BDNF is involved in sympathetic sprouting in the dorsal root ganglia following peripheral nerve injury in rats

Peripheral nerve injury results in sympathetic sprouting around large diameter sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The mechanism underlying this pathological phenomenon is not known. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is up-regulated in large sensory neurons and ensheathing satellite cells following a sciatic nerve injury. In the present study, we investigated the effects of BDNF on the sympathetic sprouting in the DRG, by delivering BDNF antibody or antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to injured DRGs, or by delivering exogenous BDNF to intact DRGs. The sheep antibody to BDNF, characterized by bioassays and dot blots, specifically reacted with BDNF but not other neurotrophins. Noradrenergic fibers were visualized by immunostaining of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and quantified by an NIH Imaging program. Two weeks following L5 spinal nerve lesion, a dramatic increase in TH-immunoreactive (-ir) fibres was observed in both ipsi- and contralateral DRGs in normal sheep IgG treated rats. BDNF antibody significantly reduced the sprouting of sympathetic nerves in both ipsi- and contra-lateral DRGs by 67% and 42% respectively. BDNF antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, by inhibiting BDNF synthesis in DRGs, also significantly suppressed the sprouting by 67% and 60% respectively in the ipsi- and contra-lateral DRGs. Delivery of exogenous BDNF into an intact L5 DRGs resulted in an increase in the sprouting by 4.2-fold. Our results clearly indicate that BDNF, synthesized in and secreted from the DRGs, is involved in the sympathetic sprouting in the DRG following the peripheral nerve injury.     

两种术式在缓解恶性输尿管梗阻疗效中的对比研究

目的 探讨恶性输尿管梗阻（malignant ureteral obstruction,MUO）现有的临床治疗方案和经验,讨论恶性输尿管梗阻时使用经皮肾脏穿刺引流（percutaneous nephrostomy,PN）或输尿管支架置入术（ureteral stenting,US）的临床适用范围,明确2种术式在缓解恶性输尿管梗阻时肾功能损伤的有效性。方法 回顾性纳入重庆医科大学附属第一医院泌尿外科2021年1月至2023年5月诊断为恶性输尿管梗阻的患者,严格筛选纳入及排除标准后共有76例患者入组并随机分为PN组（n=22）与US组（n=54）,对患者基本特征及围术期、术后半年随访数据进行病例对照研究以反映肾功能在2组中的差异,采用SPSS 21.0版本对数据进行处理分析。结果 2组患者在性别（P=0.017）、手术侧肾积水程度（P=0.000）的比较,差异有统计学意义。2组患者术前3 d比较尿素氮（P=0.002）、血肌酐（P=0.003）,术后1 d尿素氮（P=0.017）、血肌酐（P=0.005）,差异有统计学意义。术后3 d与术后6个月2组患者在肾功能比较中差异均无统计学意义。结论 恶性输尿管梗阻以宫颈癌多发,其次为位膀胱癌、结直肠癌等。US可选择梗阻或积水较轻、慢性输尿管梗阻、肾功能损伤较轻的患者,可作为缓解输尿管梗阻的首选治疗方案。PN临床常对中至重度肾积水、肾功能损伤较重或者急性肾功能不全的恶性输尿管梗阻患者进行治疗,可作为US失败的替代方案。     

Ferric citrate for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia and anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BackgroundHyperphosphatemia and anemia, which are common complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD), can independently contribute to cardiovascular events. Several previous studies have found that the iron-based phosphate binder, ferric citrate (FC), could be beneficial to both hyperphosphatemia and anemia.MethodsRelevant literature from PUBMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCRCT) and MEDLINE databases were searched up to 21 February 2022, in order to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy, safety and economic benefits of ferric citrate treatment in CKD patients with hyperphosphatemia and anemia. The meta-analysis was conducted independently by two reviewers using the RevMan software (version 5.3).ResultsIn total, this study included 16 randomized clinical trials (RCT) involving 1754 participants. The meta-analysis showed that ferric citrate could significantly reduce the serum phosphorus in CKD patients compared to the placebo control groups (MD −1.76 mg/dL, 95% CI (−2.78, −0.75); p = 0.0007). In contrast, the difference between ferric citrate treatment and active controls, such as non-iron-based phosphate binders, sevelamer, calcium carbonate, lanthanum carbonate and sodium ferrous citrate, was not statistically significant (MD − 0.09 mg/dL, 95% CI (−0.35, 0.17); p = 0.51). However, ferric citrate could effectively improve hemoglobin levels when compared to the active drug (MD 0.43 g/dL, 95% CI (0.04, 0.82); p = 0.03) and placebo groups (MD 0.39 g/dL, 95% CI (0.04, 0.73); p = 0.03). According to eight studies, ferric citrate was found to be cost-effective treatment in comparison to control drugs. Most of the adverse events (AE) following ferric citrate treatment were mild at most.ConclusionCollectively, our review suggests that iron-based phosphate binder, ferric citrate is an effective and safe treatment option for CKD patients with hyperphosphatemia and anemia. More importantly, this alternative treatment may also less expensive. Nevertheless, more scientific studies are warranted to validate our findings.     

