BACKGROUND:Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease.Many studies have shown that wogonin has a good anti-inflammatory effect on rheumatoid arthritis,but its exact efficacy and specific mechanism of action remain to be clarified. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism of wogonin ameliorating joint inflammation by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway in rats with collagen-induced arthritis. METHODS:(1)At the animal level:Female Wistar rats were divided into healthy control group,arthritis model group and wogonin treatment group.Rat models of arthritis in the latter two groups were established by subcutaneous injection of bovine type Ⅱ collagen and adjuvant.In the wogonin group,wogonin was given by gavage for 28 consecutive days after modeling.During this period,the rats in each group were weighed,and arthritis score and ankle swelling were measured every 7 days.After the experiment,the pathological changes of the joint were observed,the mRNA and protein levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway GRP78 and CHOP were detected by qRT-PCR,western blot,and immunohistochemistry.(2)At the cellular level,cell counting kit-8 was used to detect the cytotoxic effect of wogonin on fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rats with collagen-induced arthritis.The fibroblast-like synoviocytes induced by thapsigargin were treated with different concentrations of wogonin.The levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in the cell supernatant were detected by ELISA,and the intracellular reactive oxygen species in each group were determined by DCFH-DA probe method.The mRNA and protein levels of GRP78,IRE1α,XBP1s and CHOP were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the healthy control group,arthritis index score and ankle swelling degree in the arthritis model group were increased(P<0.01),synovial hyperplasia,inflammatory cell infiltration,cartilage destruction and bone erosion were observed in pathological sections,and the mRNA and protein expressions of GRP78 and CHOP in the ankle were significantly increased(P<0.01),which were mainly located in synovial tissue and articular surface.Compared with the arthritis model group,the arthritis index score and ankle swelling degree in the wogonin treatment group were decreased(P<0.05),synovial hyperplasia and the number of inflammatory cells were decreased,cartilage destruction and bone erosion were alleviated,the mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in the ankle were decreased(P<0.05),particularly in synovial tissue and on the articular surface.There was no significant difference in body mass among the three groups(P>0.05).In the cell experiment,200 μmol/L wogonin significantly reduced the survival rate of fibroblast-like synoviocytes(P<0.01).Compared with the blank control group,the levels of interleukin-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α,content of reactive oxygen species,and mRNA and protein expression of GRP78,IRE1α,XBP1s,and CHOP in the thapsigargin group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with the thapsigargin group,50 and 100 μmol/L wogonin significantly reduced the levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in the cell supernatant(P<0.05,P<0.01),and 100 μmol/L wogonin significantly reduced the content of reactive oxygen species(P<0.01)and down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78,IRE1α,XBP1s and CHOP(all P<0.05).These results suggest that wogonin can effectively alleviate joint inflammatory responses in rats with collagen-induced arthritis,and the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway may be the key target of its intervention.

BACKGROUND:Our previous study found that Modified Erxian Pill could alleviate inflammation in collagen-induced arthritis rats,but its mechanism needs to be further verified. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the components absorbed in the blood of Modified Erxian Pill,and observe the effect of the drug-containing serum of Modified Erxian Pill on pyroptosis of J774A.1 macrophages. METHODS:(1)Analysis of components absorbed in the blood of Modified Erxian Pill:Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry was used to detect and identify Modified Erxian Pill and its components absorbed in the blood.(2)Effect of the drug-containing serum of Modified Erxian Pill on pyroptosis of J774A.1 macrophages:Molecular docking technology was used to initially verify the sesquiterpenoids and NLRP3 in components absorbed in the blood of Modified Erxian Pill.J774A.1 macrophages were randomly divided into blank control group,lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate group,and lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate+Modified Erxian Pill with low(2.5%),medium(5%),and high(10%)dose groups.The release of lactate dehydrogenase in the cell supernatant of each group was detected according to the kit instructions.The levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 in cell supernatant were detected in each group by ELISA.The cell membrane damage was detected by Hoechst/PI staining.The expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,and GSDMD-N protein in the cells of each group were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A total of 32 active components of Modified Erxian Pill were identified,and 21 components entered the blood.The main components into blood included a variety of sesquiterpenoids.