BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Objective:To analyze the clinical and endoscopic features of elderly patients with early gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms(g-NEN)to provide insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:Seven cases of early-stage g-NEN in elderly patients admitted to Beijing Hospital from May 2020 to October 2024 were reported.Information including patient demographics, medical history, laboratory findings, endoscopic features, and pathological results was summarized an analyzed.Meanwhile, a literature review was conducted on g-NEN cases reported domestically and internationally from the establishment of databases to April 2025, with a comparative analysis of baseline characteristics, background mucosal conditions, and pathological diagnoses.Results:A total of 7 elderly patients with early g-NEN were included, including 3 males and 4 females, with an average age of 67 years at diagnosis.Endoscopic and pathological features: endoscopic lesions were mainly located on the greater curvature of the stomach, mostly slightly elevated, with 4/7(57.1%)being single lesions and the others accompanied by multiple polyps.The size of gastric neuroendocrine tumor(g-NET) lesions ranged from 1 mm to 19 mm, with a median Kyoto gastritis score of 3.In terms of pathological grading, there were 6 cases of G1 and 1 case of gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma(g-NEC). All 7 patients underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD). The follow-up period after surgery ranged from 3 months to 4 years, and no tumor was found at the vertical and horizontal margins of all lesions on pathology.A literature review of 32 reported cases showed that 40.6%(13/32)of cases exhibited background mucosal atrophy or intestinal metaplasia, with positive rates of chromogranin A(CgA) and synapsin(Syn)reaching 95.8%(23/24) and 100.0%(25/25), respectively.Notably, elderly patients with g-NEC demonstrated aggressive invasiveness, with a metastasis rate of 62.5%(5/8).Conclusions:Elderly patients with g-NEN exhibit high heterogeneity and significant differences in invasiveness, necessitating heightened clinical vigilance.Precise management should integrate background mucosal status, Kyoto gastritis score, pathological biomarkers, and imaging techniques.Blue laser imaging with magnifying endoscopy(BLI-ME)and endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)can further analyze the characteristics of these tumors, and endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)remains the primary treatment modality for early-stage g-NEN.

OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) and sarcopenia are significant health concerns in the elderly, substantially impacting their daily activities and quality of life. However, the relationship between them remains poorly understood. This study aims to uncover common biomarkers and pathways associated with both OA and sarcopenia. METHODS: Gene expression profiles related to OA and sarcopenia were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between disease and control groups were identified using R software. Common DEGs were extracted via Venn diagram analysis. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted to identify biological processes and pathways associated with shared DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed, and candidate hub genes were ranked using the maximal clique centrality (MCC) algorithm. Further validation of hub gene expression was performed using 2 independent datasets. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of key genes for OA and sarcopenia. Mouse models of OA and sarcopenia were established. Hematoxylin-eosin and Safranin O/Fast Green staining were used to validate the OA model. The sarcopenia model was validated via rotarod testing and quadriceps muscle mass measurement. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR) was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of candidate key genes in both models. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to identify pathways associated with the selected shared key genes in both diseases. RESULTS: A total of 89 common DEGs were identified in the gene expression profiles of OA and sarcopenia, including 76 upregulated and 13 downregulated genes. These 89 DEGs were significantly enriched in protein digestion and absorption, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. PPI network analysis and MCC algorithm analysis of the 89 common DEGs identified the top 17 candidate hub genes. Based on the differential expression analysis of these 17 candidate hub genes in the validation datasets, AEBP1 and COL8A2 were ultimately selected as the common key genes for both diseases, both of which showed a significant upregulation trend in the disease groups (all P<0.05). The value of area under the curve (AUC) for AEBP1 and COL8A2 in the OA and sarcopenia datasets were all greater than 0.7, indicating that both genes have potential value in predicting OA and sarcopenia. Real-time RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of AEBP1 and COL8A2 were significantly upregulated in the disease groups (all P<0.05), consistent with the results observed in the bioinformatics analysis. GSEA revealed that AEBP1 and COL8A2 were closely related to extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, ribosome, and oxidative phosphorylation in OA and sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS AEBP1 and COL8A2 have the potential to serve as common biomarkers for OA and sarcopenia. The extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway may represent a potential target for the prevention and treatment of both OA and sarcopenia.
Sarcopenia/genetics* ; Osteoarthritis/genetics* ; Computational Biology/methods* ; Humans ; Protein Interaction Maps/genetics* ; Animals ; Mice ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; Transcriptome ; Male ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; Gene Regulatory Networks

OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronic degenerative diseases, with chondrocyte apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation as the major pathological changes. The mechanical stimulation can attenuate chondrocyte apoptosis and promote ECM synthesis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the role of primary cilia (PC) in mediating the effects of mechanical stimulation on OA progression. METHODS: In vivo, conditional knockout mice lacking intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88^flox/flox IFT88 knockout; i.e., primary cilia-deficient mice) were generated, with wild-type mice as controls. OA models were established via anterior cruciate ligament transection combined with destabilization of the medial meniscus, followed by treadmill exercise intervention. OA progression was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining, safranin O-fast green staining, and immunohistochemistry; apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL staining; and limb function by rotarod testing. In vitro, primary articular chondrocytes were isolated from mice and transfected with lentiviral vectors to suppress IFT88 expression, thereby constructing a primary cilia-deficient cell model. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was used to induce an inflammatory environment, while cyclic tensile strain (CTS) was applied via a cell stretcher to mimic mechanical loading on chondrocytes. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect the protein expression levels of type II collagen α1 chain (COL2A1), primary cilia, IFT88, and caspase-12; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess COL2A1 mRNA levels; and flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptosis. RESULTS: In vivo, treadmill exercise significantly reduced Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores and apoptotic cell rates, and improved balance ability in wild-type OA mice, whereas IFT88-deficient OA mice showed no significant improvement. In vitro, CTS inhibited IL-1β-induced ECM degradation and apoptosis in primary chondrocytes; however, this protective effect was abolished in cells with suppressed primary cilia expression. CONCLUSIONS Mechanical stimulation delays OA progression by mediating signal transduction through primary cilia, thereby inhibiting cartilage degeneration and chondrocyte apoptosis.
Animals ; Chondrocytes/cytology* ; Apoptosis/physiology* ; Mice ; Cilia/metabolism* ; Osteoarthritis/pathology* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Mice, Knockout ; Disease Progression ; Interleukin-1beta ; Male ; Cells, Cultured

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of exempting Asian-type DEL pregnant women from anti-D monitoring and RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis injections by comparing and analyzing the clinical incidence of anti-D alloimmunization between Asian-type DEL pregnant women and true RhD-negative pregnant women. Methods: A total of 165 pregnant women who were initially screened as RhD negative by the saline method and received medical treatment in our hospital from December 2022 to August 2024 were collected as the research subjects. Absorption and elution tests, DEL genotyping, and gene sequencing were used to divide the pregnant women into the Asian-type DEL group and the true negative group. After obtaining informed consent, the following clinical management plan was implemented for pregnant women with Asian-type DEL: exemption from routine anti-D antibody detection, exemption from RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis, and transfusion of RhD-positive red blood cells. Blood samples of newborns were sent for examination of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). The routine management plan was implemented for true negative pregnant women. The incidence of alloimmunization and HDFN was comparatively analyzed between the two groups. Results: Among 165 initially screened RhD negative pregnant women, serological testing and genotyping confirmed 42 as Asian-type DEL, 9 as D variant, and 114 as true negative. Among 42 pregnant women with Asian-type DEL, 3 cases tested positive for HDFN due to receiving RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis injection. The remaining 39 cases were exempted from anti-D testing after being fully informed of the risk, and did not receive RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis. The HDFN tests were all negative. In the true negative group, anti-D antibodies were detected in 20 cases, of which 6 cases tested positive for HDFN. A pregnant woman with Asian -type DEL did not show RhD homologous immune response after receiving 2 units of RhD positive red blood cells. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly lower risk of anti-D alloimmunization in Asian-type DEL carriers compared to true D-negative pregnant women (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pregnant women with Asian-type DEL can be exempted from routine anti-D antibody testing and do not require routine RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis injections.

