Objective:To explore the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)on ferroptosis of renal fibrotic cells and its po-tential molecular mechanisms.Methods:Rat NRK-52E cells were randomly divided into control group,renal fibrosis model group,FGF2 cytokine stimulation group,knockdown empty plasmid group,si-FGF2 group,overexpression empty plasmid group,overexpres-sion FGF2 group,Fer-1 treatment group.The model group was treated with TGF-β1 to obtain a renal fibrosis cell model.Cellular im-munofluorescence method was used to measure the level of cell fibrosis.Western blot was used to detect ferroptosis-related proteins(Nrf2,GPX4 and SLC7A11)and pathway proteins(STAT3,p-STAT3)expression level in the cells.Results:Knockdown of FGF2 could alleviate the increase in α-SMA and Collagen Ⅲ proteins caused by TGF-β1 stimulation of renal tubular cells(P<0.05).FGF2 could promote the activation of STAT3 protein into p-STAT3.The expression level of SLC7A11 protein was significantly increased after FGF2 cytokine stimulation(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 in renal fibrotic cells in the si-FGF2 group and Fer-1 treated group were significantly reduced(P<0.05).In addition,knockdown of FGF2 significantly reduced in-terstitial fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:FGF2 may mediate TGF-β1-induced renal ferroptosis through the STAT3/SLC7A11 signaling pathway,and knock down of FGF2 can improve fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Objective:To explore the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)on ferroptosis of renal fibrotic cells and its po-tential molecular mechanisms.Methods:Rat NRK-52E cells were randomly divided into control group,renal fibrosis model group,FGF2 cytokine stimulation group,knockdown empty plasmid group,si-FGF2 group,overexpression empty plasmid group,overexpres-sion FGF2 group,Fer-1 treatment group.The model group was treated with TGF-β1 to obtain a renal fibrosis cell model.Cellular im-munofluorescence method was used to measure the level of cell fibrosis.Western blot was used to detect ferroptosis-related proteins(Nrf2,GPX4 and SLC7A11)and pathway proteins(STAT3,p-STAT3)expression level in the cells.Results:Knockdown of FGF2 could alleviate the increase in α-SMA and Collagen Ⅲ proteins caused by TGF-β1 stimulation of renal tubular cells(P<0.05).FGF2 could promote the activation of STAT3 protein into p-STAT3.The expression level of SLC7A11 protein was significantly increased after FGF2 cytokine stimulation(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 in renal fibrotic cells in the si-FGF2 group and Fer-1 treated group were significantly reduced(P<0.05).In addition,knockdown of FGF2 significantly reduced in-terstitial fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:FGF2 may mediate TGF-β1-induced renal ferroptosis through the STAT3/SLC7A11 signaling pathway,and knock down of FGF2 can improve fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Under the organization of Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, a specialized disease database of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort was deployed, and a brief introduction of the database was made in this article. The IBD data set was established by referring to domestic and foreign standards. Through data extraction, cleaning, normalization and other information processing technologies, data from multi‑source heterogeneous platform were arranged to form a specialized major disease database of IBD cohort and the efficiency and quality of data collection in clinical practice, teaching and scientific research were guaranteed. The display and personalized export capacities of the database can promote the researches on IBD and assist the clinical decision‑making. It provides not only efficient, comprehensive and reliable research‑level data support for scientific research, but also a precise guidance for diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Furthermore, it can excavate the potential clinical principles based on medical big data.

Background/Aims: The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising in Asia recently. The study aimed to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current status of drug therapy and monitoring for IBD in Asia. Methods: A questionnaire investigation on drug therapy and monitoring for IBD was conducted right before the 6th Annual Meeting of Asian Organization for Crohn’s & Colitis. Questionnaires were provided to Asian physicians to fill out via emails between March and May 2018. Results: In total, responses of 166 physicians from 129 medical centers were included for analysis. Among the surveyed regions, the most average number of IBD specialist gastroenterologists and nurses was 4.8 per center in Taiwan and 2.5 per center in Mainland China, respectively. 5-Aminosalicylic acid/sulfasalazine (99.4%) was the most preferred first-line choice for mild-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC), meanwhile corticosteroid (83.7%) was widely applied for severe UC. The first-line medication for Crohn’s disease (CD) markedly varied as corticosteroid (68.1%) was the most favored in Mainland China, Japan, and South Korea, followed by infliximab (52.4%) and azathioprine (47.0%). Step-up strategy was preferred in mild-moderate UC (96.4%), while 51.8% of the physicians selected top-down treatment for CD. Only 25.9% and 17.5% of the physicians could test blood concentration of infliximab and antibody to infliximab in their hospitals, respectively. Conclusions The current status of drug therapy and monitoring for IBD in Asia possesses commonalities as well as differences. Asian recommendations, IBD specialist teams and practice of therapeutic drug monitoring are required to improve IBD management in Asia.

