Objective To investigate the expression of blood basophil activation markers in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and the effects of allergens on their expression. Methods The blood samples were collected from the following four groups: healthy control (HC), AR patients with negative skin prick test (nAR), seasonal AR patients (sAR) and perennial AR patients (pAR). Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the expression of basophil activation markers Immunoglobulin E receptor I alpha(FcepsilonRIα), CD63 and CD203c in AR patients. Plasma levels of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-8 were measured by liquid-phase chip technology, and their correlations with the percentages of activated basophils were further analyzed. An ovalbumin-induced AR mouse model was established, and the expression levels of FcepsilonRIα and CD63 on blood basophils were detected. Results The expression of FcepsilonRIα, CD203c and CD63 on basophils were increased in nAR, sAR and pAR patients. Allergens enhanced the mean florescence intensity expression of CD63 and CD203c on basophils of sAR and pAR patients. The plasma levels of IL-4 and IL-8 were elevated in nAR, sAR and pAR patients, showing moderate to high correlations with the expression levels of basophil activation markers. The FcepsilonRIαand CD63 expression on basophils of AR mice were increased. Conclusion Allergens may contribute to AR pathogenesis by upregulating the expression of FcepsilonRIα, CD63 and CD203c, as well as promoting the secretion of IL-4 and IL-8.
Basophils/metabolism* ; Humans ; Allergens/immunology* ; Animals ; Rhinitis, Allergic/blood* ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Mice ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Tetraspanin 30/blood* ; Interleukin-4/blood* ; Interleukin-8/blood* ; Receptors, IgE/blood* ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases ; Young Adult ; Pyrophosphatases ; Middle Aged ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

Objective To investigate the factors influencing the efficacy of intravesical Bacille Calmette-Guérin(BCG)instillation after transurethral resection of bladder tumor(TURBT)in patients with intermediate-and high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC),and to construct a prediction model for recurrence after BCG treatment.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on the subjected patients diagnosed with intermediate-and high-risk NMIBC undergoing TURBT followed by standard BCG instillation.The 110 patients treated in Department of Urology of Army Medical Center of PLA from January 2018 to December 2023 were assigned into a training set,while the 52 patients treated at Department of Urology of General Hospital of Central Theater Command from January 2015 to December 2020 were into an external validation set.A total of 17 variables were included and analyzed.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with recurrence after BCG instillation,and nomograms were plotted to predict 1-year,3-year,and 5-year recurrence-free survival(RFS).Calibration curve,decision curve analysis(DCA),and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis were conducted for internal and external validation to evaluate the predictive performance and clinical utility of the model.Results In the training set,26 patients(23.64%)experienced recurrence during the follow-up period,with a median RFS of 32.00(18.00～50.50)months.Univariate Cox regression analysis suggested that platelet count,eosinophil to lymphocyte ratio(ELR),neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet to lymphocyte ratio(PLR),systemic immune inflammation(SII)index,and neutrophil-monocyte to lymphocyte ratio(NMLR),pathological T1 stage(pT1)tumor and hemoglobin,albumin,lymphocyte,and platelet(HALP)score were potential factors influencing recurrence after BCG instillation.Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified high HALP score(HR=0.185,95%CI:0.046～0.736,P=0.017)as an independent protective factor,while high ELR(HR=3.599,95%CI:1.505～8.608,P=0.004)and pT1 stage(HR=3.240,95%CI:1.191～8.818,P=0.021)were independent risk factors for recurrence.Based on this,a nomogram prediction model was constructed.The calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted and actual 1-,3-,and 5-year recurrence risks.Decision curve analysis indicated clinical utility across a wide threshold probability range.In the training set,the model showed strong predictive performance for 1-(AUC=0.842),3-(AUC=0.847),and 5-year(AUC=0.887)recurrence risks,which was further validated in the external cohort.Conclusion Higher HALP score prior to BCG instillation therapy is a protective factor against tumor recurrence,while higher ELR and pT1 stage are risk factors.Our nomogram prediction model based on HALP score,ELR and pathological T stage,can identify individuals at high risk of recurrence after BCG instillation therapy.

