1.Clinical application of an artificial intelligence system in predicting benign or malignant pulmonary nodules and pathological subtypes
Zhuowen YANG ; Zhizhong ZHENG ; Bin LI ; Yiming HUI ; Mingzhi LIN ; Jiying DANG ; Suiyang LI ; Chunjiao ZHANG ; Long YANG ; Liang SI ; Tieniu SONG ; Yuqi MENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(08):1086-1095
Objective To evaluate the predictive ability and clinical application value of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in the benign and malignant differentiation and pathological type of pulmonary nodules, and to summarize clinical application experience. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with pulmonary nodules admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, from February 2016 to February 2025. Firstly, pulmonary nodules were divided into benign and non-benign groups, and the discriminative abilities of AI systems and clinicians were compared. Subsequently, lung nodules reported as precursor glandular lesions (PGL), microinvasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), and invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) in postoperative pathological results were analyzed, comparing the efficacy of AI systems and clinicians in predicting the pathological type of pulmonary nodules. Results In the analysis of benign/non-benign pulmonary nodules, clinical data from a total of 638 patients with pulmonary nodules were included, of which there were 257 males (10 patients and 1 patient of double and triple primary lesions, respectively) and 381 females (18 patients and 1 patient of double and triple primary lesions, respectively), with a median age of 55.0 (47.0, 61.0) years. Different lesions in the same patient were analyzed as independent samples. Univariate analysis of the two groups of variables showed that, except for nodule location, the differences in the remaining variables were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, nodule type (subsolid pulmonary nodule), average density, spicule sign, and vascular convergence sign were independent influencing factors for non-benign pulmonary nodules, among which age, nodule type (subsolid pulmonary nodule), spicule sign, and vascular convergence sign were positively correlated with non-benign pulmonary nodules, while average density was negatively correlated with the occurrence of non-benign pulmonary nodules. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the malignancy risk value given by the AI system in predicting non-benign pulmonary nodules was 0.811, slightly lower than the 0.898 predicted by clinicians. In the PGL/MIA/IAC analysis, clinical data from a total of 411 patients with pulmonary nodules were included, of which there were 149 males (8 patients of double primary lesions) and 262 females (17 patients of double primary lesions), with a median age of 56.0 (50.0, 61.0) years. Different lesions in the same patient were analyzed as independent samples. Univariate analysis results showed that, except for gender, nodule location, and vascular convergence sign, the differences in the remaining variables among the three groups of PGL, MIA, and IAC patients were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multinomial multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the differences between the parameters in the PGL group and the MIA group were not statistically significant (P>0.05), and the maximum diameter and average density of the nodules were statistically different between the PGL and IAC groups (P<0.05), and were positively correlated with the occurrence of IAC as independent risk factors. The average AUC value, accuracy, recall rate, and F1 score of the AI system in predicting lung nodule pathological type were 0.807, 74.3%, 73.2%, and 68.5%, respectively, all better than the clinical physicians’ prediction of lung nodule pathological type indicators (0.782, 70.9%, 66.2%, and 63.7% respectively). The AUC value of the AI system in predicting IAC was 0.853, and the sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cutoff value were 0.643, 0.943, and 50.0%, respectively. Conclusion This AI system has demonstrated high clinical value in predicting the benign and malignant nature and pathological type of lung nodules, especially in predicting lung nodule pathological type, its ability has surpassed that of clinical physicians. With the optimization of algorithms and the adequate integration of multimodal data, it can better assist clinical physicians in formulating individualized diagnostic and treatment plans for patients with lung nodules.
2.Association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with cardiorespiratory fitness among middle school students in Lhasa
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(9):1318-1322
Objective:
To explore the relationship of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among middle schoold students in Tibet, so as to provide empirical references for improving the cardiorespiratory fitness and health levels of adolescents in Tibet.
Methods:
From August to December 2020, 1 225 junior and senior high school students were selected from 2 middle schools in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, using the stratified cluster random sampling method. Triaxial accelerometers were used to evaluate PA and SB behaviors, and the 20 meter shuttle run was employed to assess CRF among the middle school students. Isochronous substitution modeling was used to analyze the associations of SB, low intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with CRF, and the saturation threshold effect in the dose response relationship between MVPA and CRF was analyzed through restricted cubic spline and two stage linear regression.
