Objective To investigate the expression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) in thymic T follicular helper cells (TFH) and its significance in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods Fifteen MG patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Myasthenia Gravis Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were selected as a MG group, including 7 males and 8 females, aged 12-30 years. Twelve patients who underwent partial thymectomy to optimize surgical field exposure during cardiac surgery at Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were selected as a control group, including 5 males and 7 females aged 20-35 years. Thymus single cell suspension was obtained by grinding the thymus tissue, and flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of α7nAChR in TFH cells. The thymus cell suspension was purified using density gradient centrifugation, followed by immunomagnetic bead separation to obtain CD4+T cells. CXCR5 antibody and coupled magnetic beads were added to isolate TFH cells. Real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to further investigate the expression of α7nAChR in TFH cells. Results Compared with the control group, the proportion of thymic TFH cells in the MG group was significantly increased (P<0.05), along with significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of α7nAChR within these cells (P<0.01). Conclusion The findings suggest that there is a reduced expression of α7nAChR within thymic TFH cells in MG patients, leading to weakened immunosuppressive function which may indirectly contribute to disease onset and progression.

Objective To investigate the effect of butorphanol on lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury by regulating the stromal cell-derived factor-1α(SDF-1α)/C-X-C chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)pathway.Methods Human C28/12 chondrocytes were cultured in vitro and assigned to the following groups:control(normal culture),model(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide),model+low-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+1μmol/L butorphanol),model+medium-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+2 μmol/L butorphanol),model+high-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+4 μmol/L butorphanol),and model+high-dose butorphanol+NUCC-390(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+4 μmol/L butorphanol+500 nmol/L CXCR4 agonist NUCC-390).Cell viability,interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels,apoptosis,and SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway-related proteins were evaluated by MTT assay,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,flow cytometry,and Western blot,respectively.Results Chondrocyte survival rate and Bcl-2 protein expression were decreased while TNF-α,IL-6,apoptosis rate,Bax,Cleaved caspase-3,SDF-1α,and CXCR4 proteins were increased in the model group compared with the control group(P＜0.05).The above indicators were improved in the model+low-,medium-,and high-dose butorphanol groups compared with the model group,while the result for the model+high-dose butorphanol+NUCC-390 group were opposite to those of the model+high-dose butorphanol group.Conclusions Butorphanol may improve lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury induced by inhibiting the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of butorphanol on lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury by regulating the stromal cell-derived factor-1α(SDF-1α)/C-X-C chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)pathway.Methods Human C28/12 chondrocytes were cultured in vitro and assigned to the following groups:control(normal culture),model(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide),model+low-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+1μmol/L butorphanol),model+medium-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+2 μmol/L butorphanol),model+high-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+4 μmol/L butorphanol),and model+high-dose butorphanol+NUCC-390(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+4 μmol/L butorphanol+500 nmol/L CXCR4 agonist NUCC-390).Cell viability,interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels,apoptosis,and SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway-related proteins were evaluated by MTT assay,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,flow cytometry,and Western blot,respectively.Results Chondrocyte survival rate and Bcl-2 protein expression were decreased while TNF-α,IL-6,apoptosis rate,Bax,Cleaved caspase-3,SDF-1α,and CXCR4 proteins were increased in the model group compared with the control group(P＜0.05).The above indicators were improved in the model+low-,medium-,and high-dose butorphanol groups compared with the model group,while the result for the model+high-dose butorphanol+NUCC-390 group were opposite to those of the model+high-dose butorphanol group.Conclusions Butorphanol may improve lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury induced by inhibiting the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling pathway.

Objective:To determine the efficacy and influencing factors of thymectomy for bulbar myasthenia gravis.Methods:The clinical data of 120 patients with bulbar myasthenia gravis admitted to the Myasthenia Gravis Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from March 2018 to June 2023 were collected, with 61 males and 59 females. There were 66 patients with thymoma and 54 patients with non-thymoma. The duration of bulbar muscle involvement before operation ranged from 11 days to 108 months. Preoperative AChR-Ab was positive in 105 cases and negative in 15 cases. There were 28 cases with bulbar muscle involvement as the initial symptom and 92 cases as the non-initial symptom. There were 7 cases with crisis and 113 cases without crisis in the past. The postoperative efficacy was evaluated according to the Myasthenia Gravis post-treatment status evaluation program of the American Myasthenia Gravis Society. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the factors that may affect the surgical efficacy. Results:All 120 patients successfully underwent extended thymectomy, there was no perioperative death. The follow-up time was 3-57 months, with a median of 24 months. Twenty-two patients (18.33%) achieved complete durable remission, 1 patient (0.83%) maintained remission, 65 patients (54.17%) had minimal symptoms, and 20 patients (16.70%) improved. No change in 8 cases (6.67%), no aggravation cases (0), deterioration in 2 cases (1.67%), and death in 2 cases (1.67%). 23 cases(19.17%) achieved clinical remission and 85 cases (70.83%) achieved partial remission. Univariate analysis showed that positive AChR-Ab before operation and duration of bulbar muscle involvement before operation were the influencing factors of surgical efficacy in patients with bulbar MG, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that positive AChR-Ab before operation and the duration of bulbar muscle involvement before operation were independent influencing factors of surgical efficacy. Conclusion:Thymectomy can effectively relieve the symptoms of bulbar myasthenia gravis. Patients with positive AChR-Ab before surgery and shorter duration of bulbar muscle involvement may benefit more from thymectomy.

