Objective Exploring the risk factors for sarcopenia in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and constructing a risk prediction nomogram model. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on elderly COPD patients admitted to the General Internal Medicine Department of Tianjin Hospital in Tianjin from January 2024 to December 2024. They were divided into a sarcopenia group and a non-sarcopenia group based on the presence of sarcopenia. General data of the two groups were compared, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for sarcopenia in elderly COPD patients. The diagnostic value of blood urea nitrogen/creatinine (BUN/Cr) in predicting COPD with sarcopenia was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Additionally, a risk prediction nomogram model was constructed and validated. Results The study included a total of 128 patients, with 30 cases in the sarcopenia group and 98 cases in the non-sarcopenia group. The sarcopenia group had higher age, age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI), and BUN/Cr ratio than the non-sarcopenia group (P<0.05); body mass index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, albumin, prealbumin, Cr, 6-minute walk distance and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) were lower in the sarcopenia group than those in the non-sarcopenia group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, BMI, albumin, BUN/Cr and theFEV1/FVC were independent risk factors for sarcopenia in elderly COPD patients. ROC curve analysis was used to assess the predictive value of BUN/Cr for sarcopenia in the COPD patients, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.725, an optimal cutoff point of 80.45, sensitivity of 60%, and specificity of 82.7%. A prediction model was constructed based on the above risk factors, with an AUC of 0.912 (95%CI 0.853-0.971), sensitivity of 80.0%, and specificity of 89.8%. The calibration curve of the prediction model fitted well. The decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram had good clinical predictive performance within the threshold range of 0.2-0.8. Conclusion The BUN/Cr is associated with the development of sarcopenia in elderly COPD patients, and the predictive nomogram based on risk factors exhibits good performance for elderly COPD patients with concurrent sarcopenia.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of transplanting neonatal porcine islet cells of pig via hepatic portal vein in type Ⅰ diabetic monkeys.MethodIn this study, three pig-monkey islet xenotransplantation experiments were carried out by using α-1, 3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene knockout neonatal pig islet cells.ResultsThree macaques were successfully transplanted with islet cells. After the operation, their vital signs were stable and no symptoms of venous embolism occurred. After transplantation, the blood glucose and the dosage of exogenous insulin were significantly reduced, and the specific porcine C-peptide could be detected. Three macaques developed symptoms of ketoacidosis, and one macaque developed wound infection. After symptomatic treatment, all of them survived for 16 weeks.ConclusionGGTA1 knockout neonatal porcine islet cells transplanted through hepatic portal vein is effective for the treatment of type Ⅰ diabetes.
Objective To evaluate the effect of the plasma treated PLGA nerve conduits seeded BMSCs on repairing SD rat sciatic nerve defects. Methods BMSCs were acquired from 30 newborn SD rats. After ampl ified and passaged for 3 times, PLGA nerve conduits were prepared and some of them were treated with plasma. A 1-cm-length sciatic nerve defect wasmade in 30 4-week-old SD rats, then they were randomly divided into 3 groups for three different nerve defects reconstruction methods (n=10). In the experimental group, defect was repaired by plasma treatment and PGLA nerve conduits seeded with BMSCs; in the control group, by normal PLGA nerve conduits seeded with BMSCs; and in the autologous group, by autologous nerve. At 6 weeks after the surgery, the dynamic walking pattern was recorded and the sciatic function index (SFI) was calculated; the electrophysiological test was taken; the gastrocnemius wet weight recovery rate was calculated; and the image analysis of regenerated nerve was made. Results All rats survived after the surgery and l ived to the end of the experiment. At 6 weeks after the surgery, the dynamic walking pattern of the experimental group and autologous group was better than that of the control group. The SFI value of the experimental, control and autologous groups was —51.02 ± 6.54, —58.73 ± 7.87 and —48.73 ± 3.95, respectively, showing statistically significant differences among the experimental group, control group and autologous group (P lt; 0.05). The results of the motor nerve conduction velocity and wave ampl itude showed that there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group (P lt; 0.05), and between the control group and the autologous group (Plt; 0.01); but no significant difference between the experimental group and autologous group(Pgt; 0.05); The gastrocnemius wet weight recovery rate of the experimental, control and autologous groups was 56.13% ± 4.27%, 43.14% ± 6.52%, 59.47% ± 3.85%, respectively; showing statistically significant differences among experimental group, control group and autologous group (P lt; 0.05). The density, diameter of regenerated nerve fiber as well as neural sheath thickness of the experimental group were all higher than those of the control group (P lt; 0.05) and lower than those of the autologous nerve group (P lt; 0.05); there was significant difference between the control group and the autologous group (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion Plasma treated PLGA nerve conduits seeded with BMSCs can effectively repair sciatic nerve defects and provide a new strategy for the development of tissue engineered nerve to repair the peripheral nerve defects.
