Objective To investigate the effects of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycan-linked protein 1 (HAPLN1) secreted by synovial fibroblasts (FLS) on the polarization of macrophages (Mϕ) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Human monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1) were differentiated into Mϕ, which were subsequently exposed to recombinant HAPLN1 (rHAPLN1). RA-FLS were transfected separately with HAPLN1 overexpression plasmid (HAPLN1^OE) or small interfering RNA targeting HAPLN1 (si-HAPLN1), and then co-cultured with Mϕ to establish a co-culture model. The viability of Mϕ was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, and the proportions of pro-inflammatory M1-type and anti-inflammatory M2-type Mϕ were analyzed by flow cytometry. Additionally, the expression levels of inflammatory markers, including interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Results The viability of Mϕ was increased in the rHAPLN1 group compared to the control group. Furthermore, both the M1/Mϕ ratio and inflammatory factor levels were elevated in the rHAPLN1 and HAPLN1^OE groups. In contrast, the si-HAPLN1 group exhibited a decrease in the M1/Mϕ ratio and inflammatory factor expression. Notably, the introduction of rHAPLN1 in rescue experiments further promoted Mϕ polarization towards the M1 phenotype. Conclusion HAPLN1, secreted by RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS), enhances Mϕ polarization towards the M1 phenotype.
Humans ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Phenotype ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/genetics* ; Proteoglycans/genetics* ; Synovial Membrane/cytology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation ; Coculture Techniques ; THP-1 Cells

Objective To investigate the application value of 320-slice wide-detector multi-phase left at-rial appendage computed tomography angiography(LAA-CTA)with pulmonary artery(PA)monitoring in the preoperative evaluation of left atrial appendage closure.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 110 patients who underwent LAA-CTA before left atrial appendage closure.Among them,47 patients underwent single-phase enhanced scanning with superior vena cava(SVC)monitoring(con-trol group),and 63 patients underwent multi-phase enhanced scanning with pulmonary artery monitoring(study group).The differences in imaging effects of the left atrial appendage under different monitoring points and phase imaging methods were compared,as well as the accuracy of comparing with the diagnostic results of transesophageal ultrasound(TEE),and the differences in the presentation of thrombus,perithrombus,and hypoperfusion areas in the left atrial appendage.Results The study group could comprehensively display the multi-phase CT value changes of different components(thrombus,peri-thrombotic viscosity,normal blood)within the left atrial appendage cavity,and its evaluation of lesion size and progression was superior to that of the control group.Using TEE as the gold standard,the study group demonstrated better diagnostic ac-curacy for different components and normal regions within the left atrial appendage cavity compared to the control group(P<0.001).Additionally,the study group improved the detection rate of peri-thrombotic vis-cosity,clearly delineated thrombus boundaries,and enhanced diagnostic accuracy(P<0.001).Conclusion Multi-phase LAA-CTA with pulmonary artery monitoring can effectively evaluate the morphological dimensions,thrombus,and peri-thrombotic CT manifestations of the left atrial appendage.It is simple to operate,with an accuracy rate close to the gold standard,providing reliable imaging evidence for preoperative evaluation of left atrial appendage closure.

Based on the Delphi method, combined with the results of the previous literature study and expert interviews, 3 rounds of expert consultation were conducted to evaluate the degree of concentration of expert opinions and their importance from 3 aspects: arithmetic mean, full score ratio ( Ki), and rank sum ( Si), to construct a diagnostic scale for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cold-dampness syndrome. In this study, 30 expert questionnaires were distributed in the 1st round, 30 questionnaires were recovered, and the expert coordination coefficient was 0.309; 30 expert questionnaires were distributed in the 2nd round, 30 questionnaires were recovered, and the expert coordination coefficient was 0.320; and 30 expert questionnaires were distributed in the 3rd round, 29 questionnaires were recovered, and the expert coordination coefficient was 0.387. The maximum value of the coefficient of variation of the experts of the 3 rounds was 0.27, and the minimum value was 0.09, suggesting that the consistency and credibility of the experts' evaluation of the importance of the entries of cold-dampness syndrome were high. In this study, the mean values and weights of 17 entries were finally obtained, of which the top 5 entries were cold pain in joints (4.793, 0.066 6); aggravated by cold (4.586, 0.063 7); white tongue coating (4.552, 0.063 2); aggravated in cloudy and rainy days (4.448, 0.061 8); and painful joints that are not warm to the touch (4.379, 0.060 8). This study completed the screening of relevant entries and conducted preliminary discussions, laying the foundation for constructing a diagnostic scale for RA cold-dampness syndrome and forming the final diagnostic criteria. The research method is scientific and reliable, which can provide reference for the diagnostic standard of RA cold-dampness syndrome, but further clinical practice research is still needed.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of MS in elderly people aged ≥60 years and its related factors in China and provide scientific evidence for prevention and control of MS in the elderly. Methods: Data used in this study were obtained from the 2013 Chinese Chronic Diseases and Risk Factor Surveillance Program. A total of 50 497 people aged ≥60 years were selected and interviewed through multistage stratified cluster sampling at 298 surveillance sites in 31 provinces. According to the Chinese MS diagnostic criteria proposed by the Chinese Medical Association Diabetes Branch in 2017, the prevalence rates of different MS forms were compared, and the main related factors were analyzed. Results: The prevalence rate of MS was 36.9% (95%CI: 35.4-38.5). The prevalence rate was higher in urban area than in the rural area, higher in females than in males, higher in eastern area than in western area. The prevalence rate of MS in elderly people aged ≥70 years was lower than that in those aged 60-69 years. The rate in the elderly with higher education and income levels was higher than that in the elderly with lower socioeconomic level. The comparison of the prevalence of the five forms of MS in the elderly showed that hypertension had the highest prevalence rate (72.8%), followed by hyperglycemia (41.7%) and central obesity (37.6%). The prevalence rates of hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C were 25.8% and 17.5%. The risk for MS in women was 1.20 times higher than that in men. Age, gender, education level, living area and urban or rural residence were the main factors influencing the prevalence of MS. Smoking, drinking and physical activity levels were correlated with MS. Conclusions The risk for MS was higher in women than in men in China’s elderly population, and the risk was related to socioeconomic level and life behaviors. It is recommended to carry out lifestyle interventions, such as increasing exercise and having reasonable diet for the elderly patients with MS. Hypertension and diabetes patients also need to be treated with drugs to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To understand the control attempts of body weight and its related factors among overweight and obese adults in China. Methods: Data was from the 2013 Chinese Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Surveillance Program, which covered 302 surveillance sites. 179 570 adults, selected through multistage stratified cluster sampling method, were interviewed. Demographic characteristics and weight-control attempts were collected via face-to-face interview. BMI, waist circumstance and blood pressure were individually measured under physical examination. Venous blood samples were obtained and tested for FPG, OGTT-2h, TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C. A total of 87 545 overweight and obese patients were included in this study, with the exclusion of 152 patients having the missed critical information. Rates on weight control and attempts were analyzed, using the complex weighting on samples to represent the overall overweight and obese adults in China. Results: The rate of weight-control attempts was 16.3% (95%CI: 14.9%-17.7%). Among all the 12 133 patients who had undergone weight-control measures, the proportions of different attempts were as follows: diet (40.9%, 95%CI: 38.4%-43.3%), combination of diet and physical activity (31.5%, 95%CI: 28.9%-34.0%), physical activity (22.8%, 95%CI: 21.0%-24.6%) and drug control (1.3%, 95%CI: 1.0%-1.7%). Factors as: being female (OR=1.26, 95%CI: 1.15-1.38), at younger age (18-44 years old, OR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.31-1.74), with high education levels (college degree or above, OR=4.52, 95%CI: 3.76-5.43), having high annual income (≥24 000 Yuan, OR=1.94, 95%CI: 1.63-2.30) etc., appeared as favorable factors for taking the measures vs. rural residency (OR=0.63, 95%CI: 0.55- 0.72) as the unfavorable one. Conclusion The rate of weight-control attempts appeared low among the overweight and obese adults who were affected by factors as age, education and income level. Personalized intervention measures should be carried out for people with different characteristics.

