AIM: To investigate the expression of serum growth differentiation factor 11(GDF11)and thrombospondin 1(TSP1)in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR), and discuss their relationship with microvascular injury.METHODS: Totally 102 DR patients were served as DR group and assigned into non proliferative DR group(NPDR group)and proliferative DR group(PDR group)based on the severity of DR lesions. Meantime, 100 patients with simple diabetes were served as control group. Serum indicators of microvascular injury including vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), endothelial cells(ECs), endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs), and levels of GDF11 and TSP1 were measured in each group. Pearson method was used to discuss the correlation between GDF11, TSP1 and microvascular injury indicators. Logistic regression was used to discuss the factors that affected the occurrence of DR. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the evaluation value of serum GDF11 and TSP1 for the DR conditions.RESULTS: For the control group, DR group had lower EPCs and GDF11, and higher VEGF, ECs, and TSP1 levels(all P<0.05). The PDR group had lower GDF11 and higher TSP1 than the NPDR group(all P<0.05). Serum GDF11 was negatively related to VEGF and ECs(r=-0.486, -0.511, all P<0.001), and positively related to EPCs(r=0.475, P<0.001). TSP1 was positively related to VEGF and ECs(r=0.579, 0.594, all P<0.001), and negatively related to EPCs(r=-0.505, P<0.001). Moreover, GDF11 and TSP1 were negatively correlated(r=-0.443, P<0.001). The course of T2DM, VEGF, and TSP1 were risk factors for DR, while GDF11 was a protective factor(all P<0.05). The AUC of GDF11, TSP1, and combined diagnosis for PDR conditions was 0.819, 0.822, and 0.915, respectively. The combined diagnosis was better than single diagnosis(Zcombination-GDF11=2.070, P=0.039, Zcombination-TSP1=2.274, P=0.023).CONCLUSION: GDF11 and TSP1 are closely associated with microvascular injury in DR patients and are related to the progression of DR disease, and the combined detection of their serum levels is of clinical value in the assessment of DR disease.

Diabetic lower extremity vascular disease is one of the common chronic complications of diabetes,which has a strong disabling effect,clinically,it is of great significance to actively and effectively control the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life of patients.In Sanxiao Lun,LIU Wansu put forward the theory of"dryness-heat and stagnation"according to the pathogenesis of consumptive thirst,and thought that the dryness-heat and stagnation in the stomach and intestines of sanjiao were too severe,the xuanfu was blocked,and the qi and liquid failed to diffuse,which caused diabetes.Vascular endothelial injury and inflammatory reaction are important factors in the development of vascular disease,the pathogenesis evolution of"dryness-heat and stagnation"conforms to the pathological characteristics of inflammatory reaction in western medicine,and the dryness-heat runs through the diabetic lower extremity vascular disease throughout.In this paper,it is believed that diabetic lower extremity vascular disease belongs to the category of"flaccidity and paralysis"in traditional Chinese medicine,and lung scorched by heat is the cause of flaccidity."Dryness-heat and stagnation"is the source of invading heat(dryness-heat),lung scorched by heat,pulse failure and vein stasis occurred,which causes diabetic lower extremity vascular disease.Treatment should be based on flaccidity,combined with the viewpoint of LIU Wansu's Sanxiao Lun,taking yangming as the top priority,regulating the triple diabetes,solving the problem of dryness-heat and stagnation,combined with the method of purging the south and supplementing the north,so that the invading heat is cleared,lung heat is diminished,and flaccidity disease cannot occur,in order to provide new ideas for the clinical prevention and treatment of diabetic lower extremity vascular disease.

