Objective:To investigate the utility of 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitor (FAPI)-04 PET imaging in assessing the therapeutic response in pressure overload-induced heart failure. Methods:Rat models of pressure overload-induced heart failure were established by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). Thirty rats were categorized into AAC group, 7 days reverse AAC (rAAC) group, and sham operation (sham) group ( n=10 per group) using completely random grouping method. All rats underwent 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging at 4 and 8 weeks after the ACC operation, while echocardiography, pathological examination, and immunohistochemical analysis were performed at 8 weeks postoperation. One-way analysis of variance, independent-sample t test and Pearson correlation analysis were used for data analysis. Results:68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging showed that the target-to-background ratios of the heart and liver had significant differences among three groups both at 4 and 8 weeks postoperation ( F values: 2 547.12, 2 041.71, 462.65, 1 210.97, all P<0.001). Echocardiography revealed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole (LVIDd), and left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole (LVIDs) in three groups at 8 weeks postoperation were significantly different ( F values: 118.92, 9.11, 10.63, all P<0.01). Rats were sacrificed at 8 weeks postoperation, and Masson staining showed that the fibrosis in the heart and liver of the rAAC group was significantly improved compared with that of the AAC group, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed significantly lower FAP levels in the heart and liver of the rAAC group compared with those of the AAC group ( t values: from -11.27 to -4.16, all P<0.01). FAPI uptake in the heart of the AAC group and rAAC group at 8 weeks postoperation were significantly positively correlated with FAPI uptake in the liver, LVIDd and LVIDs, FAPI uptake in the heart was significantly negatively correlated with LVEF, and FAPI uptake in the heart and liver were significantly positively correlated with fibrosis degree and FAP levels of corresponding organs ( r values: -0.89, -0.88, 0.72-0.97, all P<0.05). Conclusions:68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT can show the improvement process of cardio-liver fibrosis following the unloading of excessive pressure in heart failure. Myocardial FAPI uptake is closely related to the extent of heart failure improvement.

Objective:To investigate the specific method, efficacy and safety of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) in the treatment of moderate and severe spasticity.Methods:The clinical features, response to ITB trial, clinical outcomes and treatment-related complications after baclofen pump implantation surgery were retrospectively analyzed in patients with moderate to severe spasticity who received ITB treatment in Hong Kong University Shenzhen Hospital from August 2022 to August 2023.Results:The study included 22 patients with moderate to severe spasticity, of whom 18 patients (81.8%) were effective in ITB trial. For these patients with effective trial, the lowest mean Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score of lower extremity muscle groups after ITB bolus injection was decreased significantly compared with the baseline mean value before injection (1.29±0.81 vs 3.31±1.18 , t=11.364, P<0.001), and the M/H amplitude ratio of soleus H-reflex at 4 hours after ITB bolus injection was significantly higher than the baseline value (9.61±4.66 vs 3.83±2.69, t=7.780, P<0.001). Among the 18 patients with effective ITB trial, 10 patients received baclofen pump implantation surgery with the informed consent of the patients or their guardians. Compared with the 8 patients without surgery, the baseline mean MAS score of lower extremity muscle groups of the 10 patients who received surgery was higher (3.71±1.06 vs 2.83±1.16, F=5.645, P<0.05), the maximum reduction of mean MAS score of lower extremity muscle groups of the 10 patients who received surgery was greater (2.61±0.99 vs 1.30±0.64, F=20.696, P<0.001). In 10 patients who received baclofen pump implantation surgery, the mean MAS score of lower limb muscle groups was significantly decreased in the first and sixth months after surgery compared with the baseline mean value before surgery (1.64±0.91, 1.16±0.89 and 3.71±1.06, F=39.946, P<0.001). Among them, 2 patients were followed up to 12 months after surgery, 2 patients were followed up to 18 months after surgery, and the mean MAS score of their lower limb muscle groups showed continuous improvement, and 1 patient with cerebral palsy combined with lower urinary tract hyperactive syndrome also showed significant improvement of urgent urinary incontinence after surgery. Up to the last follow-up, the daily dose of baclofen in 10 patients receiving baclofen pump implantation was (143.60±96.24) μg, and no treatment-related complications occurred. Conclusions:ITB can effectively relieve spasticity symptoms and other related neurological dysfunction in patients with moderate and severe spasticity, and the efficacy can be maintained for a long time, and treatment-related complications are rare. Preoperative ITB trial is helpful to screen out patients more suitable for baclofen pump implantation. Patients with higher grade of spasticity at baseline and better efficacy of ITB trial are more suitable for baclofen pump implantation. The soleus H reflex can effectively reflect the change of stretch reflex of lower limb muscle groups in patients with spasticity treated by ITB, and can be used to evaluate the treatment effect of ITB.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the treatment status of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in China.Methods:Data of chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) CML patients diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2022 from 77 centers, ≥18 years old, and receiving initial imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib or flumatinib-therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China with complete data were retrospectively interrogated. The choice of initial TKI, current TKI medications, treatment switch and reasons, treatment responses and outcomes as well as the variables associated with them were analyzed.Results:6 893 patients in CP ( n=6 453, 93.6%) or AP ( n=440, 6.4%) receiving initial imatinib ( n=4 906, 71.2%), nilotinib ( n=1 157, 16.8%), dasatinib ( n=298, 4.3%) or flumatinib ( n=532, 7.2%) -therapy. With the median follow-up of 43 ( IQR 22-75) months, 1 581 (22.9%) patients switched TKI due to resistance ( n=1 055, 15.3%), intolerance ( n=248, 3.6%), pursuit of better efficacy ( n=168, 2.4%), economic or other reasons ( n=110, 1.6%). The frequency of switching TKI in AP patients was significantly-higher than that in CP patients (44.1% vs 21.5%, P<0.001), and more AP patients switched TKI due to resistance than CP patients (75.3% vs 66.1%, P=0.011). Multi-variable analyses showed that male, lower HGB concentration and ELTS intermediate/high-risk cohort were associated with lower cytogenetic and molecular responses rate and poor outcomes in CP patients; higher WBC count and initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher response rates; Ph + ACA at diagnosis, poor PFS. However, Sokal intermediate/high-risk cohort was only significantly-associated with lower CCyR and MMR rates and the poor PFS. Lower HGB concentration and larger spleen size were significantly-associated with the lower cytogenetic and molecular response rates in AP patients; initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher treatment response rates; lower PLT count, higher blasts and Ph + ACA, poorer TFS; Ph + ACA, poorer OS. Conclusion:At present, the vast majority of newly-diagnosed CML-CP or AP patients could benefit from TKI treatment in the long term with the good treatment responses and survival outcomes.

