OBJECTIVE To explore the distribution of pathogens isolated from respiratory tract secretions,observe the expressions of serum nitric oxide(NO),matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2)and interleukin-8(IL-8)in the epiglottic cyst infection patients complicated with acute epiglottitis,and analyze the clinical significance.METHODS The clinical data were collected from 98 epiglottic cyst infection patients complicated with acute epi-glottitis who were treated in the First People's Hospital of Linping District from Jan.2019 to Jun.2023.The dis-tribution of pathogens isolated from the respiratory tract secretions was recorded.Among the enrolled patients,45 patients who received conservative therapy were assigned as the non-surgery group,and 53 patients who under-went electrotome resection under self-retaining laryngoscope were assigned as the surgery group.The levels of ser-um NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 were compared between the two groups of patients,the recurrence rate was observed and compared after the discharge for 6 months.The values of serum NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 at the admission in prediction of recurrence of the non-surgery group 6 months after the surgery were analyzed by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.RESULTS Totally 61 strains of pathogens were isolated from the 98 pa-tients,63.93％of which were gram-negative bacteria,and 36.07％were gram-positive bacteria.The levels of ser-um NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 of the two groups were lower after the discharge than at the admission(P＜0.05),which were lower on the 7th day of admission than on the 3rd day of admission(P＜0.05).The levels of serum NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 of the surgery group were lower than those of the non-surgery group on the 7th day of dis-charge(P＜0.05).The recurrence rate of the surgery group was 0 after the discharge for 6 months,lower than 13.33％of the non-surgery group(0.00％vs.13.33％,continuity correction x2=5.387,P=0.020).ROC curve a-nalysis showed that the levels of serum NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 at the admission had statistical significance in pre-diction of recurrence 6 months after the discharge(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION As compared with conservative thera-py,the electrotome resection under self-retaining laryngoscope may reduce the recurrence rate of acute epiglottitis in the epiglottic cyst infection patients,and the levels of serum NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 can assist the prediction of risk of recurrence.

Objective:To investigate GPRC5D expression on myeloma cells in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients and evaluate its prognostic significance.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 65 patients with NDMM treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from April 2023 to April 2024. The expression of GPRC5D on the surface of myeloma cells in all patients was detected with flow cytometry before induction therapy, and patients were stratified into high and low GPRC5D expression groups based on the median GPRC5D positivity rate. Clinical characteristics, immune status, treatment response after induction therapy, and prognosis were compared between the two groups.Results:The median positive rate of GPRC5D in the plasma cells of 65 patients with NDMM was 32.68%. Based on this threshold, patients were categorized into the high (33 cases, GPRC5D positive rate ≥ 32.68%) and low (32 cases, GPRC5D positive rate <32.68%) GPRC5D expression groups. Compared with the low GPRC5D expression group, the high GPRC5D expression group demonstrated a higher proportion of 1q21 gain (78.8% vs 43.8%, P=0.004), a higher incidence of immunoparesis involving ≥2 uninvolved immunoglobulins (87.9% vs 62.5%, P=0.018), and severe immunoparesis (59.4% vs 33.3%, P=0.046). Further, CD16 +CD56 + cell levels were lower in the high GPRC5D expression group [ (16.60±8.70) % vs (27.78±15.78) %, P=0.005]. No significant difference was observed in the overall response rate between the high and low GPRC5D expression groups (78.8% vs 93.8%, P=0.165). However, the high GPRC5D expression group exhibited a significantly lower rate of achieving very good partial remission or better (42.4% vs 78.2%, P=0.003) and a lower MRD negativity rate (30.0% vs 68.8%, P=0.002). Compared with the low GPRC5D expression group, patients with high expression demonstrated a significantly shorter median progression-free survival (11.2 months vs not reached, P=0.002), whereas the median overall survival was not reached in either group, with no statistically significant difference ( P=0.069) . Conclusions:The GPRC5D positivity rate in the plasma cells of patients with NDMM is associated with 1q21 gain and immune status. High GPRC5D expression at diagnosis may predict poor response to induction therapy and an unfavorable prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the association between adiponectin-related copy number variation (CNV) region (CNVR) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:Pregnant women who had prenatal screening in Anqing Municipal Hospital, Anhui Province, from February 2018 to December 2020 were surveyed for baseline information collection, and blood samples were collected. The outcome information was obtained by post pregnancy follow-up. Latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry and ASA-CHIA chip were used to detect serum adiponectin levels and CNV of pregnant women, respectively. After genotyping, CNV data were processed with software PennCNV 1.0.5 following standard quality control procedure. CNVR were identified and integrated by using software R 4.3.3. Then the associations between CNVR and adiponectin was evaluated, and gene annotation and over-representation analysis were conducted. The log-binomial regression model was used to adjust relevant covariates and analyze the association between adiponectin-related CNVR and GDM.Results:The detection rate of GDM was 9.54% (176/1 845) in the pregnant women. The genotyping information of 