OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at the pterygopalatine region on nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory factors in rats with allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an acupuncture group and an electroacupuncture group, 6 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, OVA-induced AR model was established in the remaining groups. In the electroacupuncture group, the rats were treated with electroacupuncture at the bilateral pterygopalatine region, with disperse-dense wave, in frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz and current of 0.5-1 mA, 15 min each time, once every other day, for 3 times. In the acupuncture group, the rats were treated with acupuncture at bilateral pterygopalatine region simply, without electrical stimulation. The rhinitis symptom score was observed, the pathomorphology of the nasal mucosa was observed by HE staining; the serum levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (OVA-sIgE), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were detected by ELISA; the mRNA expression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1) and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was detected by real-time PCR; the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the rhinitis symptom score was increased (P<0.01), the serum levels of OVA-sIgE, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were increased (P<0.05), the nasal mucosa showed pathomorphology of inflammatory infiltration; the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the electroacupuncture group, the rhinitis symptom score was reduced (P<0.01), the pathology of the nasal mucosa was improved; the serum levels of OVA-sIgE, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture at the pterygopalatine region can exerting the anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory factor imbalance, thus alleviate rhinitis symptoms in AR rats.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhinitis, Allergic/physiopathology* ; Pyroptosis ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; Interleukin-18/immunology* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Caspase 1/immunology*

The cardioprotective effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDIs) are at odds with the deleterious effects of HDAC depletion. Here, we use HDAC3 as a prototype HDAC to address this contradiction. We show that adult-onset cardiac-specific depletion of HDAC3 in mice causes cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction on a high-fat diet (HFD), excluding developmental disruption as a major reason for the contradiction. Genetically abolishing HDAC3 enzymatic activity without affecting its protein level does not cause cardiac dysfunction on HFD. HDAC3 depletion causes robust downregulation of lipid oxidation/bioenergetic genes and upregulation of antioxidant/anti-apoptotic genes. In contrast, HDAC3 enzyme activity abolishment causes much milder changes in far fewer genes. The abnormal gene expression is cardiomyocyte-autonomous and can be rescued by an enzyme-dead HDAC3 mutant but not by an HDAC3 mutant (Δ33-70) that lacks interaction with the nuclear-envelope protein lamina-associated polypeptide 2β (LAP2β). Tethering LAP2β to the HDAC3 Δ33-70 mutant restored its ability to rescue gene expression. Finally, HDAC3 depletion, not loss of HDAC3 enzymatic activity, exacerbates cardiac contractile functions upon aortic constriction. These results suggest that the cardiac function of HDAC3 in adults is not attributable to its enzyme activity, which has implications for understanding the cardioprotective effects of HDIs.

