OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism by which Guijianyu ameliorates podocyte injury in a mouse model of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) induced by advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). METHODS: Sixty db/db mouse models of DKD were randomized equally into 5 groups for treatment with saline, Guijianyu extract at 3 doses or irbesartan for 12 weeks, and the changes in renal pathology and structure were observed using transmission electron microscopy, and the expressions of related genes and key proteins were detected using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. In cultured MPC-5 cells incubated with 50 mg/L AGEs-BSA for 24 h, the effect of different concentrations of Guijianyu extract on cell viability was examined with CCK-8 assay; Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, TNF-α, NF-κB(p65), IL-6 and caspase-3, and the mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), VEGFA and IL-6 were detected with RT-qPCR. RESULTS: In mouse models of DKD, treatment with high-dose Guijianyu extract significantly reduced renal expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, NF-κB(p65), and IL-6 proteins and the mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB, and IL-6. In MPC-5 cells, exposure to AGEs significantly reduced cell viability and increased the protein expressions of RAGE, NF‑κB (p65), VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6 and caspase-3 (P<0.05) and mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), VEGFA, and IL-6. Treatment with Guijianyu extract obviously improved cell viability and reduced the expressions of RAGE, NF-κB(p65), VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3. Furthermore, Guijianyu extract effectively reversed RAGE agonist-induced elevation of protein expressions of RAGE, VEGFA, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3 and mRNA expressions of RAGE, NF-κB (p65), IL-6, and VEGFA in MPC-5 cells. CONCLUSIONS Guijianyu extract ameliorates AGEs-induced mouse renal podocyte injury in DKD by inhibiting the activation of AGEs-RAGE signaling pathway and reducing the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factors.
Animals ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Podocytes/pathology* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/drug therapy* ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Male

Objective To establish an effective model for distinguishing glandular prodromal lesions(PGL)mixed with ground-glass nodules(mGGN)from minimally invasive adenocarcinoma(MIA)on CT based on artificial intelligence.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and CT image data of 180 patients with lung adenocarcinoma confirmed by surgical pathology and with CT manifestations of mGGN in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2017 to June 2023,inclu-ding 66 patients with PGL and 114 patients with MIA.Patients were divided into the training set(n=144)and the test set(n=36)in an 8∶2 ratio using a completely random method.The quantitative parameters and radiomics features of the lesions in CT images were automatically extracted using artificial intelligence soft-ware(United Imaging Research Platform uRP).By incorporating the most obvious correlation features of omics through dimensionality reduction,five machine learning classifiers were established,including logistic regression(LR),support vector machine(SVM),Random forest(RF),Gaussian process(GP),and Decision Tree(DT).The classifier with the training set highest area under the curve(AUC)was selected as the best radiomics model,and output the result as radiomics score(Rad-score).The clinical information,CT morpho-logical characteristics and quantitative data of the two groups were included in the multivariate logistic regres-sion analysis to screen the independent influencing factors for effectively differentiating PGL and MIA,and a clinical model was established.Finally,a comprehensive prediction model was constructed based on Rad-score and clinical risk factors.The diagnostic performance of the three models was evaluated by using the AUC,sen-sitivity,specificity and accuracy of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Eleven radiomics features for distinguishing PGL from MIA were obtained through LASSO dimensionality reduction.Among the five machine learning classifiers,GP has the best diagnostic performance,with AUC of 0.865 in the train-ing set and 0.762 in the test set,respectively.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for clinical feature screening.The clinical model was constructed by using the average CT value,average long and short diameter,and solid partial long diameter of mGGN,and the AUCs of the training set and the test set were 0.870 and 0.794,respectively.The comprehensive prediction model demonstrated superior diag-nostic performance,with AUC,sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy in the training set being 0.948,81.1%,91.2%and 87.5%respectively,while 0.883,76.9%,91.3%and 86.1%respectively in the test set.Conclu-sion The comprehensive prediction model established based on the quantitative and omics feature analysis of pulmonary nodules by artificial intelligence can well distinguish mGGN mixed with PGL from MIA on CT,and can be used to guide clinical treatment decisions.

