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Objective@#To explore the relation between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with disease activity in Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients.@*Methods@#Present retrospective study involved 289 patients with TA, who were hospitalized in our department between January 2010 and October 2017, and 280 age and gender matched healthy controls,who underwent thealth examination in our health examination center during the same period (control group). TA patients were further divided into active and inactive groups (180 and 109 cases respectively) according to Kerr scores. The clinical data were compared between groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between PLR or NLR and disease activity (Kerr score or C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to judge the cut-off value of disease activity for TA patients.@*Results@#PLR and NLR were significantly higher in TA group than in control group(137.33 (97.38, 193.37) vs. 120.55 (96.86, 144.60) and 2.38 (1.76, 3.57) vs. 1.66 (1.35, 2.08) , respectively, all P<0.001). PLR and NLR were significantly higher in active TA group than in inactive TA group (163.43 (123.64, 224.15) vs. 110.53 (84.22, 147.24) and 2.59 (1.96, 3.94) vs. 1.95 (1.53, 2.86) respectively, all P<0.001). PLR and NLR of active group were significantly decreased after 6 months treatment (164.05 (123.29, 226.29) vs. 104.67 (77.22, 138.43) and 2.58 (1.96, 3.91) vs. 2.15 (1.67, 2.60) respectively, all P<0.001). PLR was positively correlated with Kerr score (r=0.439, P<0.001), C-reactive protein (r=0.328, P<0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.410, P<0.001). NLR also exhibited a positive relationship with Kerr score (r=0.235, P<0.001), C-reactive protein (r=0.169, P=0.005) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.123, P=0.037). A PLR level of 176.709 was shown to be the best predictive cut-off value for TA disease activity (sensitivity 44.6%, specificity 93.0%, and area under the curve=0.766).A NLR level of 2.128 was shown to be the best predictive cut-off value for TA disease activity (sensitivity 70.9%, specificity 47.7%, and area under the curve=0.691).@*Conclusion@#PLR and NLR are useful markers for predicting disease activity of TA patients.
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Objective To assess pregnancy outcome and pregnancy related concerns in Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients.Methods We analyzed 68 female patients with TA retrospectively from Xijing hospital.Data on the number of pregnancies,births and pregnancy outcomes before and after disease onset were retrieved from medical charts,patient questionnaires and the department of Obstetrics in Xijing Hospital.Data on pregnancy related concerns were gathered from patient questionnaires.Results Altogether,68 women in the TA study cohort had 106 pregnancies,73 (in 41 patients) before disease onset and 33 (in 28 patients) after disease onset.There were no difference in the frequencies of miscarriages,induced abortions and maternal complications before and after TA onset.Pregnancy related hypertension was seen in 4.7％ of the TA patients compared to 2.0％ (x2=1.238,P＞0.05) of the reference cohort from the department of Obstetrics in Xijing Hospital and preeclampsia/eclampsia in 4.7％ of the TA patients compared to 2.8％ of the reference cohort (x2=1.835,P＞0.05).The mean gestational age at delivery in pregnancies after TA onset was (37±6) weeks compared to (39±4) weeks in the reference cohort (x2=14.665,P＜0.01).Caesarian sections were more frequent in deliveries after TA onset (36％) than in the reference cohort (15％) (x2=13.322,P＜0.01).86％ of the TA patients had pregnancy related concerns.Of these concerns,72％ was about passing the disease to offsprings.Conclusion In this population based TA cohort,the maternal and fetal outcomes are favorable.Pregnancy related concerns are very popular in TAK patients.
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Objective To analyze the clinical data of brucellosis,and to provide references for brucellosis therapy.Methods The patients definitely diagnosed brucellosis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to June 2016 were assessed,data of clinical features,laboratory examination,treatment and prognosis were analyzed.Results Of all 99 cases,the mean age was (46.7 ± 15.7) years old,83 cases had a history of closely contacted with sheep,2 cases with pig and 1 case with cattle.The occupational distribution of patients included 90 farmers,1 veterinarian,2 cooks,6 children and students.All patients had clinical manifestations such as fever,fatigue,and sweating.There were 18 patients with back and joint pain,13 cases had abnormal manifestation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Blood culture was positive in 54 (71.05％,54/76) and serum test tube agglutination test was positive in 61 (98.39％,61/62).Eighty-one patients received doxycycline combined with rifampicin treatment,six months laters,all patients were cured.Conclusions Sheep are the main sources of infection for brucellosis.Fatigue,sweaty and fever are the most common symptoms,and osteoarticular is the most frequently involved.Serum agglutination test and blood culture are important tests for diagnosis of brucellosis.Doxycycline combined with rifampicin was the most common used antibiotics regimen.Early,combined,regular,full-course antibiotic treatment has a better prognosis.
