Objective: To reveal the molecular biological mechanism of a rare Dc-variant individual using PacBio third-generation sequencing technology. Methods: ABO and Rh blood type identification, DAT, unexpected antibody screening and D antigen enhancement test were conducted by serological testing. The absorption-elution test was used to detect the e antigen. RHCE gene typing was performed by PCR-SSP, and the 1-10 exons of RHCE were sequenced by Sanger sequencing. The full-length sequences of RHCE, RHD and RHAG were detected by PacBio third-generation sequencing technology. Results: Serological findings: Blood type O, Dc-phenotype, DAT negative, unexpected antibody screening negative; enhanced D antigen expression; no detection of e antigen in the absorption-elution test. PCR-SSP genotyping indicated the presence of only the RHCE c allele. Sanger sequencing results: Exons 5-9 of RHCE were deleted, exon 1 had a heterozygous mutation at c. 48G/C, and exon 2 had five heterozygous mutations at c. 150C/T, c. 178C/A, c. 201A/G, c. 203A/G and c. 307C/T. Third-generation sequencing results: RHCE genotype was RHCE 02N. 08/RHCE-D(5-9)-CE; RHD genotype was RHD 01/RHD 01; RHAG genotype was RHAG 01/RHAG 01 (c. 808G>A and c. 861G>A). Conclusion: This Dc-individual carries the allele RHCE 02N. 08 and the novel allele RHCE-D(5-9)-CE. The findings of this study provide data support and a theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying RhCE deficiency phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE: Varied acupoint selections represent a potential cause of the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Skin temperature, a guiding factor for acupoint selection, may help to address this issue. This study explored thermal sensitization of acupoints used for the treatment of knee OA. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled cases aged 45-75 years with symptomatic knee OA and age- and gender-matched non-knee OA controls in a 1:1 ratio. All participants underwent infrared thermographic imaging. The primary outcome was the relative skin temperature of acupoint (STA), and the secondary outcome was the absolute STA of 11 acupoints. The Z test was used to compare the relative and absolute STAs between the groups. Principal component analysis was used to extract the common factors (CFs, acupoint cluster) in the STAs. A general linear model was used to identify factors affecting the STA in the knee OA cases. For the group comparisons of relative STA, P < 0.0045 (adjusted for 11 acupoints through Bonferroni correction) was considered to indicate statistical significance. For other analyses, P < 0.05 was used as the threshold for statistical significance. RESULTS: The analysis included 308 participants, consisting of 151 cases (mean age: [64.58 ± 6.67] years; male: 25.83%; mean body mass index: [25.70 ± 3.16] kg/m²) and 157 controls (mean age: [63.37 ± 5.96] years; male: 26.11%; mean body mass index: [24.47 ± 2.84] kg/m²). The relative STAs of ST34 (P = 0.0001), EX-LE2 (P < 0.0001), EX-LE5 (P = 0.0006), SP10 (P < 0.0001), BL40 (P = 0.0012) and GB39 (P = 0.0037) were higher in the knee OA group. No difference was found in the STAs of ST35, ST36, SP9, GB33 and GB34. Four CFs were identified for relative STA in both groups. The acupoints within each CF were consistent between the groups. The mean values of the relative STAs across each CF were higher in the knee OA group. In the knee OA cases, no factors were observed to affect the relative STA, while age and gender were found to affect the absolute STA. CONCLUSION Among patients with knee OA, thermal sensitization occurs in the acupoints of the lower extremity, exhibiting localized and regional thermal consistencies. The thermally sensitized acupoints that we identified in this study, ST34, SP10, EX-LE2, EX-LE5, GB39 and BL40, may be good choices for the acupuncture treatment of knee OA. Please cite this article as: Tu JF, Wang XZ, Yan SY, Wang YR, Yang JW, Shi GX, Zhang WZ, Jing LN, Yang LS, Liu DH, Wang LQ, Mi BH. Thermal sensitization of acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 289-296.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Case-Control Studies ; Aged ; Skin Temperature ; Acupuncture Therapy

