Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory demyelinating disease, mediated by pathogenic T helper 17 (Th17) cells. However, the therapeutic effect is accompanied by the fluctuation of the proportion and function of Th17 cells, which prompted us to find the key regulator of Th17 differentiation in MS. Here, we demonstrated that the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM-2), a modulator of pattern recognition receptors on innate immune cells, was highly expressed on pathogenic CD4-positive T lymphocyte (CD4⁺ T) cells in both patients with MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse models. Conditional knockout of Trem-2 in CD4⁺ T cells significantly alleviated the disease activity and reduced Th17 cell infiltration, activation, differentiation, and inflammatory cytokine production and secretion in EAE mice. Furthermore, with Trem-2 knockout in vivo experiments and in vitro inhibitor assays, the TREM-2/zeta-chain associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP70)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signal axis was essential for Th17 activation and differentiation in EAE progression. In conclusion, TREM-2 is a key regulator of pathogenic Th17 in EAE mice, and this sheds new light on the potential of this therapeutic target for MS.
Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/pathology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Th1 Cells/pathology*

BACKGROUND:Numerous clinical studies have suggested a close relationship between obesity and osteoporosis,but whether there is a genetic causal effect between obesity and osteoporosis remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the association between obesity and osteoporosis using summary data from a large-scale genome-wide association study(GWAS)through Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS:Obesity data were derived from summary statistics of the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits(GIANT)and the UK Biobank(UKBB).Osteoporosis data were obtained from the Genetic Factors for Osteoporosis(GeFOS)consortium,including two bone density phenotypes:total body bone mineral density(BMD)and heel BMD.The inverse variance-weighted method was the primary analysis,with the Mendelian randomization method based on Egger regression(MR-Egger)and weighted median method as supplementary approaches to calculate the causal association between genetic variations related to obesity and osteoporosis.Sensitivity analyses were conducted to validate the reliability of the results.Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q test.Horizontal pleiotropy was assessed through the MR-Egger intercept test.Leave-one-out analysis was performed to evaluate the potential influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms on the combined inverse variance-weighted estimates. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Impact of obesity on osteoporosis:In addition to body mass index and forearm BMD,body mass index,waist-to-hip ratio,body mass index-adjusted waist-to-hip ratio,and whole-body body mass index,heel BMD,forearm BMD,lumbar spine BMD,and femoral neck BMD were causally related to each other.Further Meta-analysis revealed that obesity increased the risk of BMD(odds ratio=1.07,95%confidence interval:1.03-1.12,P<0.01).(2)Impact of osteoporosis on obesity:Apart from arm BMD and lumbar spine BMD as exposure factors showing causal relationships with obesity,other datasets indicated no causal effect between total body BMD,heel BMD,femoral neck BMD,and obesity.Additional meta-analysis demonstrated that BMD did not increase the risk of obesity(odds rate=0.99,95%confidence interval:0.98-1.01,P<0.01).There is a causal relationship between obesity and osteoporosis,suggesting that obesity may be a risk factor for osteoporosis.However,no causal association is found between osteoporosis and obesity.

