OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate effect of Kuanxiong Aerosol (KXA) on perioperative coronary microcirculation in patients with unstable angina (UA) suffering from elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From February 2021 to July 2023, UA inpatients who underwent PCI alone in the left anterior descending (LAD) branch were included. Random numbers were generated to divide patients into the trial group and the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The index of coronary microcirculation resistance (IMR) was measured before PCI, and the trial group was given two sprays of KXA, while the control group was not given. IMR was measured again after PCI, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) were detected before and 24 h after surgery, and major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) were recorded for 30 days. The data statistics and analysis personnel were blinded. RESULTS: Totally 859 patients were screened, and 62 of them were involved into this study. Finally, 1 patient in the trial group failed to complete the post-PCI IMR and was excluded, 30 patients were included for data analysis, while 31 patients in the control group were enrolled in data analysis. There was no significant difference in baseline data (age, gender, risk factors, previous history, biochemical index, and drug therapy, etc.) between the two groups. In addition, differences in IMR, cTnI and CK-MB were not statistically significant between the two groups before surgery. After PCI, the IMR level of the trial group was significantly lower than that of the control group (19.56 ± 14.37 vs. 27.15 ± 15.03, P=0.048). Besides, the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) was lower in the trial group, but the difference was not statistically significant (6.67% vs. 16.13%, P=0.425). No MACEs were reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS KXA has the potential of improving coronary microvascular dysfunction. This study provides reference for the application of KXA in UA patients undergoing elective PCI. (Registration No. ChiCTR2300069831).
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Male ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Female ; Angina, Unstable/physiopathology* ; Pilot Projects ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Aerosols ; Troponin I/blood* ; Coronary Circulation/drug effects* ; Elective Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical characteristics of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) in children and to enhance the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 6 children diagnosed with DPB who were hospitalized at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2011 to December 2019. RESULTS: Among the 6 patients, there were 2 males and 4 females; the age at diagnosis ranged from 7 to 12 years. All patients presented with cough, sputum production, and exertional dyspnea, and all had a history of sinusitis. Two cases showed positive serum cold agglutinin tests, and 5 cases exhibited pathological changes consistent with chronic bronchiolitis. High-resolution chest CT in all patients revealed centrilobular nodules diffusely distributed throughout both lungs with a tree-in-bud appearance. Five patients received low-dose azithromycin maintenance therapy, but 3 showed inadequate treatment response. After empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment, non-tuberculous Mycobacteria were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Follow-up over 2 years showed 1 case cured, 3 cases significantly improved, and 2 cases partially improved. CONCLUSIONS The clinical presentation of DPB is non-specific and can easily lead to misdiagnosis. In cases where DPB is clinically diagnosed but does not show improvement with low-dose azithromycin treatment, special infections should be considered.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Bronchiolitis/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Haemophilus Infections/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical features of children with STAT gene mutations, and to explore corresponding immunotherapy strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 10 children with STAT gene mutations who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, from October 2015 to October 2024. Exploratory immunotherapy was implemented in some refractory cases, and the changes in symptoms, imaging manifestations, and cytokine levels were assessed after treatment. RESULTS: For the 10 children, the main clinical manifestations were recurrent rash since birth (7/10), cough (8/10), wheezing (5/10), expectoration (4/10), and purulent nasal discharge (4/10). Genotyping results showed that there was one child with heterozygous loss-of-function (LOF) mutation in the STAT1 gene, four children with heterozygous LOF mutation in the STAT3 gene, and five children with heterozygous gain-of-function (GOF) mutation in the STAT3 gene. Two children with LOF mutation in the STAT3 gene showed decreased interleukin-6 levels and improved clinical symptoms and imaging findings after omalizumab treatment. Three children with GOF mutation in the STAT3 gene achieved effective disease control after treatment with methylprednisolone (0.5 mg/kg per day). Two children with GOF mutation in the STAT3 gene received treatment with JAK inhibitor and then showed some improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS STAT gene mutation screening should be considered for children with recurrent rash and purulent respiratory tract infections. Targeted immunotherapy may improve prognosis in patients with no response to conventional treatment.
