This article reports a rare case of autoinflammatory disease presenting initially with skin induration and swelling after trauma as the initial manifestation, followed by progressive limb weakness. The patient was a middle-aged female who developed skin induration and swelling after trauma, which gradually progressed to limb weakness, dysarthria and bilateral facial paralysis, accompanied by livedo reticularis of the lower extremities, diffuse skin induration of the limbs, and beaded subcutaneous nodules in the right upper limb. The patient had a susceptibility to infection since childhood and a history of chronic livedo reticularis. Skin pathological examination revealed panniculitis. A comprehensive etiological screening for special infections and autoimmune diseases was completed with an unremarkable results, and whole-exome sequencing showed no abnormal findings. Following a multidisciplinary discussion combined with RNA sequencing results, the patient was diagnosed with an autoinflammatory disease, with a suspected type Ⅰ interferonopathy. Treatment with tofacitinib resulted in gradual improvement of clinical symptoms. This case highlights the importance of detailed medical history collection, systematic physical examination and multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment, and underscores the pivotal role of molecular diagnosis in the confirmation of rare diseases. It can provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and management of similar rare cases.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of coiling dragon needling plus chin tuck against resistance(CTAR)training for post-stroke deglutition disorders and its impact on surface electromyography.Methods:A total of 100 patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders were randomly divided into two groups,with 50 cases in each group.Both groups received the same CTAR training,and the observation group was treated with additional coiling dragon needling.Both groups were treated for 2 weeks.The clinical efficacy,swallowing function,average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography,quality of life,and the difference in adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the standardized swallowing assessment(SSA),aspiration score,and deglutition disorders score of the videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS)in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05).The average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography in the relaxed state,dry swallowing state,and the state of swallowing water,and the swallowing quality of life questionnaire(SWAL-QOL)score were all significantly higher than those before treatment in the two groups(P<0.05).After treatment,the SSA score,VFSS aspiration score,and VFSS deglutition disorders score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography in the relaxed state,dry swallowing state,and the state of swallowing water,and the SWAL-QOL score in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Compared to CTAR treatment alone,coiling dragon needling plus CTAR treatment can enhance the clinical efficacy in treating patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders,enhancing the contraction ability of swallowing muscles and improving their swallowing function and quality of life.

Objective To explore the regulatory role of N-methyl berbamine(N-MB)in intracellular calcium homeostasis in H9c2 car-diomyocytes,and,thereby,clarify the possible mechanism of the myocardial protective effect of N-MB.Methods Binding of N-MB to CaV1.2 channels was simulated using the MOE software,and the binding affinity and binding mode were determined.The hCaV1.2 gene was transfected into HEK293 cells,and the effect of N-MB(30 μmol/L)on the CaV1.2 current was detected using the whole-cell patch clamp technique.In addition,a Fluo 3-AM fluorescent probe was loaded into H9c2 cardiomyocytes,and the effect of N-MB(3,30 μmol/L)on intracellular calcium ion concentration was observed under a laser confocal microscope.The effect of N-MB(3,30 μmol/L)on the expression of Ca2+regulation-related genes Cacna1c,Cacnb2,Ryr2,Serca2a,and Ncx1 in H9c2 cardiomyocytes was examined using real-time quantitative PCR.Results N-MB was predicted to bind to CaV1.2 channels.The binding sites mainly involved Phe1191,Thr1420,and Asn771,and the binding modes were H-donor,pi-pi,and pi-H.N-MB(30 μmol/L)significantly inhibited CaV1.2 currents,with an inhibition rate of 76.09％±7.41％.The fluorescence intensity of intracellular Ca2+level in H9c2 cardiomyocytes was significantly enhanced with N-MB treatment(3,30 μmol/L,P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,differences in the expression of Cacna1c,Serca2a,and Ncx1 in H9c2 cardiomyocytes were not significant after N-MB(3,30 μmol/L)intervention(P＞0.05),whereas the expression of Cacnb2 significantly reduced(P＜0.001)and the expression of Ryr2 significantly increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion N-MB binds to CaV1.2 calcium channels.N-MB may regulate intracellular calcium homeostasis by inhibiting calcium currents by decreasing the gene expression of CaV1.2 calcium channels.Additionally,N-MB may also increase intracellular Ca2+concentration by promoting the expression of Ryr2,which could be the mechanism underlying the myocardial protective effect of N-MB.

