Objective To investigate the relation between apolipoproteinC3 (-482C>T ) polymorphism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its clinical characteristics in the Han Chinese population. Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(PAGE)were used to analyse the genotype of the apolipoproteinC3 (-482C>T) variants. Results No relation between the apolipopreoteinC3 (-482C>T) polymorphism and NAFLD was found. However, NAFLD patients carrying T allele were more susceptible to insulin resistant (IR), hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) than homozygote CC genotype. Conclusion There was no relation between the apolipopreoteinC3 (-482C>T)polymorphism and NAFLD in Han Chinese population, but T-carriers were more susceptible to metabolic disorder.

Objective To determine the expression of interleukin-21 (IL-21) in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its association with HBV-DNA and ALT. Methods Clinical dates and blood specimen were collected from 25 unrelated healthy controls (HC) and 101 independent chronic HBV infected patients, including 25 patients in immune tolerant phase (IT), 25 in immune clearance phase (IC), 26 patients in inactive HBV carrier state (IA) and 25 patients in immune reactive phase (IR). Serum IL-21 levels were measured by Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). IL-21 mRNA and IL-21 receptor mRNA were measured by real-time PCR. Results Chronic HBV-infected patients had higher levels of serum IL-21 and IL-21 mRNA , with P <0.001 for both. In subgroup analysis, both serum IL-21 and IL-21 mRNA levels in IC, IR were higher than those in IT, IA and HC (all P < 0.001). Serum IL-21 level in IA was higher than that in HC and IT (P <0.001, P = 0.036). IL-21R mRNA levels were different between groups. Serum IL-21 level was associated with HBV-DNA (r = -0.472, P < 0.001), but not with ALT. Conclusion IL-21, up-regulated in chronic HBV infection, is associated with immune activity and may play a key role in HBV control.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of STAF (score for the targeting of atrial fibrillation) score for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in patients with recurrent acute ischemic stroke.Methods:Consecutive patients with recurrent acute ischemic stroke hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital from January 2014 to January 2020 were enrolled retrospectively. All patients were divided into a sinus rhythm (SR) group and a PAF group. PAF was defined as no PAF during the last stroke hospitalization or after discharge, and PAF was found by routine ECG, ambulatory ECG or long-term ECG monitoring after this recurrent acute ischemic stroke. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent related factors of PAF in patients with recurrent acute ischemic stroke. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of STAF for PAF in patients with recurrent acute ischemic stroke. Results:A total of 234 patients with recurrent acute ischemic stroke were enrolled, including 174 males (74.4%), aged 67.15±10.63 years, and 199 (85.0%) in the SR group and 35 (15.0%) in the PAF group. Univariate analysis showed that the proportion of patients in age >62 years old (94.3% vs. 63.8%; χ2=12.777, P<0.001) and left atrial enlargement (54.3% vs. 11.1%; χ2=40.379, P<0.001) of the PAF group was significantly higher than those of the SR group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (odd ratio [ OR] 1.071, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.028-1.114; P=0.001) or age >62 years ( OR 17.512, 95% CI 2.881-106.453; P=0.002), left atrial enlargement ( OR 17.511, 95% CI 6.298-48.687; P<0.001), absence of vascular etiology ( OR 8.562, 95% CI 2.534-28.923; P=0.001), STAF score ( OR 2.715, 95% CI 1.969-3.744; P<0.001) and STAF score ≥5 ( OR 12.714, 95% CI 5.636-28.681; P<0.001) were independently associated with PAF. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of STAF for predicting PAF in patients with recurrent acute ischemic stroke was 0.848 (95% CI 0.779-0.917), and the sensitivity and specificity of STAF ≥5 for predicting PAF were 58.1% and 89.4%, respectively; the area under the curve for predicting PAF in patients with recurrent ischemic stroke of undetermined cause was 0.809 (95% CI 0.663-0.956), and the sensitivity and specificity of STAF ≥5 for predicting PAF were 53.8% and 91.3%, respectively. Conclusions:PAF is likely to exist in patients with recurrent acute ischemic stroke and aged >62 years, left atrial enlargement and absence of vascular etiology. STAF has medium predictive value for PAF in patients with recurrent acute ischemic stroke, but the sensitivity is not high.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Zhuanyaotang Granules for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis(DLSS).Methods Using a randomized double blind controlled design,104 DLSS patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group using a random number table method,with 52 patients in each group.The treatment group took oral Zhuanyaotang Granules,methylcobalamin tablets and celecoxib capsule simulants.The control group used Zhuanyaotang Granules simulants,methylcobalamin tablets and celecoxib capsules.The course of treatment was 3 weeks for both groups.The follow-ups were conducted at 1 month and 3 months after treatment.The intermittent claudication distance,visual analogue scale(VAS)score and JOA efficacy rating criteria for low back pain score were observed in both groups before treatment,1,2,3 weeks of treatment and 1 month after treatment and 3 months after treatment.Adverse reactions during treatment were recorded.Results There were 5 cases of detachment and 2 cases of exclusion in the experimental group,and 5 cases of detachment and 1 case of exclusion in the control group.Compared with before treatment,there were statistically significant differences in intermittent claudication distance,VAS score,and JOA score between the two groups of patients at various time points during treatment and follow-up(P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in intermittent claudication distance,VAS score,and JOA score between the experimental group and the control group before treatment and 1 and 2 weeks of treatment(P>0.05);compared with the two groups at 3 weeks of treatment and 1 and 3 months after treatment,the intermittent claudication distance and JOA score in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);There was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups and the control group after 3 weeks of treatment(P>0.05).There were 2 adverse reactions(4.4%)in the experimental group and 5 adverse reactions(10.8%)in the control group,without statistical significance(P>0.05).Conclusion Zhuanyaotang Granules can effectively relieve pain and improve lumbar function in patients with DLSS,which is more effective and safer than oral celecoxib capsules and methylcobalamin tablets.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the endovascular treatments for the ruptured aneurysms located at anterior communicating artery complex (ACoAC).