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Objective To investigate the expression of PD-1 on CD4 +and CD8 + T cells in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B(CHB)treated with telbivudine.Methods Fifty-six HBeAg-positive CHB patients admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during January 201 3 and June 201 4 were enrolled in this study.The expression of PD-1 on CD4 +and CD8 + T cells was detected with flow cytometry at baseline,24,48 and 72 wks after telbivudine treatment.The relationship of PD-1 expression with alanine aminotransferase (ALT)level,HBeAg seroconversion and HBV DNA loads was analyzed.t test and completely random variance analysis were used to analyze the data.Results The PD-1 expression on CD4 + and CD8 + T cells at baseline was higher in patients with low ALT levels compared to those with high ALT levels(t =1 2.20 and 9.69,both P <0.01 ),while higher levels of PD-1 expression was also observed in patients with high HBV DNA load (≥5 lgIU /mL)compared to those with low HBV DNA load (t =4.39 and 4.85,both P <0.01 ).PD-1 levels on CD4 + and CD8 + T cells presented a declining trend after telbivudine treatment(F =6.98 and 8.97,both P <0.01 ),PD-1 expression in patients with HBeAg seroconversion showed lower levels compared with baseline values (t =1 8.45 and 1 8.01 ,both P <0.01 ). Conclusion In HBeAg-positive CHB patients,the expression of PD-1 on CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes shows a decreasing trend during the treatment with telbivudine,indicating that antiviral therapy may alleviate the immunosuppression in these patients.
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Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of regulatory T cells (Treg ) and the surface expression of programmed death (PD)‐1 and the level of transforming growth factor (TGF )‐βduring antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) .Methods Eighty‐six CHC patients referred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2012 to October 2013 were included ,and all of them were administered with pegylated interferon α‐2a and ribavirin .Thirty healthy controls were enrolled .The percentage of Treg cells ,PD‐1 expression and TGF‐β level were analyzed by flow cytometry at baseline and at time of achieving rapid virological response (RVR ) , early viral virological (EVR ) , end‐of‐treatment virological response (ETVR ) and sustained virological response (SVR) ,or not achieving SVR .Comparison between two groups was analyzed by t test .Results Among 86 CHC patients ,the proportions of RVR ,EVR ,ETVR ,and SVR at week 24 of follow‐up were 29 cases ,67 cases ,79 cases and 67 cases ,respectively .Percentage of Treg cells in CHC patients was much higher than that in healthy controls (10 .31 ± 5 .61 vs 2 .18 ± 0 .65 ,t = 2 .28 , P< 0 .05) .During antiviral therapy ,percentages of Treg cells declined ,not only in CHC patients with HCV genotype 1b (at baseline , RVR ,EVR ,and ETVR :14 .44 ± 3 .78 ,11 .01 ± 1 .79 ,8 .24 ± 2 .98 ,and 5 .36 ± 1 .47 ,respectively ) ,but also in those infected with HCV genotype 2a (at baseline ,RVR ,EVR ,and ETVR :12 .34 ± 2 .82 ,8 .99 ± 1 .68 ,7 .53 ± 2 .96 ,and 4 .79 ± 1 .23 ,respectively ) .Expressions of PD‐1 and TGF‐β also decreased .At baseline ,the expressions of PD‐1 in patients with SVR and without SVR were 29 .11 ± 14 .65 and 37 .73 ± 11 .65 ,respectively (t = 2 .15 , P = 0 .04) ,and the levels of TGF‐β were 41 .20 ± 18 .96 and 56 .75 ± 14 .42 ,respectively (t= 2 .66 ,P< 0 .01) .At week 24 ,the expressions of PD‐1 in patients with SVR and without SVR were 10 .36 ± 4 .81 and 36 .46 ± 10 .52 ,respectively (t= 13 .95 ,P< 0 .01) ,and the levels of TGF‐β were 10 .06 ± 4 .64 and 45 .23 ± 17 .85 , respectively ( t = 11 .85 , P < 0 .01 ) . Conclusions Percentages of Treg cells and expressions of PD‐1 and TGF‐β decrease during antiviral treatment in CHC patients .Thus ,it could be of assist to predict the treatment response by monitoring these parameters .
