OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its effects on proliferation and apoptosis of PTC cells. METHODS: The expression level of APOC1 in PTC and its impact on prognosis were analyzed using GEPIA 2 and Kaplan-Meier databases. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of APOC1 in PTC and adjacent tissues and in 3 PTC cell lines and normal thyroid Nthyori 3-1 cells. In TPC-1 and BCPAP cells, the effect of Lipofectamine 2000-mediated transfection with APOC1 siRNA or an APOC1-overexpressing plasmid on cell growth and colony formation ability were examined by observing the growth curves and using colony-forming assay. The changes in cell cycle and apoptosis of the transfected cells were analyzed with flow cytometry. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the changes in expressions of P21, P27, CDK4, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 and the key proteins in the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. RESULTS: APOC1 expression was significantly higher in PTC tissues and the 3 PTC cell lines than in the adjacent tissues and Nthyori 3-1 cells, respectively. In TPC-1 and BCPAP cells, APOC1 knockdown obviously reduced cell proliferative activity, increased the percentage of G0/G1 phase cells, lowered the percentages of S and G2 phase cells, promoted cell apoptosis, and downregulated mRNA and protein expression levels of CDK4, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 and the protein levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. APOC1 overexpression in the cells produced the opposite effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and the mRNA and protein expressions. The application of AG490, a JAK2 inhibitor, strongly attenuated APOC1 overexpression-induced activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in BCPAP cells. CONCLUSIONS APOC1 overexpression promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of PTC cells possibly by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and accelerating cell cycle progression.
Humans ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Janus Kinase 2/metabolism* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology* ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Papillary

Objective:To explore the effective indicators that can predict the poor prognosis of neonates with congenital heart disease after surgery.Methods:178 cases of neonatal congenital heart disease were retrospectively analyzed. According to the outcome, they were divided into normal prognosis group (132 cases) and poor prognosis group (46 cases).Results:15 (8.4%) patients died in hospital. There were statistical differences between the two groups in terms of whether PGE and vasoactive drugs were needed before surgery, preoperative respiratory support mode, blood lactate level from anesthesia induction to 24 h after surgery, VIS and VVR scores, whether delayed sternal closure or peritoneal dialysis were needed ( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated lactate levels and VVR scores on 24 h after surgery were independent risk factors for death or other poor postoperative prognosis in neonates ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The levels of lactate and VVR scores in 24 h after operation are sensitive indicators for monitoring the severity of the condition, guiding treatment and judging prognosis of neonatal congenital heart disease surgery.

Objective To explore the clinical features and treatments of Chinese patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 18 Chinese patients with ICI-induced BP treated in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital and 14 Chinese patients with this disease reported in the literature.Furthermore,the research data of non-Chinese patients were used for comparison to outline the clinical features and treatment responses of the Chinese patients. Results A total of 32 patients (21 males and 11 females) were enrolled,and all of them presented BP induced by programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 inhibitors.Compared with non-Chinese patients,the Chinese patients with ICI-induced BP showed low average ages [(65.2±9.5) years vs. (69.9±10.3) years,P=0.020],increased proportion of BP induced by tislelizumab (28.1% vs. 0,P<0.001),decreased proportions of BP induced by pembrolizumab (18.8% vs. 39.4%,P=0.029) and nivolumab (3.1% vs. 52.8%,P<0.001),and decreased proportion of primary malignant melanoma (9.4% vs. 43.3%,P<0.001).The incidence of pruritus (96.9% vs. 66.1%,P<0.001) and mucosal involvement (59.4% vs. 15.7%,P<0.001) in the Chinese patients were higher than those in the non-Chinese patients.The proportions of the Chinese patients treated with tripterygium glycosides (9.4% vs. 0,P=0.008),dupilumab (18.8% vs. 0.8%,P<0.001),and topical corticosteroids (87.5% vs. 53.5%,P<0.001) were higher than those of non-Chinese patients. Conclusions The Chinese patients with ICI-induced BP tend to have a younger age and a higher probability of BP induced by tislelizumab than the non-Chinese patients.Unlike that in the non-Chinese patients,the primary tumor in the Chinese patients with ICI-induced BP is predominantly lung cancer.Pruritus is more obvious,and mucosal involvement is more common in the Chinese patients.Systemic corticosteroid therapy is the international standard treatment for ICI-induced BP,while tripterygium glycosides and dupilumab are characteristic therapies in China.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use* ; East Asian People ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/adverse effects* ; Pemphigoid, Bullous/chemically induced* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of pedunculated rectus abdominis combined with bilateral ureteral extravestheter drainage in the treatment of refractory bladder-vaginal stump fistula. Methods: The clinical data of 8 cases of the refractory bladder-vaginal stump fistula were admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Henan Cancer Hospital and underwent the clinical treatment of bladder-vaginal stump from December 2019 to December 2022 were collected. The reason of refractory bladder-vaginal stump fistula was analyzed, the operation manner of pedunculated rectus abdominis combined with peduncle and bilateral ureter for the treatment of bladder-vaginal stump through extrabladder drainage was explored. The operation time, bleeding volume and clinical effect were record. Results: The median operation time of 8 patients was 150 minutes(120~180 min), and the median blood loss was 400 ml(200~600 ml). During the perioperative period, there were 2 cases of incision infection, delayed healing by debridement and dressing, 2 cases of incision rupture and suture wound healing after reoperation, and 2 cases of urinary tract infection were cured by anti-infection. When followed up for 6 months, 8 cases of vesicovaginal stump fistula were cured. Conclusion: Bilateral ureteral external drainage of the rectus abdominis muscle, has a practical effect in the treatment of refractory bladder-vaginal stump fistula, which can be one of the clinical repairing treatment.
Female ; Humans ; Urinary Bladder/surgery* ; Ureter/surgery* ; Rectus Abdominis ; Drainage ; Fistula

