Osteogenesis imperfecta（OI） comprises a group of heritable connective tissue disorders generally defined by recurrent fractures, low bone mass, short stature and skeletal fragility. Beyond the skeletal complications...Osteogenesis imperfecta（OI） comprises a group of heritable connective tissue disorders generally defined by recurrent fractures, low bone mass, short stature and skeletal fragility. Beyond the skeletal complications of OI,many patients also report intolerance to physical activity, fatigue and muscle weakness. Indeed, recent studies have demonstrated that skeletal muscle is also negatively affected by OI, both directly and indirectly. Given the well-established interdependence of bone and skeletal muscle in both physiology and pathophysiology and the observations of skeletal muscle pathology in patients with OI, we investigated the therapeutic potential of simultaneous anabolic targeting of both bone and skeletal muscle using a soluble activin receptor 2B（ACVR2B） in a mouse model of type Ⅲ OI（oim）. Treatment of 12-week-old oim mice with ACVR2 B for 4 weeks resulted in significant increases in both bone and muscle that were similar to those observed in healthy,wild-type littermates. This proof of concept study provides encouraging evidence for a holistic approach to treating the deleterious consequences of OI in the musculoskeletal system.展开更多
BACKGROUND Poor glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is often accompanied by multiple complications,including diabetic nephropathy(DN),diabetic retinopathy(DR),diabetic peripheral neuropath...BACKGROUND Poor glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is often accompanied by multiple complications,including diabetic nephropathy(DN),diabetic retinopathy(DR),diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN),and cardiac structural abnormality left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH).Early identification of high-risk populations for these complications and the implementation of intervention measures are crucial for improving patient outcomes.Serum alpha-1-microglobulin(α1-MG),a multifunctional protein synthesized by the liver and lymphocytes,has been considered a potential biomarker of diabetes-related diseases in recent years.AIM To investigate the associations of serumα1-MG with DN,DR,DPN,and LVH in T2DM patients and its predictive value.METHODS This retrospective study included 5045 T2DM patients.The study participants were stratified into quartiles according to their serumα1-MG levels.Multivariate logistic regression,restricted cubic spline,and explainable machine learning models were employed for risk assessment and feature importance evaluation.RESULTS Increasedα1-MG levels were observed in patients with DN,DR,DPN,and LVH(all P<0.001).Multivariate logistic regression revealed that each standard deviation increase inα1-MG was associated with an 84%increase in DN risk(OR:1.84,95%CI:1.62-2.10,P<0.001),a 17%increase in DR risk(OR:1.17,95%CI:1.07-1.28,P<0.001),a 14%increase in DPN risk(OR:1.14,95%CI:1.03-1.27,P=0.014),and a 28%increase in LVH risk(OR:1.28,95%CI:1.18-1.38,P<0.001).Subgroup analyses and machine learning confirmed the associations of elevatedα1-MG with these complications in T2DM patients.CONCLUSION Elevated serumα1-MG levels were independently associated with increased risks of DN,DR,DPN,and LVH in T2DM patients,suggesting its potential as a predictive biomarker.展开更多
BACKGROUND Achievement of endoscopic healing(EH)is significant in the clinical practice of inflammatory bowel disease as it is correlated with improved prognosis.Existing biomarkers,including C-reactive protein(CRP),h...BACKGROUND Achievement of endoscopic healing(EH)is significant in the clinical practice of inflammatory bowel disease as it is correlated with improved prognosis.Existing biomarkers,including C-reactive protein(CRP),have relatively low accuracy for predicting EH,especially in small intestinal lesions in Crohn’s disease(CD);thus,noninvasive and more accurate biomarkers are required.Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein(LRG),a 50-kD protein,is produced under inflammatory conditions and has been reported to be useful in assessing disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease.However,the usefulness of LRG in small intestinal lesions in CD remains inconclusive.AIM To determine the usefulness of LRG for EH in small bowel lesions in CD and compare it with CRP.METHODS This study included 133 consecutive patients with CD who underwent balloonassisted enteroscopy between June 2021 and March 2024 at Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital(Otsu,Japan).We retrospectively analyzed endoscopic scores in each of the ileum and colon and four markers including LRG,CRP,albumin,and Harvey-Bradshaw index(HBI).Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed.RESULTS Either active ileal or colonic lesions exhibited significant differences in LRG,CRP,albumin,and HBI compared with EH.CRP,albumin,and HBI showed a worse correlation with endoscopic activity in the ileum than that in the colon;however,LRG did not show a worse correlation(colon,r=0.5218;ileum,r=0.5602).Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that LRG for EH in the ileum and colon had the same cutoff values of 12.4μg/mL.Comparing the areas under the curve of LRG and CRP for predicting EH in the ileum revealed a significantly higher areas under the curve of LRG(95%confidence interval,0.017-0.194;P=0.024),whereas the two showed no significant difference in the colon.CONCLUSION LRG is a useful biomarker in assessing the endoscopic activity of CD and is more useful than CRP in the small intestine.展开更多
The study by Ohno et al provides valuable insights into the role of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein(LRG)as a potential biomarker for identifying small bowel lesions in Crohn's disease(CD).However,several methodo...The study by Ohno et al provides valuable insights into the role of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein(LRG)as a potential biomarker for identifying small bowel lesions in Crohn's disease(CD).However,several methodological challenges hinder its immediate use in clinical practice.Notably,the current research was retrospective,lacks comparative studies with fecal calprotectin,and did not provide long-term predictive data.Further prospective studies are needed to improve the applicability of LRG.Moreover,integrating LRG with additional biomarkers and employing artificial intelligence techniques may improve its effectiveness in disease monitoring.Future research should address interobserver variability,assess LRG's cost-effectiveness,and standardize endoscopic healing definitions to ensure broader applicability.Advancing these areas is vital for establishing LRG's role in precision medicine strategies for the management of CD.展开更多
