ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and potential mechanism of caffeic acid （CA） on severe acute pancreatitis （SAP） induced by caerulein combined with lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， and to provide a basis for the research on novel drugs for the treatment of SAP. MethodsC57BL/6J mice， aged 6 weeks， were divided into control group， model group， CA group， and octreotide acetate （OA） group， with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the control group were given injection of normal saline， and those in the other groups were given intraperitoneal injection of caerulein combined with LPS to establish a mouse model of SAP. At 1 hour after the first injection of caerulein， the mice in the CA group and the OA group were given intraperitoneal injection of CA or subcutaneous injection of OA at an interval of 8 hours. The general status of the mice was observed after 24 hours of modeling， and serum， pancreas， lung， and colon samples were collected. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of the pancreas and lungs， and the serum levels of α-amylase， lipase， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， alanine aminotransferase， aspartate aminotransferase， and creatinine were measured. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of proinflammatory factors in the pancreas and lungs； myeloperoxidase （MPO） immunohistochemistry was used to observe the degree of neutrophil infiltration； Western blot was used to measure the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） and the level of citrullinated histone H3 （CitH3）， a marker for the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs）， in the pancreas and lungs， as well as the expression level of ZO-1 in colon tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the Dunnett’s t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group had severe injury in the pancreas and lungs and significant increases in the activity of serum α- amylase and lipase and the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue （all P<0.05）， as well as significant increases in NF-κB activation， neutrophil infiltration， and the formation of NETs in the pancreas and lungs （all P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the CA group had alleviated pathological injury of the pancreas and lungs and significant reductions in the activity of serum α-amylase and the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue （all P<0.05）， as well as significant reductions in NF-κB activation， neutrophil infiltration， and the formation of NETs in the pancreas and lungs （all P<0.05）. ConclusionCA can alleviate SAP induced by caerulein combined with LPS in mice， possibly by inhibiting neutrophil recruitment and the formation of NETs.

Objective:To construct a whole course management and follow-up platform, named Care Plan, for patients undergoing breast reconstruction surgery, and to evaluate its initial clinical applications.Methods:From June 2023 to January 2024, patients who underwent breast reconstruction surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were selected as the study subjects and enrolled in the Care Plan platform for whole course management. The platform comprised five modules: patient education, self-assessment, medical assessment, medical follow-up, and doctor-patient dialogue, each with corresponding sub-modules and specific components. Each patient was assigned to a case manager who provided one-on-one assessment, sent patient education materials, and conducted follow-ups. The preliminary application of the Care Plan platform was evaluated based on the completeness of patient data, patient education material reading status, doctor-patient dialogue topics, and follow-up responses. At 3 months postoperatively, patients were followed up and further divided into patient education group(reading at least an article on patient educational materials) and control group based on their reading status of educational materials. Patients rated their satisfaction with the surgery using a 5-point questionnaire, including five indicators: expected breast reconstruction outcome, expected surgical type, completeness of information acquisition, breast symmetry, and breast softness. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0.1 software, with count data expressed as frequencies and (or) percentages, normally distributed measurement data expressed as Mean±SD, intergroup comparisons conducted using t-test, and P<0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results:A total of 147 female patients aged 16 to 63 years with a body mass index of 16.6 to 31.3 kg/m 2 were ultimately included. All 147 patients completed the content of the self-assessment and medical assessment modules, with relatively complete data. Of the 133 patients who received patient education materials sent through the platform, 38 (28.6%) read the materials, with the sub-module on the introduction and choices of the reconstruction surgery (37.3%, 94/252 ) being the most frequently viewed. A total of 24 patients (16.3%, 24/147 ) raised 45 questions using the doctor-patient dialogue module, with the highest proportion related to consultation issues and complications, each accounting for 22.2% (10/45). Twenty-three patients completed the 3-month follow-up, with 12 in the patient education group and 11 in the control group. The patient education group scored higher than the control group in terms of completeness of information acquisition [(4.58±0.51) points vs. (3.91±0.70) points, t=-2.65, P=0.015], while scoring lower in breast symmetry [(3.92±0.79) points vs. (4.63±0.67) points, t=2.33, P=0.030]. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of expected breast reconstruction outcome, expected surgical type, and breast softness scores ( P>0.05 for all). Conclusion:The Care Plan platform for whole course management and follow-up of breast reconstruction can assist medical staff in formulating patient-centered management plans, improve patients’ understanding of surgical information, and aid patients in making decisions regarding breast reconstruction methods.

