Background: The function of CD69 expressed on T cells in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the roles of CD69 on T cells in the disease process and in antiviral therapy for CHB. Methods: We enrolled 335 treatment-naive patients with CHB and 93 patients with CHB on antiviral therapy. CD69, antiviral cytokine production by T cells, T-helper (Th) cells, and inhibitory molecules of T cells were measured using flow cytometry, and clinical-virological characteristics were examined dynamically during antiviral therapy. Results: CD69 expression on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells was the lowest in the immune-active phase and was negatively correlated with liver transaminase activity, fibrosis features, inflammatory cytokine production by T cells, and Th-cell frequencies but positively with inhibitory molecules on T cells. CD69 expression on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells decreased after 48 weeks of antiviral therapy, and patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in week 48 showed lower CD69 expression on T cells at baseline and week 48. The area under the ROC curve of CD69 expression on T cells at baseline for predicting HBeAg seroconversion in week 48 was 0.870, the sensitivity was 0.909, and the specificity was 0.714 (P = 0.002). Conclusions CD69 negatively regulates T-cell immunity during CHB, and its expression decreases with antiviral therapy. CD69 expression predicts HBeAg seroconversion in week 48. CD69 may play an important negative role in regulating T cells and affect the efficacy of antiviral therapy.

The term"heat stroke"originates from the integration of modern traditional Chinese and Western medicine.In clinical practice,the complementary advantages of the two medical systems can significantly enhance the clinical diagnosis and treatment level of heat stroke.Through comprehensively analyzes the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)nomenclature for heat stroke,proposing that heat stroke is a type of sunstroke characterized by intense and pure yang nature,specifically referring to symptoms caused directly or indirectly by hot weather.It can be referenced under the categories of Zhongye,Shuwen,Yinshu/Yangshu,Shujue,and Shufeng for treatment.The article reviews the TCM diagnostic and therapeutic thinking for heat stroke,summarizing its etiology and pathogenesis,including summerheat directly entering the Yangming,heat entering the heart and nutrient-blood aspects,evil combined with water(post-emergency),dual injury of qi and fluid(post-mild recovery),and phlegm-stasis obstructing collaterals(post-severe recovery).Based on years of clinical experience and combining the different clinical manifestations of heat stroke with TCM's four diagnostic methods,the article proposes a treatment plan that integrates Chinese and Western medicine,combining disease differentiation with syndrome differentiation.The main syndromes summarized include high fever with spasms(Yangming heat excess syndrome),diarrhea(Yangming fu syndrome-intestinal sweating),high fever with coma(heat entering the heart-nutrient syndrome),high fever with convulsions(extreme heat generating wind syndrome),heat stroke-induced coagulopathy(heat entering the blood aspect syndrome),edema after fluid resuscitation(Taiyang water retention syndrome),recovery phase(dual injury of qi and fluid syndrome),and sequelae(phlegm-stasis obstructing collaterals syndrome).For treatment,Baihu Jia Renshen decotion combined with Zengye Chengqi decotion is used for nourishing yin and increasing fluids,relaxing tendons,and stopping spasms for Yangming heat excess syndrome;Baihu decotion combined with Zengye decotion for clearing summerheat and nourishing yin for Yangming fu syndrome-intestinal sweating;Qingying decotion for clearing the nutrient aspect and cooling blood,penetrating heat,and nourishing yin for heat entering the heart-nutrient syndrome;Lingjiao Gouteng decotion for clearing heat and cooling the liver,extinguishing wind,and calming spasms for extreme heat generating wind syndrome;Wuling powder for draining and eliminating water retention for Taiyang water retention syndrome;Wang's Qing Shu Yiqi decotion for clearing summerheat and reducing fever,benefiting qi,and generating fluids for dual injury of qi and fluid syndrome;and Sanjia powder for clearing residual heat,resolving phlegm,and removing stasis from collaterals for phlegm-stasis obstructing collaterals syndrome.Starting from TCM theory and linking it with practice,the article combines Western disease differentiation with TCM syndrome differentiation,aiming to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of heat stroke.

