Objective: Bariatric surgery effectively treats non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The glutamate-serine-glycine (GSG) index has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic marker for NAFLD, but its ability to monitor treatment response remains unclear. This study investigates the GSG index's ability to monitor NAFLD's response to bariatric surgery. Methodology: Ten NAFLD participants were studied at baseline and 6 months post-bariatric surgery. Blood samples were collected for serum biomarkers and metabolomic profiling. Hepatic steatosis [proton density fat fraction (PDFF)] and fibroinflammation (cT1) were quantified with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), and hepatic stiffness with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Amino acids and acylcarnitines were measured with mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses included paired Student’s t-test, Wilcoxon-signed rank test, and Pearson’s correlation. Results: Eight participants provided complete data. At baseline, all had hepatic steatosis (BMI 39.3 ± 5.6 kg/m2, PDFF ≥ 5%). Post-surgery reductions in PDFF (from 12.4 ± 6.7% to 6.2 ± 2.8%, p = 0.013) and cT1 (from 823.3 ± 85.4ms to 757.5 ± 41.6ms, p = 0.039) were significant, along with the GSG index (from 0.272 ± 0.03 to 0.157 ± 0.05, p = 0.001). Conclusion The GSG index can potentially be developed as a marker for monitoring the response of patients with NAFLD to bariatric surgery.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Amino Acids ; Metabolomics

Background::Although overnight fasting is recommended prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the benefits and safety of high-carbohydrate fluid diet (CFD) intake 2 h before ERCP remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze whether high-CFD intake 2 h before ERCP can be safe and accelerate patients’ recovery.Methods::This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involved 15 tertiary ERCP centers. A total of 1330 patients were randomized into CFD group ( n = 665) and fasting group ( n = 665). The CFD group received 400 mL of maltodextrin orally 2 h before ERCP, while the control group abstained from food/water overnight (>6 h) before ERCP. All ERCP procedures were performed using deep sedation with intravenous propofol. The investigators were blinded but not the patients. The primary outcomes included postoperative fatigue and abdominal pain score, and the secondary outcomes included complications and changes in metabolic indicators. The outcomes were analyzed according to a modified intention-to-treat principle. Results::The post-ERCP fatigue scores were significantly lower at 4 h (4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 4.8 ± 2.8, t = 4.23, P <0.001) and 20 h (2.4 ± 2.1 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, t= 7.94, P <0.001) in the CFD group, with least-squares mean differences of 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.71, P <0.001) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.57–0.95, P <0.001), respectively. The 4-h pain scores (2.1 ± 1.7 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7, t = 2.60, P = 0.009, with a least-squares mean difference of 0.21 [95% CI: 0.05–0.37]) and positive urine ketone levels (7.7% [39/509] vs. 15.4% [82/533], χ2 = 15.13, P <0.001) were lower in the CFD group. The CFD group had significantly less cholangitis (2.1% [13/634] vs. 4.0% [26/658], χ2 = 3.99, P = 0.046) but not pancreatitis (5.5% [35/634] vs. 6.5% [43/658], χ2 = 0.59, P = 0.444). Subgroup analysis revealed that CFD reduced the incidence of complications in patients with native papilla (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.95, P = 0.028) in the multivariable models. Conclusion::Ingesting 400 mL of CFD 2 h before ERCP is safe, with a reduction in post-ERCP fatigue, abdominal pain, and cholangitis during recovery.Trail Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT03075280.

