Objective To investigate the mechanism by which lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1(LOX-1)regulates hyperglycemic-induced myocardial fibroblast(CFs)fibrosis through the glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)pathway.Methods CFs were isolated,cultured and identified.LOX-1 RNAi lentiviral vector was constructed and infected CFs.The experimental groups were as follows:Normal control(NC)group,High glucose(HG)group,LV-LOX-1,LV-Con group,Hypertonic(HPG)group.After LV-LOX-1 and LV-Con were infected with CFs,adding 25 mmol/L glucose to culture CFs for 24 h,they were denoted as HG+LV-LOX-1 group and HG+LV-Con group.Cells in HG+LV-LOX-1 group and HG+LV-Con group were treated with 10 μ mol/L SB216763 and 10 μ mol/L STATTIC for 24 h,respectively,and then they were recorded as HG+LV-LOX-1+SB216763 group,HG+LV-Con+SB216763 group,HG+LV-LOX-1+STATTIC group and HG+LV-Con+STATTIC group.CCK-8 was used to detect the activity of CFs,and the expression levels of mRAN and protein of LOX-1,collagen type I(COL-I),thioredoxin 5(TXNDC5),GSK-3β,STAT3,p-GSK-3β and p-STAT3 were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.Results CFs infected with LOX-1 RNAi lentiviral vector were obtained,which showed green under fluorescence microscopy.Compared with HG and HG+LV-Con groups,the mRNA expressions of LOX-1,COL-I and TXNDC5 were decreased in HG+LV-LOX-1 group(P<0.05).Compared with HG+LV-LOX-1 group,mRNA expressions of COL-I and TXNDC5 were decreased in HG+LV-LOX-1+SB216763 and HG+LV-LOX-1+STATTIC groups(P<0.05).Compared with HG and HG+LV-Con groups,p-GSK-3β protein expression was increased in HG+LV-LOX-1 group(P<0.05),while LOX-1,p-STAT3,COL-I,TXNDC5 protein expression was decreased in HG+LV-LOX-1 group(P<0.05).Compared with HG+LV-LOX-1 group,p-GSK-3β protein expression was increased in HG+LV-LOX-1+SB216763 group(P<0.05),while the protein expressions of p-STAT3,COL-I and TXNDC5 were decreased in HG+LV-LOX-1+SB216763 and HG+LV-LOX-1+STATTIC groups(P<0.05).Conclusion LOX-1,GSK-3β,STAT3,TXNDC5,and COL-I are involved in high glucose induced CFs fibrosis.LOX-1 promotes the expression of TXNDC5 and COL-I through GSK-3β/STAT3 pathway,and inhibition of LOX-1 can inhibit high glucose induced CFs fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1(LOX-1)in the regulation of high glucose induced phagocytosis dysfunction of mouse microglia(BV2 microglia).Methods BV2 cells were cultured in vitro,lentivirus LOX-1RNAi vector(LV-LOX-1)and lentivirusempty vector(LV-Con)were constructed and divided into normal control(NC)group,HG group,LV-LOX-1 group and LV-Con group.After infecting BV2 cells with LV-LOX-1 and LV-Con,the cells were cultured with 25 mmol/L glucose for 24 h,and then divided into HG+LV-LOX-1 group and HG+LV-Con group.After treatment of HG+LV-LOX-1 and HG+LV-Con infected BV2 microglia with 15 μmol/L FH535(β-catenin inhibitor)and AEBSF(ATF6α inhibitor)for 24 h,respectively,they were denoted as HG+LV-LOX-1+FH535 group,HG+LV-Con+FH535 group,HG+LV-LOX-1+AEBSF group,and HG+LV-Con+AEBSF group.Transfection efficiency was determined by fluorescence microscopy,RT-PCR and Western blot.Cell viability was detected b CCK-8.RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of LOX-1,β-catenin,ATF6α and milk fat globular-surface growth factor Ⅷ(MFG-E8)in each group.Results After 72 h of LV-LOX-1 infection,the cells in LV-LOX-1 and LV-Con groups showed a lot of green fluorescence,but not in NC group.Compared with NC group,the mRNA and protein expression of LOX-1 and ATF6α were increased(P<0.05),while the mRNA and protein expression of MFG-E8 and β-catenin decreased in HG group(P<0.05).Compared with HG+LV-Con group,the mRNA and protein expression of LOX-1 and ATF6α were decreased(P<0.05),while the mRNA and protein expression of MFG-E8 and β-catenin increasedin HG+LV-LOX-1 group(P<0.05).Compared with HG+LV-LOX-1 group,the mRNA and protein expressions of MFG-E8 and