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of pedunculated rectus abdominis combined with bilateral ureteral extravestheter drainage in the treatment of refractory bladder-vaginal stump fistula. Methods: The clinical data of 8 cases of the refractory bladder-vaginal stump fistula were admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Henan Cancer Hospital and underwent the clinical treatment of bladder-vaginal stump from December 2019 to December 2022 were collected. The reason of refractory bladder-vaginal stump fistula was analyzed, the operation manner of pedunculated rectus abdominis combined with peduncle and bilateral ureter for the treatment of bladder-vaginal stump through extrabladder drainage was explored. The operation time, bleeding volume and clinical effect were record. Results: The median operation time of 8 patients was 150 minutes(120~180 min), and the median blood loss was 400 ml(200~600 ml). During the perioperative period, there were 2 cases of incision infection, delayed healing by debridement and dressing, 2 cases of incision rupture and suture wound healing after reoperation, and 2 cases of urinary tract infection were cured by anti-infection. When followed up for 6 months, 8 cases of vesicovaginal stump fistula were cured. Conclusion: Bilateral ureteral external drainage of the rectus abdominis muscle, has a practical effect in the treatment of refractory bladder-vaginal stump fistula, which can be one of the clinical repairing treatment.
Female ; Humans ; Urinary Bladder/surgery* ; Ureter/surgery* ; Rectus Abdominis ; Drainage ; Fistula

Objective:To summarize the effect of one and a half ventricle repair in the treatment of Ebstein’s Anomaly.Methods:The data of 149 patients diagnosed with Ebstein’s Anomaly and received with surgical treatment in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Department of Beijing Anzhen Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2010 to December 2018 were continuously collected, and the survival rate, reoperation rate and tricuspid regurgitation were followed up in the medium-long term.Results:There were 68 males and 81 females, with a median age of 5.58 years. Patients were divided into Biventricular repair group and one and a half ventricle repair group. The operative age was significantly younger in the one and a half ventricle repair group (4.15 years vs. 6.71 years, P=0.019). There were also significant differences in patiens’ body length[(107.70±31.28)cm vs. (123.20±35.22)cm, P=0.014]and body weight[(19.69±12.22)kg vs. (29.65±20.41)kg, P=0.001], between the two groups, which may be related to the severity of the disease and the need for early surgical intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in preoperative cyanosis, hemoglobin level, cardiac function, arrhythmia, and common cardiac malformations such as atrial septal defect. Notably, the proportion of preoperatively complicated pulmonary stenosis (10.81% vs. 1.79%, P=0.016) and right ventricular dysplasia (16.22% vs. 3.57%, P=0.008) was significantly higher in the one and a half ventricle repair group. In intraoperative and postoperative indicators, as one and a half ventricle repair under the collateral circulation, extracorporeal circulation time was slightly longer [(125.51±37.35)min vs. (100.44±25.24)min, P<0.001], and other indicators such as aortic cross-clamp time, endotracheal intubation time, length of hospital stay, and mid-term follow-up results, including mid-term mortality, reoperation rate, cardiac function and valvular regurgitation, there was no significant difference between the two groups. However, the proportion of hospital mortality in half ventricular therapy group was slightly higher, which may be related to the poor right heart function and postoperative recovery difficulties. Conclusion:Good follow-up results have been achieved in the treatment of two surgical therapy. Patients with right ventricular dysplasia and pulmonary artery stenosis should be paid more attention to. Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular development should be evaluated before surgery to make preparations for one and a half ventricle repair.

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to determine the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. The physiologically based extraction test (PBET) digestion in vitro/Caco-2 cell model was established to investigate the bioaccessible contents of Pb, Cd and As in decoction of Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. The target-organ toxicity dose modification of HI method (TTD) was used to evaluate the cumulative risk caused by the combined exposure of the total levels of Pb, Cd and As in Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. and the bioaccessible contents in the decoction. The results showed that the total contents of Pb, Cd and As in 4 batches of samples were in the range of 2.901-3.872, 1.299-1.800 and 0.062-0.216 mg·kg^-1, respectively. After transportation by Cacco-2 cells, the bioaccessible contents of Pb, Cd, and As in the decoction were in the range of 0.045-0.080, 0.070-0.112 and 0.004-0.018 mg·kg^-1. The results of risk assessment showed that calculated by the total amounts of heavy metals in the Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm., for the end points of nervous system, the cumulative risks of co-exposure of heavy metals in 3 batches of samples were of concern. After decoction and transportation by Caco-2 cells, for the end points of cardiovascular system, blood, nervous system, kidney and testis, the TTD modification of HI values of all batches of samples were less than 1, and the health risks were acceptable. The study provided methodology basis for a more objective assessment of the health risks of heavy metals and harmful elements in traditional Chinese medicine and for a more scientific limit standard of heavy metals and harmful elements.