Objective:To compare the dosimetric differences between volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT)and helical tomotherapy(HT)in undergoing protective plan for pelvic bones of patients with cervical cancer.Methods:A total of 40 patients with cervical cancer,who underwent radiotherapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University from January 2023 to February 2024,were selected for this study.The target volumes and organs at risk(OARs)were delineated after the information of computed tomography(CT)simulation images were acquired from each patient.The pelvic bone was alone delineated as OAR.Two kinds of bone marrow dose-limiting radiotherapy plans,coplanar dual-arc VMAT and HT,were respectively designed for each patient by using the treatment planning system(TPS)of radiotherapy.A statistical analysis was conducted to compare the dose parameters of target volume,conformity,homogeneity,OAR dose-volume,mean dose,and maximum dose of point between the two kinds of plans.Results:Both the VMAT and HT plans could meet the requirements of target volume and OARs for dose.For general OARs,the dose-volume percentage(V40 Gy)of V40 Gy at bladder,mean dose(Dmean),rectal V40 Gy,maximum dose(Dmax)at small intestine point of HT plan were respectively(38.97±2.29)%,(38.06±0.45)Gy,(61.50±2.51)%and(50.82±0.36)Gy.The differences of them between HT plan and VMAT plan were statistically significant(t=25.46,13.99,1.56,10.93,P<0.05).The V10 Gy,V20 Gy,V30 Gy and Dmean of VMAT plan were respectively(70.76±2.51)%,(60.84±3.29)%,(52.40±2.56)%and(32.02±4.33)Gy for pelvic bones,which were significantly lower than those of HT plan,and the differences of them between two kinds of plans were also statistically significant(t=-20.68,-13.23,-7.73,-10.26,P<0.05).Conclusion:The HT plan can provide the optimal dose distribution for target region in radiotherapy for patients with cervical cancer,which can better protect OAR nearby target region.VMAT plan has a significant advantage in low-dose regions of protecting pelvis.Thus,individualized treatment design should be conducted according to the conditions of each patient in clinical treatment.

Objective To explore the effect of galangin(GAL)on bone metabolism by regulating Hippo/Yes associated protein(YAP)signaling pathway in rats with diabetic osteoporosis(DOP).Methods 90 female SD rats were randomly divided into normal control(NC)group,model(Mod)group,low-dose GAL(GAL-L)group,high-dose GAL(GAL-H)group,and high-dose GAL+YAP inhibitor Verteporfin(GAL-H+Verteporfin)group,with 18 rats in each group.Dual energy X-ray was used to detect bone mineral density(BMD).Three-point bending assay was used to evaluate the biomechanics of femur.HE staining was used to test the pathological changes in femoral tissue.ELISA was used to detect serum levels of osteocalcin(OC),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),and tartaric-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP).Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of YAP protein in femoral tissue.Results Compared with NC group,the BMD,maximum load,elastic modulus,OC,ALP,and YAP protein expression of femur were reduced(P<0.05),and the TRAP was increased in Mod group(P<0.05).Compared with Mod group,BMD,maximum load,elastic modulus,OC,ALP and YAP protein expressions of femur were increased(P<0.05),while TRAP was decreased in GAL-L and GAL-H groups(P<0.05),and the improvement was better in GAL-H group.Compared with GAL-H group,femur BMD,maximum load,elastic modulus,OC,ALP and YAP protein expressions of femur were decreased(P<0.05),while TRAP was increased in GAL-H+Verteporfin group(P<0.05).Conclusions GAL may regulate the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway,increase the expression of YAP,regulate bone metabolism in DOP rats,and inhibit bone resorption.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Wnt signaling pathway and miRNAs mechanism of extracts of Plastrum Testudinis (PT) in the treatment of osteoporosis (OP). METHODS: Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups by random number table method, including sham group, ovariectomized group (OVX), ovariectomized groups treated with high-, medium-, and low-dose PT (160, 80, 40 mg/kg per day, respectively), with 6 rats in each group. Except for the sham group, the other rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy to simulate OP and received PT by oral gavage for 10 consecutive weeks. After treatment, bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; bone microstructure was analyzed by micro-computed tomography and hematoxylin and eosin staining; and the expressions of osteogenic differentiation-related factors were detected by immunochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) was used to inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and miRNA overexpression was used to evaluate the effect of miR-214 on the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Subsequently, PT extract was used to rescue the effects of Dkk-1 and miR-214, and its impacts on the osteogenic differentiation-related factors of BMSCs were evaluated. RESULTS: PT-M and PT-L significantly reduced the weight gain in OVX rats (P<0.05). PT also regulated the bone mass and bone microarchitecture of the femur in OVX rats, and increased the expressions of bone formation-related factors including alkaline phosphatase, bone morphogenetic protein type 2, collagen type I alpha 1, and runt-related transcription factor 2 when compared with the OVX group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Meanwhile, different doses of PT significantly rescued the inhibition of Wnt signaling pathway-related factors in OVX rats, and increased the mRNA or protein expressions of Wnt3a, β-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase-3β, and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). PT stimulated the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs inhibited by Dkk-1 and activated the Wnt signaling pathway. In addition, the expression of miR-214 was decreased in OVX rats (P<0.01), and it was negatively correlated with the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs (P<0.01). MiR-214 mimic inhibited Wnt signaling pathway in BMSCs (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conversely, PT effectively counteracted the effect of miR-214 mimic, thereby activating the Wnt signaling pathway and stimulating osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION PT stimulates bone formation in OVX rats through β-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling pathway, which may be related to inhibiting miR-214 in BMSCs.