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Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of Jin’s three-needle acupuncture plus Long’s chiropractic tuina manipulations in treating cervical vertigo. Methods:By adopting a randomized controlled method, 80 eligible patients were randomized into an observation group of 41 cases and a control group of 39 cases. The control group was intervened by Jin’s cervical three-needle acupuncture plus acupuncture at the vertigo-pain points and Fengchi (GB 20); the observation group was by Long’s chiropractic tuina manipulations in addition to the treatment given to the control. For both groups, the intervention was given once a day, 7 sessions as a treatment course, with a 1-day interval after a course, for 2 courses in total. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after the first session and the second treatment course, at the 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. Results:After the first session, the recovery plus markedly effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P0.05); the 6-month follow-up study showed that the relapse rate was 5.0% in the observation group versus 21.6% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); at the 6-month follow-up, the total relapse rate was 7.5% in the observation group versus 35.1% in the control group, and the inter-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion:The two treatment protocols are both effective in treating cervical vertigo. However, due to its more significant efficacy, more efficient action and lower relapse rate compared to acupuncture alone, acupuncture plus tuina can be regarded as a verified protocol for cervical vertigo.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the Clinical safety and effectiveness of propofol medium and long chain fat emulsion injection for cesarean section.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was conducted in 88 cesarean section surgeries performed between January, 2014 and June, 2015 with epidural anesthesia in 44 cases (control) and with total anesthesia with propofol/long chain fat emulsion injection in 44 cases (observation group). The maternal mean arterial pressure (MAP), SpO(2), and heart rate and neonatal umbilical dynamic venous blood gas analysis (pH, PO(2), pCO(2)) were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, heart rate and MAP significantly increased at skin incision in the observation group. At the other time points, heart rate, MAP, and SpO(2) were all comparable between the two groups. The time from skin incision to newborn delivery was significantly shorter in observation group (P<0.05), but the time from uterine incision to delivery and neonatal Apgar score were equivalent between the two groups (P>0.05); neonatal umbilical arteriovenous blood pH, PO2, and pCO2 were all comparable between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Propofol medium and long chain fat emulsion injection for general anesthesia induction in cesarean section is characterized by rapid metabolism of the anesthetics, rapid maternal postoperative recovery, and minimal adverse effects on the fetus, and is therefore safe and reliable in clinical use.</p>
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Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Anesthesia, Epidural , Anesthesia, General , Anesthetics , Therapeutic Uses , Apgar Score , Blood Gas Analysis , Blood Pressure , Cesarean Section , Emulsions , Chemistry , Therapeutic Uses , Fatty Acids , Chemistry , Therapeutic Uses , Fetal Blood , Fetus , Heart Rate , Propofol , Therapeutic Uses , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The medical disputes in the primary hospitals increase year by year , and the practical experience at the grass-roots level during 1999 and 2013 showed the medical disputes had various reasons .For primary hospi-tals, the reasons included incomplete reform and management , unsuitable technical level of medical staff , inappropri-ate physician -patient communication and medical service , disunity within the hospital , lack of self -protection awareness;For patients, the reasons included the high expectations of medical service , non-compliance with medi-cal workers, poor economic conditions , week legal awareness;and some reasons from the society , media, etc.To ef-fectively alleviate the tension of physician -patient relationship and build a harmonious medical environment , the pri-mary hospitals need to strengthen the internal management , improve the comprehensive quality of medical staff , en-hance the physician -patient communication , improve self-protection awareness , and establish a good image of pri-mary hospitals.