Effect of systemic lupus erythematosus on the ovarian reserve: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that occurs at higher rates in young women. Evidence suggests that SLE may be associated with ovarian dysfunction. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the possible effects of SLE on ovarian reserve function. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from inception to July 2023 to identify studies that compared ovarian reserve in patients with SLE to that of healthy individuals. The study examined anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as outcomes. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (n=1017) were eligible for meta-analysis. Females with SLE had significantly lower levels of AMH (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.37 to -0.76, P<0.001) and AFC (WMD: -3.46, 95% CI: -4.57 to -2.34, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in FSH levels. Subgroup analyses by age of onset revealed that SLE patients with adult-onset had significantly lower AMH levels (WMD: -1.44, 95% CI: -1.71 to -1.18, P<0.001), lower AFCs (WMD: -3.11, 95% CI: -3.60 to -2.61, P<0.001) and higher FSH levels (WMD: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.05, P<0.01). However, SLE patients with juvenile-onset did not exhibit significant differences in their AMH and FSH levels, except for AFCs (WMD: -7.27, 95% CI: -12.39 to -2.14, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The impact of SLE on ovarian reserve is significant, and the effect may be particularly severe in cases of adult-onset SLE.

A Dynamic Nomogram for 3-Month Prognosis for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients After Endovascular Therapy: A Pooled Analysis in Southern China.

Cerebral edema (CDE) is a common complication in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and can reduce the benefit of endovascular therapy (EVT). To determine whether certain risk factors are associated with a poor prognosis mediated by CDE after EVT. The 759 patients with anterior circulation stroke treated by EVT at three comprehensive stroke centers in China from January 2014 to October 2020 were analyzed. Patients underwent follow-up for 3 months after inclusion. The primary endpoint was a measure of a poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 3) at 3 months assessed in all patients receiving EVT. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and multivariate logistic regression were used to select variables for the prognostic nomogram. Based on these variables, the nomogram was established and validated. In addition, structural equation modeling was used to explore the pathways linking CDE and a poor prognosis. Seven predictors were identified, namely, diabetes, age, baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score, modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score, early angiogenic CDE, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and collateral circulation. The nomogram consisting of these variables showed the best performance, with a large area under the curve in both the internal validation set (0.850; sensitivity, 0.737; specificity, 0.887) and external validation set (0.875; sensitivity, 0.752; specificity, 0.878). In addition, CDE (total path coefficient = 0.24, P < 0.001) served as a significant moderator. A nomogram for predicting a poor prognosis after EVT in AIS patients was established and validated with CDE as a moderator.

Semaphorin 7a participants in pterygium by regulating vascular endothelial growth factor.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between semaphorin 7a expression and cell proliferation and migration in pterygium fibroblasts. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with surgically diagnosed pterygium were enrolled, including 15 cases of primary pterygium and 11 cases of recurrent pterygium. In addition, 12 cases of normal conjunctival tissue were collected. The expression of semaphorin 7a in normal conjunctival tissue, primary pterygium and recurrent pterygium was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Recurrent pterygium fibroblasts were isolated and cultured, and the expression of semaphorin 7a was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference technique. Furthermore, the effects of si-semaphorin 7a interference on the mRNA and protein levels of ß1-integrin, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and on fibroblast proliferation were analyzed. Transwell assay was used to detect the effect of semaphorin 7a interference on fibroblast migration. RESULTS: Semaphorin 7a was highly expressed in the primary pterygium and recurrent pterygium samples than that of the normal conjunctival tissue. Compared with the primary pterygium, the expression of semaphoring 7a in the recurrent pterygium samples was significantly increased (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of ß1-integrin, VEGFA and VEGFR were decreased after si-semaphorin 7a transfection, and as well as the cell proliferation and migration. CONCLUSION: Semaphorin 7a might play important roles in the pathogenesis of pterygium by affecting the expression of ß1-integrin, VEGFA and VEGFR.

Emergent loading dose of antiplatelets for stenting after IV rt-PA in acute ischemic stroke: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: A loading dose of antiplatelets reduces in-stent thrombosis after stent implantation. However, whether it is safe in patients undergoing acute stenting after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is unclear. METHODS: A case series of acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous rt-PA followed by emergent stenting were prospectively included in Jinling Hospital Stroke Unit. An emergent loading dose of antiplatelets (aspirin 300 mg and clopidogrel 300 mg) were administered to all patients through a nasogastric tube immediately before stenting. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were evaluated in these patients. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients were included. The median of NIHSS score on admission was 15 points (interquartile range 11-19). The median of time from stroke symptom onset to start IV rt-PA and stent placement was 172 min (interquartile range 123.75-189) and 311.5 min (interquartile range 285.5-349.5), respectively. All patients reached complete or partial recanalization (TICI ≥2a). One patient occurred hemorrhagic transformation at 24 h following the emergent loading dose of antiplatelets. A favorable outcome as defined by mRS ≤2 at 90 days was obtained in 58.3% (7/12) of all patients. CONCLUSION: Our finding preliminary suggested that an emergent loading dose of antiplatelets may be safe and feasible for acute stenting after IV rt-PA.

Severity assessment of intracranial large artery stenosis by pressure gradient measurements: A feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided revascularization strategy is popular in coronary intervention. However, the feasibility of assessing stenotic severity in intracranial large arteries using pressure gradient measurements still remains unclear. METHODS: Between March 2013 and May 2014, 12 consecutive patients with intracranial large artery stenosis (including intracranial internal carotid artery, middle cerebral M1 segment, intracranial vertebral artery, and basilar artery) were enrolled in this study. The trans-stenotic pressure gradient was measured before and/or after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS), and was then compared with percent diameter stenosis. A Pd /Pa cut-off of ≤0.70 was used to guide stenting of hemodynamically significant stenoses. The device-related and procedure-related serious adverse events and recurrent cerebral ischemic events were recorded. RESULTS: The target vessel could be reached in all cases. No technical complications occurred due to the specific study protocol. Excellent pressure signals were obtained in all patients. For seven patients who performed PTAS, the mean pre-procedural pressure gradient decreased from 59.0 ± 17.2 to 13.3 ± 13.6 mm Hg after the procedure (P < 0.01). Only one patient who refused stenting experienced a TIA event in the ipsilateral MCA territory. No recurrent ischemic event was observed in other patients. CONCLUSION: Mean trans-stenotic pressure gradients can be safely and easily measured with a 0.014-inch fluid-filled guide wire in intracranial large arteries. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.