BACKGROUND:Bone relies on the close connection between blood vessels and bone cells to maintain its integrity.Bones are in a physiologically hypoxic environment.Therefore,the study of angiogenesis and osteogenesis in hypoxic environment is closer to the microenvironment in vivo. OBJECTIVE:To explore the influence of Wenshen Tongluo Zhitong(WSTLZT)formula on H-type bone microvascular endothelial cell/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell co-culture system in hypoxia environment and its related mechanism. METHODS:Enzyme digestion method and flow sorting technique were used to isolate and identify H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells.Mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and obtained by bone marrow adhesion method.H-type bone microvascular endothelial cell/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell hypoxic co-culture system was established using Transwell chamber and anoxic culture workstation.WSTLZT formula powder was used to intervene in each group at a mass concentration of 50 and 100 μg/mL.The angiogenic function of H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells in the co-culture system was evaluated by scratch migration test and tube formation test.The osteogenic differentiation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the co-cultured system was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining.The protein and mRNA expression changes of PDGF/PI3K/AKT signal axis related molecules in H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells in the co-cultured system were detected by Western Blotting and q-PCR,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal oxygen group,the scratch mobility and new blood vessel length of H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells were significantly higher(P<0.05);the osteogenic differentiation capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was higher(P<0.05);the expression of PDGF/PI3K/AKT axis-related molecular protein and mRNA increased(P<0.05)in the hypoxia group.(2)Compared with the hypoxia group,scratch mobility and new blood vessel length were significantly increased in the H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells(P<0.05);bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells had stronger osteogenic function(P<0.05);the expression of PDGF/PI3K/AKT axis-related molecular proteins and mRNA further increased(P<0.05)after treatment with different dose concentrations of WSTLZT formula.These findings conclude that H-type angiogenesis and osteogenesis under hypoxia may be related to the PDGF/PI3K/AKT signaling axis,and WSTLZT formula may promote H-type vasculo-dependent bone formation by activating the PDGF/PI3K/AKT signaling axis,thereby preventing and treating osteoporosis.

Objective To investigate the relationship between interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and miR-185-5p in the process of joint injury in acute gouty arthritis (AGA). Methods The serum miR-185-5p levels of 89 AGA patients and 91 healthy volunteers were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The correlation between miR-185-5p expression level and VAS score or IL-1β expression level was evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of miR-185-5p in AGA. THP-1 cells were induced by sodium urate (MSU) to construct an in vitro acute gouty inflammatory cell model. After the expression level of miR-185-5p in THP-1 cells was upregulated or downregulated by transfection of miR-185-5p mimics or inhibitors in vitro, inflammatory cytokines of THP-1 cells, such as IL-1β, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), were detected by ELISA. The luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the interaction between miR-185-5p and the 3'-UTR of IL-1β. Results Compared with the healthy control group, the expression level of serum miR-185-5p in AGA patients was significantly reduced. The level of serum miR-185-5p was negatively correlated with VAS score and IL-1β expression level. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.905, the sensitivity was 80.17% and the specificity was 83.52%. Down-regulation of miR-185-5p significantly promoted the expression of IL-1β, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), while overexpression of miR-185-5p showed the opposite results. Luciferase reporter gene assay showed that IL-1β was the target gene of miR-185-5p, and miR-185-5p negatively regulated the expression of IL-1β. Conclusion miR-185-5p alleviates the inflammatory response in AGA by inhibiting IL-1β.
Humans ; 3' Untranslated Regions ; Arthritis, Gouty/genetics* ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; Interleukin-8 ; Luciferases ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective:This study aimed to compare the audiological characteristics between children with unilateral auditory neuropathy (UAN) and single-sided deafness (SSD) to establish a valid basis for the differential diagnosis of children with UAN.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on audiological and imaging evaluations of children with UAN and SSD who were treated at Beijing Children′s Hospital of Capital Medical University between May 2015 and June 2023. There were 17 children with UAN, comprising 10 males and 7 females, with an average age of 4.7 years. Additionally, there were 43 children with SSD, consisting of 27 males and 16 females, with an average age of 6.5 years. Audiological assessments included Auditory brainstem response (ABR), Steady-state auditory evoked potential (ASSR), Behavioural audiometry, Cochlear microphonic potential (CM), Distortino-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), and acoustic immittance test. The results of the audiological assessment and imaging phenotypic between the two groups of children were compared and analyzed by applying SPSS 27.0 statistical software.Results:(1) The UAN group (77.8%) had a significantly higher rate of ABR wave III L than the SSD group (20.9%) ( P<0.01). The PA thresholds at 500 Hz and 1 000 Hz of children with SSD were higher than those of children with UAN, while the ASSR thresholds at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2 000 Hz, and 4 000 Hz of children with SSD were significantly higher than those of children with UAN ( P<0.05). (2) The degree of hearing loss in both UAN and SSD children was predominantly complete hearing loss. The percentage of complete hearing loss was significantly higher (χ2=4.353, P=0.037) in the SSD group (93.0%, 40/43) than in the UAN group (63.6%, 7/11). However, the percentage of profound hearing loss was significantly higher in the UAN group (27.3%, 3/11) than in the SSD group (2.3%, 1/43) ( Fisher′s exact test, P=0.023). In terms of hearing curve configuration, the percentage of flat type was significantly higher in the SSD group (76.7%, 33/43) than in the UAN group (36.4%, 4/11). The proportion of the UAN group (27.3%, 3/11) was significantly higher than that in the SSD group (2.3%, 1/43) in ascending type ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the hearing curves of the declining type and other types between the two groups ( P>0.05). (3) The proportion of imaging assessment without abnormality was significantly more common in the UAN group (81.8%) than in the SSD group (37.1%) (χ2=6.695, P=0.015). Conclusions:Compared to children with SSD, the occurrence of wave III L on the ABR test was significantly more common in children with UAN. The percentage of ascending hearing curves was significantly higher in children with UAN than in children with SSD. ASSR thresholds were significantly lower in children with UAN. The normal imaging phenotype was significantly more common in children with UAN than in children with SSD.

