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Objective To evaluate the impact of Toxoplasma gondii human infections on blood lipid levels. Methods A total of 1 000 healthy volunteers that were randomly sampled from a tertiary hospital during the period from December 2017 through December 2019 were enrolled, and assigned into the infection group and the control group according to the detection of serum anti-T. gondii antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) were detected and compared between the two groups. Results The seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody was 8.40% in the study subjects, and there were no significant differences between the infection and control groups in terms of gender (χ2 = 1.29, P > 0.05) or age (χ2 = 1.41, P > 0.05). The mean serum LDL (t = 3.89, P < 0.05) and TC levels (t = 3.81, P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the infection group than in the control group, while no significant differences were seen between the two groups in terms of mean serum TG (t = 0.97, P > 0.05) or HDL levels (t = 0.75, P > 0.05). In addition, the proportions of abnormal LDL (χ2 = 9.69, P < 0.01) and TC levels (χ2 = 10.39, P < 0.01) were significantly greater in the infection group than in the control group, while no significant differences were found in the proportion of abnormal TG (χ2 = 0.02, P > 0.05) or HDL level (χ2 = 0.11, P > 0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion T. gondii human infections affect blood lipid levels, and the individuals sero-positive for anti-T. gondii antibody have higher mean serum LDL and TC, as well as higher proportions of abnormal TC and LDL than sero-negative individuals.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and metabolic syndrome (MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Literature on association between AGA and MS up to December 26, 2013 was searched from PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Cochrance library, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases, and the studies met the eligibility criteria were selected. Meta-analysis was performed by using StataSE 12.0 software to determine the association between AGA and MS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four case-control studies and 2 cross-sectional studies met the eligibility criteria, including 950 AGA subjects and 3056 control subjects were entered the analysis. Meta-analysis showed that AGA was significantly correlated with MS (OR=2.70, 95%CI: 1.67-4.37, P<0.01). Stratification analysis showed that AGA was significantly correlated with MS in male (OR=2.30, 95%CI: 1.33-3.98, P<0.01) and female subjects (OR=4.61, 95%CI: 1.26-16.94, P<0.05); and AGA was significantly correlated with MS in European (OR=5.29, 95%CI: 2.86-9.80, P<0.01) and Asian subjects (OR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.18-3.10, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Based on the available data, AGA may be a risk factor for MS, indicating that AGA patients would be a targeting population for screening of metabolic syndrome.</p>
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Female , Humans , Male , Alopecia , Epidemiology , Asian People , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Metabolic Syndrome , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic effect of fluid resuscitation on severe sepsis and septic shock.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty patients with severe sepsis and septic shock were given fluid resuscitation and got the following parameters in the ranges as follow: central venous pressure (CVP) 8 - 12 mm Hg (for ventilation patient: 12 - 15 mm Hg), mean artery pressure (MAP) 65 - 90 mm Hg, mixed venous oxygen saturation (SmvO(2)) > 70%. Hemodynamics, tissue perfusion and vascular endothelial cell function were measured and compared before and after fluid resuscitation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP), cardiac index (CI), left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) increased significantly after reached the goal of fluid resuscitation (P < 0.01) whereas pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI), lactate level in arterial blood and gastric-to-arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure gap (Pg-aCO(2)) decreased significantly (P < 0.01), and the serum levels of endothelin (ET) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were also decreased significantly after fluid resuscitation (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early goal-directed fluid resuscitation can improve hemodynamics, tissue perfusion and alleviate vascular endothelial cell injury in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, it is an effective therapy for these patients.</p>