Objective:To investigate the link between the geographical distribution, serum aquaporin 4-immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) status and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients in Xinjiang.Methods:A total of 107 NMOSD patients diagnosed at the People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from April 2015 to March 2024 were recruited. Clinical data such as gender, age, ethnicity, residence at onset, serum AQP4-IgG status, disease duration, and annual relapse rate were collected. The clinical features of Xinjiang′s NMOSD patients were analyzed based on antibody status and geographical distribution.Results:Among the 107 NMOSD patients, 20 are male, 87 are female. They were divided into AQP4-IgG positive (77 cases, 72.0%) and AQP4-IgG negative (30 cases, 28.0%) groups by initial antibody status, and no statistically significant differences were found in gender, first symptoms, ethnicity, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, annual relapse rate, and disease duration between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). Compared to AQP4-IgG negative patients, AQP4-IgG positive patients had a higher late-onset (age>50 years) proportion [35.1% (27/77) vs 16.7% (5/30), χ2=3.486, P<0.05] and preferred traditional immunosuppressants ( P<0.05). Divided by the Tianshan Mountains, there were 32 southern Xinjiang patients (29.9%,32/107) and 75 northern Xinjiang patients (70.1%,75/107), with statistically significant difference in ethnic distribution ( P<0.001). Although myelitis was the most common initial symptom in both groups, patients in southern Xinjiang had a higher proportion of optic neuritis [31.3% (10/32) vs 17.3% (13/75)], while those in northern Xinjiang showed a higher proportion of brain and brainstem involvement [24.0% (18/75) vs 6.3% (2/32)], with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=5.857, P<0.05). Conclusions:AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD patients had a higher proportion of late-onset disease and a greater tendency to use conventional immunosuppressants. Although myelitis was the predominant initial symptom in all Xinjiang NMOSD patients, patients in southern Xinjiang presented with optic neuritis more frequently, while those in northern Xinjiang had a higher proportion of symptoms involving the brain and brainstem.

Objective:To investigate the differences in clinical characteristics and antibiotic resistance of neonatal sepsis（NS）caused by different Gram-staining pathogens.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on confirmed NS cases admitted to the Neonatal Ward of the Pediatric Department at The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University，from June 1，2014，to May 31，2024.Patients were divided into Gram-positive and Gram-negative groups based on blood or cerebrospinal fluid（CSF）culture results.Clinical characteristics，pathogen distribution，and antibiotic resistance were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 98 cases were included，with 81 in the Gram-positive group and 17 in the Gram-negative group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that NS cases with a high neutrophil percentage（ OR=0.933，95% CI：0.899-0.969）or hemorrhagic symptoms/signs（ OR=0.059，95% CI：0.008-0.458）were less likely to have Gram-positive pathogens detected in blood or CSF cultures（ P<0.05）.Common Gram-positive pathogens included Staphylococcus epidermidis with 35 strains（33.65%）and Staphylococcus hominis with 22 strains（21.15%）.The predominant Gram-negative pathogen was Escherichia coli with 14 strains（13.46%）.Gram-positive pathogens exhibited high resistance to oxacillin（91.30%），erythromycin（90.91%），and penicillin G（90.00%），but low resistance to tigecycline（0），linezolid（0），and vancomycin（0）.Gram-negative pathogens showed high resistance to ampicillin（92.31%），cefazolin（90.00%），and ampicillin/sulbactam（75.00%），but low resistance to amikacin（6.25%），latamoxef（0），and ertapenem（0）.The incidence of concurrent purulent meningitis was lower in the Gram-positive group than in the Gram-negative group（9.88% vs.47.06%， χ2=11.628， P<0.05），and there was significant difference. Conclusion:NS cases with high neutrophil percentages or hemorrhagic symptoms/signs are less likely to be caused by Gram-positive pathogens.Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus hominis are common Gram-positive pathogens，while Escherichia coli is the predominant Gram-negative pathogen in NS.Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens exhibit resistance to specific antibiotics.NS caused by Gram-positive pathogens is less likely to be complicated by purulent meningitis compared to those caused by Gram-negative pathogens.