1 840 people (99.73%) passed quality evaluation. A total of 33 878 CNVs were identified, and 1 449 CNVRs were obtained after integration. After the false discovery rate method correction, CNVR_132 (CHR2: 47611743-47635062), CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872), CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539) and CNVR_1101 (CHR14: 104248431-104830620) were correlated with adiponectin levels (all P<0.05). Over- representation analysis showed that the molecular function of ribonucleotide binding [Gene Ontology (GO): 0032553] was significantly enriched based on the GO database. The log-binomial regression model, adjusting age, pre-pregnancy BMI, history of miscarriage, smoking history, and family history of diabetes, indicated that CNVR_132 (CHR2: 47611743-47635062) and CNVR_1101 (CHR14: 104248431-104830620) were not statistically associated with the risk for GDM (both P>0.05). However, CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872, a RR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.15-2.91) and CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539, a RR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.23-2.43) might be associated with an increased risk for GDM (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Adiponectin-related CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872) and CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539) might be risk factors for the incidence of GDM.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the photothermal and antibacterial activities of polydopamine-modified phycocyanin nanoparticles (PDA@PC NPs) and their capacity for promoting wound healing. METHODS: PDA@PC NPs were synthesized from phycocyanin (C-PC) and dopamine hydrochloride using a one-pot method. The photothermal activity of the nanoparticles was assessed in vitro by 808 nm laser irradiation, their biocompatibility was evaluated using CCK-8 assay, and their photothermal antibacterial activity by plate colony counting. In adult male BALB/c mice, two symmetrical full-thickness skin wounds (1.0 cm ×1.0 cm) were created on both sides of the spine, and 200 μL of Staphylococcus aureus suspension was inoculated into the wounds. The mice were divided into control group, PDA@PC NPs group, and PDA@PC NPs with laser irradiation group, and wound healing rates and histomorphological changes in the wound tissues were evaluated on days 0, 7 and 14 after modeling. RESULTS: The synthesized PDA@PC NPs exhibited no obvious cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 500 μg/mL and showed strong photothermal and antibacterial activities in response to 808 nm laser irradiation. In the mouse models, the size of the infected skin wounds showed substantial reduction at 7 and 14 days in PDA@PC NPs group and PDA@PC NPs with laser irradiation group, and the mean wound healing rate was faster in the latter group. HE staining and Masson's trichrome staining revealed extensive granulation tissue formation and collagen deposition on the wound surfaces in both of the treatment groups, and these changes were more obvious in the PDA@PC NPs with laser irradiation group. CONCLUSIONS PDA@PC NPs possess excellent photothermal and antibacterial activities and can effectively promote wound healing in mice.
Animals ; Indoles/chemistry* ; Wound Healing/drug effects* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Nanoparticles ; Polymers/chemistry* ; Phycocyanin/chemistry* ; Skin/injuries* ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*

Objective:To investigate the association between adiponectin-related copy number variation (CNV) region (CNVR) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:Pregnant women who had prenatal screening in Anqing Municipal Hospital, Anhui Province, from February 2018 to December 2020 were surveyed for baseline information collection, and blood samples were collected. The outcome information was obtained by post pregnancy follow-up. Latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry and ASA-CHIA chip were used to detect serum adiponectin levels and CNV of pregnant women, respectively. After genotyping, CNV data were processed with software PennCNV 1.0.5 following standard quality control procedure. CNVR were identified and integrated by using software R 4.3.3. Then the associations between CNVR and adiponectin was evaluated, and gene annotation and over-representation analysis were conducted. The log-binomial regression model was used to adjust relevant covariates and analyze the association between adiponectin-related CNVR and GDM.Results:The detection rate of GDM was 9.54% (176/1 845) in the pregnant women. The genotyping information of 1 840 people (99.73%) passed quality evaluation. A total of 33 878 CNVs were identified, and 1 449 CNVRs were obtained after integration. After the false discovery rate method correction, CNVR_132 (CHR2: 47611743-47635062), CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872), CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539) and CNVR_1101 (CHR14: 104248431-104830620) were correlated with adiponectin levels (all P<0.05). Over- representation analysis showed that the molecular function of ribonucleotide binding [Gene Ontology (GO): 0032553] was significantly enriched based on the GO database. The log-binomial regression model, adjusting age, pre-pregnancy BMI, history of miscarriage, smoking history, and family history of diabetes, indicated that CNVR_132 (CHR2: 47611743-47635062) and CNVR_1101 (CHR14: 104248431-104830620) were not statistically associated with the risk for GDM (both P>0.05). However, CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872, a RR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.15-2.91) and CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539, a RR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.23-2.43) might be associated with an increased risk for GDM (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Adiponectin-related CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872) and CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539) might be risk factors for the incidence of GDM.