BACKGROUND: G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) could participate in the regulation of diverse cells via interacting with non-G-protein-coupled receptors. In the present work, we explored how paroxetine, a GRK2 inhibitor, modulates the differentiation and activation of immune cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The blood samples of healthy individuals and RA patients were collected between July 2021 and March 2022 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. C57BL/6 mice were used to induce the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Flow cytometry analysis was used to characterize the differentiation and function of dendritic cells (DCs)/T cells. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to explore the specific molecular mechanism. RESULTS: In patients with RA, high expression of GRK2 in peripheral blood lymphocytes, accompanied by the increases of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In animal model, a decrease in regulatory T cells (T regs ), an increase in the cluster of differentiation 8 positive (CD8 + ) T cells, and maturation of DCs were observed. Paroxetine, when used in vitro and in CIA mice, restrained the maturation of DCs and the differentiation of CD8 + T cells, and induced the proportion of T regs . Paroxetine inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the expression of C-C motif chemokine receptor 7 in DCs and T cells. Simultaneously, paroxetine upregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1, and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, paroxetine inhibited the PI3K-AKT-mTOR metabolic pathway in both DCs and T cells. This was associated with a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and changes in the utilization of glucose and lipids, particularly in DCs. Paroxetine reversed PI3K-AKT pathway activation induced by 740 Y-P (a PI3K agonist) through inhibiting the interaction between GRK2 and PI3K in DCs and T cells. CONCLUSION Paroxetine exerts an immunosuppressive effect by targeting GRK2, which subsequently inhibits the metabolism-related PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway of DCs and T cells in RA.
G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2/metabolism* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology* ; Animals ; Dendritic Cells/metabolism* ; Paroxetine/therapeutic use* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Mice ; Humans ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects* ; Female ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Middle Aged

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of coiling dragon needling plus chin tuck against resistance(CTAR)training for post-stroke deglutition disorders and its impact on surface electromyography.Methods:A total of 100 patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders were randomly divided into two groups,with 50 cases in each group.Both groups received the same CTAR training,and the observation group was treated with additional coiling dragon needling.Both groups were treated for 2 weeks.The clinical efficacy,swallowing function,average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography,quality of life,and the difference in adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the standardized swallowing assessment(SSA),aspiration score,and deglutition disorders score of the videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS)in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05).The average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography in the relaxed state,dry swallowing state,and the state of swallowing water,and the swallowing quality of life questionnaire(SWAL-QOL)score were all significantly higher than those before treatment in the two groups(P<0.05).After treatment,the SSA score,VFSS aspiration score,and VFSS deglutition disorders score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography in the relaxed state,dry swallowing state,and the state of swallowing water,and the SWAL-QOL score in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Compared to CTAR treatment alone,coiling dragon needling plus CTAR treatment can enhance the clinical efficacy in treating patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders,enhancing the contraction ability of swallowing muscles and improving their swallowing function and quality of life.

Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death,which plays a crucial driving role in the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy(DN).Ferroptosis is closely related to the damage of renal intrinsic cells in patients with diabetes.Chinese materia medica can improve DN by regulating the ferroptosis of renal intrinsic cells,with a good research and application prospect.This article reviewed the key regulatory factors and regulatory pathways of ferroptosis in DN,explained the"imbalance between yin and yang"of ferroptosis in DN based on TCM theories,and combed the research status of targeted inhibition of ferroptosis by active components of Chinese materia medica.The regulation of active components of Chinese materia medica on ferroptosis in DN has the characteristics of multiple targets,multiple links and integrity,which can provide a reference for the mechanism research and drug development of Chinese materia medica in treating DN.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of endovascular treatment for venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 7 patients with venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2020 to December 2024. Among them, there were 5 males and 2 females, with the age of (22.3±8.1) years. The primary diseases included 2 cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome, 1 case of hepatic veno-occlusive disease, 1 case of portal veno-hepatic sinus vascular disease, 1 case of ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency, 1 case of primary biliary cirrhosis, and 1 case of autoimmune cirrhosis. Analyze the patient's clinical manifestations, obstruction of venous outflow tract, hemoglobin levels within one week before and one week after the operation, endovascular treatment conditions, and intraoperative complications such as abdominal hemorrhage and vascular injury. Ultrasound was used to measure the depth of ascites and pleural effusion. All patients were followed up immediately after the operation through phone calls or follow-up visits. The clinical symptoms, abdominal vascular ultrasound, enhanced CT and survival status of the patients were followed up.Results:All 7 patients were diagnosed with venous outflow tract obstruction by intraoperative angiography, including 1 cases of inferior vena cava obstruction, 2 cases of hepatic vein obstruction, and 4 cases of vena cava combined with hepatic vein obstruction. A total of 12 endovascular treatments were performed on 7 patients. Among them, 4 patients received balloon dilation and angioplasty once, 1 patient received balloon dilation and angioplasty twice, 1 patient underwent hepatic vein stent implantation after 2 hepatic vein balloon dilation and angioplasty, and 1 patient underwent intrahepatic portosystemic shunt via jugular vein after 2 hepatic vein balloon dilation and angioplasty. The abdominal distensionof the patients were all relieved after the operation, the ascites and pleural effusion decreased, and the edema symptoms of the lower extremities disappeared. There were no intraoperative complications. The preoperative hemoglobin of 7 patients was (113.4±34.0) g/L, and the postoperative hemoglobin was (126.6±34.8) g/L, which increased significantly compared with that before the operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-0.71, P=0.038). Seven patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months, with a median of 12 months. None of them had obvious symptoms including abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasound and CT indicated that the blood flow of the transplanted liver was unobstructed, and no patient died. Conclusion:Venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation can cause severe symptoms. Endovascular treatment is an effective treatment for venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism by which interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) affects hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) by regulating the polarization of Kupffer cells.Methods:Twelve male healthy C57BL/6 wild-type mice weighing 20-25 g and aged 6-8 weeks were divided into a sham operation group ( n=6) and a HIRI group ( n=6); Twelve male healthy C57BL/6 IRF1 gene knockout (IRF1 -/-) mice weighing 20-25 g and aged 6-8 weeks were divided into a sham operation IRF1 -/- group ( n=6) and a HIRI IRF1 -/- group ( n=6). The levels of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in mice were measured, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of liver tissues was performed for Suzuki scoring to evaluate liver injury. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate the mRNA levels of IRF1 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in liver tissues. Flow cytometry and qRT-PCR were used to detect the proportion and functional changes of M1/M2-type Kupffer cells in liver tissues. IRF1 was overexpressed or knocked down in the mononuclear macrophage cell line ANA1, and a co-culture and hypoxia-reoxygenation system with the hepatocyte cell line AML12 was established. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of AML12 cells. Results:At 12 hours after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in wild-type mice, the liver tissue injury was the most severe. Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of serum ALT [(8 073±83) U/L vs. (81±19) U/L, q=13.59] and AST [(11 170±2 890) U/L vs. (412±210) U/L, q=13.77] in the HIRI group were significantly higher, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.001). The Suzuki score reached 5-6 points. At 12 hours after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in IRF1 gene knockout mice, the liver tissue injury was not obvious. There were no significant differences in the levels of serum ALT [668 (514, 2 344) U/L vs. 254 (147, 285) U/L, q=2.52, P=0.348] and AST [1 936 (1 262, 2 003) U/L vs. 628 (423, 759) U/L, q=1.22, P=0.824] between the HIRI IRF1 -/- group and the sham operation IRF1 -/- group. Compared with the HIRI group, the ratio of M1/M2-type Kupffer cells in the liver of the HIRI IRF1 -/- group decreased [(0.958±0.090) vs. (2.788±0.258), q=2.06, P<0.0001], and the mRNA expression of TNFα decreased [(4.363±0.393) vs. (12.900±5.504), q=5.59, P=0.018], and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant. In the co-culture and hypoxia-reoxygenation experiment using ANA1 cells overexpressing IRF1 and AML12 cells, the proportion of AML12 hepatocytes in late apoptosis was higher than that in the control group [(14.05±4.25) vs. (3.15±1.16), t=2.85, P=0.047], and the difference was statistically significant. In contrast, when the expression of IRF1 was knocked down, the proportion of apoptotic AML12 cells decreased [(9.26±3.04) vs. (13.36±4.64), t=2.15, P=0.098], but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion:The IRF1 protein can regulate the polarization of Kupffer cells into M1-type macrophages, promote the inflammatory injury of the liver tissue after ischemia-reperfusion, and increase the apoptosis of hepatocytes.