(2)Molecular docking results showed that 3-O-Acetyl-13-deoxyphomenone,Incensol oxide,Atractylenolide III,Rupestonic acid,and 3,7-Dihydroxy-9,11-eremophiladien-8-one had good binding activity with NLRP3.(3)Compared with the blank control group,lactate dehydrogenase activity and the expression levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 were significantly increased in cell supernatant of lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate group(P<0.001).Hoechst/PI staining showed that the number of PI-positive cells was significantly increased.After the intervention of lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate+Modified Erxian Pill group,all of them showed different degrees of reduction.(4)Compared with the blank control group,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,and GSDMD-N protein expression levels were significantly increased in the lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate group(P<0.05).Compared with lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate group,the protein expressions of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,and GSDMD-N were significantly decreased in the lipopolysaccharide+adenosine triphosphate+Modified Erxian Pill group(P<0.05),and had a certain dose dependence.These findings verify that the drug-containing serum of Modified Erxian Pill may inhibit the pyroptosis of J774A.1 macrophages by regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

Background::Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe and acute cardiovascular syndrome with high mortality among patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs). Accurate prediction and timely intervention play a pivotal role in enhancing survival rates. However, there is a notable scarcity of practical early prediction and risk assessment systems of PE in patients with AIIRD.Methods::In the training cohort, 60 AIIRD with PE cases and 180 age-, gender-, and disease-matched AIIRD non-PE cases were identified from 7254 AIIRD cases in Tongji Hospital from 2014 to 2022. Univariable logistic regression (LR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used to select the clinical features for further training with machine learning (ML) methods, including random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVM), neural network (NN), logistic regression (LR), gradient boosted decision tree (GBDT), classification and regression trees (CART), and C5.0 models. The performances of these models were subsequently validated using a multicenter validation cohort.Results::In the training cohort, 24 and 13 clinical features were selected by univariable LR and LASSO strategies, respectively. The five ML models (RF, SVM, NN, LR, and GBDT) showed promising performances, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.962-1.000 in the training cohort and 0.969-0.999 in the validation cohort. CART and C5.0 models achieved AUCs of 0.850 and 0.932, respectively, in the training cohort. Using D-dimer as a pre-screening index, the refined C5.0 model achieved an AUC exceeding 0.948 in the training cohort and an AUC above 0.925 in the validation cohort. These results markedly outperformed the use of D-dimer levels alone.Conclusion::ML-based models are proven to be precise for predicting the onset of PE in patients with AIIRD exhibiting clinical suspicion of PE.Trial Registration::Chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR2200059599.

Objective:To explore the value of the imaging nomogram model based on preoperative CT features of patients with small intestinal stromal tumor (SIST) in predicting pathological risk classification.Methods:This was a cohort study. The patients who were diagnosed as primary SIST by postoperative pathology in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2014 to October 2023 were retrospectively included. According to the modified 2008 National Institutes of Health classification criteria, the patients were divided into a pathological intermediate/high-risk group (86 cases) and a very low/low-risk group (56 cases). The features of preoperative enhanced CT images of SIST were analyzed, including tumor boundary, necrosis, intra-tumoral hemorrhage, intra-tumoral calcification, growth pattern, enhancement pattern, enhancement degree, enlarged vessels feeding or draining the mass (EVFDM), and tumor location. Patients were followed up to determine the recurrence-free survival (RFS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to screen the independent predictors of SIST with pathological medium/high-risk group. The independent predictors were combined to construct an imaging prediction model, and a nomogram was drawn. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of the model. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve, and the log-rank test was used to compare the differences in RFS.Results:Univariate logistic regression results showed that tumor shape, necrosis, intra-tumoral hemorrhage, EVFDM, and tumor location were potentially related to medium/high-risk SIST. Multivariate logistic regression results showed that tumor shape ( OR=3.92, 95% CI 1.58-9.71, P=0.003), necrosis ( OR=4.60, 95% CI 1.91-11.09, P<0.001), and EVFDM ( OR=6.25,95% CI 1.74-22.47, P=0.005) were independent predictors of pathological intermediate/high-risk SIST. The area under the curve of the imaging predictive model combining the three predictors to predict the intermediate/high-risk SIST was 0.835 (95% CI 0.769-0.901), the sensitivity was 0.810, the specificity was 0.839, and the accuracy was 0.789. Taking the cut-off value (0.810) as the boundary value, the patients were divided into the high-risk group (74 cases) and the low-risk group (68 cases) according to the prediction results. The median RFS of the predicted high-risk group was poorer than that of the predicted low-risk group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.20, P=0.023). Conclusions:The imaging nomogram model based on preoperative CT image features shape, necrosis, and EVFDM can effectively predict the pathological intermediate/high-risk SIST before surgery and has important predictive value for postoperative recurrence.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) are a group of structurally related polypeptides which constitute an elaborate signaling system with their receptors. Evidence accumulated in the years suggests that the FGF family plays a key role in the repair of central nervous system injury. The main protective mechanisms include activating the expression of PI3K-Akt, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) and other signals; inhibiting NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis; regulating neuronal differentiation and neuronal excitability as well as participating in protection of neurovascular units and nerve function repair. This paper comprehensively summarizes the latest research progress in FGF signaling related to diseases of the central nervous system such as cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and depression, aiming to provide scientific basis and reference for the development of innovative FGF drugs for the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases.
Humans ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Central Nervous System/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Alzheimer Disease

Objective:To investigate the level of self-management and daily physical activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) of Zang and Han nationalities in Tibetan, China, and to compare the difference in daily management between T2DM patients of Zang and Han nationalities, to develop reasonable and effective chronic disease management strategies for long-term out-of-hospital management of T2DM patients of Zang nationalities.Methods:A total of 265 T2DM patients with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 7% who were admitted to the Endocrinology Ward of the Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibet Autonomous Region from November 2020 to April 2021 and who were from different regions of Tibet were included in this study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The general data of all included patients were collected. Glucose and lipid metabolism-related indicators were determined. The Generalized Diabetes Self-Management Efficacy Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) were used to evaluate patients' levels of self-management and daily physical activity.Results:The hemoglobin level in T2DM patients of Zang nationality was (154.09 ± 24.11) g/L, which was significantly higher than that in T2DM patients of Han nationality ( P < 0.05). The total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and low-density lipoprotein in T2DM patients of Zang nationality were (4.63 ± 1.41) mmol/L, (7.94 ± 2.19) mmol/L, and (2.75 ± 1.11) mmol/L, respectively, which significantly higher compared with T2DM patients of Han nationality (all P < 0.05). Compared with T2DM patients of Han nationality, T2DM patients of Zang nationality had lower self-management scores (81.40 ± 15.44) points, diet control scores (17.26 ± 4.97) points, physical exercise scores (11.67 ± 4.42) points, prevention and treatment of high and low blood sugar score (12.21 ± 5.72) points. The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Moderate-intensity physical activity was a significant difference between T2DM patients of Zang and Han nationalities ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:Compared with T2DM patients of Han nationality, T2DM patients of Zang nationality have lower overall self-management levels, including diet control, physical exercise, prevention and management of high and low blood glucose, and moderate-intensity physical activity. Targeted individualized education should be carried out according to the Tibetan cultural characteristics, to further develop an intervention method and an out-of-hospital management strategy for chronic disease, which are suitable for T2DM patients of Zang nationality.