Results:
After adjusting for covariates such as gender, body mass index and sleep quality score, isotemporal substitution analysis showed that among junior high school students aged 13-15, replacing 30 minutes of SB ( B =1.73) or LPA ( B =2.38) with MVPA were positively associated with CRF (both P <0.05). Among senior high school students aged 16-18, replacing SB ( B =0.99) or LPA ( B =1.38) with MVPA were also positively associated with CRF (both P <0.05). Restricted cubic spline and two piecewise linear regression analyses indicated that only middle school girls aged 13-18 exhibited a saturation threshold effect between MVPA and CRF (logarithmic likelihood ratio test=0.03), with the optimal CRF improvement observed at 60 minutes of MVPA per day ( B=0.13, P < 0.01).
Conclusions
Reducing SB and LPA while increasing MVPA can improve CRF in Tibetan middle school students. To maximize CRF improvement, middle school girls should engage in at least 60 minutes of MVPA daily.
3.Study of action of multi-glycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii in regulating sphingosine kinases pathway to improve renal injury in IgA nephropathy rats
Zi-Lu MENG ; Chun-Dong SONG ; Yao-Xian WANG ; Xia ZHANG ; Ying DING ; Xian-Qing REN ; Wen-Sheng ZHAI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(6):879-883
Objective To study the mechanism of the amelioration of renal injury in immunoglobulin A nephropathy(IgAN)rats by multi-glycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii(GTW)based on the sphingosine kinase 1(Sphk1)/sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2(S1PR2)signalling pathway.Methods An IgAN rat model was established by means of bovine serum albumin gavage+castor oil and carbon tetrachloride subcutaneous injection+lipopolysaccharide tail vein injection.The rats were randomly divided into the model,control and experimental groups,with 9 rats in each group,and 10 normal rats were taken as the blank group.In the control group,6.25 mg·kg-1·d-1 prednisone was given by gavage;in the experimental group,9.375 mg·kg-1·d-1GTW was given by gavage;and in the blank and model groups,0.5 mL·100 g-1·d-1 0.9%NaCl was given by gavage,and the drugs were administered to the rats once a day in each group.At the end of the 15th week,urine samples were collected and blood albumin(ALB),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),24 hour-urine protein quantification(24 h-UTP),and urine erythrocyte counts were determined in each group,and the expression levels of Sphk1/S1PR2 proteins in each group were detected by Western blotting.Results The renal pathological changes in the control and experimental groups were significantly reduced compared with those in the model group by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence.The levels of ALB in the blank,model,control and experimental groups were(32.49±2.23),(22.98±0.51),(26.01±1.33)and(26.53±1.92)g·L-1;the levels of BUN were(6.11±1.71),(13.75±2.96),(6.71±1.35)and(4.77±0.99)mmol·L-1;the levels of 24 h-UTP were(5.72±1.96),(9.12±2.15),(5.78±2.05)and(4.75±1.50)mg·24 h-1;the urine erythrocyte counts were(9.73±2.40),(14.62±2.60),(9.90±1.59)and(9.46±2.94)cell·μL-1;the relative expression levels of Sphk1 protein were 0.85±0.02,1.47±0.02,1.06±0.02 and 1.09±0.02;the relative expression levels of S1PR2 protein were 0.27±0.02,0.88±0.01,0.43±0.02,and 0.42±0.02,respectively.The above indexes in the model group were statistically significant when compared with those of the control group and the experimental group(all P<0.01).Conclusion GTW may reduce the proliferation of mesangial cells by inhibiting the Sphk1/S1PR2 signalling pathway,thus attenuating kidney injury in IgAN rats.