Objective:To construct a whole course management and follow-up platform, named Care Plan, for patients undergoing breast reconstruction surgery, and to evaluate its initial clinical applications.Methods:From June 2023 to January 2024, patients who underwent breast reconstruction surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were selected as the study subjects and enrolled in the Care Plan platform for whole course management. The platform comprised five modules: patient education, self-assessment, medical assessment, medical follow-up, and doctor-patient dialogue, each with corresponding sub-modules and specific components. Each patient was assigned to a case manager who provided one-on-one assessment, sent patient education materials, and conducted follow-ups. The preliminary application of the Care Plan platform was evaluated based on the completeness of patient data, patient education material reading status, doctor-patient dialogue topics, and follow-up responses. At 3 months postoperatively, patients were followed up and further divided into patient education group(reading at least an article on patient educational materials) and control group based on their reading status of educational materials. Patients rated their satisfaction with the surgery using a 5-point questionnaire, including five indicators: expected breast reconstruction outcome, expected surgical type, completeness of information acquisition, breast symmetry, and breast softness. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0.1 software, with count data expressed as frequencies and (or) percentages, normally distributed measurement data expressed as Mean±SD, intergroup comparisons conducted using t-test, and P<0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results:A total of 147 female patients aged 16 to 63 years with a body mass index of 16.6 to 31.3 kg/m 2 were ultimately included. All 147 patients completed the content of the self-assessment and medical assessment modules, with relatively complete data. Of the 133 patients who received patient education materials sent through the platform, 38 (28.6%) read the materials, with the sub-module on the introduction and choices of the reconstruction surgery (37.3%, 94/252 ) being the most frequently viewed. A total of 24 patients (16.3%, 24/147 ) raised 45 questions using the doctor-patient dialogue module, with the highest proportion related to consultation issues and complications, each accounting for 22.2% (10/45). Twenty-three patients completed the 3-month follow-up, with 12 in the patient education group and 11 in the control group. The patient education group scored higher than the control group in terms of completeness of information acquisition [(4.58±0.51) points vs. (3.91±0.70) points, t=-2.65, P=0.015], while scoring lower in breast symmetry [(3.92±0.79) points vs. (4.63±0.67) points, t=2.33, P=0.030]. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of expected breast reconstruction outcome, expected surgical type, and breast softness scores ( P>0.05 for all). Conclusion:The Care Plan platform for whole course management and follow-up of breast reconstruction can assist medical staff in formulating patient-centered management plans, improve patients’ understanding of surgical information, and aid patients in making decisions regarding breast reconstruction methods.

Objective:To observe any effect of combining extracorporeal shock wave stimulation with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the lower limb motor function of stroke survivors with foot drop.Methods:Thirty-six stroke survivors with foot drop were randomly divided into an extracorporeal shock wave group, a PNF group and a combination group, each of 12. The extracorporeal shock wave group and PNF group were given those therapies alone, while the combination group was provided with both. The extracorporeal shock wave therapy protocol was 2000 times on each muscle at an intensity of 2.5 bar and a frequency of 10Hz, twice a week for 4 weeks, while the PNF was provided at least 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Before and after the intervention, all of the participants were evaluated using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the 10-metre walk test (10 MWT) and the Fugl-Meyer lower limb motor function scale (FMA). Active range of the ankle joint and toe out angle were also observed.Results:After the intervention the lower limb muscle tone had decreased significantly in 8 of the PNF group members and in 9 of those in the extracorporeal shock wave group, but it has decreased significantly in all 12 members of the combination group. And the average magnitude of the improvement was also significantly greater in the combination group than in the other two groups. Moreover, significant differences were observed in the active range of the ankle joint after the treatment in the combination group, but not in the other two groups. After the intervention the average 10 MWT times and FMA scores of the PNF and combination groups had improved significantly, but not those of the extracorporeal shock wave group, but significant improvement in toe out angles was observed in all three groups, though the average improvement in the combination group was significantly greater than in the other 2 groups.Conclusion:Combining extracorporeal shock waves with PNF can effectively improve the lower limb motor function of stroke survivors with foot drop.

