To explore the correlation between MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism and hypertension, hyperhomocysteinemia(Hcy), and hyperlipidemia in the Tibetan population of Tibet.

Objective To explore the effects of plantamajoside on the proliferation and invasion of human gastric cancer cell line BGC823.Methods BGC823 cells were randomly separated into a control group,a plantamajoside group,an AAV-NC(transfection of empty plasmids packaged with lentivirus)group and a plantamajoside+AAV-HIF-1α(transfection of HIF-1α overexpression plasmid packaged with lentivirus)group.Cell proliferation,inva-sion,apoptosis,the numbers of vascular mimicry(VM)lumens and vascular branches,the expression of prolifera-tion,apoptosis,epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT)related proteins,HIF-1α/VEGF pathway proteins of cells were all examined.Results Compared with control group,the BGC823 cell viability,colony formation num-ber,invasion number,VM lumen number,vascular branch number,and expression of Ki-67,PCNA,vimentin,MMP9,Snail,VEGFA,VE-cadhering,HIF-1α and VEGF protein were all lower in plantamajoside group(P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate,the cleaved Caspase-3,Bax,and E-cadherin protein expression were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with plantamajoside group,the BGC823 cell viability,colony formation number,invasion number,VM lumen number,vascular branch number,and expression of Ki-67,PCNA,vimentin,MMP9,Snail,VEGFA,VE-cadherin,HIF-1α and VEGF protein were higher in the plantamajoside+AAV-HIF-1α group(P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate,the cleaved caspase-3,Bax,and E-cadherin protein expression were lower(P＜0.05).Conclusions Plantamajoside inhibits proliferation,EMT,invasion,and VM of human gastric cancer cell line and induce its apoptosis.

Objective:To investigate the influence of maternal autoimmune diseases and anticoagulants, including low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and aspirin, on the fetal fraction of maternal plasma cell-free DNA of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT).Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted on women with singleton pregnancies receiving NIPT in the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from March 2021 to July 2022. NIPT was carried out using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-free amplification platform. In this study, four types of maternal autoimmune diseases, which were antiphospholipid syndrome, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, Sj?gren's syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and two anticoagulants, LMWH and aspirin, were studied. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing fetal fraction of maternal plasma cell-free DNA.Results:A total of 4 102 singleton pregnant women were enrolled in the prospective cohort, and 3 948 were finally included after excluding the cases with unclear dosing time of LMWH or aspirin, other autoimmune diseases, conceiving through ovulation induction alone, and having true positive or failed NIPT result. There were 96 cases with antiphospholipid syndrome, 35 with undifferentiated connective tissue disease, 34 with Sj?gren's syndrome, and 18 with SLE. A total of 108 patients only received LMWH treatment, 121 only received aspirin treatment, and 113 received both LMWH and aspirin treatment. Univariate linear regression analysis showed that maternal body mass index at blood collection ( B=－0.423), conceived by assisted reproductive technology ( B=－0.803), male fetus ( B=－0.458), undifferentiated connective tissue disease ( B=1.774), and SLE ( B=3.467) had influence on the fetal fraction (all P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that maternal body mass index at blood collection ( B=－0.415), conceived by assisted reproductive technology ( B=－0.585), male fetus ( B=－0.322), SLE ( B=3.347) and undifferentiated connective tissue disease ( B=1.336) were factors influencing fetal fraction (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Maternal use of LMWH or aspirin does not affect fetal fraction when performing NIPT on a PCR-free amplification platform, but undifferentiated connective tissue disease and SLE are the influencing factors. Therefore, pregnant women should be informed before the NIPT that the fetal fraction of maternal plasma cell-free DNA may be affected by maternal autoimmune diseases.

Rapid turnover of the intestinal epithelium is a critical strategy to balance the uptake of nutrients and defend against environmental insults, whereas inappropriate death promotes the spread of inflammation. PPARα is highly expressed in the small intestine and regulates the absorption of dietary lipids. However, as a key mediator of inflammation, the impact of intestinal PPARα signaling on cell death pathways is unknown. Here, we show that Pparα deficiency of intestinal epithelium up-regulates necroptosis signals, disrupts the gut vascular barrier, and promotes LPS translocation into the liver. Intestinal Pparα deficiency drives age-related hepatic steatosis and aggravates hepatic fibrosis induced by a high-fat plus high-sucrose diet (HFHS). PPARα levels correlate with TRIM38 and MLKL in the human ileum. Inhibition of PPARα up-regulates necroptosis signals in the intestinal organoids triggered by TNF-α and LPS stimuli via TRIM38/TRIF and CREB3L3/MLKL pathways. Butyric acid ameliorates hepatic steatosis induced by intestinal Pparα deficiency through the inhibition of necroptosis. Our data suggest that intestinal PPARα is essential for the maintenance of microenvironmental homeostasis and the spread of inflammation via the gut-liver axis.