Objective:To investigate the causal correlation between depression and stress urinary incontinence(SUI)using Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.Methods:We searched the FinnGen Consortium database for genome-wide association studies(GWAS)on depression and obtained 23 424 case samples and 192 220 control samples,with the GWAS data on SUI provided by the UK Biobank,including 4 340 case samples and 458 670 control samples.We investigated the correlation between depression and SUI based on the depression data collected from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium(PGC).We employed inverse-variance weighting as the main method for the MR study,and performed sensitivity analysis to verify the accuracy and stability of the findings.Results:Analysis of the data from the UK Biobank and FinnGen Consortium showed that depression was significantly correlated with an increased risk of SUI(P=0.005),but not SUI with the risk of depression(P=0.927).And analysis of the PGC data verified the correlation of depression with the increased risk of SUI(P=0.043).Conclusion:Depression is associated with an increased risk of SUI,while SUI does not increase the risk of depression.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Chonghe soft extract on ulcer wound healing in diabetic rats through protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian Sirolimus target protein(mTOR)-mediated nucleotides binding oligomeric acid domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome inactivation.Methods Thirty six SD rats with diabetic ulcer,which were established by feeding with high glucose and high fat diet and injecting intraperitoneally with streptozocin(STZ)combined with skin defect,were randomly divided into model group,Chonghe soft extract group and growth factor group,with twelve rats in each group.Another twelve SD rats were injected an equal dose of citric acid-sodium citrate buffer solution and used as blank group.The blank group and the model group were not received drug intervention,but the Chonghe soft extract group and the growth factor group were externally applied Chonghe soft extract and growth factor gel,respectively.The wound healing of each group was observed and recorded.After 7 days and 14 days of treatment,the histopathology of wound were observed by HE staining and the number of fibroblasts were counted.The levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-α in serum were detected by ELISA.The expression of autophagy-related protein Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ in granulation tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),Caspase1,Pro-Caspase1 and Akt/mTOR autophagy pathway-related proteins Akt,p-Akt,mTOR and p-mTOR were detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the blank control group,the pathological wound repair of the model group was delayed on the 7th day and 14th day,the number of fibroblasts per unit area was decreased(P<0.01).The levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-α were increased(P<0.01).The expression levels of ASC,Pro-Caspase1,Caspase1,and NLRP3 were increased in the wound tissues(P<0.01),while the expression levels of Beclin-1,LC3-Ⅱ,mTOR,p-mTOR,Akt and p-Akt were decreased in the wound tissues(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the pathological injury in Chonghe soft extract group and growth factor group was significantly improved on the 7th day and 14th day.The number of fibroblasts per unit area was significantly increased(P<0.01).The levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-α were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The expression levels of ASC,Pro-Caspase1,Caspase1,and NLRP3 in the wound tissues were decreased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of Beclin-1,LC3-Ⅱ,mTOR,p-mTOR,Akt and p-Akt were increased(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Chonghe soft extract can reduce inflammatory reaction,promote the generation of fibro,regulate the Akt/mTOR-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inactivation,improve the level of autophagy in wound,and promote ulcer wound healing in diabetic rats.

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of single center adult chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase(CML-CP).Methods:Clinical data of 41 adult CML-CP patients in Department of Hematology,Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital from January 2015 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients between＜60 years group and ≥ 60 years group were compared.Results:The 41 patients included 27(65.9％)males and 14(34.1％)females.The median age of the patients was 56(19-84)years,with 22 cases(53.7％)＜60 years and 19 cases(46.3％)≥60 years.Univariate analysis indicated that the proportions of patients with comorbidities,intermediate/high-risk Sokal score,myelofibrosis,and lactate dehydrogenase ≥1 000 U/L were significantly increased in ≥60 years group compared with＜60 years group at initial diagnosis(all P＜0.05).There were no statistical differences in the distribution of sex,ELST score,white blood cell count,platelet count,peripheral blood basophil percentage,peripheral blood eosinophil percentage and bone marrow primitive cell percentage between the two groups(P＞0.05).The proportion of patients taking reduced-dose imatinib in≥60 years group significantly increased(P＜0.001).Patients＜60 years had a higher proportion of molecular biological remission after treatment of tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)than patients ≥ 60 years(P＜0.001).The incidence of non-hematologic adverse reactions to TKI therapy significantly increased in patients ≥ 60 years(P＜0.001).Multivariate analysis showed that no adverse factors affecting the efficacy and prognosis of TKI.Conclusion:Compared with adult CML-CP patients＜60 years,patients ≥ 60 years gain fewer benefits from TKI treatment and increased adverse reactions.

