Objective To investigate the impact of type 2 inflammation markers blood eosinophils(EOS)and fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO)on bronchodilator responsiveness(BDR)in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods This study was conducted among 389 patients with an established diagnosis of COPD in our hospital from October,2019 to October,2023,who all underwent bronchial dilation test(BDT)of the large and small airways.Based on smoking history,blood EOS,and FeNO,these patients were divided group A(blood EOS<300/μL+FeNO<35 ppb+smoking history<20 pack-years),group B(blood EOS<300/μL+FeNO<35 ppb+smoking history≥20 pack-years),group C(blood EOS≥300/μL or FeNO≥35 ppb+smoking history≥20 pack-years),and group D(blood EOS≥300/μL or FeNO≥35 ppb+smoking history<20 pack-years)for analyzing the relationship between clinical indexes and BDR.Results BDR evaluation based on forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1),forced vital capacity(FVC),and maximum mid-expiratory flow(MMEF)yielded consistent results,all showing a younger mean age,higher FeNO levels,and higher blood EOS counts and percentages in patients positive for BDT(P<0.05).The improvement value and improvement rate of FEV1 were significantly lower in group A than in group D.The improvement value and improvement rate of FEV1 as well as the improvement rate of MMEF were significantly lower in group B than in group D.In the overall patients,age and FeNO were significantly correlated with the improvement value and improvement rate of FEV1 and the improvement rate of MMEF(P<0.05).Conclusion Type 2 inflammation markers have different effects on BDR in the large and small airways of COPD patients,and their clinical significance needs further investigation.

Objective To investigate the impact of type 2 inflammation markers blood eosinophils(EOS)and fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO)on bronchodilator responsiveness(BDR)in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods This study was conducted among 389 patients with an established diagnosis of COPD in our hospital from October,2019 to October,2023,who all underwent bronchial dilation test(BDT)of the large and small airways.Based on smoking history,blood EOS,and FeNO,these patients were divided group A(blood EOS<300/μL+FeNO<35 ppb+smoking history<20 pack-years),group B(blood EOS<300/μL+FeNO<35 ppb+smoking history≥20 pack-years),group C(blood EOS≥300/μL or FeNO≥35 ppb+smoking history≥20 pack-years),and group D(blood EOS≥300/μL or FeNO≥35 ppb+smoking history<20 pack-years)for analyzing the relationship between clinical indexes and BDR.Results BDR evaluation based on forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1),forced vital capacity(FVC),and maximum mid-expiratory flow(MMEF)yielded consistent results,all showing a younger mean age,higher FeNO levels,and higher blood EOS counts and percentages in patients positive for BDT(P<0.05).The improvement value and improvement rate of FEV1 were significantly lower in group A than in group D.The improvement value and improvement rate of FEV1 as well as the improvement rate of MMEF were significantly lower in group B than in group D.In the overall patients,age and FeNO were significantly correlated with the improvement value and improvement rate of FEV1 and the improvement rate of MMEF(P<0.05).Conclusion Type 2 inflammation markers have different effects on BDR in the large and small airways of COPD patients,and their clinical significance needs further investigation.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of herba artemisiae scopariae extract on multidrug resistance protein 3(MDR3)gene mutation-induced neonatal parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis(PNAC)and its possible mechanism.Methods ①Human primary hepatocytes were treated with cell culture in vitro,CRISPR/Cas9 lentivirus infection and MDR3 mutant gene lead-in.The levels of hepatic and biliary biochemical indexes[alanine transaminase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),total bilirubin(TBil),direct bilirubin(DBil),indirect bilirubin(IBil),total bile acid(TBA)]in the supernatant of hepatocytes before and after 16,32,48 hours were compared to determine the time required for fatty acid induction of PNAC hepatocyte model with MDR3 gene mutation.② Human primary hepatocytes were divided into blank control group,MDR3 gene wild type group,MDR3 gene mutation group,and herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group according to random number table method.The blank control group was treated with culture medium only,the MDR3 gene wild type group was infected with lentivirus and mixed with wild type MDR3 gene and culture medium,the MDR3 gene mutation group was infected with lentivirus and cultured in culture medium with the mutant genes lead-in of LV-MDR3KI(c.485T>A,c.2793insA,c.1031G>A,c.3347G>A)mutation,while the MDR3 mutant gene was lead-in by lentivirus infection and cultured in culture medium,and then pretreated with 100 g/L herba artemisiae scopariae extract in the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group,then the four groups of hepatocytes were induced with 1%fat emulsion,and the treatment time was the time needed to construct the PNAC hepatocytes model with MDR3 gene mutation.The levels of