BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a major regulator of redox homeostasis in cells, and Nrf2 signaling pathway has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-fibrosis effects while plays an important role in wound healing and pathological scar formation and progression. This article reviewed the related research regarding the effect of oxidative stress and Nrf2 signaling pathway on pathological scars, furthermore, it investigated the relationship between Nrf2 signaling pathway, oxidative stress and pathological scars, providing a new perspective for the study of mechanism and clinical prevention and treatments of pathological scars.

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a major regulator of redox homeostasis in cells, and Nrf2 signaling pathway has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-fibrosis effects while plays an important role in wound healing and pathological scar formation and progression. This article reviewed the related research regarding the effect of oxidative stress and Nrf2 signaling pathway on pathological scars, furthermore, it investigated the relationship between Nrf2 signaling pathway, oxidative stress and pathological scars, providing a new perspective for the study of mechanism and clinical prevention and treatments of pathological scars.

Objective To understand the current situation of human brain donation in Hebei Province by analyzing the basic information of Human Brain Bank samples of Hebei Medical University in order to provide basic data support for subsequent scientific research.Methods The samples collected from the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University were analyzed(from December 2019 to February 2024),including gender,age,cause of death,as well as quality control data such as postmortem delay time,pH value of cerebrospinal fluid and and RNA integrity number and result of neuropathological diagnosis.Results Until February 2024,30 human brain samples were collected and stored in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University,with a male to female ratio of 9∶1.Donors over 70 years old accounted for 53％.Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases(36.67％)and nervous system diseases(23.33％)accounted for a high proportion of the death causes.The location of brain tissue donors in Shijiazhuang accounted for 90％donations,and the others were from outside the city.The postmortem delay time was relatively short,90％within 12 hours and 10％more than 12 hours.69.23％of the brain samples had RNA integrity values greater than 6.Cerebrospinal fluid pH values ranged from 5.8 to 7.5,with an average value of 6.60±0.45.Brain weights ranged from 906-1496 g,with an average value of(1210.78±197.84)g.Three apolipoprotein E(APOE)alleles were detected including five genotypes(ε2/ε3,ε2/ε4,ε3/ε3,ε3/ε4,ε4/ε4).Eleven staining methods related to neuropathological diagnosis had been established and used.A total of 12 cases were diagnosed as neurodegenerative diseases(including Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,multiple system atrophy,corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy,etc.),accounting for 40％donated brains.The comorbidity rate of samples over 80 years old was 100％.Conclusion The summary and analyses of the data of brain donors in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University can reflect the current situation of the construction and operation of the brain bank in Hebei Province,and it can also be more targeted to understand and identify potential donors.Our information can provide reference for the construction of brain bank and provides more reliable materials and data support for scientific research.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

Objective To prepare a high performance electrochemical immunosensor for detecting Brucella abortus(B.abortus).Methods Prussian blue(PB),multi walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)and gold nanoparticles(GNPs)(PB-MWCNTs-GNPs)nanocomposites were prepared,and appropriate antibody was used to construct the immunosensor for detecting B.abortus samples.The optimal conditions were clarified by examining the key factors in sensor construction,and then the performance of the sensor was evaluated.Results The optimal construction conditions were determined as follows:the ratio of MWCNTs-PB was 1∶5,the drying temperature was 37 ℃,the pH value of buffer system was 7.5,and the incubation time of antibody and sample was 1 h and 30 min,respectively.B.abortus exhibited a good linear relationship,when ranging from 10 to 1 × 105 CFU/mL.The sensor had good anti-interference ability,repeatability,stability and high accuracy.Conclusion Our prepared PB-MWCNTs GNPs nanomaterials modified electrochemical immunosensor for detecting B.abortus is easy to prepare,has good performance,and can provide reference for the early clinical diagnosis of brucellosis.

