Wilson disease （WD） is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism， and decoppering therapy and symptomatic treatment are the main Western medicine therapies for WD. This article systematically reviews the understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of WD in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and points out that abnormal natural endowment is the core etiology and pathogenesis of WD， with internal accumulation of copper toxicity as the manifestation， liver/spleen/kidney dysfunction as the root cause， and intermingled “toxin， stasis， phlegm， and deficiency” as the key pathogenesis. Literature research and clinical observation are conducted to summarize the common TCM syndromes of WD， including stagnation of liver Qi， internal retention of damp-heat， phlegm-stasis-heat accumulation syndrome， liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency， and syndrome of deficiency damage and phlegm stasis. This article proposes the corresponding therapies and representative prescriptions for each syndrome and discusses the advantages of treatment by stage and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy. This article aims to provide a systematic reference for the syndrome differentiation-based treatment of WD in clinical practice of TCM， thereby giving full play to the advantages of TCM in the treatment of this disease.

Objective:To investigate the application value of needle-knife accurate fistulo-tomy (NKAF) for difficult biliary cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreato-graphy (ERCP).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopatho-logical data of 137 patients with difficult biliary cannulation during ERCP at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between January 2021 and December 2022 were collected. There were 51 males and 86 females, aged (69±13)years. All 137 patients received NKAF for cannulation during ERCP. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) complications. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD. Count data were repre-sented as absolute numbers. Results:(1) Surgical situations. Of 137 patients, 136 cases had succe-ssful cannulation, 1 case had failed cannulation with NKAF following unsuccessful double-guidewire technique. In the 136 successful cases, the endoscope was straightened in 42 cases, left in a long position in 37 cases, and maintained in the standard position in 57 cases. The cannulation time was (90±8)s. (2) Complications. The serum amylase at postoperative 6 hours in the 136 successful cases was (163±23)U/L. No patient developed post-ERCP pancreatitis. Of the 136 patients with successful cannulation, one case experienced post-sphincterotomy bleeding, which was observed oozing from the papillary orifice on emergency gastroscopy. The patient was successfully controlled with endoscopic clips.Conclusion:NKAF is safe and effective for difficult biliary cannulation during ERCP.

Bicornuate uterus can cause miscarriage, premature birth, abnormal delivery or infertility. Strassman metroplasty may improve pregnancy outcomes for patients, but uterine rupture, placental implantation, premature birth, and postpartum hemorrhage may occur. The paper presents a case of a complete bicornuate uterus with spontaneous conception after Strassman metroplasty. However, complications such as cervical insufficiency, placenta implantation and premature birth occurred, and the relevant literatures were reviewed. Strassman metroplasty by laparoscopy combined with hysteroscopy for complete bicornuate uterus with adverse pregnancy outcomes is safe and feasible, and may improve reproductive outcomes. However, potential pregnancy and labor complications cannot be ignored.

Objective:To correlate serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels with joint function and systemic inflammatory response in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) complicated by cartilage injury.Methods:This study is a retrospective analysis. It selected 258 patients with knee osteoarthritis who were treated at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. All patients underwent arthroscopic examination. Based on the presence of cartilage injury, 118 patients with cartilage injury were included in the Group A, while 140 patients without cartilage injury were included in the Group B. Joint function (WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, Lysholm Knee Function Score), serum levels of BMP-2 and COMP, and systemic inflammatory responses [levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)] were compared between the two groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of serum BMP-2 and COMP levels for KOA complicated by cartilage injury. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between the aforementioned serum markers and the patients' WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, Lysholm Knee Function Score, as well as serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α.Results:Group A had significantly lower serum BMP-2 levels and Lysholm Knee Function Scores compared with Group B [(9.18 ± 1.65) ng/L vs. (11.43 ± 2.51) ng/L, t = 8.34, P < 0.001; (80.06 ± 8.34) vs. (86.94 ± 7.21), t = 7.11, P < 0.001]. Group A exhibited higher serum levels of COMP, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as a higher WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, with all differences being statistically significant [(6.88 ± 2.34) μg/L vs. (5.04 ± 1.01) μg/L, t = -8.34, P < 0.001; (43.18 ± 7.81) ng/L vs. (35.96 ± 5.02) ng/L, t = -8.96, P < 0.001; (34.03 ± 6.68) ng/L vs. (28.75 ± 5.61) ng/L, t = -6.90, P < 0.001; (13.17 ± 1.89) ng/L vs. (11.24 ± 1.01) ng/L, t = -10.44, P < 0.001; (137.18 ± 18.95) vs. (121.14 ± 13.58), t = -7.90, P < 0.001]. ROC curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve values for serum BMP-2 and COMP levels in diagnosing KOA complicated by cartilage injury were 0.773 and 0.811, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between serum BMP-2 levels and the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, as well as serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α ( r = -0.52, -0.42, -0.40, -0.57, all P < 0.05). Additionally, serum BMP-2 levels showed a positive correlation with the Lysholm Knee Function Score ( r = 0.51, P < 0.05). Serum COMP levels and the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index were positively correlated with serum IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α levels ( r = 0.48, 0.45, 0.37, 0.54, all P < 0.05) and were negatively correlated with the Lysholm Knee Function Score ( r = -0.51, P < 0.05). Conclusions:Serum BMP-2 and COMP levels have certain diagnostic value in patients with KOA complicated by cartilage injury. Moreover, these indicators are correlated with joint function and systemic inflammatory responses. Therefore, they hold promise as potential indicators for assessing disease progression in patients with KOA.