Objective To investigate the reliability and validity of the assessment tools of Brief ICF Core Sets for Arthroplasty of Knee Osteoarthritis in Perioperative Period(ICSAKOPP). Methods From May,2022 to April,2023,320 patients undergoing knee arthroplasty were selected in Peking University Third Hospital,China-Japan Friendship Hospital,Peking University First Hospital and Chinese PLA General Hospital.Trained assessors used Brief ICSAKOPP to evaluate all enrolled patients before arthroplasty,three days(±one day)after arthroplasty,three weeks(±one week)after arthroplasty,and three months(±one month)after ar-throplasty.Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)scores were recorded at the same time.Five professionals were asked to score all the items of Brief ICSAKOPP,and the content validity index(CVI)was caculated. Results A total of 64 cases were dropped down.CVI of all the items of the Brief ICSAKOPP were above 0.8,with a av-erage CVI of the scale of 0.938.The Cronbach's α coefficient of the Brief ICSAKOPP was 0.813.There was a moderate correlation(r=0.681,P<0.001)between the overall Brief ICSAKOPP and WOMAC scores,as well as body functional dimension score(r=0.668,P<0.001)and activities and participation dimension score(r=0.657,P<0.001). Conclusion Brief ICSAKOPP is good in content validity,internal consistency reliability and criterion validity.

Objective:To develop a novel, flexible, dual-arm, master-slave digestive endoscopic minimally invasive surgical robot system named dual-arm robotic endoscopic assistant for minimally invasive surgery (DREAMS) and to evaluate its feasibility for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) by using ex vivo porcine stomachs.Methods:A novel endoscopic robot (DREAMS) system was developed which was composed of a flexible two-channel endoscope, two flexible robotic manipulators, a master controller, a robotic arm, and a control system. A total of 10 artificial round-like lesions with diameters ranging from 15 to 25 mm were created (5 in gastric antrum and 5 in gastric body) by using fresh peeled stomach of healthy pigs as the model. Submucosal dissection was performed with the assistance of the DREAMS system by two operators. The main outcome was submucosal dissection speed, and the secondary outcomes included muscular injury rate, perforation rate, and grasping efficiency of the robot.Results:All 10 lesions were successfully dissected en bloc by using the DREAMS system. The diameter of the artificial lesions was 22.34±2.39 mm, dissection time was 15.00±8.90 min, submucosal dissection speed was 141.79±79.12 mm 2/min, and the number of tractions required by each ESD was 4.2 times. Muscular injury occurred in 4/10 cases of ESD. No perforation occurred. Conclusion:The initial animal experiment shows the DREAMS system is safe and effective.

Objective To investigate the accuracy of body mass index (BMI) as the evaluation standard for obesity in Miao adults in Guangxi, to find out the BMI cutoff value suitable for the evaluation standard of adult obesity, and to provide an accurate and reliable reference value for the prevention and treatment of obesity in Miao nationality adults. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, residents aged 18 years or older in the Miao villages in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, Guangxi, were selected as the research subjects, and their body composition was measured. The percent body fat (PBF) standard was used as the ^“gold standard^” for obesity, and the BMI standard for obesity in Chinese adults was used as the positive screening standard. The accuracy of the BMI standard was evaluated, and the ROC curve analysis was used to determine the optimal BMI cutoff value for obesity in Miao adults. Results The detection rate of obesity of Miao adults in Guangxi by BMI method was lower than that by PBF method (10.3% vs 19.0%, χ²=426.62, P<0.001). The results of reliability evaluation showed that BMI was in good agreement with PBF in judging obesity (Kappa=0.59, P<0.001). BMI as a screening criterion for obesity in Miao adults showed high specificity and low sensitivity, low Yordon index, high positive predictive value and high positive likelihood ratio, and low negative predictive value and high negative likelihood ratio. When the PBF was used as the ^“gold standard^”, BMI had a good diagnostic performance for obesity in Miao adults (AUC=0.959, P<0.001). The optimal BMI cutoff points for obesity in adults of Miao nationality in Guangxi were 25.85 kg/m² and 25.55 kg/m² for men and women, respectively. Conclusion BMI is of great value for the diagnosis of obesity in Miao adults, but it should not be used as an exclusion criterion for obesity. Especially in the case of a small sample size, the risk of misclassification bias is relatively high.

