Objective To investigate the epidemiological status of toxic diffuse goiter hyperthyroidism (abbreviated as hyperthyroidism) in Xining area and analyze its influencing factors. Methods Patients with toxic diffuse goiter and hyperthyroidism who were hospitalized in Class ⅲ Grade A hospitals in Xining from January 2020 to January 2023 were collected as the experimental group by random cluster sampling method. During the same period, 500 healthy people in each hospital were selected as the control group. The general data of the patients were collected and the levels of thyroid function indexes of the two groups were detected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of diffuse goiter with hyperthyroidism. Results A total of 718 questionnaires were collected in this study, and 705 questionnaires were collected after excluding invalid questionnaires. There were 234 males and 471 females in 705 patients with diffuse goiter and hyperthyroidism. The most common age was 41-50 years, followed by 51-60 years and 31-40 years. The serum TSH level of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group, and the levels of FT3 and FT4 were higher than those of the control group ( P < 0.05 ) . There was no significant difference in family history, thyroid texture and thyroid imaging between the two groups ( P > 0.05 ). There were significant differences in exophthalmos and thyroid weight between the two groups (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that exophthalmos, thyroid weight ≥30g , TSH , FT3 and FT4 were independent risk factors for the experimental group ( P < 0.05) . Conclusion Gender, age, exophthalmos, thyroid weight and thyroid related hormone levels are the influencing factors of diffuse goiter and hyperthyroidism in Xining area . Thyroid function should be monitored for early prevention and treatment of the disease.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of self-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (SCH) gel on endometrium recovery after artificial abortion.Methods:A multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted across 18 hospitals from December 2021 to February 2023, involving 382 women who underwent artificial abortion. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either treatment with SCH gel (SCH group) or no treatment (control group) in a 1∶1 ratio. The primary outcome was endometrium thickness in 14 to 18 days after the first postoperative menstruation. Secondary outcomes included changes in menstrual volume during the first postoperative menstruation, menstruation resumption within 6 postoperative weeks, time to menstruation resumption, duration of the first postoperative menstruation, and incidence of dysmenorrhea.Results:Baseline characteristics of participants were comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05), with 95.3% (182/191) in SCH group and 92.7% (177/191) in the control group completed the study. The postoperative endometrial thickness in SCH group was significantly greater than that in the control group [(9.78±3.15) vs (8.95±2.32) mm; P=0.005]. SCH group also had significantly fewer participants with reduced menstrual volume [23 cases (12.6%, 23/182) vs 31 cases (17.5%, 31/177); P=0.038]. Although SCH group experienced less dysmenorrhea during the first postoperative menstrual period, this difference was not statistically significant [28.5% (51/179) vs 37.1% (65/175); P=0.083]. Outcomes were similar between SCH group and the control group regarding the proportion of participants who resumed menstruation within 6 weeks postoperatively, time to menstruation resumption, and duration of the first postoperative menstruation ( P=0.792, 0.485, and 0.254, respectively). No serious adverse events were observed during the study period, and no adverse events were attributed to SCH gel treatment. Conclusion:The application of SCH gel after artificial abortion is safe and might aid in the recovery of the endometrium.

Objective:To investigate the role of glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP) in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis through regulatory T cell (Treg), in order to provide new targets for the treatment of tuberculosis.Methods:Sixty patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (ATB) admitted to Huashan Hospital, Fudan University and Wuxi Fifth People′s Hospital from January to September 2021 were included. And six individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 16 healthy controls (HC) were recruited during the same period. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the proportion of Treg in the peripheral blood, and the expressions of GARP and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on Treg in different groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 60 patients with ATB, 23 patients did not receive anti-tuberculosis drug therapy, 17 patients were treated for less than three months, ten patients were treated for three to less than six months, and ten patients were treated for greater than or equal to six months. The percentage of CD4 + CD25 + forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) + Treg in untreated ATB patients was 7.50%(5.67%, 9.00%), which was higher than that in HC (5.57%(5.03%, 6.09%)), and the difference was statistically significant ( U=95.00, P=0.010). The percentage of GARP expressing in CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg in untreated ATB patients was 10.37%(7.79%, 12.90%), which was higher than that in LTBI (7.02%(5.15%, 8.81%)) and HC (5.33%(4.26%, 6.67%)), respectively, and the differences were both statistically significant ( U=31.00, P=0.040; U=36.00, P<0.001, respectively), while there was no significant difference between LTBI and HC ( U=25.00, P=0.095). The percentage of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg expressing TGF-β1 in untreated ATB patients was 7.13%(4.25%, 8.89%), which was higher than that in HC (3.59%(2.10%, 5.17%)), and the difference was statistically significant ( U=71.00, P=0.001). The expressions of GARP in CD4 + CD8 -CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg in patients with ATB treated for less than three months group, three to less than six months group and greater than or equal to six months group were 7.82%(3.94%, 13.17%), 6.92%(5.61%, 9.47%) and 7.26%(5.82%, 9.64%), respectively. The expressions of TGF-β1 in CD4 + CD8 -CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg in the above three treatment groups were 11.16%(7.91%, 15.23%), 8.66%(5.43%, 12.54%) and 7.82%(6.01%, 9.53%), respectively, and the expression of TGF-β1 in CD4 + CD8 -CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg in the patients with ATB treated for less than three months group was higher than that in the greater than or equal to six months group, the difference was statistically significant ( U=37.50, P=0.024). Conclusions:Foxp3/GARP/TGF-β1 pathway may be involved in the immune mechanism of Treg regulating the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, and GARP may be a new target for anti-tuberculosis therapy.