Comparing the efficacy of different intra-articular injections for knee osteoarthritis: A network analysis

Background:The findings on the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma, ozone, and hyaluronic acid in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee are controversial, and the existing original studies and meta-analyses are mostly comparisons of a single joint cavity injection method, lacking direct and indirect comparisons of different drugs in the joint cavity. The lack of direct and indirect comparisons of different drugs in the joint cavity makes it difficult to have a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of joint cavity injection methods. In this study, the efficacy of platelet-rich, ozone, sodium hyaluronate, and combined knee cavity injections were compared directly or indirectly using a reticulated meta-analysis in this field, and the efficacy of treatment measures was ranked to provide more comprehensive and reliable evidence-based clinical evidence for the selection of knee cavity injections in osteoarthritis of the knee.Objective:To compare the effects of platelet-rich plasma, ozone, and sodium glassate injection interventions on the efficacy of osteoarthritis of the knee through reticulated Meta-analysis, and to comprehensively compare the clinical effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma, ozone, and sodium glassate injection joint cavity injection for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.Methods:The PubMed, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Wan-Fang databases were searched for information on the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma, ozone, and sodium vitrate injection for the comparative treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, with a search time frame of each database from the date of creation to July 20, 2021. Two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and evaluated the quality of the literature in parallel. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software to compare the differences in the efficacy of each treatment measure using the ratio and 95% confidence interval as effect indicators and to rank the efficacy.Results:Thirty-three RCTs with 7003 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were included, involving 5 therapeutic measures. Meta-analysis showed that the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma injection was superior to both ozone and hyaluronic acid therapies. Hyaluronic acid+ozone and platelet-rich plasma+hyaluronic acid were both superior to ozone and hyaluronic acid monotherapy. The differences in efficacy between hyaluronic acid and ozone compared with platelet-rich plasma were statistically significant, and the differences in efficacy between the 2 combination therapies (platelet-rich plasma+hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid+ozone) and the 3 monotherapies (platelet-rich plasma, ozone, hyaluronic acid) were statistically significant. Platelet-rich plasma+hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid+ozone compared with 3 monotherapies (platelet-rich plasma, ozone, hyaluronic acid) were statistically significant, except for the difference in efficacy with platelet-rich plasma, which was not statistically significant, indicating that this platelet-rich plasma+hyaluronic acid and Hyaluronic acid+ozone combination therapy was superior to monotherapy. Also, the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma was better than hyaluronic acid and ozone and the difference was statistically significant, indicating that platelet-rich plasma was more effective than ozone and sodium glass in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee in monotherapy.Conclusion:It is believed that in the course of clinical practice, hyaluronic acid+ozone or platelet-rich plasma+hyaluronic acid combination therapy or platelet-rich plasma therapy can be preferred for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.     

基于人工智能的高血压性脑出血医疗文本信息自动识别系统

目的 构建基于人工智能的高血压性脑出血医疗文本信息自动识别系统,快速识别和分析患者临床信息,高效地输出正确的诊疗方案。方法 基于国内外最新高血压性脑出血诊疗指南,经多位高年资神经外科医生和专业人工智能团队共同讨论,构建基于语言表征模型和专家模块的高血压性脑出血医疗文本信息自动识别及决策系统（即H系统）。随后将收集到的高血压性脑出血病例分为训练集、测试集和验证集,以数据库中病例的真实治疗方案为金标准,先总体评价H系统的准确性,再将其与神经外科医生进行对比,分析H系统的判读效率。结果 在测试集中,H系统所输出的治疗方案的准确率为94.0%（91.5%~96.5%）,特异度为91.8%（86.3%~97.3%）,灵敏度为95.5%（89.3%~98.2%）,曲线下面积（area under the curve,AUC）值为0.936（0.922~0.950）（P=0.000）;在验证集中,H系统所输出的治疗方案的准确率为93.3%（89.5%~97.1%）,特异度为 89.9%（83.4%~96.4%）,灵敏度为95.8%（92.3%~99.3%）,AUC值为0.928（0.891~0.966）（P=0.000）。在处理同样的70例病例时,H系统用时（334.60±4.46）s,而神经外科医生用时（12 550.28±95.45）s;在50 min内,H系统处理的病例数为（383±3）例,而神经外科医生处理的病例数为（11±4）例。结论 本研究所构建的H系统能够对高血压性脑出血患者的急诊病例进行自动识别和分析,并快速输出准确的诊疗方案,可协助医生对高血压脑出血进行急诊诊疗。     