Objective:To analyze the value of dual energy CT parameters combined with serum procollagen Ⅰ N-terminal propeptide (PⅠNP) and beta C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen (β-CTX) in differential diagnosis of spinal bone metastasis from lung cancer and myeloma.Methods:The clinical data of 54 patients with spinal bone metastasis from lung cancer and 50 patients with myeloma in Jincheng People′s Hospital from October 2019 to March 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were examined by dual energy CT on the day of admission, and the CT values at the energy levels of 40 to 80 keV (energy interval of 10 keV) were recorded. The serum PⅠNP and β-CTX levels were detected by chemiluminescent assay before treatment. The pathological examination results were taken as gold standard, and the CT values at the energy levels of 40 to 80 keV by dual energy CT and serum PⅠNP and β-CTX levels were compared between 2 groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the differential diagnosis value of the CT values at the energy levels of 40 to 80 keV, serum PⅠNP and β-CTX levels alone and combination.Results:The CT values at the energy levels of 40 to 80 keV by dual energy CT and serum PⅠNP and β-CTX levels in patients with spinal bone metastasis from lung cancer were significantly higher than those in patients with myeloma: 79.86 (61.20, 116.32) HU vs. 58.29 (46.92, 64.03) HU, 64.48 (50.27, 90.08) HU vs. 45.78 (38.59, 56.75) HU, 57.35 (43.31, 78.04) HU vs. 43.62 (36.91, 54.06) HU, 52.05 (42.98, 75.79) HU vs. 41.26 (32.84, 51.76) HU, 45.52 (38.55, 63.59) HU vs. 36.68 (28.72, 49.83) HU, 66.35 (31.15, 81.97) μg/L vs. 31.38 (27.76, 34.50) μg/L and 0.61 (0.48, 0.67) μg/L vs. 0.49 (0.47, 0.52) μg/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). ROC curve analysis result showed that the sensitivity of the combination of the CT values at the energy levels of 40 to 80 keV by dual energy CT was higher than those alone (83.33% vs. 59.26%, 61.11%, 62.96%, 64.81% and 66.67), the area under the curve (AUC) was also higher than those alone (0.882 vs. 0.798, 0.811, 0.817, 0.801 and 0.773), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05); the sensitivity of the combination of serum PⅠNP and β-CTX levels was higher than those alone (81.48% vs. 57.41% and 62.96%), the AUC was higher than those alone (0.829 vs. 0.753 and 0.729), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05); the sensitivity of all indexes combined in the differential diagnosis of spinal bone metastasis from lung cancer and myeloma was higher than those of the combination of the CT values at the energy levels of 40 to 80 keV by dual energy CT, the combination of serum PⅠNP and β-CTX levels (98.15% vs. 83.33% and 81.48%), the same as AUC (0.976 vs. 0.882 and 0.829), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there were no significant differences in the specificity of each index alone and combination ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with myeloma, the CT values at the energy levels of 40 to 80 keV by dual energy CT, serum PⅠNP and β-CTX levels in patients with spinal bone metastasis from lung cancer are increased, and the combination of the above indexes has ideal value in differential diagnosis of the two diseases.