ObjectiveAt present, the most commonly used photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy are still chemical photosensitizers, such as porphyrin and methylene blue, in order to specifically target cellular tissues, and thus poison cells, chemical photosensitizers need to use antibody conjugation or a transgenically encoded tag with affinity for the modified photosensitizing ligand, e.g. FlAsH, ReAsh or Halo Tag. Gene-encoded photosensitizers can directly poison cells by targeting specific cell compartments or organelles. However, currently developed gene-encoded photosensitizers have low reactive oxygen species production and low cytotoxicity, so it is necessary to continue to develop and obtain photosensitizers with higher reactive oxygen species production for the treatment of microbial infections and tumors. MethodsIn this study, we developed a photosensitizer LovPSO2 based on the light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) structural domain of phototropin-1B-like from Oryza sativa japonica. LovPSO2 was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and purified to obtain protein samples, the purified protein samples were added 3 µmol/L singlet oxygen probe of SOSG and 5 µmol/L superoxide anion probe of DHE after fixed to A₄₄₅=0.063±0.003, respectively, then measured every 2 min of singlet oxygen production for 10 min and every 1 min of superoxide anion production for 5 min under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m^-2·s^-1. ResultsThe results showed that LovPSO2 could produce a large amount of singlet oxygen under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m^-2·s^-1, and its singlet oxygen quantum yield was 0.61, but its superoxide anion yield was low, so in order to improve the superoxide anion yield of LovPSO2, a mutant with a relatively high superoxide anion yield was obtained by further development and design on its basis LovPRO2. The stability of proteins is crucial for research in drug development and drug delivery, among others. Temperature and light are the key factors affecting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by photosensitive proteins and their stability, while the temperature in cell culture and mammals in vivo is about 37°C, and the temperature inside tumor cells is about 42-45°C. Therefore, we further analyzed the photostability of miniSOG, SOPP3, LovPSO2, and LovPRO2 and their thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃. The analysis of proteins thermostability showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃, respectively. Analysis of the photostability of the proteins showed that LovPRO2 had better photostability. In addition, to further determine the phototoxic effects of photosensitizers, LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 were expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and HeLa cells, respectively. The results showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better phototoxicity to E. coli BL21(DE3) under blue light irradiation, and the cellular phototoxicity lethality was as high as 90% after 30 min of continuous light irradiation, but the phototoxicity was weaker in HeLa cells. The reason for this result may be that the intracellular environment exacerbated the photobleaching of FMN encapsulated by LovPSO2 and LovPRO2, respectively, which attenuated the damage of reactive oxygen species to animal cellular tissues, limiting its use as a mechanistic tool to study oxidative stress. ConclusionLovPSO2 and LovPRO2 can be used as antibacterial photosensitizers, which have broader application prospects in the food and medical fields.

Objective:To investigate the link between the geographical distribution, serum aquaporin 4-immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) status and clinical features of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients in Xinjiang.Methods:A total of 107 NMOSD patients diagnosed at the People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from April 2015 to March 2024 were recruited. Clinical data such as gender, age, ethnicity, residence at onset, serum AQP4-IgG status, disease duration, and annual relapse rate were collected. The clinical features of Xinjiang′s NMOSD patients were analyzed based on antibody status and geographical distribution.Results:Among the 107 NMOSD patients, 20 are male, 87 are female. They were divided into AQP4-IgG positive (77 cases, 72.0%) and AQP4-IgG negative (30 cases, 28.0%) groups by initial antibody status, and no statistically significant differences were found in gender, first symptoms, ethnicity, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, annual relapse rate, and disease duration between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). Compared to AQP4-IgG negative patients, AQP4-IgG positive patients had a higher late-onset (age>50 years) proportion [35.1% (27/77) vs 16.7% (5/30), χ2=3.486, P<0.05] and preferred traditional immunosuppressants ( P<0.05). Divided by the Tianshan Mountains, there were 32 southern Xinjiang patients (29.9%,32/107) and 75 northern Xinjiang patients (70.1%,75/107), with statistically significant difference in ethnic distribution ( P<0.001). Although myelitis was the most common initial symptom in both groups, patients in southern Xinjiang had a higher proportion of optic neuritis [31.3% (10/32) vs 17.3% (13/75)], while those in northern Xinjiang showed a higher proportion of brain and brainstem involvement [24.0% (18/75) vs 6.3% (2/32)], with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=5.857, P<0.05). Conclusions:AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD patients had a higher proportion of late-onset disease and a greater tendency to use conventional immunosuppressants. Although myelitis was the predominant initial symptom in all Xinjiang NMOSD patients, patients in southern Xinjiang presented with optic neuritis more frequently, while those in northern Xinjiang had a higher proportion of symptoms involving the brain and brainstem.

