Persistent inflammation plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of renal fibrosis. Activation of the pattern recognition receptor retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is implicated in the initiation of inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the upstream mechanisms that regulates the activation of RIG-I and its downstream signaling pathway. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were used to establish unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis model, and the renal tissue samples were collected 14 days later for analysis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-treated mouse renal tubular epithelial cells were used in in vitro studies. The results demonstrated that, compared to the control group, UUO kidney exhibited significant fibrosis, which was accompanied by the increases of RIG-I, p-NF-κB p65 and inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-1β. Additionally, the protein level of the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF125 was significantly downregulated and predominantly localized in the renal tubular epithelial cells. Similarly, the treatment of tubular cells with TGF-β induced the increases in RIG-I, p-NF-κB p65 and inflammatory cytokines while decreasing RNF125. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays confirmed that RNF125 was able to interact with RIG-I. Overexpression of RNF125 promoted the ubiquitination of RIG-I, and accelerated its degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Overexpression of RNF125 in UUO kidneys and in vitro tubular cells effectively mitigated the inflammatory response and renal fibrosis. In summary, our results demonstrated that the decrease in RNF125 under pathological conditions led to reduction in RIG-I ubiquitination and degradation, activation of the downstream NF-κB signaling pathway and increase in inflammatory cytokine production, which promoted the progression of renal fibrosis.
Animals ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Ubiquitination ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; DEAD Box Protein 58 ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/physiology* ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Ureteral Obstruction/complications* ; Kidney/pathology* ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology*

Thyroglobulin(Tg)is a glycoprotein with large molecular weight,which is synthesized and secreted into the bloodstream by thyroid follicular cells.The concentration level of Tg in blood is one of the important biomarkers for diagnosis of thyroid diseases such as differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC),subacute thyroiditis,etc..Radioimmunoassay(RIA),immunoradiometric assay(IRMA),and immunochemiluminescence assay(ICMA)are the main clinical methods for detecting Tg.Recently,for meeting the requirement of detecting low concentration of Tg in blood after thyroid clearance surgery,researchers have developed various high-performance analysis methods for detecting Tg concentration in blood samples,providing new assays for thyroid disease screening and efficacy evaluation.This review summarized the analysis methods of Tg,especially the new progresses in the biosensors for monitoring low concentration of Tg in blood during the past five years.The current technical challenges of these methods in clinical applications were briefly discussed,which might provide useful information for developing new liquid biopsy methods of DTC.

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are major public health and social issues worldwide. The long-term follow-up of COVID-19 with pulmonary TB (PTB) survivors after discharge is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively describe clinical outcomes, including sequela and recurrence at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge, among COVID-19 with PTB survivors. Methods From January 22, 2020 to May 6, 2022, with a follow-up by August 26, 2022, a prospective, multicenter follow-up study was conducted on COVID-19 with PTB survivors after discharge in 13hospitals from four provinces in China. Clinical outcomes, including sequela, recurrence of COVID-19, and PTB survivors, were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Results Thirty-two COVID-19 with PTB survivors were included. The median age was 52 (45, 59) years, and 23 (71.9％) were men. Among them, nearly two-thirds (62.5％) of the survivors were moderate, three (9.4％) were severe, and more than half (59.4％) had at least one comorbidity (PTB excluded). The proportion of COVID-19 survivors with at least one sequela symptom decreased from 40.6％ at 3 months to 15.8％ at 24 months, with anxiety having a higher proportion over a follow-up. Cough and amnesia recovered at the 12-month follow-up, while anxiety, fatigue, and trouble sleeping remained after 24 months. Additionally, one (3.1％) case presented two recurrences of PTB and no re-positive COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Conclusion The proportion of long symptoms in COVID-19 with PTB survivors decreased over time, while nearly one in six still experience persistent symptoms with a higher proportion of anxiety. The recurrence of PTB and the psychological support of COVID-19 with PTB after discharge require more attention.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mutations in transcription regulatory sequences (TRSs) of coronaviruss (CoV) to provide the basis for exploring the patterns of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and outbreak. METHODS: A combined evolutionary and molecular functional analysis of all sets of publicly available genomic data of viruses was performed. RESULTS: A leader transcription regulatory sequence (TRS-L) usually comprises the first 60-70 nts of the 5' UTR in a CoV genome, and the body transcription regulatory sequences (TRS-Bs) are located immediately upstream of the genes other than ORF1a and 1b. In each CoV genome, the TRS-L and TRS-Bs share a specific consensus sequence, namely the TRS motif. Any changes of nucleotide residues in the TRS motifs are defined as TRS motif mutations. Mutations in the TRS-L or multiple TRS-Bs result in superattenuated variants. The spread of super-attenuated variants may cause an increase in asymptomatic or mild infections, prolonged incubation periods and a decreased detection rate of the viruses, thus posing new challenges to SARS-CoV-2 prevention and control. The super-attenuated variants also increase their possibility of long-term coexistence with humans. The Delta variant is significantly different from all the previous variants and may lead to a large-scale transmission. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) with TRS motif mutation has already appeared and shown signs of spreading in Singapore, which, and even the Southeast Asia, may become the new epicenter of the next wave of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. CONCLUSION TRS motif mutation will occur in all variants of SARS-CoV-2 and may result in super-attenuated variants. Only super-attenuated variants with TRS motif mutations will eventually lose the abilities of cross-species transmission and causing outbreaks.
COVID-19/virology* ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Mutation ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics*