Human-derived lysozyme is a general term for a group of naturally occurring alkaline proteins in the human body that are capable of lysing bacterial cell walls. Its action is characterized by its ability to cleave the β-(1,4)-glycosidic bond between N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid in peptidoglycan. Human-derived lysozyme has a variety of properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immune enhancing, and is therefore widely used in the domestic and international pharmaceutical markets. This review summarizes the structural features, expression sites, biological functions of human-derived lysozymes and its market applications.
Humans ; Muramidase ; Anti-Bacterial Agents

Objective     To exploring the effectiveness of perioperative application of new surgical clinical classification and staging for myasthenia gravis (MG) in reducing the incidence of postoperative myasthenic crisis (MC). Methods     The clinical data of patients with generalized MG admitted to the Comprehensive Treatment Center for Myasthenia Gravis of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2018 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, who were scored with myasthenia gravis-activities of daily living (MG-ADL) score and quantification of the myasthenia gravis (QMG) score at the first visit, 1 day before surgery, and 3 days after surgery. The patients were divided into a group A (typeⅡ) and a group B (typeⅢ+Ⅳ+Ⅴ) by the new surgical clinical classification and staging of MG according to the disease progression process, and all patients underwent expanded thoracoscopic thymus (tumor) resection after medication and other interventions to control symptoms in remission or stability. The incidence of MC and the efficiency rate after surgery were analyzed. The normal distribution method and percentile method were used to calculate the unilateral 95% reference range of the QMG score and MG-ADL score. Results     Finally 126 patients were enrolled, including 62 males and 64 females, aged 13-71 years, with an average age of 46.00±13.00 years. There were 95 patients in the group A and 31 patients in the group B, and the differences of the preoperative baseline data between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative MC was 1.05% (1/95) in the group A and 3.23%(1/31) in the group B (P>0.05). The effective one-sided 95% reference range of the QMG score and MG-ADL score 1 day before surgery was 0-7.75 and 0-5.00, and there was no postoperative death in both groups. Conclusion     The new surgical clinical classification and staging of MG can guide the timing of surgery, which can benefit patients undergoing surgery for MG and greatly reduce the incidence of postoperative MC.

Objective    To investigate the expression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) in thymocytes of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and its effect on cytokine secretion and T cell proliferation. Methods    Patients with MG who underwent expanded thoracoscopic thymectomy in the Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Center of the Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2021 to June 2022 were selected and allocated to a MG group. Patients who underwent partial thymectomy to expose the surgical field during the cardiac disease surgery from June 2021 to September 2022 in the Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery of Fuwai Huazhong Cardiovascular Hospital were selected as the control group. Thymic single cell suspensions were prepared from MG and control groups, and the expression of α7 nAChR in thymocytes of the two groups was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Then CD3/CD28 monoclonal antibody coupled with magnetic beads was used to induce T cell activation, and the levels of cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-21 in thymocytes of the two groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activated T cells of the MG group were divided into a blank control group, an α7 nAChR antagonist group, and an α7 nAChR agonist group according to different treatment methods. After 72 hours of culture, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-21 expression levels in the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. Afterwards, CD4-PE and CD8-APC antibodies were added, and the proliferation of T cell subsets was detected by flow cytometry. Results    A total of 10 MG patients were collected, including 3 males and 7 females with an average age of 19.25±6.28 years; and 15 control patients were collected, including 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 26.18±6.77 years. Compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein levels of α7 nAChR in the thymocytes of MG group were decreased, and the expression levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-21 in the supernatant were increased (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the expression of IL-10 and IL-17 (P>0.05). The cell-culture experiment showed that compared with the blank control group, the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-21 secreted by T cells in the α7 nAChR antagonist group were increased (P<0.05), while they were decreased in the α7 nAChR agonist group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the secretion levels of IL-4, IL-10 or IL-17 among the three groups (P>0.05). CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in the α7 nAChR agonist group were significantly less than those in the blank control group and α7 nAChR antagonist group (P<0.001), while they were significantly more in the α7 nAChR antagonist group than those in the blank control group (P<0.001). Conclusion    The expression of α7 nAChR in thymocytes of MG patients is decreased, and α7 nAChR may be involved in the inflammatory response in thymocytes and thus in thymic function.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of magnetic resonance myelography (MRM) and its application in the treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH).Methods:The clinical data, MRM characteristics, and treatment of 15 patients with SIH who underwent MRM examination in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2014 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to treatment methods, nine patients were divided into conservative treatment group and six patients were divided into combined epidural blood patch treatment group. The gender, age, time interval from onset to MRM examination, cerebrospinal fluid pressure and MRM characteristics between the two groups were compared. SPSS 20.0 software was used for statistical description, and independent sample t-test was applied to compare the differences between groups. Results:All of the 15 cases reported orthostatic headache. Their cerebrospinal fluid pressure was (29.67±19.77, range 0-55) mmH 2O (1 mmH 2O=0.009 8 kPa), and onset-MRM interval was (33.07±24.22, range 7-90) days. The MRM characteristics were observed, including all 15 cases with periradicular leaks, four cases with anterior epidural fluid collections, six cases with posterior epidural fluid collections, and eight cases with high cervical (C 1-2 to C 2-3) retrospinal cerebrospinal fluid collections. There were 2 to 32 leak sites with an average of (10.20±7.87) sites. Among the 153 leak sites, 58(37.9%) sites were located at cervical vertebra, 77(50.3%) sites at thoracic vertebra, 18(11.8%) sites at lumbar vertebra, and 61(39.9%) sites at either the cervicothoracic junction (C 7-T 1 to T 1-2) or the upper thoracic region (T 2-3to T 6-7). Five patients responded well to one-time targeted autologous epidural blood patch on the basis of the location of the cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Besides, one patient improved with targeted epidural blood patch twice. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, onset-MRM interval, cerebrospinal fluid pressure, number and location of leak sites between the conservative treatment group and combined treatment group. Conclusions:The periradicular leaks of cerebrospinal fluid at cervical vertebra and thoracic vertebra are the most common feature of MRM in patients with SIH. MRM can identify the existence and location of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, assist in the diagnosis of SIH, and guide targeted epidural blood patch.