Objective To observe the value of intratumoral and peritumoral CT radiomics for predicting Ki-67 expression level of lung adenocarcinoma with mixed ground glass nodules.Methods Totally 284 cases of pathologically confirmed lung adenocarcinoma with mixed ground glass nodules were retrospectively enrolled,among them 197 cases were taken as training set(54 cases with high and 143 cases with low Ki-67 expression)and 87 cases as validation set(27 cases with high and 60 cases with low Ki-67 expression).Intratumoral and peritumoral radiomic features were obtained from non-contrast chest CT,and radiomic models for predicting Ki-67 expression in lung adenocarcinoma with mixed ground glass nodules were established using adaptive boosting,light gradient boosting machine(LightGBM)and multilayer perceptron algorithms based on intratumoral features,peritumoral features,as well as intratumoral+peritumoral features,respectively,and the optimal radiomics signature was selected according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify independent impact factors of Ki-67 expression level,and a clinical model was constructed,and the efficacy of the models were evaluated.Results Among radiomics models,LightGBMintratumoral+peritumoral model had the highest AUC(0.934 in training set and 0.845 in validation set),which were superior to that of clinical model(0.616 in training set and 0.684 in validation set)(both P＜0.05)Conclusion Intratumoral and peritumoral CT radiomics had good efficacy for predicting Ki-67 expression level of lung adenocarcinoma with mixed ground glass nodules.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between sex hormone levels and micropenis after mild hypospadias surgery in children.Methods:A case control study was carried out.The clinical data of 71 children aged 1 to 13 years who underwent mild hypospadias surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from April 2022 to April 2024 were analyzed.Preoperatively, the children were divided into a mild hypospadias group (Group A) and a mild hypospadias with micropenis group (Group B) based on the stretched penile length (SPL).Prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, and testosterone (TES) levels of the 2 groups were measured.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to construct a risk prediction model.The discrimination capability of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.SPL and sex hormone levels were measured again 6 months after surgery.The children were divided into a normal penile group (Group AA) and a micropenis group (Group BB) after mild hypospadias according to SPL.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to construct a risk prediction model, which was evaluated using the ROC curve.Results:The levels of FSH, LH and TES in group A before the operation were 3.28(2.02, 4.46) IU/L, 0.53(0.25, 0.79) IU/L and 25.24(17.94, 36.67) ng/dL, respectively, and those in group B were 1.42(1.10, 1.84) IU/L, 0.14(0.09, 0.23) IU/L and 15.73 (12.92, 17.00) ng/dL, respectively.The difference was all statistically significant (all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed statistical significance ( OR=0.515, 95% CI: 0.271-0.977; OR=0.035, 95% CI: 0.002-0.542; OR=0.883, 95% CI: 0.796-0.980).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the prediction model was 0.906, with a sensitivity of 75.00% and a specificity of 95.74%.The levels of FSH, LH and TES in the postoperative AA group were 2.97 (1.88, 4.28) IU/L, 0.46 (0.23, 0.78) IU/L and 20.92 (17.34, 33.27) ng/dL, respectively.The median levels of FSH, LH and TES in the BB group were 1.52 (1.27, 1.82) IU/L, 0.17 (0.12, 0.26) IU/L and 15.08(11.68, 16.68) ng/dL, respectively.The difference was all statistically significant (all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed statistical significance ( OR=0.484, 95% CI: 0.236-0.992; OR=0.061, 95% CI: 0.004-0.939; OR=0.891, 95% CI: 0.795-0.999).The AUC of the prediction model constructed was 0.877, with a sensitivity of 94.12% and a specificity of 68.52%. Conclusions:Lower FSH, LH and TES levels are risk factors for the micropenis after mild hypospadias surgery, and preoperative hormone levels have higher predictive value.

Objective To observe the value of intratumoral and peritumoral CT radiomics for predicting Ki-67 expression level of lung adenocarcinoma with mixed ground glass nodules.Methods Totally 284 cases of pathologically confirmed lung adenocarcinoma with mixed ground glass nodules were retrospectively enrolled,among them 197 cases were taken as training set(54 cases with high and 143 cases with low Ki-67 expression)and 87 cases as validation set(27 cases with high and 60 cases with low Ki-67 expression).Intratumoral and peritumoral radiomic features were obtained from non-contrast chest CT,and radiomic models for predicting Ki-67 expression in lung adenocarcinoma with mixed ground glass nodules were established using adaptive boosting,light gradient boosting machine(LightGBM)and multilayer perceptron algorithms based on intratumoral features,peritumoral features,as well as intratumoral+peritumoral features,respectively,and the optimal radiomics signature was selected according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify independent impact factors of Ki-67 expression level,and a clinical model was constructed,and the efficacy of the models were evaluated.Results Among radiomics models,LightGBMintratumoral+peritumoral model had the highest AUC(0.934 in training set and 0.845 in validation set),which were superior to that of clinical model(0.616 in training set and 0.684 in validation set)(both P＜0.05)Conclusion Intratumoral and peritumoral CT radiomics had good efficacy for predicting Ki-67 expression level of lung adenocarcinoma with mixed ground glass nodules.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between sex hormone levels and micropenis after mild hypospadias surgery in children.Methods:A case control study was carried out.The clinical data of 71 children aged 1 to 13 years who underwent mild hypospadias surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from April 2022 to April 2024 were analyzed.Preoperatively, the children were divided into a mild hypospadias group (Group A) and a mild hypospadias with micropenis group (Group B) based on the stretched penile length (SPL).Prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, and testosterone (TES) levels of the 2 groups were measured.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to construct a risk prediction model.The discrimination capability of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.SPL and sex hormone levels were measured again 6 months after surgery.The children were divided into a normal penile group (Group AA) and a micropenis group (Group BB) after mild hypospadias according to SPL.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to construct a risk prediction model, which was evaluated using the ROC curve.Results:The levels of FSH, LH and TES in group A before the operation were 3.28(2.02, 4.46) IU/L, 0.53(0.25, 0.79) IU/L and 25.24(17.94, 36.67) ng/dL, respectively, and those in group B were 1.42(1.10, 1.84) IU/L, 0.14(0.09, 0.23) IU/L and 15.73 (12.92, 17.00) ng/dL, respectively.The difference was all statistically significant (all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed statistical significance ( OR=0.515, 95% CI: 0.271-0.977; OR=0.035, 95% CI: 0.002-0.542; OR=0.883, 95% CI: 0.796-0.980).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the prediction model was 0.906, with a sensitivity of 75.00% and a specificity of 95.74%.The levels of FSH, LH and TES in the postoperative AA group were 2.97 (1.88, 4.28) IU/L, 0.46 (0.23, 0.78) IU/L and 20.92 (17.34, 33.27) ng/dL, respectively.The median levels of FSH, LH and TES in the BB group were 1.52 (1.27, 1.82) IU/L, 0.17 (0.12, 0.26) IU/L and 15.08(11.68, 16.68) ng/dL, respectively.The difference was all statistically significant (all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed statistical significance ( OR=0.484, 95% CI: 0.236-0.992; OR=0.061, 95% CI: 0.004-0.939; OR=0.891, 95% CI: 0.795-0.999).The AUC of the prediction model constructed was 0.877, with a sensitivity of 94.12% and a specificity of 68.52%. Conclusions:Lower FSH, LH and TES levels are risk factors for the micropenis after mild hypospadias surgery, and preoperative hormone levels have higher predictive value.

Objective To investigate the short and long term effects of preincision of pancreatic duct sphincter in different types of patients with difficult intubation by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP).Method A retrospective study was conducted on 100 patients with difficulty in ERCP intubation from January 2019 to June 2020.Patients were divided into a control group(50 cases)and a study group(50 cases)according to different treatment methods.The control group underwent routine ERCP intubation without pancreaticotomy,while the study group underwent preincision of pancreatic duct sphincter on the basis of routine ERCP intubation.Calculate the successful intubation time,successful intubation rate,and length of hospital stay for two groups;Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect postoperative C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin-6(IL-6),and blood amylase levels in two groups of patients;Calculate the incidence of complications related to pre incision surgery in two groups of patients;Follow up the incidence of reflux cholangitis and recurrent pancreatitis in two groups of patients at 3,6,and 12 months after surgery,and evaluate the long-term efficacy of the two groups of patients.Result Compared with the control group,the study group showed a shorter in successful intubation time,and an increase in successful intubation rate(P<0.05).There was no difference in hospital stay between the two groups(P>0.05);Compared with the control group,the study group showed a decrease in CRP,IL-6 and blood amylase levels on the first day after surgery(P<0.05);The postoperative complication rate of patients in the control group was 14.0%,including 4 patients with acute pancreatitis,2 patients with bleeding,and 1 patient with perforation.The postoperative complication rate of patients in the study group was 2.0%,with 1 patient with bleeding.Compared with the control group,the postoperative complication rate of patients in the study group decreased(P<0.05);Compared with the control group,the incidence of reflux cholangitis in the study group decreased at 12 months after surgery,and the incidence of recurrent pancreatitis decreased at 3,6,and 12 months after surgery(P<0.05).Conclusion Preincision of the pancreatic duct sphincter has a mild impact on systemic inflammation in patients with difficult ERCP intubation,with normal blood amylase indicators and no increase in the incidence of postoperative pancreatitis.It can improve the success rate of intubation and has significant long-term efficacy.It is a safe and effective technique which is worth recommending.