BACKGROUND L-arginine(L-Arg)is one of the most widely used amino acids in dietary and pharmacological products.However,the evidence on its usefulness and dose limitations,especially in diabetics is still controversial...BACKGROUND L-arginine(L-Arg)is one of the most widely used amino acids in dietary and pharmacological products.However,the evidence on its usefulness and dose limitations,especially in diabetics is still controversial.AIM To investigate the effects of chronic administration of different doses of L-Arg on the cardiac muscle of type 2 diabetic rats.METHODS Of 96 male rats were divided into 8 groups as follows(n=12):Control,0.5 g/kg L-Arg,1 g/kg L-Arg,1.5 g/kg L-Arg,diabetic,diabetic+0.5 g/kg L-Arg,diabetic+1 g/kg L-Arg,and diabetic+1.5 g/kg L-Arg;whereas L-Arg was orally administered for 3 months to all treated groups.RESULTS L-Arg produced a moderate upregulation of blood glucose levels to normal rats,but when given to diabetics a significant upregulation was observed,associated with increased nitric oxide,inflammatory cytokines,and malonaldehyde levels in diabetic rats treated with 1 g/kg L-Arg and 1.5 g/kg L-Arg.A substantial decrease in the antioxidant capacity,superoxide dismutase,catalase,glutathione peroxidase,reduced glutathione concentrations,and Nrf-2 tissue depletion were observed at 1 g/kg and 1.5 g/kg L-Arg diabetic treated groups,associated with myocardial injury,fibrosis,α-smooth muscle actin upregulation,and disruption of desmin cardiac myofilaments,and these effects were not noticeable at normal treated groups.On the other hand,L-Arg could significantly improve the lipid profile of diabetic rats and decrease their body weights.CONCLUSION L-Arg dose of 1 g/kg or more can exacerbates the diabetes injurious effects on the myocardium,while 0.5 g/kg dose can improve the lipid profile and decrease the body weight.展开更多
BACKGROUND Managing sudden deafness(SD)in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)is partic-ularly challenging due to the heightened risk of adverse effects associated with systemic drug administration.This study explores ...BACKGROUND Managing sudden deafness(SD)in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)is partic-ularly challenging due to the heightened risk of adverse effects associated with systemic drug administration.This study explores the potential of retroauricular subperiosteal injection as a localized drug delivery method for a more effective and safe treatment.AIM To compare the efficacy of retroauricular subperiosteal injection vs systemic intravenous glucocorticoid(GC)administration for SD in patients with DM and assess the effects on blood glucose levels.METHODS A total of 128 cases of type 2 DM(T2DM)with SD diagnosed and treated in Zibo Central Hospital from February 2021 to July 2023 were divided into two groups:An observation group(66 cases receiving retroauricular subperiosteal injection of methylprednisolone)and a control group(62 cases receiving systemic intravenous administration of methylprednisolone).The two groups were compared in terms of therapeutic efficacy,hearing recovery,blood glucose level changes,and incidence of adverse reactions.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting therapeutic efficacy.RESULTS The observation group showed a significantly higher total effective rate(90.91%)compared with the control group(75.81%,P<0.05).Additionally,pure-tone hearing threshold,fasting plasma glucose,and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose were significantly lower in the observation group compared with the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was also lower in the observation group than in the control group(7.58%vs 22.58%,P<0.05).A T2DM course longer than 5 years and systemic intravenous GC administration were identified as independent risk factors for treatment inefficacy(P<0.05).INTRODUCTION Sudden deafness(SD)is a clinical emergency characterized by rapid-onset hearing loss that is often accompanied by clinical symptoms such as tinnitus and vertigo[1].Although its pathogenesis remains unclear,it is supposedly associated with factors,including inner ear microcirculation disorders,autoimmune diseases,and viral infections[2,3].Patients with diabetes are particularly susceptible to microvascular complications due to poor long-term glycemic control,affecting the ear’s microcirculation,subsequently increasing the risk of SD[4].Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),a chronic metabolic disease,causes multiple microvascular damages throughout the body,complicating SD treatment in patients with diabetes[5,6].Inner ear microcirculation disturbances in patients with diabetes may exacerbate the risk of SD,and its pathological process may be related to vascular endothelial dysfunction,inflammatory reactions,and hemorrhological changes caused by diabetes mellitus(DM)[7].Current SD treatments include glucocorticoids(GCs),vasodilators,and hyperbaric oxygen therapy[8].GCs are widely used due to their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects[9].However,systemic GCs may cause blood glucose(BG)fluctuations and even increase the risk of complications in patients with DM,limiting their clinical use in this population[10].Therefore,there is a compelling and immediate need for a local alternative solution that minimally affects the metabolic mechanisms.In recent years,retroauricular subperiosteal injection has emerged as a localized administration modality for treating SD[11].This method allows drugs to directly act on the inner ear,avoiding the side effects of systemic administration and having a minor impact on BG levels,providing a potentially effective treatment for patients with diabetes[12].However,there is limited clinical evidence to compare the efficacy and glycaemic effects of retroauricular subperiosteal injection vs systemic intravenous GC administration in patients with SD and diabetes.This study aimed to explore the efficacy of retroauricular subperiosteal injection and systemic intravenous GC administration for treating patients with SD and DM and their effects on BG,providing a safer and more effective clinical treatment approach.展开更多