Objective To analyze the pathogenic characteristics and drug sensitivity of candidaemia,and construct a short-term mortality risk prediction scoring model.Methods The clinical data of patients with candidaemia admitted to the 909 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed,and the composition of pathogen composition,drug sensitivity test results and incidence of hospitalized patients were analyzed.324 cases of candidaemia were randomly divided into modeling group(190 cases)and validation group(134 cases),and the risk factors were screened by binary logistic regression.According to the odds ratio(OR)score,the 30 day mortality risk prediction scoring model was constructed,and the predictive performance of the model was verified both in modeling and validation groups.Results 356 strains of Candida including 126 strains of C.albicans(35.39%),79 strains of C.tropicalis(22.19%),74 strains of C.parapsilosis(20.79%),48 strains of C.glabrata(13.48%),14 strains of C.guilliermondii(3.93%),8 strains of C.krusei(2.25%),and 7 strains of other Candida(1.97%)were detected in 336 patients with candidemia.The incidence of candidaemia among hospitalized patients increased from 0.20 ‰ in 2011 to 0.48 ‰ in 2020.The resistance rate of candida to amphotericin B was significantly lower than that of fluconazole,voriconazole and itraconazole(P＜0.05).Among the 324 cases included in the model,95 patients died in 30 days after diagnosis,and the mortality rate was 29.32%.The proportion of males,fever,and parenteral nutrition in modeling group was significantly higher than that in validation group(P＜0.05),while the proportion of chronic lung disease and surgical history within one month were lower than those in validation group(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that chronic renal failure,mechanical ventilation,severe neutropenia,failure to receive anti-fungal treatment within 72 hours,and APACHE Ⅱ≥20 were risk factors for short-term death of candidaemia,the OR values were 3.179,1.970,2.979,2.080,and 2.399,and the risk scores were 6,4,6,4,and 5,respectively.The area under the curve(AUC)of the risk scoring model for modeling group was 0.792(95%CI 0.721-0.862),and the result of Hosmer-Lemeshow(H-L)test was P=0.305;The AUC of validation group was 0.796(95%CI 0.735-0.898),and the H-L test result was P=0.329.A risk score≤8 indicated a low risk group for short-term mortality,a score of 9-15 indicated a medium risk group,and a score≥16 indicated a high risk group.Conclusions The incidence of candidemia in hospitalized patients is increasing and the mortality is high.The risk prediction score model can effectively predict the short-term prognosis and facilitate the early identification of the prognosis.

Objective　To perform the pathogenic and genomics analyses on isolates of Streptococcus suis (Ss) from three human infections in Shenzhen, aiming to provide a basis for the prevention and control of Ss outbreaks. Methods　The suspected bacterial strains from three blood plate cultures of three critically ill patients in three hospitals were subjected to biochemical identification, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and real-time fluorescent PCR identification, resulting in the identification of three strains positive for Streptococcus suis serotype 2(SS2). Pure positive cultures were taken for an antimicrobial susceptibility test and extracted nucleic acids for whole-genome sequencing and analysis. The whole-genome sequencing and analysis included species identification, antibiotic resistance genes alignment, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), virulence genes alignment, and coregene-based phylogenetic tree analysis. Results　The blood agar isolates from three patients were all identified as Ss, the VITEK 2 identified them as SS2, and MALDI-TOF-MS identified them as Ss. Real-time PCR results for the universal gene gdh and serotype 2 cps2 gene of Ss were both positive. The antimicrobial susceptibility test results showed that all three strains were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin, with variable sensitivity to tetracycline. Whole-genome sequencing results showed that all three strains were identified as Ss, including one ST7 strain and two ST1 strains. The virulence gene prediction results based on the VFDB database showed that all three strains were positive for mrp, sly, and cps, indicating high virulence gene characteristics. The analysis of the phylogenetic tree based on coregene showed that the three strains were in different evolutionary branches, with two ST1 strains having a closer evolutionary distance. Conclusions　The pathogens responsible for these three critically ill patients were SS2, and all three strains were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin. Genetically, they all carried virulence genes that are found in highly virulent strains, while showed differences in MLST typing and phylogenetic tree analysis, indicating the presence of different genotypes of high pathogenicity SS2 in Shenzhen area and had caused sporadic cases, which requires high attention.