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To perform a retrospective cohort study in order to determine the differences in short-term curative effect of ribavirin in combination with interferon alfa (IFNa)-2a vs. pegylated (Peg)-IFNa-2a in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One-hundred-and-eighty-eight treatment of the CHC patients who were administered combination therapy of ribavirin with IFNa from 2010 to 2012. One-hundred-and-thirty-three of the patients received the therapy with IFNa-2a and the remaining 55 received Peg-IFNa-2a. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) load and levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured at treatment weeks 4, 12, 24, and 48. Adverse reactions were recorded. Differences between the groups were assessed by statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients in the Peg-IFNa-2a group and the IFNa-2a group showed no significant difference in sex distribution, age, smoking habits, or drinking habits at baseline (all P more than 0.05). Both antiviral therapies significantly reduced the HCV load and levels of ALT and AST (baseline levels vs. all treatment weeks examined, P less than 0.05); however, the reduction in the HCV load at week 4 was significantly more robust with the Peg-IFNa-2a therapy (2.96 ± 0.66) log10 IU/ ml vs. (3.47 ± 1.42)1og10 IU/ml; F =4.14, P=0.04). The Peg-IFNa-2a group also showed a significant higher rate of rapid virological response (RVR) than the IFNa-2a group (72.72% vs .57.14%; x²=4.37, P=0.04), but there were no statistically significant differences found between the two groups for early virological response rate (EVR), endpoint antiviral treatment virologic response rate (ETR), biochemical response rate, or rate of adverse reactions (all P more than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ribavirin in combination with Peg-IFNa-2a produces a better RVR than in combination with IFNa-2a .Yet, the EVR, ETR, biochemical response rate, and rate of adverse reactions is similar for the two forms of IFNa-2a. Further studies are required to determine the potential superiority of Peg-IFNa-2a for a long-term curative effect.</p>
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Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Antiviral Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Drug Therapy, Combination , Hepatitis C, Chronic , Drug Therapy , Interferon-alpha , Therapeutic Uses , Polyethylene Glycols , Therapeutic Uses , Recombinant Proteins , Therapeutic Uses , Retrospective Studies , Ribavirin , Therapeutic Uses , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Objective To summary the therapy outcome of retroperitoneal laparoscopic treatment on upper ureteral calculi.Methods The retroperitoneal laparoscopic treatment were performed to all cases from Jun.2011 to Jun.2012 in our hospital.All cases were treated with 3-hold method (two 10 mm and one 5 mm ports).The retroperitoneal space was made by a combination of blunt and balloon dissection,and the space was maintained with CO2 Ureteral longitudinal incision was made to remove the stones,and double J catheter was served as stent drainage.Absorbable suture was used to suture ureteral incision.Results A retroperitoneal approach was performed in 12 patients,and another patient was conducted the open surgery because the stone cower in the kidney calices.Operative periods ranged from 55 to 132 min (average was 85 min).There were no significant postoperative complications.Conclusion It is a minimally invasive and effective approach in the therapy of upper urerteral calculi with laparoscopic.
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Through protein-protein BLAST of homologous sequences in different species in NCBI database and preliminary simulating molecular docking and molecular dynamics by computer software discovery studio 3.1, three amino acids R25K26K27 of natural human parathyroid hormone (1-34) with Q25E26L27 were mutated and the biological activity of the mutant peptide was evaluated. Result showed that: root mean superposition deviation RMSD value between PTH (1-34)-(RKK-QEL) and PTH (1-34) peptide main chain was 2.509 3, indicating that the differences between the two main chain structural conformation was relatively small; the interaction energy between PTH (1-34)-(RKK-QEL) and its receptor protein PTH1R had been enhanced by 7.5% compared to nature PTH (1-34), from -554.083 kcal x mol(-1) to -599.253 kcal x mol(-1); the number of hydrogen bonds was increased from 32 to 38; PTH (1-34)-(RKK-QEL) can significantly stimulate the RANKL gene expression (P < 0.01) while inhibiting the OPG gene expression (P < 0.01) in UAMS-32P cells; in the co-culture system of UAMS-32P cells and mouse primary femur bone marrow cells, PTH (1-34)-(RKK-QEL) stimulated the formation of osteoclasts (P < 0.01) and had a higher biological activity than PTH (1-34) standard reagents.
