OBJECTIVES: To investigate the causal associations between autoimmune diseases and aplastic anemia (AA) using Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS: Publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were utilized to obtain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with autoimmune diseases and AA for analysis. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was employed as the primary analytical approach, with MR Egger, Weighted Mode, Weighted Median, and Simple Mode methods serving as complementary analyses. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy analyses were conducted using designated functions, and the robustness of Mendelian randomization results was assessed using leave-one-out analysis. RESULTS: The two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis using the IVW method revealed significant positive causal associations of rheumatoid arthritis (OR=1.094, 95% CI: 1.023-1.170, P=0.009, adjusted P=0.042), systemic lupus erythematosus (OR=1.111, 95% CI: 1.021-1.208, P=0.015, adjusted P=0.036), Hashimoto thyroiditis (OR=1.206, 95% CI: 1.049-1.387, P=0.009, adjusted P=0.029), and Sicca syndrome (OR=1.173, 95% CI: 1.054-1.306, P=0.004, adjusted P=0.035) with AA, which was supported by the results from the Weighted Median method. Sensitivity analyses indicated no evidence of pleiotropy or heterogeneity, and leave-one-out analysis confirmed the robustness of the causal relationships. No direct evidence was found linking Graves' disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, or primary sclerosing cholangitis with AA (P>0.05, adjusted P>0.05), indicating a lack of causal association. Reverse Mendelian randomization results and multiple corrections indicated that AA was not an influencing factor for autoimmune diseases (adjusted P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support at the genetic level that rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and Sicca syndrome are risk factors for AA, and confirm a causal association of the these 4 autoimmune diseases with an increased risk of AA.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Anemia, Aplastic/genetics* ; Autoimmune Diseases/complications* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease

Objective:To investigate the distribution law of TCM syndromes in DPN patients with different TCM syndromes and their correlation with neuroelectrophysiological indexes.Methods:The general data of 252 DPN patients in Nanchong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from October 2021 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into 139 cases of primary deficiency syndrome group and 113 cases of excess in superficiality group according to TCM syndrome type. The distribution of TCM syndromes in DPN patients was observed, nerve electrophysiological indicators were detected, the differences of nerve electrophysiological indicators among patients with different TCM syndromes were compared, and the correlation between TCM syndromes distribution and nerve electrophysiological indicators in DPN patients was analyzed.Results:Among 139 patients of DPN with primary deficiency syndrome, there were 56 cases of qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, 44 cases of yin deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, 39 cases of liver and kidney deficiency syndrome; among 113 cases of excess in superficiality syndrome group, 42 cases of phlegm-dampness blocking collaterals syndrome, 37 cases of blood stasis blocking collaterals syndrome, and 34 cases of damp-heat blocking collaterals syndrome. There was no significant difference in the general data of patients with different TCM syndrome types ( P>0.05). The MCV and SCV of the median nerve, common peroneal nerve, and ulnar nerve in patients with primary deficiency syndrome group were lower than those in the excess in superficiality syndrome ( P<0.001), and the MCV and SCV of the median nerve, common peroneal nerve, and ulnar nerve in patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, yin deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, and liver and kidney deficiency syndrome sequentially decreased ( P<0.01); there was no statistical significance ( P>0.05) in MCV and SCV between the three types of patients in the excess in superficiality group. Point-biserial correlation analysis results showed that DPN patients with primary deficiency syndrome had significant correlation with MCV and SCV ( P<0.05), while DPN patients with excess in superficiality syndrome had no significant correlation with MCV and SCV ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome is the most common among DPN patients with primary deficiency syndrome. Compared with patients with excess in superficiality group syndrome, MCV and SCV of patients with primary deficiency syndrome are at a lower level, and the TCM syndrome types of DPN patients are closely related to nerve conduction velocity.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of abnormal bone mineral density (BMD) in male patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.Methods:Clinical data of 72 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis admitted in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2017 to July 2023 were enrolled as study group, and 40 age-and BMI-matched non-hepatopathy subjects were selected as control group.The incidence of abnormal BMD were compared between two groups. The serum levels of osteocalcin (OC), total procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (TP1NP), β-C-terminal telopeptide of typeⅠcollagen (CTX) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH)VD] were measured and compared among patients with different Child-Pugh grades.Results:Among 72 alcoholic cirrhosis patients, there were 54 cases (75.0%) complicated with abnormal BMD, including 21 cases (29.2%) of bone loss and 33 cases (45.8%) of osteoporosis. In control group there were 15 subjects with abnormal bone mineral density, including 9 cases (22.5%) of bone loss and 6 cases (15.0%) of osteoporosis( χ2=5.623 and 15.900,both P<0.05). The average BMDs of L1-L4, femoral neck, intertrochanteric region and trochanter of the femur in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were significantly lower than those in control group ( t=3.574, 8.640, 7.282, 7.958, 3.755, 5.573, 5.026,all P<0.05); the average BWDs of L1-L3 and hip joint in patients with Child-Pugh C were significantly lower than those in patients with Child-Pugh A and B ( t=1.414, 1.699, 3.786, 2.590, 8.763, 2.581, 1.392, 6.232,all P<0.05). The serum levels of 25-(OH)VD in alcoholic cirrhosis patients with Child-Pugh C grade were significantly lower than those with Child-Pugh A and B ( t=3.969 and 2.911, P<0.05); the serum calcium levels in patients with Child-Pugh C grade were lower than those with Child-Pugh A( t=3.627, P<0.05); while the TP1NP levels in patients with Child-Pugh C were higher than those with Child-Pugh A and B grades( t=6.722 and 5.034, P<0.05).The Child-Pugh grade was negatively correlated with 25-(OH)VD level( β=-0.767, P<0.05)and positively correlated with TP1NP level ( β=2.186, P<0.05). Conclusion:The incidence of bone loss and osteoporosis in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis is increased significantly, and the deterioration of their liver function is closely associated with an increased TP1NP level and decreased 25-(OH)VD levels.

