A 20-year-old male patient presented to the Department of Dermatology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital with complaints of an 8-year history of facial scarring, swelling of the lower limbs, and a 4-year history of scalp thickening. Physical examination showed thickening furrowing wrinkling of the skin on the face and behind the ears, ciliary body hirsutism, blepharoptosis, and cutis verticis gyrate. Both lower limbs were swollen, especially the knees and ankles. The skin of the palms and soles of the feet was keratinized and thickened. Laboratory examination using bone and joint X-ray showed periostosis of the proximal middle phalanges and metacarpals of both hands, distal ulna and radius, tibia and fibula, distal femurs, and metatarsals.Genetic testing revealed two variants in SLCO2A1, c.1658T > A and c.96+4A > C.Through multidisciplinary consultation, we confirmed the diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis.

In this experiment, self-assembled nanoparticles(SANs) were prepared by the pH-driven method, and Her-HCP SAN was constructed by using herpetrione(Her) and Herpetospermum caudigerum polysaccharides(HCPs). The average particle size and polydispersity index(PDI) were used as evaluation indexes for process optimization, and the quality of the final formulation was evaluated in terms of particle size, PDI, Zeta potential, and microstructure. The proposed Her-HCP SAN showed a spheroid structure and uniform morphology, with an average particle size of(244.58±16.84) nm, a PDI of 0.147 1±0.014 8, and a Zeta potential of(-38.52±2.11) mV. Her-HCP SAN significantly increased the saturation solubility of Her by 2.69 times, with a cumulative release of 90.18% within eight hours. The results of in vivo unidirectional intestinal perfusion reveal that Her active pharmaceutical ingredient(API) is most effectively absorbed in the jejunum, where both K_a and P_(app) are significantly higher compared to the ileum(P<0.001). However, the addition of HCP leads to a significant reduction in the P_(app) of Her in the jejunum(P<0.05). Furthermore, the formation of the Her-HCP SAN results in a notably lower P_(app) in the jejunum compared to Her API alone(P<0.001), while both K_a and P_(app) in the ileum are significantly increased(P<0.001, P<0.05). The absorption of Her-HCP SAN at different concentrations in the ileum shows no significant differences, and the pH has no significant effect on the absorption of Her-HCP SAN in the ileum. The addition of the transporter protein inhibitors(indomethacin and rifampicin) significantly increases the absorption parameters K_a and P_(app) of Her-HCP SAN in the ileum(P<0.05,P<0.01), whereas the addition of verapamil has no significant effect on the intestinal absorption parameters of Her-HCP SAN, suggesting that Her may be a substrate for multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 and breast cancer resistance proteins but not a substrate of P-glycoprotein.
Nanoparticles/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacokinetics* ; Intestinal Absorption/drug effects* ; Animals ; Rats ; Particle Size ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacokinetics* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Drug Carriers/chemistry* ; Drug Compounding ; Cucurbitaceae/chemistry*

PURPOSE: Lateral patellar compression syndrome (LPCS) is characterized by a persistent abnormally high stress exerted on the lateral articular surface of the patella due to lateral patellar tilt without dislocation and lateral retinaculum contracture, leading to anterior knee pain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and prognosis of lateral retinaculum release (LRR) combined with chondroplasty in the treatment of LPCS. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 40 patients who underwent LRR combined with chondroplasty for LPCS between 2020 and 2021. The assessment included improvement in postoperative tenderness and knee joint function. Patients were evaluated using the Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 scoring systems, as well as the visual analog scale, both preoperatively and postoperatively, with the paired comparisons analyzed using a t-test. Additionally, intraoperative observations were made regarding knee joint lesions, including cartilage damage and osteophyte formation, with analysis by the Chi-square test. RESULTS: The visual analog scale score for tenderness showed a significant decrease after surgery (p < 0.001). Evaluation of knee joint function also indicated significant improvements, as demonstrated by increased Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 scores postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, all LPCS patients included in the study presented with cartilage injuries and osteophyte formation. Significant differences were noted in the incidence of cartilage damage and osteophyte formation at different locations within the knee among patients with LPCS. CONCLUSION LRR combined with chondroplasty is an effective surgical approach for treating patients with LPCS, with satisfactory recovery observed at the 1-year follow-up. Additionally, the incidence of cartilage damage and osteophyte formation in LPCS patients varies significantly depending on the specific location within the knee joint.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Patella/surgery* ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Recovery of Function ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Cartilage, Articular/surgery* ; Adolescent

