Cohort studies are important observational epidemiological studies. In this perspective, we briefly introduced several ongoing prospective cohort studies of cardiometabolic diseases in China and in the U. S. , which have shaped our current understanding of cardiometabolic diseases. We hope that this perspective could shed lights on the research of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Child ; Humans ; Male ; Thyroiditis, Suppurative ; pathology

Objective To detect the positive expression level of CD3+ mRANK+ cells in the peripheral blood and the level of sRANKL and OPG in serum and culture supernatant of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and investigate the association between RANKL/RANK/OPG system and the destruction of RA.Methods Twenty-four RA patients and 20 healthy controls were collected in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.The peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) were extracted,subsequently stimulated in vitro with PHA for 72 hours.Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the positive expression level of CD3+ mRANK+ cells in the peripheral blood,and ELISA was used to detect the level of sRANKL and OPG in serum and culture supernatant.Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded.Multivariate linear regression and t-test were used to analyze the data from different groups.Results There was no statistical significant difference in the expression level of CD3+ mRANK+ cells [(14±4)％ vs (15±7)％,P＞0.05] in RA patients compared with that in healthy controls.Compared with healthy controls,the level of sRANKL [(133±49) vs (41 ±8) pmol/L,P＜0.05],OPG [(390±154) vs (222±38) pg/ml,P＜0.05] and sRANKL/OPG [(0.40 ±0.23) vs (0.19±0.05),P＜0.05] increased in the serum of RA patients.The level of sRANKL [(34±19) vs (17±5) pmol/l,P＜0.05] and sRANKL/OPG [(0.39±0.23) vs (0.19 ±0.05),P＜0.05] increased in culture supernatant of RA patients.Multivariate linear regression showed that there was a negative correlation between DAS28 and the level of OPG in serum in RA ((β)=-0.681,t=3.315,P=0.005).There was a positive correlation between anti-CCP and sRANKL/OPG ratio inserum in RA((β)=0.497,t=2.326,P=0.040).There was a negative correlation between mRANKL and the Sharp method ((β)=0,522,t=2.370,P=0.032).There was a negative correlation between HAQ and the Sharp method ((β)=0.559,t=2.536,P=0.023).Conclusion Abnormality of RANKL shedding of T lymphocytes may be another inmmune machanism for the bone destruction of RA,The level of mRANKL expressed by activated T cell is a risk factor for the severity of bone damage of RA.In the bone destruction of RA,Anti-CCP antibody and RANKL/RANK/OPG system may be closely related.

Objective To detect the expression of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) and its significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods The expression of HDAC6 was measured by SP staining in 70 cases of NSCLC and 18 cases of normal lung tissues.Results Positive rate of HDAC6 immunostaining in NSCLC was 58.57％,which was significantly higher than 16.67％ in normal lung tissues(P ＜0.01 ).No correlation was found between HDAC6 expression and the age,sex,differentiated level,histological type ( P ＞0.05).But the expression level of HDAC6 was closely related to clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion HDAC6 over expression may be related to the pathogenesis and development of NSCLC.

Objective To evaluate the effect of combination of phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy on patients with cataract and glaucoma.Methods 19 patients(23 eyes)with co-existing glaucoma and cataract were treated with triple procedure by means of scleral tunnel flap.The mean follow-up period was(15.8 ±3.5)months.Results Compared with preoperative visual acuity,16(64%)of 25 eyes had a best corrected visual acuity of ≥0.6 at the last follow-up(0.1～1.0)(P＜0.01);The mean preoperative intraocular pressure(IOP)was(23.01 ±2.63)mmHg which decreased to(14.02 ±2.05)mmHg(P＜0.05 ,P ＜0.01)after treatment.Conclusion The triple procedure is effective for treating patients with co-existing cataract and glaucoma,which could enhance the visual acuity,control IOP and reduce complications.

High myopia is frequently associated with retinal degenerative changes (such as myopic foveoschisis, macular hole and its related retinal detachment, and choroidal neovascularization) which are the major causes of visual loss in high myopic eyes. Optical coherence tomography may help us to understand the macular lesions in high myopia. Peeling of internal limiting membrane and removal of posterior vitreous cortex at an appropriate time, are believed to facilitate restoring the retinal flexibility and resolution of myopic foveoschisis, and promote the macular hole closure and retinal reattachment. Anti-angiogenesis treatment combined with photodynamic therapy and (or) corticosteroid therapy are the future options to treat myopic choroidal neovascularization. Correctly understanding and mastering the methods and timing of diagnosis and treatment of high myopia-related macular degeneration, and taking targeted interventions to enable patients to be rational and effective treated, are the keys to further reduce the damage of visual function in patients with high myopia.

OBJECTIVETo compare five materials commonly used in dentistry, including three types of metals and two types of ceramics, by using different sequences of three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) field strengths (0.35, 1.5, and 3.0 T).

METHODSThree types of metals and two types of ceramics that were fabricated into the same size and thickness as an incisor crown were placed in a plastic tank filled with saline. The crowns were scanned using an magnetic resonance (MR) machine at 0.35, 1.5, and 3.0 T field strengths. The TlWI and T2WI images were obtained. The differences of various materials in different artifacts of field MR scans were determined.

RESULTSThe zirconia crown presented no significant artifacts when scanned under the three types of MRI field strengths. The artifacts of casting ceramic were minimal. All dental precious metal alloys, nickel-chromium alloy dental porcelain, and cobalt-chromium ceramic alloy showed varying degrees of artifacts under the three MRI field strengths.

CONCLUSIONZirconia and casting ceramics present almost no or faint artifacts. By contrast, precious metal alloys, nickel-chromium alloy dental porcelain and cobalt-chromium ceramic alloy display MRI artifacts. The artifact area increase with increasing magnetic field.

Artifacts ; Ceramics ; Chromium Alloys ; Crowns ; Dental Alloys ; Dental Materials ; Dental Porcelain ; Magnetic Fields ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Zirconium

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Porokeratosis ; genetics ; Rectal Neoplasms ; genetics

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Volatilization

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) consist of a heterogeneous group of rare malignancies with mesenchymal origin. Surgical resec-tion is the primary treatment for STS, but radiation therapy (RT) also plays an important role in the treatment. Radiotherapy for STS has advanced significantly over the past 50 years. Both preoperative and postoperative radiotherapies are equivalent in local control but are associated with different toxicity profiles. Boost techniques for STS include brachytherapy, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), and external beam. Long-term toxicities of RT to normal tissues have been reduced because of improvements in image guid-ance and intensity-modulated radiotherapy, which significantly increase the precision and delivery of RT. This review discusses RT tech-nologies and their acceptable treatment principles.