Objective To explore the predictive value of baseline HBs Ag level and early response for HBs Ag loss in patients with HBe Ag-positive chronic hepatitis B during pegylated interferon alpha-2a treatment. Methods A tota...Objective To explore the predictive value of baseline HBs Ag level and early response for HBs Ag loss in patients with HBe Ag-positive chronic hepatitis B during pegylated interferon alpha-2a treatment. Methods A total of 121 patients with HBe Ag-positive chronic hepatitis B who achieved HBs Ag loss were enrolled; all patients were treated with PEG-IFNα-2a 180 μg/week. Serum HBV DNA and serological indicators （HBs Ag, anti-HBs, HBe Ag, and anti-HBe） were determined before and every 3 months during treatment. Results The median treatment time for HBs Ag loss was 84 weeks （7-273 weeks）, and 74.38% （90 cases） of the patients needed extended treatment （〉 48 weeks）. The correlation between baseline HBs Ag levels and the treatment time of HBs Ag loss was significant （B = 14.465, t = 2.342, P = 0.021）. Baseline HBs Ag levels together with the decline range of HBs Ag at 24 weeks significantly correlated with the treatment time of HBs Ag loss （B = 29.862, t = 4.890, P = 0.000 and B = 27.993, t = 27.993, P = 0.005）. Conclusion Baseline HBs Ag levels and extended therapy are critical steps toward HBs Ag loss. Baseline HBs Ag levels together with early response determined the treatment time of HBs Ag loss in patients with HBe Ag-positive chronic hepatitis B during pegylated interferon alpha-2a treatment.展开更多
Radiation is an important modality in cancer treatment, and eighty percent of cancer patients need radiotherapy at some point during their clinical management. However, radiation-induced damage to normal tissues restr...Radiation is an important modality in cancer treatment, and eighty percent of cancer patients need radiotherapy at some point during their clinical management. However, radiation-induced damage to normal tissues restricts the therapeutic doses of radiation that can be delivered to tumours and thereby limits the effectiveness of the treatment. The use of radioprotectors represents an obvious strategy to obtain better tumour control using a higher dose in radiotherapy. However, most of the synthetic radioprotective compounds studied have shown inadequate clinical efficacy owing to their inherent toxicity and high cost. Hence, the development of radioprotective agents with lower toxicity and an extended window of protection has attracted a great deal of attention, and the identification of alternative agents that are less toxic and highly effective is an absolute necessity. Recent studies have shown that alpha-2-macroglobulin（α2M） possesses radioprotective effects. α2M is a tetrameric, disulfide-rich plasma glycoprotein that functions as a nonselective inhibitor of different types of non-specific proteases and as a carrier of cytokines, growth factors, and hormones. α2M induces protein factors whose interplay underlies radioprotection, which supports the idea that α2M is the central effector of natural radioprotection in the rat. Pretreatment with α2M has also induced a significant reduction of irradiation-induced DNA damage and the complete restoration of liver and body weight. Mihailovi？ et al. concluded that the radioprotection provided by α2M was in part mediated through cytoprotection of new blood cells produced in the bone marrow; these authors also indicated that an important aspect of the radioprotective effect of amifostine was the result of the induction of the endogenous cytoprotective capability of α2M. The radioprotective effects of α2M are possibly due to antioxidant, antifibrosis, and anti-inflammatory functions, as well as the maintenance of homeostasis, and enhancement of the DNA repair and cell recovery processes. This review is the first to summarise the observations and elucidate the possible mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of α2M. The lacunae in the existing knowledge and directions for future research are also addressed.展开更多
Currently available monotherapies of oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogs or interferon are unable to achieve a sustained and effective response in most of patients with chronic hepatitis B（CHB）. The objective of the ...Currently available monotherapies of oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogs or interferon are unable to achieve a sustained and effective response in most of patients with chronic hepatitis B（CHB）. The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon（Peg-IFN） alpha-2b plus adefovir dipivoxil combination therapy versus Peg-IFN alpha-2b alone. Sixty-one HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were randomized to receive Peg-IFN alpha-2b alone（1.5 μg/kg once weekly） or Peg-IFN alpha-2b plus adefovir（10 mg daily） for up to 52 weeks. Efficacy and safety analyses were performed on all participants who received at least one dose of study medication. The rate of HBeAg seroconversion and undetectable HBV-DNA were evaluated after 52 weeks of therapy. At the end of treatment, 11 of 30（36.7%） patients receiving combination therapy achieved HBeAg seroconversion versus 8 of 31（25.8%） in the monotherapy group（P=0.36）. In contrast, the percentage of patients with undetectable serum HBV DNA was significantly higher in the combination group than in the monotherapy group（76.7% vs. 29.0%, P〈0.001）. Thyroid dysfunction was more frequent in the combination group than in the monotherapy group（P〈0.05）. In HBeAg-positive CHB, combination of Peg-IFN alpha-2b and adefovir for 52 weeks resulted, at the end of treatment, in a higher virological response but without significant impact on the rate of HBeAg seroconversion and possibly an adverse effect on thyroid function.展开更多