Objective:To analyze the statuses of CD8 + T cell exhaustion in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection and co-infection. Methods:A total of 87 patients infected with HIV and/or MTB in Wuxi Fifth People′s Hospital and Taicang First People′s Hospital from August 2019 to January 2020 were enrolled, including 18 cases of HIV infection, 34 cases of active tuberculosis (ATB), 19 cases of latent tuberculosis infection (LTB), seven cases of HIV coinfected with ATB, and nine cases of HIV coinfected with LTB. Another 11 healthy controls were also included. The peripheral blood of all subjects was collected for cell surface staining and intracellular cytokine staining, and flow cytometry was used to detect the expressions of activation molecules including CD62 ligand, CD44 and CD127, the transcription factor like eomesodermin (EOMES), T cell factor 1 (TCF-1), T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet), B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1), inhibitory receptors including programmed death-1 (PD-1) and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) on CD8 + T cells. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Results:The mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of the activation molecules CD62 ligand and CD44 in the HIV group were lower than those in the healthy control group, while the inhibitory receptor Tim-3 was higher than that in the healthy control group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=31.00, 1.00 and 0.00, respectively, all P<0.010). The MFIs of CD62 ligand and CD44 in HIV coinfected with LTB group were lower than those in LTB group, while PD-1 and Tim-3 were higher than those in LTB group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=4.00, 26.00, 6.00 and 3.00, respectively, all P<0.010). The MFIs of CD62 ligand, CD44 and CD127 in HIV coinfected with ATB group were lower than those in ATB group, while PD-1 and Tim-3 were higher than those in ATB group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=9.00, 40.00, 45.50, 28.00 and 7.00, respectively, all P<0.010). The proportion of terminal effector CD8 + T cells in the HIV group was higher than that in the healthy control group, while the proportion of central memory CD8 + T cells was lower than that in the healthy control group. The differences were both statistically significant ( U=15.00 and 33.00, respectively, both P<0.010). The proportion of terminal effector CD8 + T cells in the HIV coinfected with LTB group was higher than the LTB group, while the proportion of central memory CD8 + T cells was lower than that in the LTB group. The differences were both statistically significant ( U=7.00 and 20.00, respectively, both P<0.010). The proportion of terminal effector CD8 + T cells in the HIV coinfected with ATB group was higher than that in ATB group, while the proportion of central memory CD8 + T cells was lower than that in ATB group. The differences were statistically significant (both U=7.00, P<0.001). The expression level of PD-1 + Tim-3 + T cells in HIV group was higher than that in healthy control group, that in HIV coinfected with LTB group was higher than that in LTB group, and that in HIV coinfected with ATB group was higher than that in ATB group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=21.00, 6.00 and 5.50, respectively, all P<0.001). The MFI of transcription factors EOMES and TCF-1 in HIV coinfected with LTB group were lower than those in HIV group, while the MFI of T-bet was higher than that in HIV group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=3.00, 4.00 and 9.00, respectively, all P<0.001). The MFI of EOMES and TCF-1 in HIV coinfected with ATB group were lower than those in HIV group, while the MFI of T-bet and Blimp-1 were higher than those in the HIV group. The differences were all statistically significant ( U=11.00, 14.00, 7.00 and 22.00, respectively, all P<0.050). Conclusions:MTB co-infected with HIV patients present lower immune function and a higher degree of CD8 + T cell exhaustion. In addition, HIV patients co-infected with LTB and ATB have a higher degree of CD8 + T cell exhaustion than HIV infected patients.