Objective To investigate risk factors for residual lesions after initial transurethral resection of bladder tumors(TURBT)and risk factors for tumor recurrence after second TURBT in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC)in order to provide reference for clinical management.Methods A case-control study design was adopted to include 120 NMIBC patients who underwent initial TURBT and then second surgery within 2～8 weeks in our department from January 2017 to January 2025.Based on the presence of residual lesions after the initial TURBT or not,the patients were divided into a residual lesion group(n=34)and a non-residual lesion group(n=86).Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify potential risk factors for residual lesions following the initial TURBT.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze potential risk factors for tumor recurrence after the second TURBT.Results The residual lesion rate after initial TURBT was 28.33％.Chi-square test analysis revealed that tumor stage T1(Chi-square=5.756,P=0.016)and broad tumor base(Chi-square=4.331,P=0.037)were factors influencing residual lesions after initial TURBT.Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified tumor stage T1(OR=3.047,95％CI:1.128～8.226,P=0.028)as an independent risk factor for residual lesions after initial TURBT.The tumor recurrence rate after second TURBT was 17.5％.Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified tumor stage T1(OR=4.258,95％CI:1.248～14.532,P=0.021),intravesical chemotherapy instillation after second TURBT(OR=3.539,95％CI:1.284～9.752,P=0.015),history of urinary system tumors(OR=3.002,95％CI:1.145～7.873,P=0.025)and high platelet-to-lymphocyte(PLR)ratio(OR=2.798,95％CI:1.115～7.023,P=0.028)as independent risk factors for tumor recurrence after second TURBT.Conclusion Tumor stage T1 and broad tumor base are risk factors for residual lesions after initial TURBT,while tumor stage T1,intravesical chemotherapy instillation after second TURBT,history of urinary system tumors and high PLR ratio are risk factors for tumor recurrence after second TURBT.Comprehensive analysis on above 4 indicators can effectively assess the risk of tumor recurrence in NMIBC patients following second TURBT,and timely early medical intervention is beneficial for improving patient outcomes.

Objectives:To explore the morphological changes of the superficial and deep thoraolumbar paraspinal muscles on both convex and concave sides during rest and contraction states in patients with mod-erate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS),and their effects on scoliosis angle,to analyze the relations between scoliosis angle and the morphological changes of paraspinal muscles.Methods:21 AIS patients(thoracic Cobb angle 20°-45°,S-shaped with the main curve in thoracic segment,4 males and 17 females,aged 13.9±1.6 years old)treated in our hospital from July 2020 to December 2023 and 21 healthy subjects(7 males and 14 females,aged 14.6±1.4 years old)were prospectively enrolled.The morphological data of thoracolumbar paraspinal muscles were collected with musculoskeletal ultrasound,including the resting thickness and thick-ness during maximum voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC)of superficial erector spinae(ES)and multifidus(MF)muscles of AIS patients on both convex and concave sides(left and right sides of healthy controls).The differences in resting thickness,contraction thickness,change rate of contraction thickness,and total resting thickness and total contraction thickness(ES+MF)of superficial and deep thoracolumbar paravertebral muscles between the two groups were analyzed,and the structural characteristics of the thoracolumbar paravertebral muscles on the convex and concave sides of AIS were analyzed.The correlation between Cobb angle in tho-racolumbar segment and morphological indexes(resting thickness,contraction thickness change rates)of ES and MF muscles was analyzed,and the influence of scoliosis severity on the morphology of superficial and deep paravertebral muscle was further analyzed.Results:In AIS patients,the mean thoracic Cobb angle were 31.62°±7.68°,and mean lumbar Cobb angle were 19.52°±6.48°.Comparing with healthy controls,patients with AIS were significantly different in resting thickness,contraction thickness and thickness change rates of tho-racic paraspinal muscles on both convex and concave sides,and the resting thickness of ES in thoracic seg-ment on concave side was less than that on the convex side,which of MF was less on the convex side than on the concave side(P＜0.01).The contraction thickness of thoracic MF muscles on the convex and concave sides in S-type AIS patients was smaller than that in healthy controls(P＜0.05),while the contraction thickness of thoracic ES muscles on the convex and