4.Effects of hydroxysafflor yellow A on autophagy in bEnd.3 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation
Yao-Yao DAI ; Meng-Qi SHU ; Ru-Heng WEI ; Zhu-Yue MIAO ; Zhi-Bin DING ; Dong MA ; Jian-Jun HUANG ; Li-Juan SONG ; Cun-Gen MA
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(12):1734-1738
Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)on autophagy in bEnd.3 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD).Methods The bEnd.3 cells were divided into normal group(conventional culture),model group(OGD model),HSYA group(OGD model+75 μmol·L-1 HSYA),3-methyladenine(3MA)group(5 mmol·L-1 3MA+OGD model)and 3 MA+HSYA group(5 mmol·L-1 3 MA+OGD model+75 μmol·L-1 HSYA).The level of apoptosis was determined by TUNEL fluorescence staining;Western blot was used to detect the expression of autophagy,blood brain barrier(BBB)related proteins;real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method for determining the expression of sirtuin-1(SIRT1)and forkhead box protein O3a(FOXO3A)mRNA.Results In the normal group,model group,HSYA group,3MA group and 3MA+HSYA group,the positive cells selected for TUNEL staining were 5.00±1.00,28.00±2.00,21.00±3.00,35.33±2.51 and 29.67±2.52;the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ/-Ⅰ(LC3-Ⅱ/-Ⅰ)were 0.90±0.20,1.34±0.10,1.95±0.14,0.76±0.15 and 1.14±0.09;sequestosome 1(P62)were 0.99±0.02,0.60±0.02,0.38±0.01,0.67±0.04 and 0.54±0.01;occludin were 1.39±0.17,0.62±0.15,1.00±0.09,0.40±0.13 and 0.80±0.15;zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)were 1.63±0.20,0.64±0.06,0.98±0.14,0.37±0.14 and 0.87±0.04;SIRT1 mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.75±0.07,1.69±0.09,0.31±0.02 and 0.56±0.01;FOXO3A mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.80±0.05,1.47±0.09,0.40±0.01 and 0.62±0.09,respectively.Significant differences were found between model group and normal group,HSYA group and model group,3MA+HSYA group and 3MA group(P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.001).Conclusion HSYA may enhance autophagy levels in bEnd.3 cells after OGD through the SIRT1/FOXO3A pathway,inhibit cell apoptosis and alleviate BBB damage.
5.Immunomodulatory effect of astragaloside IV on T cells of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice
Bingtao MU ; Jingwen YU ; Chunyun LIU ; Minfang GUO ; Tao MENG ; Pengwei YANG ; Wenyue WEI ; Lijuan SONG ; Jiezhong YU ; Cungen MA
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(7):1057-1062
BACKGROUND:In the initial stage of multiple sclerosis,central immune cells activate and release a large number of inflammatory factors,causing white matter demyelination and even involving gray matter neurons.The equilibrium of differentiation between different subsets of CD4+ T cells plays an important role in the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.The previous results of the research group showed that the active ingredient astragalus glycoprotein in astragalus can regulate the immune response in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice,and whether it has a regulatory effect on the differentiation of T cell subsets has not been determined. OBJECTIVE:To explore the therapeutic effects and immune regulatory mechanisms of astragaloside IV on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice. METHODS:Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into the normal control group,experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis disease model group,and astragaloside IV treatment group(n=8 per group).Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptides 35-55 were used for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model induction in the last two groups.On day 10 to 28 after immunization,the astragaloside IV treatment group was treated with 40 mg/kg per day astragaloside IV intragastrically.Body weight and clinical scores of mice in each group were recorded from the immunization day to the 28th day.On the 28th day after immunization,the mouse spinal cord was taken and made into frozen sections for hematoxylin-eosin staining and Lux fast blue staining to observe pathological changes in the spinal cord.Percentage of splenic T cell subsets was detected using flow cytometry.Western blot assay was used to determine the protein expression of interferon-γ,interleukin-17 and interleukin-6 in the spinal cord.Levels of interferon-γ,interleukin-17,interleukin-6 and interleukin-4 in supernatants of cultured splenocytes were determined by ELISA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis disease model group,astragaloside IV could reduce the degree of weight loss in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice(P<0.05),ameliorate clinical symptoms(P<0.05),inhibit the infiltration of inflammatory cells and alleviate myelin loss(P<0.01,P<0.05).(2)Compared with the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis disease model group,astragaloside IV could inhibit the proportion of CD4+T cell subsets expressing interferon-γ(P<0.001)and interleukin-17(P<0.001),but increase percentages of CD4+ interleukin-10+(P<0.001)and CD4+ transforming growth factor-β+(P<0.01)T cell subsets.(3)Astragaloside IV could inhibit the expression of interferon-γ(P<0.05,P<0.01),interleukin-17(P<0.05,P<0.05),and interleukin-6(P<0.05,P<0.05)in the spinal cord and spleen,and up-regulate the expression of interleukin-4(P<0.01)in spleen.(4)These findings confirm that astragaloside IV alleviates clinical symptoms in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice,which may be related to regulating the splenic T cell subsets,therefore,inhibiting the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the center and reducing the demyelination.
