ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the action mechanism by which Banxia Xiexintang （BXT） inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） rats by regulating the interleukin-17（IL-17）/extracellular regulated protein kinases（ERK）/CCAAT enhancer binding protein β（C/EBPβ）signaling pathway， thereby providing new theoretical evidence for the treatment of CAG with classic traditional Chinese medicine formulas. MethodsA CAG rat model was established by using the combined factor method. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.549， 1.098， 2.196 g·kg^-1， respectively） of BXT， and the positive drug group （vitacoenzyme， 0.3 g·kg^-1）. A normal control group was also set up. After 8 weeks of intervention， the pathological changes of gastric tissue were evaluated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of IL-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and C/EBPβ in serum， as well as the contents of EMT markers in gastric mucosal tissue including E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin. The immunohistochemistry method was employed to determine the localization and protein expression levels of IL-17， p-ERK， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosal tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and its phosphorylated form （p）-ERK in gastric mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of ERK， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosa. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group， the rats in the model group showed gastric mucosal glandular atrophy and inflammatory cell infiltration. The protein and their related mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in serum were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosal tissue were significantly increased， while the content of E-cadherin was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， after intervention with different doses of BXT， the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa was improved to varying degrees. The protein and mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBP β in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased， while the content of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBXT can effectively improve the pathological damage of gastric mucosal tissue in CAG rats. Its action mechanism may be related to reducing the levels of IL-17 and TNF-α in serum， regulating the IL-17/ERK/C/EBPβ signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process.

Objective:To detect the biological markers related to Alzheimer's disease(AD)in the peripheral blood of AD patients,and to explore the activities and levels of the antioxidant function indexes and the expressions of related genes and proteins in the blood of AD patients and the changes after intervention of selenium-rich food.Methods:The Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)combined with electroencephalogram or brain CT and clinician diagnosis were used for screening AD.Fifty-six elderly patients with AD aged 75-90 years old were selected.Among them,28 cases were selected as normal diet group for AD(AD group),and 28 cases were selected as dietary selenium intervention group(Se-AD group).The patients in Se-AD group were given daily dietary selenium supplementation(increaseing dietary selenium by 15-20 μg per day)for 3 months.Meanwhile,30 people with the same age were selected as healthy control group.The activities of serum superoxide dismutase(SOD),cholinesterase(CHE),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)and the levels of serum malondialdehyde(MDA),homocysteine(Hcy),and nitric oxide(NO)as well as reagent kit the levels of serum β-amyloid protein(Aβ),and microtubule-associated protein(Tau)and phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein(p-Tau)of the subjects in various groups were detected by and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method;the expression levels of apolipoprotein E4(ApoE4),presenilin 1(PS1),presenilin 2(PS2),cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3(Caspase3),sorting associated protein receptor 1(SORL1),β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1),hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF1),nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB),β-amyloid precursor protein(APP),protein kinase C(PKC),and Aβ mRNA in peripheral blood of the subjects various groups were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method.Results:Compared with healthy control group,the serum SOD activities of the patients in Se-AD group and AD group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),while serum CHE activity and the levels of MDA and Hcy were significantly increased(P＜0.05);the serum GSH-Px activity of the patients in AD group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and the level of NO was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with Se-AD group,serum CHE activity and the level of Hcy of the patients in AD group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The expression levels of ApoE4,PS1,Caspase3,BACE1,NF-κB and APP mRNA of the patients in Se-AD group and AD group were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of PKC mRNA were significantly decreased(P＜0.05);the expression level of PS2 mRNA of the patients in AD group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of Aβ mRNA of the patients in Se-AD group and AD group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The activities of serum SOD,GSH-Px and CHE and the levels of MDA,Hcy and NO,the levels of Aβ,Tau and p-Tau proteins,and the expression levels of ApoE4,PS1,Caspase3,BACE1,NF-κB,PKC,PS2,Aβ and APP mRNA in peripheral blood of the AD patients may vary and can be used for clinical diagnosis of the AD patients.Selenium-rich food can improve AD to some extent,and its mechanism is related to reducing the oxidative damage of brain tissue and decreasing the expression of AD related genes PS2 and Aβ.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of overweight， obesity and central obesity among elderly residents in Xuhui District， and to analyze the epidemiological status of central obesity in elderly people with different body mass indexes. MethodsThe third round of health status and health service utilization monitoring data in Xuhui District was used. The information collected from questionnaire survey and physical examination were analyzed. SPSS 20.0 software was used for χ² test， trend χ² test and multinominal logistic regression analysis. Results5 096 survey subjects were included. The prevalence of overweight， general obesity， and central obesity in the residents aged 60 and above in Xuhui District were 34.3%， 6.5%， and 29.2%， respectively. There was gender difference in the rates of overweight， obesity， and central obesity among the residents. The overweight and central obesity rates in males were higher than those in females， while the obesity rate was lower than that in females （P<0.05）. Multinominal logistic regression analysis showed that in comparison with the normal weight non-central obesity group drinking only at party （OR=1.729， 95%CI： 1.184‒2.525）， and hypertension （OR=1.637， 95%CI： 1.305‒2.053）， were highly associated with normal weight with central obesity. Aged 60‒ years （OR=1.589， 95%CI： 1.190‒2.120）， aged 70‒ years （OR=1.763， 95%CI： 1.327‒2.342）， male （OR=1.379， 95%CI： 1.134‒1.676）， hypertension （OR=2.231， 95%CI： 1.878‒2.649）， former smokers （OR=1.437， 95%CI： 1.027‒2.011）， drinking at party only （OR=1.491， 95%CI： 1.107‒2.006）， and drinking ≥3 times per week （OR=1.611， 95%CI： 1.116‒2.325）， were highly associated with overweight combined with central obesity. Aged 60‒ years （OR=3.817， 95%CI： 2.251‒6.474）， aged 70‒ years （OR=3.084， 95%CI： 1.838‒5.175）， hypertension （OR=3.683， 95%CI： 2.753‒4.929）， diabetes （OR=2.085， 95%CI： 1.511‒2.878）， former smokers （OR=1.835， 95%CI： 1.043‒3.226）， were highly associated with compound obesity. Central obesity was found in the elderly residents with different BMI categories， and the rate of central obesity increased with the increase of BMI grade. ConclusionThe prevalence of overweight， obesity and central obesity among the elderly aged 60 years and above in Xuhui District is not optimistic. Attention should be paid to the elderly under 80 years old who are with hypertension and/or diabetes， alcohol consumption， low educational level and not doing physical exercise. Especially for the central obesity population with normal BMI， measures should be taken to prevent and intervene the occurrence of obesity and related diseases.

