OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and mechanism of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase/stimulator of interferon gene (cGAS/STING) pathway in oleic acid-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. METHODS: Male wild-type C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups (each n = 10): normal control group, ALI model group, and 5, 50, 500 μg/kg inhibitor pretreatment groups. The ALI model was established by tail vein injection of oleic acid (7 mL/kg), while the normal control group received no intervention. The inhibitor pretreatment groups were intraperitoneally injected with the corresponding doses of cGAS inhibitor RU.521 respectively 1 hour before modeling. At 24 hours post-modeling, blood was collected, and mice were sacrificed. Lung tissue pathological changes were observed under light microscopy after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and pathological scores were assessed. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, phosphorylated TANK-binding kinase 1 (p-TBK1), phosphorylated interferon regulatory factor 3 (p-IRF3), and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) in lung tissue. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe STING and p-NF-κB positive expressions in lung tissue. Serum interferon-β (IFN-β) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the ALI model group exhibited significant focal alveolar thickening, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary capillary congestion, and neutrophil infiltration in the pulmonary interstitium and alveoli, along with markedly increased pathological scores (10.33±0.58 vs. 1.33±0.58, P < 0.05). Protein expressions of cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, p-IRF3, and p-NF-κB p65 in lung tissue significantly increased [cGAS protein (cGAS/β-actin): 1.24±0.02 vs. 0.56±0.02, STING protein (STING/β-actin): 1.27±0.01 vs. 0.55±0.01, p-TBK1 protin (p-TBK1/β-actin): 1.34±0.03 vs. 0.22±0.01, p-IRF3 protein (p-IRF3/β-actin): 1.23±0.02 vs. 0.36±0.01, p-NF-κB p65 protein (p-NF-κB p65/β-actin): 1.30±0.02 vs. 0.53±0.02, all P < 0.05], positive expressions of STING and p-NF-κB in lung tissue were significantly elevated [STING (A value): 0.51±0.03 vs. 0.30±0.07, p-NF-κB (A value): 0.57±0.05 vs. 0.31±0.03, both P < 0.05], and serum IFN-β levels were also significantly higher (ng/L: 256.02±3.84 vs. 64.15±1.17, P < 0.05). The cGAS inhibitor pretreatment groups showed restored alveolar structural integrity, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased hemorrhage area, along with dose-dependent lower pathological scores as well as the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, p-IRF3 and p-NF-κB p65 in lung tissue, with significant differences between the 500 μg/kg inhibitor group and ALI model group [pathological score: 2.67±0.58 vs. 10.33±0.58, cGAS protein (cGAS/β-actin): 0.56±0.03 vs. 1.24±0.02, STING protein (STING/β-actin): 0.67±0.03 vs. 1.27±0.01, p-TBK1 protein (p-TBK1/β-actin): 0.28±0.01 vs. 1.34±0.03, p-IRF3 protein (p-IRF3/β-actin): 0.32±0.01 vs. 1.23±0.02, p-NF-κB p65 protein (p-NF-κB p65/β-actin): 0.63±0.01 vs. 1.30±0.02, all P < 0.05]. Compared with the ALI model group, positive expressions of STING and p-NF-κB in lung tissue were significantly reduced in the 500 μg/kg inhibitor group [STING (A value): 0.40±0.01 vs. 0.51±0.03, p-NF-κB (A value): 0.43±0.02 vs. 0.57±0.05, both P < 0.05], and serum IFN-β levels were also markedly reduced (ng/L: 150.03±6.19 vs. 256.02±3.84, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The cGAS/STING pathway is activated in oleic acid-induced ALI, leading to exacerbated inflammatory responses and increased lung damage. RU.521 can inhibit cGAS, thereby down-regulating the expression of pathway proteins and cytokines, and providing protection to lung tissue.