6.Clinical observation of camrelizumab combined with pemetrexed and nedaplatin in the treatment of EGFR/ALK wild-type advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer
Fengyan TAN ; Yiding TANG ; Long MENG ; Jie SONG ; Feng QIU ; Rui LONG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(16):2013-2017
OBJECTIVE To observe the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab combined with pemetrexed and nedaplatin in the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) wild-type advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS The data of 92 patients with EGFR/ALK wild-type advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from August 2021 to May 2023 were collected and divided into nedaplatin group (46 cases) and carboplatin group (46 cases) based on different treatment regimens. Nedaplatin group was given camrelizumab for injection+nedaplatin for injection+pemetrexed disodium for injection; carboplatin group was given camrelizumab for injection+carboplatin injection+pemetrexed disodium for injection. Both groups received treatment with 21 days as one cycle, and all patients would be treated at least two cycles. The recent efficacy and the incidence of adverse drug reactions were observed in two groups, and the factors affecting progression-free survival (PFS) of patients were analyzed. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in the objective response rate, disease control rate, median PFS, and the incidence of grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) between the two groups (P>0.05). While the incidence of grade 1-2 renal and urinary system TREA, palpitations and pericardial effusion in nedaplatin group were significantly lower than carboplatin group, the incidence of nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite were significantly higher than carboplatin group (P<0.05). The patient’s gender, age, smoking history, Eastern United States Cancer Collaboration score, and TNM staging were not significant factors affecting patient’s PFS (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Camrelizumab combined with pemetrexed and nedaplatin has significant efficacy in the treatment of EGFR/ALK wild-type advanced non-squamous NSCLC, with good safety.
7.The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on the functional connectivity of language-related brain areas in patients with post-infarction picture-naming dysfunction: a resting state functional magnetic resonance study
Yancheng SONG ; Liqing KANG ; Fenghai LIU ; Xiaoxuan WANG ; Yanlong YANG ; Min SUN ; Lu SHAN ; Zhao MENG
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2024;46(1):32-37
Objective:To observe the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on functional connectivity (FC) in language-related brain regions of patients with picture-naming dysfunction after cerebral infarction by using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI).Methods:Twenty-eight patients with post-infarction picture-naming dysfunction were divided into an acute stage group( n=16) and a recovery stage group( n=12) according to the course of the disease, and 18 middle-aged and elderly volunteers were recruited as the normal control group.The anodic tDCS was applied on the posterior perisylvian region(PPR) of the left sylvian of the patients, 5 days a week for 2 weeks.Before and after the 2 weeks′ treatment, the rs-fMRI and Psycholinguistic Assessment of Chinese Aphasia (PACA)-picture-naming subscale were performed, and FC changes in language-related brain areas were observed. Results:After treatment, the PACA scores of patients in both acute and recovery stage groups were significantly improved after treatment( P<0.05). Compared with normal subjects, FC in multiple brain regions and particularly the Wernicke area was reduced in both cerebral hemispheres among the patient group. It was more severe in the dominant hemisphere.After the tDCS treatment, FC in both frontotemporal lobes and in the Wernicke area was significantly enhanced in both the acute and recovery groups. Further comparison showed that in the acute group FC in both temporo-occipital lobes was significantly enhanced after treatment. In the recovery group, the enhanced FC in the left temporal lobe before the treatment was significantly reduced after treatment. Conclusion:The fMRI technique can evaluate changes in brain connectivity in aphasia patients with picture-naming dysfunction after cerebral infarction accurately and non-invasively.tDCS may improve picture-naming function of stroke patients by enhancing the FC in bilateral language-related brain areas(concentrated in frontotemporal lobes) and Wernicke area.