Objective: To observe the incidence and treatment of radiation rectal injury complicated with anxiety, depression and somatic symptom disorder. Methods: A cross-sectional survey research method was carried out. Patients with radiation rectal injury managed by members of the editorial board of Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery were the subjects of investigation. The inclusion criteria of the survey subjects: (1) patients suffered from pelvic tumors and received pelvic radiotherapy; (2) colonoscopy showed inflammatory reaction or ulcer in the rectum. Exclusion criteria: (1) patient had a history of psycho-somatic disease before radiotherapy; (2) patient was unable to use a smart phone, unable to read and understand the questions in the questionnaire displayed on the phone; (3) patient refused to sign an informed consent form. According to the SOMA self-rating scale, PHQ-15 self-rating scale, GAD-7 and PHQ-9 self-rating scale, the electronic questionnaire of "Psychological Survey of Radiation Proctitis" was designed. The questionnaire was sent to patients with radiation rectal injury managed by the committee through the WeChat group. Observational indicators: (1) radiation rectal injury symptom assessment: using SOMA self-rating scale, radiation rectal injury symptom classification: mild group (≤3 points), moderate group (4-6 points) and severe group (> 6 points); (2) incidence of anxiety, depression and physical disorder: using GAD-7, PHQ-9 and PHQ-15 self-rating scales respectively for assessment; (3) correlation of radiation rectal injury symptom grading with anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorder. Results: Seventy-one qualified questionnaires were collected, of which 41 (56.9%) were from Guangzhou. Among the 71 patients, 6 were males and 65 were females; the mean age was (55.7±9.3) years old and 48 patients (67.6%) were less than 60 years old; the median confirmed duration of radiation rectal injury was 2.0 (1.0, 5.0) years. (1) Evaluation of symptoms of radiation rectal injury: 18 cases of mild (25.4%), 27 cases of moderate (38.0%), and 26 cases of severe (36.6%). (2) Incidence of anxiety, depression and somatic disorder: 12 patients (16.9%) without comorbidities; 59 patients (83.1%) with anxiety, depression, or somatic disorder, of whom 2 patients only had anxiety, 1 patient only had depression, 9 only had somatic disorder, 2 had anxiety plus depression, 4 had anxiety plus somatic disorder, 2 had depression plus somatic disorder, and 40 had all three symptoms. (3) correlation of radiation rectal injury grading with anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorder: as compared to patients in mild group and moderate group, those in severe group had higher severity of anxiety and somatic symptom disorder (Z=-2.143, P=0.032; Z=-2.045, P=0.041), while there was no statistically significant difference of depression between mild group and moderate group (Z=-1.176, P=0.240). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that radiation rectal injury symptom score was positively correlated with anxiety (r=0.300, P=0.013), depression (r=0.287, P=0.015) and somatic symptom disorder (r=0.344, P=0.003). Conclusions: The incidence of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptom disorder in patients with radiation rectal injury is extremely high. It is necessary to strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of somatic symptom disorder, so as to alleviate the symptoms of patients with pelvic perineum pain and improve the quality of life.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Rectum ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: To explore the relationship between the ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors and newonset heart failure. Methods: It was a prospective cohort study. People who attended the 2006-2007 physical examination of Kailuan Group Company and with complete data of cardiovascular behaviors and related factors were eligible for this study. A total of 95 167 participants who were free of valvular heart diseases, congenital heart diseases and a prior history of heart failure were included. Basic cardiovascular health score (CHS) of each participant was calculated. Participants were divided into 3 groups according to CHS. Group 1:CHS<8 (n=26 640), Group 2:8≤CHS<10 (n=35 230), Group3:CHS≥10 (n=33 297). The general clinical data and laboratory test results were collected. The outcome was defined as the first occurrence of heart failure at the end of followup(December 31, 2016). Cox regression model was used to determine the association between baseline CHS and the risk of newonset heart failure. Results: After a median followup of 10.3 years, the incidence of newonset heart failure in the group of CHS<8,8≤CHS<10,CHS≥10 were 2.7%(729/26 640), 1.8%(651/35 230) and 1.1%(360/33 297),respectively. After adjustment for age, sex, history of myocardial infarction, history of atrial fibrillation, income, alcohol consumption, education and the use of antihypertensive, cholesterol-lowering, glucose-lowering medications, compared with the group of CHS<8, the Cox regression model showed that HRs of the group of 8≤CHS<10 and CHS≥10 were 0.68 (95%CI 0.61-0.75), 0.49 (95%CI 0.43-0.55), respectively. Cox regression analysis after removing each single cardiovascular behavior or factor showed that the HR value range ability was as follows:systolic blood pressure(HR=0.78,95%CI 0.74-0.82), body mass index(HR=0.78,95%CI 0.74-0.82), fasting blood glucose (HR=0.77,95%CI 0.73-0.81), total cholesterol(HR=0.76,95%CI 0.72-0.80), physical exercise(HR=0.72,95%CI 0.69-0.76), smoking(HR=0.75,95%CI 0.71-0.79) and salt intake(HR=0.73,95%CI 0.69-0.77). Conclusion: CHS is negatively associated with the risk of newonset heart failure, and there is a dose-response relationship between the two indexes.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology* ; Health Behavior ; Heart Failure/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of ginger-partitioned moxibustion on digestive tract reaction, quality of life and white blood cell count after chemotherapy in advanced malignant bone tumors patients. METHODS: A total of 64 patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with adriamycin combined with cisplatin (AP) chemotherapy. The patients in the control group were treated by tropisetron hydrochloride intravenous on preventing the vomiting 1 h before receiving chemotherapy. On the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Shenque (CV 8), and Zhongwan (CV 12) 2 h after chemotherapy, once a day, 30 min each time. The course of chemotherapy, ginger-partitioned moxibustion and tropisetron hydrochloride intravenous was 5 days. The digestive tract reaction rating, quality of life score and white blood cell count were compared 1 d before chemotherapy, 2 d after chemotherapy and 7 d after chemotherapy between the two groups. RESULTS: The number of 0 grade in digestive tract reaction 2 d and 7 d after chemotherapy in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( CONCLUSION Ginger-partitioned moxibustion can prevent and treat vomiting after chemotherapy in advanced malignant bone tumors, and improve the quality of life and white blood cell count of patients.
Acupuncture Points ; Bone Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Ginger ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Vomiting/etiology*