妊娠期亚临床甲状腺功能减退孕妇叶酸利用能力与血清同型半胱氨酸、维生素B12的相关性分析

目的 探究妊娠期亚临床甲状腺功能减退(妊娠期亚甲减)孕妇叶酸(FA)利用能力与血清同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)、维生素B₁₂的相关性。方法 选取100例妊娠期亚甲减孕妇为研究组;另选同期100例甲状腺功能正常孕妇为对照组。检测两组孕妇FA、Hcy、维生素B₁₂以及甲状腺功能,并分析其相关性。结果 两组FA利用能力比较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。研究组血清Hcy水平高于对照组,维生素B₁₂水平低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT₃)、游离四碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT₄)水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),研究组促甲状腺激素(TSH)水平高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。FA利用能力与Hcy呈负相关(r=-0.454),与维生素B₁₂呈正相关(r=0.219);Hcy与维生素B₁₂、FT₃、FT₄呈负相关(r=...     

The Biomarkers for Predicting Viral Hepatitis-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world, and more than half of the newly diagnosed cases are chronic hepatitis B patients. Due to the lack of specific clinical manifestations, many patients are already at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis and therefore have missed the best time for treatment. Organs in a pathological state usually secrete specific substances into the blood, which can indirectly indicate the pathological state of the organ, so some biological markers in the blood can be used as a tool to predict the incidence of HCC.MethodsThe Research articles related to HCC were collected by searching PubMed databases with the keywords “hepatocellular carcinoma”, “serum biomarker”, “hepatitis B”, “prediction” and “prognosis”, and Additional articles were identified by manual search of references found in the primary articles, followed by a summary and review.ResultsViral hepatitis is the main cause of HCC worldwide, and this phenomenon is particularly prominent in Asian and African populations. A variety of serological markers including M2BPGi, IL-6 and COMP can be used to predict the incidence of long-term HCC in patients. The risk of HCC is dynamic rather than constant, and dynamic detection will help improve prediction accuracy. For hepatitis B patients, HBV DNA load and HBcr Ag are important predictive markers of HCC.ConclusionFor a high-risk population of HCC, early risk prediction is helpful to guide clinical work, and timely adjustments of the screening frequency and treatment plan are helpful to prolong the survival time of HCC patients.     

A Novel Herbal Extract Blend Product Prevents Particulate Matters-Induced Inflammation by Improving Gut Microbiota and Maintaining the Integrity of the Intestinal Barrier

Air pollutants of PM2.5 can alter the composition of gut microbiota and lead to inflammation in the lung and gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of a novel herbal extract blend, FC, composed of Lonicera japonica extract, Momordica grosvenori extract, and broccoli seed extract, on PM2.5-induced inflammation in the respiratory and intestinal tract. A549 cells and THP-1 cells, as well as C57BL/6 mice, were stimulated with PM2.5 to establish in vitro and in vivo exposure models. The models were treated with or without FC. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins were studied. Proteomic analysis was performed to elucidate mechanisms. Mouse feces were collected for gut microbiota analysis. FC was shown to modulate the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA expression in A549 and THP-1 cells and downregulated tight junction proteins mRNA expression in A549 cells due to PM2.5 stimulation. In animal models, the decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory factor il-10, tight junction protein ZO-1, and the elevated expression of COX-2 induced by PM2.5 were improved by FC intervention, which may be associated with zo-1 and cox-2 signaling pathways. In addition, FC was shown to improve the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria.     

Molecular Analysis of Caprine Enterovirus Circulating in China during 2016–2021: Evolutionary Significance

Here, we report the characterization of 13 novel caprine/ovine enterovirus strains isolated from different regions in China during 2016–2021. Immunoperoxidase monolayer assay showed that these viral strains shared strong cross-reaction with the previously reported caprine enterovirus CEV-JL14. Alignment analysis of the complete nucleotide sequences revealed 79.2%–87.8% and 75.0%–76.7% sequence identity of these novel caprine enterovirus strains to CEV-JL14 and TB4-OEV, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses clustered these novel strains to EV-G based on the amino acid sequences of P1 and 2C+3CD. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis of these caprine enterovirus strains identified three new EV-G types using VP1 sequences. These results demonstrate the genetic variations and the evolution of caprine enterovirus.