Objective To explore the material basis and mechanism of the Chinese medicine Dingqing tablets in the treatment of leukemia.Methods The potential active ingredients of Dingqing tablets were retrieved through TCMSP and HERB Database and the targets of herbs were screened by Swiss TargetPrediction databases.The treatment targets of leukemia were searched from the GeneCards,OMIM and Disgenet databases.The protein-protein interaction network was used to construct the interactive target regulation function of Dingqing tablets and leukemia by STRING software,and the core subnetworks were filtered by the MCODE plug-in.A component-target pathway network was constructed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the highest scoring Gene cluster 1 gene in the DAVID database.Molecular docking of the active components and core targets of Dingqing tablets was performed by AutoDock and the results were visualized.Results A total of 82 active ingredients and 439 targets of action of Dingqing tablets,and 1 878 leukemia-related targets were obtained through database retrieval,in which 169 common targets of active ingredients and diseases were mapped.Based on the degree values,the main active ingredients were determined as quercetin,luteolin,kaempferol,etc.The PPI core network indicated that the key targets for treating leukemia included TP53,MMP9,TNF,AKT1,CASP3,etc.The gene enrichment analysis of sub-networks and the component-target pathway network diagram showed that Dingqing tablets might exert therapeutic effects on leukemia by regulating signaling pathways such as TNF and IL-17.The molecular docking results showed fairly strong binding activity between the active ingredients and the targets.Conclusion The active ingredients of Dingqing tablets may participate in TNF,IL-17,and other signaling pathways by regulating genes such as TP53,AKT1,and CASP3,thereby exerting therapeutic effects on leukemia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the first-line treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer from Chinese healthcare system perspective. METHODS Using the data obtained from the CAPSTONE-1 trial(230 cases for adebrelimab group, and 232 cases for chemotherapy group), Markov model was created for simulation of the disease development process of the extensive stage small cell lung cancer. The total costs, quality-adjusted life-years(QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio(ICER) in each group were calculated. The sensitivity of key parameters was analyzed. RESULTS Compared with pure chemotherapy(etoposide plus carboplatin chemotherapy), the ICER of adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy was 157128.79 yuan·QALY−1 under the situation of charity assistance, and 351367.27 yuan·QALY −1 in the environment of no charity assistance. Sensitivity analysis showed that the utility and the cost of adebrelimab were the main influence parameter. CONCLUSION Adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy regimen has no cost-effective advantage versus chemotherapy alone in the treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer under the current economic level of China; the probability of adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy being cost- effectiveness was 44.5% under the situation of charity assistan.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the common pathogens isolated from urine from 2015 to 2021 in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program.Methods The bacterial strains were isolated from urine and identified routinely in 51 hospitals across China in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by Kirby-Bauer method,automatic microbiological analysis system and E-test according to the unified protocol.Results A total of 261 893 nonduplicate strains were isolated from urine specimen from 2015 to 2021,of which gram-positive bacteria accounted for 23.8％(62 219/261 893),and gram-negative bacteria 76.2％(199 674/261 893).The most common species were E.coli(46.7％),E.faecium(10.4％),K.pneumoniae(9.8％),E.faecalis(8.7％),P.mirabilis(3.5％),P.aeruginosa(3.4％),SS.agalactiae(2.6％),and E.cloacae(2.1％).The strains were more frequently isolated from inpatients versus outpatients and emergency patients,from females versus males,and from adults versus children.The prevalence of ESBLs-producing strains in E.coli,K.pneumoniae and P.mirabilis was 53.2％,52.8％and 37.0％,respectively.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant strains in E.coli,K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa and A.baumannii was 1.7％,18.5％,16.4％,and 40.3％,respectively.Lower than 10％of the E.faecalis isolates were resistant to ampicillin,nitrofurantoin,linezolid,vancomycin,teicoplanin and fosfomycin.More than 90％of the E.faecium isolates were ressitant to ampicillin,levofloxacin and erythromycin.The percentage of strains resistant to vancomycin,linezolid or teicoplanin was＜2％.The E.coli,K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa and A.baumannii strains isolated from ICU inpatients showed significantly higher resistance rates than the corresponding strains isolated from outpatients and non-ICU inpatients.Conclusions E.coli,Enterococcus and K.pneumoniae are the most common pathogens in urinary tract infection.The bacterial species and antimicrobial resistance of urinary isolates vary with different populations.More attention should be paid to antimicrobial resistance surveillance and reduce the irrational use of antimicrobial agents.