Objective·To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of Chinese pediatric patients with Barth syndrome(BTHS)and provide data to support the prevention and treatment of BTHS.Methods·Eighteen pediatric patients diagnosed with BTHS at Shanghai Children's Medical Center,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,from January 2010 to November 2023,were included.Clinical data(age,birth weight,family history,electrocardiogram,echocardiogram,urine tandem mass spectrometry,complete blood count,blood biochemistry,and genetic test results)were collected to analyze the clinical characteristics,genetic findings,and prognoses of the patients.Results·The study included 18 male patients with BTHS(including 2 monozygotic twins),consisting of one Yi ethnic and 17 Han Chinese patients.The median age at diagnosis was 3.0(1.0,5.6)months.Fifteen patients experienced decreased cardiac function at disease onset,with a left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)below 50%.Dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)was observed in 15 patients,left ventricular non-compaction(LVNC)in 12 patients,and myocardial hypertrophy in 9 patients.During the diagnosis and follow-up,QTc interval prolongation occurred in 9 patients,ventricular arrhythmias in 2 patients,neutropenia in 9 patients,and monocytosis in 10 patients.Urine tandem mass spectrometry revealed 3-methylglutaconic aciduria(3-MGCA)in 8 of 13 tested patients.Fifteen types of TAZ gene mutation were identified in the 18 patients,including 5 novel mutations.Genetic testing of the parents of 16 patients indicated maternal inheritance in 15 cases.The median follow-up period was 8.5(2.6,29.3)months,during which 12 patients died.The median age at death was 7.5(6.0,12.8)months.Causes of death included heart failure(7 cases,with 4 concurrent infections),sudden death(3 cases),ventricular fibrillation(1 case),and accidental death(1 case).Conclusion·BTHS is a rare genetic disorder with multisystem involvement.Its primary clinical manifestations include cardiomyopathy and neutropenia.The condition typically presents early in life,with severe progression and poor prognosis.Prompt recognition,accurate diagnosis,and early intervention are essential for managing this disease.

Objective:To observe the effects of kidney-tonifying and mind-calming acupuncture therapy on sleep,mood,sex hormone levels,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptoms in patients with perimenopausal insomnia(PMI). Methods:A total of 90 patients with PMI were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 45 cases in each group.Patients in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture at Shenshu(BL23),Taixi(KI3),Baihui(GV20),and Anmian(Extra).The control group was treated with sham acupuncture.Both groups were treated 3 times a week for 4 weeks.Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)and insomnia severity index(ISI)were used to evaluate the sleep quality of the subjects before treatment,after treatment,and 1 month after treatment(follow-up).Beck depression inventory(BDI)and Beck anxiety inventory(BAI)were used to evaluate the depression and anxiety of the subjects before treatment,after treatment,and at 1-month follow-up.The TCM symptom scale was used to evaluate the TCM symptoms of the subjects before treatment,after treatment,and 1 month after treatment.Serum levels of estradiol(E2),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),and luteinizing hormone(LH)were measured before and after treatment. Results:During the study,2 cases dropped out of the treatment group,and no cases dropped out of the control group.The PSQI scores of the treatment group were significantly lower after treatment and at 1-month follow-up compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the difference was statistically significant compared with that of the control group(P<0.05).In the control group,the PSQI score was significantly lower after treatment compared with before treatment(P<0.05),and the difference was not statistically significant at 1-month follow-up compared with before treatment(P>0.05).Compared with the pre-treatment,the ISI,BDI,BAI,and TCM symptom scale scores of the treatment group were lower after treatment and at 1-month follow-up(P<0.05),and the differences with the control group at the same time point were statistically significant(P<0.05).The differences in ISI,BDI,BAI,and TCM symptom scale scores of the control group before treatment,after treatment,and at 1-month follow-up were not statistically significant(P>0.05).After treatment,the serum E2 level in the treatment group was significantly higher than that before treatment(P<0.05),and the difference with the control group was statistically significant(P<0.05).The difference in the serum E2 level before and after treatment in the control group was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The differences in the serum FSH and LH levels between before and after treatment were not statistically significant in either group of subjects(P>0.05). Conclusion:Kidney-tonifying and mind-calming acupuncture therapy can improve sleep quality,relieve anxiety and depression,delay the decrease of serum E2 level,and improve related TCM symptoms in patients with PMI.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and the safety of the radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for the septal accessory pathway (AP) in children.Methods:From September 2013 to March 2019, 626 patients plan to underwent RFCA for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in Shanghai Children′s Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.Among them, 74 consecutive patients with right or left septal APs were included in the study and their clinical and RFCA data were analyzed.Results:The age of these 74 children (45 males, 29 female) was (7.8±3.5) years, ranging from 10 months to 13 years.The body weight (BW) was (27.7±14.4) kg, with 3 patients BW<15 kg.A discordant ventricular wall motion (DVWM) was found in 5 patients, and the combined congenital heart diseases were discovered in 2 patients.A three dimensional mapping system was applied in 69 ablations, and 3 ablations were performed only with the fluoroscopy monitor of 5 cases.According to the AP location, the number of cases located in the anteroseptal, the midseptal, the mouth of coronary sinus, the left posteroseptal and the right posteroseptal, were 28, 18, 10, 10 and 8, respectively.The ablation operations were applied in 72 patients.The initial acute success reached in 67 (93.1%) patients.The ablation energy was (18.0±1.8) W, the fluoroscopy time during the ablations was (4.7±2.7) minutes, and the procedure duration was (151.5±58.6) minutes.One inadvertent complete atrioventricular block (AVB) was noted as the ablation-related complication.All 5 children with the pre-DVWM were recovered after ablations.During a follow-up of (23.8±10.8) months, 4 patients experienced the recurrence of preexcitation syndrome atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia.Conclusions:With the 3D-mapping system, the RFCA of septal APs can be performed safely and effectively in pediatric patients of paroxysmal supraventri-cular tachycardia.However, as the ablation-related complication, AVB should not be ignored.

