OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) knockout on the inhibition of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by natural killer (NK) cells. METHODS: The peripheral blood NK cells of AML patients and controls were collected, and the mRNA and protein level of DNMT1 were measured by PCR and Western blot, respectively. The DNMT1 knockout mice were constructed to obtain NK^DNMT1-/- cells. The NK cells were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-12, IL-15, and IL-18 to construct memory NK cells, and then the interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels were measured by ELISA. After co-culturing with memory NK cells and HL60 cells, the killing effect of NK^DNMT1-/- cells on HL60 cells was detected by LDH assay. Then, the HL60 cell apoptosis and NK cell NKG2D level were measured by flow cytometry. The perforin and granzyme B protein levels of NK cells were measured by Western blot. The AML model mice were constructed by injecting HL60 cells into the tail vein, meanwhile, memory NK cells were also injected, and then the mouse weights, CD33 positive rates, and survival time were detected. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein levels of DNMT1 in NK cells of AML patients were significantly higher than those in the control group (both P < 0.01), while the IFN-γ level induced by interleukin was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with NK^DNMT1+/+ cells, the ability of NK^DNMT1-/- cells to secrete IFN-γ after interleukin stimulation was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The killing and apoptosis-inducing effects of NK^DNMT1-/- cells on HL60 cells were significantly stronger than those of NK^DNMT1+/+ cells (both P < 0.05). The NKG2D level and expression of perforin and granzyme B of NK^DNMT1-/- cells were significantly increased compared with NK^DNMT1+/+ cells (all P < 0.05). Compared with AML mice injected with NK^DNMT1+/+ cells, AML mice injected with NK^DNMT1-/- cells showed significantly increased body weight, decreased CD33 positive rate, and prolonged survival time (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Knocking out DNMT1 can enhance the inhibitory effect of NK cells on AML, which may be related to enhancing NK cell memory function.
Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism* ; Animals ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Humans ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; HL-60 Cells ; Apoptosis ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism* ; Granzymes/metabolism* ; Perforin/metabolism* ; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of modified posterolateral approach and traditional posterolateral approach combined with open reduction and internal fixation via medial approach in treatment of trimalleolar fracture.Methods Sixty-two patients with trimalleolar fractures who underwent modified posterolateral approach combined with open reduction and internal fixation via medial approach from January 2019 to June 2022 in orthopedics department of our hospital were enrolled in the modified approach group,and 62 patients who underwent traditional posterolateral approach combined with open reduction and internal fixation via medial approach at the same period were matched as the traditional approach group.The perioperative indicators were collected.The range of ankle motion 12 months after surgery was measured.The Maryland score,American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)score and Baird-Jackson score were employed to evaluate the recovery of patients 12 months after surgery,and the occurence of complications was recorded.Results There was no significant difference in the operation time,intraoperative blood loss,incision length,postoperative drainage volume or pain score between the two groups(P<0.05).The Maryland scores,AOFAS scores and Baird-Jackson scores 12 months after surgery of the two groups were higher than those before operation(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).The range of ankle motion in the modified approach group was better than that in the traditional approach group,and the incidence of nerve injury after surgery was lower than that in the traditional approach group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusions The modified posterolateral approach combined with open reduction and internal fixation via medial approach in treatment of trimalleolar fracture can achieve good early clinical outcome,effectively improve range of ankle motion,and reduce postoperative nerve injury.

Objective To investigate the association of endometrial thickness(EMT)with obstetric and neonatal outcomes of monoparous pregnancy in fresh cleavage embryos transfer.Methods A total of 1 845 patients of monoparous pregnancy after fresh cleavage embryos transfer cycles from Jan 2016 to Mar 2022 at Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital,Tongji Universtiy were analyzed retrospectively.Patients were categorized into three groups by EMT on transferation day:≤8 mm(group A),8-14 mm(group B)and≥14 mm(group C).The primary outcomes were preterm birth(PTB),birth weight and birth weight z-score,small-for-gestation age,large-for-gestation age,very low birth weight,low birth weight and macrosomia.The second outcomes were pregnancy and perinatal complications.The relationship between EMT and adverse neonatal outcomes was estimated by Logistic regression analysis.Results The rate of ectopic pregnancy was increased significantly in group A.No significant differences were found among the three groups in gestation age,birth weight,birth weight z-score,PTB,small for gestation age,large for gestation age,low birth weight,very low birth weight and macrosomia.Compared with group B,the odds of adverse neonatal outcomes did not show significant differences before and after adjustment in both group A and group C by Logistic regression analysis.Conclusion Thinner EMT in fresh cleavage embryos transfer is associated with higher rate of ectopic pregnancy,while it is not independently associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Neurogastroenterology and motility disorders of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract represent a complex and heterogeneous group of conditions that involve the interaction between the GI tract and the central nervous system. They constitute a significant number of outpatient gastroenterology visits, resulting in a high healthcare burden. These disorders often occur in the absence of identifiable structural causes on routine endoscopy and radiological imaging. A more targeted approach in the assessment of functional GI disorders is increasingly being integrated into routine clinical practice, given the recent advancements in technology and physiologic testing. When used in the appropriate clinical context, these tests not only elucidate the physiological basis for the patient's symptoms, but also prevent inappropriate treatment and repeated investigations. This review aims to summarise the advances in clinically available diagnostic tools for the evaluation of upper GI functional disorders.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/physiopathology* ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract/physiopathology* ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal

Objective To investigate the characteristics of changes in pain-anxiety-depression-fatigue symptom clusters and their possible associated factors in adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL)during early chemotherapy.Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted from Nov 2019 to Oct 2021,enrolling newly diagnosed adolescent ALL patients from 5 tertiary or pediatric specialty hospitals in Shanghai,Zhejiang Province,Sichuan Province,Anhui Province and Guangdong Province.Patient-reported pain,anxiety,depression,and fatigue were collected at five time points within the first nine weeks of chemotherapy using the PROMIS Pediatric-25 instrument.Latent profile analysis(LPA)and latent transition analysis(LTA)were applied to explore the latent classes of symptom clusters,their transition probabilities over time,and possible risk or protective factors associated with class membership.Results A total of 134 ALL cases were enrolled,and symptom clusters at all the 5 time points(T1-T5)were consistently classified into three groups of mild,moderate and severe symptoms.The severe symptoms group accounted for the largest proportion at each time point(54.5%,59.7%,66.4%,49.3%,and 47.0%,respectively),while the mild and moderate symptoms groups showed an initial decline followed by an increase.Among participants,40.2%maintained the same symptom status,and 77.4%experienced at least one episode of severe symptom status during the trajectory.Religious affiliation(T5)and family monthly income>5 000 Yuan(T2,T4 and T5)served as protective factors against severe symptoms.Higher baseline fatigue(T1)was associated with membership in the severe symptoms group at subsequent time points.Conclusion Pain-anxiety-depression-fatigue symptoms in adolescents with ALL during early chemotherapy can be categorized into mild,moderate and severe symptoms with dynamic transitions over time.Higher baseline fatigue was associated with increased risk of severe symptoms,whereas higher family income and religious affiliation appeared protective effects.

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of modified posterolateral approach and traditional posterolateral approach combined with open reduction and internal fixation via medial approach in treatment of trimalleolar fracture.Methods Sixty-two patients with trimalleolar fractures who underwent modified posterolateral approach combined with open reduction and internal fixation via medial approach from January 2019 to June 2022 in orthopedics department of our hospital were enrolled in the modified approach group,and 62 patients who underwent traditional posterolateral approach combined with open reduction and internal fixation via medial approach at the same period were matched as the traditional approach group.The perioperative indicators were collected.The range of ankle motion 12 months after surgery was measured.The Maryland score,American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)score and Baird-Jackson score were employed to evaluate the recovery of patients 12 months after surgery,and the occurence of complications was recorded.Results There was no significant difference in the operation time,intraoperative blood loss,incision length,postoperative drainage volume or pain score between the two groups(P<0.05).The Maryland scores,AOFAS scores and Baird-Jackson scores 12 months after surgery of the two groups were higher than those before operation(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).The range of ankle motion in the modified approach group was better than that in the traditional approach group,and the incidence of nerve injury after surgery was lower than that in the traditional approach group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusions The modified posterolateral approach combined with open reduction and internal fixation via medial approach in treatment of trimalleolar fracture can achieve good early clinical outcome,effectively improve range of ankle motion,and reduce postoperative nerve injury.

