Objective To observe the effect of nasal packing with merocel on postoperative com-fort in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis.Methods Patients with chronic sinusitis who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were selected and randomly divided into ob-servation group(packed with merocel for hemostasis)and control group(packed with gelatin sponge for hemostasis)using a random number table method,with 71 cases in each group.The degrees of nasal swelling pain and headache,nasal ventilation status(nasal airway resistance,degree of nasal obstruction),nasal bleeding,compliance scores,total discomfort scores[Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)],endoscopic Lund-Kennedy scores,and scores of related treatment indicators(infection,nasal meatal adhesion,patency of ostium,granulation hyperplasia)were compared between the two groups.Results The degrees of nasal swelling pain,headache and the degree of nasal obstruction at 24 h postoperatively in the observation group were milder than those in the control group,the nasal airway resistance was lower,and degree of nasal bleeding at 48 h postoperatively in the observation group was milder than that in the control group(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative compliance scores between the two groups(P＞0.05).The total discomfort VAS score and endoscopic Lund-Kennedy score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the scores of indica-tors related to infection,patency of ostium,and granulation hyperplasia at 4 weeks postoperatively between the two groups(P＞0.05).The score of nasal meatal adhesion in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion As a nasal packing material af-ter endoscopic sinus surgery,merocel can more effectively alleviate postoperative discomfort such as pain and nasal obstruction,reduce the risk of early bleeding and long-term nasal meatal adhesion,and improve postoperative comfort.

Objective To investigate the impact of myeloid cell-specific knockout of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor(G-CSFR)on the progression of acute radiation pneumonitis.Methods Myeloid cell-specific G-CSFR knockout(G-CSFR-/-,Lyz2-cre)mice were constructed.G-CSFR-/-,Lyz2-cre and C57BL/6N mice underwent a single whole-body irradiation with 6.5 Gy of 60Co γ-rays to establish a model of radiation injury.The lung function of mice was assessed using a mouse lung function test system at 3,7 and 14-days post γ-ray irradiation.Pathological changes in the lung tissue were analyzed via hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining of paraffin sections.Tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-10(IL-10)levels were measured via radioimmunoassay.IL-8 and its receptor CXCR2 were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The infiltration of neutrophils in lung tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemical detection of myeloperoxidase.Results At 3-,7-and 14-days post-irradiation with 6.5 Gy of 60Co γ-rays,there were no significant differences observed in lung function or interstitial inflammatory lesions between G-CSFR-/-,Lyz2-cre mice and C57BL/6N mice.However,the infiltration of neutrophils in lung tissue of G-CSFR-/-,Lyz2-cre mice was significantly reduced(P＜0.01),and the levels of IL-8,CXCR2 and TNF-α in lung tissues were markedly lower than in C57BL/6N mice(P＜0.05).Conclusion The myeloid cell-specific knockout of G-CSFR can effectively diminish neutrophil infiltration as well as inflammatory cytokine levels in lung tissues following radiation exposure.

Objective To analyze the Western blot(WB)band patterns of 1 347 human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-1 antibody positive specimens.Methods A total of 1 347 HIV-1 antibody positive specimens confirmed by WB method were collected in a hospital from 2013 to 2023,and WB band patterns distribution of HIV-1 antibody positive specimens was compared according to gender,age,infection route and viral load.Re-sults Among 1 347 HIV-1 antibody positive specimens,the WB band patterns were dominated by 7 bands(22.6%),8 bands(20.2%),9 bands(14.8%)and all bands(24.4%).The positive rate of p55 band in female HIV-1 antibody positive specimens was significantly higher than that in male HIV-1 antibody positive speci-mens,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with other age groups,the positive rate of p31 band in HIV-1 antibody positive specimens aged 18-<40 years was the highest(84.0%),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The positive rates of p31 and gp41 band in HIV-1 antibody positive specimens of men with gay sex were significantly lower than those in HIV-1 antibody positive speci-mens of heterosexual sex,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the positive rate of WB band pattern among HIV-1 antibody positive specimens with different vi-ral loads(P>0.05).Conclusion Gp160,gp120,gp41 and p24 are essential bands to confirm HIV-1 antibody positive,and have no obvious relationship with region,genetic background,HIV-1 subtype,etc.In addition,other bands have some differences in different regions of the population,according to these differences,accu-rate prevention and treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome population can be carried out.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the whole-genome differential methylation profile of patients with high-altitude polycythemia (HAPC). METHODS: In this study, a total of 20 adult male patients with HAPC were included, including 10 Tibetan and 10 Han patients. The control group consisted of 20 healthy adult males, including 10 Tibetan and 10 Han patients. Peripheral blood was collected from each group for DNA extraction and quality inspection, and DNA libraries were constructed. The differential methylation regions (DMRs) between groups were detected using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing, with enriched regions compared to those of the control group. The differential enrichment regions were selected, and the intersection of the enriched regions was associated with genes. The methylation enrichment regions that differed significantly between groups were filtered based on the number of enriched samples in the enriched regions between the groups. GO, KEGG functional, and pathway analysis were performed on the differentially associated gene sets to reveal significant differences between the patients and control groups at the functional and pathway levels. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, 17 152 sites with more than 25% difference and 15 558 sites with less than -25% difference were identified in Tibetan patients. The top 5 genes with the largest methylation differences between the two groups were MCCC2, RP3-399L15.3, ZNF621, RP11-394A14.2 and SLC39A10. The top significantly different pathways annotated in the differentially expressed genes pathway was serotonergic synapse. In comparison with the control group, 2 687 CpG sites with a greater than 25% difference and 2 602 CpG sites with a less than -25% difference were identified in Han patients. The top 5 genes with the largest methylation differences between the two groups were NAA25, CORO2B, PDC, ZNF853, and MLLT10. The top significantly different pathways annotated in the differentially expressed genes pathway were glutamatergic synapse, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, Rap1 signaling pathway and cholinergic synapse. In comparison with the control group, 3 895 CpG sites with a greater than 25% difference and 3 969 CpG sites with a less than -25% difference were identified in HAPC patients. The maximum methylation difference between the two groups could reach 78.1%, while the minimum was -42.6%. The top 5 genes with the largest methylation differences between the two groups were MCCC2, ARSJ, CTNNA3, SLC39A10, and SWAP70. The top significantly different pathways annotated in the differentially expressed genes pathway was signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells. CONCLUSION The occurrence of HAPC may be related to abnormal changes in DNA methylation, and methylation sites may be helpful for the early diagnosis of HAPC.
Humans ; DNA Methylation ; Altitude ; Polycythemia/genetics* ; Male ; Adult ; CpG Islands