concave side wasn't statistically different from that of healthy con-trols,and the contraction thickness change rate of ES muscles on the convex and MF on the concave side of thoracic segment in AIS patients was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the total resting thickness of thoracic(convex and concave)paravertebral muscles(ES+MF)between AIS patients and the corresponding segments(left and right)of control group(P＞0.05),and there was no statistically signifi-cant difference in the total resting thickness of thoracic paravertebral muscle between the convex and concave sides of AIS patients(P＞0.05).The total contraction thickness of thoracic paravertebral muscle(ES+MF)in AIS patients was lower than that in control group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the resting thickness,contraction thickness and thickness change rate of lumbar MF muscle on the convex and concave sides in AIS patients were significantly reduced(P＜0.05),and the contraction thickness change rate of the lumbar ES muscle on the concave side was less than that of the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differ-ences in resting thickness and contraction thickness between the convex and concave paravertebral muscles in AIS patients(P＞0.05).The total resting thickness(ES+MF)and total contraction thickness(ES+MF)of lumbar(convex and concave)paraspinal muscles in AIS patients were lower than those in control group(P＜0.05).There was a significant negative correlation between the Cobb angle of the main thoracic curve and the rest-ing thickness of the thoracic MF muscle on the concave and the change rate of the contraction thickness of the thoracic ES muscle on the convex in S-type AIS patients(r=-0.53/-0.45,P＜0.05).There was no signifi-cant correlation between the Cobb angle of lumbar segment and the change rates of the resting thickness and contraction thickness of ES and MF muscles on both convex and concave sides(P＞0.05).Conclusions:In pa-tients with moderate S-type AIS,there are different muscle morphological changes in the paraspinal muscles on both convex and concave sides of the main thoracic curve,and the concave paravertebral muscle is more affected by scoliosis;The contraction function of the bilateral deep core stabilizing muscles in the lumbar re-gion is markedly decreased.Different patterns of superficial and deep muscle atrophy and contractility decline may be a key cause of spinal movement disorder and scoliosis progression in AIS patients.

Objectives:To explore the morphological changes of the superficial and deep thoraolumbar paraspinal muscles on both convex and concave sides during rest and contraction states in patients with mod-erate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS),and their effects on scoliosis angle,to analyze the relations between scoliosis angle and the morphological changes of paraspinal muscles.Methods:21 AIS patients(thoracic Cobb angle 20°-45°,S-shaped with the main curve in thoracic segment,4 males and 17 females,aged 13.9±1.6 years old)treated in our hospital from July 2020 to December 2023 and 21 healthy subjects(7 males and 14 females,aged 14.6±1.4 years old)were prospectively enrolled.The morphological data of thoracolumbar paraspinal muscles were collected with musculoskeletal ultrasound,including the resting thickness and thick-ness during maximum voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC)of superficial erector spinae(ES)and multifidus(MF)muscles of AIS patients on both convex and concave sides(left and right sides of healthy controls).The differences in resting thickness,contraction thickness,change rate of contraction thickness,and total resting thickness and total contraction thickness(ES+MF)of superficial and deep thoracolumbar paravertebral muscles between the two groups were analyzed,and the structural characteristics of the thoracolumbar paravertebral muscles on the convex and concave sides of AIS were analyzed.The correlation between Cobb angle in tho-racolumbar segment and morphological indexes(resting thickness,contraction thickness change rates)of ES and MF muscles was analyzed,and the influence of scoliosis severity on the morphology of superficial and deep paravertebral muscle was further analyzed.Results:In AIS patients,the mean thoracic Cobb angle were 31.62°±7.68°,and mean lumbar Cobb angle were 19.52°±6.48°.Comparing with healthy controls,patients with AIS were significantly different in resting thickness,contraction thickness and thickness change rates of tho-racic paraspinal muscles on both convex and concave sides,and the resting thickness of ES in thoracic seg-ment on concave side was less than that on the convex side,which of MF was less on the convex side than on the concave side(P＜0.01).The contraction thickness of thoracic MF muscles on