Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic multi-band ligation (EMBL) in the management of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD) combined with esophageal hiatal hernia (HH).Methods:This study was a prospective, multicenter, small-sample cohort study. Patients who were diagnosed as having RGERD combined with HH at Inner Mongolia Medical University Cancer Hospital and Inner Mongolia Medical University Hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were selected to undergo EMBL. The 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry (HRM) related indicators, gastroesophageal reflux index (GERI), gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERD-Q) scores, and gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) scores were compared before and after the operation. The patient satisfaction and complications were also investigated.Results:A total of 25 patients were included, all of whom were successfully treated with EMBL. Reflux symptoms were relieved to varied degrees in all patients. There were no serious complications during or after the operation, such as perforation, bleeding, and dysphagia. Postoperative follow-up at 6 and 12 months showed a significant decrease in DeMeester scores [18.00 (5.83, 54.75) points, 16.30 (4.38, 60.00) points] compared to preoperative baseline [105.00 (60.80, 147.70) points, Z=-3.72, P<0.001; Z=-3.82, P<0.001]. The percentage of time of pH<4 [8.80 (6.10, 11.80)%, 8.95 (5.15, 10.90)%] significantly decreased compared to the baseline [31.15 (16.75, 54.75)%, Z=-3.72, P<0.001; Z=-3.72, P<0.001], the number of long refluxes [7.90 (4.93, 11.75) times, 6.90 (4.00, 10.75) times] significantly decreased compared to the baseline [33.00 (13.00, 43.00) times, Z=-3.82, P<0.001; Z=-3.58, P<0.001], and the number of acid refluxes (14.86±8.71 times, 12.93±5.51 times) significantly decreased compared to before (30.42±17.99 times, t=5.88, P<0.001; t=4.79, P<0.001). Lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure [9.70 (5.80, 19.58) mmHg, 11.70 (5.40, 19.78) mmHg] was significantly higher compared to before [4.70 (3.25, 7.00) mmHg, Z=-2.84, P<0.001; Z=-3.10, P<0.001]. GERD-Q scores (10.00±2.01 points, 9.43±1.74 points) were significantly higher compared to before (15.34±1.51 points, t=8.90, P<0.001; t=9.87, P<0.001), GERD-HRQL scores [7.00 (5.00, 7.75) points, 6.00 (5.75, 8.25) points] significantly decreased compared to preoperative baseline [13.50 (11.00, 21.25), Z=-3.73, P<0.001; Z=-3.72, P<0.001], and GERI (2.26%±1.58%, 2.07%±1.17%) significantly decreased compared to before (5.72%±2.27%, t=8.92, P<0.001; t=9.86, P<0.001). At 6 and 12 months postoperative follow-up, patient satisfaction [68.00% (15/25), 84.00% (21/25)] significantly increased compared to before [0.00% (0/25), Z=-4.63, P<0.001; Z=-6.48, P<0.001]. Conclusion:Preliminary small-sample study has shown that EMBL is safe, reliable and effective for the treatment of RGERD with HH.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic multi-band ligation (EMBL) in the management of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD) combined with esophageal hiatal hernia (HH).Methods:This study was a prospective, multicenter, small-sample cohort study. Patients who were diagnosed as having RGERD combined with HH at Inner Mongolia Medical University Cancer Hospital and Inner Mongolia Medical University Hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were selected to undergo EMBL. The 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry (HRM) related indicators, gastroesophageal reflux index (GERI), gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERD-Q) scores, and gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) scores were compared before and after the operation. The patient satisfaction and complications were also investigated.Results:A total of 25 patients were included, all of whom were successfully treated with EMBL. Reflux symptoms were relieved to varied degrees in all patients. There were no serious complications during or after the operation, such as perforation, bleeding, and dysphagia. Postoperative