Objective:To elucidate the genomic characteristics of the immunoglobulin (IG) heavy-chain variable region and light-chain variable region, the expression of subclones, and the prognostic significance in patients with CLL.Methods:Blood and/or bone marrow specimens were gathered from a cohort of 36 patients with CLL diagnosed at Jiangsu Province Hospital from December 2018 to May 2023, including 12 cases of B cell receptor (BCR) stereotyped patients. IG heavy-chain (IGH) and light-chain (IG Kappa [IGK] and IG lambda [IGL]) gene rearrangements were performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to analyze the characteristics and prognostic value in CLL.Results:NGS detection of IG variable region (IGHV) demonstrated a significant correlation and superior consistency with Sanger sequencing ( r=0.957, P < 0.001). Among the 36 patients, the IGH variant (IGHV) was observed in 9 (25.0%) but not in 27 (75.0%) participants. The incidence of the MYD88 mutation was higher among patients with mutated IGHV [1/27 (3.7%) vs 4/9 (44.4%), P=0.00]. A high incidence of trisomy 12 was observed in the IGHV #8/#8B subset [4/11 (36.4%) vs 1/25 (4.0%), P=0.023], which were more likely to develop Richter transformation [8/11 (72.7%) vs 4/25 (16.0%), P=0.002]. In the patient cohort, 36 individuals (36/36, 100.0%) used the IGK variable, whereas 15 individuals (15/36, 41.7%) employed the IGL variable (IGLV). IGLV3 - 21 reported the highest utilization rate in IGLV (5/15, 33.3%). Remarkably, patients with CLL with IGLV3-21 fragments were exclusively observed in the Binet C stage and Rai Phase Ⅲ-Ⅳ, with an incidence of del (13) (q14) at 60.0% (3/5). The median time to first treatment (TTFT) of patients with or without IGLV3 - 21 fragments was 5.2 (1.1 - 41.5) and 9.9 (0.1 - 94.4) months, respectively. Using the total reads threshold of 2.5%, 4 (4/36, 11.1%) samples were detected to have two IGHV productive clones. The median TTFT and overall survival (OS) time were 2.8 (0.9-72.7) and 12.8 months in patients with one mutated clone and 57.5 (32.0-120.7) and 51.8 months in those with two mutated clones, respectively. The median TTFT and OS time were 10.9 (0.3-94.4) and 6.3 (0.1 - 12.5) months in patients with one unmutated clone and 49.9 (22.2 - 211.1) and 30.0 (9.6 - 50.3) months in those with multiple unmutated clones, respectively ( P>0.05) . Conclusions:Detection of IG gene rearrangements using NGS technology not only facilitates the analysis of the IGHV mutation status, dominant clones, and prognostic value but also contributes to the exploration of IGK/IGL gene rearrangement fragments and the utilization of subclones. Further, it provides information about the poor prognosis of IGLV3 - 21 CLL. The shortened survival of the two unmutated clone groups in the IGHV unmutated group may indicate a poor prognosis.