ALT,AST,TBil,DBil,IBil and TBA in the supernatant of hepatocytes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The mRNA expression abundance of adenosine triphosphate binding cassette proteins(ABCB4,ABCB11,ABCC2,ABCC3,ABCC4)encoding MDR3,bile salt export pump(BSEP),multidrug resistance associated protein(MRP)2-4,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)genes were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Results Compared to the blank control group and MDR3 gene wild type group,there was no significant difference in the levels of ALT,AST,TBil,DBil,IBil,TBA in the supernatant of MDR3 gene mutant group before and 16 hours after induction with 1%fat emulsion,however after treated with 1%fat emulsion for 32 hours and 48 hours,the levels of ALT,AST,TBil,DBil,IBil,TBA in the supernatant of MDR3 mutant hepatocytes were significantly increased(P<0.05),consequently the time required for fatty acid induction of PNAC hepatocyte model was 32 hours.At 32 hours after treatment with fat emulsion,the levels of ALT,AST,TBil,DBil,TBA in the supernatant of hepatocytes in the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group were significantly decreased[ALT(ng/L):148.3±2.3 vs.164.9±7.0,AST(ng/L):2767.4±78.8 vs.3239.4±107.1,TBil(μmol/L):7.6±0.2 vs.13.6±0.3,DBil(μmol/L):1.8±0.1 vs.5.7±0.2,TBA(μmol/L):3.4±0.2 vs.6.7±0.1,all P<0.05].The ABCB4,ABCC2,ABCC3,ABCC4 mRNA expression of MDR3,MRP2,MRP3,MRP4 in the blank control group,MDR3 wild type group,MDR3 gene mutation group and the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group had no significant difference.The expression of TNF gene mRNA was highly expressed in MDR3 gene mutation group(2-??Ct:1.258±0.200 vs.1.001±0.052),and was low expressed in the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group(2-??Ct:0.387±0.247 vs.1.258±0.200),and there was a significant difference between the two groups(both P<0.05).Compared to the MDR3 gene mutation group,the ABCB11 gene encoding BSEP mRNA expression in the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group was significantly increased(2-??Ct:2.955±0.479 vs.1.333±0.529,P<0.05).Conclusion The herba artemisiae scopariae extract has a protective effect on PNAC induced by MDR3 gene mutation,which may be related to antagonizing inflammatory reaction,decreasing the expression of TNF mRNA and improving the expression of ABCB11 gene encoding BSEP.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with blood eosinophil count in healthy population and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: We analyzed the data of a total 6163 healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examination in our hospital between October, 2017 and December, 2021, who were divided according to their serum 25(OH)D level into severe vitamin D deficiency group (< 10 ng/mL), deficiency group (< 20 ng/mL), insufficient group (< 30 ng/mL) and normal group (≥30 ng/mL). We also retrospectively collected the data of 67 COPD patients admitted in our department from April and June, 2021, with 67 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination in the same period as the control group. Routine blood test results, body mass index (BMI) and other parameters were obtained from all the subjects, and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between 25(OH)D levels and eosinophil count. RESULTS: The overall abnormal rate of 25(OH)D level (< 30 ng/mL) in the healthy individuals was 85.31%, and the rate was significantly higher in women (89.29%) than in men. Serum 25(OH)D levels in June, July, and August were significantly higher than those in December, January, and February. In the healthy individuals, blood eosinophil counts were the lowest in severe 25(OH)D deficiency group, followed by the deficiency group and insufficient group, and were the highest in the normal group (P < 0.05). Multivariable regression analysis showed that an older age, a higher BMI, and elevated vitamin D levels were all risk factors for elevated blood eosinophils in the healthy individuals. The patients with COPD had lower serum 25(OH)D levels than the healthy individuals (19.66±7.87 vs 26.39±9.28 ng/mL) and a significantly higher abnormal rate of serum 25(OH)D (91% vs 71%; P < 0.05). A reduced serum 25(OH)D level was a risk factor for COPD. Blood eosinophils, sex and BMI were not significantly correlated with serum 25(OH)D level in patients with COPD. CONCLUSION Vitamin D deficiency is common in both healthy individuals and COPD patients, and the correlations of vitamin D level with sex, BMI and blood eosinophils differ obviously between healthy individuals and COPD patients.