Background: Viral hepatitis C (HCV) is common in Benin. Untreated, it can be complicated by cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma, which are sources of death. The objectives of this work were twofold: 1) to evaluate the effec...Background: Viral hepatitis C (HCV) is common in Benin. Untreated, it can be complicated by cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma, which are sources of death. The objectives of this work were twofold: 1) to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatment with classic dual interferon pegylated alpha-2a (IFN) and ribavirin therapy in Benin, and 2) to present problems related to financial accessibility to this treatment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, with a retrospective collection of data from November 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015 and prospective collection from January 1, 2016 to July 31, 2016 (7 months). We included all patients treated with IFN + ribavirin for hepatitis C at CNHU/HKM. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as undetectable viral load C 6 months after stopping treatment. Safety was appreciated by the search for clinical and hematological adverse effects. Results: One hundred and six patients were followed for HCV, of whom 58 (54.7%) undergoing treatment (26 under standard dual therapy and 32 under direct-acting antivirals). Of the 26 patients under-conventional dual therapy, 12 (46.1%) were genotype 1, 13 (50%) genotype 2 and one (3.9%) genotype 4. In conventional dual therapy, SVR was achieved in 15 (57.7%) patients, including the genotype 4 patient, 4 out of 12 (33.3%) genotype 1 patients, and 10 out of 13 (76.9%) for genotype 2 patients. The most common side effects with this treatment were severe asthenia (23 cases), flu-like symptoms (22 cases), weight loss (21 cases) and neutropenia (22 cases), anemia and thrombocytopenia (20 of 26 cases). The overall cost of treatment per patient was 11,800,624 FCFA for genotypes 1 and 4;and 7,835,048 FCFA for genotype 2. Conclusion: The treatment of HCV with IFN + ribavirin in Benin is effective for genotype 2. But its adverse effects are manifold and its cost is high. The switch to direct-acting antivirals (more effective, better tolerated and less expensive) was therefore necessary.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of rituximab combined with CHOP-like regimen with or without IFN in patients newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell Non-Hodgkin＇s lymphoma （DLBCL）.METHODS From January 2003 to July ...OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of rituximab combined with CHOP-like regimen with or without IFN in patients newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell Non-Hodgkin＇s lymphoma （DLBCL）.METHODS From January 2003 to July 2008, 51 patients received CHOP-like chemotherapy （cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, epirubicin 80 mg/m2, vindesine 2.8 mg/m2 on day 1, and prednisolone 100 mg/day on day 1 to day 5）. Thirty-one patients received CHOPR-like treatment （rituximab 375 mg/m2 1 day before CHOP-like chemotherapy）. Twenty patients received CHOP-like regimen in combination with peginterferon （pegIFN） （1μg/kg on day 5） and rituximab （on day 6）.RESULTS -The CR （complete remission） rate in the CHOPR-like （with or without pegIFN） group and in the CHOP-like group was 78.4% and 45.1% （P = 0.005）, respectively. The estimated mean time of overall survival （OS） in the CHOPR-like group and CHOP- like group was 58.7 ± 2.8 and 36.4 ±3.4 months, respectively （P = 0.002）. The rates of CR and OR （overall remission） in CHOPR- like with IFN arm were 85.0% and 95.0%, and the rates of those in CHOPR-like without IFN arm were 74.2% and 87.0% （P 〉 0.05）. The estimated mean time of 4-year-PFS （progression- free survival） in CHOPR-like with IFN arm and in CHOPR-like without IFN arm was 62.9 ±3.0 months and 51.0 ± 4.6 months （P = 0.092）, respectively. In the CHOPR-like with IFN arm, no patient relapsed after achieving CR, while the estimated rate of 4-year- DFS （disease-free survival） in the patients who reached CR in the CHOPR-like without IFN arm was （63.4 ± 19.3）% （P = 0.061）. CONCLUSION Rituximab combined with CHOP-like chemotherapy improved the prognosis of DLBCL patients. The IFN may help to improve the quality and duration of response of DLBCL patients treated with rituximab and CHOP-like regimen.展开更多
Aroma touch therapy is widely used in clinical fields for alleviating pain-related symptoms;however, few studies have reported the pain-relief mechanisms. The present study aimed to elucidate the analgesic effects of ...Aroma touch therapy is widely used in clinical fields for alleviating pain-related symptoms;however, few studies have reported the pain-relief mechanisms. The present study aimed to elucidate the analgesic effects of aroma touch therapy with Citrus junos oil based on the quantitative evaluation of deep brain network (DBN) activity using electroencephalogram (EEG) occipital alpha-2 rhythm (10-13 Hz) powers. Experimental investigations were performed with 13 healthy volunteers using the cold pressor task for simulating chronic pain in three different sessions: a baseline session with no therapies, a control session with a touch therapy, and an aroma touch therapy. We have found for the first time that the interviewed pain ratings represented by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores were strongly correlated with a DBN activity index, which was derived from the slow fluctuation components of occipital EEG alpha-2 rhythm powers. The correlation was characterized by a V-shaped curve in the DBN activity index versus the pain rating, i.e., the NRS score, which provided the complete analgesic states (NRS = 0) for some subjects under aroma touch therapy at an appropriate DBN activity index. Such analgesic states were not so strongly correlated with emotional valence. In conclusion, aroma touch therapy may directly modulate DBN activity so that pain-induced outcomes are minimized.展开更多