Objective To explore the underlying molecular mechanism of quercetin in tuberculous ulcer treatment using network phar-macology and molecular docking.Methods We identified quercetin drug targets by searching the PubChem,SwissTarget,and TargetNet databases,then combining our results with those of previous tuberculosis ulcer gene sequencing in our group,thereby obtaining inter-section targets.Using the DAVID database,we performed intersection target gene ontology functional enrichment analysis and signaling pathway enrichment analysis of the Kyoto gene and genome database.We analyzed the intersection target using the STRING database and Cytoscape software and screened the hub node.We used PyMOL and AutoDockTolls software to complete quercetin molecular docking with the hub node,then screened the core drug target of quercetin.Finally,we constructed a macrophage model to verify the above-men-tioned core genes.Results We screened overall 54 drug targets.Our enrichment analysis indicated that the signaling pathways involved in quercetin-mediated tuberculous ulcer treatment were e.g.,metabolic pathways,lipid and atherosclerosis,or the MAPK signaling pathway.In addition,ALOX5,TNF,SRC,MMP9,and EGFRmight be the key genes in quercetin-mediated tuberculous ulcer treatment.Results of our cell culture experiment demonstrated that upon quercetin intervention,SRCand EGFRexpression increased significantly while that of MMP9decreased significantly in M1 and M2 macrophages.Conclusion Quercetin could potentially regulate macrophage polarization by influencing SRC,EGFR,and MMP9expression.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of population-based cohort of patients with the comorbidity of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes in Lingnan area,and to study the related influencing factors in the onset and progression of the disease. Methods A retrospective cohort study was used to collect data from people who underwent physical examination in the Eleventh People's Hospital of Guangzhou from May 2022 to December 2023. Data mainly included questionnaire surveys,physical examinations,and laboratory testing indicators. The 2022 was defined as the baseline to statistically analyze the occurrence and development of the comorbidity of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes in this population,and to analyze the related influencing factors of comorbidity and distribution of traditional Chinese medicine constitution in comorbidity population. Results Finally,a total of 26498 subjects were included,from which there were 359 patients with the comorbidity of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes (comorbidity group),accounting for 1.4％ of the total. Among them,290 were male,accounting for 80.8％,which is much higher than female. The mean age was(61.6±9.5)years old,which was significantly higher than that of the non-comorbidity group. The cases of comorbidity group were mainly concentrated in the age group of 45-75 years old,and no cases were found in people under 35 years old. There were 293 patients with the comorbidity of ischemic cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes,whose proportion (81.6％) is much higher than that of other types. Significant differences between comorbidity group and non-comorbidity group were found in terms of gender,age,age distribution,height,body mass,body mass index (BMI),smoking,alcohol consumption,marital status,exercise,and dampness syndrome (P<0.05). About 1.0％ of population at the baselined converted from non-comorbidities or single disease to comorbidities. The proportion of newly diagnosed patients with the comorbidity of ischemic cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes is the highest,up to 68.9％. BMI overweight or obesity,large waist circumference,smoking,dampness syndrome and exercise were the risk factors affecting the comorbidity of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. A total of 264 cases of comorbidity group had finished evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions. The proportion of balanced constitution was the highest (31.1％),followed by dampness-heat constitution (18.2％),yang-deficiency constitution (13.3％) and phlegm-dampness constitution (11.7％). Conclusion The incidence of the comorbidity of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes is high in Lingnan area,which may be related to dampness constitution,BMI overweight or obesity,large waist circumference,smoking,dampness syndrome and lack of exercise.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT). Materials and Methods: Patients with THPT underwent RFA between September 2017 and January 2022. Laboratory parameters, including serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, were monitored for 48 months after RFA and compared with the levels at baseline. Complications related to RFA and changes in hyperparathyroidism-related clinical symptoms were recorded before and after RFA. Results: A total of 42 patients with THPT were recruited for this study. Ultimately, 36 patients with renal failure and 2 patients who underwent successful renal transplantation (male:female, 17:21; median age, 54.5 years) were enrolled. The follow-up time was 21.5 ± 19.0 months in the 36 patients with renal failure. In these 36 patients, iPTH levels were significantly decreased to 261.1 pg/mL at 48 months compared with the baseline value of 1284.9 pg/mL (P = 0.012). Persistent hyperparathyroidism, defined as iPTH levels maintained at > 585.0 pg/mL for 6 months after treatment, occurred in 4.0% of patients (1/25). Recurrent hyperparathyroidism, defined as iPTH levels > 585.0 pg/mL after 6 months, were 4.0% (1/25) and 0.0% (0/9) at 6 months and 4 years after treatment, respectively. In two patients with THPT after successful renal transplantation, iPTH decreased from the baseline value of 242.5 and 115.9 pg/mL to 171.0 and 62.0 pg/mL at 6 months after treatment. All complications resolved within 6 months of ablation without medical intervention, except in 10.5% (4/38) patients with permanent hypocalcemia. The overall symptom recovery rate was 58.8% (10/17). The severity scores for bone pain, arthralgia, and itchy skin associated with hyperparathyroidism improved after treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion US-guided RFA is an effective and safe alternative to surgery in the treatment of patients with TPTH and improves hyperparathyroidism-related clinical symptoms.Keywords: Ultrasound; Radiofrequency ablation; Te

