OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the eradication rate of human papillomavirus(HPV)and gestational outcome of patients with high-grade squamous intraepithelial disease of the cervix(HSIL)after loop electrosurgical excision procedure(LEEP)by transvaginal dissection of the vesicorectal form the cervix.Methods A total of 53 patients treated with LEEP by transvaginal dissection of the vesicorectal form the cervix in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University from Jan to Dec,2019 were investigated.Clinical information of cervical cytological examination,HPV test and cervical biopsy under colposcopy were followed up for 6,12 and 24 months post-LEEP were collected.HPV infection in these 53 patients were compared before and after LEEP surgery.The rate of successful fertility of the cohort,the HPV conversion rate of patients with hysterectomy and LEEP done were compared.The association between the pathological type and positive surgical margin and the association between HPV infection type and positive surgical margin were analyzed.Results HPV infection rate of was 94.3%(50/53)and the proportion of HPV16 and/or 18 infection was 75.5%(40/53).Mono-HPV infection rate(69.8%,37/53)was significantly higher than mixed HPV infection rate(22.7%,13/53).Thirty-eight patients(71.7%)were found with positive surgical margin in previous LEEP operation.Fifteen patients had recurrence(28.3%)and 40 patients(75.5%)successfully delivered baby after surgery.Postoperative pathology was mainly HSIL,accounting for 66%(30/53),and 28.3%patients(15/53)had no pathological change.Forty cases had satisfying fertility-conservative operation outcome with negative surgical margin,and 38 patients eradicated HPV infection after LEEP,which took up 95%of patients with satisfying fertility-conservative operation.There was no significant difference of positive resection margin rate in between groups of HPV16/18 infection and other types.Five cases had successful delivery(12.5%,5/40)with 1 case of vaginal delivery and 4 cases of cesarean section.Among these 5 cases,3 cases undertook preventive cervical cerclage,with 1 case of vaginal delivery and 2 cases of cesarean sections.Conclusion HPV eradication rate and surgical outcome could be significantly improved by LEEP with transvaginal dissection of the vesicorectal from the cervix,which satisfied the fertility preservation of females at reproductive age.

Aim To investigate the effects of berberine(BBR)combined with 5'-n-ethylformamidoadenosine(NECA)on myocardial H9c2 and HL-1 cell damage induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R).Methods H9c2 and HL-1 cells were divided into the Control group,BBR group,NECA group,combined administra-tion group,H/R group,BBR+H/R group,NECA+H/R group,and combined administration+H/R group.CCK-8 was used to detect cell viability in each group.The TMRE kit was used to detect MMP.DCFH-DA was used to detect ROS content.The Mito SOX Red fluorescent probe was used to detect mitochondrial su-peroxide.The expressions of COX Ⅳ,Tom20,and Tim23 were detected by Western blot.The expression of COX Ⅳ and Tom20 genes was detected by qRT-PCR.Results In H9c2 cells,the cell viability and TMRE fluorescence intensity in the H/R group were significantly decreased compared with the Control group.The protein expressions of COX Ⅳ,Tom20,and Tim23,gene expressions of COX Ⅳ and Tom20,ROS,and mitochondrial superoxide contents were significant-ly increased.Compared with the H/R group,the cell viability of BBR and NECA were enhanced after ad-ministration alone.The contents of ROS and mitochon-drial superoxide were significantly decreased.In HL-1 cells,cell viability in the H/R group was significantly decreased compared with the Control group.The con-tents of ROS and mitochondrial superoxide were signifi-cantly increased.Compared with the H/R group,BBR and NECA alone and combined administration en-hanced cell viability.The contents of ROS and mito-chondrial superoxide were significantly decreased.Conclusion The administration of BBR and NECA a-lone or in combination can reduce the production of mi-tochondrial superoxide and cell ROS,thereby allevia-ting mitochondrial damage,alleviating oxidative stress damage,and ultimately reducing H/R-induced myocar-dial cell damage.

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of obese adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to aid the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods: A total of 262 patients eligible for inclusion who received volume reduction metabolism surgery and liver biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June 2018 to September 2019 were selected. HE staining, reticular fiber staining and Masson staining were performed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0. Results: The patients ranged in age from 18 to 66 years. Among the 262 cases, 65 cases (65/262, 24.8%) were male and 197 cases (197/262, 75.2%) were female. Sixty-one cases (61/262, 23.3%) were non-NAFLD, 201 cases (201/262, 76.7%) were NAFLD including 27 cases (27/201, 13.4%) of nonalcoholic fatty live (NAFL) and 174 cases (174/201, 86.6%) of NASH. The main lesions of NAFLD were in hepatic acinus zone 3. There were significant differences in age, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST), body mass index (BMI), fasting blood-glucose (FPG) and apolipoprotein A (APOA) levels among the non-NAFLD group, NAFL group and NASH group (P<0.05). Patients with BMI≥35 m/kg² combined with type 2 diabetes had a higher prevalence of NASH. Multiple logistic regression showed that ALT and APOA were independent predictors of NASH (P<0.001, OR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.020-1.082; P=0.027, OR=0.916, 95%CI: 0.878-0.941). Total cholesterol (CHO) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were independent predictors of lobular inflammation (P=0.043, 95%CI: 0.010-0.634; P=0.024, 95%CI:-3.068--0.216). AST and HDL were independent predictors of fibrosis stage (P=0.029, 95%CI: 0.001-0.021; P<0.001, 95%CI:-2.670--0.645). Conclusions: Biochemical indicators of NAFLD are closely related to its pathology. The histological lesions of NAFLD are mainly present in hepatic acinar area 3. The diagnosis of NASH is supported by extensive steatosis and high levels of CHO, ALT, AST and BMI, low levels of HDL and ApoA in biochemical markers, but pathological examination is still the gold standard for it.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/pathology* ; Liver/pathology* ; Obesity/pathology* ; Apolipoproteins A

