AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2(SMYD2)in facilitating renal fibrosis through the macrophage-myofibroblast transition in diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD).METHODS:(1)C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus(DM).The experimental groups were categorized as follows:normal control,DM(20 weeks),DM(28 weeks),and DM(36 weeks).Blood glucose(BG),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were determined using a biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were performed to assess morphological and fibrotic changes in renal tissues.Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of SMYD2,histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation(H3K4me3),arginase-1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine the localization and expression of F4/80,α-SMA,SMYD2,CD86,CD206 and CD163.(2)Mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro and assigned to groups as follows:normal glucose(NG)+negative control siRNA(siNC),high glucose(HG)+siNC,NG+SMYD2 siRNA(siSMYD2),and HG+siSMYD2.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of relevant proteins.RESULTS:(1)Compared with normal control group,the levels of BG,SCr and BUN were significantly elevated in DM(28 weeks)and DM(36 weeks)groups(P＜0.05).Renal tissue exhibited tubular atro-phy,dilation,and collagen fiber deposition.The levels of H3K4me3,arginase-1,MMP9,Col Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins were up-regulated(P＜0.05).The CD86,CD206,CD163 and F4/80 were primarily localized in the interstitial macrophages of the renal tubules,α-SMA was predominantly detected in the renal interstitium,and SMYD2 was mainly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells and the renal interstitium.(2)Compared with NG+siNC group,the protein levels of SMYD2,H3K4me3,arginase-1,CD163,Col Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and p-Smad3 in the cells of HG+siNC group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Knockdown of SMYD2 resulted in a reduction of these indicators(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The SMYD2 protein appears to facilitate renal fibrosis in DKD by promoting the macrophage-myofibroblast transition,potentially through the modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread-embedding therapy of regulating governor vessel, dispersing lung, and suppressing reflux for gastroesophageal reflux cough (GERC). METHODS: A total of 120 GERC patients were randomly assigned to an observation group (60 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a control group (60 cases, 1 case was eliminated). The observation group received acupoint thread-embedding treatment at positive response points of governor vessel. If no such points were detected, the following acupoints were used: Dazhui (GV14), Fenghu (Extra), Shendao (GV11), Lingtai (GV10), and Zhiyang (GV9). Treatment was administered once every two weeks. The control group received oral rabeprazole enteric capsules at 20 mg twice daily. All the treatment was given for 6 weeks. Clinical outcomes were assessed using cough symptom score, reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) score, and Leicester cough questionnaire (LCQ) score before and after treatment in the two groups. Clinical efficacy was also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, both groups showed decreased cough symptom scores and the each item scores and total scores of RDQ (P<0.001), and increased LCQ scores (P<0.001) compare with those before treatment. The observation group exhibited lower cough symptom score and chest pain, reflux and total score of RDQ, and higher LCQ score compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 94.9% (56/59), which was higher than 84.7% (50/59) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupoint thread-embedding therapy of regulating governor vessel, dispersing lung, and suppressing reflux could effectively alleviate cough and reflux symptoms in patients with GERC and improve their quality of life.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Cough/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Lung/physiopathology* ; Meridians

AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2(SMYD2)in facilitating renal fibrosis through the macrophage-myofibroblast transition in diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD).METHODS:(1)C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus(DM).The experimental groups were categorized as follows:normal control,DM(20 weeks),DM(28 weeks),and DM(36 weeks).Blood glucose(BG),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels were determined using a biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were performed to assess morphological and fibrotic changes in renal tissues.Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of SMYD2,histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation(H3K4me3),arginase-1,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine the localization and expression of F4/80,α-SMA,SMYD2,CD86,CD206 and CD163.(2)Mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro and assigned to groups as follows:normal glucose(NG)+negative control siRNA(siNC),high glucose(HG)+siNC,NG+SMYD2 siRNA(siSMYD2),and HG+siSMYD2.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of relevant proteins.RESULTS:(1)Compared with normal control group,the levels of BG,SCr and BUN were significantly elevated in DM(28 weeks)and DM(36 weeks)groups(P＜0.05).Renal tissue exhibited tubular atro-phy,dilation,and collagen fiber deposition.The levels of H3K4me3,arginase-1,MMP9,Col Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins were up-regulated(P＜0.05).The CD86,CD206,CD163 and F4/80 were primarily localized in the interstitial macrophages of the renal tubules,α-SMA was predominantly detected in the renal interstitium,and SMYD2 was mainly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells and the renal interstitium.