Objective:To determine the correlation between serum soluble CD146 (sCD146) levels and disease activity in patients with systemic vasculitis and the potential of sCD146 as a novel biomarker.Methods:We recruited 304 patients from the systemic vasculitis cohort at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2013 to December 2022. The cohort comprised 200 patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and 104 with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). The patient′s demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, disease duration, disease type, laboratory results, and disease status, were extracted from the database. The serum sCD146 concentration was measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Continuous variables were presented as mean±standard deviation if normally distributed, with between-group comparisons conducted using the t-test. For non-normally distributed data, median ( Q1, Q3) was used, and comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical data were expressed as percentages, and comparisons between groups were conducted using the Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test,as appropriate. Kendall′s tau-b′s rank correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the correlation between sCD146 and variables associated with systemic vasculitis. A two-sided P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Serum sCD146 levels were significantly lower in patients with active disease compared to those in remission in both cohorts [TAK: 246 (218, 287) vs. 277 (230, 322) μg/L, Z=-2.58, P=0.010; AAV: (301±90) vs. (344±81) μg/L, t=-2.56, P=0.007]. Serum sCD146 levels were positively correlated with age and disease duration (TAK: τ=0.09, 0.12, P=0.040, P=0.009; AAV: τ=0.28, 0.15, P<0.001, P=0.020). In patients with TAK, sCD146 levels were negatively correlated with IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and disease activity status ( τ=-0.17, -0.18, -0.16, -0.16; P=0.001, P<0.001, P=0.003, P=0.010). In patients with AAV, sCD146 levels were negatively correlated with platelet count (PLT),disease activity status,and the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score ( τ=-0.36, -0.27, -0.27; P<0.001, P=0.007, P=0.001). Conclusion:Serum sCD146 levels were significantly lower in patients with active systemic vasculitis than in remission, displaying a negative correlation with disease activity. These findings suggest that sCD146 has potential as a novel biomarker for assessing disease activity in systemic vasculitis.

Objective:To develop a simplified confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE)-based healing scoring system for assistant diagnosis of deep remission in ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:CLE images from consecutive UC patients in clinical remission or mild activity and healthy controls undergoing CLE at Peking University First Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the diagnosis of inflammation in intestinal segments in the medical records of UC patients, CLE images were divided into two groups, the involved group (inflamed UC segment) and the control group (segments from healthy individuals and non-inflamed UC segments). CLE features differentiating the groups were identified, and univariable regression analysis was used to obtain indicators related to unhealed histological inflammation (Geboes score>2.0), forming a simplified CLE healing score using the significant indicators, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn.Results:The study included 53 UC patients and 14 healthy controls, yielding 201 CLE segments (42 healthy, 69 non-inflamed, 90 inflamed). Eight CLE features differed significantly between the involved and the control groups ( P<0.001), including crypt distortion, crypt lumen irregularity, crypt proximity, crypt sparsity, crypt lumen fluorescein leakage, vascular fluorescein leakage, increased vessel diameter, and cellular infiltration. Univariable regression analysis indicated there were 4 indicators related to histological inflammation, including crypt distortion ( P=0.025, OR=3.613, 95% CI:1.174-11.114), crypt lumen irregularity ( P=0.021, OR=4.081, 95% CI: 1.233-13.511), crypt fluorescein leakage ( P=0.011, OR=5.486, 95% CI: 1.468-20.494) and increased vessel diameter ( P=0.002, OR=7.724, 95% CI: 2.062-28.938). These 4 indicators were combined to form a simplified CLE healing score and a ROC curve was plotted with AUC of 0.769 (95% CI:0.654-0.833). The optimal threshold for histological healing was the absence of all four features (score=0), with sensitivity and specificity of 83.1% (59/71) and 42.1% (8/19), respectively. Conclusion:The simplified CLE score demonstrates high sensitivity and correlates positively with histological healing, supporting its utility as an adjunct tool for assessing deep remission in UC.

