Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) are both chronic progressive respiratory diseases that cannot be completely cured. COPD is characterized by irreversible airflow limitation, chronic airway inflammation, and gradual decline in lung function, whereas PH is characterized by pulmonary vasoconstriction, remodeling, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. These diseases have similar pathological features, such as vascular hyperplasia, arteriolar contraction, and inflammatory infiltration. Despite these well-documented observations, the exact mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of COPD and PH remain unclear. Evidence that mitochondrial dynamics imbalance is one major factor in the development of COPD and PH. Mitochondrial dynamics is precisely regulated by mitochondrial fusion proteins and fission proteins. When mitochondrial dynamics equilibrium is disrupted, it causes mitochondrial and even cell morphological dysfunction. Mitochondrial dynamics participates in various pathological processes for heart and lung disease. Mitochondrial dynamics may be different in the early and late stages of COPD and PH. In the early stages of the disease, mitochondrial fusion increases, inhibiting fission, and thereby compensatorily increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. With the development of the disease, mitochondria decompensation causes excessive fission. Mitochondrial dynamics is involved in the development of COPD and PH in a spatiotemporal manner. Based on this understanding, treatment strategies for mitochondrial dynamics abnormalities may be different at different stages of COPD and PH disease. This article will provide new ideas for the potential treatment of related diseases.
Humans ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/physiology* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/metabolism* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/metabolism* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Animals

Objective To develop a 3D visualization endoscopic navigation system based on CT portal angiography (CTPA) and explore its clinical value in assisting precise treatment of esophageal and gastric varices (EGV). Methods Patients with EGV needing treatment in the Department of Gastroenterology of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from September 2021 to April 2023 were collected. Preoperative examinations including CTPA and hematological examinations were performed, and a 3D visualization endoscopic navigation system was developed to assist endoscopic treatment. Real time comparison was made between the endoscopic 3D portal vein system image reconstructed by intelligent imaging and the actual endoscopic observation of the vascular morphology inside the cavity. The responsible blood vessels that are prone to bleeding were embolized using a sandwich injection method of “lauromacrogol+tissue adhesive+lauromacrogol”. For patients with portal shunting, ultrasound-guided coil insertion was performed. Postoperative endoscopic ultrasound or CTPA was used reexamination to evaluate vascular embolism and complications. Results A total of 13 patients successfully underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided variceal embolization. The average maximum inner diameter of target veins was (3.3\begin{document}$ \pm $\end{document}1.3) cm; on average, implanted coil number was 1(0,2) in each patient, with median dosages of lauromacrogol and tissue adhesive were 9.5(7.8,10.0) mL and 1.5(1.0,2.1) mL respectively. Postoperatively, endoscopic ultrasound detecting confirmed complete occlusion of all target veins. At 8 weeks after treatment, none of the patients experienced rebleeding. At 24 weeks after treatment, rebleeding occurred in 3 patients, on postoperative days 107, 126 and 147, respectively. Conclusion The 3D visualization endoscopic navigation system based on CTPA can effectively and safely assist preoperative diagnosis and intraoperative localization of target blood vessels, which is beneficial for the precise treatment of EGV patients.