follow-up at 6 and 12 months showed a significant decrease in DeMeester scores [18.00 (5.83, 54.75) points, 16.30 (4.38, 60.00) points] compared to preoperative baseline [105.00 (60.80, 147.70) points, Z=-3.72, P<0.001; Z=-3.82, P<0.001]. The percentage of time of pH<4 [8.80 (6.10, 11.80)%, 8.95 (5.15, 10.90)%] significantly decreased compared to the baseline [31.15 (16.75, 54.75)%, Z=-3.72, P<0.001; Z=-3.72, P<0.001], the number of long refluxes [7.90 (4.93, 11.75) times, 6.90 (4.00, 10.75) times] significantly decreased compared to the baseline [33.00 (13.00, 43.00) times, Z=-3.82, P<0.001; Z=-3.58, P<0.001], and the number of acid refluxes (14.86±8.71 times, 12.93±5.51 times) significantly decreased compared to before (30.42±17.99 times, t=5.88, P<0.001; t=4.79, P<0.001). Lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure [9.70 (5.80, 19.58) mmHg, 11.70 (5.40, 19.78) mmHg] was significantly higher compared to before [4.70 (3.25, 7.00) mmHg, Z=-2.84, P<0.001; Z=-3.10, P<0.001]. GERD-Q scores (10.00±2.01 points, 9.43±1.74 points) were significantly higher compared to before (15.34±1.51 points, t=8.90, P<0.001; t=9.87, P<0.001), GERD-HRQL scores [7.00 (5.00, 7.75) points, 6.00 (5.75, 8.25) points] significantly decreased compared to preoperative baseline [13.50 (11.00, 21.25), Z=-3.73, P<0.001; Z=-3.72, P<0.001], and GERI (2.26%±1.58%, 2.07%±1.17%) significantly decreased compared to before (5.72%±2.27%, t=8.92, P<0.001; t=9.86, P<0.001). At 6 and 12 months postoperative follow-up, patient satisfaction [68.00% (15/25), 84.00% (21/25)] significantly increased compared to before [0.00% (0/25), Z=-4.63, P<0.001; Z=-6.48, P<0.001]. Conclusion:Preliminary small-sample study has shown that EMBL is safe, reliable and effective for the treatment of RGERD with HH.

Objective To investigate the roles of histone H3K27me3 methylation and its regulatory enzymes JMJD3 and EZH2 in the differentiation of Th17 cells in ankylosing spondylitis(AS),to unveil their potential involvement in the pathogenesis of AS,and to provide new strategies and targets for the clinical treatment of AS by analyzing the methylation state of H3K27me3 and its interactions with Th17-related factors.Methods A total of 84 AS patients(42 active AS patiens and 42 patients in the stable phase of AS)were enrolled for the study,while 84 healthy volunteers were enrolled as the controls.Blood samples were collected.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated.ELISA assay was performed to examine Th17 cells and the relevant cytokines IL-21,IL-22,and IL-17.The mRNA expressions of RORc,JAK2,and STAT3 were analyzed by RT-PCR,the protein expressions of RORc,JAK2/STAT3 pathway protein,H3K27me3 and the relevant protease(EZH2 and JMJD3)were determined by Western blot.Correlation between H3K27me3,EZH2 and JMJD3 and the key signaling pathway molecules of Th cell differentiation was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results The mRNA expressions of RORc,JAK2,and STAT3 were significantly higher in the active phase group than those in the stable phase group(P<0.05).The relative grayscale values of H3K27me3 and EZH2 in the active phase group were lower than those of the stable phase group,which were lower than those of the control group,with the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05).The relative grayscale values of JMJD3,RORc,JAK2,pJAK2,STAT3,and pSTAT3 proteins were significantly higher in the active phase group than those in the stable phase group,which were higher than those in the control group(all P<0.05).The proportion of Th17 and the expression level of inflammatory factors in the active period group were higher than those in the other two groups(P<0.05).H3K27me3 was negatively correlated with RORc,JAK2,STAT3,and IL-17,JMJD3 was positvely correlated with JAK2,STAT3,and IL-17,and EZH2 was negatively correlated with JAK2,STAT3,and IL-17(all P<0.05).Conclusion The low expression of H3K27me3 in AS is influenced by the gene loci JMJD3 and EZH2,which can regulate the differentiation of Th17 cells and thus play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of AS.