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Objective To evaluate the impact of HIV co-infection with HCV or HBV on the efficacy of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HARRT). Methods The patients were divided into three groups: HIV + HBV + HCV co-infection group ( 23 patients), HIV + HCV co-infection group ( 166 patients), and HIV-only group (178 patients). HIV RNA, HCV RNA or HBV DNA were detected by real time PCR before treatment and 1,3,6,9 and 12 monthes after treatment, meanwhile the counts of CD4+ T lymphocyte and liver function including ALT, AST and TBil were tested. Results During one-year HAART, HIV RNA of HIV-only group, HIV + HBV + HCV co-infection group and HIV + HCV co-infection group decreased significantly from (6.78 ± 1.08), (6.23 ± 1.34), (6.54 ± 1.23) lg copies/ml to (0.53 ±0.15), (0.67 ±0.16),(0.43 ±0.11 ) lg copies/ml respectively (P＜.001 ). And CD4+ T lymphocyte counts of the three groups elevated significantly from ( 197 ± 127), (184 ± 113), (213 ± 143) cells/μl to (382 ±74), (383 ±70),(378 ±76) cells/μl respectively (P ＜0.001 ). However there were no differences among the three groups in HIV RNA and CD4+ T lymphocyte counts. There were no differences in liver functions including ALT,AST and TBil among the three groups. Conclusiom HIV co-infected with HBV and/or HCV does not impact on the efficacy of HAART. What more, HAART does not impact HCV replication.
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Objective To investigate the mRNA expression of IKB kinase (IKK-α) and interferon-α (IFN-α) in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to explore the role of IKK-α in the production of IFN-α in SLE patients. Methods SYBR green dye I based real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of IKK-α and IFN-α in the peripheral blood leucocytes of SLE patients and healthy controls. Serum levels of IFN-α were measured with ELISA method. Results IKK-α mRNA expression levels in SLE patients were significantly higher than those of normal controls (P<0.05). IKK-α mRNA expression levels in SLE patients with active disease were significantly higher than patients with stable disease (P<0.01). IFN-α mRNA expression level in SLE patients was significantly lower than that of the normal controls (P<0.01). IFN-α mRNA expression levels in SLE patients with active disease were significantly higher than patients with stable disease (P<0.01). Serum levels of IFN-α in SLE patients with active disease was significantly higher than that of the normal controls and patients with stable disease (P<0.05). The anti-dsDNA antibody correlated positively, and complement C3 correlated negatively with serum concentration of IFN-α. IKK-α mRNA expression levels in SLE patients correlated positively with serum concentration of IFN-α. Conclusion IKK-α correlates positively with serum concentration of IFN-α. The IFN-α level is significantly correlated with disease activity, This suggests that IKK-α may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
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Objective To study the incidence of osteopenia in patients with initial systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). Investigate the levels of the vitamin D (VitD) endocrine system in peripheral blood of SLE patients and its relation to bone mineral density (BMD). Analyse the relationship between the estrogen receptor (ER) and BMD and evaluate the role of ER in the pathogenesis osteopenia. Methods Serum levels of 25-OH VitD_3 and 1,25-(OH)_2 VitD_3 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The gene expression levels of VitD receptor (VDR) and ER were determined by real-time PCR. BMD measurements in the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and left proximal femur (femoral neck) were performed using dual X-ray absorptiometry before treatment. Results The initial SLE patients had significantly lower BMD values, and higher frequency of bone loss at both sites of measurement compared with normal controls (P < 0. 05). The levels of 25-OH VitD_3 and 1,25-(OH)_2 VitD3 were lower in the initial SLE patients than normal controls(P<0.01 both). There is no difference in the levels of 25-OH VitD_3 and 1,25-(OH)_2 VitD_3 between the osteopenia SLE group and the normal BMD SLE group (P > 0. 05, P > 0. 05). There are no correlations between the Vitd and BMD in initial SLE patients (P>0.05 both). The expressions of VDR gene were significantly increased in the initial SLE patients compared with the normal controls(P<0.01). There was no difference in VDR gene expression between osteopenia SLE group and normal BMD SLE group (P>0.05). The VDR gene expression does not correlate with the bone mass (P>0.05). The levels of ER-β gene expression are higher in the initial SLE group than the normal controls (P<0.01).Conclusions The incipient SLE patients may have lower BMD than expected. SLE patients present abnormal VitD endocrine system and higher ER-β mRNA expression than those in normal controls, but these weren't concerned with osteopenia.
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According to their polypeptide length and number of d is ulphide bonds, disintegrins are divided into five groups, including short-sized disintegrins, medium-sized disintegrins, long-sized disintegrins, dimeric dis integrins and disintegrin-like molecules released from the disintegrin-like do mains of P-III snake venom metalloproteinases. The integrin-inhibitory activit y of disintegrins, to inhibit platelet aggregating, cell attaching and angiogene sis, depends on the active tripeptide RGD, the appropriate pairing of cysteine r esidues, the amino acids adjacent to the RGD motif within the integrin-binding loop and the C-terminus of the disintegrin polypeptidesl as well.