OBJECTIVE: To observe the tubulointerstitial damage (TID) in lupus nephritis (LN) and investigate the relationship between autoantibodies and TID in lupus nephritis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a comprehensive tertiary hospital in Peking University Shenzhen Hospital. From March 2012 to July 2021, LN patients who performed renal biopsy were enrolled in the study. Clinical, laboratory and pathology data were collected. We classified the patients into none-or-mild group and moderate-to-severe groups according to the severity of interstitial fibrosis (IF) /tubular atrophy (TA) or tubulointerstitial inflammation (TII). The t test, U test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 226 patients were included, of who 190 (84%) were female with a median age of 32 (26, 39) years. 89% (201/226) of the patients who pathologically proved to be proliferative LN by renal biopsy. The frequency of moderate-to-severe TII and moderate-to-severe IF/TA was 30% (67/226) and 34% (76/226) respectively. For autoantibodies, the patients with moderate-to-severe TII had a lower rate of positive serum anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) antibodies than the patients with none-or-mild TII (34% vs. 51%), and moderate-to-severe IF/TA had a lower rate of positive anti-ribosomal P protein (anti-P) antibodies than patients with none-or-mild IF/TA (19% vs. 33%). For other clinical indicators, the patients with moderate-to-severe TII and moderate-to-severe IF/TA were more often combined with proliferative LN, hypertension and anemia than the patients with none-or-mild TII and none-or-mild IF/TA, respectively. The patients with moderate-to-severe TII had higher serum creatinine values and lower glomerular filtration rates than the patients with none-or-mild TII. The patients with moderate-to-severe IF/TA had higher serum creatinine values, and lower glomerular filtration rates than the patients with none-or-mild IF/TA. CONCLUSION In patients with LN in Southern China, anti-RNP antibodies and anti-P antibodies may be potential protective factors for TII and IF/TA, respectively. More studies are needed to identify the risk factors of lupus patients with TID and investigate the correlation between autoantibodies and TID, which are critical for developing better preventive and therapeutic strategies to improve the survival rate of LN.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Lupus Nephritis ; Kidney/pathology* ; Creatinine ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Inflammation ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Autoantibodies

Background::Data on the glycemic profile of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the perinatal period are sparse. This study described the intrapartum and early postpartum glucose profiles among pregnant women with GDM, and analyzed factors potentially affecting glycemic parameters during the period.Methods::This was a prospective observational study conducted from March 2020 to November 2021. Pregnant women with GDM receiving lifestyle interventions alone during pregnancy and matched women with non-diabetic pregnancies (NDPs) were enrolled from among patients admitted to the obstetrics department for childbirth. Glucose monitoring was performed via a flash glucose monitoring (FGM) system on admission, and glucose readings during labor and early postpartum were analyzed. The clinical characteristics and FGM-based parameters of participants in the two groups were compared.Results::A total of 124 participants (mean age: 29.5 ± 3.5 years, 92 [74.2%] primipara) were included in the final analysis. A total of 17,571 glucose readings were retrieved. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the GDM ( n = 60) and NDP ( n = 64) groups. The average glucose level was 92.2 mg/dL, and the level was higher in the GDM group (95.5 ± 12.1 mg/dL vs. 89.1 ± 13.4 mg/dL, P = 0.008) during the intrapartum and early postpartum periods. The data were split into the intrapartum period (from the start of labor to delivery of the placenta) and the early postpartum period (within 24 h after placental delivery) for analysis. During intrapartum, women with GDM exhibited glycemic profiles and fluctuations similar to those in the NDP group. However, women with GDM had higher postpartum glucose levels (97.7 ± 13.4 mg/dL vs. 90.8 ± 15.3 mg/dL, P = 0.009), a longer time spent >140 mg/dL (8.7 ± 9.3% vs. 5.9 ± 10.3%, P = 0.011), and greater glycemic fluctuations than those with NDP. Postpartum hyperglycemia in GDM might be associated with high parity and postprandial glucose abnormalities in GDM screening tests. Conclusion::Compared to those with normoglycemia, pregnant women with GDM receiving lifestyle interventions alone had similar intrapartum glucose profiles but higher early postpartum glucose levels and greater glucose variability, providing evidence for modification of the current perinatal glucose monitoring strategy for GDM.Trial Registration::ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR2000030972