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Eosinophils ; Retrospective Studies ; Leukocyte Count ; Body Mass Index ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the application of TB laboratory detection technology in Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2022, and to provide scientific basis for further improving the detection rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the province. Methods The medical records of registered tuberculosis patients in Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2022 were collected from the "Tuberculosis Information Management System" in the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System" subsystem. Statistical analysis was performed for sputum coating, sputum culture, and molecular biology testing. Results From 2016 to 2022, a total of 152 778 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were registered in Liaoning Province. The detection rate of sputum smear microscopy was 98.03% (149 775/152 778), the detection rate of sputum culture was 20.72% (31 661/152 778), and the detection rate of molecular biology testing was 20.21% (30 737/152 778). From 2018 to 2022, the rate of molecular biological detection showed an increasing trend (χ2trend=7 104.466, P<0.01), while from 2016 to 2021, the detection rate of sputum culture showed an increasing trend, with statistical significance (χ2trend=3,068.701, P<0.01). The sputum smear detection rate showed a downward trend（χ2trend=689.913, P<0.01). . There were significant differences in the results of sputum smear microscopy, sputum culture, and molecular biology testing, as confirmed by the McNemar test (P<0.01). The positive rate of pathogenic academics increased from 26.27% in 2016 to 51.55% in 2022, showing a yearly upward trend (χ2trend=5 262.863, P<0.01), with significant differences between each year (χ2=5 686.935, P<0.01). Among pulmonary tuberculosis patients with positive pathogenic microorganisms, the proportion of sputum smear-positive cases decreased from 94.32% to 52.36%, showing a downward trend (χ2trend=5 010.104, P<0.01). The proportion of culture-positive cases increased from 5.68% in 2016 to 12.83% in 2022, showing an upward trend (χ2trend=122.501, P<0.01). In Liaoning Province, molecular biology testing has been carried out since 2018, and the proportion of molecular biology-positive cases increased from 11.51% to 34.81%, showing an increasing trend (χ2trend=1 969.326, P<0.01). The number of positive patients in molecular biological tests in municipal hospitals accounted for 18.69% (8 386/44 778) of etiological positive patients, while the number of positive patients in county-level hospitals accounted for 13.61% (2 439/17 924) of etiological positive patients, with significant differences (χ2=231.594, P<0.01). Conclusions The implementation of molecular biology testing for tuberculosis in Liaoning Province is one of the main measures to improve the positive rate of etiology, and it helps to diagnose tuberculosis patients timely and accurately

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the epidemic characteristics of etiologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis, and the outcome of treatment in Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2022, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of tuberculosis prevention and control measures in Liaoning Province. Methods　The medical records information of registered pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2022 was collected from the "Tuberculosis Information Management System", a subsystem of the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System". A descriptive analysis was performed on the epidemiological characteristics and treatment outcomes of cases of pathogen-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Results　From 2016 to 2022, a total of 152 778 cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis were registered in Liaoning Province. Registration rates decreased from 54.48/100 000 in 2016 to 39.12/100 000 in 2022, displaying a downward trend (χ2trend=1 921.17, P<0.001). The etiological positive rate increased from 26.70% in 2016 to 51.21% in 2022, indicating an upward trend (χ2trend=5 203.00, P<0.001). The etiological positive registration rate increased from 14.54/100 000 in 2016 to 20.03/100 000 in 2022, showing an upward trend (χ2trend=647.97, P<0.001). The male-female ratio of etiological positive was 3.35∶1. The age group of 55-<65 had the highest incidence rate at 25.45% (16 127/63 376) among pathogen-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases. Patients over 45 years of age accounted for 71.27% (41 570/63 376) of total cases, pointing towards an aging trend. The main occupations of the patients were household and unemployed, making up 41.78% (26 477/63 376) of total cases and showed an increasing year-on-year trend (χ2trend=17.404, P<0.001). Direct medical consultation was the primary mode of patient source at 50.28%(31 864/63 376), while 64.54%(40 904/63 376) cases reported a delay in seeking treatment. Seasonality was observed in the occurrence of pathogen-positive pulmonary tuberculosis, with February and September being the months of lowest incidence, while May and June witnessed peak incidences. The etiological positive patients were mainly in Shenyang, Dalian, Jinzhou and other regions. The proportion of successful treatment of etiologically positive decreased from 91.15% in 2016 to 85.88% in 2022, manifesting a downward trend (χ2trend=35.892, P<0.001). Conclusions　From 2016 to 2022, the incidence and registration rates of pathogen-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Liaoning Province displayed an upward trend. Several characteristics were observed including seasonal variations, delayed treatment, regional distribution differences, and a decline in successful treatment rates. Targeted prevention and control measures should be formulated according to the actual situation in Liaoning Province.

