Relationship of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with cerebral small vessel disease and its common imaging markers.

BACKGROUND: High neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with poor prognosis in ischemic stroke. However, the role of NLR in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is controversial. Herein, we evaluated the value of NLR in identifying CSVD and its relationship with the common imaging markers of CSVD. METHODS: A total of 667 patients were enrolled in this study, including 368 in the CSVD group and 299 in the non-CSVD group. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were collected. The relationship of NLR with CSVD and common imaging markers of CSVD were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The predictive value of NLR was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: NLR (odds ratio [OR] = 1.929, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.599-2.327, p < .001) was an independent risk factor for CSVD. NLR was also independently associated with moderate to severe white matter hyperintensity (WMH) (OR = 2.136, 95% CI = 1.768-2.580, p < .001), moderate to severe periventricular WMH (OR = 2.138, 95% CI = 1.771-2.579, p < .001), and moderate to severe deep WMH (OR = 1.654, 95% CI = 1.438-1.902, p < .001), moderately to severely enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) (OR = 1.248, 95% CI = 1.110-1.402, p < .001), moderately to severely EPVS in the basal ganglia (OR = 1.136, 95% CI = 1.012-1.275, p = .030), and moderately to severely EPVS in the centrum semiovale (OR = 1.140, 95% CI = 1.027-1.266, p = .014). However, NLR was not statistically significantly associated with lacune. The optimal cutoff point of NLR in predicting CSVD was 2.47, with sensitivity and specificity of 84.2% and 66.9%, respectively (p < .01). The diagnostic effect was maximized when NLR was combined with other risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: NLR is an independent risk factor for CSVD and is independently associated with common imaging markers of CSVD. NLR may serve as a valid and convenient biomarker for assessing CSVD.

Treatment adherence and health outcomes in MSM with HIV/AIDS: patients enrolled in "one-stop" and standard care clinics in Wuhan China.

BACKGROUND: Conducted in Wuhan China, this study examined follow-up and health markers in HIV patients receiving care in two treatment settings. Participants, all men who have sex with men, were followed for 18-24 months. METHOD: Patients in a "one-stop" service (ACC; N = 89) vs those in standard care clinics (CDC; N = 243) were compared on HIV treatment and retention in care outcomes. RESULTS: Among patients with CD4 cell count ≦350 cells/µL, the proportion receiving cART did not differ across clinic groups. The ACC was favored across five other indicators: proportion receiving tests for CD4 cell count at the six-month interval (98.2% vs. 79.4%, 95% CI 13.3-24.3, p = 0.000), proportion with HIV suppression for patients receiving cART for 6 months (86.5% vs. 57.1%, 95% CI 14.1-44.7, p = 0.000), proportion with CD4 cell recovery for patients receiving cART for 12 months (55.8% vs. 22.2%, 95% CI 18.5-48.6, p = 0.000), median time from HIV confirmation to first test for CD4 cell count (7 days, 95% CI 4-8 vs. 10 days, 95% CI 9-12, log-rank p = 0.000) and median time from first CD4 cell count ≦350 cells/µL to cART initiation (26 days, 95% CI 16-37 vs. 41.5 days, 95% CI 35-46, log-rank p = 0.031). Clinic groups did not differ on any biomedical indicator at baseline, and no baseline biomedical or demographic variables remained significant in the multivariate analysis. Nonetheless, post-hoc analyses suggest the possibility of self-selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings lend preliminary support to a one-stop patient-centered care model that may be useful across various HIV care settings.