As cardiac magnetic resonance imaging technology advances,T1 mapping has emerged as a non-invasive method offering visual and quantitative insights into myocardial fibrosis,edema,and infiltration associated with cardiac dis-eases.The application of T1 mapping in myocardial diseases allows for evaluating both focal and diffuse myocardial fibro-sis,playing a crucial clinical role in the differentiation,treatment,and prognostic risk assessment of diseases.This arti-cle aims to provide a thorough overview of the clinical applications of T1 mapping in patients with cardiomyopathy,summa-rizing the commonly employed scanning techniques and imaging principles.

As cardiac magnetic resonance imaging technology advances,T1 mapping has emerged as a non-invasive method offering visual and quantitative insights into myocardial fibrosis,edema,and infiltration associated with cardiac dis-eases.The application of T1 mapping in myocardial diseases allows for evaluating both focal and diffuse myocardial fibro-sis,playing a crucial clinical role in the differentiation,treatment,and prognostic risk assessment of diseases.This arti-cle aims to provide a thorough overview of the clinical applications of T1 mapping in patients with cardiomyopathy,summa-rizing the commonly employed scanning techniques and imaging principles.

Objective:To determine the correlation between serum soluble CD146 (sCD146) levels and disease activity in patients with systemic vasculitis and the potential of sCD146 as a novel biomarker.Methods:We recruited 304 patients from the systemic vasculitis cohort at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2013 to December 2022. The cohort comprised 200 patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and 104 with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). The patient′s demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, disease duration, disease type, laboratory results, and disease status, were extracted from the database. The serum sCD146 concentration was measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Continuous variables were presented as mean±standard deviation if normally distributed, with between-group comparisons conducted using the t-test. For non-normally distributed data, median ( Q1, Q3) was used, and comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical data were expressed as percentages, and comparisons between groups were conducted using the Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test,as appropriate. Kendall′s tau-b′s rank correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the correlation between sCD146 and variables associated with systemic vasculitis. A two-sided P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Serum sCD146 levels were significantly lower in patients with active disease compared to those in remission in both cohorts [TAK: 246 (218, 287) vs. 277 (230, 322) μg/L, Z=-2.58, P=0.010; AAV: (301±90) vs. (344±81) μg/L, t=-2.56, P=0.007]. Serum sCD146 levels were positively correlated with age and disease duration (TAK: τ=0.09, 0.12, P=0.040, P=0.009; AAV: τ=0.28, 0.15, P<0.001, P=0.020). In patients with TAK, sCD146 levels were negatively correlated with IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and disease activity status ( τ=-0.17, -0.18, -0.16, -0.16; P=0.001, P<0.001, P=0.003, P=0.010). In patients with AAV, sCD146 levels were negatively correlated with platelet count (PLT),disease activity status,and the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score ( τ=-0.36, -0.27, -0.27; P<0.001, P=0.007, P=0.001). Conclusion:Serum sCD146 levels were significantly lower in patients with active systemic vasculitis than in remission, displaying a negative correlation with disease activity. These findings suggest that sCD146 has potential as a novel biomarker for assessing disease activity in systemic vasculitis.