Based on the concept of empowerment theory and innovation behavior, this paper summarizes the status quo of the impact of empowerment theory on nurses′ innovative behavior, analyzes the essence and influencing factors of innovation behavior of nurses according to the elements of empowerment theory, analyze the empowerment theory and nurses′ individual innovation behavior scale, and puts forward the feedback mechanism of empowerment theory. In order to further improve the innovative behavior of nurses by applying the empowerment theory management mode, it is helpful for nursing managers to train nursing talents by using empowerment theory.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for 7 patients with Alström syndrome. METHODS: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the patients and their parents. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the patients. Suspected variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: Genetic testing revealed 12 variants of the ALMS1 gene among the 7 patients, including 7 nonsense and 5 frameshift variants, which included c.5418delC (p.Tyr1807Thrfs*23), c.10549C>T (p.Gln3517*), c.9145dupC (p.Thr3049Asnfs*12), c.10819C>T (p.Arg3607*), c.5701_5704delGAGA (p.Glu1901Argfs*18), c.9154_9155delCT (p.Cys3053Serfs*9), c.9460delG (p.Val3154*), c.9379C>T (p.Gln3127*), c.12115C>T (p.Gln4039*), c.1468dupA (p.Thr490Asnfs*15), c.10825C>T (p.Arg3609*) and c.3902C>A (p.Ser1301*). Among these, c.9154_ 9155delCT, c.9460delG, c.9379C>T, and c.1468dupA were unreported previously. Based on the standards and guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the c.9379C>T and c.12115C>T variants of the ALMS1 gene were predicted to be likely pathogenic (PVS1+PM2), whilst the other 10 variants were predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+ PM2+ PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION ALMS1 variants probably underlay the Alström syndrome in the 7 patients, and genetic testing can provide a basis for the clinical diagnosis of this syndrome. The discovery of four novel variants has expanded the mutational spectrum of Alström syndrome.
Alstrom Syndrome/genetics* ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Whole Exome Sequencing

Objective:To evaluate the value of the crescent sign for predicting the invasiveness of lung adenocarcinoma presenting as pure ground-glass nodule (pGGN).Methods:The clinical, pathological and imaging data of 316 patients (320 pGGNs) confirmed lung adenocarcinoma by surgery and pathology from July 2013 to June 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All pGGNs were divided into preinvasive group (148 pGGNs) and invasive group (172 pGGNs) according to histopathology. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for invasiveness of pGGN, and the ROC curve analysis was performed on each risk factor.Results:Crescent sign was found in 24 cases (16.2%) in the preinvasive group and 49 (28.5%) in the invasive group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=6.804 ,P=0.009).There were statistically significant differences in patient′s age, lesion size, shape, lobulation sign, and vascular stretch sign between the two groups ( P<0.05). The ROC curve showed that with the lesion size 10.5 mm as the optimal cut off value, the sensitivity for differential diagnosis of preinvasive and invasive lesions was 65.7%, the specificity was 61.5%, and the area under the curve was 0.666. Logistic regression analysis showed that maximum diameter of the lesion ≥10.5 mm, irregular shape, crescent sign and vascular stretch were independent risk factors of invasiveness of pGGN, and the OR value (95%CI) were 3.192 (1.981-5.144), 3.672 (1.545-8.725), 1.972 (1.104-3.521), and 2.026 (1.087-3.777), respectively. A logistic model was established based on the above four independent risk factors, and the area under curve was 0.711 (95%CI 0.655-0.768). Conclusion:Crescent sign can effectively reflect the invasiveness of pGGN. Maximum diameter of the lesion ≥10.5 mm, irregular shape, crescent sign and vascular stretch sign are independent risk factors of invasiveness of pGGN.

This paper tries to review the concepts and assessment tools of psychological empowerment, job satisfaction and willingness to stay as well as the interaction between the three form the perspective of psychological empowerment, aiming to elevate the level of psychological empowerment and job satisfaction of nurses, improve their stay rate, and provide new ideas for the nursing industry in China to increase the willingness of nurses to stay.

Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP) is a class B infectious disease, which is prevented and controlled according to class A infectious diseases. Recently, children′s NCP cases have gradually increased, and children′s fever outpatient department has become the first strategic pass to stop the epidemic. Strengthening the management of the fever diagnosis process is very important for early detection of suspected children, early isolation, early treatment and prevention of cross-infection. This article proposes prevention and control strategies for fever diagnosis, optimizes processes, prevents cross-infection, health protection and disinfection of medical staff, based on the relevant diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control programs of the National Health and Health Commission and on the diagnosis and treatment experience of experts in various provinces and cities. The present guidance summarizes current strategies on pre-diagnosis; triage, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of 2019-nCoV infection in common fever, suspected and confirmed children, which provide practical suggestions on strengthening the management processes of children′s fever in outpatient department during the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic period.