AIM: To investigate the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness, retinal thickness and blood flow density in different stages of diabetic retinopathy(DR)patients based on optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 382 patients(382 eyes)diagnosed with DR in our hospital from February 2023 to February 2024. According to the staging criteria, the patients were divided into mild group(n=121), moderate group(n=133), severe group(n=72), and proliferative group(n=56). The general clinical data of the four groups of patients was compared; OCTA was used to scan and collect data from all patients, and the RNFL thickness, retinal thickness, and blood flow density were compared among the four groups of patients.RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in age, gender, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and random blood glucose among patients in the mild, moderate, severe, and proliferative groups(all P>0.05). As the stage of DR worsened, the duration of the disease gradually prolonged(P<0.05). The thickness of the RNFL(superior, inferior, temporal, nasal, and average thickness)and retinal thickness significantly increased with the severity of DR(all P<0.001); however, there was no statistically significant difference in inferior RNFL thickness between the moderate and mild groups(P>0.05). The blood flow density in the superficial and deep retinal layers, as well as in the choroidal capillary layer, significantly decreased with the progression of DR(all P<0.05). Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant difference in superficial retinal blood flow density between the moderate and severe groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: OCTA can accurately observe the changes in RNFL thickness, retinal thickness, and blood flow density in patients with DR at different stages, which can serve as sensitive indicators for monitoring DR progression.

BACKGROUND: Bile acids (BAs) facilitate the progression of gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) dysregulation was observed along with the initiation of gastric cancer. However, how lncRNAs function in GIM remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of lncRNA PVT1 in GIM, and provide a potential therapeutic target for GIM treatment. METHODS: We employed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to screen dysregulated lncRNAs in gastric epithelial cells after BA treatment. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to reveal the regulatory mechanism. PVT1 expression was detected in 21 paired biopsies obtained under endoscopy. Overexpressed and knockdown cell models were established to explore gene functions in GIM. Molecular interactions were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (Ch-IP). The levels of relative molecular expression were detected in GIM tissues. RESULTS: We confirmed that lncRNA PVT1 was upregulated in BA-induced GIM model. PVT1 promoted the expression of intestinal markers such as CDX2 , KLF4 , and HNF4α . Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-34b-5p was a putative target of PVT1 . miR-34b-5p mimics increased CDX2 , KLF4 , and HNF4α levels. Restoration of miR-34b-5p decreased the pro-metaplastic effect of PVT1 . The interactions between PVT1 , miR-34b-5p, and the downstream target HNF4α were validated. Moreover, HNF4α could transcriptionally activated PVT1 , sustaining the GIM phenotype. Finally, the activation of the PVT1 /miR-34b-5p/ HNF4α loop was detected in GIM tissues. CONCLUSIONS BAs facilitate GIM partially via a PVT1/miR-34b-5p/HNF4α positive feedback loop. PVT1 may become a novel target for blocking the continuous development of GIM and preventing the initiation of gastric cancer in patients with bile reflux.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4/genetics* ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Kruppel-Like Factor 4 ; Metaplasia/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the causal relationship between serum total bile acid (TBA) levels and gastric cancer (GC) using regression discontinuity design (RDD). Methods A total of 1244 GC patients and 1333 healthy controls were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, gallbladder disease history, tumor markers, and serum TBA levels were collected from both groups. Logistic regression was used to construct a risk prediction model to estimate the risk of GC. RDD was employed with serum TBA as the grouping variable and the individual risk of developing GC as the outcome variable. Results The predictive factors in the GC risk prediction model included age, sex, body mass index(BMI), serum TBA, carcinoembryoniv antigen(CEA), alpha fetoprotein(AFP), carbohydrate antigen 199(CA199), and CA125. Serum TBA was identified as an independent risk factor for GC (OR=1.054, 95% CI: 1.030 to 1.079). RDD analysis indicated that when serum TBA levels reached 8 μmol/L, the probability of developing GC increased sharply by 23.7%. The breakpoint remained statistically significant following validity and robustness assessments. Conclusion The study demonstrates a positive causal relationship between serum TBA levels and GC, when the serum TBA level reaches 8 μmol/L, the risk of an individual developing GC increases sharply.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/etiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Bile Acids and Salts/blood* ; Aged ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; Biomarkers, Tumor/blood* ; Logistic Models

