Cost-effectiveness of Upadacitinib vs. Tofacitinib for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis in China.

Background: Patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China experience multi-system dysfunction, resulting in a substantial economic burden. This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of Upadacitinib and Tofacitinib as treatment options for moderate-to-severe RA patients in China.

Materials And Methods: A Decision Tree-Markov model with a 24-week cycle was constructed, simulating health status transitions based on the tsDMARDs-TNFi-PC clinical pathway.

NPD1 Relieves Neuropathic Pain and Accelerates the Recovery of Motor Function After Peripheral Nerve Injury.

The incidence of peripheral nerve injury (PNI) in China is continuously increasing. With an inability to function due to sensory and motor abnormalities, patients with PNI suffer from neuropathic pain and subsequent lesions. Presently, effective treatments for PNI are limited.

Effect of intravenous anesthetic drugs on fertilization rate in oocyte retrieval.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intravenous anesthetic drugs on fertilization rate in subjects receiving oocyte retrieval by assisted reproduction technology (ART).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was designed. The clinical information of subjects who received oocyte retrieval procedure was collected.

Effect of traditional therapeutics on prevalence and clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in Chinese patients with autoimmune diseases.

The impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on autoimmune diseases (AID) patients has been an important focus. This study was undertaken to characterize the incidence, clinical manifestations and hospitalization among AID affected by COVID-19 and to analyze the association between immunomodulatory medication and these outcomes. Clinical, demographic, maintenance treatment, symptoms and disease course data and outcomes of AID patients with COVID-19 infection were assessed via an online survey tool and printed copy from 1 January till February 28, 2023.

COVID-19 vaccination and infection status: a cross-sectional survey of patients with rheumatic diseases in China.

To evaluate the vaccination status and clinical practice of patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and to explore the impact of vaccination on infection severity in patients with RD. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among RD patients in outpatient and inpatient settings of the Rheumatology and Immunology Department in our hospital. Participants' characteristics, vaccination status, COVID-19 infection status, and medication for acute COVID-19 were collected.

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate Sjögren's syndrome and related pulmonary inflammation through regulating Vγ4 IL-17 T cells.

Background: Since gamma delta (γδ) T cells are involved in various autoimmune diseases, we aimed to verify whether γδ T cells participate in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and related pulmonary inflammation, and also aimed to evaluate the effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on SS-related pulmonary inflammation and the γδ T cells.

Methods: The saliva flow rates of female non-obese diabetic (NOD/Ltj) mice were measured. Histopathologic analysis was performed in salivary glands (SG) and lung tissues.

Lidocaine inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Background: Lidocaine, an amide local anesthetic, has recently been found to have anticancer action in various cancer cells. However, the role of lidocaine in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated how lidocaine regulates the progression of EOC.

Exchange proteins directly activated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate inhibitor reverses mechanical allodynia via the modification of astrocytes activity in the spinal cord.

Background: Gliosis and inflammation are pivotal in the development of acute and chronic pain. Here, we demonstrated a previously unidentified molecular mechanism in which the activation of exchange proteins directly activated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (Epac)1 accelerated the activation of astrocytes in the spinal cord, thereby promoting chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP).

Methods: We established a rat model of CPSP induced by skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR).

Delayed inhibition of ERK and p38 attenuates neuropathic pain without affecting motor function recovery after peripheral nerve injury.

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) often result in persistent neuropathic pain, seriously affecting quality of life. Existing therapeutic interventions for PNI-induced neuropathic pain are far from satisfactory. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and p38 have been found to participate in triggering and maintaining PNI-induced neuropathic pain.

Role of caveolin-1 in chronic postsurgical pain in rats.

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) has a high incidence, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Previous studies have indicated that caveolin-1 (Cav-1) plays a notable role in pain modulation. To study the role of Cav-1 in CPSP in the present study, a rat model of skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) was established.

Impedance spectroscopy for identifying tau protein to monitor anesthesia-based issues.

Anesthesia-related drugs cause various side effects and health-related illnesses after surgery. In particular, neurogenerative disorder is a common problem of anesthesia-related drugs. A patient gets anesthesia as a requirement of the preoperative evaluation to diagnose the medical illness, which is caused by anesthetic drug treatment.

Effects of nicorandil on p120 expression in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion of rats with chronic postsurgical pain.

