Objective:To investigate the application value of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT targeting CXC subfamily receptor 4 (CXCR4) in the subtyping and precise localization of primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods:Thirty-three patients with PA confirmed by clinical examination and undergoing 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in the Second Xiangya Hospital between July 1st 2022 and July 1st 2023 were prospectively enrolled (24 males, 9 females, age (49.6±10.3) years). Patients with a dominant side identified by PET/CT or AVS underwent unilateral adrenalectomy, while those without a dominant side received medical treatment. According to the standard of PA surgical outcome (PASO), patients underwent surgery were divided into unilateral PA (UPA) and bilateral PA (BPA) based on the pathological and follow-up results. Those who received medical treatment were BPA. The diagnostic efficacy of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for UPA was calculated. The ROC curve was constructed to analyze the accuracy and optimal threshold of SUV max, the ratio of lesion SUV max to contralateral adrenal tissue SUV mean (LCR), and the ratio of lesion SUV max to liver SUV mean (LLR) in the diagnosis of PA subtype. The correlation between the quantitative parameters and the clinical features and lesion width of the patients was evaluated by Spearman rank correlation analysis. The differences of LCR and LLR between different efficacy groups were compared by the independent-sample t test. Results:A total of 20 patients underwent unilateral adrenalectomy. Nineteen patients were finally diagnosed with UPA and 14 with BPA. The agreement rate of PET/CT and AVS was 81.8%(27/33), and both methods independently detected UPA that was negative in the other examination. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT visual diagnosis of UPA were 18/19, 14/14, and 97.0%(32/33), respectively. ROC curve showed that the AUC of LLR for subtype diagnosis was 0.944, with the optimal threshold of 3.1. SUV max, LCR, and LLR were positively correlated with aldosterone concentration ( rs values: 0.35, 0.47, and 0.36, all P<0.05) and lesion width ( rs values: 0.43, 0.49, and 0.58, all P<0.05). The LCR (3.9±2.2 vs 1.6±0.3; t=2.00, P=0.041) and LLR( 8.7±4.1 vs 4.2±1.3; t=2.06, P=0.045) of the dominant side lesions in patients who achieved complete biochemical and clinical cure were higher than those in patients with partial improvement. Conclusions:68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT imaging can be used in the diagnosis and precise localization of PA subtype. It also can detect patients with PA which can be surgically cured but not detected by AVS, and the quantitative analysis may be valuable for prognosis prediction.

BACKGROUND:With the continuous improvement of artificial biological materials and surgical techniques,total knee arthroplasty has become the preferred way to improve the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis. However,patients with knee osteoarthritis have severe pain after knee arthroplasty,and there is no good treatment at present. Electroacupuncture therapy is a low-cost option for pain relief and has wide application prospects in combination with preemptive analgesia.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of opposing needling acupuncture with preemptive analgesia on postoperative analgesia after initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis.METHODS:Using a randomized controlled design,120 participants were selected from Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrative Medicine. All of them received the initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty. The patients were divided into three groups by using the statistical software SPSS 25:pre-electroacupuncture group,post-electroacupuncture group,and sham group,with 40 patients in each group. In pre-electroacupuncture group,opposing needling acupuncture was performed 1 day before operation,30 minutes before anesthesia induction,and 1-3 days after operation. In post-electroacupuncture group,opposing needling acupuncture was performed with the same acupoints and parameters 1-3 days after operation,thus the sham electroacupuncture was performed 1 day before operation and 30 minutes before anesthesia induction. The sham group was treated with the same acupuncture point parameters with five times of sham electroacupuncture. The improvement of numerical rating scale after operation,the consumption of remifentanil and propofol used during operation,the time when patient first used the patient-controlled analgesia,the number of postoperative nausea and vomiting,the increase rate of thigh circumference,and the success rate of blind method were compared among the three groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the improvement of numerical rating scale at rest between post-electroacupuncture group and sham group on day 4 after operation was significantly reduced;the improvement of numerical rating scale at rest in sham group on day 7 after operation was significantly reduced (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the improvement of numerical rating scale score between post-electroacupuncture group and sham group on day 4 after operation was significantly reduced (P<0.05),and the improvement of numerical rating scale with movement on day 7 after operation was not significant among the three groups (P>0.05). (3) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the remifentanil consumption was significantly increased in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (4) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the first time used the patient-controlled analgesia pump was significantly shortened in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (5) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the number of postoperative nausea was increased in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (6) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the increase rate of thigh circumference in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group was significantly increased on day 3 and day 7 after operation (P<0.05). Compared with the post-electroacupuncture group,the increase rate of thigh circumference in sham group was significantly increased on day 3 and day 7 after operation (P<0.05). (7) There was no significant difference in the success rate of blind method among the three groups (P>0.05). (8) The artificial knee prosthesis has good biocompatibility. To conclude,opposing needling acupuncture with preemptive analgesia can relieve acute pain after total knee arthroplasty,reduce the consumption of intraoperative anesthesia,prolong the time of postoperative analgesia,alleviate postoperative adverse reactions,and reduce the increase rate of thigh circumference.