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia in the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate urban-rural disparities in its prevalence and management in elderly Chinese. METHODS: Consecutive participants aged ≥ 65 years attending outpatient clinics were enrolled for AF screening using handheld single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) from April 2017 to December 2022. Each ECG rhythm strip was reviewed from the research team. AF or uninterpretable single-lead ECGs were referred for 12-lead ECG. Primary study outcome comparison was between rural and urban areas for the prevalence of AF. The Student's t-test was used to compare mean values of clinical characteristics between rural and urban participants, while the Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare between-group proportions. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between AF and various patient characteristics. RESULTS: The 29,166 study participants included 13,253 men (45.4%) and had a mean age of 72.2 years. The 7073 rural participants differed significantly (P ≤ 0.02) from the 22,093 urban participants in several major characteristics, such as older age, greater body mass index, and so on. The overall prevalence of AF was 4.6% (n = 1347). AF was more prevalent in 7073 rural participants than 22,093 urban participants (5.6% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.01), before and after adjustment for age, body mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and prior medical history. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified overweight/obesity (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.17-1.54) in urban areas and cigarette smoking (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.20-2.17) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04-1.93) in rural areas as specific risk factors for prevalent AF. In patients with known AF in urban areas (n = 781) and rural areas (n = 338), 60.6% and 45.9%, respectively, received AF treatment (P < 0.01), and only 22.4% and 17.2%, respectively, received anticoagulation therapy (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In China, there are urban-rural disparities in AF in the elderly, with a higher prevalence and worse management in rural areas than urban areas. Our study findings provide insight for health policymakers to consider urban-rural disparity in the prevention and treatment of AF.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Qingda Granule (QDG) in ameliorating hypertension-induced cardiac damage and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS: Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used to develope a hypertension-induced cardiac damage model. Another 10 Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as normotension group. Rats were administrated intragastrically QDG [0.9 g/(kg•d)] or an equivalent volume of pure water for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, histopathological changes, cardiac function, levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response markers were measured. Furthermore, to gain insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of QDG against hypertension-induced cardiac injury, a network pharmacology study was conducted. Predicted results were validated by Western blot, radioimmunoassay immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: The administration of QDG resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure levels in SHRs (P<0.01). Histological examinations, including hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining revealed that QDG effectively attenuated hypertension-induced cardiac damage. Furthermore, echocardiography demonstrated that QDG improved hypertension-associated cardiac dysfunction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method indicated that QDG significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory response levels in both myocardial tissue and serum (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Both network pharmacology and experimental investigations confirmed that QDG exerted its beneficial effects in decreasing hypertension-induced cardiac damage by regulating the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II (Ang II)/Ang II receptor type 1 axis and ACE/Ang II/Ang II receptor type 2 axis.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypertension/pathology* ; Renin-Angiotensin System/drug effects* ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Male ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats ; Inflammation/pathology*

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in treating acute schizophrenia.Methods Patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The treatment group was given brexpiprozole 2-4 mg·d-1 orally and the control group was given aripiprazole 10-20 mg·d-1orally,both were treated for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy of the two groups,the response rate at endpoint,the changes from baseline to endpoint of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),Clinical Global Impression-Improvement(CGI-S),Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP),PANSS Positive syndrome subscale,PANSS negative syndrome subscale were compared.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in two groups were compared.Results There were 184 patients in treatment group and 186 patients in control group.After treatment,the response rates of treatment group and control group were 79.50％(140 cases/184 cases)and 82.40％(150 cases/186 cases),the scores of CGI-I of treatment group and control group were(2.00±1.20)and(1.90±1.01),with no significant difference(all P＞0.05).From baseline to Week 6,the mean change of PANSS total score wese(-30.70±16.96)points in treatment group and(-32.20±17.00)points in control group,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).The changes of CGI-S scores in treatment group and control group were(-2.00±1.27)and(-1.90±1.22)points,PSP scores were(18.80±14.77)and(19.20±14.55)points,PANSS positive syndrome scores were(-10.30±5.93)and(-10.80±5.81)points,PANSS negative syndrome scores were(-6.80±5.98)and(-7.30±5.15)points,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the two group(69.00％vs.64.50％,P＞0.05).Conclusion The non-inferiority of Brexpiprazole to aripiprazole was established,with comparable efficacy and acceptability.

Tranexamic acid is widely used in joint orthopedic surgery.At the same time,it has high safety and few adverse drug reactions.It can effectively improve intraoperative bleeding and promote early functional recovery of patients.This article reviews the mode of administration,safe dose,administration time and adverse drug reactions of tranexamic acid in the perioperative period of joint replacement and arthroscopic surgery,in order to provide reference for the clinical application of tranexamic acid.