Humans ; Mpox (monkeypox) ; China

Aim To investigate the effects of acid sphingomyelinase(ASMase)on high-fat induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice and its regulation of PPARα- PGC-1α pathway. Methods ASMase knockout mice based on C57BL/6 background were constructed. Closed group heterozygotes were obtained through hybridized with wild-type mice(ASMase+/-),together with the littermate WT mice were prepared for NAFLD model in this study. The experiment was divided into four groups:WT+Chow:the WT mice were fed with normal diet for 12 weeks; WT+HFD:the WT mice were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks; ASMase+/-+Chow:the ASMase+/- mice were fed with normal diet for 12 weeks; ASMase+/- +HFD:the ASMase+/- mice were fed with high fat diet for 12 weeks. Biochemical method was used to detect serum TC,TG and liver TC,TG contents and liver function such as ALT and AST. Oil red staining,HE staining,Masson staining and Sirius red staining were performed to detect liver lipid accumulation,hepatocyte morphology and liver fibrosis. AmplexTM red sphingomyelinase kit was applied to detect ASMase activity. Western blot was performed to detect protein expressions of ASMase,PPARα,PGC-1α and CPT1. Results WT+HFD group displayed hypercholesterolemia and liver dysfunction. Levels of liver triglyceride(TG)were significantly higher than those in WT+Chow group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Meanwhile,the hepatocytes showed marked steatosis,balloon-like changes,and fibrosis. Protein expression and activity of ASMase in liver increased significantly(P<0.01 or P<0.001),whereas CPT1,PPARα and PGC-1α expressions were not statistically significant compared with matched control group. Heterozygously ASMase-deficient mice reduced the elevated liver TG induced by HFD,as well as improving balloon-like changes and liver fibrosis. Furthermore,the expressions of PPARα,PGC-1α and CPT1 were up-regulated in ASMase+/- +HFD mice compared with WT+Chow group.Conclusions ASMase promotes hepatic steatosis and fibrosis,which may be related to its inhibition of PPARα-PGC-1α pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of crisaborole 2% ointment in the treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) at the early stage, and to compare the efficacy of every-other-day (Qod) regimen versus twice-a-week (Biw) regimen against recurrence in the remission stage of AD.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial was conducted. Totally, 150 children with mild to moderate AD aged 2 - < 18 years were enrolled from 6 hospitals (including Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University, etc), and randomly divided into the Qod group (76 cases) and the Biw group (74 cases). In the acute stage of AD, both groups were treated with topical crisaborole 2% ointment on skin lesions twice a day for 2 - 4 weeks, as well as with emollients throughout the whole body. The improvement of early clinical symptoms was evaluated, and the occurrence of adverse reactions was recorded in the follow up. Once the investigator′s static global assessment (ISGA) scores decreased to 1 point or less, the patient would be enrolled into the remission stage. In the remission stage of AD, patients in the Qod group and Biw group were treated with crisaborole ointment every other day and twice a week respectively; the recurrence rate of AD in the remission stage was evaluated, as well as the severity of skin lesions, itching, life quality, and the occurrence of adverse reactions at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 23.0 software by using t test for comparisons of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed data, chi-square test for enumeration data, and Kaplan-Meier method for analysis of survival rates. Results:A total of 142 patients were enrolled in the modified intention-to-treat population, including 71 in the Qod group and 71 in the Biw group. In the acute stage of AD, the improvement of itching and skin lesions self-reported by the children or their family members occurred on days 1.9 (1.0, 3.0) and 2.0 (1.0, 4.1) after the application of crisaborole ointment, respectively. At the end of treatment in the acute stage, 89 children (62.7%) achieved ISGA 0/1 and successfully transferred into the remission stage. The follow-up in the remission stage was completed in 83 patients (44 in the Qod group and 39 in the Biw group). In addition, recurrence occurred in 19 (43.2%) and 12 (30.8%) patients in the Qod group and Biw group respectively, and there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups ( χ2 = 1.36, P = 0.243) ; the average time to recurrence was 64.25 (95% CI: 53.33 - 75.17) days and 75.78 (95% CI: 65.46 - 86.10) days in the Qod group and Biw group respectively. Among the patients who were in the remission stage and had not yet experienced relapse at weeks 4, 8, and 12, there were no significant differences in the eczema area and severity index (EASI) scores, ISGA scores, pruritus numerical rating scale (NRS) scores, or quality-of-life scores between the two groups (all P > 0.05) at any time points, except for the ISGA scores at week 12 (Biw group: 0 [0, 1] point vs. Qod group: 1 [0, 1] point; Z = -2.31, P = 0.021). A total of 146 patients were enrolled in the safety set. During the study period, 70 adverse events occurred in 65 patients, with an incidence rate of 44.5%, and all were mild or moderate adverse events; 55 (37.7%) patients experienced discomfort at the medication site, which mainly referred to pain (45 cases, 30.8%) and mostly occurred in the tender and skinfold areas. Conclusions:Crisaborole 2% ointment could effectively relieve clinical symptoms in children with mild to moderate AD in the early stage, and intermittent treatment could continuously relieve clinical symptoms in the remission stage. The common adverse reaction was discomfort at the application site in the early stage of AD. There was no significant difference in the impact on AD recurrence in the remission stage between the Qod regimen and Biw regimen.

Objective: To explore the influencing factors of pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) with organ or system impairment in pregnant women, and to analyze and compare the differences of HDP subtypes in different regions of China. Methods: A total of 27 680 pregnant women with HDP with complete data from 161 hospitals in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities were retrospectively collected from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. According to their clinical manifestations, they were divided into hypertension group [a total of 10 308 cases, including 8 250 cases of gestational hypertension (GH), 2 058 cases of chronic hypertension during pregnancy] and hypertension with organ or system impairment group [17 372 cases, including 14 590 cases of pre-eclampsia (PE), 137 cases of eclampsia, 2 645 cases of chronic hypertension with PE]. The subtype distribution of HDP in East China (6 136 cases), North China (4 821 cases), Central China (3 502 cases), South China (8 371 cases), Northeast China (1 456 cases), Southwest China (2 158 cases) and Northwest China (1 236 cases) were analyzed. By comparing the differences of HDP subtypes and related risk factors in different regions, regional analysis of the risk factors of HDP pregnant women with organ or system impairment was conducted. Results: (1) The proportions of HDP pregnant women with organ or system impairment in Northeast China (79.05%, 1 151/1 456), Central China (68.42%, 2 396/3 502) and Northwest China (69.34%, 857/1 236) were higher than the national average (62.76%, 17 372/27 680); the proportions in North China (59.18%, 2 853/4 821), East China (60.85%, 3 734/6 136) and South China (59.56%, 4 986/8 371) were lower than the national average, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (2) Univariate analysis showed that the proportions of primiparas, non-Han, non-urban household registration, irregular prenatal examination and PE history in the hypertension with organ or system impairment group were higher than those in the hypertension group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that primiparas, non-Han, non-urban household registration, irregular prenatal examination and PE history were independent risk factors for HDP pregnant women with organ or system impairment (all P<0.05). (3) Primipara: the rates of primipara in Northeast China, North China and Southwest China were higher than the national average level, while those in South China, Central China and Northwest China were lower than the national average level. Non-Han nationality: the rates of non-Han nationality in Northeast China, North China and Northwest China were higher than the national average, while those in East China, South China and Central China were lower than the national average. Non-urban household registration: the rates of non-urban household registration in Northeast China, North China, and Southwest China were lower than the national average, while those in East China, Central China were higher than the national average. Irregular prenatal examination: the rates of irregular prenatal examination in North China, South China and Southwest regions were lower than the national average level, while those in Northeast China, Central China and Northwest China were higher than the national average level. History of PE: the incidence rates of PE in Northeast China, North China, South China and Southwest China were lower than the national average level, while those in Central China and Northwest China were higher than the national average level. Conclusions: Primiparas, non-Han, non-urban household registration, irregular prenatal examination, and PE history are risk factors for HDP pregnant women with organ or system impairment. Patients in Northeast, Central and Northwest China have more risk factors, and are more likely to be accompanied by organ or system function damage. It is important to strengthen the management of pregnant women and reduce the occurrence of HDP.
Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pre-Eclampsia/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Incidence