Hepatolenticular degeneration is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease characterized by copper metabolism disorder,which affects the liver,kidneys,and brain.In traditional Chinese medicine,this disease is closely associated with dysfunction of the"liver-kidney-brain"axis.The liver,kidney,and brain form a physiological whole through the mutual transformation and distribution of essence and blood,the coordination of qi transformation,and the connection of meridians and collaterals.This article explores the pathogenesis of hepatolenticular degeneration based on the"liver-kidney-brain"axis.The deficiency of liver and kidney essence leads to the malnutrition of brain marrow,which is the fundamental cause of the disease.The internal accumulation of copper toxins generates dampness-heat and phlegm-stasis,which are the key factors causing the disease.In view of the characteristics of this disease with deficiency in nature and excess in superficiality,the principle of dynamic treating both manifestation and root cause of disease is established:treating the manifestation starts with eliminating copper and detoxifying,combined with clearing heat and dampness,and removing phlegm and stasis;treating the root cause follows the concept of the same origin of yi and gui,emphasizing the simultaneous treatment of liver and kidney to nourish the brain marrow.Throughout the treatment process,copper elimination(treating the symptoms)should be taken into account,and stratified measures should be applied based on the primary focus of the lesion:either treating the liver as the main focus and supplemented by tonifying the kidney and filling the marrow;or treating the kidney as the main focus and assisted by regulating the liver and nourishing the brain;or co-regulating the three zang-organs of liver,kidney,and brain,to achieve the therapeutic goal of eliminating pathogenic factors and restoring normal functions,and combining tonification and purgation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and independent risk factors of severe disease in patients with anti-nuclear matrix protein (NXP) 2 antibody-positive juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 219 anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM patients admitted to 23 children′s hospitals across China from July 2011 to July 2023. Patients were classified into severe and non-severe groups based on classification criteria for severe dermatomyositis. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters were compared between the 2 groups using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or χ2 test. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for severe disease. The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to calculate optimal cut-off values. Results:Among the 219 patients, 108 were male and 111 were female, with an age at onset of 6.3 (3.5, 9.4) years. The severe group comprised 69 patients, and the non-severe group 150 patients. The severe group had significantly higher rates of fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, as well as elevated levels of ferritin-to-albumin ratio (FAR), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified anti-Ro52 antibody positivity ( OR=13.26, 95% CI 1.37-128.29) and elevated FAR ( OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.09-2.31) as independent risk factors for severe anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM (both P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a FAR cutoff value of 6.82 predicted severe disease with an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.94, P<0.001), sensitivity of 0.85, and specificity of 0.70. All patients received glucocorticoid therapy, and the severe group received higher proportions of steroid pulse therapy, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, intravenous immunoglobulin, biologics, and adjuvant treatments compared to the non-severe group (all P<0.05). In terms of outcomes, 2 patients (2.9%) in the severe group died (due to neurological involvement and intestinal perforation, respectively), while the remaining patients achieved complete clinical response or remission. All patients in the non-severe group achieved remission. Conclusions:The primary clinical features of anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM included fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, and elevated levels of CK, AST, LDH, and FAR. Furthermore, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity and a FAR>6.82 were identified as independent risk factors.