[Objective] To summarize various treatment methods and experiences of bladder and urethral foreign bodies in children. [Methods] A total of 15 children with bladder and urethral foreign bodies admitted to our hospital during Aug.2015 and Feb.2024 were selected.The characteristics, clinical manifestations, surgical methods, surgical skills and postoperative recovery were analyzed. [Results] The patients aged 7-13 (11.0±1.6) years, including 14 males and 1 female.Preoperative diagnosis was confirmed with color Doppler ultrasound and abdominal standing plain film.Emergency surgery was performed in 14 cases, and open surgery in 1 case with concurrent pyuria, whose foreign bodies were removed after 2 days of anti-infection treatment.Among the 15 children, 9 had foreign bodies removed through cystoscopy, 2 through cystoscopy combined with percutaneous renal puncture kit, 2 through cystoscopy combined with a small incision on the pubic bone, 1 through cystoscopy combined with a scrotal incision, and 1 through cystoscopy combined with a perineal incision.The average surgical time was (63.3±50.5) min, blood loss (1.9±1.9) mL, and postoperative hospitalization (5.8±3.8) days.No complications such as urinary extravasation, urinary fistula, bladder diverticulum, or urinary disorders occurred.Postoperative follow-up of 1 and 3 months showed no complications such as abnormal urination or urinary tract infections. [Conclusion] The onset of bladder and urethra foreign bodies in children is concealed.Once the diagnosis is confirmed, surgery should be performed as soon as possible.The surgical method should be selected based on the comprehensive evaluation of the location, size, shape, and number of foreign bodies and presence of calculi.Minimally invasive surgery can be performed in most cases.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of progressive transfer of penile flap combined with local scrotal flap in correction of severe concealed penis in children.Methods:The clinical data of children with severe concealed penis admitted to the Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from July 2021 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The concealed penis was corrected by progressive transfer of penile flap combined with local scrotal flap. During the operation, a small amount of excess inner prepuce was removed and the outer prepuce was cut in the middle of the dorsal side of the penis. Then the penile flap was transferred from dorsal to ventral, gradually covering the wound without tension. The local scrotal flap was lifted upwards and sutured to the frenulum for covering the ventral foreskin defect of the penis. The amount of blood loss during the operation was recorded. The pain tolerance, the duration of prepuce edema, the length of penis extension and the healing of skin flap were observed. The appearance of the penis was followed up to observe whether the penis was retracted, and the satisfaction of the children and their guardians was recorded.Results:A total of 32 male children were enrolled, ranging in age from 3 to 10 years, with an average age of 7.2 years. The penis of all the children had a conical appearance, and the penile shaft was buried under the subcutaneous anterior pubis, which was difficult to palpate in its natural state. The average intraoperative blood loss was about 5 ml. All patients had pain after the operation. Two patients needed a pump to relieve pain, and the rest could tolerate it after rectum administration of indomethacin suppositories. The edema of the prepuce was mild after the operation, and the edema basically disappeared when the patient was discharged 7-9 days later. The penis could be lengthened by 1.5-3.0 cm under static conditions, averaging about 2.0 cm. After surgery, only 1 patient had a small area (about 5 mm × 4 mm) of infection in the scrotal flap and poor incision healing, and scar healing after dressing change and intensive nursing. The other flaps healed well. After 6 to 12 months of follow-up, the penis length of 2 cases was slightly retracted from the time of discharge, and the remaining 30 cases had no significant change. The patients and their guardians were satisfied with the operation results.Conclusion:The progressive transfer of penile flap combined with local scrotal flap correction of severe concealed penis in children can fully lengthen the penile body, and the degree of postoperative retraction is low, the appearance of the penis is good, and the patient satisfaction is high.

Objective:To present the experience of the anatomical of dartos fascia and describe a new technique for the correction of congenital severe concealed penis.Methods:This retrospective study was conducted on patients with congenital severe concealed penis who underwent surgery at Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital Affiliated with Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to December 2022. Reflex erection tests were routinely performed before surgery. The technique involved creating a median longitudinal incision combined with a curved incision of the ventral penile skin, dividing and excising the deep layer of dartos fascia, fixing the subcutaneous dermis at the pubic symphysis with sutures to the tunica albuginea of the penile root, and transferring the skin of the ventral root of the penis and scrotum to match the internal plate to cover the shaft of the penis. Follow-up of complications occurred after surgery, and the surgical effect was evaluated 6 months after surgery.Results:A total of 54 patients were enrolled, aged 2.8-10.0 years, with a median age of 6.7 years. In the presence of reflex erection, the penile skin was severely deficient in children with congenital severe concealed penis. The surgery was successfully completed, and the postoperative appearance was circumcised. In 43 cases with partial penile scrotal transposition, the transposition was corrected simultaneously. The incision healed well after surgery, with no infection or incisional dehiscence. Follow-up for 6 to 20 months, with an average of 12 months, showed mild edema of the prepuce in all children, which disappeared within 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. In 51 cases, the penis body showed good exposure, with no swelling of the penis skin and no retraction of the penis. The family members were satisfied with the appearance of the penis. The penis was partially retracted in 3 cases, that affected the appearance of the penis during the sitting position.Conclusion:In congenital severe concealed penis with severe skin deficiency, a deep dartos fascia was excised using a ventral median penile combined with a curved scrotal incision approach, and the penile root and scrotal skin covered the penile body with a circumcised appearance after surgery. The scrotal transposition of the penis was corrected at the same time to give the external genitalia an optimal appearance and provide good functional and cosmetic result.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of progressive transfer of penile flap combined with local scrotal flap in correction of severe concealed penis in children.Methods:The clinical data of children with severe concealed penis admitted to the Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from July 2021 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The concealed penis was corrected by progressive transfer of penile flap combined with local scrotal flap. During the operation, a small amount of excess inner prepuce was removed and the outer prepuce was cut in the middle of the dorsal side of the penis. Then the penile flap was transferred from dorsal to ventral, gradually covering the wound without tension. The local scrotal flap was lifted upwards and sutured to the frenulum for covering the ventral foreskin defect of the penis. The amount of blood loss during the operation was recorded. The pain tolerance, the duration of prepuce edema, the length of penis extension and the healing of skin flap were observed. The appearance of the penis was followed up to observe whether the penis was retracted, and the satisfaction of the children and their guardians was recorded.Results:A total of 32 male children were enrolled, ranging in age from 3 to 10 years, with an average age of 7.2 years. The penis of all the children had a conical appearance, and the penile shaft was buried under the subcutaneous anterior pubis, which was difficult to palpate in its natural state. The average intraoperative blood loss was about 5 ml. All patients had pain after the operation. Two patients needed a pump to relieve pain, and the rest could tolerate it after rectum administration of indomethacin suppositories. The edema of the prepuce was mild after the operation, and the edema basically disappeared when the patient was discharged 7-9 days later. The penis could be lengthened by 1.5-3.0 cm under static conditions, averaging about 2.0 cm. After surgery, only 1 patient had a small area (about 5 mm × 4 mm) of infection in the scrotal flap and poor incision healing, and scar healing after dressing change and intensive nursing. The other flaps healed well. After 6 to 12 months of follow-up, the penis length of 2 cases was slightly retracted from the time of discharge, and the remaining 30 cases had no significant change. The patients and their guardians were satisfied with the operation results.Conclusion:The progressive transfer of penile flap combined with local scrotal flap correction of severe concealed penis in children can fully lengthen the penile body, and the degree of postoperative retraction is low, the appearance of the penis is good, and the patient satisfaction is high.

Objective:To present the experience of the anatomical of dartos fascia and describe a new technique for the correction of congenital severe concealed penis.Methods:This retrospective study was conducted on patients with congenital severe concealed penis who underwent surgery at Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital Affiliated with Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to December 2022. Reflex erection tests were routinely performed before surgery. The technique involved creating a median longitudinal incision combined with a curved incision of the ventral penile skin, dividing and excising the deep layer of dartos fascia, fixing the subcutaneous dermis at the pubic symphysis with sutures to the tunica albuginea of the penile root, and transferring the skin of the ventral root of the penis and scrotum to match the internal plate to cover the shaft of the penis. Follow-up of complications occurred after surgery, and the surgical effect was evaluated 6 months after surgery.Results:A total of 54 patients were enrolled, aged 2.8-10.0 years, with a median age of 6.7 years. In the presence of reflex erection, the penile skin was severely deficient in children with congenital severe concealed penis. The surgery was successfully completed, and the postoperative appearance was circumcised. In 43 cases with partial penile scrotal transposition, the transposition was corrected simultaneously. The incision healed well after surgery, with no infection or incisional dehiscence. Follow-up for 6 to 20 months, with an average of 12 months, showed mild edema of the prepuce in all children, which disappeared within 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. In 51 cases, the penis body showed good exposure, with no swelling of the penis skin and no retraction of the penis. The family members were satisfied with the appearance of the penis. The penis was partially retracted in 3 cases, that affected the appearance of the penis during the sitting position.Conclusion:In congenital severe concealed penis with severe skin deficiency, a deep dartos fascia was excised using a ventral median penile combined with a curved scrotal incision approach, and the penile root and scrotal skin covered the penile body with a circumcised appearance after surgery. The scrotal transposition of the penis was corrected at the same time to give the external genitalia an optimal appearance and provide good functional and cosmetic result.