Objective Clinical medical record data associated with hepatitis B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure(HBV-ACLF)generally have small sample sizes and a class imbalance.However,most machine learning models are designed based on balanced data and lack interpretability.This study aimed to propose a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)diagnostic model for HBV-ACLF based on the TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment theory,which is clini-cally interpretable and highly accurate. Methods We collected medical records from 261 patients diagnosed with HBV-ACLF,includ-ing three syndromes:Yang jaundice(214 cases),Yang-Yin jaundice(41 cases),and Yin jaun-dice(6 cases).To avoid overfitting of the machine learning model,we excluded the cases of Yin jaundice.After data standardization and cleaning,we obtained 255 relevant medical records of Yang jaundice and Yang-Yin jaundice.To address the class imbalance issue,we employed the oversampling method and five machine learning methods,including logistic regression(LR),support vector machine(SVM),decision tree(DT),random forest(RF),and extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)to construct the syndrome diagnosis models.This study used precision,F1 score,the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC),and accuracy as model evaluation metrics.The model with the best classification per-formance was selected to extract the diagnostic rule,and its clinical significance was thor-oughly analyzed.Furthermore,we proposed a novel multiple-round stable rule extraction(MRSRE)method to obtain a stable rule set of features that can exhibit the model's clinical in-terpretability. Results The precision of the five machine learning models built using oversampled balanced data exceeded 0.90.Among these models,the accuracy of RF classification of syndrome types was 0.92,and the mean F1 scores of the two categories of Yang jaundice and Yang-Yin jaun-dice were 0.93 and 0.94,respectively.Additionally,the AUC was 0.98.The extraction rules of the RF syndrome differentiation model based on the MRSRE method revealed that the com-mon features of Yang jaundice and Yang-Yin jaundice were wiry pulse,yellowing of the urine,skin,and eyes,normal tongue body,healthy sublingual vessel,nausea,oil loathing,and poor appetite.The main features of Yang jaundice were a red tongue body and thickened sublin-gual vessels,whereas those of Yang-Yin jaundice were a dark tongue body,pale white tongue body,white tongue coating,lack of strength,slippery pulse,light red tongue body,slimy tongue coating,and abdominal distension.This is aligned with the classifications made by TCM experts based on TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment theory. Conclusion Our model can be utilized for differentiating HBV-ACLF syndromes,which has the potential to be applied to generate other clinically interpretable models with high accura-cy on clinical data characterized by small sample sizes and a class imbalance.

Objective To explore the potential mechanism of"hot flashes"in mice with type 2 diabetes with yin deficiency syndrome.Methods Ninety-nine 8-week-old db/db mice with fasting blood glucose≥16.7 mmol·L-1 were divided into yin deficiency syndrome group,type 2 diabetes group,type 2 diabetes with yin deficiency syndrome group,type 2 diabetes with Liuwei Dihuang Decoction low,medium,high-dose group,type 2 diabetes with yin-deficiency syndrome and Liuwei Dihuang Decoction low,middle,high-dose groups,21 littermates of wild control male m/m mice were control group.The model was established by the method of"heat engenders yin deficiency",and the performance of yin deficiency syndrome in mice was evaluated after 4 weeks.Afterwards,the corresponding doses of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction group were given by gavage for 4 weeks.During the experiment,the rectal temperature,the temperature of the precordial area,and the temperature of the limbs and paws were measured once a week at 8:30,15:00,and 20:00.Western blot was used to observe the expression of biological rhythm-related proteins in the hypothalamus and liver.Results The experimental study showed that the yin deficiency syndrome model of type 2 diabetes could be established by using the method of overheating and injuring the yin.The rhythm changes of Liuwei Dihuang Decoction showed that the high-dose group could effectively restore the body temperature rhythm.The expression of rhythm factors Clock and Cry2 increased in both the hypothalamus and liver;in the hypothalamus,the central rhythm regulation center,the expressions of Per2 and Cry2 increased significantly;in the peripheral target organ liver,the expressions of Bmal1,Per3 and Cry1 increased more significantly.Conclusion The abnormal expression of biological rhythm protein in the liver and hypothalamus may be one of the important mechanisms leading to the characteristics of"hot flashes"in type 2 diabetes with yin deficiency.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features of intestinal Beh?et′s disease, so as to provide reference for the diagnosis of the disease.Methods:From April 1 2014 to January 31 2019, the clinical data of 47 patients diagnosed as intestinal Beh?et′s disease at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, which included initial symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, complications, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), the levels of C reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin, serum albumin, results of acupuncture test, gastrointestinal involved site and ulcer shape. At the same time, gender differences of clinical manifestations were compared. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:Among 47 patients with intestinal Beh?et′s disease, the initial symptoms of 26 (55.3%) cases were gastrointestinal symptoms. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom, the others were diarrhea, anorexia, abdominal distension and perianal abscess, and the incidence rate was 80.9%(38/47), 46.8% (22/47), 42.6% (20/47), 36.2% (17/47) and 2.1% (1/47), respectively. The main complications were gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation and obstruction, and the incidence rates was 40.4% (19/47), 4.3% (2/47) and 4.3% (2/47), respectively. Thirty-seven (78.7%) patients had different degrees of hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin<35 g/L). The CRP level of 36(76.6%) patients increased. The ESR of 36 (76.6%) patients increased. Twenty-two (46.8%) patients had mild anemia (hemoglobin<90 g/L). The acupuncture test was positive in 25 (53.2%) patients. The involved sites of gastrointestinal tract were terminal ileum and ileocecal junction, colon, esophagus, duodenum and jejunum, stomach, and rectum, the proportion was 57.4% (27/47), 27.2% (13/47), 23.4% (11/47), 23.4% (11/47), 17.0% (8/47) and 8.5% (4/47), respectively. All 47 (100.0%) patients had oral ulcers. 62.1%(18/29) patients presented with multiple ulcers under endoscope. The shape of ulcer was round ulcer, irregular ulcer, and longitudinal ulcer, the proportion was 48.3% (14/29), 34.5% (10/29) and 17.2 (5/29), respectively. The incidence rate of genital ulcer of female patients with intestinal Beh?et′s disease was higher than that of male patients with intestinal Beh?et′s disease (85.7%, 18/21 vs. 30.8%, 8/26), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=14.189, P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the female group and the male group in the incidence rate of oral ulcer, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and positive rate of acupuncture test (100.0%, 21/21 vs. 100.0%, 26/26; 85.7%, 18/21 vs. 76.9%, 20/26; 42.9%, 9/21 vs. 50.0%, 13/26; 52.4%, 11/21 vs. 58.3%, 14/26, all P>0.05). Conclusions:The common clinical symptoms of intestinal Beh?et′s disease are oral ulcers, abdominal pain, diarrhea and genital ulcer. Female patients with intestinal Beh?et′s disease are more likely to develop genital ulcer than male patients with intestinal Beh?et′s disease. Multiple ulcers are more common under endoscopy, which are round ulcer, irregular ulcer and longitudinal ulcer. The most common sites are the terminal ileum and ileocecal junction, followed by colon, esophagus and other parts.