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect and psychological influence of biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training on fecal incontinence after anorectal surgery in children.Methods:A retrospective case-control study.A total of 37 children who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from July 2021 to April 2023 for fecal incontinence after anorectal surgery were collected.Biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training was performed with a Laborie biofeedback therapy device, and pelvic floor muscle contraction function exercise was performed no less than 200 times a day.The anal canal current intensity, basic motion myoelectric value, contractile myoelectric difference and continuous anal contraction time were measured at before treatment, at the end of 1 course, 1 month and 1 year after treatment.Ten healthy children of the same age were selected as the healthy control group.The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used for psychological evaluation at before treatment and 1 year after treatment.Paired sample t test and independent sample t test were used to compare and analyze the results of this study. Results:Before treatment, at the end of 1 course, 1 month and 1 year after treatment, the anal canal current intensity of children with fecal incontinence were(11.32±1.92) mA, (10.22±1.28) mA, (8.45±1.09) mA, and(7.80±1.23) mA, respectively; the anal canal basic motion myoelectric value were(235.58±55.03) μV, (185.65±34.30) μV, (124.81±36.56) μV, and(93.99±28.29) μV, respectively; the anal canal contractile myoelectric difference were(45.64±20.38) μV, (64.20±16.59) μV, (93.63±25.53) μV, and(109.83±26.95) μV, respectively; the continuous anal contraction time were(1.27±0.43) s, (1.58±0.40) s, (2.04±0.39) s, and(2.47±0.38) s, respectively.These parameters before treatment, at the end of 1 course and 1 month after treatment were significantly different from those in the healthy control group[(7.20±1.09) mA, (88.65±21.76) μV, (120.73±27.57) μV, (2.68±0.29) s](all P<0.05).These parameters at 1 year after treatment were significantly different from those before treatment and 1 month after treatment(all P<0.05).However, there were no significant differences in these parameters between the healthy control group and the treatment group at 1 year after treatment(all P>0.05).There were statistically significant differences in emotional symptoms, hyperactivity symptoms, peer interaction, prosocial behavior and difficulty scores before and after treatment[(3.46±1.88) points vs.(2.59±1.32) points, (5.78±2.12) points vs.(3.70±1.78) points, (3.05±1.72) points vs.(2.49±1.30) points, (7.30±1.54) points vs.(8.27±1.39) points, (21.57±4.57) points vs.(18.54±3.14) points](all P<0.05). Conclusions:Biofeedback pelvic floor muscle training is a reliable and non-invasive method for the treatment of postoperative fecal incontinence after anorectal surgery in children and can effectively relieve the psychological and behavioral problems caused by fecal incontinence in children.

Objective:To explore the key copy number variation (CNV) regions, abortion candidate genes and signaling pathways associated with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the data of 1 870 miscarriage cases of RSA patients who received CNV analysis by high-throughput sequencing technology in the Laboratory Medicine Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to September 2022. These cases were divided into different groups based on the age of miscarriage and gestational age of the pregnant women. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the distribution of chromosome abnormalities and CNV. Gene functions and signaling pathways in RSA-related CNV were identified by gene enrichment analysis.Results:Among the 1 870 tissues, 1 001 (53.53%) cases were detected with chromosomal abnormalities. A total of 140 CNVs were detected in 93 tissues (9.29%), including 34 submicroscopic CNVs (segment<10 Mb) and 106 large CNVs with segment≥10 Mb. Submicroscopic pathogenicity CNVs with statistical differences were involved 1p36.33p36.23, 2q37.3, 4p16.3, 22q11.21 (χ 2=6.99, P=0.008) in early RSA embryos (≤12 weeks). 16p11.2 and Xp11.23p11.22 microdeletion were firstly reported in abortion cases. Significantly recurrent large CNVs were mainly involved 18q22q23 (del/dup), 4p16p15, 9p24p22, 8p23p22, and Xp22.3 regions, and the candidate genes mainly concentrated on PI3K-Akt and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Conclusion:Rare submicroscopic CNVs and recurrent large CNVs were associated with RSA in early pregnancy. GO and KEGG database analysis revealed potential abortion candidate genes and signaling pathways, providing new information for the genetic etiology of RSA.

Objective:To explore the key copy number variation (CNV) regions, abortion candidate genes and signaling pathways associated with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the data of 1 870 miscarriage cases of RSA patients who received CNV analysis by high-throughput sequencing technology in the Laboratory Medicine Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to September 2022. These cases were divided into different groups based on the age of miscarriage and gestational age of the pregnant women. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the distribution of chromosome abnormalities and CNV. Gene functions and signaling pathways in RSA-related CNV were identified by gene enrichment analysis.Results:Among the 1 870 tissues, 1 001 (53.53%) cases were detected with chromosomal abnormalities. A total of 140 CNVs were detected in 93 tissues (9.29%), including 34 submicroscopic CNVs (segment<10 Mb) and 106 large CNVs with segment≥10 Mb. Submicroscopic pathogenicity CNVs with statistical differences were involved 1p36.33p36.23, 2q37.3, 4p16.3, 22q11.21 (χ 2=6.99, P=0.008) in early RSA embryos (≤12 weeks). 16p11.2 and Xp11.23p11.22 microdeletion were firstly reported in abortion cases. Significantly recurrent large CNVs were mainly involved 18q22q23 (del/dup), 4p16p15, 9p24p22, 8p23p22, and Xp22.3 regions, and the candidate genes mainly concentrated on PI3K-Akt and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Conclusion:Rare submicroscopic CNVs and recurrent large CNVs were associated with RSA in early pregnancy. GO and KEGG database analysis revealed potential abortion candidate genes and signaling pathways, providing new information for the genetic etiology of RSA.