Animals ; Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Male ; Nucleotidyltransferases/metabolism* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Oleic Acid/adverse effects* ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Lung/pathology* ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal

Objective:To explore the dynamic change trajectory and influencing factors of postoperative fatigue (POF) in patients with early digestive tract cancer undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), so as to provide theoretical basis for individualized management of such patients.Methods:Using cross-sectional survey and convenient sampling method, the patients who underwent ESD for early cancer of digestive tract in the endoscopic center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January to June 2024 were selected as the research objects. The questionnaires were conducted at 30 min, 24 h, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days after ESD with Christensen's postoperative fatigue score. Spearman test was used to analyze the correlation between pain, insomnia and POF. The latent variable growth model was used to identify the potential categories of POF trajectory, and the influencing factors were analyzed by Logistic regression.Results:A total of 232 patients were finally induded, with ages of 19-94(59.53 ± 13.29) years, including 120 males and 112 femalss. The POF level of patients with early cancer of digestive tract showed a downward trend one week after operation. Three postoperative fatigue trajectories were fitted, 9.05% in moderate or severe fatigue low-speed smooth descent group (C1 group); 32.76% in moderate fatigue first decreased quickly and then slowly group (C2 group) and 58.19% in mild fatigue continuous decline group (C3 group). The result of Logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with C1 group, people without religious beliefs were morelikely to enter C2 group [ β = 1.572, OR = 4.818(1.033 - 22.465), P<0.05]; compared with C3 group, patients with high pain level and severe insomnia degree were likely to enter C1 [ β = 2.621, 0.663, OR were 13.754(2.692 - 70.283) and 1.942(1.429 - 2.638), both P<0.05] and C2 [ β = 2.010, 0.491, OR were 7.464(1.890 - 29.482) and 1.634(1.348 - 1.982), both P<0.05] group. Conclusions:There were three potential types of POF in patients with early digestive tract cancer ESD. Medical staff should pay attention to patients with severe insomnia, intense pain and religious beliefs, and give staged fatigue assessment and individualized intervention, so as to reduce the level of POF and promote rapid recovery.

Objective:To explore the value of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP), CHA2DS2-VASc score combined with echocardiography in predicting the prognosis of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 320 AF patients admitted to the First People′s Hospital of Chuzhou from January 2022 to June 2024. All patients completed echocardiography, NT-proBNP blood sample testing, and CHA2DS2-VASc assessment. They were followed up for 6 months or until the occurrence of endpoint events (stroke or all-cause death). According to the prognosis, patients were divided into the endpoint event group and the good prognosis group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen the influencing factors of endpoint events in AF patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to analyze the predictive value of NT-proBNP, CHA2DS2-VASc score and echocardiography for the prognosis of AF patients.Results:By the end of follow-up, among 320 AF patients, 64 cases (20.00%) had endpoint events, including 33 cases (10.31%) of stroke and 31 cases (9.69%) of all-cause death; 256 cases (80.00%) had no endpoint events. The age, CHA2DS2-VASc score, proportion of New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function grade Ⅳ, proportion of complicated type 2 diabetes, proportion of complicated peripheral vascular disease, left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), logarithm of NT-proBNP, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level in the endpoint event group were all higher than those in the good prognosis group (all P<0.05). The hemoglobin (Hb) level, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and proportions of lipid-lowering and anticoagulant drug treatments were lower than those in the good prognosis group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CHA2DS2-VASc score and NT-proBNP were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in AF patients (all P<0.05), and anticoagulant and lipid-lowering drug treatments were independent protective factors (all P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) of NT-proBNP, CHA2DS2-VASc score combined with echocardiography in predicting the prognosis of AF patients were 90.63%, 95.31%, and 0.927, respectively. The specificity and AUC of the combined prediction were higher than those of single assessment (all P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in sensitivity compared with single prediction (all P>0.05). Conclusions:NT-proBNP, CHA2DS2-VASc score, and echocardiography all have certain predictive value for the prognosis of AF patients, but the combined prediction value of the three is higher.