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of airway humidification by atomization humidifier and heated humidifier on ICU patients with tracheotomy. Methods? Totally 57 patients who received tracheotomy and did not need mechanical ventilation from the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Yixing No.2 People's Hospital between December 2014 and November 2017 were selected by convenient sampling and divided into the control group (n=28) which received airway humidification by atomization humidifier and the observation group (n=29) which received airway humidification by heated humidifier according to the random number table. The differences in sputum quantity, number of daily sputum suction, sputum viscosity and blood gas analysis index were compared between the two groups. Results? The number of daily sputum suction, sputum volume and viscosity of sputum of the observation group were less than that of the control group (P＜0.05). The observation group showed better blood gas analysis results than the control group on day 7 (P＜0.05). Conclusions? The heated humidifier is better for dilution and drainage of sputum. It can effectively improve the oxygenation of ICU patients with tracheotomy, maintain better acid-base balance, lessen sputum suction procedures which would be repeated and time-consuming in clinical nursing care, reduce damage to patients' airway mucosa, and improve the quality of airway management, which is worth promoting in clinical practice.

Objective Invasive candidiasis is associated with a significant mortality clinically.The purpose of this study was to observe the T cells immune response to fructose bisphosphate aldolase (Fba), an immunodominant antigen of Candida albicans, and determine whether the antigen has the possibility of priming cellular immune protection in invasive candiasis.Methods Using ELISPOT assay, we determined the frequencies of positive spot-forming cells (SFCs) of Fba antigen-specific T cells secreting IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17A in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 26 healthy individuals.Results After Fba stimulation, the frequencies of positive SFCs of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17A in the 26 healthy subjects were 23 (9.75, 42.50), 0 (0, 0.25) and 1.5 (0.75, 8.25), respectively, with statistically significant differences among the three (P<0.01).The response rates of IFN-γ (100% [26/26]) and IL-17A (76.92% [20/26]) were significantly higher than that of IL-4 (15.38% [4/26]) (P<0.01).Fba-induced strong response (SCFs ≥20) for IFN-γ was observed in 57.69% (15/26) of the healthy individuals, that for IL-17A in only 1, while that for IL-4 in none.Responses of both Th1 and Th17 cells to Fba were found in 65.38% (17/26) of the subjects, that of Th1 cells in 19.23% (5/26), but that of Th2 cells in none.Conclusion Fba of Candida albicans can induce immunodominant responses of Th1 and Th17 cells and is a potential vaccine against invasive candiasis.

Objective To analyze the composing principles of the prescriptions for Lijie disease by using The Prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dictionary. Methods The prescriptions for Lijie disease in the book of The Prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dictionary were collected. Database was established by using TCM Inheritance Support System (V1.1). Medicine using frequency, composing principles, and composition of new medicine were analyzed through association rules and entropy clustering method. Results Based on the analysis on 187 cases of prescriptions, 42 Chinese herbal medicines were with the frequency of 42 times and Angelicae Sinensis Radix was the core herbal medicine. 69 core combinations with three to four herbal medicines and 6 new prescriptions were obtained through evolution. Conclusion According to the analysis of composing principles and clustering new prescriptions of Lijie disease, the treatment for Lijie disease is toning liver and spleen, and nourishing liver and kidney.

Objective To understand the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection status and features of sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) and receive voluntary counseling and serological testing appointed through a web-based registering system to analyze the related factors.Methods The MSM who have homosexual behavior in nearly a year were recruited for HIV,syphilis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody assay in peripheral blood and a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conduct among them to obtain the information about their demographic characteristics and sexual behavior.Binary logistic regression model was used to identify the risk factors associated with HIV infection.Results A total of 400 MSM were enrolled in our study,the median age is 27 years old,the unmarried MSM accounted for 65.25％,56.00％ of them had high education level and the awareness rate of knowledge regarding HIV was 92.75％.The percentages of using condom at latest homosexual or heterosexual behavior were 78.96％ and 79.82％.The HIV incidence was 7.25％ (29/400).Age,condom use at each homosexual or heterosexual behavior,the awareness rate of knowledge regarding HIV,sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection,Treponema pallidum infection were associated with HIV infection.Conclusions MSM receiving web appointed HIV counseling and testing had high prevalence of risk behaviors and high HIV infection rate,but the rate of condom use was relatively low.It is necessary to strengthen the promotion of HIV test through web based appointment.The integrated mechanism for the prevention and control of STD and AIDS should be improved and effective target behavior intervention in MSM should be strengthened in our intervention programs.