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic values of interleukin-22 (IL-22), interferon-γ(IFN-γ)and macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) in pleural effusion for tuberculosis pleurisy.Methods:From April 2018 to May 2019, a total of 77 patients including 45 cases of tuberculous pleurisy, 19 cases of malignant pleurisy, 13 cases of parapneumonia and 13 cases of healthy control in Wuxi Fifth People′s Hospital were enrolled. The levels of IL-22, IFN-γ and MIF in plasma and pleural effusion were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic values of IL-22, IFN-γ and MIF for tuberculous pleurisy. Results:The median levels of IL-22, IFN-γ, MIF and adenosine deaminase in 45 cases with pleural effusion in tuberculosis pleurisy group were 396.8 ng/L, 2 200.0 ng/L, 241.3 μg/L and 70.8 U/L, respectively, which were all significantly higher than 32 cases with non-tuberculosis pleurisy group, including 19 cases with malignant pleurisy and 13 cases with parapneumonia (52.8 ng/L, 232.3 ng/L, 179.6 μg/L and 17.0 U/L, respectively). The differences were all statistically significant ( U=179.000, 118.500, 287.000, 162.000, respectively, all P<0.05). The median levels of IL-22 and IFN-γ in plasma of tuberculosis pleurisy group were 20.0 ng/L and 45.9 ng/L, respectively, which were both higher than healthy control group (14.3 ng/L and 33.4 ng/L, respectively). The level of MIF was 96.2 μg/L, which was lower than healthy control (159.5 μg/L). The differences were all statistically significant ( U=74.000, 13.000 and 73.000, respectively, all P<0.05). The areas under ROC curve (AUC) of IL-22, IFN-γ and MIF in pleural effusion for the diagnosis of tuberculosis pleurisy were 0.876, 0.917 and 0.682, respectively.The sensitivities were 93.75%, 100.00% and 63.64%, respectively; the specificities were 82.22%, 91.11% and 65.85%, respectively. The median levels of IL-22 and IFN-γ in plasma in tuberculosis pleurisy group at two months of follow-up after anti-tuberculosis therapy were 16.0 ng/L and 33.9 ng/L, respectively, which were both lower than baseline (20.0 ng/L and 44.7 ng/L, respectively). The differences were both statistically significant ( U=2.156 and 2.221, respectively, both P<0.05). Conclusion:IFN-γ and IL-22 in pleural effusion could be used as effective indicators to identify tuberculous pleurisy, and the dynamic monitoring of IL-22 in patients′plasma could be an important biomarker in evaluating the efficacy of anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Fatigue is the second most common symptom in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . It has a high incidence and interferes with patients' normal working life. This article reviews the concept and pathogenesis of fatigue, as well as the predisposing factors and treatments of fatigue symptom in patients with COPD. This article provides a reference for medical staff to deepen their understanding of fatigue in order to take effective measures to relieve fatigue and improve patients' quality of life.

Objective To analyze the expressions of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) in the peripheral blood of patients with active tuberculosis (ATB ) or latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) ,and to evaluate its diagnostic value in differentiation of ATB and LTBI .Methods Forty-eight patients including 18 ATB cases and 30 LTBI cases were continuously enrolled from Wuxi No . 5 People′s Hospital and Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University from January 2011 to March 2013 .Flow cytometry was applied to detect the CTLA-4 expression in CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ T cells in the peripheral blood of the 48 subjects .CTLA-4 levels were compared using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test .Results The median percentage of CTLA-4+ Treg in CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells of ATB patients was 18 .95％ (quantile range :13 .86％ ,27 .73％ ) ,and that in LTBI patients was 6 .67％(quantile range :5 .74％ ,9 .59％ ) ,which was statistically significant (U=18 .0 , P< 0 .01) .Receiver operating curve (ROC) based on the CTLA-4 expression indicated that the area under the curve was 0 .96 , with the optimum cut-off value of 13 .25％ .Thus ,the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ATB were 86 .7％ and 94 .4％ ,respectively .Conclusion CTLA-4 has highly sensitivity and specificity for the differential diagnosis of ATB and LTBI whose interferon-gamma releasing assays are all positive ,which may also provide meaningful clue for the study of pathogenesis of ATB .