OBJECTIVE To explore the distribution of pathogens isolated from respiratory tract secretions,observe the expressions of serum nitric oxide(NO),matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2)and interleukin-8(IL-8)in the epiglottic cyst infection patients complicated with acute epiglottitis,and analyze the clinical significance.METHODS The clinical data were collected from 98 epiglottic cyst infection patients complicated with acute epi-glottitis who were treated in the First People's Hospital of Linping District from Jan.2019 to Jun.2023.The dis-tribution of pathogens isolated from the respiratory tract secretions was recorded.Among the enrolled patients,45 patients who received conservative therapy were assigned as the non-surgery group,and 53 patients who under-went electrotome resection under self-retaining laryngoscope were assigned as the surgery group.The levels of ser-um NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 were compared between the two groups of patients,the recurrence rate was observed and compared after the discharge for 6 months.The values of serum NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 at the admission in prediction of recurrence of the non-surgery group 6 months after the surgery were analyzed by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.RESULTS Totally 61 strains of pathogens were isolated from the 98 pa-tients,63.93％of which were gram-negative bacteria,and 36.07％were gram-positive bacteria.The levels of ser-um NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 of the two groups were lower after the discharge than at the admission(P＜0.05),which were lower on the 7th day of admission than on the 3rd day of admission(P＜0.05).The levels of serum NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 of the surgery group were lower than those of the non-surgery group on the 7th day of dis-charge(P＜0.05).The recurrence rate of the surgery group was 0 after the discharge for 6 months,lower than 13.33％of the non-surgery group(0.00％vs.13.33％,continuity correction x2=5.387,P=0.020).ROC curve a-nalysis showed that the levels of serum NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 at the admission had statistical significance in pre-diction of recurrence 6 months after the discharge(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION As compared with conservative thera-py,the electrotome resection under self-retaining laryngoscope may reduce the recurrence rate of acute epiglottitis in the epiglottic cyst infection patients,and the levels of serum NO,MMP-2 and IL-8 can assist the prediction of risk of recurrence.

Objective:To investigate GPRC5D expression on myeloma cells in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients and evaluate its prognostic significance.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 65 patients with NDMM treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from April 2023 to April 2024. The expression of GPRC5D on the surface of myeloma cells in all patients was detected with flow cytometry before induction therapy, and patients were stratified into high and low GPRC5D expression groups based on the median GPRC5D positivity rate. Clinical characteristics, immune status, treatment response after induction therapy, and prognosis were compared between the two groups.Results:The median positive rate of GPRC5D in the plasma cells of 65 patients with NDMM was 32.68%. Based on this threshold, patients were categorized into the high (33 cases, GPRC5D positive rate ≥ 32.68%) and low (32 cases, GPRC5D positive rate <32.68%) GPRC5D expression groups. Compared with the low GPRC5D expression group, the high GPRC5D expression group demonstrated a higher proportion of 1q21 gain (78.8% vs 43.8%, P=0.004), a higher incidence of immunoparesis involving ≥2 uninvolved immunoglobulins (87.9% vs 62.5%, P=0.018), and severe immunoparesis (59.4% vs 33.3%, P=0.046). Further, CD16 +CD56 + cell levels were lower in the high GPRC5D expression group [ (16.60±8.70) % vs (27.78±15.78) %, P=0.005]. No significant difference was observed in the overall response rate between the high and low GPRC5D expression groups (78.8% vs 93.8%, P=0.165). However, the high GPRC5D expression group exhibited a significantly lower rate of achieving very good partial remission or better (42.4% vs 78.2%, P=0.003) and a lower MRD negativity rate (30.0% vs 68.8%, P=0.002). Compared with the low GPRC5D expression group, patients with high expression demonstrated a significantly shorter median progression-free survival (11.2 months vs not reached, P=0.002), whereas the median overall survival was not reached in either group, with no statistically significant difference ( P=0.069) . Conclusions:The GPRC5D positivity rate in the plasma cells of patients with NDMM is associated with 1q21 gain and immune status. High GPRC5D expression at diagnosis may predict poor response to induction therapy and an unfavorable prognosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of intratympanic corticosteroids(ITS)and hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT)in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss(ISSNHL)who had failed systemic corticosteroid(SS)treatment.Methods ISSNHL patients admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology,First