Background/Aims: Systemic Inflammation (SI) is considered a key mechanism in disease progression and development of complications in decompensated liver cirrhosis. SI is mainly driven by portal hypertension and bacterial translocation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion represents an effective treatment for portal hypertension. This study aims to investigate the impact of TIPS insertion on SI and bacterial translocation. Methods: We prospectively included 59 cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS insertion. Blood samples were collected at TIPS insertion and follow-up (FU) 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. At all time points, we performed a comprehensive analysis of SI including 43 soluble inflammatory markers (SIMs), and surrogates of bacterial translocation (sCD14, sCD163). To investigate long-term kinetics of SI, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC) were retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of 177 patients up to 3 years after TIPS insertion. Results: At TIPS insertion, 30/43 SIMs, sCD14, and sCD163 measured significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls. By FU6 25 SIMs and sCD14 measured at significantly lower levels compared to baseline. Interestingly, in patients with TIPS indication of refractory ascites, IL-6 decreased to levels documented in earlier stages of cirrhosis. In long-term follow-up, CRP levels significantly decreased after TIPS insertion, which translated into lower mortality in Cox regression analysis (HR 0.968, p=0.042). Notably, patients with residual ascites post-TIPS showed significantly higher CRP and IL-6 levels across all follow-ups compared to patients with resolved ascites. Conclusions Decreasing portal hypertension via TIPS insertion leads to a significant attenuation of SI and bacterial translocation over time.

Background/Aims: Systemic Inflammation (SI) is considered a key mechanism in disease progression and development of complications in decompensated liver cirrhosis. SI is mainly driven by portal hypertension and bacterial translocation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion represents an effective treatment for portal hypertension. This study aims to investigate the impact of TIPS insertion on SI and bacterial translocation. Methods: We prospectively included 59 cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS insertion. Blood samples were collected at TIPS insertion and follow-up (FU) 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. At all time points, we performed a comprehensive analysis of SI including 43 soluble inflammatory markers (SIMs), and surrogates of bacterial translocation (sCD14, sCD163). To investigate long-term kinetics of SI, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC) were retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of 177 patients up to 3 years after TIPS insertion. Results: At TIPS insertion, 30/43 SIMs, sCD14, and sCD163 measured significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls. By FU6 25 SIMs and sCD14 measured at significantly lower levels compared to baseline. Interestingly, in patients with TIPS indication of refractory ascites, IL-6 decreased to levels documented in earlier stages of cirrhosis. In long-term follow-up, CRP levels significantly decreased after TIPS insertion, which translated into lower mortality in Cox regression analysis (HR 0.968, p=0.042). Notably, patients with residual ascites post-TIPS showed significantly higher CRP and IL-6 levels across all follow-ups compared to patients with resolved ascites. Conclusions Decreasing portal hypertension via TIPS insertion leads to a significant attenuation of SI and bacterial translocation over time.

Background/Aims: Systemic Inflammation (SI) is considered a key mechanism in disease progression and development of complications in decompensated liver cirrhosis. SI is mainly driven by portal hypertension and bacterial translocation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion represents an effective treatment for portal hypertension. This study aims to investigate the impact of TIPS insertion on SI and bacterial translocation. Methods: We prospectively included 59 cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS insertion. Blood samples were collected at TIPS insertion and follow-up (FU) 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. At all time points, we performed a comprehensive analysis of SI including 43 soluble inflammatory markers (SIMs), and surrogates of bacterial translocation (sCD14, sCD163). To investigate long-term kinetics of SI, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC) were retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of 177 patients up to 3 years after TIPS insertion. Results: At TIPS insertion, 30/43 SIMs, sCD14, and sCD163 measured significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls. By FU6 25 SIMs and sCD14 measured at significantly lower levels compared to baseline. Interestingly, in patients with TIPS indication of refractory ascites, IL-6 decreased to levels documented in earlier stages of cirrhosis. In long-term follow-up, CRP levels significantly decreased after TIPS insertion, which translated into lower mortality in Cox regression analysis (HR 0.968, p=0.042). Notably, patients with residual ascites post-TIPS showed significantly higher CRP and IL-6 levels across all follow-ups compared to patients with resolved ascites. Conclusions Decreasing portal hypertension via TIPS insertion leads to a significant attenuation of SI and bacterial translocation over time.

Objective To study the safety and effectiveness of chloral hydrate in children undergoing ABR tests.Methods From December 2015 to March 2022,5 513 children under the age of 12 were selected for ABR ex-amination in West China Hospital of Sichuan University,who received chloral hydrate sedation(dose of 30 mg/kg).Data on administration method(mixed or direct),sleep deprivation(yes or no),failure performance(such asfailure to sleep,insufficient sedation,superficial sleep),adverse events(vomiting,irritability,etc.)were retrospectively analyzed.Total sedation failure rate,sedation failure rates in different age groups(≤0.5 years,0.5～3 years,3～12 years)and adverse event rate were calculated.Results Among the 5 513 ABR tests,199(3.61％)failed seda-tion.The sedation failure rates in different age groups(≤0.5 years,0.5～3 years,3～12 years)were 3.03％,4.31％and 3.11％,respectively.In the sedation failure tests,insufficient sedation was found in 81.91％of the tests.The incidence of adverse events was 10.55％,with most commonly vomiting.Conclusion The sedation fail-ure rate and the incidence of adverse events of chloral hydrate at 30 mg/kg were relatively low,thus chloral hydrate can be considered safe and effective at this dose.