T cell exhaustion plays an immunosuppressive role in malignant tumors. Continuous tumor antigen stimulation, the presence of suppressive immune cells and cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, the up regulation of inhibitory receptor expression on the surface of T cells, changes in T cell related transcription factors, and metabolites in the tumor microenvironment may lead to T cell exhaustion. Reversing the exhaustion of T cells in tumor patients is a promising strategy for tumor immunotherapy. This article will review the latest research progress on T cell exhaustion status, pathogenesis, reversal methods, and clinical applications in hematological tumors.
Humans ; Hematologic Neoplasms/immunology* ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Immunotherapy ; T-Cell Exhaustion

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia in the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate urban-rural disparities in its prevalence and management in elderly Chinese. METHODS: Consecutive participants aged ≥ 65 years attending outpatient clinics were enrolled for AF screening using handheld single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) from April 2017 to December 2022. Each ECG rhythm strip was reviewed from the research team. AF or uninterpretable single-lead ECGs were referred for 12-lead ECG. Primary study outcome comparison was between rural and urban areas for the prevalence of AF. The Student's t-test was used to compare mean values of clinical characteristics between rural and urban participants, while the Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare between-group proportions. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between AF and various patient characteristics. RESULTS: The 29,166 study participants included 13,253 men (45.4%) and had a mean age of 72.2 years. The 7073 rural participants differed significantly (P ≤ 0.02) from the 22,093 urban participants in several major characteristics, such as older age, greater body mass index, and so on. The overall prevalence of AF was 4.6% (n = 1347). AF was more prevalent in 7073 rural participants than 22,093 urban participants (5.6% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.01), before and after adjustment for age, body mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and prior medical history. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified overweight/obesity (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.17-1.54) in urban areas and cigarette smoking (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.20-2.17) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04-1.93) in rural areas as specific risk factors for prevalent AF. In patients with known AF in urban areas (n = 781) and rural areas (n = 338), 60.6% and 45.9%, respectively, received AF treatment (P < 0.01), and only 22.4% and 17.2%, respectively, received anticoagulation therapy (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In China, there are urban-rural disparities in AF in the elderly, with a higher prevalence and worse management in rural areas than urban areas. Our study findings provide insight for health policymakers to consider urban-rural disparity in the prevention and treatment of AF.

Glioma represents the most prevalent malignant tumor of the central nervous system, with chemotherapy serving as an essential adjunctive treatment. However, most chemotherapeutic agents exhibit limited ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study introduced a novel dual-targeting strategy for glioma therapy by modulating the formation of nanobody-driven protein coronas to enhance the brain and tumor-targeting efficiency of hydrophobic cisplatin prodrug-loaded lipid nanoparticles (C8Pt-Ls). Specifically, nanobodies (Nbs) with fibrinogen-binding capabilities were conjugated to the surface of C8Pt-Ls, resulting in the generation of Nb-C8Pt-Ls. Within the bloodstream, Nb-C8Pt-Ls could bound more fibrinogen, forming the protein corona that specifically interacted with LRP-1, a receptor highly expressed on the BBB. This interaction enabled a "Hitchhiking Effect" mechanism, facilitating efficient trans-BBB transport and promoting effective brain targeting. Additionally, the protein corona interacted with LRP-1, which is also overexpressed in glioma cells, achieving precise tumor targeting. Computational simulations and SPR detection clarified the molecular interaction mechanism of the Nb-fibrinogen-(LRP-1) complex, confirming its binding specificity and stability. Our results demonstrated that this strategy significantly enhanced C8Pt accumulation in brain tissues and tumors, induced apoptosis in glioma cells, and improved therapeutic efficacy. This study provides a novel framework for glioma therapy and underscores the potential of protein corona modulation-based dual-targeting strategies in advancing treatments for brain tumors.

Protrusive facial deformities, characterized by the forward displacement of the teeth and/or jaws beyond the normal range, affect a considerable portion of the population. The manifestations and morphological mechanisms of protrusive facial deformities are complex and diverse, requiring orthodontists to possess a high level of theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the relevant orthodontic field. To further optimize the correction of protrusive facial deformities, this consensus proposes that the morphological mechanisms and diagnosis of protrusive facial deformities should be analyzed and judged from multiple dimensions and factors to accurately formulate treatment plans. It emphasizes the use of orthodontic strategies, including jaw growth modification, tooth extraction or non-extraction for anterior teeth retraction, and maxillofacial vertical control. These strategies aim to reduce anterior teeth and lip protrusion, increase chin prominence, harmonize nasolabial and chin-lip relationships, and improve the facial profile of patients with protrusive facial deformities. For severe skeletal protrusive facial deformities, orthodontic-orthognathic combined treatment may be suggested. This consensus summarizes the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of numerous renowned oral experts nationwide, offering reference strategies for the correction of protrusive facial deformities.
Humans ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Consensus ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Patient Care Planning ; Cephalometry