Objective:To investigate the expression levels of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and mutant P53 proteins in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues and their clinical significances.Methods:The data of 68 cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma confirmed by pathology in Shanxi Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital from March 2015 to October 2021 were collected. The expressions of SIRT1, HIF-1α and mutant P53 proteins in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues and paracancerous tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry. The correlation among SIRT1, HIF-1α and mutant P53 proteins and their relationship with clinicopathological features of patients were analyzed.Results:Among 68 colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues and paracancerous tissues, SIRT1 protein was positive in 38 cases (55.88%) and 11 cases (16.18%) ( χ2 = 23.25, P < 0.001), HIF-1α protein was positive in 47 cases (69.12%) and 5 cases (7.35%) ( χ2 =54.92, P < 0.001), and mutant P53 protein was positive in 41 cases (60.29%) and 0 cases (0) ( P < 0.001). The positive expression rate of SIRT1 protein was high in patients with high clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (both P < 0.05); the positive expression rate of HIF-1α protein was high in patients with poor differentiation ( P < 0.05); the positive expression rate of mutant P53 protein was high in patients with poor differentiation and lymph node metastasis (both P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between expressions of SIRT1 and mutant P53 proteins ( rs = -0.38, P = 0.001); there was a positive correlation between expressions of HIF-1α and mutant P53 proteins ( rs = 0.56, P < 0.001); there was a negative correlation between expressions of SIRT1 and HIF-1α proteins ( rs = -0.40, P = 0.001). Conclusions:SIRT1, HIF-1α and mutant P53 proteins are highly expressed in colorectal adenocarcinoma and are correlated with clinicopathological features suggesting poor prognosis. Combined detection of the three proteins may be used for the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma and serve as a new target for treatment.

Objective: To explore the level of secreted phosphoprotein 24(SPP24) and its association with cardiac valve calcification(CVC), cardiovascular events(CVE) in patients with hemodialysis patients. Methods: Eighty-eight maintenance hemodialysis patients were enrolled in the study. All patients were assessed for cardiac valve calcification by echocardiography. According to the results of echocardiography, patients were divided into two groups: cardiac valve calcification group and the group without cardiac valve calcification. The levels of SPP24 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum SPP24 levels were compared between CVC group and the group without cardiac valve calcification. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between SPP24 and cardiac valve calcification. The factors for calcification of the mitral and aortic valves were explored. The cases were followed up and cardiovascular events were recorded. COX regression model was used to analyze the factors for cardiovascular events. Results: There were 47 patients in CVC group, the levels of SPP24 in CVC group were lower than those in the group without cardiac valve calcification(P=0.040). Twenty-two patients had calcification of the mitral and aortic valves. Logistic regression analysis showed that older age(OR=1.055), hyperphosphatemia(OR=8.234) were risk factors for CVC, higher SPP24(OR=0.997) was a protective factor. Older age(OR=1.086) and hyperphosphatemia(OR=7.393) were risk factors for calcification of the mitral and aortic valves, higher SPP24(OR=0.964) level was a protective factor. Patients were followed up, the follow-up intervals were from 2 to 14 months, and it was found that CVC(HR=4.156) increased the risk of cardiovascular events in hemodialysis patients, high SPP24 level(HR=0.976) reduced the risk of cardiovascular events. Calcification of the mitral and aortic valves increased the risk for cardiovascular events(HR=3.071). Conclusion The incidence of cardiac valve calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients is as high as 53.41%. Older age and hyperphosphatemia are risk factors for CVC, while high SPP24 level is a protective factor for CVC. CVC is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, and high SPP24 level is a protective factor for cardiovascular events.