Humans ; Male ; Immunotherapy ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Gain of Function Mutation ; Retrospective Studies ; Infant ; Loss of Function Mutation ; STAT Transcription Factors/genetics*

Objective： The aim of this study is to explore the predictive value of biparametric magnetic resonance imaging(bpMRI)for pelvic lymph node metastasis in prostate cancer patients with PSA≤20 μg/L and establish a nomogram. Methods： The imaging data and clinical data of 363 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2018 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to screen independent risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis in prostate cancer, and a nomogram of the clinical prediction model was established. Calibration curves were drawn to evaluate the accuracy of the model. Results： Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed extrocapusular extension (OR=8.08,95%CI=2.62－24.97, P<0.01), enlargement of pelvic lymph nodes (OR=4.45,95%CI=1.16－17.11,P=0.030), and biopsy ISUP grade(OR=1.97,95%CI=1.12－3.46, P=0.018)were independent risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis. The C-index of the prediction model was 0.834, which indicated that the model had a good prediction ability. The actual value of the model calibration curve and the prediction probability of the model fitted well, indicating that the model had a good accuracy. Further analysis of DCA curve showed that the model had good clinical application value when the risk threshold ranged from 0.05 to 0.70.Conclusion： For prostate cancer patients with PSA≤20 μg/L, bpMRI has a good predictive value for the pelvic lymph node metastasis of prostate cancer with extrocapusular extension, enlargement of pelvic lymph nodes and ISUP grade≥4.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Nomograms ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Pelvis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostatectomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Risk Factors ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Aged

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prototypical neurodegenerative disorder, encompasses multifaceted pathological processes. As pivotal cellular structures within the central nervous system, ion channels play critical roles in regulating neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and neurotransmitter release. Extensive research has revealed significant alterations in the expression and function of ion channels in AD, implicating an important role of ion channels in the pathogenesis of abnormal Aβ deposition, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and disruptions in calcium homeostasis and neural network functionality. This review systematically summarizes the crucial roles and underlying mechanisms of ion channels in the onset and progression of AD, highlighting how these channel abnormalities contribute to AD pathophysiology. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of ion channel modulation in AD treatment, emphasizing the importance of addressing multifactorial nature and heterogeneity of AD. The development of multi-target drugs and precision therapies is proposed as a future direction of scientific research.
Alzheimer Disease/therapy* ; Humans ; Ion Channels/physiology* ; Oxidative Stress ; Animals ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism* ; Synaptic Transmission ; Calcium/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the relationship between platelet distribution width(PDW)and coronary artery calcification(CAC)in overweight and obese populations.Methods Clinical and chest CT data of 10 838 subjects with overweight or obesity(body mass index[BMI]≥24 kg/m2)were retrospectively analyzed.The subjects were divided into CAC group(n=4 237)and non-CAC group(n=6 601)based on CAC scores obtained from chest CT.The relationship between PDW and CAC in overweight and obese populations was analyzed after controlling confounding variables.A threshold effect analysis was conducted using a two-stage logistic model to find the non-linear inflection point.Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted to validate the stability of the relationship between PDW and CAC.Results Non-linear relationship was observed between PDW and CAC risk in overweight and obese populations.The risk of CAC decreased with the increase of PDW which ≤17.80％(OR=0.82),but increased with the increase of PDW(OR=1.04)which＞17.80％.Subgroup analysis showed that the relationship between PDW and CAC remained stable in subgroups of different genders,BMI(＜28 kg/m2,≥28 kg/m2)and hypertension(all P＞0.05).Compared with aged＜40 years or ≥60 years subgroups,under the same PDW,aged≥40 and＜60 years subgroups had higher risk of CAC(interaction P=0.015).Conclusion Nonlinear relationship existed between PDW and CAC in overweight and obese populations.Both excessively high and low PDW were risk factors of CAC.

