[Objective] To explore the clinical features of IgG4-related urinary diseases so as to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of such diseases. [Methods] The clinical data of 4 cases of IgG4-related urinary system diseases diagnosed and treated in Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University during Aug.2019 and Dec.2023 were retrospectively collected.Here, we report on the diagnosis and treatment of these patients, analysing their symptoms, serology, imaging and pathology as well as their treatment and outcomes. [Results] The patients included 2 male and 2 female.The lesions were involved with the retroperitoneum and urinary system.Three patients had symptoms of lumbar pain.The imaging manifestations were complex, including retroperitoneal mass involving urinary system organs in 2 cases, tabdense shadow of the right kidney in 1 case, and simple cystic mass of kidney in 1 case.Serum IgG4 value was not detected before surgery.All patients underwent radical surgical treatment.Postoperative pathology showed fibrous tissue hyperplasia with a large number of plasma cells, lymphocytes, a few neutrophil infiltrates, and lymphoid follicles and obliterated vasculitis in some specimens.The number of IgG4⁺ plasma cells was more than 10 in all tissues under high power microscope.After surgery, 3 patients had symptoms improved, and serum IgG4 value was within the normal range; 1 patient (patem 3) had elevated IgG4 value during follow-up, received subsequent hormone therapy, and the serum IgG 4 level remained stable. [Conclusion] The symptoms of IgG4-related diseases involving the urinary system are non-specific, and the imaging findings are various, easily confused with other diseases.Early detection of serum IgG4 and biopsy pathology can help clinicians make correct diagnosis in the early stage.

BACKGROUND: The primary limitation to kidney transplantation is organ shortage. Recent progress in gene editing and immunosuppressive regimens has made xenotransplantation with porcine organs a possibility. However, evidence in pig-to-human xenotransplantation remains scarce, and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a major obstacle to clinical applications of xenotransplantation. METHODS: We conducted a kidney xenotransplantation in a brain-dead human recipient using a porcine kidney with five gene edits (5GE) on March 25, 2024 at Xijing Hospital, China. Clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens were employed, and the observation period lasted 22 days. We collected and analyzed the xenograft function, ultrasound findings, sequential protocol biopsies, and immune surveillance of the recipient during the observation. RESULTS: The combination of 5GE in the porcine kidney and clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens prevented hyperacute rejection. The xenograft kidney underwent delayed graft function in the first week, but urine output increased later and the single xenograft kidney maintained electrolyte and pH homeostasis from postoperative day (POD) 12 to 19. We observed AMR at 24 h post-transplantation, due to the presence of pre-existing anti-porcine antibodies and cytotoxicity before transplantation; this AMR persisted throughout the observation period. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment mitigated the AMR. We observed activation of latent porcine cytomegalovirus toward the end of the study, which might have contributed to coagulation disorder in the recipient. CONCLUSIONS 5GE and clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens were sufficient to prevent hyperacute rejection during pig-to-human kidney xenotransplantation. Pre-existing anti-porcine antibodies predisposed the xenograft to AMR. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin were safe and effective in the treatment of AMR after kidney xenotransplantation.
