BACKGROUND:Rev-erbα is involved in the regulation of inflammation,but pharmacological activation of Rev-erbα increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases.To reduce the relevant risk,an exploration on SR9009,a Rev-erbα agonist,combined with other drugs to relieve inflammation in skeletal myoblasts was conducted,laying the theoretical foundation for the treatment of inflammation-associated skeletal muscle atrophy. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship of SR9009,indolepropionic acid and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways in lipopolysaccharide-induced C2C12 myoblasts. METHODS:(1)C2C12 myoblasts were induced to differentiate in the presence of lipopolysaccharide(1 μg/mL).RNA-seq and KEGG pathway analysis were used to study signaling pathways.(2)C2C12 myoblast viability was assessed using the cell counting kit-8 assay to determine optimal concentrations of indolepropionic acid.Subsequently,cells were categorized into control group,lipopolysaccharide(1 μg/mL)group,SR9009(10 μmol/L)+lipopolysaccharide group,indolepropionic acid(80μmol/L)+lipopolysaccharide group,and SR9009+indolepropionic acid+lipopolysaccharide group.ELISA was employed to measure protein expression levels of interleukin-6 in the cultured supernatant.Real-time quantitative PCR were employed to measure mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor α,TLR4 and CD14.Western blot assay were employed to measure protein expression levels of NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65.(3)After Rev-erbα was knocked down by siRNA,knockdown efficiency was assessed by RT-qPCR.And mRNA levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were also measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the blank control group,lipopolysaccharide time-dependently inhibited myofibroblast fusion to form myotubes,the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were elevated,and the level of interleukin-6 in the cell supernatant was significantly increased.The results of KEGG pathway showed that the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway was activated by lipopolysaccharide.Indolepropionic acid exhibited significant suppression of C2C12 myoblasts viability when its concentration exceeded 80 μmol/L.Indolepropionic acid and SR9009 inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway,thereby played an anti-inflammatory role,and suppressed the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor α,TLR4 and CD14.Compared with the lipopolysaccharide group,the ratio of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 protein expression were downregulated.SR9009 combined with indolepropionic acid notably reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation,further downregulated the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor α,TLR4 and CD14.The ratio of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 protein expression was significantly lower than that in the SR9009+lipopolysaccharide group or indolepropionic acid+lipopolysaccharide group.Rev-erbα increases time-dependently with lipopolysaccharide induction.The knockdown efficiency of Rev-erbα by siRNA reached over 58%,and lipopolysaccharide was added after Rev-erbα was successfully knocked down.Compared with the lipopolysaccharide group,the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were significantly up-regulated.These results conclude that Rev-erbα may act as a promising pharmacological target to reduce inflammation.SR9009 targeted activation of Rev-erbα combined with indolepropionic acid significantly inhibits the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and attenuates the inflammatory response of C2C12 myofibroblasts.Moreover,the combined anti-inflammatory effect is superior to that of the intervention alone.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and all-cause mortality influencing factors of patients with Keshan disease.Methods:Clinical data of patients with Keshan disease from Keshan disease areas in Sichuan Province and Yunnan Province were collected and retrospectively analyzed for clinical characteristics and survival status during regular follow-up. According to the survival status of patients, the survey subjects were divided into a survival group and a death group. All-cause mortality (referring to the death caused by various reasons throughout the follow-up period) was used as the study endpoint. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve analysis and log-rank χ 2 test were performed, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used for all-cause mortality factor analysis. Results:A total of 176 patients with Keshan disease were collected, including 92 cases in Sichuan Province and 84 cases in Yunnan Province. Among all the patients, there were 105 males, accounting for 59.66%, and 71 females, accounting for 40.34%. The age was (53.89 ± 13.19) years old. Thirty-five cases died from all causes, with a mortality rate of 19.89%. There were significant differences in age ( t = 2.09, P = 0.038), New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function grading (χ 2 = 14.62, P < 0.001) and ventricular premature contraction (χ 2 = 6.82, P = 0.009) between the survival group and the death group. K-M survival curve analysis showed that patients with Keshan disease complicated by premature ventricular contraction and high NYHA cardiac function grading (Ⅲ and Ⅳ) had higher all-cause mortality (log-rank χ 2 = 8.72, 22.49, P < 0.05). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that NYHA cardiac function grading and ventricular premature contraction ( HR = 3.09, 2.71, P < 0.05) were predictive influencing factors for all-cause mortality in patients with Keshan disease. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that NYHA cardiac function grading ( HR = 6.57, P = 0.002) and ventricular premature contraction ( HR = 2.98, P = 0.050) were independent factors for all-cause mortality in patients with Keshan disease. Conclusions:Among 176 patients with Keshan disease, the number of patients with poor cardiac function (NYHA cardiac function grading Ⅲ and Ⅳ) and arrhythmia is high. NYHA cardiac function grading and ventricular premature contractions are independent influencing factors for all-cause mortality in patients with Keshan disease.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, prognosis and gene mutation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Keshan disease area of Sichuan Province, and to explore the risk factors for all-cause death in DCM patients.Methods:In June 2016, 55 DCM patients diagnosed at the local disease prevention and control center through clinical manifestations, electrocardiogram examination, and echocardiography were selected as the survey subjects in Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and Renhe District, Panzhihua City, Keshan disease areas of Sichuan Province. Baseline clinical data were analyzed and long-term follow-up was conducted. The follow-up period ended June 15, 2021, with the endpoint of all-cause death. Univariate Cox regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of all-cause death in patients, and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve was used to analyze the survival time of patients. At the same time, peripheral venous blood was collected from 27 DCM patients. After separating white blood cells, DNA was extracted, and whole exome sequencing was performed to screen potential pathogenic genes.Results:Among the 55 DCM patients, 40 were males and 15 were females. The age was (54.09 ± 12.38) years old. The heart function classification of New York Heart Association (NYHA) was mainly grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ, accounting for 94.55% (52/55). The follow-up time for 55 DCM patients was (7.02 ± 2.96) years, and 17 patients experienced all-cause death, accounting for 30.91% (17/55), including 15 males and 2 females. Compared with the survival group, the death group had a lower incidence of syncope (χ 2 = 6.57, P = 0.010), but higher rates of bilateral lower limb edema (χ 2 = 6.43, P = 0.017), pulmonary congestion (χ 2 = 7.61, P = 0.006), intraventricular conduction block (χ 2 = 6.41, P = 0.011), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) use (χ 2 = 6.57, P = 0.010), as well as increased left ventricular diameter ( t = 2.36, P = 0.022). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that bilateral lower limb edema [hazard ratio ( HR) = 4.61, P = 0.042] and intraventricular conduction block ( HR = 3.20, P = 0.019) were risk factors for all-cause death of DCM patients. The results of K-M survival curve analysis showed that patients with bilateral lower limb edema and intraventricular conduction block had higher all-cause death rates (log-rank χ 2 = 5.02, 6.24, P = 0.025, 0.012). Whole exome sequencing results showed that 4 patients were detected to carry pathogenic or suspected pathogenic gene mutations, with a positive rate of 14.81% (4/27), involving three genes: β-myosin heavy chain 7 (MYH7), calreticulin 3 (CALR3), and gelsolin (GSN). Conclusions:The all-cause death rate of DCM patients in the Keshan disease area of Sichuan Province is relatively high. Dead patients are prone to bilateral lower limb edema, pulmonary congestion, and intraventricular conduction block, as well as increased left ventricular diameter. Bilateral lower limb edema and intraventricular conduction block are independent predictive risk factors for all-cause death in DCM patients. MYH7, CALR3 and GSN are involved in the pathogenesis of DCM.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an acute or chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of pathogenic autoantibodies and immune complexes, and multiorgan damage. It is a highly heterogeneous disease and commonly developed in women of childbearing age. The cause of systemic immunopathological injury in SLE is due to the production of autoantibodies by overactivated autoreactive B cells. The treatment of SLE by targeting B cells is very effective, suggesting the critical role of B cells in the development and progression of SLE. However, the current B cell depletion therapies all target the total B cell population, which are not capable of clearing specifically autoreactive B cells since the specific marker molecules and the mechanisms associated with the development of SLE remain unclear. With the development of science and technology, high-throughput sequencing technology provides new ideas for the study of B cell abnormalities in SLE. This review focuses on the progress in high-throughput sequencing to reveal new abnormalities in B cell receptors, new B cell subsets and B cell-related novel therapeutic targets, hoping to provide reference for better understanding the pathogenesis and exploring therapeutic strategies.