OBJECT IVE To evaluate the application effect of the whole cour se medication management mode led by pharmacists in rheumatic immune diseases. METHODS A total of 122 patients treated with tacrolimus or cyclosporine in the department of rheumatology and immunology of Wuhan No. 1 Hospital from 2018 to 2020 were selected as the study subjects. Among them ，44 cases in the control group were under the traditional supervision mode ；78 patients in the observation group adopted the whole course medication management mode led by pharmacists ，that was ，individual pharmacists and specialist clinical pharmacists cooperated and led ，and not only participated in the whole process of drug treatment but also involved in the whole process of therapeutic drug monitoring （TDM）. On the basis of the control group ，the division of labor and cooperation among medical，pharmaceutical and nursing parties were strengthened ，and the homogeneous supervision was carried out for the outpatients and inpatients from admission to discharge . The daily dose of medication ，the rate of reaching the standard of blood drug concentration ，the incidence of problematic samples （the sample was calculated by the number of times ），the average hospitalization days ，the re-admission rate within 6 months after discharge ，the medication compliance score and the patient ’s satisfaction rate were compared between the two groups. RESULTS In the control group ，53 times of TDM were performed ， including 18 times of tacrolimus monitoring and 35 times of cyclosporine monitoring ；in the observation group ，123 timesof TDM were performed ，including 55 times of tacrolimus monitoring and 68 times of cyclosporine monitoring. The daily dose of tacrolimus ，the daily dose of cyclosporine ，the rate of reaching the standard of cyclosporine blood drugconcentration，the inc idence of problematic samples ，the rate of re-admission within 6 months after discharge ， the medication compliance score and the patient ’s satisfaction rate in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS It can effectively improve the effect of the quality of pharmaceutical care to implement whole course and homogeneous medication management led by pharmacists and provide precise drug guidance for patients with rheumatic and immune diseases.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features of patients with severe dengue (SD) in Guangdong Province, and to improve the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of SD in China.Methods:The clinical data, laboratory examination and etiological test results of 257 SD cases from 29 dengue fever designated hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2019 were respectively collected. The relevant indicators of the criteria for severe organ involvement were quantified. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the risk factors for the development of multiple organ failure in SD patients.Results:Among the 257 SD patients, age was (64.1±20.1) years old, with 65.4%(168/257) of them ≥60 years old, 142 were male and 115 were female. One hundred and fifty-two (59.1%) patients had underlying conditions, including 115(44.7%) patients with hypertension. The clinical manifestations were mainly fever (98.4%(253/257)), fatigue (70.0%(180/257)), cough or expectoration (44.4%(114/257)), lethargy or irritability (39.3%(101/257)), vomiting (30.4%(78/257)), abdominal pain or tenderness (20.6%(53/257)), hepatomegaly (2.3%(6/257)), bleeding tendency (59.5%(153/257)), and pleural effusion or ascites (43.6%(112/257)). Platelet count levels were decreased in 90.9%(231/254) of the cases, and 97.1%(234/241) of patients had normal or decreased hematocrit. The most common of severe manifestations were severe organ involvement (61.1%(157/257)), followed by severe bleeding (37.0%(95/257)) and severe plasma leakage (30.0%(77/257)). Severe organ involvements were more common in the kidney (27.6%(71/257)) and heart (26.8%(69/257)). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio ( OR)=1.051, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.004 to 1.100, P=0.035), hypertension ( OR=5.224, 95% CI 1.272 to 21.462, P=0.022), elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level ( OR=1.002, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.003, P=0.001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) ( OR=1.050, 95% CI 1.005 to 1.098, P=0.030), and international normalized ratio (INR) ( OR=4.604, 95% CI 1.601 to 13.238, P=0.005) were risk factors for the development of multiple organ failure in SD patients. The detection results of serum samples form 113 SD patients in acute phase showed that dengue virus (DENV)-1 accounted for 89.4%(101/113), DENV-2 accounted for 9.7%(11/113), and DENV-3 accounted for 0.9% (1/113). Conclusions:Elderly and those with co-existing conditions such as hypertension in SD patients in Guangdong Province are more common. Severe organ involvement such as kidney and heart is the main cause of SD. DENV-1 infection is predominant. Significant elevated levels of AST, BUN and INR may be related to a poor prognosis.