β-catenin were decreased(P<0.05),and the mRNA and protein expressions of ATF6α and p-β-catenin and p-ATF6α were increased in HG+LV-LOX-1+FH535 group(P<0.05).Compared with HG+LV-LOX-1 group,the mRNA and protein expression were increased(P<0.05),ATF6α mRNA and protein expression and p-ATF6α protein expression were decreased MFG-E8 in HG+LV-LOX-1+AEBSF group(P<0.05).Conclusions LOX-1,MFG-E8,β-catenin and ATF6α are involved in the regulation of phagocytosis of BV2 cells.LOX-1 promotes the phagocytosis dysfunction of BV2 microglia induced by high glucose through β-catenin/ATF6α signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the potential value of saccade and antisaccade parameters in early identification of Parkinson′s disease (PD) and its motor subtypes.Methods:A total of 111 PD patients [tremor dominant (TD) type in 45, postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD) type in 54 and indeterminate type in 12)] and 54 healthy controls were recruited from Department of Neurology, Guangdong Provincial People′s Hospital from July 2022 to July 2023. All subjects underwent oculomotor test including visually guided saccades and volitional antisaccades by the Eyeknow-M10-B Eye tracker. For PD patients, TD and PIGD scores were measured using the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson′s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part Ⅱ and Part Ⅲ. Oculomotor parameters among TD, PIGD patients and healthy controls were firstly compared. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between ocular parameters with differences and TD/PIGD score. Then receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was made between PD patients and healthy controls, as well as between PIGD and TD subtypes.Results:Compared to healthy controls, PD patients showed significantly decreased saccadic accuracy [100.0%(90.0%, 100.0%) vs 100.0%(100.0%, 100.0%), U=1 732.500, P<0.001], prolonged latency [252.2(228.5, 300.1) ms vs 227.7(214.2, 241.8) ms, U=1 401.000, P<0.001], minimum duration [233.6(211.2, 278.8) ms vs 211.0(200.0, 222.5) ms, U=1 534.500, P<0.001], average duration [356.6(313.8, 427.8) ms vs 279.4(267.4, 312.9) ms, U=881.000, P<0.001],as well as decreased peak [444.4(335.0, 593.7) °/s vs 526.7(412.6, 696.2) °/s, U=1 971.000, P=0.007] and average velocity [196.3(144.4, 240.5) °/s vs 256.7(226.7, 312.0) °/s, U=1 330.000, P<0.001] in saccades. And in antisaccades, PD patients also showed prolonged latency [432.0(362.9, 599.8) ms vs 352.9(309.8, 407.6) ms, U=1 553.000, P<0.001], minimum duration [333.4(299.8, 377.6) ms vs 290.1(263.9, 332.9) ms, U=1 608.000, P<0.001], average duration [518.2(462.7, 603.5) ms vs 424.2(377.1, 473.5) ms, U=1 181.000, P<0.001], decreased peak [458.5(327.9, 604.3) °/s vs 560.4(440.3, 698.5) °/s, U=1 838.500, P=0.001] and average velocity [186.6(143.1, 228.1) °/s vs 263.2(217.2, 301.5) °/s, U=1 131.000, P<0.001]. There was no statistically significant difference in antisaccadic accuracy [55.0%(15.0%, 80.0%) vs 66.7%(39.4%, 86.9%), U=2 167.500, P=0.053]. Compared with TD subtype, PIGD patients showed significantly decreased antisaccadic peak velocity [416.2(300.3, 534.3) °/s vs 527.1(402.3, 636.4) °/s, U=-26.474, P=0.009]. After adjusting for age, gender and education, antisaccadic peak velocity was negatively correlated with PIGD score in PD patients (β=-0.296, P=0.001), and no correlation with TD score was found. The ROC analysis was performed on combined saccadic and antisaccade metrics between PD patients and healthy controls, with area under the curve (AUC) as 0.918. For antisaccadic peak velocity between PIGD and TD subtypes, the AUC was 0.690. Conclusions:Eye movement metrics have potential value in distinguishing PD patients from healthy controls. The antisaccadic peak velocity is related to the severity of motor symptoms in PIGD patients, which is helpful for distinguishing the motor subtypes of PD patients.