Cathepsins,the most abundant hydrolases in lysosomes,are responsible for the degradation of various substrates.Increasing evidence suggests that cathepsins play important roles in neurodegenerative diseases.Cathepsins affect the progression of diseases by regu-lating the aggregation of abnormal proteins(e.g.α-synuclein,amyloid β-protein,huntington).Abnormal expression levels and activity and gene mutations of cathepsin B,D,and L in the nervous system can lead to the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases.This review summarizes the research progress on cathepsins in neurodegenerative diseases in recent years,with a view to providing a basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

Objective:To explore the pathogenesis of flunarizine-induced parkinsonism from gut-brain axis perspective.Methods:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and flunarizine group ( n=15). Mice in the control group were given 0.1 mL 50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage once/d for 2 weeks, while mice in the flunarizine group were given 6 mg/mL flunarizine+50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg for 2 weeks. Body mass was recorded 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration, and motor function was assessed by rotarod test 14 d after drug administration; 16s RNA sequencing was performed in the feces to observe the intestinal flora; intestinal transit function was detected by Evans blue by gavage; and then, the mice were sacrificed and homogenate or frozen sections (brain and intestinal tissues) were prepared; dopamine-ergic neuron expression was detected by Western blotting; RT-qPCR was applied to detect the expressions of inflammatory factors in the substantia nigra, and immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 in the intestinal epithelial tissues. Results:Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had lower body mass ratio 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration (ratio to body mass before drug administration). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly shortened residence time in rod rotating and lower rotational speed when falling ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had decreased tyrosine hydroxylase protein in the substantia nigra without significant difference ( P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the substantia nigra (1.00±0.00 vs. 2.79±0.83; 1.00±0.00 vs. 3.39±1.37), significantly lower intestinal Evans blue propulsion rate (80.67%±4.51% vs. 50.67%±6.03%), and statistically decreased ZO-1 and Claudin-5 expressions in the colonic epithelial tissues (27.01±1.41 vs. 16.32±2.83; 37.00±2.80 vs. 24.52±2.12, P<0.05). Totally, 576 microorganisms were noted in both control group and flunarizine group, 744 in the control group alone, and 634 in the flunarizine group alone. The intestinal flora β diversity indices in the 2 groups were significantly different based on weighted Unifrac-principle coordinates analysis (PCoA, PCoA1: 39.88%; PCoA2: 30.69%). Compared with the control group, the microbial colony structure of mice in flunarizine group was dominated by phylum thick-walled bacteria and phylum warty microbacteria, and by families Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Akkermansiaceae. Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly decreased relative abundance of Ackermannia spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in the intestinal flora ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Flunarizine may contribute to the pathogenesis of DIP by causing structural disturbances in the intestinal flora and inducing neuroinflammation based on the gut-brain axis.

Objective:To establish and validate the prediction model for bone marrow metastasis (BMM) in malignant tumors by screening out laboratory multiparameters.Methods:This case-control study collected 444 cases of malignant tumor patients who were hospitalized in the First Hospital of Jilin University from March 2018 to March 2024, including 243 cases for model establishment set and 201 cases for model validation set. The model establishment set was divided into BMM positive group (81 cases) and BMM negative group (162 cases), and the model validation set was divided into positive group (67 cases) and a negative group (134 cases). We collected patients′ clinical information such as gender, age, clinical diagnosis, and results of 47 laboratory tests including routine blood analysis, coagulation, liver function, tumor markers, potassium, sodium, chloride, and calcium ion tests, bone marrow morphology, and bone marrow biopsy. BMM was taken as the outcome event, differencial variables were analyzed using inter group comparisons, the correlation among parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, the risk factors for BMM were analyzed using multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis, to establish logistic model, followed by efficiency evaluation on BMM predictive model using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:In the model establishment set, Pearson correlation analysis of 28 parameters that differed between the BMM positive and negative groups revealed that the correlation coefficients of 17 parameters, including mean platelet volume (MPV), hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), and prothrombin time (PT), were no more than 0.6 ( P<0.05). Further multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis demonstrated that MPV, HGB, HCT, PT, red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet count (PLT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), chloride (Cl -), and mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were the risk factors of BMM occurence in malignancy [MPV ( OR=9.929, 95% CI 2.688-71.335), HCT ( OR=8.232, 95% CI 6.223-9.841), HGB ( OR=4.300, 95% CI 1.947-16.577), PT ( OR=3.738, 95% CI 1.359-11.666), RDW ( OR=1.995, 95% CI 1.275-3.807), ALP ( OR=1.025, 95% CI 1.012-1.045), PLT ( OR=1.014, 95% CI 1.002-1.031), MCHC ( OR=0.724, 95% CI 0.523-0.880) and Cl -( OR=0.703, 95% CI 0.472-0.967)]. In the model establishment set, combiation of risk factors provided an AUC of 0.943 (95% CI 0.898-0.987, P<0.001), a sensitivity of 86.3%, and a specificity of 89.2% for BMM prediction. In the model validation set, the AUC was 0.924 (95% CI 0.854-0.960, P<0.001), with a sensitivity and specificity of 86.7% and 83.8%, respectively. Conclusion:This study built and validated a multiple-parameter model for BMM, which may facilitate the timely detection of BMM and provide reference for decision making of bone marrow aspiration.

Objective To analyze the risk factors and the prognosis in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis(CVST)accompanied by early-onset seizures.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 163 patients with CVST admitted to the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University during August 2011 to November 2022 as the study subjects.Based on whether they had concurrent seizures within 14 days after diagnosis CVST,the patients were divided into the early-onset seizures group(42 cases)and the non-early-onset seizure group(121 cases).Clinical data were collected,including general clinical data,imaging data,laboratory test results,and treatment plans,etc.The general clinical data involves gender,age,suspected etiology(infection[such as mastoiditis,otitis media,sinusitis,etc.],oral contraceptives/estrogen,pregnancy/puerperium,anemia and other factors that can lead to changes in blood composition,hyperhomocysteinemia),clinical manifestations(including headache,dizziness,disturbance of consciousness,nausea and vomiting,limb numbness,hemiplegia,tinnitus,aphasia,diplopia,mental abnormalities,unresponsiveness,isolated intracranial hypertension[papilledema],etc.).Imaging data includes involved venous sinus location,multiple venous sinuses(involving ≥ 2 venous sinuses)and intracranial changes(intracranial hemorrhage,venous cerebral infarction,subarachnoid hemorrhage).All patients were tested for D-dimer on the second day of admission.Patients with intracranial hypertension were examined with spinal puncture and measured cerebrospinal fluid pressure,with elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure defined as the pressure＞180mmH2O.The patients were followed up by telephone 2 months after discharge,and the modified Rankin scale(mRS)was used to assess the prognosis of the patients(mRS score ≤2 points as good prognosis,mRS score＞2 points as poor prognosis).The mortality rate of patients was measured.The clinical data,imaging data,laboratory test results,treatment and follow-up results of the two groups were compared.The correlation variables with P＜0.05 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate Logistic regression model to analyze the independent risk factors of CVST accompanied by early-onset seizures.Results(1)Compared with the non-early-onset seizure group,the proportion of pregnant/puerperal females in the early-onset seizure group was higher(33.3％vs.13.2％,P=0.004),the proportion of patients with hemiplegia was higher(23.8％vs.6.6％,P=0.005),and the proportion of patients with CVST imaging combined with intracranial hemorrhage was higher(40.5％vs.13.2％,P＜0.01),with all the differences were statistically significant.There was no significant difference in other baseline clinical data between the two groups(all P＞0.05).(2)Further multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that pregnancy/puerperium(OR,4.854,95％CI 1.917-12.290,P=0.001),hemiplegia(OR,3.871,95％CI 1.246-12.028,P=0.019)and intracranial hemorrhage(OR,5.005,95％CI 2.038-12.288,P＜0.01)were independent risk factors for CVST with early-onset seizures.(3)There were 3 patients(7.1％)in the early-onset seizure group and 6 patients(5.0％)in the non-early-onset seizure group dead,and there was no significant difference in the proportion of death between the two groups(P=0.887).The proportion of patients with good prognosis in the early-onset seizure group was lower than that in the non-early-onset epilepsy group(81.0％vs.92.6％),and the difference between the groups was statistically significant(P=0.043).Among the patients treated with anticoagulation alone,the good prognosis rate of non-early-onset seizures group(99/106,93.4％)was higher than that of the early-onset seizure group(32/40,80.0％),and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.029).Conclusions For CVST patients,especially females during pregnancy or postpartum period,clinical manifestations accompanied by hemiplegia,and with intracranial hemorrhage on imaging,the risk of seizures within 14 days of the diagnosis of CVST should be vigilant.The prognosis of CVST patients with early-onset seizures is worse than that of patients without early-onset seizures.