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is an emerging powerful cancer immunotherapy, which includes a complex process of genetic modification, stimulation and expansion. During these

Objective To establish standardized traceable management procedure for implanted high-value consumables in operating room.Methods The management model combining information-based system operation process and quality control process was designed,and management results before and after implementation were compared.Results There were statistically significant differences in error rates of information recording,bar code sticking and charging of implantable high-value consumables after the implementation of the process management mode (P＜0.05).At the same time,there were statistically significant differences in improvement of traceability of high-value consumables,adverse event reporting and patient satisfaction(P＜0.05).Conclusion Establishment of management model in operating room for implanted high-value consumables can ensure medical safety and increase medical quality.It was proved to improve the level of hospital management.

Objective To investigate the effect of apatinib on the proliferation,apoptosis and migration of pancreatic cancer cell line AsPC-1 in vitro.Methods Pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 cells were treated by apatinib in different concentrations.Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8 and flow cytometry,and the effect of apatinib on cell migration ability was observed by wound healing assay.Results In control and 10,20,30,40 and 50umol/L apatinib treatment group,the inhibitory rates of AsPC-1 cells were 0,(1.45 ±0.68)％,(16.92±0.70)％,(23.84±0.84)％,(34.35±1.55)％ and (37.33± 0.81) ％,respectively.Cell proliferation was obviously inhibited by apatinib as the concentration increased,and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).In control and 20,40 umol/L apatinib treatment group,the apoptotic rates were (9.44 ± 0.18) ％,(16.62 ± 0.19) ％ and (25.42 ± 0.41) ％,respectively.Number of apoptotic cells was obviously increased by apatinib as the concentration increased,and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).In control and 20,40 umol/L apatinib treatment group,the migration ability was (29.5 ± 0.7) ％,(17.4 ± 0.9) ％ and (6.6 ± 0.5) ％,which was greatly decreased as the concentration increased,and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Apatinib can effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 cells and induce apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosis of urinary tract infection(UTI) in elderly patients.Methods 114 elderly patients with UTI in the department of infectious diseases of a hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively, clinical data of patients with abnormal and normal serum PCT were compared, PCT levels in patients with positive and negative blood cultures were compared, PCT receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the diagnosis of bacteremia were drawn.Results Among 114 elderly patients with UTI, 46 were with abnormal PCT, 68 were with normal PCT.In abnormal PCT group, the proportions of patients with highest body temperature within 24 hours of admission, white blood cell count, neutrophil granulocyte percentage, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(Cr), and urinary tract obstructive disease were all higher than those with normal PCT (all P<0.05).Among 42 patients with blood culture, PCT level in positive blood culture group(n=12) was higher than negative blood culture group(n=30)(1.93 [0.57-8.32] μg/L vs 0.36[0.15-1.01]μg/L, P=0.028).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the patients with bacteremia diagnosed by PCT was 0.72(95%CI:0.54-0.90),at the optimal value of 0.52 g/L, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 83.3%, 63.3%, 47.6%, and 90.5% respectively.Conclusion Serum PCT level can well reflect the severity of elderly patients with UTI, and is of great value in early diagnosis of bacteremia in elderly patients with UTI.

Objective To investigate the antimicrobial resistance ,molecular phenotypes ,virulence gene profiles of Salmonella A gona (S .A gona) isolated from patients with acute diarrhea ,and to better understand its epidemic trend ,prevention and treatment .Methods Clinical data and stool samples of patients with acute diarrhea during April to October in 2013 and 2014 from the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were collected .Enrichment culture ,biochemical identification and serotyping analysis were used to isolate and identify S .A gona strains .The isolated strains were further analyzed with antibiotics susceptibility test ,pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) ,multiple locus sequence typing (MLST ) , Quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR) .Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) and β-lactamases genes (TEM ,SHV ,OXA ,and CTX-M) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing .The representative genes carried by Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPI) 1 — 6 ,9 — 12 and virulence plasmids were amplified by PCR .And the clinical characteristics of S .Agona infection were analyzed .Results Among 119 non-repetitive (non-typhoidal salmonella ,NTS) isolates during the two years ,eight isolates (6 .7％ ) of S .A gona were identified . The resistance rate of S .A gona strains to streptomycin was 100 .0％ , those to ampicillin and gentamicin were 62 .5％ ,to levofloxacin ,ciprofloxacin and nalicixic acid were 25 .0％ ,to chloramphenicol ,amoxillin/clavulanic acid and piperacillin tazobactam were 12 .5％ .The strains were susceptible to other drugs .All 8 isolates had the identical ST13 genotype .PFGE showed 5 clones ,and 4 out of 5 isolates had the exact same patterns of PFGE and drug susceptibility .Two (fluoroquinolones ,FQ) resistant strains carried gyrA mutation leading to amino acid substitutions at position 87 in GyrA ,and no PMQR genes was detected ,while one of which was sensitive to ciprofloxacin by K-B method .All five ampicillin-resistant isolates were positive for TEM-1b gene and one isolate of them was resistant to β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor complex .The representative genes carried by SPI 1 — 6 , 9 ,11 ,12 (hilA ,sseL ,mgtC ,siiE ,sopB ,pagN ,bapA ,pagC and sspH2) were 100 .0％ positive ,while the genes carried by SPI10 (sef A ) virulence plasmids (spvB , prot6E) were negative . Two patients with FQ resistant strains infection were clinically diagnosed with bacillary dysentery ,and the remaining six cases with FQ susceptible strains infection were clinically diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis .Conclusions FQs-resistant and multi-drug resistant S .A gonaisolates have emerged in clinical settings .These isolates carry a variety of virulence genes .Resistance to FQ of S .Agonamay cause more severe illness .ST13 might be the dominant genotype of S . A gona in China ,and we should try to prevent the infection outbreak of S .A gona .