Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Dendritic cells （DCs）， as key regulatory cells in the immune system， play a significant role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This article reviews the mechanism of action of DCs and related research advances in autoimmune liver diseases （including autoimmune hepatitis， primary biliary cholangitis， and primary sclerosing cholangitis） and autoimmune pancreatitis. By summarizing the functions and heterogeneity of DCs in these diseases， this article reveals the crucial role of DCs in the imbalance of immune tolerance and chronic inflammation. Related research findings provide an important basis for a deep understanding of the role of DCs in autoimmune liver diseases and autoimmune pancreatitis and lay a foundation for the development of precise treatment strategies.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect and safety of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) combined with low-dose eltrombopag in the treatment of persistent thrombocytopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 20 patients diagnosed with post-allo-HSCT thrombocytopenia at Blood Diseases Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2018 to June 2021. All patients didn't meet the platelet implantation criteria [without the platelet count (Plt) ≥20×10 9/L for a consecutive period of 7 days and discontinuation of platelet transfusion] after transplantation, and they received subcutaneous injections of rhTPO (15 000 U) once daily and oral administration of eltrombopag (50 mg) once. Treatment efficacy was defined as maintaining Plt≥20×10 9/L for a consecutive period of 7 days after treatment and discontinuation of platelet transfusion; treatment inefficacy was defined as Plt<20×10 9/L after treatment or continuation of platelet transfusion. The therapeutic effect of rhTPO combined with low-dose eltrombopag was analyzed; the adverse reactions were evaluated; the clinical characteristics were compared between the effective treatment group and ineffective treatment group; the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method between the effective treatment group and ineffective treatment group. Results:Among the 20 patients, 9 were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 5 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 4 with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and 2 with severe aplastic anemia (SAA); 10 cases were primary failure of platelet recovery (PFPR), and 10 cases were secondary failure of platelet recovery (SFPR). The median time [ M ( Q1, Q3)] from transplantation to initiation of treatment was 79 days (50 days, 89 days), and the median duration of treatment was 19.5 days (15 days, 30 days). Of the total cohort, treatment was effective in 13 cases (65.0%, 8 cases of PFPR, 5 cases of SFPR), while 7 patients (35.0%) showed no response to treatment. The median time to achieve the therapeutic response among responders was 10 days (7 days, 19 days). During the combination treatment, 5 patients experienced elevated transaminase levels exceeding more than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal or bilirubin levels surpassing twice that limit. No instances of adverse reaction-related arterial thrombosis, myelofibrosis, or primary disease relapse occurred within this patient cohort. Megakaryocyte counts in the effective treatment group before combination treatment were higher than that in the ineffective treatment group, and the difference was statistically significant [14 (10, 20) vs. 2.5 (2, 4); Z = -2.33, P = 0.017]; Notably, no statistically significant differences were identified when comparing the compositions of gender, type of underlying diseases, human leukocyte antigen matching degree, blood type of donor and recipient, conditioning regimen use of antithymocyte globulin, quantity of CD34 + cells transfused, type of thrombocytopenia, acute graft-versus-host disease, fungal or bacterial infections, and viral infections between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The 1-year OS rates for the effective and ineffective treatment groups were 100.0% and 42.9%, respectively, and the difference in OS between the two groups was statistically significant ( P = 0.001). The 1-year DFS rates for the effective and ineffective treatment groups were 92.3% and 28.6%, respectively, and the difference in DFS between the two groups was statistically significant ( P = 0.003). Conclusions:The combination of rhTPO and low-dose eltrombopag has demonstrated certain therapeutic efficacy and good safety in the treatment of persistent thrombocytopenia after allo-HSCT.

Objective To explore the relationship between the early stage HbA1c level and two-year prognosis in the patients with first time onset of acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods A total of 513 inpa-tients with first time AIS in this hospital during 2018-2019 were selected as the study subjects.The clinical data,biochemical indicators and discharge situation were collected.The multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of adverse reactions outcome within 2 years.The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the all-cause mortality and stroke recurrence situation within 2 years.Results The sex,age,TOAST type,,diseases history such as diabetes,arrhythmia and coronary heart disease,medication history such as antidiabetic drugs,lipid-lowering drugs and anticoagulants,BMI,Urea,Crea,ALT,SBP,fasting blood glucose(FBG),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),HDL-C,NIHSS score at admission,discharge mode,NIHSS score at discharge,hospitalization duration and hospitalization costs had statistical difference a-mong the patients with different HbA1c levels(P＜0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HbA1c＞7.4％was the independent risk factor for adverse outcome within 2 years(OR=4.470,95％CI:1.105-18.087,P=0.036).The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the survival time within 2 years had statistical difference among the patients with different HbA1c levels(P=0.009).The higher the HbA1c level,the shorter the survival time.Conclusion The high HbA1c level has the influence on the stroke recurrence and all-cause mortality within 2 years in the patients with first onset occurrence of AIS.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in young patients with high-risk multiple myeloma (HRMM) and analyzed the factors affecting patient prognosis.Methods:In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical data of 14 patients with HRMM with cytogenetic abnormalities or high-risk biological factors who underwent allo-HSCT at the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center of the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital between November 2016 and November 2022.Results:There were seven males and seven females included in the study, with a median age of 39.5 (31-50) years at the time of allo-HSCT. The median number of treatment lines before transplantation was 2 (1-6) . Before allo-HSCT, 42.9% (6/14) of the patients did not achieve complete remission, while 35.7% (5/14) of the patients achieved measurable residual disease positivity. After transplantation, all patients were evaluated for their treatment response, and the overall response rate was 100% (14/14) . All 14 patients successfully underwent allo-HSCT, with median engraftment times for neutrophils and platelets of 11 (10-14) days and 13 (9-103) days, respectively. Acute grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurred in five patients (35.7%) , and two patients (14.3%) developed moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD. The median follow-up time after allo-HSCT was 18.93 (4.10-72.53) months, with an expected 2-year transplant-related mortality rate of 7.1% (95% CI 0%-21.1%) and an expected 2-year overall survival rate of 92.9% (95% CI 80.3%–100.0%) . Moreover, the expected 1-year and 2-year progression-free survival rates were 92.9% (95% CI 80.3%-100.0%) and 66.0% (95% CI 39.4%-100.0%) , respectively, and the 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 28.9% (95% CI 0%-56.7%) . Upfront allo-HSCT following complete remission after induced therapy and the presence of chronic GVHD might be favorable prognostic factors. Conclusion:allo-HSCT is an effective treatment for improving the prognosis of young patients with HRMM.

To explore the application value of endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the diagnosis and treatment ofpatients with pancreatic cancer combined with obstructive jaundice.