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Female ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics* ; Osteogenesis/genetics* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Bone Density/drug effects* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoporosis/drug therapy* ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Rats ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

Objective: To investigate the current status of iron metabolism among apheresis donors in Guangzhou and analyze the improvement effects of health education on iron deficiency in frequent apheresis donors. Methods: Using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), a 180-day follow-up was conducted on 261 eligible apheresis donors at the Guangzhou Blood Center from January to July 2024. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation (TS) were selected as outcome variables. The effects of gender, age group, and number of donations within 180 days on these outcomes were analyzed and modeled. A general linear model (GLM) with repeated measures was applied to 55 donors who received health education interventions, comparing changes in Hb and iron metabolism-related indicators before and after follow-up and health education. Results: No significant difference in Hb levels was observed between first-time and regular apheresis donors, but SF levels were significantly higher in first-time donors (F=6.195, P<0.05). The GLMM revealed that female donors exhibited more significant reductions in Hb (T=-12.546) and SF (T=-5.829)(P<0.05 for both). Age group showed no interactive effects on Hb or SF changes. While number of donations within 180 days had no interactive effect on Hb, SF levels significantly decreased with increased number of donations (using ≥9 donations as the reference group; P<0.05 for all groups). After health education, Hb levels remained unchanged, but SF increased compared to pre-intervention levels (mean difference: -18.571, P<0.05), though a declining trend persisted compared to baseline (mean difference from baseline to post-intervention: 23.068,P<0.05). Conclusion: Female and number of donations are primary factors contributing to SF reduction in apheresis donors. Health education interventions promote SF recovery. Extending donation intervals and reinforcing iron deficiency-related health education may improve iron status in donors.

Objective:To analyze the main chemical components of Lanqin Granules based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS; To explore the potential targets, core components and related pathways of Lanqin Granules in the treatment of respiratory tract infection through network pharmacology.Methods:Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS secondary fragment cleavage information, combined with literature and database, the chemical components of Lanqin Granules were analyzed; the related action targets of Lanqin Granules were obtained by PharmMapper; The related targets of respiratory tract infection were obtained from GeneCards and OMIM databases, and the common targets were selected by intersection with the relevant action targets of Lanqin Granules. The common targets were imported into string database, and the protein interaction data were downloaded and input into Cytoscape 3.7.2 software to obtain hub gene; Go function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out on DAVID platform, and chemical components closely related to hub gene were obtained by using the Network Anlyzer plug-in.Results:53 chemical constituents of Lanqin Granules were obtained, including 11 alkaloids, 20 flavonoids, 5 terpenoids, 7 organic esters, 2 amino acids and 8 other compounds. 28 hub genes and 38 related core components were obtained. The results of GO analysis showed that the treatment of respiratory tract infection with Lanqin Granules was related to neutrophil degranulation, negative regulation of apoptosis, protein hydrolysis and other biological processes; extracellular exosomes, cytoplasm, extracellular components and other cellular components; the same protein binding, RNA polymerase Ⅱtranscription factor activity, ligand activated sequence specific DNA binding, protein serine/ threonine/ tyrosine kinase activity and other molecular processes. KEGG analysis results mainly involved cancer pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, metabolic pathway and other signaling pathways.Conclusion:Lanqin Granules can treat respiratory tract infection through multi-component, multi-target and multi-channel, and play the role of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-virus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂) at intensive care unit (ICU) admission on 30-day mortality in patients with sepsis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. Patients with sepsis who were hospitalized in the ICU of the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from April 2015 to October 2023 were enrolled. The demographic information, comorbidities, sites of infection, vital signs and laboratory test indicators at the time of admission