Objective:To explore the dynamic change trajectory and influencing factors of postoperative fatigue (POF) in patients with early digestive tract cancer undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), so as to provide theoretical basis for individualized management of such patients.Methods:Using cross-sectional survey and convenient sampling method, the patients who underwent ESD for early cancer of digestive tract in the endoscopic center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January to June 2024 were selected as the research objects. The questionnaires were conducted at 30 min, 24 h, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days after ESD with Christensen's postoperative fatigue score. Spearman test was used to analyze the correlation between pain, insomnia and POF. The latent variable growth model was used to identify the potential categories of POF trajectory, and the influencing factors were analyzed by Logistic regression.Results:A total of 232 patients were finally induded, with ages of 19-94(59.53 ± 13.29) years, including 120 males and 112 femalss. The POF level of patients with early cancer of digestive tract showed a downward trend one week after operation. Three postoperative fatigue trajectories were fitted, 9.05% in moderate or severe fatigue low-speed smooth descent group (C1 group); 32.76% in moderate fatigue first decreased quickly and then slowly group (C2 group) and 58.19% in mild fatigue continuous decline group (C3 group). The result of Logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with C1 group, people without religious beliefs were morelikely to enter C2 group [ β = 1.572, OR = 4.818(1.033 - 22.465), P<0.05]; compared with C3 group, patients with high pain level and severe insomnia degree were likely to enter C1 [ β = 2.621, 0.663, OR were 13.754(2.692 - 70.283) and 1.942(1.429 - 2.638), both P<0.05] and C2 [ β = 2.010, 0.491, OR were 7.464(1.890 - 29.482) and 1.634(1.348 - 1.982), both P<0.05] group. Conclusions:There were three potential types of POF in patients with early digestive tract cancer ESD. Medical staff should pay attention to patients with severe insomnia, intense pain and religious beliefs, and give staged fatigue assessment and individualized intervention, so as to reduce the level of POF and promote rapid recovery.

Objective:To explore the value of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP), CHA2DS2-VASc score combined with echocardiography in predicting the prognosis of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 320 AF patients admitted to the First People′s Hospital of Chuzhou from January 2022 to June 2024. All patients completed echocardiography, NT-proBNP blood sample testing, and CHA2DS2-VASc assessment. They were followed up for 6 months or until the occurrence of endpoint events (stroke or all-cause death). According to the prognosis, patients were divided into the endpoint event group and the good prognosis group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen the influencing factors of endpoint events in AF patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to analyze the predictive value of NT-proBNP, CHA2DS2-VASc score and echocardiography for the prognosis of AF patients.Results:By the end of follow-up, among 320 AF patients, 64 cases (20.00%) had endpoint events, including 33 cases (10.31%) of stroke and 31 cases (9.69%) of all-cause death; 256 cases (80.00%) had no endpoint events. The age, CHA2DS2-VASc score, proportion of New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function grade Ⅳ, proportion of complicated type 2 diabetes, proportion of complicated peripheral vascular disease, left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), logarithm of NT-proBNP, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level in the endpoint event group were all higher than those in the good prognosis group (all P<0.05). The hemoglobin (Hb) level, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and proportions of lipid-lowering and anticoagulant drug treatments were lower than those in the good prognosis group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CHA2DS2-VASc score and NT-proBNP were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in AF patients (all P<0.05), and anticoagulant and lipid-lowering drug treatments were independent protective factors (all P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) of NT-proBNP, CHA2DS2-VASc score combined with echocardiography in predicting the prognosis of AF patients were 90.63%, 95.31%, and 0.927, respectively. The specificity and AUC of the combined prediction were higher than those of single assessment (all P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in sensitivity compared with single prediction (all P>0.05). Conclusions:NT-proBNP, CHA2DS2-VASc score, and echocardiography all have certain predictive value for the prognosis of AF patients, but the combined prediction value of the three is higher.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of acupuncture combined with sand therapy on bone biomechanics and immune function in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis based on G protein coupled signal.Methods:Totally 35 rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, model group, sand therapy group, acupuncture and moxibustion group and combined group, with 7 rabbits in each group. Except for the normal group, all other groups were prepared with knee osteoarthritis models. After 12 h modeling, rabbits in the sand therapy group and the combined group were treated with sand therapy. Rabbits in the acupuncture and moxibustion group and the combined group received acupuncture stimulation intervention therapy. Rabbits in normal group and model group only moved freely. The levels of IgG, IgM and IgA in serum and IL-1β and TNF-α were detected by ELISA method. The biomechanical properties of femur were measured by American Instron universal material experimental machine. The pathological changes of rabbits in each group were observed by HE staining. Protein expression levels of Gαs, cAMP and Gi in rabbit cartilage tissues were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with model group, the levels of IgG, IgM and IgA increased ( P<0.05)l the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α decreased ( P<0.05); the maximum load, breaking load, structural stiffness and capacity absorption of rabbits in sand therapy group, acupuncture group and combined group increased ( P<0.05); the expressions of Gαs and cAMP protein increased ( P<0.05), while the expression of Gi protein decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture combined with sand therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis can effectively improve the bone strength of osteoarthritis, reduce the inflammatory response, balance the expression of G protein and improve the imbalance of immunoglobulin.

Objective:To investigate the effects of external application of Compound Dahuang Powder combined with acupuncture on the synovial ultrastructure, pathological angiogenesis, and Ras/Raf signaling pathway in rheumatoid arthritis rats.Methods:Totally 100 SPF grade SD rats were selected and divided into normal group, model group, acupuncture group, external application group, and combination group according to random number table method, with 20 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, Freund's complete adjuvant was injected into the bilateral plantars to establish a rheumatoid arthritis model. One week after modeling, the acupuncture group received acupuncture at "Yinlingquan (SP9)" and "Sanyinjiao (SP6)" for 30 minutes, with continuous intervention for 6 days and 7 days as one course of treatment, for a total of 3 courses of intervention. The external application group of rats applied compound Dahuang Powder on the right hind foot and ankle joint, 10 g/time, twice a day, for 7 days as one course of treatment, with a total of 3 intervention courses; the combination group received a combined intervention of acupuncture and external application of compound Dahuang Powder. No intervention was performed in the normal group and model group. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum of rats in each group were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of synovial cells. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of synovial tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR2 in synovial tissue. Western blot and RT qPCR were used to detect Ras/Raf protein and mRNA in synovial tissue, respectively.Results:Compared with model group, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum of rats in acupuncture group and external application group decreased ( P<0.05), the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 decreased ( P<0.05), and the expressions of Ras and Raf protein and mRNA in acupuncture group and external application group decreased ( P<0.05). Compared with acupuncture group and external application group, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum of rats in the combination group decreased ( P<0.05), the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 decreased ( P<0.05), and the expressions of Ras and Raf protein and mRNA in the combination group decreased ( P<0.05). The results of synovial cell ultrastructure showed that the nuclear membrane of synovial cells in normal group was good, and the nuclear membrane in model group was seriously damaged. The acupuncture group and external application group had different degrees of improvement, and the combination group had the most significant improvement. HE staining results showed that the joint synovial tissue of the normal group was normal, the joint synovial tissue of the model group had a large amount of inflammatory infiltration, the joint synovial injury of the acupuncture group and the external application group was slightly improved, and the pathological injury of the combined group was significantly reduced. Conclusion:The combination of external application of compound Dahuang Powder and acupuncture can regulate angiogenesis related factors, regulate the Ras/Raf signaling pathway, and improve the ultrastructure of synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis model rats.