(2)Compared with NG+siNC group,the protein levels of SMYD2,H3K4me3,arginase-1,CD163,Col Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and p-Smad3 in the cells of HG+siNC group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Knockdown of SMYD2 resulted in a reduction of these indicators(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The SMYD2 protein appears to facilitate renal fibrosis in DKD by promoting the macrophage-myofibroblast transition,potentially through the modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the age-related changes of biomechanical properties for humerus, femur and tibia in male rats and their application values in age estimation. Methods According to different weeks of age, 90 healthy male SD rats were divided into 2, 4, 6, 8, 17, 26, 52, 78 and 104-week groups with 10 rats in eachgroup. After the rats were executed by excessive anesthesia, humerus, femur, and tibia were separated and the attached soft tissues were removed. The length of the above-mentioned bones and the diameter of the middle section (compression site) were measured with vernier caliper, and the three-point bending test was conducted with electronic universal material testing machine to detect the ultimate load and displacement under ultimate load. Results There were significant differences in the ultimate load of humerus, femur and tibia among male rats in different age groups (P<0. 05). With the increase of week age, the ultimate loads of the humerus, femur and tibia increased first and then decreased, and reached the peak value in 52-week age group, showing a strong positive correlation with week age before 52 weeks ( r = 0. 884,0. 933,0. 929, P<0. 05). There was no significant difference in humerus and tibia. The displacement of femur under ultimate load was weakly positively correlated with week age (R= 0. 406,P<0. 05). The age prediction accuracy for automatic linear modeling of ultimate load for humerus, femur, tibia and three above-mentioned bones in rats before 52-week age was 78. 2% , 86. 8% , 84. 1% and 88. 3% , respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between the length of humerus, femur and tibia and the ultimate load (R= 0. 904, 0. 897, 0. 814, P<0. 05). The diameters of humerus, femur and tibia were strongly positively correlated with the ultimate load (R = 0. 759, 0. 814 and 0. 745, P<0. 05). Conclusions The ultimate loads of humerus, femur and tibia in male rats increased first and then decreased with age, and were positively correlated with age before 52 weeks, which could be used for age inference. The highest accuracy of age estimation was ultimate loads of three bones, followed by femur. The length/ middle diameter of humerus, femur and tibia were strongly positively correlated with the ultimate load.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of esophageal-jejunal OrVil TM anas-tomosis and Overlap anastomosis in laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG). Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 112 patients with AEG who were admitted to the First Hospital of Jilin University from July 2017 to August 2022 were collected. There were 87 males and 25 females, aged (64±8)years. All 112 patients underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy and D 2 lymphadenectomy, in which 61 cases with esophageal-jejunal OrVil TM anastomosis were divided into the OrVil TM group, 51 cases with esophageal-jejunal Overlap anastomosis were divided into the Overlap group. Observa-tion indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) postoperative complications; (3) influencing factors for patients undergoing esophageal-jejunal OrVil TM anastomosis. Measurement data with normal distri-bution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the non-parameter test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results:(1) Surgical situations. The esophageal invasion length and tumor diameter was 1.0(0.7,2.0)cm and (6.3±2.7)cm in patients of the OrVil TM group, versus 0.2(0.1,0.5)cm and (4.7±2.2)cm, respectively, in patients of the Overlap group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=?6.14, t=3.26, P<0.05). (2) Postoperative complications. Cases with complications ≥Ⅲa grade of Clavien-Dindo classification, cases with respiratory system complications, cases with hydrothorax were 13, 17, 13 in the OrVil TM group, versus 4, 5, 4 in the Overlap group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( χ2=3.91, 5.74, 3.91, P<0.05). Cases underwent readmission within postoperative 30 days were 3 and 1 in the OrVil TM group and the Overlap group, respectively, and all patients recovered after symptomatic treatment. There were 2 cases died after operation in the OrVil TM group and none of patients died after operation in the Overlap group. (3) Influencing factors for patients undergoing esophageal-jejunal OrVil TM anastomosis. Results of multivariate analysis showed that esophageal invasion length was an independent factor influencing for patients undergoing esophageal-jejunal OrVil TM anastomosis ( odds ratio=8.25, 95% confidence interval as 3.41?19.96, P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with esophageal-jejunal Overlap anastomosis, choosing the esophageal-jejunal Orvil TM anastomosis during laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy can take benefit to the proximal margin of patients with AEG. However, the ratios of complications ≥ Ⅲa grade of Clavien-Dindo classification, respiratory system complications and hydrothorax associated to OrVil TM anastomosis are relatively increased. Esophageal invasion length is an independent influencing factor for patients undergoing esophageal-jejunal OrVil TM anastomosis.