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTPF) combined with transfer of fascia lata in reconstruction of complex tissue defects of hand and foot.Methods:From July 2021 to October 2023, 9 patients with complex tissue defects of hand and foot were treated with ALTPF combined with fascia lata in the Department of Orthopaedic Microsurgical Repair and Reconstruction of Fuyang People's Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University. There were 2 males and 7 females with an average age of 28.1 (range, 4-65) years old. Three patients had extensor tendon defects in 6 digits of dorsal hands, 5 had extensor tendon defect in 10 toes of dorsal foot, 1 had a defect of anterior tibial tendon and 1 had Achilles tendon defect in posterior ankles. The sizes of soft tissue defect ranged from 8.0 cm×6.0 cm to 15.0 cm×10.0 cm, and the lengths of tendon defect ranged from 6.0 to 13.0 cm. Preoperative Doppler ultrasound was used to locate the distribution of perforating branches in the anterolateral thigh region. According to the characteristics of wound, ALTPFs and fascia lata were designed and harvested. Fascia lata with an appropriate size of 1.5 cm×8.0 cm-4.5 cm×15.0 cm were taken to bridge the defects of the tendon and the Achilles tendon. The wounds were reconstructed with flaps sized 9.0 cm×6.5 cm-18.0 cm×7.5 cm. Nine fascia lata donor sites and 8 flap donor sites were sutured directly. One donor site was treated with a skin graft of ipsilateral ilioinguinal region. The survival and complications of the flaps and donor sites were observed through outpatient follow-up visits, WeChat reviews and home visits, etc. The hand function was assessed according to the Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, and the foot and ankle function was assessed according to the Mazur score standard of joint range of motion and motor function.Results:All patients were included in follow-up for 4-24 (mean, 13.4) months with complete clinical data being collected. All 9 ALTPFs survived and healed primarily. A linear scar left in donor sites in 8 patients, and mild lamellar scar at skin graft in 1 patient. Texture and colour of the flaps were similar to the surrounding tissue without secondary flap thinning surgery. Combined with postoperative rehabilitation training, satisfactory function recoveries were achieved. Hand function of 3 patients were evaluated according to Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, 2 patients were excellent and 1 was good. Ankle and foot functions in 6 patients were evaluated according to the range of motion of ankle and foot and Mazur score standard for motor function, 4 patients were excellent and 2 were good.Conclusion:ALTPF combined with fascia lata transfer can reconstruct the complex tissue defects of hand and foot. Of which, 1 donor site can meet the requirements of 2 types of tissues reconstruction at the same time, and with minimal damage to the donor site as well as an precise reconstruction of the recipient site. It avoids staged surgery, shortens the treatment time and reduces the cost of treatment.

Background/Aims: The accuracy of endosonographers in diagnosing gastric subepithelial lesions (SELs) using endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is influenced by experience and subjectivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) has achieved remarkable development in this field. This study aimed to develop an AI-based EUS diagnostic model for the diagnosis of SELs, and evaluated its efficacy with external validation. Methods: We developed the EUS-AI model with ResNeSt50 using EUS images from two hospitals to predict the histopathology of the gastric SELs originating from muscularis propria. The diagnostic performance of the model was also validated using EUS images obtained from four other hospitals. Results: A total of 2,057 images from 367 patients (375 SELs) were chosen to build the models, and 914 images from 106 patients (108 SELs) were chosen for external validation. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the model for differentiating gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and non-GISTs in the external validation sets by images were 82.01%, 68.22%, 86.77%, 59.86%, and 78.12%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy in the external validation set by tumors were 83.75%, 71.43%, 89.33%, 60.61%, and 80.56%, respectively. The EUS-AI model showed better performance (especially specificity) than some endosonographers.The model helped improve the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of certain endosonographers. Conclusions We developed an EUS-AI model to classify gastric SELs originating from muscularis propria into GISTs and non-GISTs with good accuracy. The model may help improve the diagnostic performance of endosonographers. Further work is required to develop a multi-modal EUS-AI system.

