BACKGROUND:Individuals with chronic ankle instability are prone to inversion ankle sprains during landing.Moderately increasing the foot toe-out angle during landing may reduce the occurrence of inversion ankle sprains,but no studies have directly demonstrated this effect. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of increased toe-out angle during landing on the peak inversion angle,peak angular velocity,and the time to peak inversion among individuals with and without chronic ankle instability. METHODS:A total of 60 participants were recruited for this study,including 30 individuals with chronic ankle instability and 30 without chronic ankle instability.The study utilized a simulated sprain apparatus for drop-landing tests,featuring a platform that could tilt forward by 24° and inward by 15°,thus simulating the foot position during an ankle inversion sprain.Participants were required to perform drop-landing tests under two landing conditions:natural landing and toe-out landing,with the latter involving a greater foot toe-out angle,over 150%more than the former.Kinematic data of participants were recorded using a 12-camera three-dimensional motion capture system.Data analysis was conducted using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Significant main effects of condition were found for peak inversion angle during drop-landing(P<0.001,η2 p=0.270),peak inversion velocity(P=0.015,η2 p=0.098),and peak inversion time(P<0.001,η2 p=0.260);a significant main effect of group was found for peak inversion velocity(P=0.029,η2 p=0.080).(2)There were significant negative correlations between the foot toe-out angle at landing and the peak ankle inversion angle(P=0.021,r=-0.310;P=0.042,r=-0.278)as well as the peak inversion time(P=0.018,r=-0.312;P=0.021,r=-0.309)in both chronic ankle instability and non-chronic ankle instability groups.Moreover,a significant negative correlation was also found between the foot toe-out angle and peak inversion velocity in the chronic ankle instability group(P=0.021,r=-0.312).(3)It is indicated that increasing the foot toe-out angle at landing can reduce the peak inversion angle,peak inversion velocity,and the peak inversion time during landing in patients with chronic ankle instability and non-chronic ankle instability,thereby decreasing the risk of ankle inversion sprains.

Objective By knocking down the expression of fibroblast growth factors 21(FGF21)in adipose liver cells,to observe lipid metabolism and to explore the molecular mechanism of FGF21 regulating lipid metabolism in liver cells.Methods By interfering with lentivirus transfection through FGF21,the expression of FGF21 was reduced in HepG2 cells.HepG2 cells were transfected with an empty vector as a control,and were respectively referred to as interference group and control group.Both groups were stimulated with palmitic acid oleic acid to construct non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)cell model.The expression of FGF21 was interfered by lentivirus vector,oil red O staining and spectrophotometric value were measured to observe the lipid deposition in cells.Use Western blot method to detect the changes of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3),JAK2,and STAT3 proteins in fatty liver cells.Results Oil red O staining and absorbance values showed that compared with control group,interference group significantly reduced the lipid droplet content in liver cells;Western blot results showed that the expression levels of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3),Janus kinase 2(JAK2),signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),and STAT3 protein were significantly increased in interference group of liver cells.Conclusion In the fatty liver cell model,knocking down FGF21 can improve lipid deposition through liver cells.The mechanism may be through increasing the SOCS3/JAK/STAT pathway,but the specific mechanism of action needs further in-depth research in the future.

Objectives: Fructosamine correlates well with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in Caucasians. This study investigates this correlation and whether fructosamine can reliably estimate glycated haemoglobin in Southeast Asians. Methodology: We recruited 193 participants based on 4 HbA1c bands (<6.0%; 6.0 – 7.9%; 8.0– 9.9%; ≥10%) from a secondary hospital in Singapore between August 2017 and December 2021. Blood samples for fructosamine, glycated haemoglobin, albumin, haemoglobin, thyroid stimulating hormone and creatinine were drawn in a single setting for all participants. Scatter plot was used to explore correlation between fructosamine and glycated haemoglobin. Strength of linear correlation was reported using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Simple linear regression was used to examine the relationship between fructosamine and glycated haemoglobin. Results: We performed simple linear regression to study the relationship between fructosamine and HbA1c in the research participants (R2 = 0.756, p<0.01). Further analysis with natural logarithmic transformation of fructosamine demonstrated a stronger correlation between HbA1c and fructosamine (R2 = 0.792, p<0.01). Conclusions Fructosamine is reliably correlated with HbA1c for the monitoring of glycaemic control in Southeast Asians.
Fructosamine ; Diabetes Mellitus

Objective To investigate the risk factors for portopulmonary hypertension(POPH)in liver cirrhosis,and to construct a noninvasive predictive model.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 310 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension who were hospitalized in The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2013 to August 2022,and according to whether pulmonary artery systolic pressure was≥40 mmHg on ultrasound,the patients were divided into POPH group with 31 patients and non-POPH group with 279 patients.The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups,and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups;the chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups.A binary Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for POPH,and a nomogram prediction model was constructed.The Bootstrap resampling method was used for internal validation,and C-index and calibration curve were used to assess the discriminatory ability and consistency of the model.The rms package was used to plot the nomogram.Results Compared with the non-POPH group,the POPH group had a significantly younger age,a significantly higher proportion of women or patients with hepatic encephalopathy or Child-Pugh class C disease,and significantly higher levels of direct bilirubin,Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score,albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score,international normalized ratio,prothrombin time,FIB-4 index,LOK score,and Forns index,as well as significantly lower levels of serum albumin,alanine aminotransferase,gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase,hemoglobin,total cholesterol,and triglycerides(all P<0.05).The multivariate analysis showed that sex(odds ratio[OR]=0.172,95%confidence interval[CI]:0.064-0.462,P<0.001),age(OR=0.944,95%CI:0.901-0.989,P=0.016),ALBI score(OR=3.091,95%CI:1.100-8.687,P=0.032),and hepatic encephalopathy(OR=3.466,95%CI:1.331-9.031,P=0.011)were independent risk factors for POPH.A predictive model for POPH in liver cirrhosis was established based on the above independent risk factors,with a C-index of 0.796(95%CI:0.701-0.890),suggesting that the model had good discriminatory ability,and the calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ability,suggesting that the model had certain predictive efficacy.Conclusion Young female individuals,elevated ALBI score,and comorbidity with hepatic encephalopathy are independent risk factors for POPH in patients with liver cirrhosis,and the predictive model established based on these factors has a certain clinical application value.

[Objective]To explore the role of estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER) in the pathogenesis and regulation of non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (NIFR).[Methods]Totally 60 patients with NIFS who met the inclusion criteria in Fuzhou Second General Hospital from November 2020 to November 2023 were selected as the NIFS group,while 30 healthy volunteers were recruited as the blank control group. Samples of each group were collected. The number of eosinophils and mast cells in each group were detected by HE staining;ER expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence;mRNA expression levels of NF-κB,IKK and MASPIN were detected by qPCR;and protein expression levels of NF-κB,IKK and MASPIN were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.[Results]In the NIFS group,the counts of eosinophils and mast cells were significantly increased respectively,compared with those in the control group,and the inter-group differences are statistically significant (P<0.01 and P<0.05,respectively). The Estrogen Receptor (ER) score in the NIFS group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group,and the inter-group differences are statistically significant (P<0.05). Additionally,the average high-density value in the NIFS group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group,and the inter-group differences are statistically significant (P<0.01). The expression levels of NF-κB,IKK,and MASPIN in the NIFS group were significantly increased respectively,compared with those in the control group,and the inter-group differences are statistically significant (P<0.01,P<0.05,and P<0.01,respectively). The mRNA expression levels of NF-κB,IKK,and MASPIN in the NIFS group were significantly increased,respectively,compared with those in the control group (P<0.01). Furthermore,the protein expression levels of NF-κB,IKK,and MASPIN in the NIFS group were increased,respectively,and the inter-group differences are statistically significant (P<0.01,P<0.01,and P<0.05,respectively).[Conclusion]Our results show that the significant increase in the number of eosinophils and mast cells,and in the expression levels of ER,NF-κB,IKK and MASPIN may indicate a significant increase in eosinophil and mast cell infiltration in ER positive patients,and suggest the involvement of estrogen and its receptors in the pathogenesis of NIFS.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of staged carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting in the treatment of coronary heart disease complicated with carotid stenosis. Methods The clinical data of patients with coronary heart disease and carotid stenosis treated in Fuwai Hospital from November 2019 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent staged carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting. The incidence and risk factors of severe complications such as myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and death during the perioperative period and follow-up were analyzed. Results A total of 58 patients were enrolled, including 47 males and 11 females with an average age of 52-77 (64.2±5.6) years. No complications occurred before coronary artery bypass grafting. There was 1 myocardial infarction, 1 cerebral infarction and 1 death after the coronary artery bypass grafting. The early complication rate was 5.2%. During the follow-up of 18.3 months, 1 cerebral infarction and 2 deaths occurred, and the overall complication rate was 10.3%. According to Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis, patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (log-rank, P=0.037) and placement of close-cell (log-rank, P=0.030) had a higher risk of postoperative ischemic cerebrovascular event, and patients with previous cerebral infarction had a higher risk of postoperative severe complications (log-rank, P=0.044). Conclusion Staged carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting is safe and feasible for the treatment of coronary heart disease complicated with carotid stenosis.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of remimazolam(Re)combined with thoracic sympathetic nerve block(TSNB)on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion(MI/R)rats.Methods Rats were randomly separated into control group,MI/R group,Re group,TSNB group,and Re+TSNB group,with 12 rats in each group.Except for the control group,the remaining rats were subjected to left anterior descending coronary artery(LAD)ligation to construct an MI/R model.In the Re group,20 mg/kg Re was intraperitoneally injected 30 min before ischemia.In TSNB group,0.2％ropivacaine 50 μL was injected into the thoracic epidural catheter 30 min before ischemia.In the Re+TSNB group,20 mg/kg Re was intraperitoneally injected and 0.2％ropivacaine 50 μL was injected into the thoracic epidural catheter 30 min before ischemia.The control group and MI/R group were injected with normal saline only.Rats in each group were evaluated for cardiac function and infarct size.HE staining and TUNEL staining were applied to observe pathological changes in myocardial tissue and myocardial cell apoptosis.Serum myocardial injury markers creatine kinase(CK)and aspartate transaminase(AST),cardiac troponin(cTnⅠ),myocardial inflammatory factors interleukin-8(IL-8),tumor nec-rosis factor-α(TNF-α),and oxidative stress factors malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)were detec-ted.Western blot was applied to detect the expression of IL-8,TNF-α,B lymphoblastoma-2-associated X protein(Bax),and B-lymphoblastoma-2(Bcl-2)in myocardial tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the myocardial cells of rats showed edema and myocardial fiber disorder in the MI/R group,the left ventricular developmental pressure(LVDP),maximal left ventricular pressure rising rate(+dp/dtmax),maximal left ventricular pressure decreasing rate(-dp/dtmax),SOD activity,and level of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced,the myocardial infarction area,cell apoptosis rate,levels of cTnⅠ,CK,AST,IL-8,TNF-α,MDA,and Bax were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the MI/R group,the morphology of myocardial fibers and myocardial cells was significantly improved in the Re group,TSNB group and Re+TSNB group,the LVDP,±dp/dtmax,SOD activity,and level of Bcl-2 were significantly increased,the myocardial infarction area,cell apoptosis rate,levels of cTnI,CK,AST,IL-8,TNF-α,MDA,and Bax were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the Re group and TSNB group,the LVDP,±dp/dtmax,SOD activity,and level of Bcl-2 were significantly increased in the Re+TSNB group,the myocardial infarction area,cell apoptosis rate,levels of cTnⅠ,CK,AST,IL-8,TNF-α,MDA,and Bax were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of Re and TSNB may protect against MI/R injury by reducing myocardial infarction and myocardial cell apoptosis,and inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidative stress.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

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.

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent global joint disease, which is characterized by inflammatory reaction and cartilage degradation. Cyasterone, a sterone derived from the roots of Cyathula officinalis Kuan, exerts protective effect against several inflammation-related diseases. However, its effect on osteoarthritis remains unclear. The current study was designed to investigate the potential anti-osteoarthritis activity of cyasterone. Primary chondrocytes isolated from rats induced by interleukin (IL)-1β and a rat model stimulated by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) were used for in vitro and in vivo experiments, respectively. The results of in vitro experiments showed that cyasterone apparently counteracted chondrocyte apoptosis, increased the expression of collagen II and aggrecan, and restrained the production of the inflammatory factors inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 (ADAMTS-5), metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) induced by IL-1β in chondrocytes. Furthermore, cyasterone ameliorated the inflammation and degenerative progression of osteoarthritis potentially by regulating the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. For in vivo experiments, cyasterone significantly alleviated the inflammatory response and cartilage destruction of rats induced by monosodium iodoacetate, where dexamethasone was used as the positive control. Overall, this study laid a theoretical foundation for developing cyasterone as an effective agent for the alleviation of osteoarthritis.
Animals ; Rats ; Chondrocytes ; NF-kappa B ; Iodoacetic Acid ; Inflammation ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Apoptosis