Objective:To study the safety and efficacy of hiatal hernia-endoscopic submucosal dissection (HH-ESD) for the treatment of giant hiatal hernia (>3 cm in length) complicated with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Methods:Patients with giant hiatal hernia complicated with refractory GERD who voluntarily received HH-ESD at the Digestive Endoscopy Center of the Affiliated People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from April 2018 to March 2020 were included in the clinical study. The completion of HH-ESD and the occurrence of complications were observed, and the changes of indicators before and after the treatment were observed, including gastroesophageal reflux disease-health related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) score, gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERD-Q) score, endoscopy results, 24 h esophageal pH monitoring results, esophageal high-resolution manometry results and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) usage.Results:Data of 10 patients were collected during the study, with a medical history of 2-10 years. All patients successfully underwent HH-ESD treatment. No adverse events such as perforation and massive bleeding occurred during the operation, and the hospital stay was 6-12 days. Dysphagia occurred in 3 cases after the operation, which was relieved spontaneously within 3 or 6 months. The preoperative GERD-HRQL scores ranged from 19 to 29, which were reduced to 0-14 and 0-8 at 3 and 12 months after the operation, respectively. The preoperative GERD-Q score was 9-17, and the scores at 3 and 12 months after the operation were all 6-9, which were significantly lower than those before. Gastroscopy showed that esophagitis was improved in all patients, hernia sac was reduced, and Hill grade was reduced compared with that before. The preoperative DeMeester score was 30.3-247.1, and the postoperative 12-month score was 0.2-29.9, which was significantly lower than that before. The long diameter of hiatal hernia was 3.0-6.0 cm before the operation and 0-5.0 cm at 12 months after, which was smaller than that before. At 12 months of the follow-up, 7 patients had stopped PPI, and the remaining 3 had changed to intermittent oral PPI.Conclusion:Preliminary results show that HH-ESD is safe and effective for the treatment of giant hiatal hernia complicated with refractory GERD.

Objective:This study aims to analyze the counts (per kilogram of body weight) or percentages of transplanted lymphocyte subgroups in children with non-infectious pulmonary complications (NIPC) and air-leak syndrome (ALS) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and explore its significance in the progression of lung complications after transplantation.Methods:The patients with NIPC and ALS after allo-HSCT from January 2013 to December 2019 in Hebei Yanda Ludaopei Hospital were retrospectively studied and the influencing factors in the progress of NIPC after HSCT were statistically analyzed.Results:Of the 2026 children who received HSCT treatment, 59 patients (34 males and 25 females) developed NIPC, the probability was 2.9% (59/2 026), and the probability of combined ALS was 1.4% (28/206). The differences in the comparison between NIPC progressed to ALS group (ALS group) and failed to progress to ALS group (non-ALS group) in the patient′s age( P=0.028), disease condition before transplantation( P=0.022), NIPC onset time( P=0.004) were significant. The P values of the percentage of NKT-like cells in the bone marrow ( P=0.008) or peripheral stem cells ( P=0.003) accounted for the lymphocytes. CD4+CD25+dim cells in bone marrow ( P=0.029) or peripheral stem cells ( P=0.036) accounted for the CD4+lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4/CD8 in bone marrow( P=0.004) or peripheral stem cells ( P=0.020) were less than 0.05, which meant the differences in patients′ refusion cells were significant. In the binary logistic regression model, the percentage of bone marrow NKT-like cells to lymphocytes, the ratio of bone marrow CD4+/CD8+and the percentage of peripheral stem NK cells to lymphocytes were important risk factors for the progression of NIPC to ALS. The rest factors were excluded from the model (AUC=0.918, P<0.05). Conclusion:During allo-HSCT transplantation, a high proportion of NKT-like cell and NK cell levels, and a high CD4+/CD8+ratio in the infusion of donors with high immune tolerance have an important correlation with the progression of the NIPC.

Objective To explore the affect of acupuncture cooperating with Bobath approach on the spasticity after stroke.Methods 83 patient were divided into treatment group (42 cases) and control group (41 cases). On basis of conventional treatment, the treatment group accepted acupuncture and Bobath approach while the control group accepted a Bobath approach only. They were assessed with Modified Ashworth Scale before and 8 weeks after treatment. Results 8 weeks after treatment, the spasticity reduced in both groups, but more in the treatment group (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can facilitate the efficacy of Bobath approach on spasticity after stroke.