Objective: To evaluate the safety and antitumor activity of envafolimab monotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors. Methods: This open-label, multicenter phase I trial included dose escalation and dose expansion phases. In the dose escalation phase, patients received subcutaneous 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 mg/kg envafolimab once weekly (QW) following a modified "3+ 3" design. The dose expansion phase was performed in the 2.5 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg (QW) dose cohorts. Results: At November 25, 2019, a total of 287 patients received envafolimab treatment. During the dose escalation phase, no dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) was observed. In all dose cohorts, drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) for all grades occurred in 75.3% of patients, and grade 3 or 4 occurred in 20.6% of patients. The incidence of immune-related adverse reactions (irAE) was 24.0% for all grades, the most common irAEs (≥2%) included hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, immune-associated hepatitis and rash. The incidence of injection site reactions was low (3.8%), all of which were grades 1-2. Among the 216 efficacy evaluable patients, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 11.6% and 43.1%, respectively. Median duration of response was 49.1 weeks (95% CI: 24.0, 49.3). Pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure to envafolimab is proportional to dose and median time to maximum plasma concentration is 72-120 hours based on the PK results from the dose escalation phase of the study. Conclusion: Subcutaneous envafolimab has a favorable safety and promising preliminary anti-tumor activity in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors.
Humans ; East Asian People ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use*

Objective: To evaluate the safety and antitumor activity of envafolimab monotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors. Methods: This open-label, multicenter phase I trial included dose escalation and dose expansion phases. In the dose escalation phase, patients received subcutaneous 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 mg/kg envafolimab once weekly (QW) following a modified "3+ 3" design. The dose expansion phase was performed in the 2.5 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg (QW) dose cohorts. Results: At November 25, 2019, a total of 287 patients received envafolimab treatment. During the dose escalation phase, no dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) was observed. In all dose cohorts, drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) for all grades occurred in 75.3% of patients, and grade 3 or 4 occurred in 20.6% of patients. The incidence of immune-related adverse reactions (irAE) was 24.0% for all grades, the most common irAEs (≥2%) included hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, immune-associated hepatitis and rash. The incidence of injection site reactions was low (3.8%), all of which were grades 1-2. Among the 216 efficacy evaluable patients, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 11.6% and 43.1%, respectively. Median duration of response was 49.1 weeks (95% CI: 24.0, 49.3). Pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure to envafolimab is proportional to dose and median time to maximum plasma concentration is 72-120 hours based on the PK results from the dose escalation phase of the study. Conclusion: Subcutaneous envafolimab has a favorable safety and promising preliminary anti-tumor activity in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors.
Humans ; East Asian People ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use*

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a congenital, motile ciliopathy with pleiotropic symptoms. Although nearly 50 causative genes have been identified, they only account for approximately 70% of definitive PCD cases. Dynein axonemal heavy chain 10 (DNAH10) encodes a subunit of the inner arm dynein heavy chain in motile cilia and sperm flagella. Based on the common axoneme structure of motile cilia and sperm flagella, DNAH10 variants are likely to cause PCD. Using exome sequencing, we identified a novel DNAH10 homozygous variant (c.589C > T, p.R197W) in a patient with PCD from a consanguineous family. The patient manifested sinusitis, bronchiectasis, situs inversus, and asthenoteratozoospermia. Immunostaining analysis showed the absence of DNAH10 and DNALI1 in the respiratory cilia, and transmission electron microscopy revealed strikingly disordered axoneme 9+2 architecture and inner dynein arm defects in the respiratory cilia and sperm flagella. Subsequently, animal models of Dnah10-knockin mice harboring missense variants and Dnah10-knockout mice recapitulated the phenotypes of PCD, including chronic respiratory infection, male infertility, and hydrocephalus. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report DNAH10 deficiency related to PCD in human and mouse models, which suggests that DNAH10 recessive mutation is causative of PCD.
Humans ; Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Semen/metabolism* ; Dyneins/metabolism* ; Cilia/metabolism* ; Mutation ; Ciliary Motility Disorders/genetics*