BACKGROUND:Conductive biomaterials are considered potential candidates for transmitting electrical signals for myocardial repair.Combining cell-based or cell-free strategies with conductive biomaterials to replenish cardiomyocytes and/or restore electrical signaling pathways is a promising approach for cardiac repair. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of polypyrrole-chitosan conductive composite hydrogel on cardiac function in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS:The polypyrrole-chitosan conductive composite hydrogel was prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization.The micromorphology,biocompatibility and conductivity of the hydrogels were characterized.Thirty adult SD rats were selected to establish a myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury model by clamping the left anterior descending branch of the heart and then releasing it.After 21 days of modeling,the rats were divided into three groups by the random number table method:Normal saline was injected into the left ventricular infarction area and infarction margin area in the blank group.Chitosan hydrogel was injected into the left ventricular infarction area and infarction margin area in the ordinary hydrogel group.The polypyrrole-chitosan conductive composite hydrogel was injected into the left ventricular infarction area and infarction margin area,with 10 rats in each group.The corresponding time points after modeling were set,and cardiac mechanical function(echocardiogram,pressure-volume analysis),cardiac electrophysiology(electrocardiogram,programmed electrical stimulation,optical mapping technology,microelectrode array technology,eight-lead electrocardiogram,and electrical resistivity of the scar area)and cardiac histology were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There were a lot of pores on the surface of the conductive composite hydrogel,and the conductivity was(3.19±0.03)×10-3 mS/cm,which had good biocompatibility co-cultured with smooth muscle cells.(2)After 105 days of modeling,echocardiogram and pressure-volume analysis showed that compared with the blank group and the ordinary hydrogel group,the conductive composite hydrogel could significantly improve the contractile function of the heart of rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.The results of electrocardiogram,programmed electrical stimulation,optical mapping technology,microelectrode array technology,eight-lead electrocardiogram,and electrical resistivity of the scar area examination at 105 days after modeling displayed that,compared with the blank group and the ordinary hydrogel group,the conductive composite hydrogel could significantly improve the electrical conduction function of the heart of rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia.Masson staining of heart tissue at 105 days after modeling exhibited that there were different degrees of fibrosis in the myocardial infarction area of the three groups.Compared with the normal saline group and the ordinary hydrogel group,the conductive hydrogel group had more normal myocardial tissue and less fibrosis in the myocardial infarction area.(3)The results verify that polypyrrole-chitosan conductive composite hydrogel may promote the repair of infarcted heart after ischemia-reperfusion injury by increasing the electrical conduction velocity of infarct scar area tissue,increasing scar thickness,enhancing synchronous cardiac contraction,and reducing damaged tissue.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with lower cervical fracture is often categorized into unstable fracture, with a high incidence of neurological injury and a high rate of disability and morbidity. As factors such as shoulder occlusion may affect the accuracy of X-ray imaging diagnosis, it is often easily misdiagnosed at the primary diagnosis. Non-operative treatment has complications such as bone nonunion and the possibility of secondary neurological damage, while the timing, access and choice of surgical treatment are still controversial. Currently, there are no clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture with or without dislocation. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate Clinical guidelines for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis combined with lower cervical fracture in adults ( version 2024) in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, scientificity and practicality, in which 11 recommendations were put forward in terms of the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, typing and treatment, etc, to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture.