Objective To investigate the effect of Liu-Shen-Wan on transplanted tumors in mice with colon cancer based on the polarization of M2 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Methods We established a subcutaneous transplantation tumor model of mice with CT26 colon cancer. Mice were randomly divided into vehicle, oxaliplatin, and oxaliplatin combined with Liu-Shen-Wan groups. Treatment was administered for three weeks, and tumor volume was measured. All mice were weighed during the administration. After the end of the treatment, the mice were dissected and tumors were photographed and weighed. Spleen index was calculated. The expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-12P40 in serum and related blood biochemical indices were measured. The expression levels of M2 macrophage polarization indices, namely, IL-10 and TGF-β, in serum and tumor tissues were detected. The infiltration degree of M2 macrophages in each group was observed by immunohistochemical experiments. Results The tumor volume and mouse weight in the oxaliplatin combined with Liu-Shen-Wan group significantly decreased compared with those in the vehicle group. The spleen index increased, and the expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-12P40 in serum also significantly increased. The mice had no obvious side effects after the drug treatment. In addition, the expression levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in the serum and tissues of mice in the oxaliplatin combined with Liu-Shen-Wan group significantly decreased. The expression levels of CD68 and CD206 in tumor tissues also decreased. Conclusion The anti-tumor effect of Liu-Shen-Wan on the transplanted tumors of mice with colon cancer is related to the inhibition of M2 macrophage polarization in the tumor microenvironment.

Objective:To explore the treatments and outcomes of heart and kidney transplantation(HKTx)and summarize its management experiences.Methods:From October 2016 to October 2020, clinical data, treatment strategies and prognosis of 11 patients received HKTx were analyzed retrospectively.In 11HKTx cases, the ratio of male-to-female was 10∶1, the age(50.6±12.9)years and the preoperative body mass index(26.72±3.29)kg/m 2.The preoperative cardiac function was class Ⅳ and the preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction(29.40±4.48)%.All patients were in uremic state pre-operation and underwent regular dialysis.The mean duration of dialysis was 2.5(0.5-7.0)years, preoperative creatinine 753.5(434-1144)μmol/L and preoperative predictive glomerular filtration rate 5.59(3.93-17.23)ml/(min preop 2). Non-staged transplant was performed and donor heart and kidney were from the same donor.The median time of cold cardiac ischemia 2.75(2.5, 4.0)hours, the median time of cold renal ischemia 9(8.5, 15.0)hours and the median time from the end of heart transplantation to the beginning of kidney transplantation 2(1.0, 3.5)hours.The immunosuppressive regimen was a combination of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and methylprednisolone. Results:Normal cardiac function and renal function normalized in 9 cases.At Month 6 post-operation, the postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was(57.55±2.51)%, creatinine 107.7(85-132)μmol/L and urine volume in 24h 1988(1800-2200)ml.The long-term survival time was 6-62 months.No such complications as infection or rejection occurred in 9 patients.The cardiac function was class Ⅰ at Month 6 post-operation.One patient died from pulmonary mucor infection at Month 4 post-operation.Another death was due to gastrointestinal fungal infection at Month 1 after HKTx.Conclusions:HKTx is an effective treatment for end-stage heart disease with renal failure.