Objective:To assess the short-term efficacy and safety of tacrolimus in patients with refractory Crohn′s disease (CD) , and analyze the influencing factors of clinical response.Methods:A single center restrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of patients with refractory CD in Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from March 2014 to June 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients received tacrolimus treatment for at least 3 months. Clinical response, clinical remission and relapse after tacrolimus treatment were evaluated by Crohn′s disease activity index (CDAI) . According to the existence of clinical response after 3 months of tacrolimus treatment, the patients were divided into clinical response group and non-clinical response group. The differences in clinical data between the 2 groups were assessed by univariate analysis. The variables with P<0.1 in univariate analysis and having clinical significance were further analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression to determine the independent risk factors of clinical response. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the value of risk factors in predicting the clinical response of tacrolimus for the treatment of refractory CD. Results:A total of 45 patients with refractory CD were included, including 31 males and 14 females with the age of 32 (27, 39) years old. The disease duration was 61.0 (28.0, 97.5) months. The CDAI was 203 (175, 229) points before the treatment of tacrolimus while it decreased to 137 (117, 175) points after the treatment of tacrolimus for 3 months, and the difference was significant ( Z = -5.512, P<0.01) . After the treatment of tacrolimus for 3 months, 13 patients (28.9%) with clinical response were set as clinical response group and 32 (71.1%) without clinical response were set as non-clinical response group. Univariate analysis showed that the differences in gender, CDAI before the treatment of tacrolimus and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) between the clinical response group and non-clinical response group were statistically significant (all P<0.05) . Gender, CDAI before the treatment of tacrolimus and NLR were included for the multivariate Logistic regression analysis. The results showed that CDAI ( OR = 1.026, 95% CI: 1.006-1.046, P = 0.012) and NLR ( OR = 2.605, 95% CI: 1.290-5.258, P = 0.008) were the independent risk factors for predicting clinical response. The areas under ROC curve of CDAI, NLR and NLR combined with CDAI in predicting clinical response of tacrolimus in patients with refractory CD were 0.786 (95% CI : 0.648-0.924) , 0.764 (95% CI: 0.595-0.934) and 0.861 (95% CI : 0.729-0.992) , the optimal cut-off values were 189.15, 2.82 and 0.31, sensitivities were 100%, 84.6% and 84.6%, and specificities were 53.1%, 71.9% and 84.4%, respectively. Twenty-six patients continued to receive tacrolimus for 12 months, and the clinical remission rate was 73.1% (19/26) and the recurrence rate was 26.9% (7/26) . Forty-five patients were followed up for 1 year, adverse effects occurred in 6 and there was no severe adverse effects during the treatment of tacrolimus. Conclusions:Tacrolimus can be used as an immunosuppressant to induce the remission and maintenance in refractory CD patients. CDAI and NLR can be used as independent indicators to predict the clinical response of tacrolimus in the treatment of patients with refractory CD, and the combination of CDAI and NLR has higher prediction efficiency.

Objective:To assess the short-term efficacy and safety of tacrolimus in patients with refractory Crohn′s disease (CD) , and analyze the influencing factors of clinical response.Methods:A single center restrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of patients with refractory CD in Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from March 2014 to June 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients received tacrolimus treatment for at least 3 months. Clinical response, clinical remission and relapse after tacrolimus treatment were evaluated by Crohn′s disease activity index (CDAI) . According to the existence of clinical response after 3 months of tacrolimus treatment, the patients were divided into clinical response group and non-clinical response group. The differences in clinical data between the 2 groups were assessed by univariate analysis. The variables with P<0.1 in univariate analysis and having clinical significance were further analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression to determine the independent risk factors of clinical response. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the value of risk factors in predicting the clinical response of tacrolimus for the treatment of refractory CD. Results:A total of 45 patients with refractory CD were included, including 31 males and 14 females with the age of 32 (27, 39) years old. The disease duration was 61.0 (28.0, 97.5) months. The CDAI was 203 (175, 229) points before the treatment of tacrolimus while it decreased to 137 (117, 175) points after the treatment of tacrolimus for 3 months, and the difference was significant ( Z = -5.512, P<0.01) . After the treatment of tacrolimus for 3 months, 13 patients (28.9%) with clinical response were set as clinical response group and 32 (71.1%) without clinical response were set as non-clinical response group. Univariate analysis showed that the differences in gender, CDAI before the treatment of tacrolimus and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) between the clinical response group and non-clinical response group were statistically significant (all P<0.05) . Gender, CDAI before the treatment of tacrolimus and NLR were included for the multivariate Logistic regression analysis. The results showed that CDAI ( OR = 1.026, 95% CI: 1.006-1.046, P = 0.012) and NLR ( OR = 2.605, 95% CI: 1.290-5.258, P = 0.008) were the independent risk factors for predicting clinical response. The areas under ROC curve of CDAI, NLR and NLR combined with CDAI in predicting clinical response of tacrolimus in patients with refractory CD were 0.786 (95% CI : 0.648-0.924) , 0.764 (95% CI: 0.595-0.934) and 0.861 (95% CI : 0.729-0.992) , the optimal cut-off values were 189.15, 2.82 and 0.31, sensitivities were 100%, 84.6% and 84.6%, and specificities were 53.1%, 71.9% and 84.4%, respectively. Twenty-six patients continued to receive tacrolimus for 12 months, and the clinical remission rate was 73.1% (19/26) and the recurrence rate was 26.9% (7/26) . Forty-five patients were followed up for 1 year, adverse effects occurred in 6 and there was no severe adverse effects during the treatment of tacrolimus. Conclusions:Tacrolimus can be used as an immunosuppressant to induce the remission and maintenance in refractory CD patients. CDAI and NLR can be used as independent indicators to predict the clinical response of tacrolimus in the treatment of patients with refractory CD, and the combination of CDAI and NLR has higher prediction efficiency.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of individualized PEEP determined by lung electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) during lung-protective ventilation strategies in the patients undergoing general anesthesia.Methods:Sixty patients of both sexes, aged 18-64 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰor Ⅱ, with body mass index of 18.5-28.0 kg/m 2, undergoing elective surgery with general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, were selected.Lung-protective ventilation strategy was applied in supine position after general anesthesia.The peak value of PEEP did not exceed 10 cmH 2O, with an increment/decrement of 2 cmH 2O for titration.The corresponding Cdyn value and lung EIT data were collected during titration.The patients were divided into 2 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: titration first increased and then decreased group (group A) and titration first decreased and then increased group (group B). The determination method of individualized PEEP: Cdyn method was the PEEP corresponding to the maximum Cdyn value; EIT method was obtained through PV500 PC software analysis.The level and success rate of individualized PEEP determined by the Cdyn and EIT methods were compared, and the ICC consistency analysis of the determined individualized PEEP was performed. Results:Compared with the Cdyn method, the success rate of individualized PEEP determined by EIT method was significantly increased, and the level of individualized PEEP was decreased in the two group ( P<0.05). In group A, the individualized PEEP titrated by the EIT and Cdyn methods showed good agreement (the ICC value of the increment-Cdyn and increment-EIT methods was 0.761, P<0.05; the ICC value of the decrement-Cdyn and decrement-EIT methods was 0.763, P<0.05). In group B, the individualized PEEP titrated by the EIT and Cdyn methods showed good agreement (the ICC value of the increment-Cdyn and increment-EIT methods was 0.809, P<0.05; the ICC value of the decrement-Cdyn and decrement-EIT methods was 0.797, P<0.05). Conclusion:The agreement between the individualized PEEP determined by lung EIT method and Cdyn method during lung-protective ventilation is good in the patients undergoing general anesthesia, and the success rate of EIT method is higher, and the level of individualized PEEP is lower.