Introduction:Dexamethasone(Dex)caused impaired osteoblast differentiation and oxidative stress(OS)in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).This work sought to elucidate the precise molecular pathway through which ...Introduction:Dexamethasone(Dex)caused impaired osteoblast differentiation and oxidative stress(OS)in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).This work sought to elucidate the precise molecular pathway through which Dex influences osteogenic differentiation(OD)and OS in BMSCs.Methods:The expression of Runt-related transcription factor 1(RUNX1)and alpha-2 macroglobulin(A2M)was assessed in Dex-treated BMSCs using qRTPCR and Western Blot.Following the functional rescue experiments,cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay,reactive oxygen species(ROS)expression by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and glutathione peroxidase(Gpx)expression by kits,OD by alkaline phosphatase(ALP)staining and activity quantification,and the expression of OD-related proteins RUNX2,collagen type 1 alpha 1(COL1A1),and osteocalcin(OCN)by qRT-PCR and Western Blot.The binding of RUNX1 to A2M was initially analyzed through Jaspar website and subsequently verified by dual-luciferase reporter and ChIP assays.Results:Dextreated BMSCs had low RUNX1 and A2M expression.Dex treatment apparently elevated ROS and LDH levels,diminished cell proliferation rate and SOD,CAT,and Gpx expression,lightened intensity of ALP staining,and declined calcified nodules,ALP activity,and RUNX2,COL1A1,and OCN expression in BMSCs,which was counterweighed by RUNX1 or A2M overexpression.RUNX1 positively targeted A2M.A2M knockdown effectively nullified the ameliorative effects of RUNX1 overexpression on impaired OD and OS injury in Dex-induced BMSCs.Conclusions:Overexpression of RUNX1 attenuated Dex-induced impaired OD and OS injury in BMSCs by promoting A2M transcription.展开更多
基金supported by NIAMS,of the National Institutes of Health,under award numbers R01AR062074 (to DJD) and R01AR060636 (to S-JL)the Harry Headley Charitable and Research Foundation,Punta Gorda,FL(to ELG-L)
文摘Osteogenesis imperfecta（OI） comprises a group of heritable connective tissue disorders generally defined by recurrent fractures, low bone mass, short stature and skeletal fragility. Beyond the skeletal complications of OI,many patients also report intolerance to physical activity, fatigue and muscle weakness. Indeed, recent studies have demonstrated that skeletal muscle is also negatively affected by OI, both directly and indirectly. Given the well-established interdependence of bone and skeletal muscle in both physiology and pathophysiology and the observations of skeletal muscle pathology in patients with OI, we investigated the therapeutic potential of simultaneous anabolic targeting of both bone and skeletal muscle using a soluble activin receptor 2B（ACVR2B） in a mouse model of type Ⅲ OI（oim）. Treatment of 12-week-old oim mice with ACVR2 B for 4 weeks resulted in significant increases in both bone and muscle that were similar to those observed in healthy,wild-type littermates. This proof of concept study provides encouraging evidence for a holistic approach to treating the deleterious consequences of OI in the musculoskeletal system.
文摘BACKGROUND Poor glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is often accompanied by multiple complications,including diabetic nephropathy(DN),diabetic retinopathy(DR),diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN),and cardiac structural abnormality left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH).Early identification of high-risk populations for these complications and the implementation of intervention measures are crucial for improving patient outcomes.Serum alpha-1-microglobulin(α1-MG),a multifunctional protein synthesized by the liver and lymphocytes,has been considered a potential biomarker of diabetes-related diseases in recent years.AIM To investigate the associations of serumα1-MG with DN,DR,DPN,and LVH in T2DM patients and its predictive value.METHODS This retrospective study included 5045 T2DM patients.The study participants were stratified into quartiles according to their serumα1-MG levels.Multivariate logistic regression,restricted cubic spline,and explainable machine learning models were employed for risk assessment and feature importance evaluation.RESULTS Increasedα1-MG levels were observed in patients with DN,DR,DPN,and LVH(all P<0.001).Multivariate logistic regression revealed that each standard deviation increase inα1-MG was associated with an 84%increase in DN risk(OR:1.84,95%CI:1.62-2.10,P<0.001),a 17%increase in DR risk(OR:1.17,95%CI:1.07-1.28,P<0.001),a 14%increase in DPN risk(OR:1.14,95%CI:1.03-1.27,P=0.014),and a 28%increase in LVH risk(OR:1.28,95%CI:1.18-1.38,P<0.001).Subgroup analyses and machine learning confirmed the associations of elevatedα1-MG with these complications in T2DM patients.CONCLUSION Elevated serumα1-MG levels were independently associated with increased risks of DN,DR,DPN,and LVH in T2DM patients,suggesting its potential as a predictive biomarker.
基金Supported by the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science,and Technology of Japan,No.21K15947 and No.23K07435.
文摘BACKGROUND Achievement of endoscopic healing(EH)is significant in the clinical practice of inflammatory bowel disease as it is correlated with improved prognosis.Existing biomarkers,including C-reactive protein(CRP),have relatively low accuracy for predicting EH,especially in small intestinal lesions in Crohn’s disease(CD);thus,noninvasive and more accurate biomarkers are required.Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein(LRG),a 50-kD protein,is produced under inflammatory conditions and has been reported to be useful in assessing disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease.However,the usefulness of LRG in small intestinal lesions in CD remains inconclusive.AIM To determine the usefulness of LRG for EH in small bowel lesions in CD and compare it with CRP.METHODS This study included 133 consecutive patients with CD who underwent balloonassisted enteroscopy between June 2021 and March 2024 at Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital(Otsu,Japan).We retrospectively analyzed endoscopic scores in each of the ileum and colon and four markers including LRG,CRP,albumin,and Harvey-Bradshaw index(HBI).Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed.RESULTS Either active ileal or colonic lesions exhibited significant differences in LRG,CRP,albumin,and HBI compared with EH.CRP,albumin,and HBI showed a worse correlation with endoscopic activity in the ileum than that in the colon;however,LRG did not show a worse correlation(colon,r=0.5218;ileum,r=0.5602).Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that LRG for EH in the ileum and colon had the same cutoff values of 12.4μg/mL.Comparing the areas under the curve of LRG and CRP for predicting EH in the ileum revealed a significantly higher areas under the curve of LRG(95%confidence interval,0.017-0.194;P=0.024),whereas the two showed no significant difference in the colon.CONCLUSION LRG is a useful biomarker in assessing the endoscopic activity of CD and is more useful than CRP in the small intestine.
