatively, differences in renal function indicators 1 day before operation and 1 year after operation, urinary diversion-related complications within 6 months postoperatively, including hydronephrosis, urinary tract infections, renal stones were analyzed. [Results] All surgeries were successfully completed.At 1 year postoperatively, renal function indicators showed no significant difference compared to preoperative levels (P>0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, 1 patient developed renal stones, successfully treated with surgery; 2 had urinary tract infection, recovered after antibiotic treatment; 2 had mild unilateral hydronephrosis, alleviated with conservative management.At 1 year postoperatively, the catheter-free rate was 80%(8/10), with no worsening of hydronephrosis or occurrence of ureteral obstruction, and the stent placement duration ranged from 97 to 211 days, average (151.63±42.47) days.The ureteral stent was not removed in 2 patients within 1 year, so the stoma stenosis rate was 20%(2/10). [Conclusion] The application of flap embedding in urinary diversion following radical cystectomy is a simple and safe procedure, with few postoperative complications, high success rate of stent removal, and overall favorable outcomes.