Background/Aims: The histological characteristics and natural history of precirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with portal hypertension (PH) are unclear. Our aim was to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and histological characteristics of precirrhotic PBC patients with PH. Methods: This retrospective study compared the clinical features, histological characteristics, and response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) between the PH and non-PH groups of precirrhotic PBC patients. Results: Out of 165 precirrhotic PBC patients, 40 (24.2%) also had PH. According to histological stage 1, 2 and 3 disease, 5.3% (1/19), 17.3% (17/98), and 45.8% (22/48) of patients also had PH, respectively. Precirrhotic PBC with PH was significantly positively correlated with bile duct loss, degree of cytokeratin 7 positivity, and degree of fibrosis in the portal area, but significantly negatively correlated with lymphoid follicular aggregation. Compared to the non-PH group, patients in the PH group showed a higher prevalence of obliterative portal venopathy, incomplete septal fibrosis, portal tract abnormalities and non-zonal sinusoidal dilatation (p<0.05). In addition, patients with PH were more likely to present with symptoms of jaundice, ascites, epigastric discomfort, a poorer response to UDCA, and more decompensation events (p<0.05). High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values were risk factors for precirrhotic PBC with PH. Conclusions Approximately 24.2% of precirrhotic PBC patients have PH, which is histologically related to the injury of bile ducts. High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values are associated with increased risk of precirrhotic PBC with PH.

Mitral valve prolapse is one of the common causes of mitral regurgitation.Mitral valve prolapse complicated with leaflet cleft is rare in clinical practice,which most often undergo surgical mitral valve repair or mitral valve replacement.We report a case of mitral valve prolapse with posterior leaflet cleft treated by transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair,in order to provide a model for similar cases.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of reconstructing distal radioulnar ligament with al-lograft tendon under wrist arthroscopy in the treatment of chronic PalmerⅠD type triangular fibrocarti-lage complex injury complicated with distal radioulnar joint instability.Methods Clinical data of 15 pa-tients with chronic PalmerⅠD type triangular fibrocartilage complex injury and admitted to our hospital between January 2017 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.All of them were treated with wrist arthroscopic allograft tendon reconstruction of distal radioulnar ligament.During the postoperative follow-up,the wrist range of motion and grip strength were evaluated,while the wrist pain and wrist function were assessed using the visual analogue scale(VAS)and modified Mayo score.Results All pa-tients were followed up twelve to twenty-four months,with an average of(18.15±2.20)months.The postoperative VAS score was(2.56±0.69),significantly better than the preoperative one(6.78±1.24)(P<0.05).Moreover,the postoperative ratio of grip strength between the affected and the healthy hand was(76.18±9.72)%,significantly better than that of(50.18±6.79)%(P<0.05),with increased grip strength.Meanwhile,the postoperative rotational motion of wrist joint[(151.09±12.38)°]improved significantly compared with that before operation[(142.87±10.19)°](P<0.05).According to the modi-fied Mayo score,8 cases were excellent,6 cases were good,and 1 case was fair,reaching an excel-lent and good rate of 93.33%.Conclusion Wrist arthroscopic reconstruction of distal radioulnar liga-ment with allograft tendon is effective in the treatment of chronic PalmerⅠD type triangular fibrocarti-lage complex injury with lower radioulnar joint instability,relieving pain and promoting grip strength and rotational motion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bone cement distribution on efficacy of residual back pain after percutaneous vertebra plasty(PVP). METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2020, a total of 65 cases with single segment osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures underwent parallel vertebroplasty surgery. On the basis of the postoperative X-ray films of bone cement distribution were divided into two groups. The bone cement was biased to the lateral side of the vertebral body (partial group, 20 cases), there were 9 males and 11 famales with an average age of (70.3±7.4) years old ranging from 60 to 84 years old. The bone cement was over the vertebral midline, and completely filled with contralateral vertebral body (bilateral group, 45 cases), there were 10 males and 35 famales with an average age of (70.7±8.0) years old ranging from 60 to 86 years old. All of them underwent PVP surgery, bone cement was injected into the vertebral body through paitail transpedicular approach. The amount of bone cement injection, the visual analogue scale(VAS) of preoperation and 1 day, 1 month, 3 months after surgery between two groups were observed and compared. RESULTS: The amount of cement injection was (4.25±0.99) ml in the partial group, and (4.07±1.18) ml in the bilateral group, there was no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). Postoperative pain was relieved than preoperative pain (P<0.05), the VAS of 1 day, 1 and 3 months after operation (3.90±1.37), (2.35±0.67) and (1.55±0.51) in the partial group were higher than (2.67±0.60), (1.62±0.58) and (1.31±0.47) in the bilateral group (P<0.05). There were 9 cases in partial group, the pain was not relieved due to unfilled cement until the contralateral bone was injected into the bone cement. CONCLUSION The distribution of bone cement is one of the main factors affecting residual back pain after PVP, and in the clinical, we should make sure the distribution of bone cement over the midline of vertebral body.
Humans ; Bone Cements ; Aged ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Vertebroplasty/methods* ; Back Pain/etiology* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery*

This study aimed to investigate the anti-fatigue effect and mechanism of Lubian(Cervi Penis et Testis) on kidney Yin deficiency and kidney Yang deficiency mice. After one week of adaptive feeding, 88 healthy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a blank group, a kidney Yin deficiency model group, a kidney Yin deficiency-Panacis Quinquefolii Radix(PQR) group, kidney Yin deficiency-Lubian treatment groups, a kidney Yang deficiency model group, a kidney Yang deficiency-Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma(GR) group, and kidney Yang deficiency-Lubian treatment groups, with eight mice in each group. The kidney Yin deficiency model and kidney Yang deficiency model were prepared by daily regular oral administration of dexamethasone acetate and hydrocortisone, respectively, and meanwhile, corresponding drugs were provided. The mice in the blank group received blank reagent. The treatment lasted 14 days. The exhaustive swimming time was measured 30 min after drug administration on the 14th day. On the 15th day, blood was collected from eyeballs and the serum was separated to determine the content of lactic acid(LD), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP). The liver was dissected to determine the content of liver glycogen and the protein expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K) and protein kinase B(Akt). Compared with the kidney Yang deficiency model group, the kidney Yang deficiency-Lubian treatment groups showed increased body weight(P<0.05), relieved symptoms of Yang deficiency, decreased cGMP content(P<0.01), increased cAMP/cGMP(P<0.01), prolonged exhausted swimming time(P<0.01), reduced LD(P<0.01), elevated BUN content(P<0.01), increased liver glycogen content(P<0.01), and increased protein expression of PI3K and Akt in the liver(P<0.05). Compared with the kidney Yin deficiency model group, the kidney Yin deficiency-Lubian treatment groups showed increased body weight(P<0.01), relieved symptoms of Yin deficiency, increased content of cGMP(P<0.01), decreased cAMP/cGMP(P<0.01), prolonged exhausted swimming time(P<0.01), decreased LD(P<0.01), decreased BUN content(P<0.01), increased liver glycogen content(P<0.01), and increased protein expression of PI3K(P<0.05) and Akt in the liver(P<0.05). To sum up, Lubian can regulate Yin deficiency and Yang deficiency and increase glycogen synthesis by affecting the PI3K-Akt pathway, thereby exerting an anti-fatigue role.
Male ; Mice ; Animals ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Liver Glycogen ; Yang Deficiency/drug therapy* ; Yin Deficiency/drug therapy* ; Kidney ; Body Weight

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

Objective:To explore indications for replantation of proximal proper digital artery and establishing extrinsic arterial perfusion pressure in the treatment of special type of severed digits with avulsion over 12.0 hours of warm ischemia, and to analyse the factors that affected the survival rate of the replanted digits.Methods:From September 2014 to January 2022, 8 patients with severed digits and prolonged warm ischemia were treated by transposition of adjacent digital artery together with the technique of extrinsic arterial perfusion pressure in the Department of Wrist and Hand Surgery, the Orthopaedic Hospital in Sichuan Province. During the operation, the defected proximal proper digital artery was reconstructed and repaired with vein graft, one side of the digital artery was repaired with an inverted "Y" vein graft, and one side of "Y" vein was bridged and anastomosed to repair the original digital artery. On the other side, the adjacent proximal proper digital arteries were transpositioned and anastomosed to gain an extrinsic arterial perfusion pressure, which increased the distal haemodynamic and reconstituted the blood supply. Of the 8 patients (9 severed digits) : 1 had severed index and middle fingers, 2 had severed index fingers, 4 had severed thumbs and 1 had severed little finger. All the patients were males, aged 16-63 years old, at 37.6 years old in average. Warm ischemia time of the severed digits were 12.3-20.6 hours, with 17.4 hours in average. The survival rate of replanted digits was observed after surgery. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted through telephone or WeChat reviews.Results:Follow-up time was 6-26 months, at 8.3 months in average. Retrospective analysis was performed. Vascular compromises occurred in 3 patients 4 digits (arterial insufficiency in 1 digit, venous congestion in 3 digits), skin necrosis occurred in 1 patient (1 digit) and digit necrosis in 1 patient (1 digit). Overall, 8 of the 9 replanted digits survived. According to the Replantation Function Evaluation Standard of Hand Surgery Association of Chinese Medical Association, the digit function after replantation was evaluated at excellent in 6 digits, good in 1 digit and poor in 1 digit.Conclusion:For a severed digit with an ischemia time over 12.0 hours, the survival rate can be improved by transposition of an adjacent digital artery to provided extrinsic arterial perfusion pressure.

Krüppel-like transcription factor 2 (KLF2) plays a key regulatory role in endothelial inflammation, thrombosis, angiogenesis and macrophage inflammation and polarization, and up-regulation of KLF2 expression has the potential to prevent and treatment atherosclerosis. In this study, trichostatin C (TSC) was obtained from the secondary metabolites of rice fermentation of Streptomyces sp. CPCC 203909 as a KLF2 up-regulator by using a high throughput screening model based on a KLF2 promoter luciferase reporter assay. TSC significantly inhibited the adhesion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) induced monocytes (THP-1) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Western blot results showed that TSC decreased TNFα induced the protein expression increase of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and thereby inhibited endothelial inflammation. The results of histone deacetylase (HDAC) overexpression and molecular docking experiments showed that TSC upregulated the expression of KLF2 by inhibiting subtypes of HDAC 4/5/7. In conclusion, this study suggests that TSC up-regulates the expression of KLF2 through inhibiting HDAC 4/5/7 and thus inhibits TNFα induced endothelial inflammation, and it has the potential to prevent and treat atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of co-infection with hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis, so as to provide insights into the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Methods The clinical data of patients with co-infections of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital between 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Three patients were diagnosed with co-infection of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis. One patient was diagnosed by preoperative CT scan, and confirmed intraoperatively. The other two cases were diagnosed as cystic echinococcosis by preoperative color ultrasonography and imaging examinations, and were definitively diagnosed as co-infection of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis by intraoperative examination of the lesion morphology and postoperative pathology. Two patients were given radical surgery, and another case was given removal of the internal capsule and subtotal excision of the outer capsule of Echinococcus granulous in the liver following exploration. Conclusions Co-infection with hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis is easy for missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis prior to operation, and the definitive diagnosis may be made by means of imaging examinations combined with postoperative pathology. The surgery is relatively complicated and difficult for patients with co-infection of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis, and individualized surgical treatment regimen should be employed for patients with various types of infections.

BACKGROUND: Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans. METHODS: We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed. RESULTS: Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown β-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8% to 99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6% to 87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor. CONCLUSION A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.
Adult ; Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; virology ; Tomography, X-Ray ; Treatment Outcome