ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and outcomes of recompensation in patients with autoimmune hepatitis （AIH）-related decompensated cirrhosis， to identify independent predictive factors， and to construct a nomogram prediction model for the probability of recompensation. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted among the adult patients with AIH-related decompensated cirrhosis who were admitted to The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to August 2023 （n=211）. The primary endpoint was achievement of recompensation， and the secondary endpoint was liver-related death or liver transplantation. According to the outcome of the patients at the end of the follow-up， the patients were divided into the recompensation group （n=16） and the persistent decompensation group（n=150）.The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data with homogeneity of variance， and the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data with heterogeneity of variance； the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups； the Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis； the Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to identify independent predictive factors， and a nomogram model was constructed and validated. ResultsA total of 211 patients were enrolled， with a median age of 55.0 years and a median follow-up time of 44.0 months， and female patients accounted for 87.2%. Among the 211 patients， 61 （with a cumulative proportion of 35.5%） achieved recompensation. Compared with the persistent decompensation group， the recompensation group had significantly higher white blood cell count， platelet count （PLT）， total bilirubin （TBil）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， total bile acid， prothrombin time， international normalized ratio （INR）， SMA positive rate， Model for End-Stage Liver Disease （MELD） score， Child-Pugh score， and rate of use of glucocorticoids （all P0.05）， as well as significantly lower age at baseline， number of complications， and death/liver transplantation rate （all P0.05）. At 3 and 12 months after treatment， the recompensation group had continuous improvements in AST， TBil， INR， IgG， MELD score， and Child-Pugh score， which were significantly lower than the values in the persistent decompensation group （all P0.05）， alongside with continuous increases in PLT and albumin， which were significantly higher than the values in the persistent decompensation group （P0.05）. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that baseline ALT （hazard ratio ［HR］=1.067， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.010 — 1.127， P=0.021）， IgG （HR=0.463，95%CI：0.258 — 0.833， P=0.010）， SMA positivity （HR=3.122，95%CI：1.768 — 5.515， P0.001）， and glucocorticoid therapy （HR=20.651，95%CI：8.744 — 48.770， P0.001） were independent predictive factors for recompensation， and the nomogram model based on these predictive factors showed excellent predictive performance （C-index=0.87，95%CI：0.84 — 0.90）. ConclusionAchieving recompensation significantly improves clinical outcomes in patients with AIH-related decompensated cirrhosis. Baseline SMA positivity， a high level of ALT， a low level of IgG， and corticosteroid therapy are independent predictive factors for recompensation. The predictive model constructed based on these factors can provide a basis for decision-making in individualized clinical management.

This study aims to investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on H9C2 cardiomyocytes injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) through regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion. The process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was simulated by establishing OGD/R model. The cell proliferation and cytotoxicity detection kit (cell counting kit-8, CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability; the kit method was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), total glutathione (t-GSH), nitric oxide (NO) content, protein expression levels of mitochondrial fission and fusion, apoptosis-related detection by Western blot. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) detection kit and Hoechst 33342 fluorescence was used to observe the opening level of MPTP, and molecular docking technology was used to determine the molecular target of Sal B. The results showed that relative to control group, OGD/R injury reduced cell viability, increased the content of ROS, decreased the content of t-GSH and NO. Furthermore, OGD/R injury increased the protein expression levels of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitofusions 2 (Mfn2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3), and decreased the protein expression levels of Mfn1, increased MPTP opening level. Compared with the OGD/R group, it was observed that Sal B had a protective effect at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 100 μmol·L^-1. Sal B decreased the content of ROS, increased the content of t-GSH and NO, and Western blot showed that Sal B decreased the protein expression levels of Drp1, Mfn2, Bax and caspase 3, increased the protein expression level of Mfn1, and decreased the opening level of MPTP. In summary, Sal B may inhibit the opening of MPTP, reduce cell apoptosis and reduce OGD/R damage in H9C2 cells by regulating the balance of oxidation and anti-oxidation, mitochondrial fission and fusion, thereby providing a scientific basis for the use of Sal B in the treatment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of arthrocentesis combined with liquid phase con-centrated growth factor(CGF)injection in the treatment of unilateral temporomandibular joint osteoarthri-tis(TMJOA),in order to provide a new treatment option for TMJOA patients.Methods:In this non-randomized controlled study,patients diagnosed with unilateral TMJOA who visited the center for tem-poromandibular