Successful treatment of anti-PTX3 positive seronegative rheumatoid arthritis with upadacitinib.

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (SNRA) can be a rapid-progressing and highly disabling disease. Anti-PTX3 autoantibody may be a potential biomarker in SNRA diagnosis. SNRA patients could respond well to upadacitinib.

Renal-friendly Li+-doped carbonized polymer dots activate Schwann cell autophagy for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration.

Activation of autophagy in Schwann cells (SCs) has emerged as a powerful trigger for peripheral nerve injury (PNI) repair. Lithium ion (Li+) is a classical autophagy activator that plays an important role in promoting axonal extension and remyelination. However, the therapeutic window of existing lithium drugs is extremely narrow, and the adverse side effects, especially nephrotoxicity, severely limit their therapeutic value. Herein, Li+-doped carbonized polymer dots (Li-CPDs) was synthesized for the first time to change the pharmacokinetics of Li+ from occupying epithelial sodium channels to lipid raft-mediated endocytosis. The in-vivo results confirmed that Li-CPDs could accelerate the removal of myelin debris and promote nerve regeneration via activating autophagy of SCs. Moreover, Li-CPDs exhibited almost no renal toxicity compared to that of raw lithium drugs. Thus, Li-CPDs could serve as a promising Li+-based nanomedicine for PNI regeneration with improved biosafety. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Regardless of the fact that lithium drugs have been used in treatment of mental illness such as manic depression, the systemic side effects and renal metabolic toxicity still seriously restrict their clinical application. Since Li+ and Na+ compete for ion channels of cell membrane, the cell entry efficiency is extremely low and easily affected by body fluctuations, which seems to be an unsolvable problem. Herein, we rationally exploited the endocytotic features of CPDs to develop Li-CPDs. The Li-CPDs improved the entry pathway, greatly reduced nephrotoxicity, and inherited the biological function of Li+ to activate autophagy for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration. Due to the BBB-crossing property of Li-CPDs, it also showed application prospects in future research on central nervous system diseases.

Adaptation of torso movement strategies in persons with spinal cord injury or low back pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. Statistical regression and between-group comparisons. OBJECTIVE: To characterize functional limitation and adaptive strategies in seated manual transport tasks for spinal cord injury (SCI), low back pain (LBP), and control participants. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: People with SCI are known to have adapted electromyographic activities and slow hand movement velocity, while those with LBP have reduced range of motion and lumbar joint contribution. However, their resultant outcome in torso movements has not been systematically quantified. METHODS: Seated participants performed either 2- or 1-handed loaded transports to 1 of 6 targets 49 cm above the hip-point, at 0 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees azimuths, at close and far distance. Three-dimensional torso movements were modeled by combinations of B-spine base functions. RESULTS: The SCI and LBP participants exhibit smaller torso flexion and axial rotation than control participants. The SCI participants tend to move the torso away from the target to maintain upper body balance. These differences among groups are significantly reduced in the 1-handed transport condition and/or transports to the frontal target. CONCLUSION: The movement patterns suggest that SCI participants may have adapted torso movement strategies to compensate for the limited control of upper body balance, while LBP participants may limit torso motion to avoid pain.

[Analysis on the epidemiology of rabies in Hunan province in the past 10 years].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible factors causing the increase of rabies cases and to provide references for the development of related prevention and control strategy in Hunan. METHODS: Data was collected and analyzed on epidemic situation of rabies in the past ten years, and studies were carried in some counties. RESULTS: From 1994 to 1999, the annual cases sustained between 17 and 78. However, the number of cases has continued to increase since 2000. The annual reported cases in 2001 and 2002 were 311 and 313, and accounted for 34.8% and 30.0% of the total cases in the whole country respectively. The epidemic areas were mainly located in the south and middle parts of Hunan. Furthermore, the epidemic areas had been expanding. In 1997, human rabies cases were only reported in 7 cities but increased to 12 cities in 2004. CONCLUSION: Factors as increasing number but low inoculating rate to dogs, and incorrect treatment on the wounds etc. might have served important roles for the recurrence of rabies. Hence, it is necessary to take comprehensive preventive measures to control and prevent the epidemics of rabies in Hunan.

Analysis on the epidemiology of rabies in Hunan province in the past 10 years / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possible factors causing the increase of rabies cases and to provide references for the development of related prevention and control strategy in Hunan.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data was collected and analyzed on epidemic situation of rabies in the past ten years, and studies were carried in some counties.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From 1994 to 1999, the annual cases sustained between 17 and 78. However, the number of cases has continued to increase since 2000. The annual reported cases in 2001 and 2002 were 311 and 313, and accounted for 34.8% and 30.0% of the total cases in the whole country respectively. The epidemic areas were mainly located in the south and middle parts of Hunan. Furthermore, the epidemic areas had been expanding. In 1997, human rabies cases were only reported in 7 cities but increased to 12 cities in 2004.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Factors as increasing number but low inoculating rate to dogs, and incorrect treatment on the wounds etc. might have served important roles for the recurrence of rabies. Hence, it is necessary to take comprehensive preventive measures to control and prevent the epidemics of rabies in Hunan.</p>

Clinical study on urinary tract infections after renal transplantation / 대한신장학회잡지

No abstract available.

A Case of Congenital Patent Urachus / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Urachal anomalies are very rare. The umbilicus and the structures which lead to its formation rarely cause trouble except in patients with an error. Embryologically, the urachus represents the vestigial remnant of the allantois which, in the fetus, communicates with the cloaca. The patent urachus results from failure of luminal closure of the urachus Herein a case of congenital patent urachus reported with a brief review of literatures.