Objective: To investigate the status of self-measurement of body weight in overweight and obese adults in China and identify the related factors. Methods: A total of 87 670 adults were enrolled in this study, who were selected through multi stage cluster random sampling from 177 099 residents aged ≥18 years in 302 surveillance areas in China where the fourth chronic non-communicable disease and related factor surveillance project was conducted in 2013. The information about their demographic characteristics and body weight measurement were collected by using questionnaire. Their body height, body weight, waist circumstance and blood pressure were measured respectively through physical examination. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained and assayed for FPG, TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C levels. Venous blood samples after 75 g glucose intake were obtained and assayed for OGTT-2h level. The proportion of self-body weight measurement were analyzed after complex sample weighting. Results: The proportion of overweight and obese adults who had self-body weight measurement within 1 week, 1 month and 1 year were 18.9%, 23.0% and 30.2%, respectively. The proportion of those having self-body weight measurement within 1 week was higher in men than in women, and lowest in ≥60 years old group (P<0.05). The proportion of overweight and obese adults who had never measured their body weight was 20.5%, the proportion was higher in women than in men, and highest in ≥60 years old group (P<0.05). Older age (OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.64-0.82) was risk factor for self-body weight measurement; female (OR=1.11, 95%CI: 1.03-1.19), higher education level (junior college and above OR=3.79, 95%CI: 2.89-4.97), high- income (OR=1.61, 95%CI: 1.31-1.98), dyslipidemia (OR=1.13, 95%CI: 1.04-1.23), diabetes (OR=1.15, 95%CI: 1.03-1.30) were the protective factors for self-body weight measurement. Conclusion It is necessary to promote self-body weight measurement in overweight and obese adults in China. Targeted health education should be carried out for different groups to encourage regular self-body weight measurement to maintain healthy body weight.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of vaginal enlarged amputation of cervix to treat patients with cervical cancer of stage Ⅰ a1 and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade Ⅲ(CIN Ⅲ)who were unfit for conization surgery.Methods From July 2002 to May 2007,patients with cervical cancer at stage Ⅰ a1,diagnosed by pathology after loop electrosurgical excision procedure(LEEP),large area CIN Ⅲ(the area of lesion≥3/4 on colposcopy),CIN Ⅲ coexisted with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN)in the superior segment of vagina,CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ recurrence or with residual lesion,positive margin after conization of cervix,who wanted to preserve fertility and(or)corpus uteri were selected to receive vaginal enlarged amputation of cervix.Results Forty-eight eases including 5 with cervical cancer in stage Ⅰ a1,38 with large area CIN Ⅲ(9 with gland involvement),2 with residual lesion and 2 with positive margin after LEEP,1 recurrence after cold knife conization,received the procedure successfully.The median age was 34 years(range 27-40),median operation time was 60 minutes(range 30-100),median blood loss was 40 ml(range 5-300),and median hospital stay was 10 days(range 7-17).After follow-up 1-39 months,no patient had postoperative complications and recurrence,and all patients resumed normal menstrual cycle and sexual life.Condusion Vaginal enlarged amputation of cervix appears to be a safe and feasible procedure for patients with cervical cancer at stage Ⅰ a1 and CIN Ⅲ who are unfit for conization surgery.