Image 1.

Objective:To evaluate the transjejunal choledochoscopy via a marked and fixed jejunal loop in the management of anastomotic complications after choledochojejunostomy.Methods:Clinical data of 17 patients undergoing choledochoscopy exploration and treatment via a subcutaneous jejunal loop at Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2014 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including 5 males and 12 females, with a median age of 57 years (24-69 years). All patients had a jejunal loop marked and fixed subcutaneous during previouse Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy or biliary anastomotic reconstruction surgery. Choledochoscopy was performed via the pre-fixed loop to manage biliary strictures and stones. Baseline and perioperative date including gender, age, primary disease, jejunal loop puncture and catheterization, choledochoscopy exploration and operative time and frequency, and postoperative complications (bleeding, bile leakage, infection, etc.) were recorded.Results:The primary diseases of the 17 patients included nine cases of congenital choledochal cysts, three cases of common bile duct stones, three cases of common bile duct strictures, one case of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones, and one case of gallbladder cancer. Eight patients had their jejunal loop drainage tubes removed or only had subcutaneous marking and fixation without T-tube placement. A total of 12 attempts were made to puncture and catheterize via the jejunal loop under X-ray guidance, with 11 successful punctures. Choledochoscopy exploration or operation was performed 67 times via the jejunal loop in 17 patients, all successfully reaching the biliary-enteric anastomosis. Intrahepatic cholangiolithiasis were found during 28 choledochoscopy explorations via the jejunal loop, with stones directly removed using a stone basket in 25 cases and electrohydraulic lithotripsy in three cases. Biliary-enteric anastomotic or intrahepatic bile duct strictures were found in 34 choledochoscopy explorations via the jejunal loop, with 22 cases undergoing balloon dilation. Among them, 14 cases had biliary strictures combined with stones, and the stones were removed after balloon dilation of the strictures. Other choledochoscopy explorations showed no abnormalities. The operative time of 67 choledochoscopy explorations via the jejunal loop was (67±42) min, with no intraoperative complications. Two cases had postoperative drainage tube displacement and dislocation, which were repositioned through the sinus tract immediately, and no complications such as bleeding, bile leakage, or infection occurred.Conclusion:Pre-fixation of the jejunal loop during choledochojejunostomy offers a minimally invasive access for postoperative choledochoscopy that could directly reach the biliary-enteric anastomosis, and effectively manage the long-term biliary-enteric anastomotic complications, including biliary strictures and cholangiolithiasis.

BACKGROUND:With the increasing attention of scholars at home and abroad to children's cervical spine-related diseases,the demand for exploring the anatomical indicators and changes of cervical spine morphology and development in children of different ages is increasing.OBJECTIVE:To explore and analyze the morphological changes of children with different ages and vertebral sequences by measuring the anatomical position indexes of C2-C7 neurocentral synchondrosis in children aged 1-6 years.METHODS:Normal cervical spine CT images were retrospectively collected from 160 children aged 1-6 years at provincial tertiary hospitals.They were divided into six groups according to an age group of 1 year.The raw data of consecutively scanned cervical spine tomography images were imported into Mimics 16.0 software.The positional anatomical indexes of cervical spine segments C2-C7 in coronal and transverse planes were measured and analyzed under the two-dimensional image window by choosing the measurement tools under the toolbar of Measurements.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The distance between the two sides of C2-C7 neurocentral synchondrosis and the distance between the left and right sides of neurocentral synchondrosis and the transverse process gradually increased with age.The overall development of vertebrae in each cervical vertebral segment was faster than the ossification of the neurocentral synchondrosis.(2)The cross-sectional angles on both sides of C2-C7 neurocentral synchondrosis gradually increased with age,and the angles between the left and right sides of neurocentral synchondrosis and the anterior and posterior edges of the vertebral body gradually decreased.Both sides of the neurocentral synchondrosis in cervical vertebral segments tended to grow toward the arch site,which mainly promoted the growth and development of the arch.(3)Except for C7,the angle between the coronal planes on both sides of the cervical spine changed little with the descending neurocentral synchondrosis of the cervical spine,and the neurocentral synchondrosis of the cervical spine was more inclined to longitudinal growth and ossification.(4)The neurocentral synchondrosis position changes in C7 were significantly different from those in the rest of the cervical vertebrae.(5)The anatomical indexes of C2-C7 neurocentral synchondrosis position in children have obvious development rules among different ages and vertebral bodies,and these rules are helpful for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cervical spine diseases in children.