Objective:To explore the effects of myosteatosis and blood glucose (BG) on postoperative complications in non-diabetic gastric cancer patients receiving supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN) after gastrectomy.Methods:Patients who underwent radical gastrectomy between March 2017 and June 2021 in the Department of Surgical Oncology, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University were included in this study. Various preoperative inflammatory and nutritional indicators, including skeletal muscle metrics at the third lumbar level on CT, were collected retrospectively. Postoperative BG within 3 days and complications within 30 days were monitored. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of myosteatosis (assessed via skeletal muscle density [SMD]) and the differences in postoperative BG and complication incidence were compared. Mediation model was used to analyze the mediating effect of BG in the association between SMD and postoperative complications.Results:A total of 357 patients were included in the study. Compared with the 299(83.8%) patients without myosteatosis , the incidence of hyperglycemia, mean BG, maximal BG, and BG fluctuation while on SPN in the 58(16.2%) patients with myosteatosis were higher, and the comprehensive complication index (CCI) and the incidence of complication were higher ( P<0.05). More importantly, BG showed the mediation effect of -0.0892 in the effect of SMD on CCI ( P<0.05), with the effect size of 19.3％. Conclusion:Myosteatosis and postoperative hyperglycemia are associated with higher incidence of complications, and BG plays an intermediary role in the association between myosteatosis and CCI.

Objective To investigate the effect of intra-articular tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor injection in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and values of power Doppler ultrasonography in evaluating effect of intra-articular injection.Methods RA patients with arthritis in knee and/or elbow and/or ankle referred to the Department of Rheumatology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were enrolled to receive intra-articular injection with 50 mg or 25 mg of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α receptor Ⅱ:IgG Fc fusion protein (TNFR:Fc) for injection after synovial fluid aspiration.Evaluation of visual analogue scale for pain of the involved joints,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C reactive protein (CRP) and 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) were performed before and after intra-articular TNFR:Fc injection.Synovial hypertrophy,power Doppler signal and joint effusion were analyzed and graded by ultrasound before and after intra-articular TNFR:Fc injection.Comparisons of continuous data between groups was made by t test.The data that were not normally distributed was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U rank sum test.Results Fifty-four patients with RA [6 men and 48 women,mean age (52±11) years,mean duration of disease (7±3) years] were included in this study.A significant decrease in visual analogue scale for pain of the involved joints (t=2.630,P=0.018;t=2.160,P=0.043),ESR (t=2.094,P=0.030;Z=-2.242,P=0.030),CRP (Z=-2.199,P=0.030;Z=-3.337,P=0.001) and DAS28 (t=3.579,P=0.002;t=5.538,P=0.000) were observed after one month of injection of 50 mg or 25 mg of TNFR:Fc.Synovial hypertrophy (t=2.175,P=0.036;t=2.280,P=0.030) power Doppler signal (t=2.500,P=0.020;Z=-2.504,P=0.013) and joint effusion (Z=-1.790,P=0.042;t=2.230,P=0.027) were reduced significantly after one month of intra-articular TNFR:Fc injection in knee.Synovial hypertrophy (t=2.180,P=0.034;t=2.480,P=0.030) and power Doppler signal (t=2.681,P=0.020;t=5.482,P=0.000) were also reduced significantly after one month of intra-articular TNFR:Fc injection in elbow and ankle.Conclusion Intra-articular TNFR:Fc injection is an effective and safe treatment in RA patients with monoarthritis.Ultrasound may be an objective and valid method in evaluating the effect of intraarticular TNF inhibitor injection in RA patients.

ABSTRACT:Objective To investigate the clinical features of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA)in western China and its outcomes after one-year treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs (DMARDs) so as to provide evidence for effective therapy.Methods We made a retrospective analysis of 240 RA patients treated in our department from May 2013 to June 2014.We compared the 47 seropositive and 25 seronegative RA patients in clinical features,laboratory parameters and outcomes after one-year DMARDs medication.Results The percentage of seronegative RA was 10.4% (25/240).The number of swollen small joints was significantly smaller in seronegative RA group (P<0 .0 1 ).Compared with those in seropositive RA,the level of hemoglobin was lower,the level of platelets was higher,and the level of alkaline phosphatase was lower in seronegative RA (P<0 .0 5 ).The remission rate was higher in seronegative RA group than in seropositive RA group after one-year DMARDs administration (P<0.05).Conclusion Seronegative RA is not rare in clinic.Even though seronegative RA patients often present fewer swollen small joints, it is difficult to distinguish between seronegative and seropositve RA just based on the clinical features.Besides,hematological damage is more severe in some patients with seronegative RA.Only after one-year treatment with DMARDs,the remission rate is higher in seronegative RA patients than in seropositve RA ones.