Objective:To study the mechanism of Yangyin Yiqi mixture on the clinical symptoms in convalescent period of different types of pneumonia based on network pharmacology, so as to provide more options for the prevention and treatment of pneumonia with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).Methods:Based on the TCM theory of "treating different diseases with the same method", the Integrative Pharmacology-Based Research Platform of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCMIP) V 2.0 was used to screen the active components, action targets and disease targets of the herbs in Yangyin Yiqi mixture. The disease-target-medicine network map was constructed by Cytoscape software and the Reactome enrichment analysis of key targets were carried out.Results:Seven different types of clinical sympotms of pneumonia in convalescent period were established, including fatigue, tachypnea, thirst, palpitations, hyperhidrosis, poor appetite and cough. After the screening, a total of 276 active components and 177 key targets were obtained, 37 common targets of this herb and pneumonia were obtained. The key targets were associated with cell metabolism, apoptosis, inflammatory response, immune response, and stress response, etc. There are 17 common targets between Polygonatum and 7 clinical symptoms in the recovery period of different types of pneumonia. Reactome enrichment analysis showed that the pathways involved in the core genes of Yangyin Yiqi mixture in the treatment of the main symptoms of different types of pneumonia in the recovery period were mainly enriched in: by regulating genes and protein translation to affect the virus or cell function, immune regulation and inflammatory response and regulate the function of nervous system, and prevent viral canceration.Conclusions:The effective components in Yangyin Yiqi mixture may regulate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), interleukin-4, interleukin-13 (IL-4, IL-13) and inhibitory kappa protein (IκBα) by intervention of PIK3CA, MAPK3, BCL2 and NF-κB2 and other targets to promote the recovery of pneumonia. This study could provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of pneumonia in the recovery period.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of hand-held retinal optometer and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in predicting postoperative visual acuity in patients with age-related cataract and idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients undergoing phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation for age-related cataract in our hospital from January, 2019 to April, 2020.Preoperative examination detected idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane in 45 of the patients (52 eyes) with lens opacity grade C2N2P1 according to LOCSⅡ lens opacity classification criteria.Based on the thickness of the macular fovea, the eyes were divided into group A (9 eyes) with macular thickness < 300 μm by OCT examination, group B (25 eyes) with macular thickness of 300 to 400 μm, and group C (18 eyes) with macular thickness >400 μm.The best corrected visual acuity and retinal visual acuity before operation and the best corrected visual acuity on the first day and at 3 months after the surgery were compared among the 3 groups.The consistency between the preoperative retinal vision and the best corrected vision at 3 months after the surgery was analyzed. RESULTS: The best corrected visual acuity at one day and 3 months after the surgery differed significantly from that before the surgery in all the 3 groups ( CONCLUSIONS For patients with cataract and idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane, phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation can improve postoperative vision.Hand-held retinal optometer can accurately assess postoperative vision in patients with stage C2N2P1 cataract.Patients with a macular thickness >400 μm caused by idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane are likely to have poor postoperative visual outcomes.
Cataract/diagnostic imaging* ; Epiretinal Membrane/surgery* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

The study is designed to explore new methods of evaluation for teachers′ comprehensive ability in general medicine. In the whole education process of resident aiming at general practitioner (GP) residency post competency, the authors made comprehensive evaluation of GP faculty, and created a comprehensive GP faculty evaluation model of result orientation. The efforts aim at exploring and introducing faculty evaluation methods and promoting education quality, in order to develop outstanding GP residents of strong post competency.

Objective:To report our experience in diagnosis and treatment of posterior atlantoaxial dislocation with odontoid retrolisthesis.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 5 patients who had been treated from July 2012 to August 2018 at Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command for posterior atlantoaxial dislocation. They were 4 men and one woman, aged from 34 to 67 years (average, 47 years). All of them had a history of trauma. Of them, 4 were complicated with odontoid fracture and one with congenital free os odontoideum. Their posterior atlantoaxial dislocation ranged from 3 to 9 mm (average, 6 mm). By the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading system, their preoperative spinal injury was rated as grade B in one, as grade C in 3 cases and as grade D in one. All the 5 patients underwent skull traction at 10° flexion. Surgical trans-oralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction and internal fixation was performed for the one patient whose reduction had not been achieved by traction while posterior atlantoaxial screw-rod fixation or anterior odontoid screwing was conducted for the 4 patients whose reduction had been achieved by traction. The distance of posterior atlantoaxial dislocation was measured to evaluate their reduction and ASIA grade system was used to assess their spinal function after operation.Results:The postoperative distance of posterior atlantoaxial dislocation was 0 mm, showing a reduction rate of 100%. The 5 patients were followed up for 6 to 36 months (average, 15 months). By the ASIA grade system, the postoperative functional recovery of the spine was grade D in 4 cases and grade C in one. No implant loosening or breakage occurred.Conclusion:As a kind of high-energy hyperextension injury, posterior atlantoaxial dislocation is rare in clinic, but an appropriate treatment can be adopted to deal with its different clinical types to achieve good outcomes.