BACKGROUND:Obesity and its relevant chronic inflammation are important risk factors for inducing type 2 diabetes.This inflammatory response will further involve skeletal muscle,leading to an increase in catabolic and autophagic fluxes in skeletal muscle.Aerobic exercise is the mainstream mode of exercise in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes,and may also has a certain protective effect on skeletal muscle. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects and regulatory mechanisms of aerobic exercise on glucolipid metabolism,skeletal muscle inflammation and autophagy in type 2 diabetic rats. METHODS:Animal models of type 2 diabetes were established in rats by 8-week high-fat feeding combined with streptozotocin injection,and the experimental rats were then divided into normal control group,normal exercise group,diabetic control group and diabetic exercise group.The exercise group performed 4 weeks of aerobic exercise(16 m/min,60 min/d,5 d/wk).The levels of blood glucose,high-density lipoprotein,low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride in serum were measured by an automated biochemical analyzer.Serum insulin level was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the insulin resistance index and area under the glucose metabolism curve were calculated.The levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α in skeletal muscle were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after 4 weeks of aerobic exercise,and the expression levels of forkhead box protein O3(FoxO3),LC3 and p62 in skeletal muscle were measured by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The area under the glucose tolerance curve and insulin resistance index both increased significantly in type 2 diabetic rats(P<0.001,P=0.025),and aerobic exercise significantly reduced the area under the glucose tolerance curve and insulin resistance index in the normal exercise group(P<0.001,P=0.038)and diabetic exercise group(P<0.001,P=0.004).Serum high-density lipoprotein significantly decreased(P=0.030),and low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride(P=0.027,P=0.014)levels significantly increased in the diabetic control group compared with the normal control group.Aerobic exercise significantly reduced triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels in the normal exercise group(P=0.019,P=0.008)as well as triglyceride levels in the diabetic exercise group(P=0.022).Both interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α levels were significantly increased in the skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats compared with the normal control group(P<0.001,P=0.007),and aerobic exercise significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor α levels in the diabetic exercise group(P=0.017).The LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I was significantly increased in the skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats compared with the normal control group.Aerobic exercise significantly increased the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I in the normal exercise group(P<0.001)and decreased the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I,FoxO3 and p62 protein expression levels in the diabetic exercise group(P=0.026,P=0.050,P=0.048).To conclusion,type 2 diabetes model established by high-fat feeding combined with streptozotocin injection has obvious glycolipid metabolism disorder,and leads to inflammatory response and excessive activation of autophagy in skeletal muscle.Aerobic exercise can improve glycolipid metabolism,reduce local inflammation in skeletal muscle and inhibit autophagy,and finally play a protective role in skeletal muscle.

Objective:To investigate the application value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in evaluating flow diverter (FD) apposition and endothelialization in aneurysm animal models, and analyze the effect of incomplete stent apposition (ISA) on aneurysm lumen healing and stent endothelialization.Methods:Lateral common carotid artery aneurysm models in swines were established by surgical method and then FD was implanted. Immediately after surgery, OCT and IVUS were used to evaluate the locations and degrees of ISA, and difference between these 2 methods in evaluating FD apposition was compared. DSA was performed at 12 weeks after surgery to evaluate the aneurysm occlusion (Kamran grading) and stent patency. OCT and IVUS were used again to observe the stent endothelial situation; by comparing with histopathologic results, effect of ISA on aneurysm healing and stent endothelialization was analyzed.Results:Lateral common carotid artery aneurysm models in 6 swines were established, and 6 Tubridge FDs were successfully implanted. Compared with IVUS (3 stents, 4 locus), OCT could detect more ISA (6 stents, 14 locus); and the vascular diameter change area (7 locus), aneurysm neck area (4 locus) and the head and tail of FD (3 locus) were the main sites of FD malapposition; average distance between stent wire and vessel wall was (560.14±101.48) μm. At 12 weeks after surgery, DSA showed that 1 patient had a little residual contrast agent at the aneurysm neck (Kamran grading 3), and the remaining 5 had complete aneurysm occlusion (Kamran grading 4). One FD had moderate lumen stenosis, and the other 5 FDs had lumen patency. OCT indicated mostly disappeared acute ISA; ISA proportion decreased to 21.4 % (3/14), including 2 in the aneurysm neck and 1 in the partial stent. Histopathological results showed bare stent woven silk, without obvious endothelial coverage; in one FD with luminal stenosis, intimal hyperplasia was mainly composed of vascular smooth muscle cells.Conclusion:In carotid artery aneurysm model with FD implantation, OCT can detect more ISA than IVUS; most acute ISA have good outcome at 12 th week of follow-up, while severe ISA can cause delayed FD endothelialization and delayed aneurysm occlusion.