the convex and concave sides in S-type AIS patients was smaller than that in healthy controls(P＜0.05),while the contraction thickness of thoracic ES muscles on the convex and concave side wasn't statistically different from that of healthy con-trols,and the contraction thickness change rate of ES muscles on the convex and MF on the concave side of thoracic segment in AIS patients was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the total resting thickness of thoracic(convex and concave)paravertebral muscles(ES+MF)between AIS patients and the corresponding segments(left and right)of control group(P＞0.05),and there was no statistically signifi-cant difference in the total resting thickness of thoracic paravertebral muscle between the convex and concave sides of AIS patients(P＞0.05).The total contraction thickness of thoracic paravertebral muscle(ES+MF)in AIS patients was lower than that in control group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the resting thickness,contraction thickness and thickness change rate of lumbar MF muscle on the convex and concave sides in AIS patients were significantly reduced(P＜0.05),and the contraction thickness change rate of the lumbar ES muscle on the concave side was less than that of the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differ-ences in resting thickness and contraction thickness between the convex and concave paravertebral muscles in AIS patients(P＞0.05).The total resting thickness(ES+MF)and total contraction thickness(ES+MF)of lumbar(convex and concave)paraspinal muscles in AIS patients were lower than those in control group(P＜0.05).There was a significant negative correlation between the Cobb angle of the main thoracic curve and the rest-ing thickness of the thoracic MF muscle on the concave and the change rate of the contraction thickness of the thoracic ES muscle on the convex in S-type AIS patients(r=-0.53/-0.45,P＜0.05).There was no signifi-cant correlation between the Cobb angle of lumbar segment and the change rates of the resting thickness and contraction thickness of ES and MF muscles on both convex and concave sides(P＞0.05).Conclusions:In pa-tients with moderate S-type AIS,there are different muscle morphological changes in the paraspinal muscles on both convex and concave sides of the main thoracic curve,and the concave paravertebral muscle is more affected by scoliosis;The contraction function of the bilateral deep core stabilizing muscles in the lumbar re-gion is markedly decreased.Different patterns of superficial and deep muscle atrophy and contractility decline may be a key cause of spinal movement disorder and scoliosis progression in AIS patients.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of biopsy forceps polypectomy with submucosal injection for diminutive colorectal polyps.Methods:The patients with diminutive colorectal polyps (long diameter≤5 mm in size) who received polypectomy in Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from May 2021 to May 2022 were prospectively recruited and divided into the observation group (biopsy forceps polypectomy with submucosal injection) and the control group (traditional biopsy forceps polypectomy). The location, morphology, long diameter, the complete polypectomy rate under direct vision, the time of resection and endoscopy withdrawal, pathological results, specimen collection rate, the incidence of complications and endoscopic treatment cost were analyzed. The clinical efficacy of the two methods were compared.Results:A total of 292 patients were included in the study, with 146 in the observation group and 146 in the control group. There were 258 polyps in the observation group and 252 polyps in the control group. The complete polypectomy rate was higher in the observation group than that in the control group [100.0% (258/258) VS 90.1% (227/252), χ2=26.915, P=0.001] with clear vision. The incidence of complications in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (1/146 VS 13/146, χ2=10.804, P=0.001) , along with the lower treatment cost (173.7±15.9 yuan VS 184.0±53.8 yuan, Z=-2.777, P=0.005). The resection time in the observation group was longer than that in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant [10 (9,11) min VS 9 (9,11) min, Z=-0.528, P=0.597]. There was no significant difference in the polyp position, long diameter, morphology, pathological classification, or the specimen collection rate between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Biopsy forceps polypectomy with submucosal injection is safe for diminutive colorectal polyps, and it demonstrates a higher complete polypectomy rate, lower complication rates, and reduced treatment costs compared with traditional biopsy forceps polypectomy. It is a new perspective for managing diminutive colorectal polyps.