Objective:To explore the value of combined detection of PCT and IL-6 in differential diagnosis SIRSin ICU patients.Methods:100 patients with ICU admitted to our hospital from 2013 to 2016 were choosen,including 61 cases with non septic SIRS and 39 cases with sepsis,and 50 healthy persons over the same period were selected as control,and they were divided into non-septic group,sepsis group and control group.The levels of serum PCT and IL-6 were detected by electrochemiluminescence assay,and took PCT of 2 g/L and IL-6 of 50 ng/L for the critical value to identify non infectious SIRS and sepsis,to evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of combined detection.Results:The maximum values of PCT and IL-6in the non-septic group respectively were 0.91 ± 0.54 μg/L and 62.77± 11.75 ng/L,in the septic group respectively were 24.49± 5.00 μg/L and 1542.69± 361.66 ng/L,in the control group respectively were 0.08± 0.06 tμg/L and 3.68± 1.11 ng/L,the maximum values of PCT and IL-6 in the non-sepsis group and the sepsis group were significantly higher than control group (P＜0.05).Compared with the non-septic group,the maximum valuesin sepsis group were significantly increased (P＜0.05).The proportions of PCT ＞ 2 g/L and IL-6 ＜ 50ng/L in the non-septic group respectively were 21.31％ and 65.57％,in the septic group respectively were 92.31％ and 87.18％,the proportions of PCT＞2 g/L,IL-6＜50 ng/L in the sepsis groupwere significantly higher chan those in the non-septic group (P＜0.05).The positive predictive values,sensitivity and specificity of PCT were higher than IL-6,the positive value,specificity of combined detection was higher than IL-6 and PCT,while the sensitivity of combined detection was higher than IL-6,P＜0.05.Conclusions:Combined detection of PCT and IL-6 is helpful for differential diagnosis of sepsis and non-septic SIRS.

Objective To explore the role of basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor (BATF) in active tuberculosis, and to provide clues for diagnosis and therapy of tuberculosis.Methods Sixteen patients with active tuberculosis (ATB), ten cases of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and fourteen healthy controls (HC) were included in this study.Flow cytometry was applied to detect the expressions of BATF and programmed death-1 (PD-1) in T lymphocytes, and the changes of BATF by blockade of PD-1/PD-L pathway using specific blocking antibody antiPD-1, antiPD-L1 and antiPD-L2.The expressions of BATF were compared using Mann-Whitney U test.And the relation of BATF and PD-1 was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results The CD4+ T lymphocytes expressing BATF accounted for 5.16% (2.96%,8.71%) of CD4+ T lymphocytes in ATB group, which was higher than 1.05% (0.40%,1.27%) in LTBI group and 0.71%(0.43%,1.21%) in HC group, and the difference were statistically significant (U value were 6.5 and 9.0, respectively, both P<0.01).The CD8+ T lymphocytes expressing BATF accounted for 4.10% (2.27%,8.17%) of CD8+ T lymphocytes in ATB group, which was higher than 0.55% (0.34%,1.18%) in LTBI group and 0.84% (0.41%,1.29%) in HC group, and the difference were statistically significant (U value were 5.0 and 8.0, respectively, both P<0.01).Furthermore, the percentage of BATF+ PD-1+ CD4+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of ATB was significantly higher than those in the peripheral blood of LTBI and HC, the difference were statistically significant (Uvalue were 16.0 and 14.5, respectively, both P<0.01), and the percentage of BATF+ PD-1+ CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of ATB was significantly higher than those in the peripheral blood of LTBI and HC, the difference were statistically significant (Uvalue were 10.0 and 16.5, respectively, both P<0.01).In addition, there was a positive correlation between the percentage of BATF+ T cells and PD-1+ T cells, both in CD4+ T cells (r=0.676,P=0.016) and CD8+ T cells (r=0.610,P=0.035).The expressions of BATF both in CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells were decreased followed by blockade of PD-1/PD-L pathway (P<0.05).Conclusions BATF may be involved in the regulation of immune pathogenesis of tuberculosis.In order to provide a theory for anti-tuberculosis immunotherapy fargeting BATF, further research need to be proceeded.

Objective To evaluate the function of MRE11 in inflammasome activation.Methods Different stimuli,in-cluding Poly(I∶C), Poly(dA∶dT),E.coli gDNA,293T gDNA,CPPD and HSV,were used to identify the effective inflamma-some activator using ELISA.Then, MRE11 siRNA oligos were sythesized and transfected into THP-1 cells while Western blotting was used to analyze the efficacy of MRE 11 knockdown .Finally ELISA and Western blotting were used to analyze the involvement of MRE11 in inflammasome activation induced by Poly (I∶C), Poly(dA∶dT), E.coli gDNA and 293T gDNA. Results The IL-1βsecretion and pro-caspase-1 activation which induced by Poly ( I∶C) , Poly( dA∶dT) , E.coli gDNA and 293T gDNA were reduced with different degrees in MRE 11-knockdown THP-1 cells.Conclusion These results indicate that MRE11 is required for inflammasome activation induced by genetic materials .