Transplantation, Heterologous/methods* ; Kidney Transplantation/methods* ; Heterografts/pathology* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/administration & dosage* ; Graft Survival/immunology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Sus scrofa ; Graft Rejection/prevention & control* ; Kidney/pathology* ; Gene Editing ; Species Specificity ; Immunosuppression Therapy/methods* ; Plasma Exchange ; Brain Death ; Biopsy ; Male ; Aged

Objective To explore the biliary tract microbiota changes before and after drainage treatment in patients with malignant biliary obstruction(MBO),and to study the effects of biliary obstruction and drainage intervention on the bile microbiota from a microecological point of view.Methods From January 2020 to December 2022,DSA-guided percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage(PTCD)was carried out in 32 patients with MBO.A 22G drainage needle was inserted into the bile duct,and about 15-20mL of bile was extracted after it was confirmed that the needle was located within the intrahepatic bile duct,then,an external drainage tube,or an internal drainage tube together with an external drainage tube,was implanted into the bile duct along the guide wire.Seven days after PTCD,bile was extracted through a drainage tube.Bile sampling for germiculture and gene sequencing was conducted twice.The general data of patients,including whether acute cholangitis occurred and its severity,whether antibiotics was used for treatment,etc.,were collected.Results Of the 32 patients,cholangiocarcinoma was seen in 15,pancreatic cancer in 10,hepatocellular carcinoma in 3,and hilar lymph node metastasis from gastrointestinal malignant tumor in 4.Before PTCD,in the bile microbiota the burkholderia,acinetobacter,pseudomonas and staphylococcus were the bacteria with a high relative abundance,and the diversity and evenness of other microbial species seen in the normal biliary tract were reduced.Conclusion There is a stable microbiota within the normal biliary system,and in malignant obstructive biliary tract the microbiota has similar composition.After biliary drainage,the abundance of intestinal flora in bile is increased,and the species richness and diversity of the original biliary tract microbial community are decreased,which may explain the clinical phenomenon that patients are more prone to biliary tract infection after biliary drainage.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:516-522)

Objective:To compare the diagnostic efficacy of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/ CT and multi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for pelvic lymph node metastases in prostate cancer patients who received neoadjuvant endocrinology or not after initial diagnosis. Methods:Data of 52 patients with moderate and high-risk prostate cancer admitted to Xijing Hospital from February to October 2023, aged (65.8±6.6) years, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) 26.67 (13.09, 84.89) ng/ml, were retrospectively analyzed. Before operation, there were 28 cases of cT 2stage, 16 cases of cT 3 stage and 8 cases of cT 4 stage. There were 22 cases of cN 0 and 30 cases of cN 1. All patients underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and mpMRI at the same time, and were diagnosed positive lymph nodes in 28 and 21 cases, respectively. Risk stratification were high risk in 45 cases, and medium risk in 7 cases. According to the preoperative endocrine treatment, they were divided into the newly diagnosed group without treatment (24 cases) and the endocrine treated group (28 cases), whose ages were (65.0±7.1) years and (66.8±6.1) years, respectively. Preoperative PSA was 26.17 (16.73, 61.18) ng/ml and 27.32 (11.94, 130.18) ng/ml, respectively. Gleason scores ≤7 were in 10 cases (41.7%) and 6 cases (21.4%), and Gleason scores >7 were in 14 cases (58.3%) and 22 cases (78.6%), respectively. There were 15 (62.5%) and 13 (46.4%) cases of cT 1-2 stage, and 9 (37.5%) and 15 (53.6%) cases of cT 3-4 stage, respectively. There were 16 (66.7%) and 6 (21.4%) cases of stage N 0, 8 (33.3%) and 22 (78.6%) cases of stage N 1, respectively. There were 22 (91.7%) and 20 (71.4%) cases of stage M 0, 2 (8.3%) and 8 (28.6%) cases of stage M 1, respectively. PET/CT diagnosis of lymph node positive was in 9 cases (37.5%) and 19 cases (67.9%), and mpMRI diagnosis of lymph node positive was in 5 cases (20.8%) and 16 cases (57.1%). The number of positive lymph nodes diagnosed by PET/CT was 13 (72.2%) and 47 (90.1%), and the number of positive lymph nodes diagnosed by mpMRI was 8 (44.4%) and 32 (61.5%). There was no significant difference ( P>0.05). All patients underwent radical prostatectomy as well as enlarged pelvic lymph node resection. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the two imaging examinations in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis were compared according to the results of postoperative pathological examination of lymph nodes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare the accuracy of the two imaging tests in the diagnosis of pelvic lymph node metastasis in the newly diagnosed untreated group and the endocrine treated group. Results:In this study, of 52 cases, 26 (50.0%) had positive lymph nodes by pathological examination. In this study, a total of 681 lymph nodes were dissected, with 70 lymph nodes (10.28%) being pathologically positive, and the positive rate of 26 patients was 17.99% (70/389). The PET/CT and mpMRI detection rates of 26 node-positive patients were 92.3% (24/26) and 57.7% (15/26), respectively. There were 9 (37.5%) and 17 (60.7%) lymph node positive patients in the untreated group and the endocrine therapy group, respectively. There were 320 and 361 lymph nodes were clear, with 18 (5.6%) and 52 (14.4%) positive lymph nodes, respectively. The detection rates of PET/CT and mpMRI were 88.89% (8/9) and 94.12% (16/17)in the untreated group, and 44.44% (4/9) and 64.71% (11/17)in the endocrine treated group, respectively. In the newly treated group, the area under the curve (AUC) of PET/CT and mpMRI for diagnosing positive lymph nodes were 0.911 and 0.689 ( P=0.027), the sensitivity were 88.9% and 44.4%, and the specificity were 93.3% and 93.3%, respectively. PPV were 88.9% and 80.0%, and NPV were 93.3% and 73.7%, respectively. In the endocrine therapy group, the AUC of PET/CT and mpMRI for lymph node positive diagnosis were 0.834 and 0.596 ( P=0.011), the sensitivity were 94.1% and 64.7%, the specificity were 72.7% and 54.5%, and the PPV were 84.2% and 68.8%, respectively. NPV were 88.9% and 50.0%, respectively. Conclusions:For prostate cancer patients, regardless of whether they receive neoadjuvant endocrine therapy, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT can accurately detect pelvic lymph node metastasis, and the diagnostic efficacy is significantly better than that of mpMRI.

Abstract: Objective To identify and analyze the phospholipase A (PLA) gene family in Talaromyces marneffei (T. marneffei), providing the basis for further research on the potential pathogenic effect and mechanism of T. marneffei PLA. Methods The members of the PLA gene family in T. marneffei were genome-wide identified by using bioinformatics, and their gene structure, chromosome distribution, protein physicochemical property and structure, conserved motif, as well as phyletic evolution, were analyzed. The expression levels of PLA genes in T. marneffei under macrophage treatment were analyzed using the qRT-PCR method. Results A total of eight PLA genes were identified from the genome of T. marneffei, unevenly located on 5 chromosomes without any tandem duplications or fragment duplications. The amino acid residues of PLA proteins ranged from 577 to 1546, molecular weights from 65 120 to 170 690, and the isoelectric point from 4.47 to 9.28. All PLA proteins were hydrophilic, with all but PLA3 classified as unstable hydrophilic proteins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PLA was divided into two subfamilies: PLA2 and patatin-like phospholipase, consisting of 3 and 5 members respectively. Within the same subfamily, gene structures, protein-conserved motifs, and protein structures were relatively similar, whereas significant differences existed between different subfamilies. qRT PCR results showed that the expression levels of PLA3, PLA6, and PLA8 were upregulated in T. marneffei infected with mouse macrophages. Conclusions PLA3, PLA6, and PLA8 may be related to the survival and reproduction of T. marneffei in macrophages.