8.Investigation on Preventive Effect of Total Saponins of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma on Aspirin-induced Small Intestine Injury Based on Serum Metabolomics
Wenhui LIU ; Guodong HUA ; Baochen ZHU ; Ruoyu GAO ; Xin HUANG ; Meng WANG ; Zheng LIU ; Jiaojiao CHENG ; Zhibin SONG ; Jingui WANG ; Chunmiao XUE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(22):196-203
ObjectiveMetabolomics was utilized to investigate the preventive effect of notoginseng total saponins(NTS) on aspirin(acetyl salicylic acid, ASA)-induced small bowel injury in rats. MethodFifty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal and model groups, NTS high-dose and low-dose groups(62.5, 31.25 mg·kg-1), and positive drug group(omeprazole 2.08 mg·kg-1+rebamipide 31.25 mg·kg-1), with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, rats in other groups were given ASA enteric-coated pellets 10.41 mg·kg-1 daily to establish a small intestine injury model. On this basis, each medication group was gavaged daily with the corresponding dose of drug, and the normal group and the model group were gavaged with an equal amount of drinking water. Changes in body mass and fecal characteristics of rats were recorded and scored during the period. After 14 weeks of administration, small intestinal tissues of each group were taken for hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, scanning electron microscopy to observe the damage, and the apparent damage of small intestine was scored. Serum from rats in the normal group, the model group, and the NTS high-dose group was taken and analyzed for metabolomics by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS), and the data were processed by multivariate statistical analysis, the potential biomarkers were screened by variable importance in the projection(VIP) value≥1.0, fold change(FC)≥1.5 or ≤0.6 and t-test P<0.05, and pathway enrichment analysis of differential metabolites was performed in conjunction with Human Metabolome Database(HMDB) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG). ResultAfter 14 weeks of administration, the average body mass gain of the model group was lower than that of the normal group, and the NTS high-dose group was close to that of the normal group. Compared with the normal group, the fecal character score of rats in the model group was significantly increased(P<0.05), and compared with the model group, the scores of the positive drug group and the NTS high-dose group were reduced, but the difference was not statistically significant. HE staining and scanning electron microscopy results showed that NTS could significantly improve ASA-induced small intestinal injury, compared with the normal group, the small bowel injury score of the model group was significantly increased(P<0.01), compared with the model group, the small bowel injury scores of the NTS low and high dose groups were significantly reduced(P<0.05, P<0.01). Serum metabolomics screened a total of 75 differential metabolites between the normal group and the model group, of which 55 were up-regulated and 20 were down-regulated, 76 differential metabolites between the model group and the NTS groups, of which 14 were up-regulated and 62 were down-regulated. NTS could modulate three differential metabolites(salicylic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid), which were involved in 3 metabolic pathways, namely, the bile secretion, the biosynthesis of folic acid, and the biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. ConclusionNTS can prevent ASA-induced small bowel injury, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the regulation of bile secretion and amino acid metabolic pathways in rats.