Objective:To explore the correlation of c-MET and CXCR4 proteins and microvessel density (MVD) with liver metastasis in colorectal cancer tissues.Methods:A total of 40 colorectal cancer tissue samples and 10 paracancerous (5 cm from the edge of the tumor) normal colorectal tissue samples were collected from March 2015 to December 2020 in Shanxi Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital. Among 40 patients with colorectal cancer, 15 patients had liver metastasis. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect c-MET protein, CXCR4 protein and CD34-labeled MVD in various tissues, and the relationships between them and liver metastasis and between the three were analyzed.Results:The positive rates of c-MET protein [72.5% (29/40) vs. 30.0% (3/10)], CXCR4 protein [47.5% (19/40) vs. 10.0% (1/10)] and MVD (20.1±5.2 vs. 11.5±4.3) in colorectal cancer tissues were higher than those in paracancerous tissues, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The positive rates of c-MET protein [86.7% (13/15) vs. 64.0% (16/25)] and CXCR4 protein [66.7% (10/15) vs. 36.0% (9/25)] in colorectal cancer liver metastasis group were significantly higher than those in non-liver metastasis group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). MVD in colorectal cancer liver metastasis group was significantly higher than that in non-liver metastasis group (21.5±5.3 vs. 12.4±5.7), and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). In colorectal cancer tissues, c-MET protein expression was positively correlated with CXCR4 protein expression ( r = 0.568, P < 0.05), and MVD in c-MET-positive patients or CXCR4-positive patients was higher than that in negative ones (both P < 0.05). Conclusions:The c-MET protein, CXCR4 protein and MVD may play important roles in the liver metastasis of colorectal cancer. The three indicators can provide a certain reference for the early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of liver metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Objective To compare the differences of optic disc morphology and optic nerve head parameters between Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome and optic neuritis (ON) with optic disc edema. Methods This is a retrospective study including 21 first-onset VKH patients (35 eyes) as VKH group and 22 first-onset ON patients with optic disc edema (27 eyes) as ON group. The differences of age (t=-1.11) and gender (χ2=0.20) between two groups were not significant (P>0.05). Sixty-two eyes of 43 age and gender-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study as control group. All subjects underwent three dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) examinations. The difference of optic disc morphology between two groups was observed. The parameters included average thickness of entire circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (CP-RNFL), thickness of nasal, superior, temporal and inferior quadrant of CP-RNFL, disc area, disc cup area, rim area, cup/disc (C/D) area ratio, C/D horizontal diameter ratio and C/D vertical diameter ratio. The disc retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) angle was observed too. Results Among 35 eyes in VKH group, 31 eyes (88.57%) had retinal detachment next to the disc, 3 eyes (8.57%) had serrated inner limiting membranes of the disc. Twenty eyes (64.52%) had highly reflective points, lines, or membrane-like structures in the retinal detachment areas. No such signs appeared in ON patients. Compared with ON group, the optic cup area, C/D area ratio, C/D horizontal diameter ratio and C/D vertical diameter ratio were bigger, the thickness of mean CP-RNFL and the superior, inferior quadrants of CP-RNFL were thinner, disc RPE angles was smaller in VKH group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the disc area, optic cup area, rim area were bigger, C/D vertical diameter ratio was smaller, the mean CP-RNFL and 4 quadrants CP-RNFL were thicker, disc RPE angles was smaller in VKH group (P<0.05); the disc area, optic cup area, C/D area ratio, C/D horizontal diameter ratio and C/D vertical diameter ratio were smaller, the mean CP-RNFL and 4 quadrants CP-RNFL were thicker, disc RPE angles was bigger in VKH group (P<0.05). Conclusions VKH patients have smaller disc RPE angles and more chance to develop retinal detachment next to disc than ON patients. The C/D area ratio, C/D horizontal diameter ratio and C/D vertical diameter ratio are bigger, the mean CP-RNFL and the superior, inferior quadrants of CP-RNFL are thinner in VKH eyes.