ObjectiveTo observe the effect of bee acupuncture therapy on clinical symptoms and signs， as well as the level of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 （IL-6） in synovial fluid of patients with knee osteoarthritis. MethodsThe 94 patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided into the control group and the trial group by the random number table method， with 47 cases in each group. Both groups were given one tablet （60 mg） of etoricoxib orally every morning for 2 weeks. The control group also received microneedle shallow acupuncture therapy， once a day for 5 consecutive times followed 2-day pause， and continued 5 consecutive times， as a course of treatment； the trial group was treated with bee acupuncture therapy once every 2 days， 2 times a week， and 4 times as a course of treatment. Both groups have a course of treatment for 2 weeks. The changes in clinical symptoms and signs of patients in the two groups were observed and evaluated before treatment， after 1- and 2-week treatment， and 12-week follow-up and the differences in Lequesne index scores， HSS scores， Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） scores and IL-6 levels in knee synovial fluid between the two groups of patients were also compared. ResultsNo patients lost to follow up in either group. The Lequesne index scores and VAS scores were lower， and the HSS scores were higher in both groups at all time points after treatment compared with those before treatment （P＜0.05）. Compared at the same time after treatment， the Lequesne index scores and VAS scores of the trial group were lower than those of the control group， and the HSS scores were higher than those of the control group （P＜0.05）. IL-6 in synovial fluid was lower in the trial group at the 12-week follow-up than before treatment （P＜0.05）， but there was no significant difference between two groups at each time point（P＞0.05）. ConclusionBee acupuncture therapy for knee osteoarthritis can significantly improve clinical signs and symptoms， but has no significant effect on the level of IL-6 in knee synovial fluid.

Objective To evaluate the maturity and metabolic status of heterotopic ossification(HO)by single-photon emission computed tomography(SPECT)/CT fusion bone imaging.Methods The clinical and SPECT/CT fusion bone imaging data of 57 patients with HO confirmed by pathology or follow-up were analyzed retrospectively.HO was graded by CT,and the characteristics of radioactive concentration of HO were analyzed.Results Of 57 cases,single lesion in 52 cases,and multiple lesions in 5 cases,with a total of 63 lesions,mostly located in the hip joint(55.6%,35/63)and thigh(19.0%,12/63).There were 41 lesions in the middle stage and 22 lesions in the late stage.In the visual evaluation of SPECT/CT fusion bone imaging,the middle stage lesions were mostly clumps or flakes,with moderate or high radioactive concentration(75.6%,31/41),furthermore,the concentration range was larger than or equal to the total or limited range of CT ossification(21/41,50.1%),with high concentration mainly located in the mixed areas of ossification density.The concentration of the late stage lesions was mostly non-radioactive(72.7%,16/22).Conclusion SPECT/CT fusion bone imaging can show the range,degree and maturity of HO radioactive concentration,and can accurately locate the area with osteoblastic activity,which provides scientific basis for the selection of surgical timing.

Although somatic cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) with pure chemicals, authentic pluripotency of chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) has never been achieved through tetraploid complementation assay. Spontaneous reprogramming of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) was another non-transgenic way to obtain PSCs, but this process lacks mechanistic explanation. Here, we reconstructed the trajectory of mouse SSC reprogramming and developed a five-chemical combination, boosting the reprogramming efficiency by nearly 80- to 100-folds. More importantly, chemical induced germline-derived PSCs (5C-gPSCs), but not gPSCs and chemical induced pluripotent stem cells, had authentic pluripotency, as determined by tetraploid complementation. Mechanistically, SSCs traversed through an inverted pathway of in vivo germ cell development, exhibiting the expression signatures and DNA methylation dynamics from spermatogonia to primordial germ cells and further to epiblasts. Besides, SSC-specific imprinting control regions switched from biallelic methylated states to monoallelic methylated states by imprinting demethylation and then re-methylation on one of the two alleles in 5C-gPSCs, which was apparently distinct with the imprinting reprogramming in vivo as DNA methylation simultaneously occurred on both alleles. Our work sheds light on the unique regulatory network underpinning SSC reprogramming, providing insights to understand generic mechanisms for cell-fate decision and epigenetic-related disorders in regenerative medicine.
Male ; Mice ; Animals ; Cellular Reprogramming/genetics* ; Tetraploidy ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; DNA Methylation ; Spermatogonia/metabolism* ; Germ Cells/metabolism*