Objective:To investigate the effect of hyperuricemia treatment on vascular endothelial function and blood pressure in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods:A total of 138 cases from the same center were enrolled in the study. 92 cases of acute cerebral infarction patients combined with hyperuricemia were selected. They were randomly divided into the experimental group (46 cases) and control group (46 cases). 46 cases of acute cerebral infarction patients with normal uric acid were selected in the same period. Patients in the experimental group received oral allopurinol for 3 months to treat hyperuricemia. Serum uric acid, blood lipid, and hs-CRP were tested before and after treatment in these populations. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) were also detected, and vascular endothelial function was evaluated using ultrasound non-invasive blood flow mediated vasodilation function (FMD). Comparison and statistical analysis were carried out in groups.Results:Uric acid [(479.7±49.0) μmol/L vs. (381.2±76.7) μmol/L]、hs-CRP[(8.1±6.7) mg/L vs. (5.1±4.6) mg/L]、systolic blood pressure [(124.7±26.3) mmHg vs. (97.4±13.5) mmHg] decreased significantly in the experimental group after 3 months of treatment with allopurinol ( P<0.05), and blood flow mediated vasodilation function [(7.6±3.5) vs. (11.2±3.9)]significantly increased ( P<0.05). The decrease of serum uric acid was positively correlated with the increase of FMD in the experimental group ( r=0.463, P<0.01). Multiple Regression analysis showed that serum uric acid was an independent predictor of FMD( β=-0.229, P=0.035). Conclusions:The treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with acute cerebral infarction can significantly improve the vascular endothelial function of patients, improve inflammation state and lower blood pressure. It is further confirmed that a higher uric acid level is related to worse endothelial function which may contribute to atherosclerosis.

This study aims to investigate the effects of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) on learning and memory abilities and antioxidant capacity of D-galactose-induced aging mice. Kunming mice (37.1 +/- 0.62) g were randomly divided into normal control group, model group and FGF-21 high, medium and low dose groups (n = 8). Each group was injected in cervical part subcutaneously with D-galactose 180 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) once a day for 8 weeks. At the same time, FGF-21-treated mice were administered with FGF-21 by giving subcutaneous injection in cervical part at the daily doses of 5, 2 and 1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). The normal control group was given with normal saline by subcutaneous injection in cervical part. At seventh week of the experiment, the learning and memory abilities of mice were determined by water maze and jumping stand tests. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed and the cells damage of hippocampus was observed by HE staining in each group. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the brain of mice were determined. The results showed that different doses of FGF-21 could reduce the time reaching the end (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) and the number of touching blind side (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the water maze comparing with the model group. It could also prolong the latency time (P < 0.05) and decrease the number of errors (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the step down test. The result of HE staining showed that FGF-21 could significantly reduce brain cell damage in the hippocampus. The ROS and MDA levels of three different doses FGF-21 treatment group reduced significantly than that of the model group [(5.58 +/- 1.07), (7.78 +/- 1.92), (9.03 +/- 1.77) vs (12.75 +/- 2.02) pmol (DCF) x min(-1) x mg(-1), P < 0.01 or P < 0.05], [(2.92 +/- 0.71), (4.21 +/- 0.81), (4.41 +/- 0.97) vs (5.62 +/- 0.63) nmol x mg(-1) (protein), P < 0.01]. Comparing with the model group, the activities of SOD, GPx, CAT and T-AOC of the three different doses FGF-21 treatment groups were also improved in a dose-dependent manner. This study demonstrates that FGF-21 can ameliorate learning and memory abilities of D-galactose induced aging mice, improve the antioxidant abilities in brain tissue and delay brain aging. This finding provides a theoretical support for clinical application of FGF-21 as a novel therapeutics for preventing aging.

Scarless healing is considered as the most ideal mode of wound repair. This ability generally exists in the early period of mammalian embryos, however it gradually turns to scar healing with the development of the embryos. This phenomenon is the result of the interaction of multiple biological functions, and the mechanism is still uncertain. This article deals with a systematical review of literature concerning the mechanism of scarless healing based on the recent experimental studies, hoping to provide evidence for the treatment of wounds to realize scarless healing in adult.
Adult ; Animals ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Fetus ; physiology ; Humans ; Wound Healing ; physiology

AIM: To detect free and hydrolysable gallic acid in Acer Truncatum Bunge by HPLC. METHODS: A method for determining gallic acid in leaves of Acer Truncatum Bunge.The operating conditions HPLC were Diamonsil C_18 column(5 ?m,4.6 mm?250 mm) at room temperature,methanol-0.025 mol/L phosphoric acid solution(15∶85) as mobile phase at a flow of 1.0 mL/min and UV detection at 272 nm. RESULTS: The contents of free and hydrolysable gallic acid were 0.045% and 1.546%,repectively.The relative standard deviations of free and hydrolysable gallic acid were 1.06% and 2.43%,respectively. CONCLUSION: The contents of free and hydrolysable gallic acid in Acer Truncatum Bunge in different periods are different.