Objective:To explore the influence of initial high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities on the outcomes of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after post-transplant Cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods:A retrospective cohort study.AML children who underwent PTCy-based allo-HSCT after the first complete remission at Wuhan Children′s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between April 2017 and April 2024 were enrolled.Patients were divided into intermediate-risk and high-risk groups based on their initial cytogenetic features.These patients were further divided into complex karyotype, 11q23 rearrangement, and other karyotype groups.Clinical characteristics and survival outcomes were compared among these groups.Measurement and count data were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank-sum/Kruskal-Wallis and χ2 tests, respectively.Survival and risk factor analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods, respectively. Results:A total of 51 AML children who underwent allo-HSCT were included in this study.The median age at transplantation was 3.2 years and the median follow-up time was 4.6 years.There were 26 cases in the intermediate-risk group and 25 cases in the high-risk group; 8 cases in the complex karyotype group, 14 cases in the 11q23 rearrangement group, and 29 cases in the other karyotype groups.By the end of the follow-up on November 30, 2024, 11 patients relapsed, 8 patients died, and 13 patients developed grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).The 3-year overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD-free and relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 84.0% (95% CI: 74.4%-94.8%), 74.5% (95% CI: 63.4%-87.5%), and 58.8% (95% CI: 46.7%-74.0%), respectively.The 3-year OS of the high-risk group was significantly lower than that of the intermediate-risk group (71.8% vs.96.2%, P=0.022), while differences in 3-year RFS and GRFS between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (68.0% vs.80.8%, P=0.400; 52.0% vs.65.4%, P=0.420).The 3-year OS, RFS and GRFS of the complex karyotype group were significantly lower than those of 11q23 rearrangement and other karyotype groups (50.0% vs.85.7%, 93.1%, P=0.009; 37.5% vs.85.7%, 79.3%, P=0.022; 25.0% vs.64.3%, 65.5%, P=0.049).Multivariate analysis showed that a complex karyotype was an independent prognostic factor affecting 3-year OS and GRFS [OS: HR=6.79 (95% CI: 1.13-43.80), P=0.044; GRFS: HR=3.72(95% CI: 1.13-12.20), P=0.030]. Conclusions:High-risk cytogenetic features are significant predictors of survival outcomes in pediatric AML patients undergoing PTCy-based allo-HSCT.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a medical condition characterized by cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload in cardiomyocytes have been recognized as biological hallmarks in DCM; however, the specific factors underlying these abnormalities remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of a cardiac-specific long noncoding RNA, D830005E20Rik (Trdn-as), in DCM. Our results revealed the remarkably upregulation of Trdn-as in the hearts of the DCM mice and cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose (HG). Knocking down Trdn-as in cardiac tissues significantly improved cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in the DCM mice. Conversely, Trdn-as overexpression resulted in cardiac damage resembling that observed in the DCM mice. At the cellular level, Trdn-as induced Ca²⁺ overload in the SR and mitochondria, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses identified calsequestrin 2 (Casq2), a primary calcium-binding protein in the junctional SR, as a potential target of Trdn-as. Further investigations revealed that Trdn-as facilitated the recruitment of METTL14 to the Casq2 mRNA, thereby enhancing the m⁶A modification of Casq2. This modification increased the stability of Casq2 mRNA and subsequently led to increased protein expression. When Casq2 was knocked down, the promoting effects of Trdn-as on Ca²⁺ overload and mitochondrial damage were mitigated. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of DCM and suggest Trdn-as as a potential therapeutic target for this condition.
Animals ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies/pathology* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Mice ; Calsequestrin/genetics* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Male ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism* ; Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitochondria, Heart/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mitochondria/metabolism*

ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence rate of sarcopenia in patients with Wilson’s disease （WD）-related liver cirrhosis， as well as the risk factors for sarcopenia and their impact on clinical outcomes. MethodsA total of 140 patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis who were treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to June 2020， and according to the third lumbar skeletal muscle mass index （L3 SMI）， the patients were divided into sarcopenia group and non-sarcopenia group. Nutritional risk screening， anthropometric measurements， and blood biochemical tests were performed for the patients to identify the influencing factors for sarcopenia. The patients were followed up for 36 — 48 months， and survival status and complications were compared between the two groups. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test were used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A binary Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors for sarcopenia， and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the risk factors for the prognosis of patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted， and the Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. ResultsAmong the 140 patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis， 53 （37.9%） developed sarcopenia， with significantly lower body mass index （BMI） and L3 SMI than the patients without sarcopenia （t=10.550 and 3.982， both P<0.001）. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age （odds ratio ［OR］=2.243， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.196 — 4.208， P=0.012）， sex （OR=0.450， 95%CI： 0.232 — 0.872， P=0.018）， BMI （OR=0.126， 95%CI： 0.089 — 0.294， P<0.001）， and hepatic encephalopathy （OR=8.367， 95%CI： 2.423 — 28.897， P<0.001） were the main influencing factors for sarcopenia in patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis. Compared with the non-sarcopenia group， the sarcopenia group had significantly higher mortality rate （χ²=6.158， P=0.019） and significantly higher incidence rates of infection （χ²=8.008， P=0.040）， recurrent abdominal/pleural efflux （χ²=17.742， P<0.001）， and hepatic encephalopathy （χ²=4.338， P=0.039）. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that sarcopenia （hazard ratio ［HR］=4.685， P=0.002） and hepatic encephalopathy （HR=19.156， P<0.001） were independent risk factors for death in patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed a significant reduction in survival rate in the patients with sarcopenia （P=0.003）. ConclusionSarcopenia is one of the manifestations of malnutrition in patients with WD-related liver cirrhosis， which increases the risk of mortality and other complications and has an adverse effect on prognosis. There is an increased risk of sarcopenia in male patients or patients with hepatic encephalopathy， a lower level of BMI or an older age.