OBJECTIVE：To explo re the clinical characteristics of voriconazole-induced neurological ADR and the occurrence of hypokalemia and hyponatremia before ADR. METHODS ：The medical records of 411 patients receiving voriconazole therapy ， who admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to November 2020，were retrospectively analyzed. The general information of all patients，including sex ，age，body weight ，type of infection ，underlying disease ，type of pathogenic fungal infection and administration route of voriconazole ，maintenance dose ，blood drug concentration ，were collected. The basic information of patients with neurological ADR ，including sex ，age，types of infection ，underlying disease ，drug combination ，occurrence time and clinical manifestations ，were collected . The levels of blood potassium ，blood sodium and liver function indexes （ALT，AST， γ-GT，ALP，total bilirubin ，direct bilirubin ）within 3 days before the neurological ADR were also collected. The relationship of neurological ADR with voriconazole trough concentration ，blood potassium and blood sodium levels was analyzed. RESULTS ： Among 411 patients，31（7.54％）patients suffered from neurological ADR ，which were higher in male （64.52％）than in female （35.48％），mainly in patients aged 50 and over （74.20％）. The major infection type was lung infection （96.77％）. Among 31 patients with neurological ADR ，26 patients suffered from neurological ADR after 1-7 days after voriconazole administration ， accounting for 83.87％. Thirty patients received intravenous drip ，accounting for 96.77％. The incidence of neurological ADR in patients with voriconazole trough concentration ＞5.0 μ g/mL （8.99％）was significantly higher than that in patients with trough concentration ≤5.0 μg/mL（3.42％，χ2＝4.91，P＝0.027）. The clinical manifestations of the patients were mainly 023-68766797。E-mail：cheng7zhu@163.com hallucinations（32.35％），irritability（32.35％）and poor sleep （17.65％），etc. Within 3 days before 30 patients，receiving related indexes test ，suffered from neurological ADR ，16 patients（53.33％）had hypokalemia and 12 patients（40.00％） had hyponatremia ，which w ere significantly higher than the incidence of hypokalemia （24.74％，P＝0.001）and hyponatremia （12.89％，P＜0.001）in those without neurological ADR . There were 8，10，7，13，7 and 10 patients with ALT ，AST，ALP， γ-GT，total bilirubin and direct bilirubin increased. In 31 patients with neurological ADR ，the neurological ADR were relieved or disappeared after reducing the dosage or discontinuing voriconazole. CONCLUSIONS ：The neurological ADR of voriconazole mostly occurs 1-7 days after voriconazole administration ，mainly by intravenous drip ，mostly in male and people aged 50 and over. The occurrence of neurological ADR may be related to trough concentration of voriconazole ，and most patients suffer from hypokalemia or hyponatremia before the occurrence of ADR .

Segmental gastrectomy with cardia preservation can reduce the symptoms of postoperative gastroesophageal reflux and improve the quality of life, which is potentially advantageous among function-preserving gastrectomy procedures. However, due to the limited extent of excision, this procedure is classified as an investigational treatment in the Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines, without wide acceptance in clinical practice. It is generally believed that the surgical indication of segmental gastrectomy is more selected compared to the pylorus-preserving gastrectomy, and there are also differences between their therapeutic goals. The indications of cardia preservation in segmental gastrectomy mainly depend on the T stage, the distance of the resection margin and the metastasis of lymph nodes. Other points of segmental gastrectomy mainly include the scope of lymphadenectomy, the preservation of blood vessels and vagal nerves, which are still controversial in different researches. High-quality evidences are needed to confirm the safety and long-term efficacy of the segmental gastrectomy.