Objective To analyze the correlation between anxiety symptoms and abnormal brain function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) under long-term chronic hypoxia. Methods Twenty-one patients with COPD complicated with anxiety were prospectively selected as COPD group, and 26 healthy individuals matched for gender and age were selected as control group. Both groups underwent high-resolution 3D-T1-weighted imaging (3D-T1WI), T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR), and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) sequence examination. DPARSF and SPM8 software were used to analyze the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the brain of the two groups. Results In the COPD group, the ALFF value in the left parahippocampal gyrus-cingulate gyrus increased, and the ALFF value in the right superior frontal gyrus decreased (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis found that there was a negative correlation between the ALFF value in the right superior frontal gyrus and the anxiety score (r=-0.485, P=0.03). Conclusion Chronic hypoxic patients with COPD have brain functional impairment in the right superior frontal gyrus, and the degree of impairment is positively correlated with anxiety symptoms. There may also be compensatory enhancement of brain function activity in the parahippocampal gyrus-cingulate gyrus.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of CD4 + T lymphocyte subsets such as helper Th2 in patients with recurrent uveitis (BU) in Beh?et′s disease (BD). Methods:The clinical data of 153 hospitalized patients diagnosed with Beh?et′s disease from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023 in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The subsets of CD4 + T lymphocytes were measured, including helper T cells (Th cells) such as Th1, Th2, Th17 and regulatory T cells (Treg cells), biochemical lipid indexes (TC, TG, etc.), the frequency of oral ulcers in the past 1 year, the frequency of genital ulcers in the past 1 year, and drug use before admission;According to whether there was ocular involvement and uveitis, 153 cases of BD were divided into Beh?et non-uveitis group (non-BU group) and Beh?et uveitis group (BU group). The above indexes and independent correlation factors of recurrent BU were compared between BU group and non-BU group;The above indexes and independent correlation factors of recurrent BU were compared between BU group and non-BU group. The levels of cytokines and ICBD total score, the correlation between ICBD total score and various cytokines, and the diagnostic performance of Th2 cells were compared between BU group and non-BU group.The statistical methods were Mann-Whitney U test, independent sample t test, Chi-square test, multiple logistic regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Results:①The levels of Th1, Th2, Th17 cells, TC and TG in BU group were higher than those in non-BU group [133.87 (93.38, 229.87)/μl vs. 102.51(64.25, 149.23)/μl] and [9.43 (5.84, 14.13)/μl vs. 6.78(4.23, 9.44)/μl], [15.53 (9.36, 25.27)/μl vs. 9.83(5.46, 14.76)/μl], [4.21 (3.89, 4.90) mmol/L vs. 3.89(3.37, 4.34)mmol/L)], [1.43(1.00, 2.21)mmol/L vs. 0.96(0.69, 1.38)mmol/L], The differences were statistically significant ( Z=-3.24, Z=-3.05, Z=-3.94, Z=-2.25, Z=-3.47; all P<0.05); There was no statistical significance in Chi-square test between the two groups ( χ2=5.69, P>0.05).②The levels of IL-2, IL-10 and total ICBD score in BU group were higher than those in non-BU group, with statistical significance ( Z=-2.12, Z=-2.29, t=-6.48; all P<0.05). ③ The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that Th2 was an independent correlation factor for BU [ OR value (95% CI) was 1.143(1.007, 1.298), P=0.039]. The total score of BU patients was correlated with Th2 and Th17 cells. ROC analysis showed that the sensitivity of Th2 in diagnosing BU was 68.8%, the specificity was 49.5% and the area under the curve (95% CI) was 0.697 (0.585, 0.809) (P=0.001). Conclusion:CD4 + T lymphocyte subsets such as the absolute number of Th2 cells are related to BU, which is an important indicator to observe the severity of disease progression in BU patients, and has certain clinical value in evaluating the recurrence of BU in BD patients.

Background: Triglyceride glucose (TyG) and TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI) are reliable surrogate indices of insulin resistance and used for risk stratification and outcome prediction in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Here, we inserted estimated average glucose (eAG) into the TyG (TyAG) and TyG-BMI (TyAG-BMI) as derived parameters and explored their clinical significance in cardiovascular risk prediction. Methods: This was a population-based cohort study of 9,944 Chinese patients with ASCVD. The baseline admission fasting glucose and A1C-derived eAG values were recorded. Cardiovascular events (CVEs) that occurred during an average of 38.5 months of follow-up were recorded. We stratified the patients into four groups by quartiles of the parameters. Baseline data and outcomes were analyzed. Results: Distribution of the TyAG and TyAG-BMI indices shifted slightly toward higher values (the right side) compared with TyG and TyG-BMI, respectively. The baseline levels of cardiovascular risk factors and coronary severity increased with quartile of TyG, TyAG, TyG-BMI, and TyAG-BMI (all P<0.001). The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for CVEs when the highest and lowest quartiles were compared from low to high were 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77 to 1.36; TyG), 1.29 (95% CI, 0.97 to 1.73; TyAG), 1.59 (95% CI, 1.01 to 2.58; TyG-BMI), and 1.91 (95% CI, 1.16 to 3.15; TyAG-BMI). The latter two showed statistical significance. Conclusion This study suggests that TyAG and TyAG-BMI exhibit more information than TyG and TyG-BMI in disease progression among patients with ASCVD. The TyAG-BMI index provided better predictive performance for CVEs than other parameters.

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.