A 20-year-old male patient presented to the Department of Dermatology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital with complaints of an 8-year history of facial scarring, swelling of the lower limbs, and a 4-year history of scalp thickening. Physical examination showed thickening furrowing wrinkling of the skin on the face and behind the ears, ciliary body hirsutism, blepharoptosis, and cutis verticis gyrate. Both lower limbs were swollen, especially the knees and ankles. The skin of the palms and soles of the feet was keratinized and thickened. Laboratory examination using bone and joint X-ray showed periostosis of the proximal middle phalanges and metacarpals of both hands, distal ulna and radius, tibia and fibula, distal femurs, and metatarsals.Genetic testing revealed two variants in SLCO2A1, c.1658T > A and c.96+4A > C.Through multidisciplinary consultation, we confirmed the diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis.

Objective To explore the relationship between the M1/M2 macrophages and severity of diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods This retrospective study included 42 patients with or without DR who had type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and 19 healthy individuals undergoing cataract intraocular surgery without systemic or ocular diseases from Handan Central Hospital between April 2022 and November 2023.Patients with T2DM were divided into three groups:diabetes mellitus with non-dominant diabetic retinopathy(T2DM non-DR group,n=20),mild and moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)(n=10)and severe NPDR/proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)(n=12).Peripheral blood and aqueous humor were obtained at surgery initiation.The levels of VEGF-A,IL-8,Elafin and TGF-β in the samples were analyzed using kits,and the ratio of M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Among patients with T2DM,there were significant differences in the duration of diabetes,insulin and metformin use among the three groups(P<0.05).Aqueous humor levels of VEGF-A,IL-8,Elafin,M1 ratio,M2 ratio and TGF-β of each group were significantly different(F=17.40,9.492,4.792,11.32,5.768 and 20.38,all P<0.01).The levels of VEGF-A,IL-8,Elafin,M1 ratio,VD86 and TGF-β in severe NPDR/PDR group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group and T2DM non-DR group(P<0.05),and the levels of VEGF-A,IL-8 and Elafin in severe NPDR/PDR group were significantly higher than those in mild and moderate NPDR group(P<0.05).The levels of M1 proportion and TGF-β in aqueous humor of the mild to moderate NPDR group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group and T2DM non-DR group(P<0.05).The level of M1 in aqueous humor was positively correlated with the levels of M2,Elafin,TGF-β and VEGF-A(r=0.260,0.411,0.726 and 0.304,all P<0.05),and the level of M2 was positively correlated with the levels of Elafin and TGF-β(r=0.865,0.552,all P<0.01).Conclusion The elevation of IL-8 and M1 macrophages in the aqueous humor may promote the occurrence of DR,while the increase of Elafin and M2 macrophages may be a compensatory regulation to chronic inflammation,which is involved in the regulation of local microvascular lesions and fibrosis.

Objective To explore the correlation between serum circularRNA-HOMER1(circHOMER1),microRNA(miR)-23a-3p levels with clinical stages and oxidative stress in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods From January 2023 to July 2024,75 DR patients treated in Handan Central Hospital were included as the DR group.According to the clinical staging of DR,they were divided into non proliferative DR(NPDR group,n=43)and proliferative DR(PDR group,n=32).In addition,75 patients with simple type 2 diabetes who came to Handan Central Hospital were included as non DR group.The levels of serum circHOMER1,miR-23a-3p,malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and reduced glutathione(GSH)were detect-ed.Clinical data of the subjects were collected.The TargetScan website was used to predict the targeting relationship between circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p.Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between serum circHOMER1,miR-23a-3p and MDA,SOD,GSH.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of progression of DR in type 2 diabetes patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)carve was used to analyze the predictive value of serum circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p in the progression of DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.Results There was a targeted relationship between circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p.The serum MDA(28.66±4.52ng/ml)and circHOMER1(1.24±0.16)levels in the DR group were higher than those in the non DR group(16.95±3.27ng/ml,1.02±0.11),while SOD(45.39±7.84U/L),GSH(135.82±21.23μg/mL)and miR-23a-3p(0.88±0.07)levels were lower than those in the non DR group(81.65±11.47U/L,207.44±25.95μg/mL,1.01±0.09),and differences were statistically significant(t=9.813～22.602,all P<0.001).The serum MDA(33.28±4.96ng/ml)and circHOMER1(1.36±0.20)levels in the PDR group were higher than those in the NPDR group(25.23±3.58ng/ml,1.15±0.17),while SOD(34.39±7.15U/L),GSH(113.50±20.17μg/ml)and miR-23a-3p(0.79±0.07)levels were lower than those in the NPDR group(53.27±8.44U/L,152.43±23.99μg/ml,0.94±0.08),and the differences were statistically significant(t=4.906～10.376,all P<0.001).Spearman analysis showed that serum MDA and circHOMER1 were positively correlated with the severity of DR(r=0.533,0.473,all P<0.001),while SOD,GSH,miR-23a-3p were negatively correlated with the severity of DR(r=-0.552,-0.515,-0.529,all P<0.001).Pearson analysis showed that serum circHOMER1 was negatively correlated with miR-23a-3p,SOD,GSH,and positively correlated with MDA(r=-0.475,-0.460,-0.455,0.462,all P<0.001).Serum miR-23a-3p was positively correlated with SOD and GSH,and negatively correlated with MDA(r=0.428,0.437,-0.439,all P<0.001).Logistic regression analysis showed that high MDA,low SOD,low GSH,high circHOMER1,low miR-23a-3p,high FPG and high HbA1c were the risk factors of progression of DR in type 2 diabetes patients(OR=0.214～3.556,all P<0.05).The area under curve(AUC)of serum circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p alone and jointhy predicting the progression of DR in type 2 diabetes patients were 0.751,0.797 and 0.903 respectively.The combined prediction was higher than that of serum circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p alone(Z=3.179,2.335,P=0.002,0.020).Conclusion Serum MDA and circHOMER1 levels are higher in DR patients,while serum SOD,GSH and miR-23a-3p levels are lower.Abnormal expression of circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p in serum is associated with progression of DR and oxidative stress.Combined detection of circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p in serum can predict the progression of DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective To explore the correlation between serum circularRNA-HOMER1(circHOMER1),microRNA(miR)-23a-3p levels with clinical stages and oxidative stress in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods From January 2023 to July 2024,75 DR patients treated in Handan Central Hospital were included as the DR group.According to the clinical staging of DR,they were divided into non proliferative DR(NPDR group,n=43)and proliferative DR(PDR group,n=32).In addition,75 patients with simple type 2 diabetes who came to Handan Central Hospital were included as non DR group.The levels of serum circHOMER1,miR-23a-3p,malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and reduced glutathione(GSH)were detect-ed.Clinical data of the subjects were collected.The TargetScan website was used to predict the targeting relationship between circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p.Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between serum circHOMER1,miR-23a-3p and MDA,SOD,GSH.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of progression of DR in type 2 diabetes patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)carve was used to analyze the predictive value of serum circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p in the progression of DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.Results There was a targeted relationship between circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p.The serum MDA(28.66±4.52ng/ml)and circHOMER1(1.24±0.16)levels in the DR group were higher than those in the non DR group(16.95±3.27ng/ml,1.02±0.11),while SOD(45.39±7.84U/L),GSH(135.82±21.23μg/mL)and miR-23a-3p(0.88±0.07)levels were lower than those in the non DR group(81.65±11.47U/L,207.44±25.95μg/mL,1.01±0.09),and differences were statistically significant(t=9.813～22.602,all P<0.001).The serum MDA(33.28±4.96ng/ml)and circHOMER1(1.36±0.20)levels in the PDR group were higher than those in the NPDR group(25.23±3.58ng/ml,1.15±0.17),while SOD(34.39±7.15U/L),GSH(113.50±20.17μg/ml)and miR-23a-3p(0.79±0.07)levels were lower than those in the NPDR group(53.27±8.44U/L,152.43±23.99μg/ml,0.94±0.08),and the differences were statistically significant(t=4.906～10.376,all P<0.001).Spearman analysis showed that serum MDA and circHOMER1 were positively correlated with the severity of DR(r=0.533,0.473,all P<0.001),while SOD,GSH,miR-23a-3p were negatively correlated with the severity of DR(r=-0.552,-0.515,-0.529,all P<0.001).Pearson analysis showed that serum circHOMER1 was negatively correlated with miR-23a-3p,SOD,GSH,and positively correlated with MDA(r=-0.475,-0.460,-0.455,0.462,all P<0.001).Serum miR-23a-3p was positively correlated with SOD and GSH,and negatively correlated with MDA(r=0.428,0.437,-0.439,all P<0.001).Logistic regression analysis showed that high MDA,low SOD,low GSH,high circHOMER1,low miR-23a-3p,high FPG and high HbA1c were the risk factors of progression of DR in type 2 diabetes patients(OR=0.214～3.556,all P<0.05).The area under curve(AUC)of serum circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p alone and jointhy predicting the progression of DR in type 2 diabetes patients were 0.751,0.797 and 0.903 respectively.The combined prediction was higher than that of serum circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p alone(Z=3.179,2.335,P=0.002,0.020).Conclusion Serum MDA and circHOMER1 levels are higher in DR patients,while serum SOD,GSH and miR-23a-3p levels are lower.Abnormal expression of circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p in serum is associated with progression of DR and oxidative stress.Combined detection of circHOMER1 and miR-23a-3p in serum can predict the progression of DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective To investigate the size variation in the first metatarsal of extant primates.Methods In this study,we analyzed 135 first metatarsal specimens across 12 primate genera,quantifying eight linear measurements,articular surface areas,mid-shaft cross-sectional area,total surface area,volume,and derived indices.Multivariate patterns were assessed through mean-based correspondence analysis and principal component analysis(PCA).Results Eulemur,Otolemur,Cebus,and Perodicticus exhibited a relatively high metatarsal surface-area-to-volume ratio.Perodicticus additionally showed a low articular facet index.Propithecus,Colobus,and Macaca displayed lower values for metatarsal shaft robusticity,the ratio of shaft cross-sectional area to base articular surface area,and the proximal articular facet index.Nasalis possessed a relatively high articular facet index.Pongo,Pan,Gorilla,and Homo sapiens were characterized by higher metatarsal shaft robusticity and a lower metatarsal surface-area-to-volume ratio.Principal component analysis revealed that the 12 extant primate genera could be broadly divided into two groups.Group 1 comprised Pongo,Pan,Gorilla and H.sapiens,although H.sapiens formed a distinct cluster relative to the extant great apes.Group 2 included Eulemur,Otolemur,Perodicticus,Propithecus,Cebus,Colobus,Macaca and Nasalis.Conclusion The relative sizedistribution of the first metatarsal provides some reference value for classifying extant primates.However,it demonstrates no clear correlations with specific locomotor patterns or foot grasping ability.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the anesthetic management characteristics of children undergoing resection of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL).Methods:The clinical data from patients undergoing resection of PPGL and confirmed histologically from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2023 were retrospectively collected. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative conditions and postoperative complications were recorded.Results:The clinical data from 47 pediatric patients were analyzed. The overall incidence of hemodynamic instability events was 68% (32 cases). Lowering preoperative blood pressure to normal levels and the maximum diameter of tumor≥6 cm was helpful in reducing the incidence of the intraoperative hemodynamic instability events ( P<0.05). Postoperative hypotension developed in 7 cases, acute left heart failure in 1 case, arrhythmia in 1 case, adrenocortical insufficiency in 4 cases, and pulmonary infection in 13 cases. Conclusions:Thorough preoperative preparation, evidence-based anesthetic management, and meticulous postoperative vital sign monitoring can increase the perioperative safety for children undergoing resection of PPGL, thereby reducing the incidence of complications.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of curculioside on rats with ulcerative colitis(UC),and to explore its regulatory effect on the protein extracellular regulated kinases(PERK)/activated transcription factor 4(ATF4)/enhancer-binding protein(C/EBP)homologous protein(CHOP)pathway.Methods Sixty-one SD rats were induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)to establish UC model.According to the random number table,they were divided into low,medium and high dose curculioside groups(25,50 and 100 mg/kg citronelioside dissolved in normal saline),mesalazine group(500 mg/kg mesalazine dissolved in normal saline),PERK inhibitor group(GSK2606414 1.0 mg/kg dissolved in normal saline),and model group(normal saline),and another 10 healthy SD rats were recorded as the normal group(normal saline),and the volume of normal saline was 1ml/100g the body weight of rats,gavaged once a day for 10 consecutive days.On the day after the end of administration,disease activity index(DAI)was evaluated.The ratio of lactulose(L)to mannitol(M)excretion rate(L/M)in the 5-hour urine of two groups of rats was determined by Gas chromatography(GC).Double antibody sandwich method was used to measure serum glucocorticoid concentration,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum interleukin-6(IL-6),interferon-γ(IFN-γ),interleukin-8(IL-8)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels.Hematoxylin eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the intestinal mucosa.Real time reverse transcription fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the expression of PERK,ATF4,CHOP,Bcl2 associated X protein(Bax),B lymphoblastoma 2(Bcl-2)messenger RNA(mRNA)in intestinal mucosa.Immunoblotting(WB)was used to detect the expression of PERK,ATF4,CHOP,Bax,and Bcl-2 proteins in intestinal mucosal tissue,as well as the levels of phosphorylated PERK(p-PERK).Results Visual and HE staining observations confirmed successful modeling.Compared with the normal group,the model group had L/M,DAI and intestinal mucosal pathological score,serum glucocorticoid concentration,and serum IL-6,IFN-γ,IL-8 and TNF-α levels,mRNA and protein expressions of PERK,ATF4,CHOP,Bax,and p-PERK increased(P＜0.05),while the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the L/M,DAI and intestinal mucosal pathological scores,serum glucocorticoid concentration,and serum IL-6,IFN-γ,IL-8 and TNF-αlevels,mRNA and protein expressions of PERK,ATF4,CHOP,Bax,and p-PERK of the three dose curculioside groups,mesalazine group,and PERK inhibitor group decreased(P＜0.05),while the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 increased(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in glucocorticoid concentration,PERK,ATF4,CHOP,Bax,Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expressions,p-PERK levels between the low dose curculioside group and the mesalazine group,between the medium dose curculioside group and the PERK inhibitor group(P＞0.05),and there were significant differences between each other two groups(P＜0.05).The pathological changes of colonic mucosa in the model group were serious.The low dose curculioside group was relieved,the medium dose curculioside group,the Mesalazine group and the PERK inhibitor group were significantly relieved,and the high-dose group of citronelloside was significantly relieved.Conclusion Curculioside can improve intestinal mucosal barrier function,control disease activity,and alleviate pathological changes in UC rats,which is speculated to be related to the inhibition of the PERK/ATF4/CHOP pathway.