People's Hospital of Linping District of Hangzhou city from January 2020 to January 2023 were retrospectively collected.According to the treatment plan,patients with ISSNHL were divided into SS group,HBOT group,and ITS group.The changes in hearing level[purity hearing threshold mean(PTA)]and hearing gain of ISSNHL patients before treatment(T0),day 5(T1)and after 3 months of treatment(T2)were observed and compared,and the total effective rate of treatment in different groups was compared.Univariate analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of the efficacy of patients with different treatment modalities of ISSNHL.Results A total of 156 ISSNHL patients were included,including 70 in the SS group,33 in the HBOT group and 53 in the ITS group.At T0,there was no significant difference in PTA among the three groups of patients(P>0.05).At T2,the level of PTA in the three groups of ISSNHL patients was significantly lower than that before treatment(P<0.05).The levels of PTA in the HBOT group and ITS group were significantly lower than those in the SS group(P<0.05).The level of PTA in the HBOT group was significantly lower than that in the ITS group(P<0.05).The hearing gain of the HBOT group and the ITS group was significantly higher than that of the SS group(P<0.05),and the hearing gain of the HBOT group was significantly higher than that of the ITS group(P<0.05).The total effective rate of HBOT group was significantly higher than that of ITS group(P<0.05),and the total effective rate of ITS group was significantly higher than that of SS group(P<0.05).In addition,vertigo was an influencing factor for poor hearing recovery in ISSNHL patients regardless of treatment regimen(P<0.05).Conclusion Both ITS and HBOT can improve the treatment efficiency of ISSNHL patients who have failed SS treatment and promote hearing recovery in ISSNHL.Compared with IST,HBOT has more significant efficacy,and it is recommended that clinical treatment be prioritized.Vertigo is an influencing factor for poor hearing recovery in patients with ISSNHL who have failed SS treatment,and should be focused on in clinical practice.

A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been identified as the etiologic agent for the COVID-19 outbreak. Currently, effective treatment options remain very limited for this disease; therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new anti-COVID-19 agents. In this study, we screened over 6,000 compounds that included approved drugs, drug candidates in clinical trials, and pharmacologically active compounds to identify leads that target the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro). Together with main protease (M
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Binding Sites ; COVID-19/virology* ; Coronavirus Papain-Like Proteases/metabolism* ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drug Repositioning ; High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods* ; Humans ; Imidazoles/therapeutic use* ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Naphthoquinones/therapeutic use* ; Protease Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification* ; SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification*

Objective:To investigate the effect of prognostic nutrition index (PNI) and clinical characteristics on the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).Methods:The clinical data of 236 patients with DLBCL treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from November 2014 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. X-Tile software and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to determine the best cut-off values of PNI, age and hemoglobin; Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses; Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the overall survival (OS) of patients, and log-rank test was also performed.Results:One-hundred and fifteen of the 236 patients (48.7%) died, with a median OS time of 32 months. The 3-year OS rate was 46%, and the 5-year OS rate was 36%. The best cut-off value of PNI was 49. There was a significant non-linear relationship between PNI and the risk of poor prognosis of DLBCL ( χ2=34.64, P < 0.01); the analysis of the dose-response relationship showed that with the change of PNI, the correlation strength of the risk of poor prognosis declined non-linearly. The best cut-off value of age was 63 years old, and the correlation strength between age and the risk of poor prognosis of DLBCL showed a non-linear upward trend ( χ2=14.86, P=0.022). The best cut-off values of hemoglobin calculated by X-Tile software were 93 g/L and 129 g/L. Multivariate analysis showed that PNI, central nervous system involvement, liver involvement, age, hemoglobin, international prognostic index (IPI) score, and bulky disease were independent influencing factors of OS in DLBCL patients (all P < 0.05). In patients with germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) subtype, bcl-2-positive and bcl-6-positive, there were statistical differences in the 3-year OS rate of patients with PNI < 49 and PNI ≥ 49 (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:PNI has a certain value in the prognosis assessment of DLBCL patients, and PNI ≥ 49 indicates that the patient has a good prognosis.