Objective To observe the clinical effects of magnified pedicle subtraction osteotomy (mPSO) via the posterior approach combined with biomimetic bone graft fusion and internal fixation for the treatment of thoracolumbar Kummell's disease and kyphosis.Methods A total of 11 patients with thoracolumbar Kummell's disease and kyphosis deformity were treated at our department from March 2012 to June 2016.They all underwent mPSO via the posterior approach combined with biomimetic bone graft fusion and internal fixation.They were 3 men and 8 women with an average age of 61.2 years.The clinical effects were evaluated according to visual analogue scale (VAS),Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring,American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading,cobb angle correction and rate of bone graft fusion at preoperation and 2 weeks,1,3,6 and 12 months after operation.Results All the patients were followed up for an average of 11.4 months (from 10 to 13 months).The VAS scores (2.1 ±0.5 points and 1.1 ±0.2 points),JOA scores (23.6 ±3.8 points and 25.5 ±3.2 points) and cobb angles (8.1°± 1.5° and 13.8°±2.1°) at 2 weeks after operation and final follow-ups were significantly improved from their preoperative values (8.1 ± 0.6 points,12.1 ± 3.6 points and 51.3° ± 9.8°,respectively) (P ＜ 0.05).However,there were no significant differences between 2 weeks after operation and the final follow-up in terms of the above values (P ＞ 0.05).The ASIA grading was improved from preoperative grade C to postoperative grade D in one case,and from preoperative grade D to postoperative grade E in 3 cases.At final follow-ups,bony fusion was observed at all the bone graft sites,with a fusion rate of 100％.Conclusion mPSO via the posterior approach combined with biomimetic bone graft fusion and internal fixation is a good treatment for patients with thoracolumbar Kummell's disease and kyphosis deformity.

Aim To investigate the effect of metformin (Met) on connexin43(Cx43) expression in H9c2 cells cultured with high glucose and the relevant mecha-nisms.Methods Rat myocardial cells H9c2 were cul-tured with high glucose , then combined with 3μmol· L-1 and 5 μmol · L-1 of Met for 24 h respectively . The viability and toxicity of H9c2 cells were detected by MTT and LDH , respectively .The expression and distribution of Cx43 were detected by immunofluores-cence staining .The intracellular oxygen species reac-tive ( ROS) level was detected by fluorescencemicrosco-py.And the expression of Cx43, P-AMPK, AMPK and GAPDH was determined by Western blot .Results The viability of H9c2 cells was increased and the level of intracellular ROS was decreased in Met group , while there existed no significant difference in LDH release among groups.Met significantly increased the phos-phorylation of AMPK and the expression of Cx 43, and improved the distribution of Cx 43 also.Conclusion The beneficial effect of Met on cardiovascular system in diabetic patients may via up-regulating the expression of Cx43 and down-regulating of intracellular ROS through activation of AMPK .