BackgroundAlcohol use disorder （AUD） is a common chronic and relapsing psychiatric disorders. Identifying severe AUD early and intervening promptly is crucial to prevent irreversible harm. Currently， the assessment of AUD severity primarily relies on psychiatric examination by clinicians， and there is limited research on the factors influencing AUD severity and the development of prediction models. ObjectiveTo analyze the factors influencing AUD severity， and construct a risk prediction model to aid in the assessment of disease progression in AUD patients. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 358 first-time hospitalized patients admitted to Nanning Fifth People's Hospital from January 1， 2017 to December 31， 2022. These patients met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） criteria for AUD. Basic patient data was collected， and the patients were divided into two groups based on disease severity： mild-moderate group （n=330） and severe group （n=1 028）. The patients were randomly divided into training and test sets in a 7∶3 ratio. A Logistic regression model was constructed in the training set， and the predictive ability of the model for disease severity was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve in the test set. ResultsCompared with the mild-moderate group， the severe group had a higher proportion of patients living in urban areas （χ²=7.804）， were farmers （χ²=17.991）， had a higher frequency of alcohol consumption （more than 1 to 2 drinks/day） （χ²=35.267）， had a higher age at first drinking （t=-3.858）， had a greater number of comorbid somatic disorders （Z=-22.782）， and had higher proportions of γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase （χ²=259.940） and total bilirubin abnormalities （χ²=148.552） （P<0.01）. Logistic analysis conducted in the training set showed that being a farmer （OR=2.024， 95% CI： 1.352~3.029）， having an older age at first drinking （OR=1.075， 95% CI： 1.025~1.129）， drinking outside of mealtimes （OR=3.988， 95% CI： 2.408~6.606）， having total bilirubin abnormalities （OR=1.034， 95% CI： 1.000~1.069）， and having more comorbid somatic diseases （OR=4.386， 95% CI： 2.636~7.298） were identified as risk factors for disease severity in AUD patients. The area under curve （AUC） for this model in the test set was 0.906. ConclusionIn psychiatric hospitals， being a farmer， having an older age at first drinking， drinking outside of mealtimes， having abnormal total bilirubin levels， and having comorbidities with somatic illnesses may be risk factors for severe AUD.