BACKGROUND:Abnormal activation of lymphocytes and nuclear factorκB-dependent non-specific inflammation are two major manifestations of joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Co-stimulatory signal CD40/CD40L is the dominant co-stimulatory factor in the recognition and activation of T cel s. IκBαeffectively inhibits nuclear factorκB pathway, prevent the inflammation in the central link, and suppress the damage caused by inflammatory factor in the synovial tissue.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic effect of double gene co-expressing adenovirus vector on arthritis based on an arthritis model rat transfected by CD40LIg-IRES2-IκBαco-expressing adenovirus vector.
METHODS:The pAdCD40LIg-IRES2-IκBαco-expressing adenovirus vector was established. Arthritic model was established through multi-subcutaneous injections of complete Freund's adjuvant of type col agen II (1 g/L) into Wistar rats. Then 20 arthritic rats were divided into two groups:untreated group and transfection group, receiving an injection of saline and pAdCD40LIg-IRES2-IκBαadenovirus vector to distal joint cavity of limbs, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 14 days post-transfection, compared with the untreated group, the mean arthritis index score, the CD40L expression of lymphocytes in synovial fluid, the nuclear factor-κB p65 expression in synovial tissue, and levels of interleukin-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, matrix metal oproteinase-3 and matrix metal oproteinase-9 in synovial fluid of rats in transfection group were significantly lower than those in untreated group. Focal transfection of the CD40LIg-IκBαco-expression adenovirus vector can effectively inhibit arthritic symptoms, and reduce the expressions of inflammatory cytokine in synovial fluid and inflammatory molecule in synovial tissue of arthritic rats, which shows good therapeutic effect.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) associated vasculitis, which is a rare clinical entity in medical practice. METHODS: A 35-year-old female of Asian origin was admitted to our hospital due to complaints of Raynaud's phenomenon, myalgia, arthralgia and fatigue. The patient was diagnosed as MCTD in the out-patient department 8 months prior to admission based on Alarcon-Segovia classification criteria of Raynaud's phenomenon, myalgia, arthralgia and a high anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein antibody level. Interstitial lung disease was determined by chest computed tomography. Renal biopsy was performed because of marked proteinuria on 24 h urine collection. Histopathological examination revealed glomerulonephritis with fibrocellular/cellular crescents, in which moderate staining of IgM was shown by direct immunofluorescence. She was tested positive for myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. RESULTS: High dose of methylprednisolone (500 mg/d for 3 days) was started intravenously when the results of renal biopsy were obtained. Oral prednisone and intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy (0.8 g/month) were continued for 12 months. Daily urinary protein loss decreased dramatically and serum creatinine was maintained at a normal level. CONCLUSION Corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide are effective in the treatment of MPO-ANCA associated glomerulonephritis in MCTD.
Adult ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Cyclophosphamide ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Methylprednisolone ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Peroxidase ; Proteinuria

Objective To assess the disorders of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its relationship with disease activity.Methods One hundred and twenty-three RA patients along with 98 age and sex matched controls were studied.Seventy-five g oral glucose tolerance test was performed.The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA-β) were evaluated.Disease activity score (DAS28) was used to assess disease activity.According to their DAS28 values,patients were divided into high disease activity group and low to moderate disease activity group.Glucose tolerance and HOMA-IR were compared between the two groups.Parameters that reflects disease activity,such as CRP and ESR,as well as disease activity scores were compared between patients with T2DM or prediabetes and patients with normal glucose tolerance.The data was analyzed by t test,Pearson correlation analysis and chi-square test.Results The prevalence of T2DM [20.3％(25/123) vs 5.1％ (5/98),x2=10.774,P＜0.01] and prediabetes [39.0％ (48/123) vs 7.1％ (7/98),x2=29.657,P＜0.01] increased in RA patients compared to controls.RA patients had higher HOMA-IR (2.5±1.5 vs 0.8±0.4; t=5.185,P＜0.01) and lower HOMA-β (83±69 vs 192±85; t=3.768,P＜0.01) compared to controls.ESR [(55±30) mm/1 h vs (37±26) mm/1 h; t=3.159,P＜0.01],CRP [(40±23) mg/L vs (19±10) mg/L; t=3.628,P＜0.01] and DAS28 score (5.6±1.3 vs 4.8±1.2; t=2.923,P＜0.01) were higher in RA patients with T2DM or prediabetes than in RA patients with normal glucose tolerance.In RA patients,the HOMA-IR was significantly positively correlated with DAS28 (r=0.39,P＜0.01),ESR (r=0.54,P＜0.01)and CRP (r=0.20,P＜0.05).The HOMA-IR value and fasting insulin levels were higher in high disease activity patients (DAS28＞ 5.5) than in low-to-moderate disease activity patients (DAS28 ≤5.5) although fasting plasma glucose level did not differ significantly in these two groups.Conclusion The prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes increases in RA patients comparing to controls.RA patients have insulin resistance that is associated with disease activity and systemic inflammation.