Objective:To understand the iron content and transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) expression levels in keloid and normal skin tissues, an in vitro model of keloid fibroblasts (KFB) ferroptosis induced by Erastin was constructed, and the effects of Erastin and Ferrostatin-1(Fer-1) on cell viability, ferrous ion (Fe 2+) content and lipid peroxidation, ferroptosis and fibrosis-related regulatory factors were examined. Methods:Six keloid tissues and six normal skin tissues were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March to June 2022, and the tissue iron content kit was used to determine the iron content in the dermis of the two tissues, and TfR1 protein expression was detected in the two tissues by Western blot. Primary KFB and normal skin fibroblasts (NFB) were obtained by tissue block culture method, and the effect of different concentrations of Erastin and Fer-1 on cell activity was detected by using Erastin-induced KFB ferroptosis model and CCK-8 method to screen the appropriate drug concentration. The follow-up experiments were divided into five groups: NFB group, control group, Erastin (0.6 μmol/L) group, Fer-1 (1 μmol/L) group, and Erastin (0.6 μmol/L) +Fer-1 (1 μmol/L) group, while KFB was used as the experimental object in the last 4 groups. Cell migration ability was detected by scratch assay, and malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe 2+ content in each group of cells were detected by fluorescent probe method and kits; the protein expression of TfR1, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type I collagen (COL-1) in each group of cells were detected by Western blot, and the protein expression and localization of TfR1, Gpx4 in KFB were detected by immunofluorescence. GraphPad Prism 9.0 statistical software was used, and the measurement data were expressed as Mean±SD. Independent sample t-test was used for comparison between 2 groups, and one-way ANOVA was used for comparison between multiple groups, then LSD-t test was used for pairwise comparison between groups. P< 0.05 indicated that the differences were statistically significant. Results:The iron content and TfR1 protein expression were significantly higher in keloid compared with normal skin tissue ( P<0.01). The proliferation rate of KFB with different Erastin concentrations decreased gradually, the IC 50 was 0.61 μmol/L, and Fer-1 had no obvious toxicity to KFB in the range of 0.1~20 μmol/L. Scratch test showed that the migration rate of control group was significantly higher than that of NFB group ( P< 0.01) ; compared with the control group, KFB migration rate decreased significantly after Erastin intervention ( P<0.01) ; compared with the Erastin group, KFB migration was significantly accelerated in the Erastin+Fer-1 group ( P<0.01). Compared with the NFB group, ROS, MDA levels were significantly increased in the control group ( P< 0.01) ; compared with the control group, ROS, MDA levels and Fe 2+ content were significantly higher in the Erastin group ( P<0.01), while ROS, MDA levels and Fe 2+ content were significantly lower in the Fer-1 group ( P<0.01) ; compared with the Erastin group, MDA, ROS levels and Fe 2+content in the Erastin+ Fer-1 group were significantly decreased ( P<0.01). Western Blot showed that, compared with the NFB group, iron death indexes of SLC7A11 and GPx4 protein expression were significantly reduced ( P<0.01 or P<0.05), TfR1 protein expression was increased ( P<0.01), and fibrosis indexes of α-SMA and COL-1 protein expression were significantly increased ( P<0.01) in the control group; compared with the control group, SLC7A11 expression was reduced ( P<0.01) and TfR1, COL-1 expression increased ( P<0.01), while SLC7A11, GPx4 expression increased ( P< 0.01) and TfR1, α-SMA, COL-1 expression significantly decreased ( P<0.01) in the Fer-1 group; compared with the Erastin group, the GPx4, SLC7A11 expression was increased ( P< 0.01) and TfR1, α-SMA, COL-1 expression was significantly decreased ( P< 0.01) in the Erastin+Fer-1 group, suggesting that Fer-1 was able to reverse Erastin-induced ferroptosis and pro-fibrotic effects in KFB. Immunofluorescence showed that GPx4 was expressed in both nucleus and cytoplasm. Compared with control group, Fer-1 increased the fluorescence intensity of GPx4 in KFB ( P<0.01). Compared with Erastin group, the fluorescence intensity of GPx4 in Erastin+ Fer-1 group was significantly increased ( P<0.01). TfR1 was mainly expressed in cytoplasm. Compared with control group, Erastin increased the fluorescence intensity of TfR1 in KFB ( P< 0.05), while Fer-1 group significantly decreased it ( P < 0.01). Compared with Erastin group, the fluorescence intensity of TfR1 in Erastin+Fer-1 group was significantly reduced ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Iron overload and free iron increase in keloids. Erastin induces ferroptosis in KFB and aggravates keloid fibrosis. Fer-1 reverses the oxidative damage and iron accumulation induced by Erastin and effectively inhibits ferroptosis and keloid fibrosis in KFB.