Objective To investigate the association of endometrial thickness(EMT)with obstetric and neonatal outcomes of monoparous pregnancy in fresh cleavage embryos transfer.Methods A total of 1 845 patients of monoparous pregnancy after fresh cleavage embryos transfer cycles from Jan 2016 to Mar 2022 at Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital,Tongji Universtiy were analyzed retrospectively.Patients were categorized into three groups by EMT on transferation day:≤8 mm(group A),8-14 mm(group B)and≥14 mm(group C).The primary outcomes were preterm birth(PTB),birth weight and birth weight z-score,small-for-gestation age,large-for-gestation age,very low birth weight,low birth weight and macrosomia.The second outcomes were pregnancy and perinatal complications.The relationship between EMT and adverse neonatal outcomes was estimated by Logistic regression analysis.Results The rate of ectopic pregnancy was increased significantly in group A.No significant differences were found among the three groups in gestation age,birth weight,birth weight z-score,PTB,small for gestation age,large for gestation age,low birth weight,very low birth weight and macrosomia.Compared with group B,the odds of adverse neonatal outcomes did not show significant differences before and after adjustment in both group A and group C by Logistic regression analysis.Conclusion Thinner EMT in fresh cleavage embryos transfer is associated with higher rate of ectopic pregnancy,while it is not independently associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of changes in pain-anxiety-depression-fatigue symptom clusters and their possible associated factors in adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL)during early chemotherapy.Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted from Nov 2019 to Oct 2021,enrolling newly diagnosed adolescent ALL patients from 5 tertiary or pediatric specialty hospitals in Shanghai,Zhejiang Province,Sichuan Province,Anhui Province and Guangdong Province.Patient-reported pain,anxiety,depression,and fatigue were collected at five time points within the first nine weeks of chemotherapy using the PROMIS Pediatric-25 instrument.Latent profile analysis(LPA)and latent transition analysis(LTA)were applied to explore the latent classes of symptom clusters,their transition probabilities over time,and possible risk or protective factors associated with class membership.Results A total of 134 ALL cases were enrolled,and symptom clusters at all the 5 time points(T1-T5)were consistently classified into three groups of mild,moderate and severe symptoms.The severe symptoms group accounted for the largest proportion at each time point(54.5%,59.7%,66.4%,49.3%,and 47.0%,respectively),while the mild and moderate symptoms groups showed an initial decline followed by an increase.Among participants,40.2%maintained the same symptom status,and 77.4%experienced at least one episode of severe symptom status during the trajectory.Religious affiliation(T5)and family monthly income>5 000 Yuan(T2,T4 and T5)served as protective factors against severe symptoms.Higher baseline fatigue(T1)was associated with membership in the severe symptoms group at subsequent time points.Conclusion Pain-anxiety-depression-fatigue symptoms in adolescents with ALL during early chemotherapy can be categorized into mild,moderate and severe symptoms with dynamic transitions over time.Higher baseline fatigue was associated with increased risk of severe symptoms,whereas higher family income and religious affiliation appeared protective effects.

Objective:To establish venetoclax-resistant acute myeloid leukemia(AML)cell lines,assess the sensitivity of venetoclax-resistant cell lines to the BCL-2 protein family,and investigate their resistance mechanisms.Methods:CCK-8 method was used to screen AML cell lines(MV4-11,MOLM13,OCI-AML2)that were relatively sensitive to venetoclax.Low concentrations of venetoclax continuously induced drug-resistance development in the cell lines.Changes in cell viability and apoptosis rate before and after resistance development were measured using the CCK-8 method and flow cytometry.BH3 profiling assay was performed to anayze the transform of mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis pathway as well as the sensitivity of resistant cell lines to BCL-2 family proteins and small molecule inhibitors.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)was utilized to examine changes in the expression levels of BCL-2 protein family members in both venetoclax-resistant cell lines and multidrug-resistant patients.Results:Venetoclax-resistant cell lines of MV4-11,MOLM13,and OCI-AML2 were successfully established,with IC50 values exceeding 10-fold.Under the same concentration of venetoclax,the apoptosis rate of resistant cells decreased significantly(P＜0.05).BH3 profiling assay revealed that the drug-resistant cell lines showed increased sensitivity to many pro-apoptotic proteins(such as BIM,BID and NOXA).RT-qPCR showed significantly upregulated MCL1 and downregulated NOXA1 were detected in drug-resistant cell lines.Expression changes in MCL1 and NOXA1 in venetoclax-resistant patients were consistent with our established drug-resistant cell line results.Conclusion:The venetoclax-resistant AML cell lines were successfully established through continuous induction with low concentrations of venetoclax.The venetoclax resistance resulted in alterations in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of the cells and an increased sensitivity of cells to pro-apoptotic proteins BIM,BID,and NOXA,which may be associated with the upregulation of MCL1 expression and downregulation of NOXA1 expression in the drug-resistant cells.