Objective: To analyze the influencing factors of psychological flexibility for cancer-related pain patients, so as to provide insights for improving their psychological flexibility. Methods: Cancer-related pain patients hospitalized in the Oncology Department of Anhui Cancer Hospital were selected as the subjects of the survey. Demographic information and disease information were collected through questionnaires. Pain belief was assessed using the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory. Alexithymia was assessed using the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale-Ⅱ. Psychological flexibility was assessed using the Psychological Inflexibility in Pain Scale. The influencing factors of psychological flexibility among cancer-related pain patients was analyzed by using a multiple linear regression model. Results: A total of 202 cancer-related pain patients were surveyed, including 114 males (56.44%) and 88 females (43.56%). The mean age was (59.99±11.53) years. The primary tumor type was digestive system cancer, with 121 cases (59.90%). The average pain intensity in the past 24 hours was mainly mild, with 150 cases (74.26%). The median pain beliefs score was -0.19 (interquartile range, 0.39) points. The total score of alexithymia was (66.86±5.60) points. The total score of psychological flexibility in cancer-related pain patients was (66.35±7.23) points. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that pain belief (β'=0.321), alexithymia (β'=0.222), and average pain intensity in the past 24 hours (β'=-0.481) were influencing factors for psychological flexibility in cancer-related pain patients. Conclusion The psychological flexibility of cancer-related pain patients is related to pain beliefs, alexithymia and average pain intensity in the past 24 hours.

Objective:To investigate the association between hyperuricemia and the risk for stroke occurrence, as well as the mediating effect of hypertension on this association.Methods:In this study, the China Chronic Diseases and Nutrition Surveillance system in 2015 was used as baseline data. We identified hospital admissions for stroke using the electronic homepage of inpatient medical records from 2013-2020, and death data were obtained from the 2015-2020 National Mortality Surveillance System. A retrospective cohort was established after matching and linking the database. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the relationship between hyperuricemia and the risk of stroke and its subtypes. Restricted cubic spline analysis was conducted to examine the dose-response relationship between serum uric acid levels and the risk for stroke. Mediation analysis was performed to investigate the mediating effect of hypertension on the association between hyperuricemia and the risk for stroke and its subtypes. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on gender and age groups.Results:A total of 124 352 study subjects were included, with an accumulative follow-up time of 612 911.36 person-years. During the follow-up period, 4 638 cases of stroke were found, including 3 919 cases of ischemic stroke and 689 cases of hemorrhagic stroke. The incidence density of stroke was 756.72 per 100 000 person-years, 641.37 per 100 000 person-years for ischemic stroke, and 114.60 per 100 000 person-years for hemorrhagic stroke. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models showed that after adjusting for covariates, compared to those without hyperuricemia, individuals with hyperuricemia had a 16% higher risk for stroke [hazard ratio ( HR)=1.16, 95% CI: 1.06-1.27], a 12% higher risk of ischemic stroke ( HR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.24), and a 39% higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke ( HR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.11-1.75). Mediation analysis showed that hypertension partially mediated the associations between hyperuricemia and the risk for stroke, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke, with mediation proportions of 36.07%, 39.98%, and 25.34%, respectively. The mediating effect is pronounced in the male population and individuals below 65. Conclusion:Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for stroke, and hypertension partially mediates the effect of hyperuricemia on stroke.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sequential therapy with parathyroid hormone analogues and bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. METHODS PubMed， Embase， the Cochrane Library， Web of Science， China National Knowledge Infrastructure， VIP， Wanfang data， and SinoMed were searched in both English and Chinese databases from their inception to March 25， 2024. Two researchers independently conducted literature searches， screening， and data extraction. Review Manager 5.4 software was used for the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed based on different medication sequences in the treatment group to account for potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS A total of 7 randomized controlled trials involving 2 461 participants were included， with 1 215 in the treatment group and 1 246 in the control group. The meta-analysis results showed