Objective: To compare the long-term prognosis of fulminant myocarditis (FM) and non-fulminant myocarditis (NFM) patients who survived and discharged from hospital, and to explore the factors associated with the long-term prognosis and impaired cardiac function. Methods: This study was a retrospective study. Consecutive patients with acute myocarditis hospitalized in Tongji Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 were enrolled and divided into FM group and NFM group according to the type of myocarditis. Then, patients in the FM group were further divided into normal cardiac function group and impaired cardiac function group according the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). All patients with acute myocarditis were treated with antiviral, immunomodulatory, immunosuppressive medications and symptomatic and supportive treatment, while FM patients were treated with comprehensive treatment plan. Clinical data at admission of enrolled patients were collected through the electronic medical record system. Patients were clinically followed-up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, then once a year after discharge by clinical visit. The primary endpoints included major cardiovascular events, impaired cardiac function was defined by LVEF<55%. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the occurrence of LVEF<55% and left ventricular enlargement during the follow-up of patients in FM group and NFM group, and Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of impaired cardiac function in patients with FM during follow-up. Results: A total of 125 patients with acute myocarditis were enrolled (66 in FM group and 59 in NFM group). Compared with NFM group, the proportion of FM patients with the lowest LVEF<55% during hospitalization was higher (P<0.01), and the recovery time of normal LVEF during hospitalization was longer (P<0.01). The proportion of LVEF<55% at discharge was similar between the two groups (P=0.071). During the follow-up of 12 (6, 24) months, 1 patient (1.5%) died due to cardiac reasons in FM group after discharge, 16 patients (24.2%) had sustained LVEF<55% after discharge, and 8 patients (12.1%) had left ventricular enlargement. In NFM group, 3 patients (5.1%) had sustained LVEF<55%, and 1 patient (1.7%) had left ventricular enlargement. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the incidence of sustained LVEF<55% in FM group was higher than that in NFM group (P=0.003), and the incidence of left ventricular enlargement was also higher than that in NFM group (P=0.024). Subgroup analysis of patients in the FM group showed that, compared with the normal cardiac function group, the time from onset to admission was shorter (P=0.011), the proportion of LVEF<55% at discharge was higher (P=0.039), the proportion of coronary angiography was higher (P=0.014), and the LVEF recovery time during hospitalization was longer (P=0.036) in FM patients with impaired cardiac function. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that longer LVEF recovery time during hospitalization was an independent risk factor for cardiac function impairment after discharge of FM patients (HR=1.199, 95%CI 1.023-1.406, P=0.025). Conclusions: The incidence of reduced LVEF is significantly higher in FM patients than that in NFM patients. Longer LVEF recovery time during hospitalization is an independent risk factor for cardiac function impairment in FM patients after discharge.
Aftercare ; Humans ; Myocarditis ; Patient Discharge ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations,diagnosis,treatment,and laboratory examination characteristics of 8 pemphigus patients with high titers of anti-desmoglein antibodies in remission. Methods A retrospective study was conducted for the pemphigus patients diagnosed and treated in the department of dermatology from January 2013 to September 2020.The patients should have the serum anti-desmoglein antibodies ≥150 U/ml in remission or the antibody levels dropped less than 20%(calculated based on the maximum detection limit of 150 U/ml)of their initial ones detected before treatment,and the clinical and laboratory data of patients eligible for the inclusion criteria were collected. Results Among the 134 pemphigus patients with available follow-up data during this period,a total of 8 patients met the criteria,with the follow-up period of 21-85 months and the remission duration of 18-70 months.They all received less than or equal to 10 mg/d prednisone and had high titers of anti-desmoglein antibodies.At their first visit,the number of patients with positive anti-desmoglein 1/desmoglein 3 antibodies was 7.Two patients still had high titers of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies 19 months and 21 months after they achieved remission,and 5 patients had high titers of anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies in 18-70 months.There was one patient showing high titers of both antibodies,especially for anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies.This patient relapsed after 19 months' remission while other patients were still in clinical remission. Conclusions Some pemphigus patients showed persistent high titers of anti-desmoglein antibodies in remission.Anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies were more common to keep positive,while high titer of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies was less observed.The high titer of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies had a correlation with recurrence.For the pemphigus patients with long-term clinical remission but high antibody titer,the dosages of corticosteroids should be adjusted carefully according to their actual clinical manifestations and the positive antibody type.For the patients with high titer of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies,the dosage reduction of corticosteroids should be appropriately slower.
Autoantibodies ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Pemphigus/drug therapy* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies