To compare the clinical efficacy of intralesional corticosteroid injection combined with topical corticosteroids versus topical corticosteroids alone in patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM).

OBJECTIVES: Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive corneal ectasia disorder, arising from a myriad of causes including genetic predispositions, environmental factors, biomechanical influences, and inflammatory reactions. This study aims to identify potential pathogenetic gene mutations in patients with sporadic KC in the Han Chinese population. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with primary KC as well as 50 unrelated population-matched healthy controls, were included in this study to identify potential pathogenic gene mutations among sporadic KC patients in the Han Chinese population. Sanger sequencing and whole-exome sequencing (WES) were used to analyze mutations in the zinc finger protein 469 (ZNF469) gene. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to explore the potential role of ZNF469 in KC pathogenesis. RESULTS: Five novel heterozygous missense variants were identified in KC patients. Among them, 2 compound heterozygous variants, c.8986G>C (p. E2996Q) with c.11765A>C (p. D3922A), and c.4423C>G (p. L1475V) with c.10633G>A (p. G3545R), were determined to be possible pathogenic factors for KC. CONCLUSIONS Mutations in the ZNF469 gene may contribute to the development of KC in the Han Chinese population. These mutation sites may provide valuable information for future genetic screening of KC patients and their families.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Case-Control Studies ; China/ethnology* ; Exome Sequencing ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Keratoconus/genetics* ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; East Asian People/genetics*

OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major chronic respiratory condition with high morbidity and mortality, imposing a serious economic and public health burden. The World Health Organization ranks COPD among the top 4 chronic diseases worldwide. Zangsiwei Qingfei Mixture (ZSWQF), a novel Tibetan herbal formulation independently developed by our research team, has shown therapeutic potential for chronic respiratory diseases. This study aims to evaluate the effects of aerosolized ZSWQF on cigarette smoke-induced COPD in mice and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty C57 mice were randomly divided into a Control group, a COPD group, and a ZSWQF group. The Control group received saline aerosol inhalation without cigarette smoke exposure; both the COPD group and the ZSWQF group were exposed to cigarette smoke, with the former receiving saline inhalation and the latter treated with ZSWQF aerosol. White blood cell (WBC) count was performed using a fully automatic blood cell analyzer. Serum, alanine transaminase (ALT), and serum creatinine (SCr), as well as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). BALF cell classification was determined using a hematology analyzer. Lung function was assessed with a small animal pulmonary function system, including airway resistance (RI) and cyclic dynamic compliance (CyDN). Lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), and mean linear intercept (MLI) and destruction index (DI) were calculated to evaluate morphological changes. Network pharmacology was applied to identify disease-related and ZSWQF-related targets, followed by intersection and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and enrichment analysis of biological functions and pathways. Primary type II alveolar epithelial cell (AEC II) from SD rats were isolated and divided into a Control group, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, a normal serum group, a water extract of ZSWQF (W-ZSWQF) group, a ZSWQF containing serum group, and a MLN-4760 [angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 inhibitor]. Western blotting was performed to assess protein expression of ACE, p38 [a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)], phospho (p)-p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p-ERK1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-JNK, inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B alpha (IκBα), p-IκBα, and p-p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κBp65). RESULTS: WBC counts were significantly higher in the COPD group than in controls (P<0.01) and decreased following ZSWQF treatment (P<0.05). No significant intergroup differences were found in organ weights, ALT, or SCr (all P>0.05). Serum and BALF levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, as well as total BALF cells, neutrophils, and macrophages, were elevated in the COPD group compared with controls and reduced by ZSWQF treatment (P<0.05). COPD mice exhibited increased RI, decreased CyDN, marked alveolar congestion, inflammatory infiltration, thickened septa, and higher MLI and DI values versus controls (P<0.05); ZSWQF treatment significantly reduced MLI and DI (P<0.05). Network pharmacology identified 151 potential therapeutic targets for ZSWQF against COPD, with key nodes including TNF, IL-6, protein kinase B (Akt) 1, albumin (ALB), tumor protein p53 (TP53), non-receptor tyrosine kinase (SRC), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT) 3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and beta-catenin (CTNNB1). Enrichment analysis indicates involvement of cancer-related, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1, calcium, and MAPK signaling pathways. Western blotting results showed that compared with the LPS group, AEC II treated with ZSWQF-containing serum exhibited decreased expression of ACE, p-p38/p38, p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, p-JNK/JNK, p-IκBα/IκBα, and p-NF-κBp65, while ACE2 expression was upregulated, consistent with the MAPK/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway regulation predicted by network pharmacology. CONCLUSIONS Aerosolized ZSWQF provides protective effects in COPD mice by reducing airway inflammation and remodeling.
Animals ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/etiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Network Pharmacology ; Smoke/adverse effects* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Administration, Inhalation ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Lung/drug effects* ; Interleukin-6/blood*

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of modified Chaihu Shugansan on the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ（CaMKⅡ）/cAMP-response element binding protein （CREB） signaling pathway in the hippocampus and heart tissue of a rat model with myocardial ischemia and depression and explore the mechanism by which this formula prevents and treats coronary heart disease combined with depression. MethodsThe model of myocardial ischemia combined with depression was established by high-fat diet， intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol （ISO）， and chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. A total of 108 SD male rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， high （23.4 g·kg^-1）， medium （11.7 g·kg^-1）， and low （5.85 g·kg^-1） dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan， CaMKⅡ inhibitor （KN93） group， and KN93 + high， medium， and low dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan， with 12 rats in each group. From the first day of modeling to the end of modeling， drugs were administered once a day. In the seventh and eighth weeks， the KN93 group and the KN93 + high， medium， and low dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan were intraperitoneally injected with KN93 three times weekly. At the end of the eighth week， behavioral tests including sucrose preference， open field， and elevated plus maze were conducted. Electrocardiogram （ECG） lead Ⅱ changes were observed in each group of rats， and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe changes in heart tissue. Serum levels of triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL）， and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） were measured by using an enzyme-labeled instrument. Creatine kinase （CK） and creatine kinase-MB （CK-MB） were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry， while serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1） was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression of CaMKⅡ and CREB in hippocampal and heart tissue， and Western blot was performed to assess protein expression of CaMKⅡ， phosphorylated （p）-CaMKⅡ， CREB， and p-CREB. ResultsCompared to the normal group， the model group showed significant reductions in sucrose preference rate， total activity distance in the open field， number of entries into the center area of the open field， and percentage of entries into the open arms of the elevated plus maze （P<0.01）. The ECG showed ST-segment elevation， and HE staining showed serious degeneration of myocardial fibers， disordered arrangement， and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells. In addition， serum TC and LDL levels increased （P<0.01）， and HDL level decreased （P<0.01）. CK， CK-MB， LDH， and MCP-1 levels significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of CaMKⅡ and CREB and the protein expression of p-CaMKⅡ and p-CREB decreased in the hippocampal tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， but those increased in the heart tissue （P<0.01）. Compared to the model group， the high， medium， and low dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan showed improvements in these abnormalities. The KN93 group had reduced sucrose preference， total activity distance in the open field， number of entries into the center area of the open field， and percentage of entries into the open arms of the elevated plus maze （P<0.01）， as well as decreased serum CK， CK-MB， LDH， and MCP-1 levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. KN93 also reduced ST-segment elevation， alleviated the degeneration degree of myocardial fibrosis， and lowered inflammatory cell infiltration. The mRNA expression of CaMKⅡ and CREB and the protein expression of p-CaMKⅡ and p-CREB in both the hippocampal and heart tissue were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The KN93 + high， medium， and low dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan showed further improvements in these abnormalities compared to the KN93 group. ConclusionThe modified Chaihu Shugansan exerts antidepressant and myocardial protective effects in rats with myocardial ischemia and depression， possibly related to bidirectional regulation of the CaMKⅡ/CREB signaling pathway， with the high-dose modified Chaihu Shugansan showing the best effects.

Objective:To explore the association of 21-gene recurrence score (RS) and clinicopathologic characteristics of hormone receptor (HR) positive T1-3N1M0 breast cancer and its value in prognosis evaluation.Methods:The clinicopathological data of 287 patients with T1-3N1M0 breast cancer were collected, the 21-gene assay was completed, and follow-up was conducted. According to the 21-gene RS, the patients were divided into the RS<26 and RS≥26 groups. The relationship between the 21-gene RS and clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, recurrence, and metastasis was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to analyze the risk factors for disease free survival (DFS).Results:The median RS of the 287 patients was 16. There were 240 cases with RS <26 and 47 cases with RS≥26. Tumor size, grade, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Ki-67 index were significantly different between the two cohorts ( P<0.05 for all). After a median follow-up of 74 months, the recurrence rate in the RS<26 group (8.3%) was significantly lower than that in the RS≥26 group (23.4%), the locoregional recurrence (LRR) rates in the RS<26 and RS≥26 groups were 2.1% and 0%,and the distant metastasis (DM) rates were 6.3% and 23.4%, respectively. The 5-year relapse free survival (RFS) rates of patients with RS<26 and RS≥26 were 93.8% (95% CI: 90.7%-96.9%) and 87.2% (95% CI: 78.2%-97.3%), and the 5-year DFS rates were 92.1% (95% CI: 88.7%-95.6%) and 85.1% (95% CI: 75.5%-95.9%), respectively, with significant differences between the two cohorts ( P=0.007 and P=0.006, respectively). Univariate analysis showed age, tumor size, grade, PR status, Ki-67 index and RS were prognostic factors for DFS ( P<0.05 for all). Multivariate analysis showed that age and tumor size were independent significant predictors for DFS ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The 21-gene RS of T1-3N1M0 breast cancer is related to tumor size, grade, ER, PR, and Ki-67 index. RS is an important factor affecting DM and DFS.

Objective:To evaluate the role of hippocampal activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) in cognitive impairment induced by neuropathic pain and the relationship with mitochondrial unfolded protein response(mtUPR) in mice.Methods:This study was conducted in 2 parts. Experiment Ⅰ Twenty-four SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 2 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S1 group) and neuropathic pain group (NP group). Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constriction injury to the sciatic nerve. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured before developing the model and at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after developing the model. Mouse cognitive function was assessed using the novel object recognition test from 30-31 days after developing the model. After the end of the novel object recognition test, mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal CA1 region was harvested for determination of the expression of ATF5 (by Western blot) and the expression of ATF5 in neurons, microglia and astrocytes (by immunofluorescence double staining). Experiment Ⅱ Thirty-six SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S2 group), neuropathic pain + ATF5 up-regulation group (NA group), and neuropathic pain + empty virus group (NE group). On day 14 after developing the model, a virus that specifically up-regulated ATF5 expression in neurons and empty virus were injected into the hippocampal CA1 region. The MWT and TWL were measured at days 28 and 35 after developing the model. The novel object recognition test was performed on day 36 after developing the model to evaluate the cognitive function. After the end of the behavioral test, mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal CA1 region was harvested for detection of the expression of ATF5 and mtUPR marker proteins (Lon protease [LONP1] and heat shock protein 60 [HSP60]) by Western blot. Results:Experiment Ⅰ Compared with S1 group, no statistically significant change was found in the MWT and TWL before developing the model ( P>0.05), the MWT and TWL were significantly decreased on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after developing the model, the discrimination index (DI) was decreased at day 31 after developing the model, the expression of ATF5 was down-regulated, the expression of ATF5 in neurons was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant change was found in the expression of ATF5 in mircrolia and astrocytes in NP group ( P>0.05). Experiment Ⅱ Compared with S2 group, the MWT and TWL were significantly decreased on days 28 and 35 after developing the model in NE group and NA group, DI was decreased, and the expression of ATF5, LONP1 and HSP60 was down-regulated in NE group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in NA group ( P>0.05). Compared with NE group, no significant change was found in the MWT and TWL in NA group ( P>0.05), DI was significantly increased, and the expression of ATF5, LONP1 and HSP60 was up-regulated in NA group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Down-regulated ATF5 in the hippocampus is involved in the process of cognitive impairment caused by neuropathic pain, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of mtUPR.