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of white light endoscopy and intelligent scan(i-Scan)endoscopy for nasopharyngeal masses.Methods We collected 127 patients with nasopharyngeal masses from January 2019 to December 2021 and obtained biopsy pathological results.From January 2019 to December 2020,59 cases were treated with white light endoscopy,and from January 2021 to December 2021,68 cases were treated with i-Scan endoscopy.Compare the accuracy of diagnosis between the two groups based on pathological results as the gold standard;Evaluate the microvascular morphology and lesion boundaries of nasopharyngeal masses under i-Scan endoscopy,and conduct correlation analysis with pathological results.Results The specificity and accuracy of i-Scan endoscopy in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal masses were higher than those of white light endoscopy(91.80%and 86.00%,91.17%and 86.44%),and the sensitivity was lower than that of white light endoscopy(85.71%and 88.89%),but there was no significant difference(P>0.05).The diagnostic consistency of i-Scan group was slightly higher than that of white light group(Kappa=0.619 and 0.588);The lesion site boundary score,microvascular score,and their total score in i-Scan group were positively correlated with the pathological score(r=0.429,r=0.421,r=0.460),the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05);Typical disordered and twisted submucosal vessels(SV)and branching vessels(BV)were observed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma,most benign lesions could observe dilated and regularly distributed SV and BV,regardless of pathological malignancy,no obvious intraepithelial papillary capillary loop(IPCL)was observed in the nasopharynx.Conclusion The diagnostic efficacy of i-Scan endoscopy for nasopharyngeal masses is higher than that of white light endoscopy.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of biopsy forceps polypectomy with submucosal injection for diminutive colorectal polyps.Methods:The patients with diminutive colorectal polyps (long diameter≤5 mm in size) who received polypectomy in Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from May 2021 to May 2022 were prospectively recruited and divided into the observation group (biopsy forceps polypectomy with submucosal injection) and the control group (traditional biopsy forceps polypectomy). The location, morphology, long diameter, the complete polypectomy rate under direct vision, the time of resection and endoscopy withdrawal, pathological results, specimen collection rate, the incidence of complications and endoscopic treatment cost were analyzed. The clinical efficacy of the two methods were compared.Results:A total of 292 patients were included in the study, with 146 in the observation group and 146 in the control group. There were 258 polyps in the observation group and 252 polyps in the control group. The complete polypectomy rate was higher in the observation group than that in the control group [100.0% (258/258) VS 90.1% (227/252), χ2=26.915, P=0.001] with clear vision. The incidence of complications in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (1/146 VS 13/146, χ2=10.804, P=0.001) , along with the lower treatment cost (173.7±15.9 yuan VS 184.0±53.8 yuan, Z=-2.777, P=0.005). The resection time in the observation group was longer than that in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant [10 (9,11) min VS 9 (9,11) min, Z=-0.528, P=0.597]. There was no significant difference in the polyp position, long diameter, morphology, pathological classification, or the specimen collection rate between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Biopsy forceps polypectomy with submucosal injection is safe for diminutive colorectal polyps, and it demonstrates a higher complete polypectomy rate, lower complication rates, and reduced treatment costs compared with traditional biopsy forceps polypectomy. It is a new perspective for managing diminutive colorectal polyps.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the intestinal flora and the impairment of liver and kidney in HIV-infected men who have heterosexual sex with healthy women. MethodsFecal samples from 41 HIV-infected heterosexual men who have sex with women （PMSW） and 43 age- and BMI-matched healthy heterosexual men who have sex with women （NMSW） were collected and subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing. The blood levels of AST， ALT， TBIL， UREA， Cr， UA， β2-MG and other liver and kidney function indicators were measured. Bioinformatics methods were used to analyze the characteristics of the intestinal flora of the patients in these two groups， to compare the differential bacteria strains， and to analyze their correlation with liver and kidney function indicators. ResultsIn comparison with NMSW， the alpha diversity of intestinal flora was decreased in PMSW， and the beta diversity analysis showed significant differences in flora characteristics between the two groups （P<0.05）. The abundance of Clostridium， Phylum thick-walled， Trichosporon， and Clostridium tumefaciens decreased but Fusobacteriota increased （LDA score >4）. The comparison of liver and kidney function indexes revealed that AST， β2-MG levels were higher in PMSW than in NMSW， while TBIL was lower in PMSW than in NMSW. The number of patients with abnormal β2-MG was much higher in PMSW than in NMSW， and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.001）. It was also found that AST was negatively correlated with Clostridium （P<0.05）； TBIL was negatively correlated with Clostridium and positively correlated with Phylum thick-walled and Trichosporon （P<0.05）. β2-MG was negatively correlated with Phylum thick-walled， Clostridium， Trichosporon and Rumenococcus （P<0.05） and positively correlated with Clostridium （P<0.05）. ConclusionIn PMSW group， the alpha diversity of the flora is decreased. AST and β2-MG levels are increased， and TBIL level is decreased. These changes were significantly correlated with different strains of bacteria in the intestinal flora.