Objective:To establish ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) characteristic chromatogram of Pulsatilla chinensis; To provide reference for the origin identification and quality control of Pulsatilla chinensis. Methods:UPLC Method was adopted. The determination was performed on a column of Agilent SB C18 (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm) . The mobile phase was acetonitrile-methanol (2:1) -0.1% phosphoric acid solution by fradient elution at a flow rate of 0.30ml/min. The column temperature was 30 ℃. The detection wavelength was 215 nm. The injection volume was 2 μl. The common counterfeit products and medicinal herbs of Pulsatilla chinensis from different areas were evaluated by comparison of characteristic chromatogram, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Results:There were 9 characteristic peaks in the characteristic chromatogram of Pulsatilla chinensis, and 8 common peaks were identified by high resolution mass spectrometry and comparison of reference materials. Through PCA analysis, it was possible to clearly distinguish the medicinal herbs of Pulsatilla chinensis from different areas. Combined with OPLS-DA analysis, it was found that peak 2, peak 3, peak 6 were the main markers of Pulsatilla chinensis from different producing areas. Conclusion:The established method has good specificity, repeatability and durability, and it can effectively distinguish the common counterfeits of Pulsatilla chinensis, and provide the basis of quality control and selection of origin for Pulsatilla chinensis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasms.Methods:The clinical data of 35 patients with duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasms admitted to Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology from Jan 2012 to Dec 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The differences of clinical characteristics between periampullary and non-periampullary duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasms were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curve was used for survival analysis, and the clinical factors affecting the prognosis were analyzed.Results:Of the 35 patients, 30 underwent tumor resection, 7 (23%) developed different degree of complications after operation and were improved and discharged after intervention. A total of 5 patients died during the follow-up period. Only 1 of 30 patients who underwent tumor resection died 30 months after operation due to disease progression, and the others had no recurrence or metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, tumor grade, and tumor location were associated with the prognosis of patients (all P<0.05), and multivariate analysis showed that patients with tumors located.Away from the ampulla had a significantly better prognosis than those located around the duodenal ampulla ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Patients with duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasms have a good prognosis after complete resection; patients with duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasms located around the ampulla of Vater have a relatively poor prognosis compared with those away from the area of ampulla.

Objective:To observe and analyze the morphological characteristic of bone marrow and peripheral blood in patients diagnosed with de novo acute leukemia.Methods:From October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021, 1151 patients aged 47 (26, 62) years, consisting of 602 males and 549 females with newly diagnosed acute leukemia in the Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, were collected to preform the morphological analysis in bone marrow and peripheral blood smears. Based on the comprehensive diagnosis results of morphology, immunology, cytogenetics, and molecular biology, comparison between acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), AML with RUNX1-RUNXITI gene, AML with CBFβ/MYH11 gene, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with PML/RARA gene, AML with NPM1 gene, the rest of the AML, Ph+ALL and Ph-ALL were performed by Chi-square test along with analysis of the differences in the ratio of wood bundle cells, pseudo-Chediak-Higashi (PCH) inclusions, cytoplasmic small particles, nuclear notches, leukemia cells with cup-like changes (cup cells); as well as the differences in the micromeganuclei, early immature granulocytes, plasma cells, high eosinophils and other accompanying cells and the distribution of "grape-like" aggregation. Finally, the morphological characteristics of acute leukemia cells, the appearance and arrangement of accompanying cells were summarized.Results:Between AML and ALL, there were statistically significant differences in cytoplasmic Auer bodies[(45.5%, 0%), χ 2=211.400, P<0.01], PCH inclusion bodies[(28.9%, 0%), χ 2=114.100, P<0.01], cytoplasmic fine particles[(20.7%, 2.9%), χ 2=53.798, P<0.01], nuclear notches[(0.7%, 6.1%), χ 2=30.906, P<0.01], and goblet cells[(4.9%, 0.3%), χ 2=13.495, P<0.01], micromegakaryus [(22.4%, 0.3%), χ 2=80.398, P<0.01], plasma cells[(87.6%, 10.6%), χ 2=604.241, P<0.01], hyperacidophils[(15.3%, 1.0%), χ 2=46.116, P<0.01] showed significant differences in the "grape-like" aggregation distribution. In AML with RUNX1-RUNXITI gene, the changes of vacuoles and PCH inclusion bodies are more obvious; in AML with CBFβ/MYH11 gene, the increase of hypereosinophils is more obvious; in APL with PML/RARA gene, the increase of woodbundle is more obvious. The morphology of nuclei chromatin, nucleolus, and vacuoles were also different among the groups. Comparison between Ph+ALL and Ph-ALL showed that Ph+ALL was more prone to develop early immature granulocytes and plasma cells (all P<0.05). Conclusion:There are significant differences between AML and ALL in the characteristics of leukemia cells, the regularity of accompanying cells, and the aggregation and distribution patterns. The subtypes of AML with specific genetic abnormalities have their own characteristics in the appearance of vacuoles, PCH inclusions, hypereosinophils, woodbundle cells, and goblet cells. Ph+ALL is more prone to present early immature granulocytes and plasma cells.