to the ICU, disease severity scores within 24 hours of admission to the ICU, treatment process and prognostic indicators were collected. According to the PaO₂/FiO₂ at ICU admission, patients were divided into Q1 group (PaO₂/FiO₂ of 4.1-16.4 cmHg, 1 cmHg ≈ 1.33 kPa), Q2 group (PaO₂/FiO₂ of 16.5-22.6 cmHg), Q3 group (PaO₂/FiO₂ of 22.7-32.9 cmHg), and Q4 group (PaO₂/FiO₂ of 33.0-94.8 cmHg). Differences in the indicators across the four groups were compared. Multifactorial Cox regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between PaO₂/FiO₂ and 30-day mortality of patients with sepsis. The predictive value of PaO₂/FiO₂, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) on 30-day prognosis of patients with sepsis was analyzed by receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve). RESULTS: A total of 1 711 patients with sepsis were enrolled, including 428 patients in Q1 group, 424 patients in Q2 group, 425 patients in Q3 group, and 434 patients in Q4 group. 622 patients died at 30-day, the overall 30-day mortality was 36.35%. There were statistically significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), history of smoking, history of alcohol consumption, admission heart rate, respiratory rate, APACHE II score, SOFA score, Glasgow coma score (GCS), site of infection, Combined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), blood lactic acid (Lac), prothrombin time (PT), albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (TBil), pH, proportion of mechanical ventilation, duration of mechanical ventilation, proportion of vasoactive medication used, and maximal concentration, length of ICU stay, hospital stay, incidence of acute kidney injury, in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality among the four groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, for every 1 cmHg increase in PaO₂/FiO₂ at ICU admission, the 30-day mortality risk decreased by 2% [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.98-0.99, P < 0.001]. The 30-day mortality risk in the Q4 group was reduced compared with the Q1 group by 41% (HR = 0.59, 95%CI was 0.46-0.76, P < 0.001). The fitted curve showed that a curvilinear relationship between PaO₂/FiO₂ and 30-day mortality after adjustment for confounders. In the inflection point analysis, for every 1 cmHg increase in PaO₂/FiO₂ at PaO₂/FiO₂ < 28.55 cmHg, the risk of 30-day death in sepsis patients was reduced by 5% (HR = 0.95, 95%CI was 0.94-0.97, P < 0.001); when PaO₂/FiO₂ ≥ 28.55 cmHg, there was no statistically significant association between PaO2/FiO2 and the increase in the risk of 30-day death in sepsis (HR = 1.01, 95%CI was 0.99-1.02, P = 0.512). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for the prediction of 30-day mortality by admission PaO₂/FiO₂ in ICU sepsis patients was 0.650, which was lower than the predictive ability of the SOFA score (AUC = 0.698) and APACHE II score (AUC = 0.723). CONCLUSION In patients with sepsis, PaO₂/FiO₂ at ICU admission is strongly associated with 30-day mortality risk, alerting healthcare professionals to pay attention to patients with low PaO₂/FiO₂ for timely interventions.
Humans ; Sepsis/mortality* ; Intensive Care Units ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Hospital Mortality ; Oxygen ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged

Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DDP4) level and the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods Forty-three patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm admitted to Baoji Central Hospital from January 2020 to May 2021 were selected. The follow-up was conducted at least 12 months,the absolute measurement of the maximum anterior-posterior diameters of the aneurysm and the rate of progression were obtained based on the first and last computed tomography angiography data,and the patients were divided into the progression group (with the rate of progression≥0.5 mm/year) and the progression-free group (with the rate of progression<0.5 mm/year) according to the rate of the abdominal aortic aneurysm progression. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. Plasma DDP4 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation between plasma DDP4 and the rate of abdominal aortic aneurysm progression was analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression. The predictive performance of plasma DDP4 on abdominal aortic aneurysm progression was analyzed by Logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results The thickness of intracavitary thrombus (P=0.046) and the rate of abdominal aortic aneurysm progression (P<0.001) in the progression group were greater/faster than those in the the progression-free group,and the plasma level of DDP was significantly higher than that in the progression-free group (P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that plasma DDP4 level was an independent predictor of abdominal aortic aneurysm progression (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that plasma DDP4 level was positively correlated with the rate of abdominal aortic aneurysm progression (r=0.517,P<0.001). After adjusting for other confounding factors,multiple linear regression showed that there was still a significantly positive correlation between plasma DDP4 level and abdominal aortic aneurysm progression rate (β=0.312,95％CI:0.002 to 0.484,P=0.048). The area under the curve of baseline plasma DDP4 level for predicting abdominal aortic aneurysm progression was 0.840 (95％CI:0.704 to 0.976),with corresponding cutoff value of 13.89 pg/mL,specificity of 85.7％,and sensitivity of 79.3％. Conclusion Elevated plasma DDP4 levels in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm are associated with a higher risk of aneurysm progression. Plasma DDP4 is expected to be a predictive biomarker for abdominal aortic aneurysm progression.