Objective:To explore the effect of case three-dimensional teaching method (CTTM) combined with multimedia teaching on the practice teaching of liver infectious diseases.Methods:Twenty-five interns of liver infectious diseases received by The Second Hospital of Nanjing from May 2019 to January 2020 were taken as the control group, and 25 interns of liver infectious diseases received from February 2020 to October 2020 were taken as the observation group. The control group was given the conventional teaching mode including the conventional case teaching and the conventional multimedia teaching, while the observation group was given CTTM integrated with multimedia teaching method, and both groups were taught for 4 weeks. After teaching, the examination results of liver infectious disease related theory and practice, the changes of core competence before and after teaching, and the recognition of teaching were compared between the two groups. SPSS 25.0 was used for t test and chi-square test. Results:After teaching, the examination results of liver infectious disease related theory [(92.45±7.23) vs. (81.21±7.11)] and practice [(93.27±6.68) vs. (81.23±6.26)] in the observation group were higher than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in the scores of core competence between the two groups before teaching; after teaching, the scores of autonomous learning, problem analysis and solving, doctor-patient communication and teamwork ability of the two groups were higher than those before teaching, and the scores of observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05). The recognition rates of interns in the observation group were higher than those in the control group in the improvement of learning initiative, the consolidation of theoretical knowledge, the enhancement of practical ability and the improvement of learning efficiency ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In the teaching of liver infectious disease interns, CTTM integrated with multimedia teaching method can not only improve the examination results, and enhance the core competence, but also improve the recognition of interns on the teaching mode.

Objective To investigate the nutritional status of vitamin D and its relationship with age, sex and season in children aged 0-6 in Yiling District of Yichang, and to provide a scientific basis for children to appropriately supplement vitamin D. Methods A total of 11 656 children aged 0 to 6 who had undergone physical examinations in Yiling Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2017 to July 2018 were tested for peripheral blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by fluorescence immunochromatography. Results The level of 25-vitamin D in 11,656 children tested in Yiling area was (29.35 ± 7.59) ng / mL, of which 566 (4.86%) were in vitamin D deficiency, 6,579 (56.44%) were in vitamin D insufficiency, and 4,511 were in vitamin D sufficiency (38.70%). The levels of vitamin D in peripheral blood of infants under 1 year old were significantly higher than that of infants and preschool children (P<0.05). The levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in peripheral blood of children aged 3-6 years were significantly lower than that of other age groups (P<0.01). The levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in children's peripheral blood were highest in spring and lowest in winter. There was no significant difference in peripheral blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D between two genders (t=0.841, P>0.05). The levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in peripheral blood aged 0-3 years had no significant difference between urban and rural areas in Yiling area (P>0.05). Conclusion The levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in children aged 0-6 years are mostly inadequate. Vitamin D intake should be increased, especially in preschool children. Outdoor activities in winter are necessary in this area.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. IBS is a multifactorial, stress-sensitive disease. Epigenetic changes include DNA methylation change, histone modification, and differential expressions of microRNA and long non-coding RNA. Explaining the changes in IBS from the perspective of epigenetics could bring new insights for the pathogenesis and treatment of the disease. This article reviewed the progress in research on the epigenetics of IBS.

Objective To investigate the interaction between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and the primary pathogenesis of CHF, so as to grasp the distribution regularity of TCM syndrome caused by different primary diseases and provide reference for better intervention of CHF. Methods A total of 580 patients with CHF were included in the clinical cross-sectional study. The baseline data of the patients, the primary disease and the four diagnosis information of TCM were collected. The syndromes of TCM were judged and the logistic regression method was used to analyze the correlation of CHF and the distribution of syndromes. Results Analysis of TCM Syndromes of CHF showed that the main syndromes were Qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, water retention syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, phlegm syndrome, and yang deficiency syndrome. Further analysis showed that the above causes of CHF were related to the distribution of TCM syndromes. When coronary heart disease is the primary disease, blood stasis syndrome, yang deficiency syndrome, and yin deficiency syndrome are related to the occurrence of CHF (χ2 values are 0.480, 4.445, 0.192, P<0.05). When hypertension is the primary disease, blood stasis syndrome and phlegm syndrome are related to the occurrence of CHF (χ2 values are 12.344, 10.990, P<0.05); dilated cardiomyopathy is the primary disease, blood stasis syndrome and yang deficiency syndrome and chronic heart failure It is related (χ2=5.222, 3.456, P<0.05). Conclusions The distribution patterns of TCM Syndromes of CHF caused by different primary diseases were different, which was related to the pathogenesis of CHF. It is of great significance for better application of traditional Chinese medicine CHF syndrome differentiation during treatment, so as to form optimal treatment to reduce re-admitted into hospitalization rate and mortality in patients with CHF.