A 36-year-old male developed unconsciousness and no response to voice stimuli after taking approximately 2 050 mg felodipine (the specific time was unknown). Two hours later, he was sent to the department of emergency by his family and admitted to the hospital. His vital signs showed body temperature 35.1 ℃, pulse 148 times/min, respiration 32 times/min, and blood pressure 65/34 mmHg. Acute drug poisoning, acute toxic cardiomyopathy, acute toxic shock, acute type Ⅱ respiratory failure, acute toxic encephalopathy, and acute renal failure were diagnosed based on the patient′s clinical manifestations combined with laboratory tests results, cardiac ultrasound, chest and abdominal CT scans. Endotracheal intubation connected to a ventilator for invasive assisted ventilation, pressure boosting, and fluid resuscitation were given. At the same time, repeated gastric lavage and enema were performed to remove toxins. Blood perfusion was intermittently and repeatedly administered, and continuous renal replacement therapy was used. The blood concentration of felodipine was 1 298 μg/L at 2 hours after admission, and cardiac arrest occurred at 4 hours. Venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) treatment was administered immediately. After 48 hours of ECMO operation, sedatives were discontinued and the patient′s consciousness was improved after 4 hours. On the 5th day of ECMO treatment, his heart rate was 72 beats per minute, and blood pressure was 127/65 mmHg. The blood concentration of felodipine decreased to 2 μg/L. The patient′s vital signs were significantly improved and ECMO supportive treatment was withdrawn. After 26 days of hospitalization, the patient recovered and was discharged.

BACKGROUND:With the increasing attention of scholars at home and abroad to children's cervical spine-related diseases,the demand for exploring the anatomical indicators and changes of cervical spine morphology and development in children of different ages is increasing.OBJECTIVE:To explore and analyze the morphological changes of children with different ages and vertebral sequences by measuring the anatomical position indexes of C2-C7 neurocentral synchondrosis in children aged 1-6 years.METHODS:Normal cervical spine CT images were retrospectively collected from 160 children aged 1-6 years at provincial tertiary hospitals.They were divided into six groups according to an age group of 1 year.The raw data of consecutively scanned cervical spine tomography images were imported into Mimics 16.0 software.The positional anatomical indexes of cervical spine segments C2-C7 in coronal and transverse planes were measured and analyzed under the two-dimensional image window by choosing the measurement tools under the toolbar of Measurements.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The distance between the two sides of C2-C7 neurocentral synchondrosis and the distance between the left and right sides of neurocentral synchondrosis and the transverse process gradually increased with age.The overall development of vertebrae in each cervical vertebral segment was faster than the ossification of the neurocentral synchondrosis.(2)The cross-sectional angles on both sides of C2-C7 neurocentral synchondrosis gradually increased with age,and the angles between the left and right sides of neurocentral synchondrosis and the anterior and posterior edges of the vertebral body gradually decreased.Both sides of the neurocentral synchondrosis in cervical vertebral segments tended to grow toward the arch site,which mainly promoted the growth and development of the arch.(3)Except for C7,the angle between the coronal planes on both sides of the cervical spine changed little with the descending neurocentral synchondrosis of the cervical spine,and the neurocentral synchondrosis of the cervical spine was more inclined to longitudinal growth and ossification.(4)The neurocentral synchondrosis position changes in C7 were significantly different from those in the rest of the cervical vertebrae.(5)The anatomical indexes of C2-C7 neurocentral synchondrosis position in children have obvious development rules among different ages and vertebral bodies,and these rules are helpful for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cervical spine diseases in children.