Objective To investigate the levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)and lipopolysaccha-ride signal receptor(CD14)in gingival crevicular fluid of preschool children with dental caries and their clini-cal significance.Methods A total of 468 preschool children(aged 3-6 years)who underwent oral examina-tions in the hospital from April 2022 to May 2024 were selected as the research objects and were divided into the observation group(with dental caries,n=107)and the healthy group(without dental caries,n=361)based on the presence or absence of dental caries.The observation group was further divided into three sub-groups according to the degree of caries activity test(CAT)score:low activity group(n=29),moderate activ-ity group(n=46),and high activity group(n=32).The children in the observation group were followed up for 6 months,and then divided into the occurrence group(n=36)and the non-occurrence group(n=71)based on whether chronic apical periodontitis occurred during the follow-up period.The levels of HIF-1α and CD14 in gingival crevicular fluid in the research objects were detected.The relationship between the levels of HIF-1α and CD14 in gingival crevicular fluid of preschool children with dental caries and CAT score was ex-plored by Pearson correlation analysis.The predictive value of HIF-1α and CD14 levels in gingival crevicular fluid for chronic apical periodontitis in preschool children with dental caries was explored by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The levels of HIF-1α and CD14 in gingival crevicular fluid in the obser-vation group were higher than those in the healthy group(P＜0.05).With the increase of CAT score,the lev-els of HIF-1α and CD14 in gingival crevicular fluid gradually increased(high activity group＞moderate activi-ty group＞low activity group),and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The levels of HIF-1α and CD14 in gingival crevicular fluid of preschool children with dental caries were positively correlated with CAT score(r=0.526,0.634,P＜0.001).The levels of HIF-1α and CD14 in gingival crevicular fluid in the occurrence group were significantly higher than those in the non-occurrence group(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of combined prediction of HIF-1α and CD14 levels in gingival crevicular fluid for chronic apical periodontitis in preschool children with dental caries was 0.902(95％CI:0.857-0.952),which was higher than 0.709(95％CI:0.664-0.759)and 0.825(95％CI:0.775-0.870)of individual prediction of HIF-1α and CD14 levels in gingival crevicular fluid.Conclusion HIF-1α and CD14 are highly expressed in gingival crevicular fluid of preschool children with dental caries,and their levels are related to the activity of dental caries and the occurrence of chronic apical periodontitis in preschool chil-dren with dental caries.The combined detection of the two can be used as effective indicators for predicting the occurrence of chronic apical periodontitis in preschool children with dental caries.

Objective To compare and analyze the clinical characteristics and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)in the treatment of liver cirrhosis with different portal vein thrombosis(PVT)grades.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 75 patients with liver cirrhosis and gastrointestinal bleeding who received TIPS.According to the Yerdel scale of PVT,the patients were divided into type Ⅰ(34 cases),type Ⅱ(25 cases)and type Ⅲ(16 cases).The patients were followed up 1,3,6 months after TIPS and every 6 months thereafter to compare the clinical data and the efficacy of TIPS in three types of PVT patients.Results The success rate of TIPS in three types of patients was 100％.There were differences in platelet to lymphocyte ratio(PLR)and proportion of different Child-Pugh grades among the three types of patients(P＜0.05).After TIPS,portal vein pressure was decreased compared with that before TIPS(P＜0.001).However,there were no significant differences in postoperative survival rate,rebleeding rate,over hepatic encephalopathy rate,stent dysfunction rate,thrombus complete recanalization rate and thrombus recurrence rate(P＞0.05).Conclusion The success rate of TIPS in three types of patients is higher,and the portal vein pressure is decreased significantly after TIPS,but there are no significant differences in the postoperative efficacy.Although the implementation of TIPS in cirrhotic PVT patients is challenging,it is still worth the effort to reshape the portal vein for the benefit of patients.