Objective: We used polysomnography (PSG) monitoring and neuropsychological scales to explore the characteristics of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Wuhan, two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 42 patients in the Sleep Medicine Center were diagnosed with insomnia between December 2021 and May 2022; they were divided into the PTSD group (patients with PTSD diagnosed with insomnia after COVID-19 infection) and the non-PTSD group (patients with insomnia without PTSD). A healthy control group was simultaneously included. Results: The PTSD group was more significant than the non-PTSD group in partial manifestations of sleep disorders, neuropsychological clinical symptoms, and partial PSG data. Patients with different COVID-19 subtypes showed significant differences in the course of disease, sleep disorders, neuropsychological clinical symptoms, relevant scale scores, and PSG data analysis. Conclusion The emotional anxiety and depression of COVID-19 patients diagnosed with PTSD two years after the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan are more significant, and will not be self-alleviated with the passage of time. It is necessary to continue to pay attention to the PTSD symptoms and sleep psychology of COVID-19 infected patients, and take appropriate measures. Patients with severe and critical COVID-19 have more severe sleep and mental disorders, and there is a significant correlation between the duration of the disease and the severity of mental and mental disorders and sleep disorders after recovery.

Objective To evaluate the safety of immediate breast reconstruction using deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps in the patients after neoadjuvant treatment. Methods From January 2019 to February 2021, the data of patients with breast cancer undergoing total mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction using DIEP flap in Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital were collected. Comparison of clinicopathological features was done between neoadjuvant treatment group and control group. Univariate analysis was used to compare the rate of surgical complications between two groups. Results A total of 110 patients were enrolled with 23 cases (20.9%) in neoadjuvant treatment group and 87 cases (79.1%) in control group. None of carcinoma in situ (0 vs. 19.5%, P=0.003) and higher pTNM stage (P<0.001) was present in neoadjuvant treatment group compared with those in control group. However, there were no significant differences in the number of flap perforator of DIEP (P=0.472), the proportion of bipedicled flaps (P=0.489), operative time (P=0.651) and hospital length of stay (P=0.275) between two groups. No significant difference was found in the incidence of postoperative complications between two groups. Breast seroma was the most common recipient complication (13.0%, 3 cases) without donor complication in neoadjuvant treatment group. The most common complication was fat necrosis (12.6%, 11 cases) in recipient site and abdominal seroma (3.4%, 3 cases) in donor site of control group. Reoperation was done in one case (4.3%) of neoadjuvant treatment group and 4 cases (4.6%) of control group. DIEP flap necrosis with total flap loss occurred in 2 cases (2.3%) in control group, but none in neoadjuvant treatment group. Conclusions The imme-diate breast reconstruction with epigastric free flap for breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant treatment would be a safe surgical scheme.

Pheochromocytoma is one of rare tumors of neuroendocrine. Most of the tumors are sporadic with about 1/3 of them caused by genetic mutations. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from thyroid follicular cells is the most common malignant tumors. However, pheochromocytoma with PTC is rarely reported. Here we present a case report of an 41-year-old male patient found to have an adrenal pheochromocytoma combined with PTC, and PTC was diagnosed first with fine needle aspiration. The patient admitted to hospital, and surgery would be prepared when abnormal blood pressure rose, and operation was suspended. Further CT scan and blood biochemical examination were performed, and concurrent adrenal pheochromocytoma was considered. Multidisciplinary team decided to perform adrenal surgery priority. When the recovery of patient appeared after first operation, radical thyroidectomy was performed. Whether the co-existence of pheochromocytoma and PTC is coincidence or caused by RET gene or unknown inherited genetic mutations is unclear, so accumulation of studies with more combined cases should be done and genetic testing data are needed.