Objective:To investigate the changes in dynamic functional connectivity density (dFCD) and its relationship with Fagerstr?m test for nicotine dependence (FTND) scores in individuals with smoking addiction based on functional MR.Methods:The clinical and imaging data of 176 volunteers recruited through wechat and other online platforms from September 2019 to December 2020 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. The 176 volunteers were male, aged 20 to 55 years old, and were divided into light smoking addiction group (59 cases), heavy smoking addiction group (61 cases) and control group (56 cases). All subjects underwent resting state functional MR scanning and dFCD was calculated. The dFCD values of three groups were analyzed by ANOVA analysis (GRF corrected, voxel level P<0.005, cluster level P<0.01). Bonferroni correction was used for pairwise comparison. Pearson partial correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between dFCD values of brain regions with statistically significant differences and FTND scores. Results:Differences in dFCD among light smoking addiction group, heavy smoking addiction group and control group were mainly distributed in the right orbitofrontal cortex, left caudate nucleus, right putamen, bilateral calcarine sulcus cortex, right cuneus, left parahippocampal gyrus, left precuneus, left middle temporal gyrus and bilateral thalamus (GRF corrected, voxel level P<0.005, cluster level P<0.01). Compared with the control group, both the light and heavy smoking addiction groups showed decreased dFCD in the bilateral calcarine sulcus cortex, right cuneus and left precuneus, as well as increased dFCD in the right orbitofrontal cortex, right putamen, left caudate nucleus and left thalamus (Bonferroni corrected, P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the heavy smoking addiction group showed increased dFCD in the right thalamus, and the light smoking addiction group showed decreased dFCD in the left middle temporal gyrus (Bonferroni corrected, P<0.001). Compared with the light smoking addiction group, the heavy smoking addiction group showed increased dFCD in the left middle temporal gyrus and right thalamus, and decreased dFCD in the left parahippocampal gyrus (Bonferroni corrected, P<0.05). The mean value of dFCD in the right thalamus was positively correlated with FTND scores in smoking addiction patients ( r=0.227, P=0.014), and the mean value of dFCD in the right thalamus of the heavy smoking addiction subgroup was positively correlated with FTND scores ( r=0.323, P=0.013). There was no correlation between FTND scores and dFCD in the right thalamus of the light smoking addiction group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:There are changes of neural activity in brain regions related to smoking behaviors among people with different severity of smoking addiction, and smoking behaviors of people with heavy smoking addiction tend to be habitual compared with those with light smoking addiction.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital birth defects are the main source of disease burden among children under 5 years old in China. This study aims to compare the trends in disease burden of different congenital birth defects among Chinese children under 5 years old from 1990 to 2019, and to provide a scientific basis for strengthening the comprehensive prevention and control of birth defects. METHODS: Based on data from the Global Burden Disease (GBD) in 2019, the incidence mortality rate, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate of congenital birth defects among Chinese children under 5 years old from 1990 to 2019 were selected as evaluation indicators. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in disease burden of different types with congenital birth defects over three decades. The study also compared the differences in disease burden of congenital birth defects among children under 5 years old by gender. RESULTS: Compared to 1990, the DALYs rates of congenital heart anomalies (1 931.91/100 000), digestive congenital anomalies (364.63/100 000), neural tube defects (277.20/100 000), congenital musculoskeletal and limb anomalies (133.33/100 000), and Down syndrome (128.22/100 000) in children under 5 years old in China in 2019 were decreased 70.78%, 71.61%, 86.21%, 36.84% and 73.65%, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the mortality rates and DALYs rates of different congenital birth defects showed an overall downward trend, but the incidence of digestive congenital anomalies and Down syndrome showed an upward trend after 2005 and 2001, respectively. Except for congenital musculoskeletal and limb anomalies, incidence of the remaining categories of birth defects were higher in boys than that in girls. CONCLUSIONS The disease burden of congenital birth defects in children under 5 years old in China is decreased substantially from 1990 to 2019, but the burden of congenital heart anomalies is still serious and the incidence of some birth defect diseases is on the rise, and it is still crucial to strengthen the prevention and treatment for birth defects in children and propose targeted measures according to their gender characteristics.
Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; China/epidemiology* ; Cost of Illness ; Down Syndrome/epidemiology* ; East Asian People ; Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology*

Objective:To investigate the alterations of resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) among male smokers, and its correlation with clinical characteristics of smoking.Methods:The resting-state functional magnetic resonance data of 131 subjects recruited from January 2014 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively, including 76 smokers (smoking group) and 55 non-smokers (control group). VTA/SN was selected as regions of interest (ROI), and then calculated RSFC between VTA/SN and the whole brain.Based on SPM12 software, independent sample t-test was conducted to compare the differences in RSFC between smoking group and control group.Based on SPSS 22.0 software, Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationships between the RSFC of brain regions with significant differences and Fagerstr?m test for nicotine dependence (FTND) score, pack-year of smokers. Results:Compared with control group, the results showed decreased RSFC between VTA and the brain regions related default mode network (DMN)(including posterior cingulate cortex, right anterior cuneiform lobe, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus and right inferior parietal lobule), and regions of limbic system(including right marginal lobe and right angular gyrus), right calcarine (MNI: x, y, z=24, -55, -14) and left insula(MNI: x, y, z=-35, -11, 9) in smoking group(GRF corrected, voxel level P<0.005, cluster level P<0.05). Taking SN as the seed, there was no significant difference between smoking group and control group ( P>0.05). RSFC of VTA-left superior temporal gyrus was positively correlated with pack-year( r=0.243, P=0.034) and FTND ( r=0.282, P=0.014). VTA-left insula RSFC was positively correlated with FTND ( r=0.316, P=0.006). Conclusion:The RSFC in the mesolimbic system and the VTA-DMN circuit exist abnormal changes in smokers.To some extent, it may explain the reward deficits and dysfunction of emotion regulation in smokers, which may provide clues for further understanding the mechanism of tobacco addiction.

Objective:The nasal swell body（NSB） consists of the nasal septal cartilage, nasal bone, and swollen soft tissue, all of which are visible during endoscopic and imaging examinations. Although the function of the NSB remains uncertain, there is evidence to suggest that it plays a vital role in regulating nasal airflow and filtering inhaled air. Based on anatomical and histological evidence, it is hypothesized that the NSB is indispensable in these processes. This study aims to investigate the impact of NSB on nasal aerodynamics and the deposition of allergen particles under physiological conditions. Methods:The three-dimensional （3D） nasal models were reconstructed from computed tomography （CT） scans of the paranasal sinus and nasal cavity in 30 healthy adult volunteers from Northwest China, providing basis for the construction of models without NSB following virtual NSB-removal surgery. To analyze the distribution of airflow in the nasal cavity, nasal resistance, heating and humidification efficiency, and pollen particle deposition rate at various anatomical sites, we employed the computed fluid dynamics（CFD） method for numerical simulation and quantitative analysis. In addition, we created fully transparent segmented nasal cavity models through 3D printing, which were used to conduct bionic experiments to measure nasal resistance and allergen particle deposition. Results:①The average width and length of the NSB in healthy adults in Northwest China were （12.85±1.74） mm and （28.30±1.92） mm, respectively. ②After NSB removal, there was no significant change in total nasal resistance, and cross-sectional airflow velocity remained essentially unaltered except for a decrease in topical airflow velocity in the NSB plane. ③There was no discernible difference in the nasal heating and humidification function following the removal of the NSB; ④After NSB removal, the deposition fraction（DF） of Artemisia pollen in the nasal septum decreased, and the DFs post-and pre-NSB removal were（22.79±6.61）% vs （30.70±12.27）%, respectively; the DF in the lower airway increased, and the DFs post-and pre-NSB removal were（24.12±6.59）% vs （17.00±5.57）%, respectively. Conclusion:This study is the first to explore the effects of NSB on nasal airflow, heating and humidification, and allergen particle deposition in a healthy population. After NSB removal from the healthy nasal cavities: ①nasal airflow distribution was mildly altered while nasal resistance showed no significantly changed; ②nasal heating and humidification were not significantly changed; ③the nasal septum's ability to filter out Artemisia pollen was diminished, which could lead to increased deposition of Artemisia pollen in the lower airway.
Adult ; Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Nasal Cavity/surgery* ; Allergens ; Pollen ; Artemisia ; Hydrodynamics