文摘The study by Ohno et al provides valuable insights into the role of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein(LRG)as a potential biomarker for identifying small bowel lesions in Crohn's disease(CD).However,several methodological challenges hinder its immediate use in clinical practice.Notably,the current research was retrospective,lacks comparative studies with fecal calprotectin,and did not provide long-term predictive data.Further prospective studies are needed to improve the applicability of LRG.Moreover,integrating LRG with additional biomarkers and employing artificial intelligence techniques may improve its effectiveness in disease monitoring.Future research should address interobserver variability,assess LRG's cost-effectiveness,and standardize endoscopic healing definitions to ensure broader applicability.Advancing these areas is vital for establishing LRG's role in precision medicine strategies for the management of CD.
基金The Deputyship for Research and Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, No. IF2/PSAU/2022/03/23339.
文摘BACKGROUND L-arginine(L-Arg)is one of the most widely used amino acids in dietary and pharmacological products.However,the evidence on its usefulness and dose limitations,especially in diabetics is still controversial.AIM To investigate the effects of chronic administration of different doses of L-Arg on the cardiac muscle of type 2 diabetic rats.METHODS Of 96 male rats were divided into 8 groups as follows(n=12):Control,0.5 g/kg L-Arg,1 g/kg L-Arg,1.5 g/kg L-Arg,diabetic,diabetic+0.5 g/kg L-Arg,diabetic+1 g/kg L-Arg,and diabetic+1.5 g/kg L-Arg;whereas L-Arg was orally administered for 3 months to all treated groups.RESULTS L-Arg produced a moderate upregulation of blood glucose levels to normal rats,but when given to diabetics a significant upregulation was observed,associated with increased nitric oxide,inflammatory cytokines,and malonaldehyde levels in diabetic rats treated with 1 g/kg L-Arg and 1.5 g/kg L-Arg.A substantial decrease in the antioxidant capacity,superoxide dismutase,catalase,glutathione peroxidase,reduced glutathione concentrations,and Nrf-2 tissue depletion were observed at 1 g/kg and 1.5 g/kg L-Arg diabetic treated groups,associated with myocardial injury,fibrosis,α-smooth muscle actin upregulation,and disruption of desmin cardiac myofilaments,and these effects were not noticeable at normal treated groups.On the other hand,L-Arg could significantly improve the lipid profile of diabetic rats and decrease their body weights.CONCLUSION L-Arg dose of 1 g/kg or more can exacerbates the diabetes injurious effects on the myocardium,while 0.5 g/kg dose can improve the lipid profile and decrease the body weight.
文摘BACKGROUND Managing sudden deafness(SD)in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)is partic-ularly challenging due to the heightened risk of adverse effects associated with systemic drug administration.This study explores the potential of retroauricular subperiosteal injection as a localized drug delivery method for a more effective and safe treatment.AIM To compare the efficacy of retroauricular subperiosteal injection vs systemic intravenous glucocorticoid(GC)administration for SD in patients with DM and assess the effects on blood glucose levels.METHODS A total of 128 cases of type 2 DM(T2DM)with SD diagnosed and treated in Zibo Central Hospital from February 2021 to July 2023 were divided into two groups:An observation group(66 cases receiving retroauricular subperiosteal injection of methylprednisolone)and a control group(62 cases receiving systemic intravenous administration of methylprednisolone).The two groups were compared in terms of therapeutic efficacy,hearing recovery,blood glucose level changes,and incidence of adverse reactions.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting therapeutic efficacy.RESULTS The observation group showed a significantly higher total effective rate(90.91%)compared with the control group(75.81%,P<0.05).Additionally,pure-tone hearing threshold,fasting plasma glucose,and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose were significantly lower in the observation group compared with the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was also lower in the observation group than in the control group(7.58%vs 22.58%,P<0.05).A T2DM course longer than 5 years and systemic intravenous GC administration were identified as independent risk factors for treatment inefficacy(P<0.05).INTRODUCTION Sudden deafness(SD)is a clinical emergency characterized by rapid-onset hearing loss that is often accompanied by clinical symptoms such as tinnitus and vertigo[1].Although its pathogenesis remains unclear,it is supposedly associated with factors,including inner ear microcirculation disorders,autoimmune diseases,and viral infections[2,3].Patients with diabetes are particularly susceptible to microvascular complications due to poor long-term glycemic control,affecting the ear’s microcirculation,subsequently increasing the risk of SD[4].Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),a chronic metabolic disease,causes multiple microvascular damages throughout the body,complicating SD treatment in patients with diabetes[5,6].Inner ear microcirculation disturbances in patients with diabetes may exacerbate the risk of SD,and its pathological process may be related to vascular endothelial dysfunction,inflammatory reactions,and hemorrhological changes caused by diabetes mellitus(DM)[7].Current SD treatments include glucocorticoids(GCs),vasodilators,and hyperbaric oxygen therapy[8].GCs are widely used due to their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects[9].However,systemic GCs may cause blood glucose(BG)fluctuations and even increase the risk of complications in patients with DM,limiting their clinical use in this population[10].Therefore,there is a compelling and immediate need for a local alternative solution that minimally affects the metabolic mechanisms.In recent years,retroauricular subperiosteal injection has emerged as a localized administration modality for treating SD[11].This method allows drugs to directly act on the inner ear,avoiding the side effects of systemic administration and having a minor impact on BG levels,providing a potentially effective treatment for patients with diabetes[12].However,there is limited clinical evidence to compare the efficacy and glycaemic effects of retroauricular subperiosteal injection vs systemic intravenous GC administration in patients with SD and diabetes.This study aimed to explore the efficacy of retroauricular subperiosteal injection and systemic intravenous GC administration for treating patients with SD and DM and their effects on BG,providing a safer and more effective clinical treatment approach.