Objective:To summarize the clinical effect of laparoscopic medial umbilical ligament dissection in two-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy (FSO).Methods:A case-series study was conducted.Clinical data of children who underwent two-stage FSO from March 2020 to July 2022 in the Department of Urology, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed.Indexes such as operation time, amount of blood loss, degree of postoperative pain in the operative area, testicular position, size, texture and parental satisfaction at the operative side 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after surgery were collected.Measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD and compared using the independent sample and paired sample t-tests. Results:A total of 18 children with complete clinical data were included in this study.Their age ranged from 7 months to 10 years, with an average of 2 years.There were 10 cases of FSO on the left side and 8 cases on the right side.Twelve cases (group A) had the testis directly descending to the scrotum without amputation of the umbilical medial ligament during the operation, including 7 cases on the left side and 5 cases on the right side; 6 cases (group B) with testis not descending to the scrotum received amputation of the umbilical medial ligament, and the testicle was pulled into the scrotum without tension, including 3 cases on the left side and 3 cases on the right side.The age of patients in group A [(0.88±0.26) years] was lower than that in group B [(4.32±2.96) years] ( t=-4.11, P<0.05).The operation time of patients in group B was (47.50±1.87) min, slightly longer than that in group A [(46.17±1.47) min] ( t=-1.66, P>0.05).The intraoperative bleeding volume in group B was (5.18±0.42) mL, slightly higher than that in group A [(4.96±0.20) mL] ( t=-1.56, P>0.05).Patients in both groups had mild pain in the operative area, which could be tolerated by the children.There were no significant differences in testicular position, size, texture and satisfaction between the two groups 1 month after surgery.Reexamination at 6 months after operation showed that 1 case in group A had mild testicular retraction, located above the scrotum; no significant testicular retraction was observed in group B; the size and texture of testis in both groups had no significant change compared with those before operation, and the blood supply was normal according to the color ultrasound findings; parental satisfaction was high.Reexamination at 1 year after operation showed that 1 case of testis in group A was located above the scrotum, 2 cases had no obvious development, and the rest cases had increased testis size [(0.51±0.03) mL] compared with before operation [(0.31±0.02) mL] ( t=-22.97, P<0.05); all cases of testis in group B returned to normal position, 1 case had no obvious development, and the rest cases had increased testis size [(0.45±0.02) mL] compared with before operation [(0.24±0.01) mL] ( t=-32.87, P<0.05).There was no significant difference in testicular size increase between group A [(0.20±0.03) mL] and group B [(0.20±0.01) mL] ( t=-1.19, P>0.05). Conclusions:In the case that the medial umbilical ligament obviously affects the testicular descent, it can be dissected, which significantly shortens the distance of testis descending to the scrotum.The testicular position after surgery is normal, and the two-stage FSO does not affect the testicular development.