joint disorder and orofacial pain of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from June 2021 to January 2023 were selected as research objects.The patients were divided into experi-mental group and control group,which were selected by patients themselves.The experimental group re-ceived arthrocentesis combined with liquid phase CGF injection and the control group received arthrocen-tesis combined with HA injection.Both groups were treated 3 times,once every two weeks.The clinical effect was evaluated by the maximum mouth opening,pain value and the degree of mandibular function limitation 6 months after treatment.The change of condylar bone was evaluated by cone beam CT(CBCT)image fusion technology before and after treatment.Results:A total of 20 patients were included in the experimental group,including 3 males and 17 females,with an average age of(34.40± 8.41)years.A total of 15 patients were included in the control group,including 1 male and 14 females,with an average age of(32.20±12.00)years.There was no statistical difference in general information between the two groups(P＞0.05).There were no statistical differences in the mouth opening,pain value and the degree of jaw function limitation between the two groups before treatment(P＞0.05),and all of them improved 6 months after treatment compared with before treatment(P＜0.05).However,the mouth opening of experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group 6 months after treatment(P＜0.05),and the degree of jaw function limitation was significantly lower than that of con-trol group(P＜0.05).CBCT 2D images showed that the condylar bone of both groups was smoother after treatment than before treatment,and image fusion results showed that 10 patients(50.0％)in the experimental group and 5 patients(33.3％)in the control group had reparative remodeling area of con-dylar bone,and there was no statistical difference between them(P＞0.05).Except for one CGF pa-tient,the other patients in both groups had some absorption areas of condylar bone.Conclusion:The ar-throcentesis combined with liquid phase CGF injection can improve the clinical symptoms and signs of unilateral TMJOA patients in short term,and is better than HA in increasing mouth opening and impro-ving jaw function.CBCT fusion images of both patient groups show some cases of condylar bone repara-tive remodeling and its relevance to treatment plans still requires further study.

Objective To compare seminal carnitine levels between normal males and asthenozoospermic patients,evaluate its correla-tion with progressive motility(PR)of sperm,and observe the effects of exogenous carnitine supplementation on asthenozoospermic pa-tients.Methods Semen samples were collected from 511 normal fertile males and asthenozoospermic patients.Seminal was measured using a fixed-time assay kit and the levels of carnitine were compared between the two groups.The consistency between seminal carni-tine and PR was assessed.Additionally,77 asthenozoospermic patients received L-carnitine(1 g/time,3 times/day,30 days/course).The levels of seminal carnitine and PR alteration pre-and post-treatment were monitored.Results The seminal L-carnitine level in the patients with asthenospermia([194.34±65.41]μmol/L)was significantly lower than that in normal fertile males([405.43±72.12]μmol/L)(P＜0.01).When the seminal L-carnitine level ≥325 μmol/L was set as the threshold,the statistical results showed that Kappa value was 0.81,with a diagnostic coincidence rate of 93.74％.After one course of administration of L-carnitine,the concentra-tion of seminal L-carnitine([356.03±84.87]μmol/L)and PR([32.69±8.35]％)were significantly higher those that before treat-ment([183.61±79.54]μmol/L and[16.56±7.74]％,P＜0.01).Conclusion The seminal carnitine assay kit could be used for ac-curate and high-throughput quantification of clinical samples,facilitating asthenozoospermia diagnosis and therapeutic efficacy evalua-tion.Exogenous carnitine supplementation may elevate seminal carnitine levels and sperm motility in asthenozoospermic patients and po-tentially improve their fertility.

Objective:To determine the incidence of adrenal incidentalomas(AIs) in patients with diabetes mellitus and the metabolism profiles.Methods:A total of 615 hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Peking University People′s Hospital from March 2020 to May 2021 were retrospectively included in this study. AIs were screened by unenhanced chest computed tomography(CT) retrospectively and subsequently confirmed by multiplanar reconstruction. Participants′ physical indicators, metabolic profiles, and adrenal function parameters were collected. Unpaired t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-Square test were adopted to compare the metabolism profiles between diabetes mellitus patients with or without AIs. Regression models were used to estimate the correlations between AIs and the metabolism profiles such as blood glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure, and the adrenal function parameters.Results:Twenty-seven out of 615 participants were detected with AIs(4.4%). Patients with AIs had higher body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference than patients without AIs [(29.4±5.1)kg/m 2vs(26.8±3.8)kg/m 2,P=0.018; (102.3±11.7)cm vs(95.8±10.3)cm, P=0.002; (107.3±10.1)cm vs(101.4±7.6)cm, P=0.008]. The levels of serum uric acid and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were also significantly increased in patients with AIs [(409.6±118.1)μmol/L vs(357.4±100.6)μmol/L, P=0.009; 21.25(7.49, 180.24)mg/g vs 8.60(4.71, 34.56)mg/g, P=0.010]. Besides, individuals with AIs were also associated with a higher risk of co-existing hypertension( P=0.045). Conclusion:The incidence of AIs in patients with diabetes is 4.4%. The presence of AIs in patients with diabetes may associated with increased risk of obesity and hypertension.

Objective To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of serum long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)H19,CHAST in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods A total of 135 patients with CHD who were admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of Lianyungang Second People's Hospital from June 2021 to May 2022 were selected,including 76 cases of a-cute coronary syndrome and 59 cases of chronic coronary syndrome.We selected 62 patients in the control group who were hospitalized and excluded from CHD by coronary angiography.Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-PCR)was used to detect the relative expres-sion level of lncRNA H19 and lncRNA CHAST in the circulating serum of the subjects.Meanwhile,the high sensitivity C-reactive pro-tein(hs-CRP)、tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)、interleukin-6(IL-6)、low density lipoprotein(LDL)、high density lipoprotein(HDL)and other related indicators of each group were collected.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the clinical diagnostic value of circulating serum lncRNA H19 and lncRNA CHAST expression level in the diagnosis of CHD.Pearson cor-relation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between serum lncRNA H19,lncRNA CHAST level,and other related indicators.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of CHD.Results The serum expression levels of lncRNA H19 and ln-cRNA CHAST in the CHD group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The serum levels of hs-CRP、TNF-α、IL-6、and LDL in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05),and the serum levels of HDL were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of lncRNA H19 and lncRNA CHAST were positively correlated with hs-CRP,IL-6 and LDL,and were negatively correlated with HDL.lncRNA H19 and lncRNA CHAST are risk factors for CHD,which may have a higher value in the diagnosis of CHD.Conclusion lncRNA H19 and lncRNA CHAST are risk factors for CHD and can be used as serum indicators for the diagnosis of CHD,and the combination of the two has a higher value in the diagnosis of CHD.In addition,the ex-pression levels of both were correlated with the levels of inflammatory factors and apolipoproteins.

Headache has high incidence and disability rates.The burden of headache in China has become an in-creasingly serious social problem.However,the diagnostic level of headache disorders varies among physicians due to the complexity of etiological classification.In order to help clinicians effectively improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis,the Chinese People's Liberation Army(PLA)General Hospital led the development of the Clinical Decision Support Sys-tem(CDSS)for headache,and CDSS 2.0 has already been able to achieve a satisfactory diagnostic accuracy rate for head-ache.The Chinese PLA General Hospital has initiated the headache prevention and control base and system construction project in China.The application of CDSS to assist teaching in headache specialist training practice is an important means of headache specialist training.With the help of the CDSS system,neurologists are trained in headache specialty.Through the learning function of the CDSS,physicians can better understand the path of headache inquiry,improve the ability to identify secondary headache,be familiar with the ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria,learn standard headache cases,and improve the ability to employ standard treatment.In this paper,we will comprehensively discuss the role of the CDSS in the training of headache specialists and provide a summary and reflection,in order to provide a reference for the further development and improvement of headache specialist training in China.

