Aortic dissection is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease with devastating complications and high mortality. It requires rapid and accurate diagnosis and a focus on prognosis. Many laboratory tests are routinely performed in patients with aortic dissection including D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin. D-dimer shows vital performance in the diagnosis of aortic dissection, and brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin exhibits important value in risk stratification and prognostic effect in aortic dissection patients. Our review summarized the clinical utility of these laboratory tests in patients with aortic dissection, aiming to provide advanced and comprehensive evidence for clinicians to better understand these laboratory tests and help their clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Fibrosis of the connective tissue in the vaginal wall predominates in pelvic organ prolapse (POP), which is characterized by excessive fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Our study aimed to investigate the effect of ECM stiffness on vaginal fibroblasts and to explore the role of methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) in the development of POP. METHODS: Polyacrylamide hydrogels were applied to create an ECM microenvironment with variable stiffness to evaluate the effects of ECM stiffness on the proliferation, differentiation, and expression of ECM components in vaginal fibroblasts. METTL3 small interfering RNA and an overexpression vector were transfected into vaginal fibroblasts to evaluate the effects of METTL3 silencing and overexpression on matrix stiffness-induced vaginal fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal modulation of the ECM. Both procedures were detected by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, Western blotting (WB), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunofluorescence (IF). RESULTS: Vaginal fibroblasts from POP patients exhibited increased proliferation ability, increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), decreased expression of collagen I/III, and significantly decreased expression of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the stiff matrix ( P <0.05). Compared with those from non-POP patients, vaginal wall tissues from POP patients demonstrated a significant increase in METTL3 content ( P <0.05). However, silencing METTL3 expression in vaginal fibroblasts with high ECM stiffness resulted in decreased proliferation ability, decreased α-SMA expression, an increased ratio of collagen I/III, and increased TIMP1 and TIMP2 expression. Conversely, METTL3 overexpression significantly promoted the process of increased proliferation ability, increased α-SMA expression, decreased ratio of collagen I/III and decreased TIMP1 and TIMP2 expression in the soft matrix ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Elevated ECM stiffness can promote excessive proliferation, differentiation, and abnormal ECM modulation, and the expression of METTL3 plays an important role in alleviating or aggravating matrix stiffness-induced vaginal fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal ECM modulation.
Humans ; Female ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation/genetics* ; Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/pathology* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts/metabolism* ; Vagina/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/physiology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Middle Aged

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of intraosseous regional administration (IORA) of vancomycin for preventing infection in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A total of 124 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA between February 2024 and May 2024 at nine hospitals were enrolled. Preoperative infection prophylaxis involved either IORA (0.5 g vancomycin administered via intraosseous regional infusion before incision) or intravenous infusion (1 g vancomycin via peripheral vein). The IORA group included 15 males and 47 females with a median age of 66.5 years (range, 60.0-70.0 years), while the intravenous group included 14 males and 48 females with a median age of 66.0 years (range, 61.8-70.3 years) years. Intraoperative samples were collected including fat and synovium tissues after incision, before prosthesis placement, and after tourniquet release; distal femoral cancellous bone during femoral osteotomy; proximal tibial cancellous bone during tibial osteotomy; proximal intercondylar cancellous bone before prosthesis placement; and peripheral blood from non-infused arms at surgery initiation and after tourniquet release. Vancomycin concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vital sign changes were recorded from admission to 5~10 minutes post-IORA (IORA group) or post-incision (intravenous group). Follow-ups were conducted on postoperative day 1 and 3, and at 1 and 3 months, to document complications including IORA-related adverse events, periprosthetic joint infections, surgical site infections, red man syndrome, acute kidney injury, deep vein thrombosis and so on.Results:Vancomycin concentrations in bone, fat, and synovial tissue samples were significantly higher in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05), while vancomycin concentrations in blood samples were significantly lower in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05). Only 7.3%(41/558) of tissue samples in the IORA group had vancomycin concentrations below 2.0 μg/g (the minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin against coagulase-negative staphylococcus), compared to 59.3%(331/558) in the intravenous group (χ 2=11.285, P<0.001). In the intravenous group, 16.9%(21/124) of blood samples had vancomycin concentrations exceeding 15.0 mg/L (the threshold associated with a significantly increased risk of nephrotoxicity), while all concentrations in the IORA group were below this threshold, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=22.943, P<0.001). There were no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05) in vital signs changes before and after vancomycin administration between the two groups. Two patients in the intravenous group experienced incision exudate, while no other related complications occurred in either group. Conclusions:Compared to the traditional intravenous infusion of 1 g vancomycin, intraosseous injection of a low dose (0.5 g) of vancomycin achieves higher local tissue concentrations in the knee joint with a lower incidence of adverse reactions and is safe for infection prophylaxis. Despite guidelines not recommending the routine use of vancomycin for preventing infection after primary TKA, intraosseous injection of 0.5 g vancomycin may be considered intraoperatively for primary TKA in the following scenarios: patients in medical institutions with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, patients with potential preoperative MRSA colonization, or patients with cephalosporin allergy.