Objective:To correlate rs6677604 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with mesangial C3 deposition and prognosis among patients with IgA nephropathy.Methods:A retrospective nested case-control study was conducted among 380 patients with IgA nephropathy who received treatment at Taizhou Central Hospital from July 2018 to July 2021. All patients were tested for rs6677604 SNP. Among them, 36 AG genotypes and 72 GG genotypes were selected. The clinical data (IgA, C4, C3 deposit scores, percutaneous kidney biopsy, interstitial fibrosis/glomerular atrophy, mesangial C3 deposition), tissue and circulating complement levels, and CFHR gene copy numbers were compared between two genotypes. Regular follow-ups were conducted for 2 years to analyze the prognosis of patients with different rs6677604 genotypes. Results:Patients with the rs6677604-AG genotype had scores of (1.34 ± 0.50) points for IgA, (1.47 ± 0.31) points for C4 deposit, and (2.65 ± 0.36) points for C3 deposit, all of which were significantly lower than those in patients with rs6677604-GG genotype [(1.77 ± 0.73) points, (2.17 ± 0.33) points, (3.00 ± 0.48) points, t = -3.17, -10.59, -3.86, all P < 0.05]. The deposition intensity of mesangial C3 was predominantly 2+. Circulating levels of C3, C4, and complement factor H were significantly higher in patients with rs6677604-AG genotype compared with patients with rs6677604-GG genotype ( t = 7.90, 9.87, 2.27, all P < 0.05). Circulating levels of IgA and Gd-IgA1 were significantly lower in patients with rs6677604-AG genotype compared with those with rs6677604-GG genotype ( t = -2.98, -2.08, both P < 0.05). All patients with rs6677604-AG genotype had 1 copy of the CFHR3 gene, with 33 cases (91.67%) having 1 copy and 3 cases (8.33%) having 2 copies of the CFHR1 gene. Both CFHR3 and CFHR1 genes in patients with rs6677604-GG genotype were 2 copies. There was no statistically significant difference in composite endpoint between patients with rs6677604-AG and rs6677604-GG genotypes over the 2-year period (χ 2 = 0.19, P = 0.656). Conclusion:RS6677604 SNP is correlated with circulating complement factor H levels and mesangial C3 deposition in patients with IgA nephropathy, and may have a regulatory effect on complement activation in IgA nephropathy.

Objective To investigate the impact of variations in RNA-binding motif protein 20(RBM20)and muscle-restricted coiled-coil(MURC)digenic heterozygosity variation on the structural and biological characteristics of human cardiomyocyte AC 16(an adult left ventricular myocardial cell line).Methods Cardiomyocyte AC 16 cell lines were constructed with control,negative scramble,wild-type,MURC single-gene mutant,RBM20 single-gene mutant,and RBM20 and MURC digenic mutant groups.The localization of RBM20 and MURC in cardiomyocytes,cell area,cytoskeletal arrangement,cytoskeleton-related proteins,cell polarity,and intracellular calcium concentration were observed using Western blotting,immunofluorescence staining,and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Myocardial apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.Ki-67 staining and wound healing assays were performed to detect cardiomyo-cyte proliferation and migration,respectively.Results Digenic mutations had a more pronounced impact than single-gene mutations in RBM20 or MURC on the structural and biological characteristics of cardiomyocytes,manifested by increased cell area,upregulated mRNA expression of hypertrophy-related genes,such as myosin heavy chain 7 and alpha-actin,increased cytoskeleton disturbance,decreased flu-orescence intensity of cytoskeletal proteins β-tubulin and Vinculin(all P＜0.01);increased fluorescence intensity of the polarity protein Part 6(P＜0.05);and significantly elevated cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate,decreased proliferative activity,and elevated migration rate and intracellular calcium ion concentration(all P＜0.01).Conclusion The digenic heterozygous variation in RBM20 and MURC may induce changes in the morphological structure and biological characteristics of myocardial cells,including increased cell area,cytoskeleton dis-turbance,cell polarity,increased apoptosis rate and mobility,decreased cell proliferation activity,and calcium processing ability.