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) has a high incidence, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Accumulating evidence has suggested that central sensitization is the main mechanism of pain. To study the role of p120 in CPSP, a skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) model was established, and immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were performed to analyze the expression of p120 in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG).

Mesenchymal stem cells prevent overwhelming inflammation and reduce infection severity via recruiting CXCR3 regulatory T cells.

Objectives: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown great potential in treating autoimmune diseases (ADs). Unlike the traditional immunosuppressants, which inadvertently impair patients' antimicrobial immunity, MSCs reduce the incidence and duration of respiratory infection. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Pulmonary Antimicrobial Immunity and Prevent Following Bacterial Infection.

Background: Immunosuppressants such as cyclophosphamide (CTX) have been employed to treat a wide array of autoimmune diseases. The most unfavourable side effects of these drugs are their suppression on the antimicrobial immunity and increasing the risk of infection. As a promising substitution/adjunct, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are currently being tested in several clinical trials.

Clinical significance of non-thyroidal illness syndrome on disease activity and dyslipidemia in patients with SLE.

Objectives: Nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS), also known as low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome, frequently affects patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may affect lipid metabolism. Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and associated with the long-term prognosis of SLE. The aim of the present study was to explore the clinical significance of NTIS on disease activity and dyslipidemia in patients with SLE.

Combined Chemical Modification of Bamboo Material Prepared Using Vinyl Acetate and Methyl Methacrylate: Dimensional Stability, Chemical Structure, and Dynamic Mechanical Properties.

Acetylation and in situ polymerization are two typical chemical modifications that are used to improve the dimensional stability of bamboo. In this work, the combination of chemical modification of vinyl acetate (VA) acetylation and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in situ polymerization of bamboo was employed. Performances of the treated bamboo were evaluated in terms of dimensional stability, wettability, thermal stability, chemical structure, and dynamic mechanical properties.

Infection with Opportunistic Bacteria Triggers Severe Pulmonary Inflammation in Lupus-Prone Mice.

Infection is a common cause of hospitalization and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). How the underlying immune dysfunctions affect the antimicrobial immunity remains largely unknown. In the present study, employing the pulmonary infection model, we determined the antimicrobial defence of lupus-prone mice.

Clearance of apoptotic cells by mesenchymal stem cells contributes to immunosuppression via PGE2.

Background: Defective clearance of apoptotic cells (ACs) has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit promising therapeutic effects on SLE, but whether MSCs phagocytose ACs and contributes to the underlying mechanism in the treatment of SLE remain unknown.

Methods: Human umbilical cord (UC) MSCs were co-cultured with ACs, and the engulfment of ACs by MSCs was either detected by flow cytometry or observed under confocal laser scanning microscope.

Role of p120 Catenin in Epac1-Induced Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Rats.

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a chronic pain state that is difficult to be treated clinically. A series of complicated changes have been produced from nociceptive stimulation to the occurrence and development of postsurgical pain. Many mechanisms remain unclear.

Endothelial cell injury is involved in atherosclerosis and lupus symptoms in gld.apoE mice.

Aim: Cardiovascular complications related to atherosclerosis are major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Endothelial dysfunction has been identified as having involvement in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and SLE.

Mesenchymal stem cells induced CD4+ T cell apoptosis in treatment of lupus mice.

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (UCMSCT) has been used to treat human autoimmune diseases like lupus for example, but little is known about its effect on cell apoptosis. Here we evaluated the efficacy of UCMSCT for lupus treatment and explored the mechanism by which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) modulate T cell apoptosis in lupus mice. 1 × 10 human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) were injected into B6.

PKCβII-induced upregulation of PGP9.5 and VEGF in postoperative persistent pain in rats.

Purpose: Postoperative pain is a common clinical problem. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of protein kinase C βII (PKCβII) in the progression of postoperative pain following skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) surgery.

Materials And Methods: SMIR postoperative pain model was established in rats, akin to a clinical procedure.

Upregulation of CXCR4 through promoter demethylation contributes to inflammatory hyperalgesia in rats.

Aim And Methods: Chronic pain associated with inflammation is a common clinical problem, and the underlying mechanisms yet are incompletely defined. DNA methylation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. However, the specific genes regulated by DNA methylation under inflammatory pain condition remain largely unknown.