Algorithms ; Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Thoracic Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery

Autism spectrum disorder can be differentiated into three subtypes (aloof, passive, and active-but-odd) based on social behaviors according to the Wing Subgroups Questionnaire (WSQ). However, the correlations between the scores on some individual items and the total score are poor. In the present study, we translated the WSQ into Chinese, modified it, validated it in autistic and typically-developing Chinese children, and renamed it the Beijing Autism Subtyping Questionnaire (BASQ). Our results demonstrated that the BASQ had improved validity and reliability, and differentiated autistic children into these three subtypes more precisely. We noted that the autistic symptoms tended to be severe in the aloof, moderate in the passive, and mild in the active-but-odd subtypes. The modified questionnaire may facilitate etiological studies and the selection of therapeutic regimes.
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; diagnosis ; Child, Preschool ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Social Behavior ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Translating

Background: Esophageal cancer is associated with substantial disease burden in China, and data on the economic burden are fundamental for setting priorities in cancer interventions. The medical expenditure for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in China has not been fully quantified. This study aimed to examine the medical expenditure of Chinese patients with esophageal cancer and the associated trends. Methods: From 2012 to 2014, a hospital-based multicenter retrospective survey was conducted in 37 hospitals in 13 provinces/municipalities across China as a part of the Cancer Screening Program of Urban China. For each esophageal cancer patient diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, clinical information and expense data were extracted by using structured questionnaires. All expense data were reported in Chinese Yuan (CNY; 1 CNY= 0.155 USD) based on the 2011 value and inflated using the year-specific health care consumer price index for China. Results: A total of 14,967 esophageal cancer patients were included in the analysis. It was estimated that the overall average expenditure per patient was 38,666 CNY, and an average annual increase of 6.27％ was observed from 2002 (25,111 CNY) to 2011 (46,124 CNY). The average expenditures were 34,460 CNY for stage Ⅰ, 39,302 CNY for stage Ⅱ, 40,353 CNY for stage Ⅲ, and 37,432 CNY for stage IV diseases (P < 0.01). The expenditure also differed by the therapy type, which was 38,492 CNY for surgery, 27,933 CNY for radiotherapy, and 27,805 CNY for chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Drugs contributed to 45.02％ of the overall expenditure. Conclusions: These conservative estimates suggested that medical expenditures for esophageal cancer in China substantially increased in the last 10 years, treatment for early-stage esophageal cancer costs less than that for advanced cases, and spending on drugs continued to account for a considerable proportion of the overall expenditure.