Objective To observe the effect of a heavy load exercise on the ultrastructure,function and fission of skeletal muscle mitochondria in rats,and to analyze the changes of the phosphorylation expression of mitochondrial fission protein and upstream kinase at different times postexercise,and to explore the effect of acute heavy load exercise on mitochondrial fission in skeletal muscle of rats and its possible mechanism.Methods Forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided in-to a quiet control group(C,n=8)and an exercise group(E,n=40).Rats in the E group exercised on a treadmill down a 16° decline at 16 m/min for 90 min and were further divided into 0 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,and 72 h postexercise subgroups.Soleus muscle was isolated and mitochondria were ex-tracted at the corresponding time points after exercise.The ultrastructure of mitochondria in the soleus muscle was observed using transmission electron microscopy,and mitochondrial quantity and morphomet-ric analysis were conducted.Moreover,the colocalization and quantity of dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1)and cytochrome C oxidease subunit Ⅳ(COXⅣ)in the soleus muscle were detected using im-munofluorescence double-labeling techniques.Meanwhile,protein levels of soleus musclep-Drp1Ser616,p-Drp1Ser637,p-extracellular regulatory protein kinaseThr202/Tyr204(p-ERKThr202/Tyr204),p-protein kinaseAThr197(p-PKAThr197),and mitochondrial NADH of ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit B8(NDUFB8)and ubiqui-nol-cytochrome C reductase core protein 2(UQCRC2)were determined by using Western blotting.An-other twenty-four rats were randomly divided into a DMSO group(CD),a U0126 group(CU),an Ex-ercise+DMSO group(ED),and an Exercise+U0126 group(EU).Six mice in each group were giv-en a single intra-bitoneal injection of DMSO or ERK inhibitor U0126 20 min before acute downhill running.Then,their phosphorylated expressions of ERKThr202/Tyr204 and Drp1Ser616 in soleus muscle were de-tected by Western blotting.Results(1)From 0 h to 48 h after exercise,the soleus muscle mitochon-dria showed swelling,rounding,and uneven distribution of mitochondria,among which the degree of mitochondrial damage was the most serious at 12 h and 24 h after exercise.Moreover,the protein ex-pression of NDUFB8 and UQCRC2 in the mitochondria fractions from soleus muscle was significantly lower at 12 h post-exercise(P<0.05).(2)The co-localization of Drp1 and COXⅣ in the skeletal muscle increased significantly at 12 h to 24 h after a heavy load exercise compared with group C and group E0(P<0.01).Moreover,the mitochondrial area,circumference,aspect ratio and Ferret diameter in the skeletal muscle were significantly lower at 12 h to 24 h postexercise(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the number of mitochondria was significantly higher at 24 h after exercise(P<0.01).(3)The phosphoryla-tion of ERKThr202/Tyr204,PKAThr197 and Drp1Ser616 was significantly higher at 24 h after exercise(P<0.01),while that of Drp1Ser637 was significantly lower at 48 h and 72 h post-exercise(P<0.01).However,the phosphorylated expressions of ERKThr202/Tyr204 and Drp1Ser616 were significantly down-regulated by U0126 treatment before exercise.Conclusion A session of heavy load exercise caused mitochondrial structure and function damage and induced mitochondrial fission in the skeletal muscle,and then to maintain the homeostasis of skeletal muscle cells by cleaving damaged mitochondria.The mechanism of promot-ing skeletal muscle repair may be related to the positive and negative regulation of Drp1 activity by the phosphorylation of Drp1Ser616 and Drp1Ser637,respectively.Among them,the activation of ERKThr202/Tyr204 mediates the phosphorylation activation of Drp1Ser616,but PKAThr197 is not an upstream kinase that medi-ates the inactivation of Drp1Ser637 phosphorylation.

Objective To investigate the clinical prognosis of untreated residual coronary artery dissection treated with drug coated balloon(DCB).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data of patients with primary coronary artery lesions(2.5-4.0 mm)treated with DCB under angiography guidance at Xuzhou Cancer Hospital,Xuzhou New Health Geriatric Hospital,and Peixian Guotai Hospital from September 2017 to April 2023.According to the observation of coronary artery dissection through angiography,the patients were divided into a dissection group and a non dissection group.The main endpoint of this study was the major adverse cardiovascular event(MACE)during a 12-month follow-up.Results A total of 381 patients were enrolled in the three research centers,with 30 cases(30 lesions)in the dissection group and 351 cases(367 lesions)in the non dissection group.There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age,gender,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,diabetes,smoking,previous myocardial infarction,previous percutaneous coronary intervention,coronary artery bypass grafting and other baseline clinical characteristics(all P＞0.05).Except for the reference vessel diameter(P=0.049)and DCB pressure(P=0.032),there was no statistically significant difference in the characteristics of coronary angiography lesions between the two groups of patients(both P＞0.05).During a 12-month follow-up,there was no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05)in the incidence of MACE between the dissection group and the non dissection group after DCB treatment for primary coronary artery lesions in situ.Conclusions Untreated residual dissection after DCB treatment of de novo coronary lesions does not lead to an increase in clinical MACE.