BACKGROUND:With the continuous improvement of artificial biological materials and surgical techniques,total knee arthroplasty has become the preferred way to improve the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis. However,patients with knee osteoarthritis have severe pain after knee arthroplasty,and there is no good treatment at present. Electroacupuncture therapy is a low-cost option for pain relief and has wide application prospects in combination with preemptive analgesia.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of opposing needling acupuncture with preemptive analgesia on postoperative analgesia after initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis.METHODS:Using a randomized controlled design,120 participants were selected from Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrative Medicine. All of them received the initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty. The patients were divided into three groups by using the statistical software SPSS 25:pre-electroacupuncture group,post-electroacupuncture group,and sham group,with 40 patients in each group. In pre-electroacupuncture group,opposing needling acupuncture was performed 1 day before operation,30 minutes before anesthesia induction,and 1-3 days after operation. In post-electroacupuncture group,opposing needling acupuncture was performed with the same acupoints and parameters 1-3 days after operation,thus the sham electroacupuncture was performed 1 day before operation and 30 minutes before anesthesia induction. The sham group was treated with the same acupuncture point parameters with five times of sham electroacupuncture. The improvement of numerical rating scale after operation,the consumption of remifentanil and propofol used during operation,the time when patient first used the patient-controlled analgesia,the number of postoperative nausea and vomiting,the increase rate of thigh circumference,and the success rate of blind method were compared among the three groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the improvement of numerical rating scale at rest between post-electroacupuncture group and sham group on day 4 after operation was significantly reduced;the improvement of numerical rating scale at rest in sham group on day 7 after operation was significantly reduced (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the improvement of numerical rating scale score between post-electroacupuncture group and sham group on day 4 after operation was significantly reduced (P<0.05),and the improvement of numerical rating scale with movement on day 7 after operation was not significant among the three groups (P>0.05). (3) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the remifentanil consumption was significantly increased in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (4) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the first time used the patient-controlled analgesia pump was significantly shortened in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (5) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the number of postoperative nausea was increased in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (6) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the increase rate of thigh circumference in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group was significantly increased on day 3 and day 7 after operation (P<0.05). Compared with the post-electroacupuncture group,the increase rate of thigh circumference in sham group was significantly increased on day 3 and day 7 after operation (P<0.05). (7) There was no significant difference in the success rate of blind method among the three groups (P>0.05). (8) The artificial knee prosthesis has good biocompatibility. To conclude,opposing needling acupuncture with preemptive analgesia can relieve acute pain after total knee arthroplasty,reduce the consumption of intraoperative anesthesia,prolong the time of postoperative analgesia,alleviate postoperative adverse reactions,and reduce the increase rate of thigh circumference.

Objective:To investigate the application value of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT targeting CXC subfamily receptor 4 (CXCR4) in the subtyping and precise localization of primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods:Thirty-three patients with PA confirmed by clinical examination and undergoing 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in the Second Xiangya Hospital between July 1st 2022 and July 1st 2023 were prospectively enrolled (24 males, 9 females, age (49.6±10.3) years). Patients with a dominant side identified by PET/CT or AVS underwent unilateral adrenalectomy, while those without a dominant side received medical treatment. According to the standard of PA surgical outcome (PASO), patients underwent surgery were divided into unilateral PA (UPA) and bilateral PA (BPA) based on the pathological and follow-up results. Those who received medical treatment were BPA. The diagnostic efficacy of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for UPA was calculated. The ROC curve was constructed to analyze the accuracy and optimal threshold of SUV max, the ratio of lesion SUV max to contralateral adrenal tissue SUV mean (LCR), and the ratio of lesion SUV max to liver SUV mean (LLR) in the diagnosis of PA subtype. The correlation between the quantitative parameters and the clinical features and lesion width of the patients was evaluated by Spearman rank correlation analysis. The differences of LCR and LLR between different efficacy groups were compared by the independent-sample t test. Results:A total of 20 patients underwent unilateral adrenalectomy. Nineteen patients were finally diagnosed with UPA and 14 with BPA. The agreement rate of PET/CT and AVS was 81.8%(27/33), and both methods independently detected UPA that was negative in the other examination. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT visual diagnosis of UPA were 18/19, 14/14, and 97.0%(32/33), respectively. ROC curve showed that the AUC of LLR for subtype diagnosis was 0.944, with the optimal threshold of 3.1. SUV max, LCR, and LLR were positively correlated with aldosterone concentration ( rs values: 0.35, 0.47, and 0.36, all P<0.05) and lesion width ( rs values: 0.43, 0.49, and 0.58, all P<0.05). The LCR (3.9±2.2 vs 1.6±0.3; t=2.00, P=0.041) and LLR( 8.7±4.1 vs 4.2±1.3; t=2.06, P=0.045) of the dominant side lesions in patients who achieved complete biochemical and clinical cure were higher than those in patients with partial improvement. Conclusions:68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT imaging can be used in the diagnosis and precise localization of PA subtype. It also can detect patients with PA which can be surgically cured but not detected by AVS, and the quantitative analysis may be valuable for prognosis prediction.