METHODSThe data of patients with ruptured ACoAC aneurysms treated in Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital to Fourth Military Medical University from May 2013 to December 2014 was retrospectively analyzed. Sixty-six cases were recruited including 50 male and 16 female patients. The patients aged from 31 to 69 years old, averaging (51±8) years. The Hunt-Hess grade at admission were 13 cases with grade Ⅰ, 36 cases with grade Ⅱ, 11 cases with grade Ⅲ, and 6 cases with grade Ⅳ. The most diameter of aneurysms sac: 14 cases less than or equal to 3 mm, 36 cases more than 3 mm but less than or equal to 7 mm, and 16 cases more than 7 mm. The height diameter/neck width ratio: 8 cases with absolute wide neck, 50 cases with relatively wide neck, and 8 cases with narrow neck. There were 28 cases underwent single micro-catheter embolization, 18 cases underwent double micro-catheters embolization, 14 cases underwent stent-assisted embolization and 6 cases underwent balloon-assisted embolization. The patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months and evaluated by modified Rankin score (mRS) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The ratio of total embolization, recurrence rate, and time from operation to reexamination of four groups managed by different endovascular treatment were compared by χ(2) test or F test.

RESULTSSixty cases were totally embolized, 3 cases subtotally embolized, 3 cases incompletely embolized. Mild hemiparalysis and aphasia occurred in 2 cases, and 1 case died of infarction induced by subarachnoid haemorrhage. The mRS at six months after operation were 0 in 31 cases, 1 in 22 cases, 2 in 8 cases, 3 in 2 cases, 4 in 2 cases, 6 in 1 case. All the included cases reexamined the DSA at averaging (7.5±1.0) month post-operatively and 4 cases recurred. There were not significant differences of the ratio of total embolization, recurrence rate, time from operation to reexamination among four groups (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe endovascular treatment maybe an ideal management for ruptured ACoAC aneurysms.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; therapy ; Catheters ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveTo explore the evolution principles of symptoms including deficiency， phlegm and blood stasis， and of the functional near-infrared spectroscopy （fNIRS） cerebral hemodynamic characteristics at various stages in patients of Alzheimer's disease. MethodsA total of 497 patients with complaint of memory loss were included， and were divided into subjective cognitive decline （SCD） group （198 participants）， mild cognitive impairment （MCI） group （228 participants） and dementia （AD） group （71 participants）. Neuropsychological evaluation， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome investigation， and fNIRS data collection of prefrontal cortex were performed in each group. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the distribution of TCM syndromes and the difference of TCM syndrome scores in each group； logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of TCM syndromes on the incidence of the patients； association rules were used to analyze the TCM syndromes of the patients； the hemodynamic characteristics of fNIRS in the prefrontal cortex of each group were compared. ResultsKidney essence deficiency syndrome was the dominant syndrome in all stages of AD. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution frequency of kidney essence deficiency， phlegm turbidity obstructing orifices， blood stasis obstructing collaterals， qi and blood deficiency， heat toxin in the interior， and fu-organ stagnation and turbidity retention syndromes among the three groups （P＜0.01）， and the scores of kidney essence deficiency syndrome among the three groups were statistically significant （P＜0.01）. Logistic regression analysis showed that kidney essence deficiency， and qi and blood deficiency syndromes were the main risk factors for the SCD group （P＜0.05）， phlegm turbidity obstructing orifices syndrome was the main risk factor for the MCI group （P＜0.05）， and heat toxin in the interior， and fu-organ stagnation and turbidity retention syndromes were the main risk factors for the AD group （P＜0.05）. The association rule analysis showed that the combination of kidney essence deficiency plus phlegm turbidity obstructing orifices had the highest support （33.33%） in the SCD group， and the combination of kidney essence deficiency plus blood stasis obstructing collaterals had the highest support （32.90% and 52.13%） in both the MCI and AD group. The prefrontal fNIRS results showed that the mean ∆HbO₂ concentration in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex （LDLPFC） decreased sequentially among the three groups （P＜0.05）， and the mean ∆HbO₂ concentration in the LDLPFC was negatively correlated with the MoCA score among the three groups （r = -0.142， P＜0.05）. Further analysis showed that the mean ∆HbO₂ concentration in the LDLPFC of patients with kidney essence deficiency syndrome were statistically significant differences among the three groups （P＜0.05）. ConclusionKidney deficiency is the basis of the pathogenesis of AD， and the key brain area damaged is the LDLPFC. Turbid pathogens such as phlegm and blood stasis are the pathological factors that aggravate the disease， and the syndromes of AD show the evolution law of deficiency and excess as “kidney deficiency→phlegm turbidity→blood stasis→turbid toxin”. The changes in prefrontal hemodynamics based on fNIRS are consistent with the changes in the characteristics of symptoms， which can be used to assess the degree of cognitive impairment in AD patients.