Objective To observe the effect of a heavy load exercise on the ultrastructure,function and fission of skeletal muscle mitochondria in rats,and to analyze the changes of the phosphorylation expression of mitochondrial fission protein and upstream kinase at different times postexercise,and to explore the effect of acute heavy load exercise on mitochondrial fission in skeletal muscle of rats and its possible mechanism.Methods Forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided in-to a quiet control group(C,n=8)and an exercise group(E,n=40).Rats in the E group exercised on a treadmill down a 16° decline at 16 m/min for 90 min and were further divided into 0 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,and 72 h postexercise subgroups.Soleus muscle was isolated and mitochondria were ex-tracted at the corresponding time points after exercise.The ultrastructure of mitochondria in the soleus muscle was observed using transmission electron microscopy,and mitochondrial quantity and morphomet-ric analysis were conducted.Moreover,the colocalization and quantity of dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1)and cytochrome C oxidease subunit Ⅳ(COXⅣ)in the soleus muscle were detected using im-munofluorescence double-labeling techniques.Meanwhile,protein levels of soleus musclep-Drp1Ser616,p-Drp1Ser637,p-extracellular regulatory protein kinaseThr202/Tyr204(p-ERKThr202/Tyr204),p-protein kinaseAThr197(p-PKAThr197),and mitochondrial NADH of ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit B8(NDUFB8)and ubiqui-nol-cytochrome C reductase core protein 2(UQCRC2)were determined by using Western blotting.An-other twenty-four rats were randomly divided into a DMSO group(CD),a U0126 group(CU),an Ex-ercise+DMSO group(ED),and an Exercise+U0126 group(EU).Six mice in each group were giv-en a single intra-bitoneal injection of DMSO or ERK inhibitor U0126 20 min before acute downhill running.Then,their phosphorylated expressions of ERKThr202/Tyr204 and Drp1Ser616 in soleus muscle were de-tected by Western blotting.Results(1)From 0 h to 48 h after exercise,the soleus muscle mitochon-dria showed swelling,rounding,and uneven distribution of mitochondria,among which the degree of mitochondrial damage was the most serious at 12 h and 24 h after exercise.Moreover,the protein ex-pression of NDUFB8 and UQCRC2 in the mitochondria fractions from soleus muscle was significantly lower at 12 h post-exercise(P<0.05).(2)The co-localization of Drp1 and COXⅣ in the skeletal muscle increased significantly at 12 h to 24 h after a heavy load exercise compared with group C and group E0(P<0.01).Moreover,the mitochondrial area,circumference,aspect ratio and Ferret diameter in the skeletal muscle were significantly lower at 12 h to 24 h postexercise(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the number of mitochondria was significantly higher at 24 h after exercise(P<0.01).(3)The phosphoryla-tion of ERKThr202/Tyr204,PKAThr197 and Drp1Ser616 was significantly higher at 24 h after exercise(P<0.01),while that of Drp1Ser637 was significantly lower at 48 h and 72 h post-exercise(P<0.01).However,the phosphorylated expressions of ERKThr202/Tyr204 and Drp1Ser616 were significantly down-regulated by U0126 treatment before exercise.Conclusion A session of heavy load exercise caused mitochondrial structure and function damage and induced mitochondrial fission in the skeletal muscle,and then to maintain the homeostasis of skeletal muscle cells by cleaving damaged mitochondria.The mechanism of promot-ing skeletal muscle repair may be related to the positive and negative regulation of Drp1 activity by the phosphorylation of Drp1Ser616 and Drp1Ser637,respectively.Among them,the activation of ERKThr202/Tyr204 mediates the phosphorylation activation of Drp1Ser616,but PKAThr197 is not an upstream kinase that medi-ates the inactivation of Drp1Ser637 phosphorylation.

Objective To investigate the clinical prognosis of untreated residual coronary artery dissection treated with drug coated balloon(DCB).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data of patients with primary coronary artery lesions(2.5-4.0 mm)treated with DCB under angiography guidance at Xuzhou Cancer Hospital,Xuzhou New Health Geriatric Hospital,and Peixian Guotai Hospital from September 2017 to April 2023.According to the observation of coronary artery dissection through angiography,the patients were divided into a dissection group and a non dissection group.The main endpoint of this study was the major adverse cardiovascular event(MACE)during a 12-month follow-up.Results A total of 381 patients were enrolled in the three research centers,with 30 cases(30 lesions)in the dissection group and 351 cases(367 lesions)in the non dissection group.There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age,gender,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,diabetes,smoking,previous myocardial infarction,previous percutaneous coronary intervention,coronary artery bypass grafting and other baseline clinical characteristics(all P＞0.05).Except for the reference vessel diameter(P=0.049)and DCB pressure(P=0.032),there was no statistically significant difference in the characteristics of coronary angiography lesions between the two groups of patients(both P＞0.05).During a 12-month follow-up,there was no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05)in the incidence of MACE between the dissection group and the non dissection group after DCB treatment for primary coronary artery lesions in situ.Conclusions Untreated residual dissection after DCB treatment of de novo coronary lesions does not lead to an increase in clinical MACE.