Background and Objectives: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) participate in vascular repair and predict cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between EPCs and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods: and Results: Patients (age 67±9.41 years) suffering from AAAs (aortic diameters 58.09±11.24 mm) were prospectively enrolled in this study. All patients received endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Blood samples were taken preoperatively and 14 days after surgery from patients with aortic aneurysms. Samples were also obtained from age-matched control subjects. Circulating EPCs were defined as those cells that were double positive for CD34 and CD309. Rat models of AAA formation were generated by the peri-adventitial elastase application of either saline solution (control; n=10), or porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE; n=14). The aortas were analyzed using an ultrasonic video system and immunohistochemistry. The levels of CD34＋/CD309＋ cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations were measured by flow cytometry. The baseline numbers of circulating EPCs (CD34＋/CD309＋) in the peripheral blood were significantly smaller in AAA patients compared with control subjects. The number of EPCs doubled by the 14th day after EVAR. A total of 78.57% of rats in the PPE group (11/14) formed AAAs (dilation ratio ＞150%). The numbers of EPCs from defined AAA rats were significantly decreased compared with the control group. Conclusions EPC levels may be useful for monitoring abdominal aorta aneurysms and rise after EVAR in patients with aortic aneurysms, and might contribute to the rapid endothelialization of vessels.

Objective To explore the effects of ring finger protein 43 (RNF43) on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Synovial tissues from patients with RA treated by knee arthroplasty were used to isolate FLSs by type 2 collagenase.RNF43 lentivirus overexpressing plasmid was constructed and transfected in to RA-FLS.After successful transfection,RNA and super natant of RA-FLS were extracted.QRT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13.Data were analyzed with Student's t test.Results Transfection efficiency could meet the test requirements when the multiplicity of infection was 40 and was in conjunction with appropriate concentration of polybrene.The mRNA of RNF43 increased for 26158-fold than the control group.In vitro,compared with the control group,RNF43 could significantly inhibit the mRNA of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 and MMP-13 [(0.19±0.06),t=28.314,P＜0.05;(0.28±0.07),t=23.413,P＜0.05;(0.21±0.09),t=18.365,P＜0.05]and the protein of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 and MMP-13 [(31.0±9.4) pg/ml,(17.1±2.1) pg/ml,t=3.198,P=0.029],MMP-3 [(38.7±8.1) pg/ml,(24.9±3.5) pg/ml,t=3.514,P=0.015],MMP-13 [(35.9±5.4) pg/ml,(20.6±2.9) pg/ml,t=5.632,P=0.001].Conclusion The results of study suggest that RNF43 could inhibit the secretion of MMPs in RA-FLS by suppressing the activity of Wnt signal pathway.

Fructus psoralea is a tonic traditional Chinese herb commonly used in clinic.The chemical constituents of Fructus psoralea are complicated,mainly containing coumarins,flavonoids and monoterpene phenols with various pharmacological effects.Since the increasing number of reports on the toxicity of Fructus psoralea in clinic,the side effects including toxicity on the liver and kidney,as well as skin allergies have gradually attracted attention.The toxicity of Fructus psoralea is produced from ADME (absorption,distribution,metabolism and excretion) in vivo.In this paper,we collected and clarified the studies of ADME of Fructus psoralea in vivo,and summarized recent adverse clinical events and research over its toxicity.We propose to make a thorough study on the toxic material basis of Fructus psoralea and the toxicological mechanism of its extraction,fractions and compounds.The review provided a possible reference and the direction of research for the safe clinical use of Fructus psoralea.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of acupuncture combined with Jiawei Mojie tablet for the prevention of endometriosis recurrence after surgery.