The latest epidemiological data suggests that the situation of adult diabetes in China is severe, and metabolic diseases have become significant chronic illnesses that have a serious impact on public health and social development. After more than six years of practice, the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has developed distinctive approaches to manage metabolic patients and has achieved a series of positive outcomes, continuously advancing the standardized diagnosis and treatment model. In order to further improve the efficiency, based on the first edition, the second edition guideline was composed by incorporating experience of the past six years in conjunction with the latest international and domestic guidelines.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)-induced cognitive dysfunction is common, but its underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we found that knockout of conventional protein kinase C (cPKC)γ significantly increased the phosphorylation of Tau at Ser214 and neurofibrillary tangles, but did not affect the activities of GSK-3β and PP2A in the hippocampal neurons of T1DM mice. cPKCγ deficiency significantly decreased the level of autophagy in the hippocampal neurons of T1DM mice. Activation of autophagy greatly alleviated the cognitive impairment induced by cPKCγ deficiency in T1DM mice. Moreover, cPKCγ deficiency reduced the AMPK phosphorylation levels and increased the phosphorylation levels of mTOR in vivo and in vitro. The high glucose-induced Tau phosphorylation at Ser214 was further increased by the autophagy inhibitor and was significantly decreased by an mTOR inhibitor. In conclusion, these results indicated that cPKCγ promotes autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, thus reducing the level of phosphorylated Tau at Ser214 and neurofibrillary tangles.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Animals ; Autophagy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Glucose ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism* ; Mice ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase C/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; tau Proteins/metabolism*

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.

Objective    To study the learning curve of minimal invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) and the influence on the perioperative clinical effects by analyzing operation time. Methods    From March 2012 to November 2020, 212 patients underwent MICS CABG by the same surgeon. Among them, 59 patients (52 males and average age of 62.89±8.27 years) with single vessel bypass grafting were as a single-vessel group and 153 patients (138 males, average age of 59.80±9.22 years) with multi-vessel bypass grafting were as a multi-vessel group. Two sets of operation time-operation sequence scatter plots were made and learning curve was analyzed by cumulative summation (CUSUM) and regression method of operation time. The surgical data of each group before and after the inflection point of the learning curve were compared with the main clinical outcome events within 30 days after surgery. Results    There was no death, perioperative myocardial infarction and stroke in 212 MICS CABG patients and no transfer to cardiopulmonary bypass or redo thoracotomy. The learning curve conformed to the cubic fitting formula. In the single- vessel group, CUSUM (x operation number)=–1.93+93.45×x–2.33×x2+0.01×x3, P=0.000, R2=0.986, the tipping point was 27 patients. In the multi-vessel group, CUSUM (x)=y=2.87+1.15×x–1.29× x2+3.463×x3, P=0.000, R2=0.993, and the tipping point was 59 patients. The two sets of case data were compared before and after the learning curve and there was no statistical difference in main clinical outcomes within 30 days (mortality, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, perioperative blood transfusion rate), ventilator tube, and intensive care unit retention. Conclusion    The learning curve of MICS CABG conforms to the cubic formula, and the process transitions from single to multiple vessels bypass. To enter the mature stage of the learning phase, a certain number of patients need to be done. Reasonable surgical procedures and quality control measures can ensure the safety during the learning phase.

The aim of the present study was to observe the activation of microglia in the prefrontal cortex of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) mice, and the expression of the marker genes of the disease-associated microglia (DAM) associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Sixty healthy adult male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups, normal control (CON) group and T1DM group. Streptozocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally to induce T1DM mice. The spatial learning and memory function of mice was detected by Morris water maze at the 8th week after the successful model establishment. The number and activation of microglia in the prefrontal cortex of mice were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. Changes in the mRNA level of several DAM molecular markers were detected by RT-FQ-PCR. The results showed that, compared with CON mice, the fasting blood glucose of T1DM mice increased significantly, while the body weight of T1DM mice decreased remarkably (P < 0.05). The escape latency of water maze in T1DM mice was longer than that in CON mice (P < 0.05). Compared with CON group, the Iba1 protein expression and the number of microglia in prefrontal cortex of T1DM group increased significantly (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA levels of several DAM markers in prefrontal cortex of T1DM group were increased significantly (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the microglia are activated and transformed to DAM type in the prefrontal cortex of T1DM mice.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Hippocampus ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microglia ; Prefrontal Cortex

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the most common thyroid dysfunction, and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) has been controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between SCH and newly-diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Based on data from the Thyroid disease, Iodine nutrition and Diabetes Epidemiology (TIDE) study, 49,433 euthyroid individuals and 7,719 SCH patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of hypertension or thyroid disease were excluded. SCH was determined by manufacturer reference range. Overall hypertension and stage 1 and 2 hypertension were diagnosed according to the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2017. Results: The prevalence of overall hypertension (48.7%), including stage 1 (28.9%) and 2 (19.8%) hypertension, increased significantly in SCH patients compared with euthyroid subjects. With elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, the hypertension prevalence also increased significantly from the euthyroid to different SCH subgroups, which was more profound in females or subjects aged <65 years. The age- and sex-specific regression analysis further demonstrated the same trends in the general population and in the 1:1 propensity matched population. Similarly, several BP components (i.e., systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP) were positively associated with TSH elevation, and regression analysis also confirmed that all BP components were closely related with SCH in female subjects aged <65 years. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension increases for patients with SCH. SCH tends to be associated with hypertension and BP components in females younger than 65 years.