基金supported by Beijing Science and Technology Commission(No.D121100003912001)Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding,Support(No.ZY201402)
文摘Objective To explore the predictive value of baseline HBs Ag level and early response for HBs Ag loss in patients with HBe Ag-positive chronic hepatitis B during pegylated interferon alpha-2a treatment. Methods A total of 121 patients with HBe Ag-positive chronic hepatitis B who achieved HBs Ag loss were enrolled; all patients were treated with PEG-IFNα-2a 180 μg/week. Serum HBV DNA and serological indicators （HBs Ag, anti-HBs, HBe Ag, and anti-HBe） were determined before and every 3 months during treatment. Results The median treatment time for HBs Ag loss was 84 weeks （7-273 weeks）, and 74.38% （90 cases） of the patients needed extended treatment （〉 48 weeks）. The correlation between baseline HBs Ag levels and the treatment time of HBs Ag loss was significant （B = 14.465, t = 2.342, P = 0.021）. Baseline HBs Ag levels together with the decline range of HBs Ag at 24 weeks significantly correlated with the treatment time of HBs Ag loss （B = 29.862, t = 4.890, P = 0.000 and B = 27.993, t = 27.993, P = 0.005）. Conclusion Baseline HBs Ag levels and extended therapy are critical steps toward HBs Ag loss. Baseline HBs Ag levels together with early response determined the treatment time of HBs Ag loss in patients with HBe Ag-positive chronic hepatitis B during pegylated interferon alpha-2a treatment.
基金supported by grant of the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (2010B060900052 and 2009B030801186)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (the Young Teacher Training Project of Sun Yat-sen University 09ykpy12)the Medical Scientific Research Project of Zhuhai City (2012003)
文摘Radiation is an important modality in cancer treatment, and eighty percent of cancer patients need radiotherapy at some point during their clinical management. However, radiation-induced damage to normal tissues restricts the therapeutic doses of radiation that can be delivered to tumours and thereby limits the effectiveness of the treatment. The use of radioprotectors represents an obvious strategy to obtain better tumour control using a higher dose in radiotherapy. However, most of the synthetic radioprotective compounds studied have shown inadequate clinical efficacy owing to their inherent toxicity and high cost. Hence, the development of radioprotective agents with lower toxicity and an extended window of protection has attracted a great deal of attention, and the identification of alternative agents that are less toxic and highly effective is an absolute necessity. Recent studies have shown that alpha-2-macroglobulin（α2M） possesses radioprotective effects. α2M is a tetrameric, disulfide-rich plasma glycoprotein that functions as a nonselective inhibitor of different types of non-specific proteases and as a carrier of cytokines, growth factors, and hormones. α2M induces protein factors whose interplay underlies radioprotection, which supports the idea that α2M is the central effector of natural radioprotection in the rat. Pretreatment with α2M has also induced a significant reduction of irradiation-induced DNA damage and the complete restoration of liver and body weight. Mihailovi？ et al. concluded that the radioprotection provided by α2M was in part mediated through cytoprotection of new blood cells produced in the bone marrow; these authors also indicated that an important aspect of the radioprotective effect of amifostine was the result of the induction of the endogenous cytoprotective capability of α2M. The radioprotective effects of α2M are possibly due to antioxidant, antifibrosis, and anti-inflammatory functions, as well as the maintenance of homeostasis, and enhancement of the DNA repair and cell recovery processes. This review is the first to summarise the observations and elucidate the possible mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of α2M. The lacunae in the existing knowledge and directions for future research are also addressed.
文摘Currently available monotherapies of oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogs or interferon are unable to achieve a sustained and effective response in most of patients with chronic hepatitis B（CHB）. The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon（Peg-IFN） alpha-2b plus adefovir dipivoxil combination therapy versus Peg-IFN alpha-2b alone. Sixty-one HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were randomized to receive Peg-IFN alpha-2b alone（1.5 μg/kg once weekly） or Peg-IFN alpha-2b plus adefovir（10 mg daily） for up to 52 weeks. Efficacy and safety analyses were performed on all participants who received at least one dose of study medication. The rate of HBeAg seroconversion and undetectable HBV-DNA were evaluated after 52 weeks of therapy. At the end of treatment, 11 of 30（36.7%） patients receiving combination therapy achieved HBeAg seroconversion versus 8 of 31（25.8%） in the monotherapy group（P=0.36）. In contrast, the percentage of patients with undetectable serum HBV DNA was significantly higher in the combination group than in the monotherapy group（76.7% vs. 29.0%, P〈0.001）. Thyroid dysfunction was more frequent in the combination group than in the monotherapy group（P〈0.05）. In HBeAg-positive CHB, combination of Peg-IFN alpha-2b and adefovir for 52 weeks resulted, at the end of treatment, in a higher virological response but without significant impact on the rate of HBeAg seroconversion and possibly an adverse effect on thyroid function.
文摘Background: Viral hepatitis C (HCV) is common in Benin. Untreated, it can be complicated by cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma, which are sources of death. The objectives of this work were twofold: 1) to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatment with classic dual interferon pegylated alpha-2a (IFN) and ribavirin therapy in Benin, and 2) to present problems related to financial accessibility to this treatment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, with a retrospective collection of data from November 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015 and prospective collection from January 1, 2016 to July 31, 2016 (7 months). We included all patients treated with IFN + ribavirin for hepatitis C at CNHU/HKM. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as undetectable viral load C 6 months after stopping treatment. Safety was appreciated by the search for clinical and hematological adverse effects. Results: One hundred and six patients were followed for HCV, of whom 58 (54.7%) undergoing treatment (26 under standard dual therapy and 32 under direct-acting antivirals). Of the 26 patients under-conventional dual therapy, 12 (46.1%) were genotype 1, 13 (50%) genotype 2 and one (3.9%) genotype 4. In conventional dual therapy, SVR was achieved in 15 (57.7%) patients, including the genotype 4 patient, 4 out of 12 (33.3%) genotype 1 patients, and 10 out of 13 (76.9%) for genotype 2 patients. The most common side effects with this treatment were severe asthenia (23 cases), flu-like symptoms (22 cases), weight loss (21 cases) and neutropenia (22 cases), anemia and thrombocytopenia (20 of 26 cases). The overall cost of treatment per patient was 11,800,624 FCFA for genotypes 1 and 4;and 7,835,048 FCFA for genotype 2. Conclusion: The treatment of HCV with IFN + ribavirin in Benin is effective for genotype 2. But its adverse effects are manifold and its cost is high. The switch to direct-acting antivirals (more effective, better tolerated and less expensive) was therefore necessary.