METHODSOne hundred and six patients after the conservative surgery against endometriosis were randomly divided into a western medication group and an acupuncture and medication group(a combination group), 53 cases in each one. In the western medication group, gestrinone was applied orally. In the combination group, acupuncture and Jiawei Mojie tablet with oral administration were adopted. Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were mainly used, and acupoints based on syndrome differentiation were combined. After the surgery and when the menstruation was end, 3 to 5 days later the preventive treatment was used successively for 6 months. Patients were followed up after treatment and in 3 months, 6 months, and 18 months (two years after surgery) after treatment. The recurrence [Abdominal/perineal ultrasonic examination, serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) test], menstruation score, endometriosis health profile-5 (EHP-5) and the safety index of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSEight patients (five cases in the western medication group and three cases in the combination group) were rejected because of dropping, and six ones (two cases in the western medication group and four cases in the combination group) discontinued. When patients were followed up in 18 months after treatment, the suspected recurrence rate through ultrasonic examination was 2.0% (1/50), and the unusual rate of serum CA125 text was 4.0% (2/50) in the combination group, which were apparently lower than 18.8% (9/48) and 25.0% (12/48) in the western medication group (both P < 0.01). After treatment and 3-month, 6-month, and 18-month following up, the menstruation scores of the combination group were obviously lower than those of the western medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After 18 months, the positive rate of EHP-5 in the combination group was 0 (0/50), which was markedly lower than 18.8% (9/48) in the western medication group (P < 0.01). After treatment and 3-month, 6-month, and 18-month following up, the unusual rates of serum ALT text in the combination group were lower than those in the western medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After treatment, the unusual rate of serum ALT text was not significantly different in the combination group compared with that before treatment (P > 0.05), and after treatment and 3-month, 6-month following up, the unusual rates of serum ALT text in the western medication group were remarkablely higher than those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After 18-month following up, the unusual rate of serum ALT text in the western medication group was not statistically significant compared with that before treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with Jiawei Mojie tablet can effectively prevent endometriosis recurrence after surgery, and improve menstruation condition and life quality, which are less injurious for liver than gestrinone.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Administration, Oral ; Adult ; CA-125 Antigen ; blood ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Endometriosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

Objective:To analyse the biological function of anti-IL-6Rβ(gp130) monoclonal antibody and its regulatory effect on IL-6 signaling.Methods:Biological characteristics of anti-IL-6Rβ(gp130) mAb were assessed by Western blot analysis, capture ELISA and peptide ELISA .The phosphorylation of STAT 3 was tested by Western blot analysis in IL-6-stimulated U266/RA-FLS/RA-PBMC with or without anti-IL-6Rβ(gp130) mAb treatment.Results:3 strains of mouse anti-human gp130 mAb were with high affini-ty and different binding epitopes , the kaff of 10A1 was 2.62E-10.In U266, RA-PBMC and RA-SFMC, IL-6 signaling highly activated STAT3 which could be inhibited by anti-gp130 mAb.Conclusion: Anti-IL-6Rβ( gp130 ) mAb might have different binding epitopes and could affect IL-6 stimulated phosphorylation of STAT3, which provides a preliminary experiment for analyse the correlation of IL-6 signaling and RA .

Objective To explore the feasibility and curative effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrinolytic therapy in order to cure radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP) and to discuss the principle, indication and precautions. Methods The treatment was taken on 16 cases that had a definite clinical diagnosis and we took a systematic examination to make sure that there was no recurrence or metastasis of the tumor.Brachial plexus and tender area block was taken once a week by injection of mixture of hyaluronidase, hexadecadrol, Vitamine B12 and lidocaine. The therapy was applied for 6 to 12 weeks. Results All the patients were followed up for a period of 0.5 to 10 years. Four cases had an evident alleviation of the symptoms and got a function resumption of hands; 5 cases had an alleviation of pain and improvement of sensation and the progress of illness were terminated, but motor function didn't have improvement; 7 cases had a continued aggravation of the symptoms. All the cases found improvement in electromyography. Concluslon The aim of fibrinolytic therapy is to dissolve the extra ECM such as hyaluronic acid around nerves in order to achieve a new homeostasis. It can relieve the conglutination and entrapment at nerve inside and outside, reduce the pressure of neuraxon and create an availing condition for the regenesis of nerve and the regain of function.