Objective To explore the clinical application effects of Chen's pancreatojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.Methods Clinical data of 176 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy in Xiangyang Central Hospital from January 2019 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the methods of intraoperative pancreatojejunostomy,the patients were divided into two groups,the research group(102 cases)using Chen's pancreatojejunostomy,and the control group(74 cases)using duct-to-mucosa pancreatojejunostomy.The two groups were compared on clinical indicators,including operation time,pancreatojejunostomy time,intraoperative blood loss,incidence of postoperative complications,length of hospital stay,and 30-day postoperative mortality rate.Results All 176 patients successfully underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in intraoperative blood loss,biochemical leakage,abdominal bleeding,upper gastrointestinal bleeding,delayed gastric emptying,bile leakage,abdominal infection,and 30-day postoperative mortality rate(P＞0.05).The pancreatojejunostomy time[(22.33±5.95)min]and operation time[(334.60±66.42)min]in the study group were significantly shorter than those in the control group[(30.70±5.50)min]and[(414.46±60.96)min],with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Two groups of patients did not develop grade C pancreatic fistula.The incidence of grade B pancreatic fistula in the study group(5.88％)was significantly lower compared to the control group(16.22％),and this difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Additionally,The postoperative hospital stay of the study group patients[(17.10±6.89)days]was significantly shorter than in the control group[(20.88±8.40)days],with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).Conclusion Chen's pancreatojejunostomy is a feasible,safe,and effective procedure in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy,which can shorten the pancreatojejunostomy time,reduce the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula,and decrease the length of hospital stay.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of intraosseous regional administration (IORA) of vancomycin for preventing infection in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A total of 124 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA between February 2024 and May 2024 at nine hospitals were enrolled. Preoperative infection prophylaxis involved either IORA (0.5 g vancomycin administered via intraosseous regional infusion before incision) or intravenous infusion (1 g vancomycin via peripheral vein). The IORA group included 15 males and 47 females with a median age of 66.5 years (range, 60.0-70.0 years), while the intravenous group included 14 males and 48 females with a median age of 66.0 years (range, 61.8-70.3 years) years. Intraoperative samples were collected including fat and synovium tissues after incision, before prosthesis placement, and after tourniquet release; distal femoral cancellous bone during femoral osteotomy; proximal tibial cancellous bone during tibial osteotomy; proximal intercondylar cancellous bone before prosthesis placement; and peripheral blood from non-infused arms at surgery initiation and after tourniquet release. Vancomycin concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vital sign changes were recorded from admission to 5~10 minutes post-IORA (IORA group) or post-incision (intravenous group). Follow-ups were conducted on postoperative day 1 and 3, and at 1 and 3 months, to document complications including IORA-related adverse events, periprosthetic joint infections, surgical site infections, red man syndrome, acute kidney injury, deep vein thrombosis and so on.Results:Vancomycin concentrations in bone, fat, and synovial tissue samples were significantly higher in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05), while vancomycin concentrations in blood samples were significantly lower in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05). Only 7.3%(41/558) of tissue samples in the IORA group had vancomycin concentrations below 2.0 μg/g (the minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin against coagulase-negative staphylococcus), compared to 59.3%(331/558) in the intravenous group (χ 2=11.285, P<0.001). In the intravenous group, 16.9%(21/124) of blood samples had vancomycin concentrations exceeding 15.0 mg/L (the threshold associated with a significantly increased risk of nephrotoxicity), while all concentrations in the IORA group were below this threshold, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=22.943, P<0.001). There were no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05) in vital signs changes before and after vancomycin administration between the two groups. Two patients in the intravenous group experienced incision exudate, while no other related complications occurred in either group. Conclusions:Compared to the traditional intravenous infusion of 1 g vancomycin, intraosseous injection of a low dose (0.5 g) of vancomycin achieves higher local tissue concentrations in the knee joint with a lower incidence of adverse reactions and is safe for infection prophylaxis. Despite guidelines not recommending the routine use of vancomycin for preventing infection after primary TKA, intraosseous injection of 0.5 g vancomycin may be considered intraoperatively for primary TKA in the following scenarios: patients in medical institutions with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, patients with potential preoperative MRSA colonization, or patients with cephalosporin allergy.

Objective To explore the clinical application effects of Chen's pancreatojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.Methods Clinical data of 176 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy in Xiangyang Central Hospital from January 2019 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the methods of intraoperative pancreatojejunostomy,the patients were divided into two groups,the research group(102 cases)using Chen's pancreatojejunostomy,and the control group(74 cases)using duct-to-mucosa pancreatojejunostomy.The two groups were compared on clinical indicators,including operation time,pancreatojejunostomy time,intraoperative blood loss,incidence of postoperative complications,length of hospital stay,and 30-day postoperative mortality rate.Results All 176 patients successfully underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in intraoperative blood loss,biochemical leakage,abdominal bleeding,upper gastrointestinal bleeding,delayed gastric emptying,bile leakage,abdominal infection,and 30-day postoperative mortality rate(P＞0.05).The pancreatojejunostomy time[(22.33±5.95)min]and operation time[(334.60±66.42)min]in the study group were significantly shorter than those in the control group[(30.70±5.50)min]and[(414.46±60.96)min],with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Two groups of patients did not develop grade C pancreatic fistula.The incidence of grade B pancreatic fistula in the study group(5.88％)was significantly lower compared to the control group(16.22％),and this difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Additionally,The postoperative hospital stay of the study group patients[(17.10±6.89)days]was significantly shorter than in the control group[(20.88±8.40)days],with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).Conclusion Chen's pancreatojejunostomy is a feasible,safe,and effective procedure in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy,which can shorten the pancreatojejunostomy time,reduce the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula,and decrease the length of hospital stay.

The histopathological growth patterns (HGPs) of colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis reflect the complicated and varied interactions between tumor cells and host microenvironment. Exploring the tumor vascular and immunological features of HGPs, the relationship between HGPs and anti-tumor treatment efficacy, and HGPs prediction methods may have potential clinical aplication value for making optimal treatment strategies, evaluating patients' prognosis, and monitoring disease progression.

Objective To examine the quinolone resistance and mechanisms of resistance,including prevalence of transferable mechanisms of quinolone resistance(TMQR)genes in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP).Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested for CRKP isolated from 7 hospitals in China during 2019 by broth microdilution method.Genome sequencing analysis was performed on Illumina HiseqX sequencing platform.The virulence genes,multilocus sequence typing(MLST),chromosome quinolone resistance-determining region(QRDR)variation,and prevalence of TMQR genes in CRKP were analyzed.Results Overall,98.4％and 99.2％of the 481 CRKP strains were non-susceptible to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin,respectively.ST11(77.8％)and ST15(15.8％)were the dominant clones.Among the 303 CRKP strains carrying virulence gene(CV-CRKP),ST11 type and ST15 type strains accounted for 92.1％and 5.0％,respectively,while ST11 and ST15 type strains accounted for 53.4％and 34.3％in the 178 CRKP strains without the virulence gene(non-CV-CRKP).All of the ST11 and ST 15 type strains were resistant to quinolones associated with gyrA and parC mutation.All of the quinolone-sensitive strains were not ST11 type or not ST15 type.TMQR analysis showed that qnrS1(61.1％,294 strains),qnrB4(10.0％,48 strains)and aac(6)-Ib-cr(18.7％,90 strains)were most prevalent in CRKPs,while qnrB1(4 strains),qnrB2(2 strains),qnrD1(2 strains)and qnrB6(1 strain)were infrequently identified in CRKPs.Specifically,qnrB4 was mainly identified in high-level levofloxacin-resistant strains(MIC≥8 mg/L),while aac(6)-Ib-cr was found mainly in ciprofloxacin-resistant strains(MIC＞8 mg/L).Conclusions Clinical CRKPs were highly resistant to quinolone.The rate of QRDR variation were high in quinolone resistant CRKP strains,with high TMQR gene carriage.

ObjectiveThis study explores the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of Wujiwan in rats with inflammatory bowel disease （IBD） from the perspectives of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ （PPARγ） signaling pathway and T-cell immunity， providing reference for the treatment of IBD with traditional Chinese medicine. MethodThe study involved administering 2，4，6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid （TNBS） enemas to 35 rats to induce acute IBD. After 24 hours， the animals were divided into the following groups： normal group， model group， Wujiwan treatment group， and positive drug control group. Each group received gastric gavage for 8 consecutive days before the rats were dissected to compare the disease activity index （DAI） of the rat colon tissue， the colon mucosal damage index （CMDI）， and the spleen index. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in the serum. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of T-bet （T-box expressed in T cells） and Gata3 （Gata-binding protein-3） in the colon tissue. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the protein expression levels of PPARγ， T-bet， and nuclear factor-κB p65 （NF-κB p65） in the rat colon. ResultThe rat model of IBD was successfully established. Compared with the model group， the Wujiwan treatment group showed reduced DAI， CMDI， and spleen index， decreased content of TNF-α in the serum（P<0.01）， significantly increased content of IL-10（P<0.01）， and elevated mRNA content of T-bet and Gata3（P<0.05） in the colon tissue. The expression of PPARγ protein was augmented（P<0.05）， and the expression of T-bet and NF-κB p65 protein was decreased（P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionWujiwan activates or upregulates PPARγ expression in IBD rats to inhibit the generation of pro-inflammatory factors， participates in the inflammatory immune process， and alleviates inflammatory reactions. Its mechanism may involve regulating the NF-κB pathway through PPARγ， enhancing Th2 cell transcription expression， and reducing Th1 cell transcription.