Objective:To explore the role of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in rats with severe acute pancreatitis-associated acute lung injury (SAP-ALI) and its related molecular mechanisms.Methods:Twenty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (random number, n=6 per group): Control group, SAP group, FGF21 intervention group (SAP+FGF21 group), and autophagy inhibitor group (SAP+FGF21+3-MA group). The SAP model was established by retrograde injection of 3.5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct. In SAP+FGF21 group, FGF21 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 1 hour before modeling. In SAP+FGF21+3-MA group, FGF21 10 mg/kg and 3-MA 20 mg/kg were intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before modeling. Serum amylase activity was detected by biochemical kit. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and FGF21 were detected by ELISA. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of pancreas and lung tissues. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the protein level of FGF21 in lung tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins in lung tissue. Autophagosomes in lung tissue were observed by electron microscopy. Results:Compared with the Control group, the plasma and lung tissue FGF21 levels in SAP group were significantly decreased (both P<0.001) , severe pancreatic and lung tissue damage, and elevated plasma TNF-α levels ( P<0.001). Western Blot and transmission electron microscopy showed that: The expression of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ in lung tissue of SAP group was down-regulated [(0.912±0.052) vs. (0.700±0.135), P<0.001], and P62 protein level was up-regulated [(0.475±0.068) vs. (0.687±0.070), P<0.001] , and reduced autophagosome counts in the SAP group. In contrast, the SAP+FGF21 group showed elevated FGF21 levels (both P<0.01), attenuated pancreatic and lung injury ( P<0.001), decreased TNF-α levels [(280.10±49.36) pg/mL vs. (86.32±66.00) pg/mL, P<0.001]. Lung tissue of LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ levels increase [(0.700±0.135) vs. (0.853±0.073), P<0.01], P62 protein levels cut [(0.687±0.070) vs. (0.538±0.030), P<0.01] ], and increased autophagosomes and autolysosomes under electron microscopy. Compared with SAP+FGF21 group, the expression levels of FGF21 in plasma and lung tissue in SAP+FGF21+3-MA group were not significantly changed, and the level of autophagy was decreased. Pancreas and lung tissue injury was severe ( P<0.001), Plasma TNF-α level obviously higher [(86.32±66.00) pg/mL vs. (212.90±11.56) pg/mL, P<0.05]. Conclusion:FGF21 may play a protective role in SAP-ALI by up-regulating the level of autophagy.

Objective:Human leukocyte antigen(HLA)B27 is a susceptibility allele of ankylosing spondylitis(AS),and HLA-B27 antigen typing is an important indicator for clinical diagnosis of AS,but current typing methods such as sequence specific primer polymerase chain reaction(PCR-SSP)still possess limitation.Therefore,this study aims to analyze the correlation between B27 subtypes and susceptibility to AS in Hunan Province by applying high-resolution polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing(PCR-SBT). Methods:Peripheral blood of 116 patients with suspected AS(suspected AS group)and 121 healthy volunteers(control group)admitted to the Second Xiangya Hospital from January 2020 to December 2020 were collected for HLA-B genotyping by PCR-SBT.Among the patients in the suspected AS group,23 patients were finally diagnosed with AS(confirmed AS group),and the remaining 93 undiagnosed patients served as the non-confirmed AS group.PCR-SBT and PCR-SSP were used to detect HLA-B27 typing in 116 patients with suspected AS,and the results of the 2 methods were compared. Results:The HLA-B27 allele frequency in the suspected AS group was significantly higher than that in the control group[11.63%vs 2.48%;P<0.001,odds ratio(OR)=5.18,95%confidence interval(CI)2.097 to 12.795].B*27:04,B*27:05,B*27:06,and B*27:07 were detected in the suspected AS group and the control group.The frequency of the B*27:04 allele in the suspected AS group was significantly higher than that in the control group(9.48%vs 1.24%;P<0.001,OR=8.346,95%CI 2.463 to 28.282).The positive rate of B27 in the suspected AS group and the confirmed AS group(B27+/+ and B27+/-)was significantly higher than that in the control group(χ2=16.579,P<0.001;χ2=94.582,P<0.001,respectively).Among the confirmed AS group,21 were HLA-B27 carriers,and the B27 positive rate in the confirmed AS group was 91.3%.PCR-SBT could achieve high resolution typing of the HLA-B gene locus,with higher sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and accuracy than PCR-SSP. Conclusion:PCR-SBT typing analysis shows a strong correlation between HLA-B * 27:04 and AS in Hunan province.The PCR-SBT method can be used as the preferred option for the auxiliary diagnosis of clinical AS.

Objective To compare the effect of electro-acupuncture(EA) and warm-needle moxibustion(WNM) on the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters and surface electromyography of post-stroke patients with flaccid paralysis. Methods A total of 61 patients were randomly divided into EA group (N=30) and WNM group(N=31). Both groups were given post-stroke conventional treatment, and additionally EA group received EA while WNM group was given WNM. Before treatment and after 2 treatment courses, we detected the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters of pace race, stance phase, swing phase, bilateral stance phase, and step length, and surface electromyography parameters of root mean square(RMS), integrated electromyogram (iEMG) and co-contraction ratio(CR) of tibialis anterior muscle and gastrocnemius at the state of maximal isometric voluntary contraction(MIVC). Results(1) After treatment, the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters of the two groups were improved in various degrees (P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the improvement of EA group was superior to that of WNM group (P < 0.05). (2) After treatment, the RMS and iEMG of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle as well as CR of dorsal extensor at MIVC state were improved in various degrees (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the improvement of EA group was superior to that of WNM group(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Conclusion WNM exerts better effect on improving the parameters of three-dimensional gait time-space parameters and surface electromyography of post-stroke patients with flaccid paralysis than EA.