Segmental gastrectomy with cardia preservation can reduce the symptoms of postoperative gastroesophageal reflux and improve the quality of life, which is potentially advantageous among function-preserving gastrectomy procedures. However, due to the limited extent of excision, this procedure is classified as an investigational treatment in the Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines, without wide acceptance in clinical practice. It is generally believed that the surgical indication of segmental gastrectomy is more selected compared to the pylorus-preserving gastrectomy, and there are also differences between their therapeutic goals. The indications of cardia preservation in segmental gastrectomy mainly depend on the T stage, the distance of the resection margin and the metastasis of lymph nodes. Other points of segmental gastrectomy mainly include the scope of lymphadenectomy, the preservation of blood vessels and vagal nerves, which are still controversial in different researches. High-quality evidences are needed to confirm the safety and long-term efficacy of the segmental gastrectomy.

Objective:To investigate the distribution characteristics of bacteria in urine of patients with ureteral stent crusting.Methods:Thirty-five patients who underwent ureteral stent placement at the Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan Central Hospital, and Jinan Jigang Hospital were selected from October, 2018 to March, 2019(the clinical study registration number is ChiCTR1800020025). The inclusion criteria were patients who had the stent intubated for 4 weeks after ureteroscopic lithotripsy, aged between 18 and 65 years. Exclusion criteria were patients with positive urine bacterial culture, severe gross hematuria, recent oral antibiotics, and patients with significant residual stones. This clinical study uses a cross-sectional study method, and those patients were divided into crusting group (n=23) and non-crusting group (n=12) according to the presence or absence of stent crusting. On the day of extubation, urine of the patients was collected for bacterial 16s DNA detection. The distribution characteristics of bacteria in urine of the two groups were analyzed using UPARSE, UCHIME and RDP calssifier. The total number of bacteria species, bacterial abundance and bacterial species with large-scale abundance in urine of the two groups were determined. The quantity of bacteria species and bacterial abundance in the urine between the two groups were compared, and the bacterial species with large-scale abundance in urine of the patients with stent crusting were identified.Results:There were no significant differences in general information such as age, body mass index, gender, affected side, type of stent tube, and stone composition between the two groups. Using 16s DNA sequencing to detect the bacteria in the urine of the two groups revealed that the number of bacterial species with abundance >1% was 11, and the number of bacterial species with abundance >0.01% was 74 in the crusting group. In the non-crusting group, the number of bacterial species with abundance >1% and >0.01% was 7 and 11, respectively. Compared with the non-crusting group, the number of bacterial species with abundance >1% in the crusting group was significantly larger ( t=5.12, P=0.000). In the crusting group, bacterial species with the top three abundance were g_Lactobacillus (23.1%), g_Bacteroides (18.8%) and g_norank_Bacteroides (17.1%). In the non-crusting group, bacterial species with the top three abundance were g_Escherichia-Shigella (32.2%), g_Enterococcus (24.9%) and g_Pseudomonas (18.2%). The three bacteria with the greatest difference between the two groups were g_ Lactobacillus ( P=0.010), g_Bacteroides ( P=0.004) and g_norank_Bacteroides ( P=0.004), respectively. Conclusion:The species and quantity of bacteria in the urine of patients with stent crusting are both significantly larger than those of patients without stent crusting. Bacteroides with larger-scale abundance in the urine of patients with stent crusting may promote the deposition of crystals on the stent wall through its structure, function and urease positive characteristics.

Objective To summarize the outcomes and experience of arterial switch operation (ASO) in the past 10 years in our center.Methods From September 2008 to July 2017,238 patients underwent ASO at Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center for repair of transposition of the great arteries and Taussig-Bing anomaly.There were 193 male and 45 female.Median age at operation was 2 months (2 days to 10 years) and mean body weight was(4.2 ± 1.7) kg (1.8-20.6 kg).There were TGA and VSD 91 cases,TGA/IVS 110 cases,and Taussig-Bing anomaly 37 cases.Among them 24 patients had an aortic arch anomaly.Intramural coronary artery was found in 8 patients.Results All patients successfully completed the operation,one-stage ASO was perfonned in 232 patients.Two-stage ASO was performed in 6 patients.The mortality was 14.2％.The follow-up duration was 1-10 years (median time,46 mouths).There were 3 died.Two suffered sudden death,and another one arrhythmia.10-year survival rate was 92.8％.Conclusion The outcomes of ASO were satisfactory.The long-term reoperation rate was rare.