Objective:To explore the risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and influencing factors in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients with long-term combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART).Methods:The baseline data from the multi-center prospective cohort of HIV/AIDS patients who received long-term cART from 2018 to 2020 were collected. cART-naive HIV/AIDS patients were matched by age and gender using the propensity score matching (PSM) as controls. Data collection adverse events of anti-human immunodeficiency virus drugs reduced model (D: A: D[R]) score, Framingham risk score (FRS) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score were used to assess the 10-year CVD risk in patients with long-term cART treatment and in cART-naive patients. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors related to high 10-year CVD risk.Results:A total of 301 HIV/AIDS patients received long-term cART and 300 cART-naive HIV/AIDS patients were included, with an average age of 39.8 years old. There were 490 male accounting for 81.5%. Based on the D: A: D [R] score, 4.3%(13/301) of patients in the long-term cART group had a 10-year CVD risk assessment of ≥10%, and 6.3%(19/300) of patients in the cART-naive group. Based on the FRS, 13.4%(36/269) of patients in the long-term cART group had a 10-year CVD risk assessment of ≥10%, and 10.6%(28/264) in the cART-naive group. Based on the ASCVD risk score, 10.4%(14/135) of patients in the long-term cART group had a 10-year CVD risk assessment of ≥7.5%, and 13.8%(17/123) in the cART-naive group. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of high 10-years CVD risk between the long-term cART group and the cART-naive group assessed by any of risk equations (all P>0.050). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the risk factors associated with 10-year CVD risk ≥10% assessed by D: A: D[R] model were age≥50 years, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and CD4 + T lymphocyte count <200×10 6 cells/L (adjusted odds ratio ( AOR)=697.48, 4 622.28, 23.11, 25.95, 27.72 and 18.25, respectively, all P<0.010). The risk factors associated with 10-year CVD risk ≥10% assessed by FRS were age≥50 years, male, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia ( AOR=53.51, 4.52, 36.93, 36.77, 6.15 and 3.84, respectively, all P<0.050). The risk factors associated with 10-year CVD risk ≥7.5% assessed by ASCVD risk score were age≥50 years, male, smoking, hypertension, diabetes ( AOR=18.48, 14.11, 14.81, 13.42 and 12.41, respectively, all P<0.050). Conclusions:Long-term cART has no significant effect on the 10-year CVD risk in HIV/AIDS patients. Higher CVD risk in HIV/AIDS patients are mainly associated with CD4 + T lymphocyte counts<200×10 6 cells/L and traditional CVD risk factors, including age≥50 years old, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of infectious diarrhea pathogens in Pudong New Areas of Shanghai from 2013 to 2017 to provide evidence for control and prevention of the disease.Methods:From Jan 2013 to Dec 2017, active surveillance program on diarrhea was conducted in 14 sentinel hospitals (three tertiary-level and nine secondary-level, and two primary-level hospitals) in Pudong New Areas of Shanghai, based on location, catchment areas and number of patients. All recruited outpatients were interviewed in hospitals, using a standard questionnaire. Stool specimens were collected and tested for five viral and eight bacterial pathogens.Results:A total of 9 301 cases with infectious diarrhea were included, and the overall positive rate was 55.7 % (5 179). Positive rates of single virus, single bacteria and mixed infections were 26.7 % (2 481), 17.0 % (1 579) and 12.0 % (1 119), respectively. For single infection, the most commonly detected viruses appeared as norovirus (15.4 %, 1 428/9 301) and rotavirus (7.2 %, 667/9 301). The most commonly detected bacteria were diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (6.7 %, 619/9 301) and non-typhoid Salmonella (3.3 %, 305/9 301). The most common mixed infections were caused by virus-bacteria (4.9 %, 459/9 301). Norovirus (17.0 %, 838/4 938) showed the highest positive rates, followed by Escherichia coli (7.2 %, 354/4 938), both seen in the age group of 20-59 years old group. Rotavirus (9.4 %, 178/1 896) and non-typhoid Salmonella (4.9 %, 93/1 896) were the most common pathogens found in the age group of 0-4 years old. The prevalence of norovirus peaked both in spring and autumn. The other peaks were seen as: Rotavirus in winter, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in summer and non-typhoid Salmonella in summer. Conclusions:Our data showed that the positive rates of infectious diarrhea pathogens were high in Pudong New Areas of Shanghai from 2013 to 2017. The dominant pathogens would include norovirus, rotavirus and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli but with differenct distributions in age groups. Obvious seasonal patterns were also observed.