Objective To investigate the effect of high-fat diet(HFD)on liver damage caused by autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)in mice.Methods Fifty C57BL/6 male mice were divided randomly into four groups:standard chow(SC)group,HFD group,AIH + SC group and AIH+ HFD group.AIH model was built after feeding for one week and all mice were sacrificed after four weeks.Liver and spleen tissues and serum were collected. Liver histopathology was detected by HE staining. Serum alanine aminotransperase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels were measured.Western blot analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)analysis were used to test the expressions of NLR pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1(Caspase-1).The concentrations of interleukin(IL)-6,IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were analyzed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technology.The amount of Th17 cells in spleen was analyzed by FACS.Means among groups were analyzed with one-way ANOVA.SNK-q analysis was used for groups with homogeneity of variance, while nonparametric test was used for groups with variance nonhomogeneity.Results Histologically,the H&E staining of liver tissue from HFD group showed adipose degeneration,and there was inflammation around vessel in AIH+SC group.Moreover,in AIH+HFD group,the inflammation was more serious with mildly adipose degeneration.Compared with SC group,serum levels of ALT and AST increased in HFD group and AIH +SC group,and greatest increase was observed in AIH+ HFD group.The differences were statistically significant(F=57.12 and 37.58, both P<0.05).The proportions of Th17 cells in SC group,HFD group,AIH+ SC group and AIH+HFD group were(2.98 ± 0.90)%,(6.89 ± 0.99)%,(6.47 ± 1.08)% and(9.96 ± 0.83)%, respectively.The differences among all groups were statistically significant(F=54.05,P<0.05).The concentrations of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in each group were as follows:SC:IL-1β[(7.62 ± 2.81)ng/L],IL-6 [(106.54 ± 53.08)ng/L],T NF-α[(107.26 ± 36.20)ng/L];HFD:IL-1β[(25.06 ± 7.09)ng/L],IL-6 [(220.11 ± 47.41)ng/L],TNF-α[(273.77 ± 33.62)ng/L];AIH+SC:IL-1β[(17.49 ± 5.68)ng/L],IL-6 [(260.73 ± 50.29)ng/L],TNF-α[(250.49 ± 81.63)ng/L];AIH+ HFD:IL-1β[(52.04 ± 10.22)ng/L], IL-6[(785.93 ± 70.91)ng/L],TNF-α[(913.97 ± 64.57)ng/L].The differences were statistically significant(F=44.66,242.15 and 233.49,respectively,all P<0.05).The expressions of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 were significantly increased in AIH+ HFD group than the other three groups(all P<0.05). Conclusions High-fat diet potentiates liver damage induced by autoimmune hepatitis,which might relate to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines,the activation of Th17 cells and the NLRP3 inflammasome as well as pyroptosis.

Objective To study the immunoregulatory effect of sodium butyrate(NaB)on T helper cell 17(Th17)and the effect on toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)signal pathway in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).Methods Fifty male C57BL/6 mice(6 weeks of age)according to the random number table method divided into control group(n=10),AIH group(n=10),NaB group(n=10)and high roughage diet(HRD)group(n=10),and the other ten mice were used to extract hepatic sytosolic S-100.After the establishment of AIH model,mice in NaB group were given sodium butyrate 500 mg/(kg·d)by gavage and those in HRD group were fed with high-fiber stuff.After 3 weeks of treatment,all the mice were sacrificed.The pathological change was observed.The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate transaminase(AST),IL-17A and TNF-α,the proportion of Th17 in spleen,the expression levels of TLR4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88)in liver were observed in each group.The tests of normality and homogeneity of variance were used to compare the means of each group.One-way analysis of variance and multiple comparative analyses were used in the statistical analysis.Results HE staining showed that inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocyte necrosis were significantly reduced in mice treated with NaB and HRD compared to AIH group.Serum ALT levels in control group,AIH group,NaB group and HRD group were(24.833 ± 2.229),(88.333 ± 9.543),(27.167 ± 3.189)and (29.833 ± 6.113)U/L,respectively,while AST levels in each group were(97.00 ± 14.953),(285.000 ± 35.434),(139.500 ± 38.976)and(127.167 ± 28.687)U/L,respectively.The differences among groups were all statistically significant(F=156.49 and 44.118,respectively,both P<0.01).The proportion of Th17 in spleen and the expressions of the transcription factors retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t in the spleen of the NaB group and HRD group were significantly lower than those of AIH group.The differences were statistically significantly(F=21.780 and 68.283,respectively,both P<0.05).The expressions of TLR4 and MyD88 in liver of AIH group were significantly higher than control group,but those were inhibited in NaB group and HRD group.The differences were statistically significantly(F= 26.235 and 28.293,respectively,both P<0.01).The expressions of IL-17 and TNF-α in liver and serum decreased in NaB group and HRD group.Conclusion NaB exerts an immunoregulatory effect in AIH and improves inflammatory reaction in liver.