文摘OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of rituximab combined with CHOP-like regimen with or without IFN in patients newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell Non-Hodgkin＇s lymphoma （DLBCL）.METHODS From January 2003 to July 2008, 51 patients received CHOP-like chemotherapy （cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, epirubicin 80 mg/m2, vindesine 2.8 mg/m2 on day 1, and prednisolone 100 mg/day on day 1 to day 5）. Thirty-one patients received CHOPR-like treatment （rituximab 375 mg/m2 1 day before CHOP-like chemotherapy）. Twenty patients received CHOP-like regimen in combination with peginterferon （pegIFN） （1μg/kg on day 5） and rituximab （on day 6）.RESULTS -The CR （complete remission） rate in the CHOPR-like （with or without pegIFN） group and in the CHOP-like group was 78.4% and 45.1% （P = 0.005）, respectively. The estimated mean time of overall survival （OS） in the CHOPR-like group and CHOP- like group was 58.7 ± 2.8 and 36.4 ±3.4 months, respectively （P = 0.002）. The rates of CR and OR （overall remission） in CHOPR- like with IFN arm were 85.0% and 95.0%, and the rates of those in CHOPR-like without IFN arm were 74.2% and 87.0% （P 〉 0.05）. The estimated mean time of 4-year-PFS （progression- free survival） in CHOPR-like with IFN arm and in CHOPR-like without IFN arm was 62.9 ±3.0 months and 51.0 ± 4.6 months （P = 0.092）, respectively. In the CHOPR-like with IFN arm, no patient relapsed after achieving CR, while the estimated rate of 4-year- DFS （disease-free survival） in the patients who reached CR in the CHOPR-like without IFN arm was （63.4 ± 19.3）% （P = 0.061）. CONCLUSION Rituximab combined with CHOP-like chemotherapy improved the prognosis of DLBCL patients. The IFN may help to improve the quality and duration of response of DLBCL patients treated with rituximab and CHOP-like regimen.
文摘Aroma touch therapy is widely used in clinical fields for alleviating pain-related symptoms;however, few studies have reported the pain-relief mechanisms. The present study aimed to elucidate the analgesic effects of aroma touch therapy with Citrus junos oil based on the quantitative evaluation of deep brain network (DBN) activity using electroencephalogram (EEG) occipital alpha-2 rhythm (10-13 Hz) powers. Experimental investigations were performed with 13 healthy volunteers using the cold pressor task for simulating chronic pain in three different sessions: a baseline session with no therapies, a control session with a touch therapy, and an aroma touch therapy. We have found for the first time that the interviewed pain ratings represented by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores were strongly correlated with a DBN activity index, which was derived from the slow fluctuation components of occipital EEG alpha-2 rhythm powers. The correlation was characterized by a V-shaped curve in the DBN activity index versus the pain rating, i.e., the NRS score, which provided the complete analgesic states (NRS = 0) for some subjects under aroma touch therapy at an appropriate DBN activity index. Such analgesic states were not so strongly correlated with emotional valence. In conclusion, aroma touch therapy may directly modulate DBN activity so that pain-induced outcomes are minimized.
基金the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(No.2023J011558)the Innovation of Science and Technology of Fujian Province(No.2021Y9098)Fujian Provincial Finance Project(No.BPB-2022FSH).
文摘Introduction:Dexamethasone(Dex)caused impaired osteoblast differentiation and oxidative stress(OS)in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).This work sought to elucidate the precise molecular pathway through which Dex influences osteogenic differentiation(OD)and OS in BMSCs.Methods:The expression of Runt-related transcription factor 1(RUNX1)and alpha-2 macroglobulin(A2M)was assessed in Dex-treated BMSCs using qRTPCR and Western Blot.Following the functional rescue experiments,cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay,reactive oxygen species(ROS)expression by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and glutathione peroxidase(Gpx)expression by kits,OD by alkaline phosphatase(ALP)staining and activity quantification,and the expression of OD-related proteins RUNX2,collagen type 1 alpha 1(COL1A1),and osteocalcin(OCN)by qRT-PCR and Western Blot.The binding of RUNX1 to A2M was initially analyzed through Jaspar website and subsequently verified by dual-luciferase reporter and ChIP assays.Results:Dextreated BMSCs had low RUNX1 and A2M expression.Dex treatment apparently elevated ROS and LDH levels,diminished cell proliferation rate and SOD,CAT,and Gpx expression,lightened intensity of ALP staining,and declined calcified nodules,ALP activity,and RUNX2,COL1A1,and OCN expression in BMSCs,which was counterweighed by RUNX1 or A2M overexpression.RUNX1 positively targeted A2M.A2M knockdown effectively nullified the ameliorative effects of RUNX1 overexpression on impaired OD and OS injury in Dex-induced BMSCs.Conclusions:Overexpression of RUNX1 attenuated Dex-induced impaired OD and OS injury in BMSCs by promoting A2M transcription.