As one of the most attention-attracting immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been approved as the first-line drugs for the therapy of various types of cancers.Nevertheless, the single application of ICIs exhibited limited efficacy, and it is easy to develop drug resistance.Therefore, the development of combination therapies become a hot topic in this field to improve the efficacy of ICIs therapy.This article describes some new ICIs targets, reveals the mechanisms of resistance, and introduces the current status of combination other therapies with ICIs therapy systematically including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hyperthermia, antiangiogenic therapy, tumor vaccines, cytokine therapy and adoptive cellular therapy.Furthermore, the synergistic mechanism of combination therapy to enhance antitumor effect.Thus, this article provides solid references for personalized combination therapy according to the pathological characteristics of patients.

Objective: To prepare a composite membrane by chitosan/β-sodium glycerophosphate(CS/β-GP) thermosensitive hydrogel combined with stromal cell derived factor-1(SDF-1) and observe its biological characteristics in vitro. Methods: Different doses of SDF-1 were added into CS/β-GP solution and then the thermosensitive gel time was measured. The SDF-1/CS/β-GP solution was membrane paved and dried to prepare composite membranes. The morphological characteristics were observed by scanning electron microscope(SEM). Composite membranes were placed into cell culture medium, and the supernatant(n=3) was extracted after standing at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 h, respectively. The concentration of SDF-1 in the solution was measured. Bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) were cultured in the Transwell room, and the composite membranes containing different concentrations of SDF-1 were placed in the lower chamber. There were four groups(n=3): Group M0 used CS/β-GP membrane(control group), Group M1, M2, M3 used SDF-1/CS/β-GP membrane(SDF-1 was 100, 200, 400 ng/mL respectively). After culture for 6, 12 and 24 h, the cells under the membrane were preserved and Giemsa stained and counted. The absorbance(OD) value was measured by MTT method to calculate the cell proliferation rate. SPSS 19.0 was used for multi-factor analysis of variance. Results : After adding a certain amount of SDF-1 into CS/β-GP solution, the gel time did not change significantly(P>0.05). The SDF-1/CS/β-GP membrane was translucent and porous at 37 ℃. In this experiment, the volumic mass of SDF-1 released by SDF-1/CS/β-GP composite membrane increased gradually with the experimental time(P<0.01). Transwell cell chemotaxis test showed that the number of BMSCs cells with directional migration increased with the prolongation of observation time(P<0.01) and the increase of SDF-1 volumic mass(P<0.01). In MTT test, the OD value of migration cell solution increased with the prolongation of time(P<0.01) and the increase of SDF-1 volumic mass(P<0.01). Conclusion The SDF-1/CS/β-GP composite membrane has a porous structure and biological activity of chemotactic BMSCs directional migration. It is a potential membrane for guided tissue regeneration.

This paper introduces professor SUN Shen-tian's clinical thoughts and his characteristics of acupuncture techniques for the treatment of depression based on "psychosomatic medicine". Professor SUN, the master of traditional Chinese medicine, believes that depression refers to comorbidity of "heart mind" and "body", resulting from the "body-mind" disharmony, specially dominated by the emotional disorder. This disease is located in the brain, with the injury of mind and closely related to the heart and liver dysfunction. In pathogenesis, the dysfunction of brain mind and the unhealthy conditions of body and mind are involved. The treatment should focus on "regulating the mind, improving the intelligence, co-modulating the abdominal and brain functions and treating the physical and mental disorders". Baihui (GV 20), Ningshen (Extra) and emotional area on the head are selected as the main points to benefit the intelligence and calming down the mind; the abdominal region 1 and region 8 of "Sun's abdominal acupuncture" are used as the main points of the abdomen to regulate the brain functions. The point prescription is modified according to the symptoms and etiologies. The repeated transcranial acupuncture stimulation and electroacupuncture at low frequency (2 Hz) are crucial to the therapeutic effect. Reliving anxious emotions is specially considered before acupuncture, and the mind is protected and deqi is consolidated during acupuncture.
Humans ; Depression/therapy* ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Acupuncture