Objective:To investigate the management of patients with intravenous misplacement of nephrostomy tube following percutaneous renal surgery.Methods:The data of 6 patients with intravenous misplacement of nephrostomy tube during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) treated in the two hospitals of Chenzhou from January 2006 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 41.0(38.5, 53.0) years old. There were 4 males and 2 females. Three patients had undergone contralateral upper urinary tract operation. One patient had undergone ipsilateral upper urinary tract operation. Two patients had not undergone upper urinary tract operation. Two of the 6 patients had a solitary kidney. Two patients were diagnosed with staghorn calculi (combined with mild hydronephrosis in 1 patient, moderate hydronephrosis in 1 patient). Four patients were diagnosed with ureteral calculus (combined with mild hydronephrosis in 2 patients, moderate hydronephrosis in 1 patient, severe hydronephrosis in 1 patient). In all 6 patients, the tract was dilated with fascial dilators. Immediately after dilator removal, brisk venous bleeding was noted. A nephrostomy tube was inserted promptly through the sheath to tamponade the tract and was immediately closed. Five cases were diagnosed by CT after operation, and 1 case was early diagnosed by intraoperative injection of contrast medium through nephrostomy tube. The nephrostomy tube was misplaced in 5 patients with left upper urinary tract calculi, and in 1 patient with right upper urinary tract calculi. The tip of nephrostomy tube was located in ipsilateral renal vein in 3 patients with left upper urinary tract calculus, inferior vena cava in 2 patients with left upper urinary tract calculus, and contralateral renal vein in 1 patient with right upper urinary tract calculus. No venous thrombosis of renal vein or inferior vena cava was founded in the 6 patients. All 6 patients were managed with strict bed rest, intravenous antibiotics, and one-step or two-step tube withdrawal under close monitoring. One step method referred to total removal of nephrostomy tube under ultrasonic monitoring. Two step method referred to retracting the end of nephrostomy tube into the renal sinus under CT monitoring in the first step, then the nephrostomy tube was completely removed under ultrasound monitoring.Results:All 6 patients were successfully managed with strict bed rest, intravenous antibiotics, and one-step or two-step tube withdrawal under close monitoring. The tube was withdrew by one-step method in 1 patient, by two-step method in 5 patients. The original operations were performed successfully under close observation in 4 patients during the same hospitalization and in 1 patient during the next hospitalization. Other type of operation in 1 patient was performed during the next hospitalization. The all 6 patients were discharged uneventfully. The stone was cleared.Conclusions:Intravenous misplacement of a nephrostomy tube is mainly diagnosed by CT. The nephrostomy tube should be sealed immediately after diagnosis. The intravenously misplaced nephrostomy tube can be successfully removed by one-step or two-step withdrawing under close monitoring. Upper urinary tract stones can be successfully treated at the same time or by stages.

Proteomic characterization of plasma is critical for the development of novel pharmacodynamic bio-markers.However,the vast dynamic range renders the profiling of proteomes extremely challenging.Here,we synthesized zeolite NaY and developed a simple and rapid method to achieve comprehensive and deep profiling of the plasma proteome using the plasma protein corona formed on zeolite NaY.Specifically,zeolite NaY and plasma were co-incubated to form plasma protein corona on zeolite NaY(NaY-PPC),followed by conventional protein identification using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.NaY was able to significantly enhance the detection of low-abundance plasma proteins,minimizing the"masking"effect caused by high-abundance proteins.The relative abundance of middle-and low-abundance proteins increased substantially from 2.54％to 54.41％,and the top 20 high-abundance proteins decreased from 83.63％to 25.77％.Notably,our method can quantify approxi-mately 4000 plasma proteins with sensitivity up to pg/mL,compared to only about 600 proteins iden-tified from untreated plasma samples.A pilot study based on plasma samples from 30 lung adenocarcinoma patients and 15 healthy subjects demonstrated that our method could successfully distinguish between healthy and disease states.In summary,this work provides an advantageous tool for the exploration of plasma proteomics and its translational applications.

Objective : To discuss the treatment of pneumoparotid and to provide a reference for clinical practice. Methods: A case of refractory pneumoparotid was reported, and the diagnosis and treatment of parotid emphysema were reviewed and analyzed in combination with the literature. Results : This child had parotid gland enlargement without any obvious cause for more than 1 month. Conservative treatment, such as anti-inflammatory agents, psychological interventions and physical compression were ineffective. The patient had a history of cerebral palsy with epilepsy and involuntary cheek bulging behavior. Therefore, we considered it a refractory case. It was cured after parotid duct ligation and partial parotidectomy of the superficial lobe. A literature review showed that a pneumoparotid is a rare parotid enlargement. Most of the clinical cases were considered to be caused by the return of air into the parotid gland through the parotid duct due to an increase in oral pressure. The diagnosis of pneumoparotid mainly depends on intermittent parotid gland swelling and other clinical manifestations and imaging examination methods, such as ultrasound, CT, MRI and angiography. Its treatment mainly includes conservative anti-inflammatory treatment, physical therapy and psychological intervention. Surgical treatment is indicated for refractory parotid emphysema. Conclusion Pneumoparotid cases may further develop into parotid inflammation, which is generally treated conservatively. For some severe, recurrent and poor compliance cases, surgical treatment is sometimes needed.