9.Effect of Tongfeng Decoction (痛风汤) on NLRP3 Inflammatory Vesicles and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Synovial Tissues of Ankle Joints in Acute Gouty Arthritis Model Rats
Yongzheng DENG ; Qingliang MENG ; Junfu MA ; Jiakang CUI ; Kai LI ; Gengfeng WANG ; Chenyang SONG ; Hua BIAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(17):1816-1824
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Tongfeng Decoction (痛风汤) for preventing and treating acute gouty arthritis. MethodsSixty Wistar male rats were divided into normal group, model group, colchicine group and low-, medium- and high-dose Tongfeng Decoction groups according to the random number table, 10 rats in each group. Tongfeng Decoction of 11.34, 22.68 and 45.36 g/kg were given by gavage to low-, medium- and high-dose Tongfeng Decoction groups, colchicine 3.15×10-4 g/(kg·d) to the colchicine group, and normal saline 10 ml/(kg·d) to the normal group and model group respectively for 7 consecutive days. After 1 hour of gavage on day 5, rats in all groups except the normal group were modelled as acute gouty arthritis in the ankle joint of the right hind limb with the modified Coderre's method; rats in the normal group were injected with 0.2 ml of normal saline at the same location. The swelling degree of the ankle joint was measured before modelling and after 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h of modelling, respectively. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological and morphological changes in the synovial tissue of the ankle joint; immunoblotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), cysteine aspartate protease 1 (Caspase-1), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) protein and mRNA expression levels in ankle synovial tissues, respectively; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of Caspase-1 and IL-1β in ankle synovial tissues; ELISA was used to detect the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-1β, and interleukin in serum; immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the synovial tissues of the ankle joints. ResultsCompared with the normal group, rats in the model group showed elevated joint swelling at all time points, significantly increased inflammatory cell infiltration and the number of synovial cell layers in the synovial tissues of the ankle joints, elevated NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC and IL-1β protein and mRNA expression, elevated positive expression of Caspase-1 and IL-1β, increased formation of NETs, and elevation of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, there was an improvement in synovial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration of the ankle joint in the colchicine group, high- and medium-dose Tongfeng Decoction groups. In the colchicine group and the high-, medium- and low-dose Tongfeng Decoction groups, the degree of joint swelling, positive expression of Caspase-1, IL-1β and formation of NETs in the synovial tissue of the ankle joint, and TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in serum reduced 24 h and 48 h after modelling; in colchicine group and high-dose Tongfeng Decoction group, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β protein and mRNA expression in the synovial tissues of ankle joints all reduced (P<0.05). The colchicine group and high-dose Tongfeng Decoction group were superior to the low-dose Tongfeng Decoction group in reducing ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β protein and mRNA expression in the ankle synovial tissues, the positive expression of Caspase-1, as well as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β level in serum (P<0.05). ConclusionTongfeng Decoction showed effectiveness for the prevention and treatment of acute gouty arthritis, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles in ankle synovial tissues, the inhibition of the release of inflammatory factors, and the formation of NETs.
10.TSHR Variant Screening and Phenotype Analysis in 367 Chinese Patients With Congenital Hypothyroidism
Hai-Yang ZHANG ; Feng-Yao WU ; Xue-Song LI ; Ping-Hui TU ; Cao-Xu ZHANG ; Rui-Meng YANG ; Ren-Jie CUI ; Chen-Yang WU ; Ya FANG ; Liu YANG ; Huai-Dong SONG ; Shuang-Xia ZHAO
Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2024;44(4):343-353
Background:
Genetic defects in the human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) gene can cause congenital hypothyroidism (CH). However, the biological functions and comprehensive genotype–phenotype relationships for most TSHR variants associated with CH remain unexplored. We aimed to identify TSHR variants in Chinese patients with CH, analyze the functions of the variants, and explore the relationships between TSHR genotypes and clinical phenotypes.
Methods:
In total, 367 patients with CH were recruited for TSHR variant screening using whole-exome sequencing. The effects of the variants were evaluated by in-silico programs such as SIFT and polyphen2. Furthermore, these variants were transfected into 293T cells to detect their Gs/cyclic AMP and Gq/11 signaling activity.
Results:
Among the 367 patients with CH, 17 TSHR variants, including three novel variants, were identified in 45 patients, and 18 patients carried biallelic TSHR variants. In vitro experiments showed that 10 variants were associated with Gs/cyclic AMP and Gq/11 signaling pathway impairment to varying degrees. Patients with TSHR biallelic variants had lower serum TSH levels and higher free triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels at diagnosis than those with DUOX2 biallelic variants.
Conclusions
We found a high frequency of TSHR variants in Chinese patients with CH (12.3%), and 4.9% of cases were caused by TSHR biallelic variants. Ten variants were identified as loss-of-function variants. The data suggest that the clinical phenotype of CH patients caused by TSHR biallelic variants is relatively mild. Our study expands the TSHR variant spectrum and provides further evidence for the elucidation of the genetic etiology of CH.


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