Objective:To analyze risk factors for duration of small or medium-sized coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) so as to provide clinical guidance for early and full course treatment.Methods:The clinical data of 68 children diagnosed with KD in the Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2018 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to duration of CAA, all cases were divided into 2 groups, duration of CAA ≥ 8 weeks group and duration of CAA <8 weeks group.Risk factors associated with CAA duration were screened using univariate analysis, and then independent risk factors for CAA duration in children with KD were analysed using multiple Logistic regression analysis. Results:A total of 68 cases were enrolled in this study.Among these cases, 45 cases (66.18%) were male and 23 cases (33.82%) were female.The onset age was from 3 months to 10 years old, and the median onset age was 1.59 (1.02-3.19). There were 31 cases in the group with CAA duration ≥8 weeks and 37 cases in the group with CAA duration <8 weeks.Univariate analysis showed that patients with the total fever course >10 days[45.16%(14/31 cases) vs.21.62%(8/37 cases)], time of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)>10 days[54.84%(17/31 cases) vs.16.22%(6/37 cases)], platelet (PLT)>600×10 9/L[32.26%(10/31 cases) vs.10.81%(4/37 cases)], hypersensitive C-reactive protein (HsCRP) >100 mg/L[38.71%(12/31 cases) vs.13.51%(5/37 cases)] (all P<0.05 ) in the group with CAA duration ≥8 weeks were significantly more than those in the group with CAA duration <8 weeks.However, there were no significant differences in gender, age, type of KD, etiology evidence, hormone application, duration of fever before IVIG application, IVIG sensitivity, IVIG application way, urine leukocytes, white blood cells, hemoglobin, percent of neutrophilic granulocyte, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the course of IVIG before application >10 days ( OR=6.589, 95% CI: 1.678-25.867, P=0.007)and HsCRP >100 mg/L ( OR=7.949, 95% CI: 1.947-32.461, P=0.004)were independent risk factors for predicting the duration of KD complicated with small and medium-sized CAA ≥8 weeks. Conclusions:The course of IVIG before application >10 days and HsCRP>100 mg/L are independent risk factors for KD complicated with small and medium-sized CAA lasting ≥8 weeks.

Objectives:To analyze the clinical features of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) and investigate the characteristics of diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Methods:The clinical data of seven children patients with JMML who received treatment in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between April 2015 and February 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical efficacy of different treatments was analyzed.Results:The median age at diagnosis of JMML was 8 months and 4 days for seven children patients. Fever was the principal cause of treatment, and it was mostly accompanied by hepatosplenomegaly. The median value of peripheral blood leukocyte count was 36.1 × 10 9/L, and it was 4.5 × 10 9/L for mononuclear cell count, 88 g/L for hemoglobin level, and 47 × 10 9/L for platelet count. Myeloid immature cells were found in peripheral blood smears of six patients. Chromosome examination results revealed 7-monomer in one patient, and normal karyotype in six patients. Hemoglobin level was increased in six patients. Gene detection results revealed PTPN11+NF1 mutation in one patient, N-RAS mutation in two patients, and K-RAS mutation in one patient. Three patients gave up treatment, three patients received low-intensity chemotherapy , and these six patients died of complicated infection. One patient received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the patient survived without any event after 14 months of follow-up. Conclusion:The age of JMML onset is low. JMML has poor clinical specificity. Gene detection is helpful for early diagnosis of JMML. Low-intensity chemotherapy can prolong survival period, but it can not improve prognosis. Infection is the principal cause of death in patients with JMML. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only possible method to cure the disease.

Objective:To detect the levels of cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and analyze their significance in the clinical prognosis of children with chronic ITP.Methods:Thirty patients with chronic ITP who were treated in the Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical Univercity from October 2015 to October 2018 were followed and enrolled in the experimental group and 40 healthy children in the same hospital were enrolled in the healthy control group.The levels of interleukin-2(IL-2), interferon-γ(IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor(TNF), interleukin-4(IL-4), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-10(IL-10) and interleukin-17A(IL-17A) in the experimental group and the healthy control group were detected by flow cytometry (CBA). The relationship between cytokines and prognosis of children with chronic ITP were analyzed.Results:Thirty patients with ITP were enrolled. The expressions of IL-2 and IL-17A in the experimental group before treatment were (7.86±3.90) ng/L and (10.45±12.35) ng/L, while those of IL-2 and IL-17A in the healthy control group were (3.11±2.41) ng/L and (2.97±7.04) ng/L. The levels of IL-2 and IL-17A in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-7.123, -5.582, all P<0.01). The expressions of IL-4 and IL-10 in the experimental group before treatment were (0.38±0.25) ng/L and (1.80±1.25) ng/L, while those of IL-4 and IL-10 in the healthy control group were (3.08±0.26) ng/L and (4.55±3.44) ng/L. The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=8.400, 5.653, all P<0.01). The expressions of IL-6, TNF and IFN-γ in the experimental group before treatment were (7.30±9.16) ng/L, (4.85±7.60) ng/L and (7.68±20.41) ng/L, while those of IL-6, TNF and IFN-γ in the healthy control group were (5.44±4.18) ng/L, (1.97±0.37) ng/L, (4.81±17.71) ng/L. There was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05), and no significant difference in the levels of cytokines between the patients with chronic ITP before and 12 months after treatment ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The changes of T lymphocyte related cytokines are closely related to the pathogenesis and development of chronic ITP in children. There may be persistent immune dysfunction in children with chronic ITP. Dynamic monitoring of cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17A, especially IL-17A, is helpful to judge the prognosis of ITP in children, and may be of guiding significance in evaluating clinical prognosis.