Objective:To develop a simplified confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE)-based healing scoring system for assistant diagnosis of deep remission in ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:CLE images from consecutive UC patients in clinical remission or mild activity and healthy controls undergoing CLE at Peking University First Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the diagnosis of inflammation in intestinal segments in the medical records of UC patients, CLE images were divided into two groups, the involved group (inflamed UC segment) and the control group (segments from healthy individuals and non-inflamed UC segments). CLE features differentiating the groups were identified, and univariable regression analysis was used to obtain indicators related to unhealed histological inflammation (Geboes score>2.0), forming a simplified CLE healing score using the significant indicators, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn.Results:The study included 53 UC patients and 14 healthy controls, yielding 201 CLE segments (42 healthy, 69 non-inflamed, 90 inflamed). Eight CLE features differed significantly between the involved and the control groups ( P<0.001), including crypt distortion, crypt lumen irregularity, crypt proximity, crypt sparsity, crypt lumen fluorescein leakage, vascular fluorescein leakage, increased vessel diameter, and cellular infiltration. Univariable regression analysis indicated there were 4 indicators related to histological inflammation, including crypt distortion ( P=0.025, OR=3.613, 95% CI:1.174-11.114), crypt lumen irregularity ( P=0.021, OR=4.081, 95% CI: 1.233-13.511), crypt fluorescein leakage ( P=0.011, OR=5.486, 95% CI: 1.468-20.494) and increased vessel diameter ( P=0.002, OR=7.724, 95% CI: 2.062-28.938). These 4 indicators were combined to form a simplified CLE healing score and a ROC curve was plotted with AUC of 0.769 (95% CI:0.654-0.833). The optimal threshold for histological healing was the absence of all four features (score=0), with sensitivity and specificity of 83.1% (59/71) and 42.1% (8/19), respectively. Conclusion:The simplified CLE score demonstrates high sensitivity and correlates positively with histological healing, supporting its utility as an adjunct tool for assessing deep remission in UC.

Humans ; Tranexamic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Antifibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Postoperative Hemorrhage

ObjectiveTo explore the protective effect and mechanism of Yangxin Dingji capsules on isoproterenol （ISO）-induced ventricular arrhythmia in SD rat cardiomyocytes based on the transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 （TAK1）-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 （MKK3）-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK） signaling pathway. MethodFifty male SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， a propranolol group， a low-dose Chinese medicine group， and a high-dose Chinese medicine group. The ventricular arrhythmia model was constructed using the ISO "6+1" method. The propranolol group received propranolol at 0.015 g·kg^-1·d^-1. The Chinese medicine groups received Yangxin Dingji capsules at doses of 0.5、 2 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively. The normal and model groups were given an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl solution. Electrocardiogram （ECG） changes in SD rats were recorded using the BL-420F biological function experimental system. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the heart. Serum levels of cardiac troponin I （cTnI）， creatine kinase-MB （CK-MB）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁） were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA expression of IL-1β and TNF-α was assessed using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） expression was detected using immunofluorescence. Protein expression levels of TAK1， phosphorylated TAK1 （p-TAK1）， MKK3， phosphorylated MKK3 （p-MKK3）， p38 MAPK， phosphorylated p38 MAPK （p-p38 MAPK）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB）， IL-1β， and TNF-α were measured using Western blot or immunohistochemistry. ResultCompared with normal group， the model group showed significant ventricular arrhythmia in ECG， with an increased arrhythmia score （P<0.01）. Pathological damage to myocardial tissue was evident， and serum levels of cTnI， CK-MB， IL-1β， TNF-α， and TGF-β₁ were elevated （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in myocardial tissue was also increased （P<0.01）. ROS level and protein expression of p-TAK1， p-MKK3， p-p38 MAPK， and p-NF-κB were elevated in myocardial tissue （P<0.01）. In the propranolol and Chinese medicine groups， the incidence of sustained ventricular tachycardia （SVT） and arrhythmia scores were significantly reduced compared to model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological damage to cardiomyocytes was alleviated， and levels of myocardial injury markers and inflammatory factors in serum and myocardial tissue were decreased. The ROS level in myocardial tissue was also reduced （P<0.01）， with a noticeable reduction in related molecules in the p38 MAPK pathway （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe expression of p38 MAPK pathway molecules was up-regulated in myocardial tissue of ISO-induced ventricular arrhythmia rats. Yangxin Dingji capsules may inhibit cardiac inflammation damage by regulating the expression of related molecules in the p38 MAPK pathway， thereby exerting a protective effect on myocardial cells， with TAK1 being a potential target.