Background and Objectives: Osteoblasts are derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and playimportant role in bone remodeling. While our previous studies have investigated the cell subtypes and heterogeneity in osteoblasts and BMMSCs separately, cell-to-cell communications between osteoblasts and BMMSCs in vivo in humans have not been characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular communication between human primary osteoblasts and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Methods: and Results: To investigate the cell-to-cell communications between osteoblasts and BMMSCs and identifynew cell subtypes, we performed a systematic integration analysis with our single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) transcriptomes data from BMMSCs and osteoblasts. We successfully identified a novel preosteoblasts subtype which highly expressed ATF3, CCL2, CXCL2 and IRF1. Biological functional annotations of the transcriptomes suggested that the novel preosteoblasts subtype may inhibit osteoblasts differentiation, maintain cells to a less differentiated status and recruit osteoclasts. Ligand-receptor interaction analysis showed strong interaction between mature osteoblasts and BMMSCs. Meanwhile, we found FZD1 was highly expressed in BMMSCs of osteogenic differentiation direction. WIF1 and SFRP4, which were highly expressed in mature osteoblasts were reported to inhibit osteogenic differentiation. We speculated that WIF1 and sFRP4 expressed in mature osteoblasts inhibited the binding of FZD1 to Wnt ligand in BMMSCs, thereby further inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs. Conclusions Our study provided a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of osteogenic cells. At the single cell level, this study provided insights into the cell-to-cell communications between BMMSCs and osteoblasts and mature osteoblasts may mediate negative feedback regulation of osteogenesis process.

Objective:To study the amplification / overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in patients with gallbladder cancer, and to analyze the correlation between amplification/overexpression of HER2 with clinicopathological features and survival in patients after R 0 resection. Methods:There were 14 males and 26 females, aged (60.3±8.7) years old and treated at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2011 to December 2016 who met the inclusion criteria of the study. Immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to detect amplification / expression of HER2 in resected tumor tissues. Patients were divided into two groups according to the HER2 gene expression: the HER2-negative group ( n=40) and the HER2-positive group ( n=10). The Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between amplification/expression of HER2 and clinicopathological parameters. Patients were followed up by telephone for prognosis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to explore factors affecting prognosis of gallbladder cancer patients. Results:HER2 amplification/overexpression was found in 10 patients with gallbladder cancer, with a positive rate of HER2 being 20.0% (10/50). There was a significant difference in the proportion of patients with vascular tumor thrombus between the HER2 negative group and the HER2 positive group [7.5%(3/40) vs. 30.0%(3/10), P<0.05]. On follow-up, data of 46 patients was available. There were 36 patients in the HER2-negative group and 10 patients in the HER2-positive group. Compared with the HER2-negative group, the median recurrence-free survival (10.10 vs. 75.07 months) and the median overall survival (16.77 vs. 83.07 months) of the HER2-positive group were both significantly lower (both P<0.05) than the HER2-negative group. Univariate analysis showed HER2 positivity to be a risk factor for recurrence-free and overall survival in patients with gallbladder cancer after radical resection. Cox multivariable analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis was an independent risk factor for both recurrence-free ( HR=4.31, 95% CI: 1.92-9.68, P<0.001) and overall survival ( HR=3.44, 95% CI: 1.08-11.00, P=0.037). Conclusion:Amplification / overexpression of HER2 was associated with venous invasion and worse prognosis in patients with gallbladder cancer.

Objective: To examine the significance and prognostic value of the classification of hilar cholangiocarcinoma based on actual anatomical location. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted including 120 patients of hilar cholangiocarcinoma treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2019 to December 2021. Patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were classified for seven types according to the site of tumor location. The clinicopathological and prognostic data of 120 patients were retrospectively analyzed(There were 57 males and 63 females,the age (M(IQR)) was 61(22)years(range:42 to 85 years)). All patients received radical resection without visible intraoperative tumor residue and negative bile duct resection margin according to intraoperative pathological biopsy. The classification variables were analyzed by Pearson χ² test or Fisher's exact probability test,one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test.Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Cox proportional risk model was used for prognostic factors. Results: The coincidence rate of preoperative surgical planning and actual operational styles was verified in 33 cases. Twenty-six cases were consistent,and 7 cases were inconsistent,with a coincidence rate of 78.8%. According to the actual anatomical location,patients in type of secondary branch experienced a significantly longer operation duration,a higher portal vein resection rate,margin positive rate and more advanced T stage(all P<0.05). The median overall survival time of the unilateral main trunck group was 27.0 months,and the bilateral group was 17.0 months. Survival analysis based on the tumor classification of the actual anatomical location showed that the unilateral or main trunck group predicted less aggressive clinical features and favorable outcomes(HR=1.931,95%CI:1.066 to 3.499,P<0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the actual anatomical location of the tumor type(HR=2.269,95%CI:1.333 to 3.861,P=0.003),combined liver resection(HR=0.464,95%CI:0.253 to 0.848,P=0.013) and N stage(HR=6.317,95%CI:3.083 to 12.944,P<0.01) were independent factors affecting the prognosis of patients. Conclusion: The classification based on the actual anatomy can be used as a promising scheme in refining patient stratification and predicting survival in hilar cholangiocarcinoma,and it can guide the selection of surgical methods,and predict operative safety and radical resection rate.
Bile Duct Neoplasms/surgery* ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/pathology* ; China ; Cholangiocarcinoma/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Klatskin Tumor/surgery* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies