Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of plasma exchange(PE)and double plasma molecular absorption system(DPMAS)in the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis(PBC)and the effect of this therapy on prognosis.Methods The clinical data on 526 PBC patients in our hospital from December 2013 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into different groups according to different therapies and then matched with propensity.The changes in symptoms,laboratory indexes and MELD scores were compared between two groups before and after treatment,and the clinical efficacy of artificial liver treatment for PBC patients was assessed.The effect of this treatment on the survival outcomes in these patients via comparing the cumulative survival rates at 3,6 and 12 months between the two groups.Results The efficiency was better in the group with artificial liver treatment in addition medical therapy than the group with medical treatment alone,the difference was statistically significant(76.7%vs.55.8%,χ2 = 4.214,and P = 0.040).Cox proportional risk regression showed that TBIL was an independent risk factor affecting the 3-,6-,or 12-month survival in PBC patients.Conclusions Artificial liver support system can effectively relieve symptoms,reduce levels of ALT,AST and TBIL,improve blood coagula-tion function,and lower MELD scores in PBC patients.This therapy revealed a trend of improvement in 3-,6-,or 12-month survival outcomes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between genetic polymorphism of heat shock proteins 70 (HSP70) and susceptibility to occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL). Methods A total of 229 ONIHL workers were selected as the case group and 229 healthy workers with similar age, years of noise exposure, and noise exposure levels were selected as the control group using the case-control study method. Occupational health examinations were conducted on both groups, and peripheral blood of individuals was collected for DNA extraction. The genotypes of three single nucleotide polymorphisms of the HSP70 were detected using the MassArray system. Results The allele frequency distribution of HSP70 rs2227956, rs1043618, and rs1061581 in the control group was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (all P>0.05). The genotype and allele frequency distribution of rs2227956 was significantly different between the two groups (all P<0.05), while no significant difference was found for rs1043618 and rs1061581 (all P>0.05). After adjusting for age, years of noise exposure, individual noise exposure level, smoking, and drinking, individuals with AG and AG+GG genotypes of rs2227956 had a higher risk of ONIHL than those with AA genotype (all P<0.05). The risk of ONIHL was higher in individuals with G allele of rs2227956 than in those with A allele (P<0.05). No correlation was found between rs1043618 and rs1061581 polymorphisms and the risk of ONIHL (all P>0.05). Conclusion The rs2227956 polymorphism of the HSP70 gene is correlated with susceptibility to ONIHL in noise-exposed workers, and the G allele is a risk factor for ONIHL in this population.

Objective:To explore the evaluation effect of ultrasonography and Pirani score on tarsal deformity, treatment effect and pseudo-correction of congenital clubfoot in infants and young children, and the correlation between the two methods.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 26 children (40 feet) with congenital clubfoot who were evaluated by ultrasonography in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to January 2023 were retrospectively collected. There were 16 males and 10 females. The age at the first ultrasound examination was ( M(IQR)) 9.0 (18.0) days (range: 1 to 46 days). All patients were treated with Ponseti method by the same physician. The Pirani scores before and after treatment and at the last examination, and the talonavicular angle, calcaneocuboid angle and tibiocalcaneal angle measured by ultrasound were collected, and the treatment and follow-up were recorded. Paired sample t test, repeated measures analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test were used for data comparison, and Spearman correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the efficacy of ultrasound in evaluating different Pirani scores. Results:The number of plaster fixation in 26 children was 4.0 (1.0) times (range: 2 to 8 times). The medial talonavicular angle and posterior tibiocalcaneal angle were significantly improved after treatment and at the last follow-up compared with those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01). There was no difference in lateral calcaneocuboid angle before and after treatment and at the last follow-up ( F=1.971, P>0.05). Pseudo-correction occurred in 2 cases (2 feet) during the treatment, with an incidence of 5%. Correlation analysis showed that there was a moderate positive correlation between talonavicular angle and Pirani midfoot score ( r=0.480, P<0.01). There was no correlation between calcaneocuboid angle and Pirani midfoot score ( r=0.114, P=0.105). There was a moderate negative correlation between tibial heel angle and Pirani hindfoot score ( r=-0.566, P<0.01). The cut-off point of Pirani midfoot score of 1.5 was 38.78°, the sensitivity was 0.90, the specificity was 0.56, and the area under the curve was 0.75. The cut-off value of angle was 27.51 °, the sensitivity was 0.16, the specificity was 0.92, and the area under the curve was 0.44.The cut-off points of Pirani midfoot score of 3.0 were 45.08°and 9.96°, the sensitivity was 0.94 and 0.91, the specificity was 0.37 and 0.42, and the area under the curve was 0.59 and 0.62, respectively. The cut-off values of Pirani hindfoot score of 2.0 and 3.0 were 167.46° and 160.15°, respectively. The sensitivity was 0.75 and 0.67, the specificity was 0.81 and 0.83, and the area under the curve was 0.78 and 0.71, respectively. Conclusion:Ultrasound can complement with Pirani score, visually and dynamically observe the morphology and position changes of talonavicular joint, calcaneocuboid joint and tibiotalocalcaneal joint, monitor the recovery and pseudo-correction of tarsal bones, and better evaluate the therapeutic effect.

Objective:To explore the evaluation effect of ultrasonography and Pirani score on tarsal deformity, treatment effect and pseudo-correction of congenital clubfoot in infants and young children, and the correlation between the two methods.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 26 children (40 feet) with congenital clubfoot who were evaluated by ultrasonography in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to January 2023 were retrospectively collected. There were 16 males and 10 females. The age at the first ultrasound examination was ( M(IQR)) 9.0 (18.0) days (range: 1 to 46 days). All patients were treated with Ponseti method by the same physician. The Pirani scores before and after treatment and at the last examination, and the talonavicular angle, calcaneocuboid angle and tibiocalcaneal angle measured by ultrasound were collected, and the treatment and follow-up were recorded. Paired sample t test, repeated measures analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test were used for data comparison, and Spearman correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the efficacy of ultrasound in evaluating different Pirani scores. Results:The number of plaster fixation in 26 children was 4.0 (1.0) times (range: 2 to 8 times). The medial talonavicular angle and posterior tibiocalcaneal angle were significantly improved after treatment and at the last follow-up compared with those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01). There was no difference in lateral calcaneocuboid angle before and after treatment and at the last follow-up ( F=1.971, P>0.05). Pseudo-correction occurred in 2 cases (2 feet) during the treatment, with an incidence of 5%. Correlation analysis showed that there was a moderate positive correlation between talonavicular angle and Pirani midfoot score ( r=0.480, P<0.01). There was no correlation between calcaneocuboid angle and Pirani midfoot score ( r=0.114, P=0.105). There was a moderate negative correlation between tibial heel angle and Pirani hindfoot score ( r=-0.566, P<0.01). The cut-off point of Pirani midfoot score of 1.5 was 38.78°, the sensitivity was 0.90, the specificity was 0.56, and the area under the curve was 0.75. The cut-off value of angle was 27.51 °, the sensitivity was 0.16, the specificity was 0.92, and the area under the curve was 0.44.The cut-off points of Pirani midfoot score of 3.0 were 45.08°and 9.96°, the sensitivity was 0.94 and 0.91, the specificity was 0.37 and 0.42, and the area under the curve was 0.59 and 0.62, respectively. The cut-off values of Pirani hindfoot score of 2.0 and 3.0 were 167.46° and 160.15°, respectively. The sensitivity was 0.75 and 0.67, the specificity was 0.81 and 0.83, and the area under the curve was 0.78 and 0.71, respectively. Conclusion:Ultrasound can complement with Pirani score, visually and dynamically observe the morphology and position changes of talonavicular joint, calcaneocuboid joint and tibiotalocalcaneal joint, monitor the recovery and pseudo-correction of tarsal bones, and better evaluate the therapeutic effect.

Depression has become one of the most important causes of disability worldwide. Although traditional treatment methods such as drug therapy, physical therapy and psychological intervention have positive effects, they still have limitations such as high treatment cost, high drug side effects, high recurrence rate and poor compliance. Exercise therapy, as a treatment recommended by many guidelines, has many advantages such as simple and convenient, few side effects, and strong persistence. Studies have shown that exercise can relieve depression through a variety of mechanisms, but there is still a lack of effective targets for the treatment of depression. Microglia is an innate immune cell in the central nervous system. In recent years, the role of microglia in neuroinflammation in depression and other mental diseases has attracted more and more attention. Thus, microglia may be a key target for exercise to alleviate depression. This article discusses the relationship between exercise and microglia phenotypes as well as depression, and proposes future research directions on microglia-mediated exercise to improve depression, in order to provide new ideas and directions for the clinical treatment of depression.

Objective:To explore the team construction and treatment strategy of the Diabetic Foot-Multidisciplinary Team.Methods:The clinical data of 19 patients with severe ischemic diabetic foot treated by our Diabetic Foot-Multidisciplinary Team Center from Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 were collected, and the overall amputation rate, above-ankle major amputation rate, minor amputation rate and mortality, Diabetic Foot-Multidisciplinary Team consultation discipline participation rate and treatment participation degree were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Nineteen patients (15 males and 4 females) were enrolled, aged 26 to 94 (68.6±14.2). All were with severe ischemic diabetic foot ulcer:Rutherford grade 5 or up and dysfunction in 2 or more organs. Complications included arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities in 18 cases, heart diseases in 18, hypertension in 15, and renal insufficiencies in 10. The overall amputation rate was 36.8%, major amputation rate in 21.1%, minor amputation rate in 15.8%, and mortality rate was 15.8%. A total of 16 disciplines participated in Diabetic Foot-Multidisciplinary Team; the main participating disciplines were vascular surgery (19 times), endocrinology (12 times), and cardiology (11 times). The main treatment disciplines were vascular surgery (14 times), plastic surgery (3 times), and cardiology (2 times).Conclusion:For the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot, it is necessary to set up a multidisciplinary team as early as possible to control the causes of diabetic foot ulcer, prevent the recurrence of diabetic foot ulcer, reduce the mortality and amputation rate, and improve the quality of life of patients.

Objective:To investigate the role of the CXC chemokine receptor 1 (CXCR1)/CXC chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) axis in the abnormal proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).Methods:30 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the PBC model group (PBC group), reparixin intervention group (Rep group), and blank control group (Con group) in an in vivo experiment. PBC animal models were established after 12 weeks of intraperitoneal injection of 2-octanoic acid coupled to bovine serum albumin (2OA-BSA) combined with polyinosinic acid polycytidylic acid (polyI:C). After successful modelling, reparixin was injected subcutaneously into the Rep group (2.5 mg · kg -1 · d -1, 3 weeks). Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to detect histological changes in the liver. An immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK-19). Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), γ-interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-6 mRNA expression were detected by qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to detect nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), extracellularly regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), phosphorylated extracellularly regulated protein kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2), Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax), B lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and cysteine proteinase-3 (Caspase- 3) expression. Human intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells were divided into an IL-8 intervention group (IL-8 group), an IL-8+Reparicin intervention group (Rep group), and a blank control group (Con group) in an in vitro experiment. The IL-8 group was cultured with 10 ng/ml human recombinant IL-8 protein, and the Rep group was cultured with 10 ng/ml human recombinant IL-8 protein, followed by 100 nmol/L Reparicin. Cell proliferation was detected by the EdU method. The expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-6 was detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of CXCR1 mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR. The expression of NF-κB p65, ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 was detected by western blot. A one-way ANOVA was used for comparisons between data sets. Results:The results of in vivo experiments revealed that the proliferation of cholangiocytes, the expression of NF-κB and ERK pathway-related proteins, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines were increased in the Con group compared with the PBC group. However, reparixin intervention reversed the aforementioned outcomes (P<0.05). In vitro experiments showed that the proliferation of human intrahepatic cholangiocyte epithelial cells, the expression of CXCR1 mRNA, the expression of NF-κB and ERK pathway-related proteins, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines were increased in the IL-8 group compared with the Con group. Compared with the IL-8 group, the proliferation of human intrahepatic cholangiocyte epithelial cells, NF-κB and ERK pathway-related proteins, and inflammatory indicators were significantly reduced in the Rep group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:The CXCR1/CXCL8 axis can regulate the abnormal proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells in PBC, and its mechanism of action may be related to NF-κB and ERK pathways.

The incidence rate of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is increasing year by year, but there is still no specific medicine at present and PBC has a complex pathogenesis. Kupffer cells, as the key cells involved in immunoregulation, play an important role in PBC. When hepatocytes are damaged, Kupffer cells will be activated and release a large amount of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which participate in the development and progression of PBC. This article briefly reviews the role of Kupffer cells in PBC, so as to provide a theoretical basis for Kupffer cells as a potential target for the treatment of PBC.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of the expression of the NK cell-activating receptor NKG2D, its ligand major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA), and related cytokines ［interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-15 (IL-15)］ with intrahepatic inflammation in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). MethodsLiver biopsy specimens were collected from 30 patients with PBC (PBC group), 15 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB group), and 10 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD group), who were hospitalized in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from August 2014 to June 2015. The degree of liver inflammation (G) and fibrosis degree (S) of the liver specimens were determined, and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of NKG2D, MICA, IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-15 in liver tissue (the scores were determined based on the number of cells stained and the degree of staining to evaluate the expression of each marker). A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the t-test was used for comparison between two groups; a Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate correlation. ResultsIn the PBC group, the expression of NKG2D increased with the degree of inflammation, and the patients with G3-4 inflammation had significantly higher expression than those with G1-2 inflammation (G1 vs G2 vs G3 vs G4: 1.4±0.05 vs 1.56±0.05 vs 1.86±0.11 vs 2.60±0.17, F=150.8, P＜0.05); the expression of NKG2D decreased with fibrosis degree (S3 vs S4: 2.30±0.17 vs 1.56±0.05, t=-1.52, P＜0.05). In the PBC group, there was no significant difference in MICA between G3 and G4 (0.11±0.01 vs 0.20±0.03, t=-2.20, P＞0.05) and between S3 and S4 (0.12±0.02 vs 0.18±0.03, t=-2.64, P＞0.05). In the PBC group, there was a significant difference in the expression of IL-15 between the patients with different degrees of inflammation (G1 vs G2 vs G3 vs G4: 0.70±0.10 vs 1.50±0.10 vs 1.93±0.11 vs 2.60±0.17, F=251.3, P＜0.05), while there was no significant difference between the patients with different fibrosis degrees (S3 vs S4: 2.00±0.05 vs 2.40±0.30, t=-1.62, P＞0.05). In the CHB group, there was a significant difference in the expression of IL-15 between the patients with different degrees of inflammation (G1 vs G2 vs G3: 0.73±0.15 vs 1.96±0.15 vs 2.50±0.17, F=150, P＜0.05) and between the patients with different fibrosis degrees (S1 vs S2 vs S3: 0.70±0.10 vs 21.96±0.15 vs 2.50±0.17, F=158.7, P＜0.05). In the PBC group, the expression of IL-10 was only observed in the patients with G1 inflammation (0.16±0.01), and in the CHB group, the expression of IL-10 was observed in the patients with G1 and G2 inflammation, with no significant difference (G1 vs G2: 0.19±0.01 vs 0.13±0.01, t=-1.522, P＞0.05). In the patients with PBC, the expression of IL-15 in liver tissue was positively correlated with the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (r=0.241 and 0.407, P=0.014 and 0.045). ConclusionThe NK cell-activating receptor NKG2D affects the degree of intrahepatic inflammation in PBC, and the NKG2D ligand MICA is expressed in the advanced stage of PBC and can downregulate NKG2D. The expression of IL-15 increases with the degree of inflammation in PBC and is positively correlated with the levels of ALP and GGT, suggesting that the activation of NK cells and abnormal secretion of cytokines are involved in the development and progression of PBC and IL-15 may be used as an auxiliary index for the diagnosis of PBC.

Objective To explore the alteration of the peripheral thyroid hormone level in patients with chronic alcohol dependence and its relationship with depressive emotion.Methods Data were collected from 21 male patients with chronic alcohol dependence (case group) and 21 male health control (control group).Hamilton Depression Scale-24 (HAMD-24) and Alcohol Dependence Screening Scale (MAST) were used.The level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),free triiodothyronine (FT3),free thyroxine (FT4),triiodothyronine (T3) and four iodine thyroxine (T4) of case group and control group were separately determined.The level of above-mentioned hormones and scale score of case group were evaluated in the first and sixth week of the period of temperance.Data of control group were collected once at baseline.Results The level of FT3 in case group was decreased significantly in the first week of the period of temperance compared with the control group ((4.34± 1.01) pmol/L,(5.85 ± 0.78) pmol/L,t =5.56,P＜ 0.01),while the level of TSH in case group was increased((2.62±0.69) uIU/ml,(1.70±0.81)uIU/ml,t=-3.96,P＜0.01).The level of FT3 and T3 in case group decreased significantly in the sixth week of the period of temperance comparedwith the control group(FT3:(5.22±0.92) pmol/L,(5.85±0.78) pmol/L,t=2.45,P＜ 0.05;T3:(1.54±0.54)pmol/L,(1.84±0.34)pmol/L,t=2.92,P＜0.01).The level of FT3 of the case group in the first week decreased significantly compared with the sixth week in the period of temperance (t=-4.12,P＜0.01),while the level of FT4 were increased significantly (t=-3.93,P＜0.01).In case group,the scores of HAMD-24 and the level of T3 (r=-0.465,P＜0.05),TSH (r=-0.489,P＜0.05) were negative correlation in the first week of the period of temperance.No correlation were observed between the score of HAMD-24 and the level of FT3,FT4,TSH,T3,T4 (r=-0.303-0.047,all P＞ 0.05)in the sixth week of the period of temperance.Conclusion The level of serum thyroid is disordered in patients with chronic alcohol dependence.The disorder will recover in the period of temperance and is associated with depressive emotion.