Objective To compare the clinical characteristics of cirrhosis with or without portal vein thrombosis(PVT),and to analyze the therapeutic effect of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)in treating cirrhosis with or without PVT.Methods The clinical data of 193 patients with cirrhosis complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding,who received TIPS from October 2018 to October 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.According to the presence or absence of PVT before TIPS,the patients were divided into non-PVT group(n=118)and PVT group(n=75).After TIPS,the patients were followed up at one,3,6 months and every 6 months thereafter.The effect of PVT on the clinical characteristics of cirrhosis patients and on the therapeutic efficacy after TIPS were analyzed.Results The success rate of TIPS was 100％in both groups.The proportion of carrying out splenectomy or partial splenic artery embolization(PSE)in PVT group was 26.7％(20/75),which was obviously higher than 13.6％(16/118)in non-PVT group,the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(x2=5.192,P=0.023).In PVT group the preoperative Child-Pugh score,the model of end-stage liver disease(MELD)score and serum sodium model of end-stage liver disease(MELD-Na+)score were(8.1±1.9)points,(9.2±8.0)pointsand(9.2±8.0)points respectively,which in non-PVT group were(7.4±1.9)points,(7.7±5.8)points and(7.7±5.8)points respectively,the differences between the two groups were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The incidence of overt hepatic encephalopathy in PVT group was 33.3％(25/75),which was strikingly higher than 19.5％(23/118)in non-PVT group,the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.030).No statistically significant differences in postoperative survival rate,rebleeding rate and stent dysfunction rate existed between the two groups(all P＞0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of cirrhotic patients with PVT complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding,TIPS is clinically safe and effective.In cirrhotic patients with PVT,the worse the liver function is,the higher the incidence of overt hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS will be.

Humans ; Bile Reflux/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Risk Factors ; Gastric Mucosa

Background: Gastric mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM) are precancerous conditions of gastric cancer. Although Moluodan has been used in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), there is little study on efficacy evaluation of Moluodan based on pathological stages. Aims: To assess the efficacy of Moluodan on reversal of gastric mucosal atrophy and IM based on OLGA and OLGIM staging systems, and to analyze the related factors. Methods: A total of 104 patients with CAG and IM from October 2019 to January 2022 at Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University were enrolled retrospectively in this study. All the patients received Moluodan treatment (one bag each time, three times daily) for 6 months. Changes of OLGA and OLGIM stages before and after treatment, and the related factors affecting the efficacy were analyzed. Results: After treatment with Moluodan for 6 months, the reversal rates for gastric mucosal atrophy and IM were 47.1% (49/104) and 51.0% (53/104), respectively, and the overall efficacy was 65.4% (68/104). There were 49.3% (34/69) and 52.4% (22/42) of patients with higher OLGA and OLGIM stages (III-) reversed to lower stages (0-Ⅱ), respectively. In addition, patients with OLGA and OLGIM stage III- showed a higher reversal rate than those with stage -Ⅱ (all P<0.01). No correlations were found between the demographic data, life and dietary styles, family history of gastric cancer, operation history, comorbidities, severity of mucosal inflammation and the efficacy of Moluodan (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Moluodan could reverse gastric mucosal atrophy and IM effectively in patients with CAG, which suggests that Moluodan has good potential in prevention of gastric cancer.

Aromatase deficiency (AD) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in aromatase gene (CYP19A1), leading to congenital estrogen deficiency syndrome. Both mothers of AD patients during pregnancy and female AD fetus show virilization, while male patients are usually diagnosed in adulthood due to continued height increase and metabolic abnormalities. In 2019, a patient with AD was admitted in the Second Xiangya Hospital. The patient was a 37-year-old adult male who continued to grow linearly after adulthood. His estradiol was below the measurable line, the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increased, bone age delayed, epiphysis unfused, and the bone mass reduced. CYP19A1 gene detection showed that c.1093C>T, p.R365W was homozygous mutation. This disease is rare in clinic. Clinicians need to raise awareness of the disease for early diagnosis and treatment to improve the long-term prognosis of patients.
46, XX Disorders of Sex Development/genetics* ; Adult ; Aromatase/metabolism* ; Female ; Gynecomastia/genetics* ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; Mutation ; Pregnancy