Objective:To screen high risk children for lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) in southern China and analyze the spectrum characteristics of LSD in this region.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 7 435 children at high risk of LSD were screened at Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University from January 2009 to December 2024. The activities of 22 lysosomal enzymes from peripheral blood leukocytes or plasma were measured by fluorescence or colorimetric assays with synthetic substrates to screen for 24 LSD subtypes.Results:Among the 7 435 high risk children, 759 children were diagnosed with LSD (10.2%). The diagnosed cases included 506 males and 253 females, with an age at diagnosis of 3.0 (2.5, 5.5) years. The common disease types were mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) (390 cases (51.4%)), sphingolipidoses (269 cases (35.4%)), glycogen storage disease (62 cases (8.2%)), and mucolipidosis types Ⅱ and Ⅲ (29 cases (3.8%)). Among the positive cases, 21 disease subtypes were identified. The 5 frequent subtypes, in descending order, were MPS type Ⅱ (197 cases (26.0%)), Gaucher disease (111 cases (14.6%)), MPS type ⅣA (87 cases (11.5%)), glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ (62 cases (8.2%)), and metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) (49 cases (6.5%)). The rarest subtypes were mannosidosis, multiple sulfatase deficiency and Wolman disease, each with 1 case (0.1%).Conclusions:Enzyme activity screening is essential for diagnosing high risk children with LSD. In Southern China, the most common LSD subtypes are MPS Ⅱ, Gaucher disease, MPS ⅣA, glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ, and MLD, while mannosidosis, multiple sulfatase deficiency and Wolman disease are the rarest.

Objective:This study intends to analyze the differences of indexes between the death group and the survival group of CSA-AKI patients undergoing CRRT before, during, and after heart surgery, and at the beginning and the end of CRRT, and to study the risk factors affecting the death of patients, so as to provide guidance for improving the prognosis.Methods:From January 2020 to October 2022, a total of 101 patients (59 in the mortality group and 42 in the survival group) were admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University for cardiac surgery complicated by acute kidney injury necessitating postoperative continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted to ascertain the risk factors influencing the 30-day mortality rate.Results:The postoperative complications of the two groups showed that the mortality group had a large proportion of MODS and LCOS ( P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that intraoperative mean arterial depression, high SOFA score at the beginning of CRRT, high APACHE Ⅱ score at the beginning of CRRT, and low platelet at the end of CRRT were independent risk factors for death( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis shows that SOFA score and APACHE Ⅱ score at the beginning of CRRT have predictive value for the 30-day death risk of CSA-AKI patients receiving CRRT. Conclusion:Low intraoperative MAP, high SOFA and APACHE Ⅱ scores at the beginning of CRRT, and low platelets at the end of CRRT were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality risk in patients with CSA-AKI undergoing CRRT.

Objective Against the backdrop of the country's initiative to channel high-quality medical resources to grassroots levels,the development model of public hospitals with multiple campuses has become a trend.This paper aims to pro-vide a reference for achieving the coordinated development of multiple campuses.Methods Taking the Traditional Chinese Med-icine Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University as an example,this paper analyzed the patient satisfaction in public hospitals with multiple campuses,and studied the service differences and their causes from the perspective of patients' perception in different campuses.Results In 2024,the patient satisfaction scores of Tianhe,Zhuji,and Tongde branches were 89.15,89.91,and 88.71 respectively.For outpatient service satisfaction,the highest-scoring items were the consultation environment(91.19)at Tianhe branch,hospital services(91.99)at Zhuji branch,and the consultation process(89.35)at Tongde branch.Regarding inpatient service satisfaction,the highest scores in all three branches were for hospital management,while the lowest scores were for logistics services.Conclusion There are differences in patient satisfaction among different branches.There are significant differences in outpatient services among the branches.The satisfaction scores of non-medical services such as the envi-ronment and process in Tianhe branch are relatively high,while the scores of hospital services in Zhuji branch and Tongde branch are relatively high.However,the evaluations of inpatient services among the branches are relatively consistent.The satisfaction scores,from high to low,are in the order of hospital management＞diagnosis and treatment services＞consultation process＞inpatient environment＞logistics services.

Objective To observe the effects of four different modeling method on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis,blood rheology,platelet aggregation rate,and myocardial ischemia in rats,and to provide new ideas for the establishment of a rat model of"double heart"disease in line with clinical diagnosis and treatment characteristics.Methods Sixty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into a Control group(unstimulated),chronic unpredictable mild stimulation(CUMS)group,isoproterenol(ISO)group(intraperitoneal injection of ISO),high-fat diet(HFD)group(fed high-fat chow),and composite model(CUMS+ISO+HFD)group(n=12 rats in the Control and HFD groups;n=15 rats in the other three groups,respectively).Modeling procedures were carried out for a total of 8 weeks,with ISO injection started from week 6 of the experiment for a total of 3 weeks.At the end of modeling,rats in each group were subjected to absent-field and sugar-water preference behavioral tests.Electrocardiography(ECG)was performed to observe changes in ECG lead Ⅱ in each group.Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),cortisol(Cor),corticosterone(CORT),endothelin-1(ET-1),and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Myocardial histopathological changes were detected by hematoxylin/eosin(HE)staining.Serum total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were measured using an enzyme labeling instrument.Whole-blood high-cut viscosity(200 V/S),whole-blood low-cut viscosity(10 I/S),plasma viscosity,and fibrinogen were assessed using an automatic blood rheology analyzer.The maximum platelet aggregation rate(MAR)and average platelet aggregation rate(AAR)induced by arachidonic acid and adenosine diphosphate were detected using a whole-blood platelet aggregometer.Results Compared with the Control group,all four model groups had significantly lower absenteeism distance and number of entries into the central region in the absent-field test,and a lower sugar-water preference ratio(P＜0.01).ECG revealed ST-segment elevation in the ISO and CUMS+ISO+HFD groups,tachycardia in the CUMS group,and mild ST-segment elevation in the HFD.Serum ACTH,Cor,CORT,ET-1,and sICAM-1 were all significantly elevated in the four model groups(P＜0.01).HE staining showed that myocardial tissue was severely damaged in rats in the ISO and CUMS+ISO+HFD groups,with pathological changes such as localized fibrosis and inflammatory infiltration of the myocardium,while mild cardiomyocyte disarrangement and fracture was seen in the CUMS and HFD groups.Rats in the HFD group had increased serum TC and LDL(P＜0.01)and decreased HDL contents(P＜0.01).Compared with the Control group,whole-blood high-cut viscosity(200 V/S),whole-blood low-cut viscosity(10 I/S),plasma viscosity,and fibrinogen were all increased in the CUMS,HFD,and CUMS+ISO+HFD groups(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),while whole blood high-cut viscosity(200 V/S),whole blood low-cut viscosity(10 I/S),plasma viscosity,and fibrinogen levels were decreased in rats in the ISO group(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).MAR and AAR were significantly higher in rats in the CUMS,HFD,and CUMS+ISO+HFD groups(P＜0.01),while the platelet aggregation rate was decreased in the ISO group compared with the Control group(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).Conclusions These result showed that the rat CUMS+ISO+HFD model better reflected the complexity of clinical double heart disease than the other three models.