Background::Early detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) can considerably improve the prognosis of patients. Aberrant cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation signatures are a promising tool for detecting ESCC. However, available markers based on cell-free DNA methylation are still inadequate. This study aimed to identify ESCC-specific cfDNA methylation markers and evaluate the diagnostic performance in the early detection of ESCC.Methods::We performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) for 24 ESCC tissues and their normal adjacent tissues. Based on the WGBS data, we identified 21,469,837 eligible CpG sites (CpGs). By integrating several methylation datasets, we identified several promising ESCC-specific cell-free DNA methylation markers. Finally, we developed a dual-marker panel based on methylated KCNA3 and OTOP2, and then, we evaluated its performance in our training and validation cohorts. Results::The ESCC diagnostic model constructed based on KCNA3 and OTOP2 had an AUC of 0.91 [95% CI: 0.85–0.95], and an optimal sensitivity and specificity of 84.91% and 94.32%, respectively, in the training cohort. In the independent validation cohort, the AUC was 0.88 [95% CI: 0.83–0.92], along with an optimal sensitivity of 81.5% and specificity of 92.9%. The model sensitivity for stage I–II ESCC was 78.4%, which was slightly lower than the sensitivity of the model (85.7%) for stage III–IV ESCC. Conclusion::The dual-target panel based on cfDNA showed excellent performance for detecting ESCC and might be an alternative strategy for screening ESCC.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) and clinical characteristics of pancreatic cancer patients and the factors influencing SII.Methods:To retrospectively analyze the data of 98 pancreatic cancer patients with R 0 resection in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, from January 2018 to January 2023, of whom 54 were male and 44 were female at the age of (59.2±10.7) years. All patients were divided into the high SII group ( n=49) and the low SII group ( n=49) based on the median SII of 668. Preoperative albumin, proportion of tumor located in the head of the pancreas, preoperative total bilirubin, and length of hospitalization were compared between the two groups. The correlation between SII and clinical features was analyzed. The SII influencing factors of pancreatic cancer patients were analyzed by linear regression with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results:The preoperative albumin of pancreatic cancer patients in the high SII group was lower than that of the low SII group, while the proportion of tumors located in the head of the pancreas, the preoperative total bilirubin, and the length of hospital stay were higher than that of the low SII group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between preoperative albumin and SII ( r=-0.28, P=0.050), while a positive correlation between preoperative total bilirubin and SII ( r=0.36, P<0.001), as well as between hospitalization time and SII ( r=0.28, P=0.050). The SII of patients with tumors located in the head of the pancreas ( n=81) and the tail of the pancreatic body ( n=17) were 734 (418, 1 241) and 431 (276, 613), respectively, and the SII of patients who survived ( n=92) and died ( n=4) at the time of discharge were 628 (383, 1 113) and 1 283 (1 176, 1 507), respectively, and the differences in SII of patients with different tumor locations and different discharge status were all significant. The SII of the patients were compared, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-2.51, 2.05, P=0.012, 0.038). Screening variables in the univariate linear regression model showed that admission total bilirubin, tumor volume, and preoperative albumin were associated with SII levels (all P<0.05). When the above variables were included in the multivariate linear regression, the higher the preoperative total bilirubin ( β=2.74, 95% CI: 1.48-4.00, P<0.001) as well as the larger the tumor volume ( β=2.34, 95% CI: 1.04-3.63, P<0.001) in pancreatic cancer patients, the higher the value of SII. Conclusions:SII in pancreatic cancer patients was associated with preoperative albumin, tumor location, preoperative total bilirubin, length of hospital stay, and survival or death at discharge. Preoperative total bilirubin and tumor volume were influential factors of SII in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between inositol-requiring enzyme 1α-X box-binding protein 1 (IRE1α-XBP1) signaling pathway in endoplasmic reticulum and neutrophil extracellular traps during endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.Methods:Forty-eight SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 25-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), STF-083010 group (ST group), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI group (ALI group) and LPS-induced ALI + STF-083010 group (ALI+ ST group). The ALI model was established by inhaling aerosolized LPS in ALI group and ALI+ ST group. The equal volume of aerosolized normal saline was inhaled in C and ST groups. IRE1α inhibitor STF-083010 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before developing the model in ST and ALI+ ST groups, and the equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected in the other two groups. The mice were sacrificed after anesthesia at 24 h after developing the model. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were collected for determination of the pathological changes (by light microscopy) which were scored, wet/dry lung weight (W/D) ratio, concentrations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-18 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the BALF supernatant, and expression of phosphorylated IRE1α(p-IRE1α), XBP1s and citrullinated histone H3 (Cit H3) in lung tissues (using Western blot). Results:Compared to group C, the lung injury scores and W/D ratio were significantly increased at 24 h after developing the model, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-18 and MPO in BALF were increased, and the expression of p-IRE1α, XBP1s and Cit H3 in lung tissues was up-regulated in ALI and ALI+ ST groups. Compared to group L, the lung injury scores and W/D ratio were significantly decreased at 24 h after developing the model, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-18 and MPO in BALF were decreased, and the expression of p-IRE1α, XBP1s and Cit H3 in lung tissues was down-regulated in group ALT+ ST ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The IRE1α-XBP1 signaling pathway in endoplasmic reticulum is involved in endotoxin-induced ALI by up-regulating the expression of neutrophil extracellular traps in mice.