Objective:Numerous miRNAs have been found to be abnormally expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,clinical significance of miR-5010-3p in HCC is not elucidated.This study aims to explore the prognostic value and role of miR-5010-3p in HCC.Methods:The differential gene expression analysis of miR-5010-3p in HCC was performed based on the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of miR-5010-3p expression level for HCC prognosis.The Kaplan-Meier,Cox univariate,and Cox multivariate analysis were used to predict its role in the prognosis of HCC.The downstream target genes were predicted.Gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analysis were performed to predict the potential functional pathways they may participate in.Finally,methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay and 5-ethyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EDU)incorporation experiment were carried out to prove its effect on proliferation.Results:The expression of miR-5010-3p was associated with histological grade(P=0.019),vascular invasion degree(P=0.049),TP53 level(P=0.004),and alpha fetoprotein(AFP)level(P=0.012).A moderate ability to distinguish between tumor and paracancerous tissues of miR-5010-3p in HCC was perceived by ROC curve(AUC:0.712,95%CI 0.649 to 0.776).High expression of miR-5010-3p was associated with shorter overall survival(OS)(P=0.003).The results of functional enrichment analysis showed that miR-5010-3p was related to the tumorigenesis process.In vitro experiments verified that miR-5010-3p promoted the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Conclusion:MiR-5010-3p promotes the proliferation of liver cancer cells,and its high expression is associated with poor prognosis,which may be a potential prognostic marker.

Objective:To explore the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of rectal neuroendocrine tumor with lymphatic metastasis.Method:There were 153 case who were diagnosed with RNET, among them, there were 10 patients(6.5%) with lymphatic metastasis in Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology from January 2012 to December 2020, including 4 males and 6 females, aged from 32 to 71 years old, and the median age was 56.5 years.Results:Of the 10 patients, 3 had tumors < 1 cm in diameter, 4 had 1 to 2 cm, and 3 had > 2 cm. Preoperative CT examination was performed in 10 patients, of which 9 suggested lymphatic metastasis; preoperative MRI examination was performed in 7 patients, of which 6 suggested lymphatic metastasis. All patients were received radical resection, in which Miles operation was performed in 2 cases, Dixon operation in 6 cases, and additional Dixon operation after endoscopic submucosal dissection in 2 cases.All patients were followed up for 51 months (ranged from 14 to 118 months). Nine patients had no recurrence or metastasis, and one patient had abdominal metastasis 40 months after surgery and died after 31 months of comprehensive treatment.Conclusions:Lymphatic metastasis is rare in rectal neuroendocrine tumor. Imaging examination has important reference value for judging the status of lymphatic metastasis. For rectal neuroendocrine tumor with lymphatic metastasis, radical resection is effective.

BACKGROUND: The impact of sex on the clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were diversely reported in the literature. The Chinese Registry of rhEumatoiD arthrITis provides a platform for the investigation of this issue in Chinese patients. METHODS: Demographic and clinical parameters were collected from all enrolled patients with RA and from patients with early RA (disease duration ≤6 months). The differences in data regarding disease activity, comorbidities, and medications for RA were compared between men and women. The proportions of patients who achieved remission and low disease activity were compared at enrollment and during 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up visits. RESULTS: A total of 11,564 patients were enrolled, 83.6% of whom were female. In all the enrolled patients and patients with early RA, C-reactive protein (CRP, 12.0 vs . 6.7 mg/L), pain visual analogue scale (4.8 vs . 4.5), patient's and physician's global assessment (4.9 vs . 4.5 and 4.9 vs . 4.5), 28-joint disease activity score using DAS28-CRP (4.3 vs . 4.0) simplified disease activity index (21.9 vs . 19.9), and clinical disease activity index (19.3 vs . 18.0) were significantly higher in men than in women. Additionally, the swollen joint count/tender joint count and DAS28 using erythrocyte sedimentation rate were higher in male patients than in female patients with early RA. More female patients with early RA reached the treatment target at baseline than male patients (23.4% vs . 18.2%, assessed by CDAI). At 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, the proportion of remission and treatment target achievement was similar in both sexes. Coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke were more frequent in men than in women. CONCLUSIONS In Chinese patients with RA, men were found to have more active disease, as well as more cases of CAD and stroke. Therefore, sex should be carefully considered during the personalization of RA treatment.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; East Asian People ; Severity of Illness Index ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Registries ; Stroke/drug therapy* ; Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use*