Escherichia coli noncoding RNAs can affect gene expression and physiology of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Food and other environmental factors affect gene expression and behaviour of animals. Differences in bacterial food affect the behaviour and longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans. However, no research has been carried out to investigate whether bacteria could utilize endogenous RNAs to affect C. elegans physiology. Here we show that two Escherichia coli endogenous noncoding RNAs, OxyS and DsrA, impact on the physiology of C. elegans. OxyS downregulates che-2, leading to impairment in C. elegans chemosensory behaviour and DsrA suppresses diacylglycerol lipase gene F42G9.6, leading to a decrease in longevity. We also examine some genes in the C. elegans RNA interference pathway for their possible involvement in the effects of OxyS and DsrA. Other bacteria, such as Bacillus mycoides, may also utilize its noncoding RNAs to interfere with gene expression in C. elegans. Our results demonstrate that E. coli noncoding RNAs can regulate gene expression and physiological conditions of C. elegans and indicate that noncoding RNAs might have interspecies ecological roles.

[The effects of eucommia ulmoides oliv on catching action of diabetic rats and myelinated nerve fibers in penile tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pharmacodynamic and pathological mechanism of eucommia ulmoides oliv in improving erectile function. METHODS: Thirty male diabetic rats were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n = 10, escipient group), group B (n = 10, sildenafil group), group C (n = 10, eucommia ulmoides oliv group) and group D (n = 10, the normal control group). After gavage for four weeks, the catching behaviors of all rats were observed, and ultrastructure of myelinated nerve fibers in penile tissue was examined by transmission electron microscope. The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in penile tissues was examined by two steps immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS: Compared with group A, catching frequency of the rats in group C was notably increased (P < 0.05) and the expression of nNOS in penile tissue was significantly (P < 0.001). The examination by transmission electron microscope showed that in the rats' penile tissue of group A, myelinated nerve fibers were irregularly arranged and partially degenerated, and myelin sheaths lamella were splited and exhibited vacuoles or network forms. In group C, there were regular arrangements of myelinated nerve fibers, in which the formation of lamella was clear. CONCLUSION: By remitting the impairement of myelinated nerve fibers and enhancing the expression of nNOS in penile tissue, eucommia ulmoides oliv can improve erectile function of diabetic rats.

[Effect of eucommia ulmoides oliv on SOD activity and alpha-actin expression in the penile tissues of diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of aqueous abstract from eucommia ulmoides oliv on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and alpha-actin expression in the penile tissues of rats with diabetes mellitus (DM) in vitro. METHODS: A diabetes model was established by administration of alloxun twice to Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Ten diabetic and 10 normal rats were randomly selected and the penile strips of each rat were divided into four equal shares and cultured in two groups, a eucommia ulmoides oliv coculture group (Group A, further dicided into 1 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml and 100 microg/ml subgroups) and a control group (Group B). Seven days later, the activity of SOD in the culture medium was detected by spectrophotometry, and the levels of micro-actin expression in the penile tissues were examined with the immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Compared with Group B, the activity of SOD in the culture medium in athe 10 and 100 microg/ml subgroups was notably elevated (P < 0.01), and the numbers of immunoreactive positive cells of alpha-actin in the penile tissues remarkably increased (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The activity of SOD and alpha-actin expression in the penile tissues of diabetic rats in vitro can be increased by eucommia ulmioides oliv.

[Related pathogen examinations and therapeutic choices for chronic prostatitis following sexually transmitted diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the etiologic relationship between sexually transmitted diseases(STDs) and chronic prostatitis (CP), and to evaluate the effect of multiple treatment on CP following STDs. METHODS: Seventy-two cases of CP after STDs were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (treated with levefloxatin), Group B (treated with Levofloxacin, terazosin and microwave), and Group C (treated with levofloxacin, Chinese traditional medicine and microwave), all treated for thirty days. The pathogens related to STDs in the prostatic fluid of all the patients had been examined before treatment. The efficacy was evaluated among the three groups by comparing the count of leukocytes and the scores of NIH-CPSI before and after treatment. RESULTS: The pathogens related to STDs were found in the prostatic fluid of 7 patients. The count of leukocytes and the scores of NIH-CPSI decreased after treatment in the three groups, more markedly in Groups B and C than in Group A. CONCLUSION: There is no strict etiological causality between STDs and CP. Multiple treatments are superior to single antibiotic treatment.