that the treatment group using sequential therapy with parathyroid hormone analogues and bisphosphonates had superior effects on improving bone mineral density at the lumbar spine [SMD＝0.90， 95%CI （0.44， 1.35）， P＜0.001]， total hip [SMD=0.68， 95%CI （0.14， 1.21）， P＝0.01]， and femoral neck [SMD＝0.45， 95%CI （0.04， 0.86）， P＝0.03] compared to the control group. It also significantly outperformed the control group in reducing the incidence of fractures post- treatment [OR＝0.72， 95%CI （0.54， 0.97）， P＝0.03].significant difference was noted in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups [OR＝1.21， 95%CI （0.99， 1.46）， P＝0.06]. Subgroup analysis based on intervention measures in the treatment group showed that switching from bisphosphonates to parathyroid hormone analogues [SMD＝0.56， 95%CI （0.09， 1.03）， P＝0.02] or switching from parathyroid hormone analogues to bisphosphonates [SMD＝0.97， 95%CI （0.49， 1.46）， P＜0.001] both significantly potentiated lumbar spine bone mineral density compared to the control group. Switching from bisphosphonates to parathyroid hormone analogues also significantly promoted total hip bone mineral density compared to the control group [SMD＝0.66， 95%CI （0.18， 1.13）， P＝0.007]. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the results of this study were robust. CONCLUSIONS Sequential therapy with parathyroid hormone analogues and bisphosphonates can be recommended as an effective treatment for patients with osteoporosis， with good safety profiles. The medication sequences should be individually adjusted based on the patient’s particular situation and the different responses of various skeletal sites.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of combining carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) with serum Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in patients with psoriasis complicated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods Thirty-eight patients with psoriasis complicated with CVD were included in CVD group, 51 patients with psoriasis alone were included in psoriasis group, and 60 healthy subjects were selected as control group. Clinical data were collected from each group. The cIMT was measured using carotid ultrasound, and serum Gal-3, PTX3, and inflammatory markers[high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)]were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of CVD in patients with psoriasis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum Gal-3, PTX3, and cIMT for CVD. Results The cIMT was greater in the CVD group and the psoriasis group than in the control group, and the CVD group was greater than the psoriasis group (P < 0.05). The serum levels of Gal-3, PTX3, hs-CRP, PCT, and TNF-α were higher in the CVD group and the psoriasis group than in the control group, and their levels were higher in the CVD group than in the psoriasis group (P < 0.05). The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score was higher in the CVD group than in the psoriasis group (P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that cIMT, Gal-3, and PTX3 were separately positively correlated with hs-CRP, PCT, and TNF-α (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that PASI score, cIMT, Gal-3, PTX3, hs-CRP, and TNF-α were independent influencing factors for CVD in patients with psoriasis (OR=1.250, 1.451, 1.432, 1.365, 1.413, 1.465; P < 0.05). The diagnostic model based on cIMT combined with serum Gal-3 and PTX3 had higher diagnostic value for CVD in patients with psoriasis than single diagnosis. The area under the curve was 0.922, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.91 and 0.85, respectively. Conclusion The cIMT, serum Gal-3, and serum PTX3 are independent influencing factors for CVD in patients with psoriasis. The combination of the three indicators has higher diagnostic value for CVD in patients with psoriasis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with spinal fractures with thoracic and lumbar fracture as the most common type shows characteristics of unstable fracture, high incidence of nerve injury, high mortality and high disability rate. The diagnosis may be missed because it is mostly caused by low-energy injury, when spinal rigidity and osteoporosis have a great impact on the accuracy of imaging examination. At the same time, the treatment choices are controversial, with no relevant specifications. Non-operative treatments can easily lead to bone nonunion, pseudoarthrosis and delayed nerve injury, while surgeries may be failed due to internal fixation failure. At present, there are no evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with thoracic and lumbar fracture. In this context, the Spinal Trauma Academic Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of adult ankylosing spondylitis combined with thoracolumbar fracture ( version 2023) by following the principles of evidence-based medicine and systematically review related literatures. Ten recommendations on the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, classification and treatment of AS combined with thoracic and lumbar fracture were put forward, aiming to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment of such disorder.