Circular RNA(circRNA)is a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNA with complex biological func-tions,participating in various physiological and pathological processes.Due to their relatively stable stucture and tissue-specific and temporal expression patterns,circRNA have become a recent focus of biomedical research.Heart failure(HF)is characterized by impaired ventricular filling and/or ejection function caused by primary myocardial injury and car-diac overload,leading to the inability of the heart to meet the metabolic demands of the body's tissues.It is the end stage of numerous cardiac diseases.Studies have found that circRNA may play a crucial regulatory role in the progression of HF,particularly in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,cardiomyocyte apoptosis,autophagy and myocardial fibrosis.This review summarizes the formation,classification,functional forms,and roles in HF of circRNA,aiming to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of HF.

Objective:To explore the strategy of prostate biopsy in patients with prostate specific antigen(PSA)gray zone based on prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS).Methods:The clinical data of 427 patients who underwent transperineal prostate biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 66 (61, 72) years old. The median PSA was 6.62 (5.46, 8.19) ng/ml. The median PSA density (PSAD) was 0.15 (0.11, 0.21) ng/ml 2. The median prostate volume (PV) was 43.68 (31.12, 56.82) ml. PSA velocity (PSAV) data were available in 65 patients with negative MRI examination(PI-RADS <3), and the median PSAV was 1.40 (0.69, 2.89) ng/(ml· year). Among the patients with positive MRI(PI-RADS≥3), there were 174 patients with only 1 lesion and 83 patients with ≥2 lesions. A total of 170 patients with negative MRI underwent systematic biopsy, and 257 patients with positive MRI underwent systematic combined targeted biopsy. The PI-RADS score, regions of interest(ROI), PSAD, f/tPSA and PSAV were analyzed to explore the biopsy strategy for patients with PSA gray area based on bpMRI imaging. Results:Of the 427 patients included in the study, 194 were positive and 233 were negative. Among the patients with positive biopsy pathology, 140 cases were clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa). Among the MRI-negative patients, there were 33 cases with PSAV ≥1.4 ng/(ml·year), and 10 cases of prostate cancer and 6 cases of CsPCa were detected by systematic biopsy.In 32 cases with PSAV <1.4 ng/(ml·year), 3 cases of prostate cancer and 0 case of CsPCa were detected by systematic biopsy. The sensitivity of systematic biopsy for the diagnosis of prostate cancer and CsPCa in patients with PSAV≥1.4 ng/(ml·year) were 76.9% (10/13) and 100.0% (6/6) respectively, the specificity were 55.8% (29/52) and 54.2% (32/59) respectively, the negative predictive value were 90.6% (29/32) and 100.0% (32/32) respectively, and the positive predictive value were 30.3% (10/33) and 18.2% (6/33) respectively. In MRI-positive patients with PI-RADS 3, the prostate cancer detection rates of targeted biopsy combined with systematic biopsy, systematic biopsy and targeted biopsy were 41.7% (45/108), 32.4% (35/108) and 35.2% (38/108), respectively ( P=0.349). The detection rates of CsPCa were 27.8% (30/108), 21.3% (23/108) and 25.0% (27/108), respectively ( P=0.541). In patients with PI-RADS 4-5 and PSAD > 0.15 ng/ml 2, the detection rates of CsPCa in targeted biopsy combined with systematic biopsy, systematic biopsy and targeted biopsy were 67.8% (61/90), 58.9% (53/90) and 67.8% (61/90), respectively ( P=0.354). Conclusions:For MRI-negative patients, all CsPCa could be detected by perineal systematic biopsy when PSAV ≥1.4 ng/(ml·year), and active observation could be performed when PSAV <1.4 ng/(ml·year). For MRI-positive patients, targeted combined systemic biopsy was required when PI-RADS score was 3, and targeted biopsy only could be performed when PI-RADS score ≥4 and PSAD >0.15 ng/ml 2, otherwise targeted combined systemic biopsy was required.