Objective To explore the sensitivity of a little amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) between CT and different MR sequences through animal experiment,to find a more sensitive way to diagnosis SAH.Methods 18 healthy adult white New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into two experimental groups(group A and group B) and one control group(group C).Rabbit SAH model was established by injecting blood into the cisterna magna one time.All rabbits underwent CT and MR scan at 2 hours,48 hours after operation.The findings on CT and different MR sequences were observed and recorded.Results ①In experimental groups(group A and group B),MR FLAIR sequences in the diagnosis of a little amount of SAH was more sensitive than that on MR T1WI,T2WI and CT in acute phase.And the diagnosis sensitivity between MR FLAIR and CT was statistically significant(P<0.05).②Abnormal signs of SAH could not be found in group C.Conclusion ①Rabbit SAH model was established successfully which will be the foundation for the follow-up study of medical imaging.②MR FLAIR sequence is more sensitive to diagnose a little amount of SAH in acute phase,and may be used in the routine diagnosis of SAH in acute phase.

Objective To examine the influence of gender difference on the reperfusion delay in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods A total of consecutive 325 patients with STEMI were analyzed admitted in the 306 Hospital of PLA from Jan.2011 to Dec.2015.Patients were divided into two groups:male group (n=268) and female group (n=57).The clinical data and the time intervals including symptom onset to first medical contact (So-to-FMC),transfer delay (FMC-to-D),FMC to balloon dilatation (FMC-to-B),activation delay and door to balloon (D-to-B) time were compared between different gender groups,and the prognosis was observed.Results The overall median of pre-hospital delay was 125 minutes.The median of prehospital delay time (male 119.5min vs.female 160.0min) and So-to-FMC time (male 69.5min vs.female 100.0min) were longer in female than in male patients,but no statistical difference existed (P＞0.05) between the two groups in pre-hospital delay,So-to-FMC,FMC-to-B,D-to-B and total ischemia time.Compared with male patients,female patients were more likely to have additional comorbidities,such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus,and lower rate of smoking (P＜0.05).However,the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) showed no significant difference between female and male patients at 30-day (male 5.22％ vs.female 5.26％) and I-year (male 10.82％ vs.female 8.77％) follow-up (P＞0.05).Conclusion The influence of gender on reperfusion delay is gradually weakening.

Objective To analyze the clinical and laboratory manifestations of primary Sj(o)gren's syndrom (pSS) with neurological involvement.Methods One hundred and forty eight patients fulfilling the 2002 American-European pSS classification criteria were retrospectively analyzed.Neurological manifestations were diagnosed based on the clinical,biological,electrophysiological,and imaging findings.Biographical,clinical,and laboratory data were compared between patients with and without neurological manifestations.Statistical methods used were Mann-Whitney U test,Chi-square test and Fisher exact probability.Results The prevalence of neurological involvement in pSS was 20.3％ (30/148),and the incidence of peripheral neuropathy,the central neuropathy and combination of the central neuropathy with peripheral neuropathy were 10.1％(15/148),9.5％(14/148) and 0.7％(1/148),respectively.The clinical spectrum of peripheral neuropathies encountered in Sj(o)gren's syndrome (SS) patients varied,with the pure sensory neuropathies being the most common,followed by sensorimotor neurophathies.Motor neuron disease was the most common type of central neurophathies.Compared with those without neurological manifestations,the duration of peripheral nerve system/central nerve system (PNS/CNS)-pSS patients was relatively short [(55±76) months vs (100±108) months,Z=-2.682,P＜0.05],and the antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer and RF titer were lower [(234±248) vs (377±339),Z=-2.008,P＜0.05;(126±279) U/ml vs (359±1 445) U/ml,Z=-2.243,P＜0.05].In PNS/CNS-pSS patients,the most common clinical manifestations included numbness (50％),pain (23％),and muscle weakness (63％).Conclusion The prevalence of neurological involvement in pSS is high.The duration is relatively short and the disease activity is high,but the disease features are atypical and may be neglected by rheumatologists.

Objective To investigate the MRI characteristics of primary myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) in the extremity soft-tissues.Methods The MRI of 14 cases of MFS confirmed by operation and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results In the 14 cases,9 were in the thigh,3 in the lower leg,and 2 in the upper arm.The volumes of the tumors were relatively big and all located in the subcutaneous fat or superficial inter-muscular space.The tumor showed expanding growth and had well-defined boundary.On T1 WI,one case showed isosignal intensity,one showed equal signal intensity mostly,and 12 cases showed patch slightly low signal intensity;On fat suppression T2 WI and STIR,tumors showed high-low mixed signal intensity,which mainly showed high signal intensity;On MRI enhanced study,inhomogeneous enhancement was observed in most of the tumors,and "tail sign" was showed in 11 cases.Conclusion MFS is of characteristics on MRI,the position of tumor is shallow,the tumor is relatively big and has clear boundary.On T1 WI,most tumors show iso-low mixed signal intensity.On fat suppression T2WI and STIR,tumors show high-low mixed signal intensity;On enhanced MRI,inhomogeneous enhancement and "tail sign" are its characteristic signs.