Objective To improve the recognition in clinical features,diagnosis and treatment of POEMS syndrome.Method Twenty-one cases of POEMS syndrome were analyzed retrospectively.Results The major clinical features were shown as follows: 21 cases of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, edema and skin changes, 13 cases of monoclonal plasma proliferative disorder, 19 cases of endocrinopathy, 1 case of sclerotic bone lesions, 1 case of Castleman disease,5 cases of papilledema.Conclusions POEMS syndrome is a rare multi-system damage disease.Screening for POEMS syndrome with serum protein electrophoresis, immunofixation electrophoresis,electromyogram and radionuclide bone scanning are essential for all patients with unexplained peripheral neuropathy or multi-system damage.If the index of suspicion is high enough, bone marrow cytomorphologic examination or biopsy with immunohistochemical staining may be required,in order to make an early diagnosis and try to avoid misdiagnosis and mistherapy.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate whether the increase in PTEN expression is related to apoptosis, and whether it is regulated by reactive oxygen species( ROS) .METHODS: The rat islet cells were divided into constant low glucose group ( group L) , constant high glucose group ( group H) , glucose fluctuation group ( group F) , low glucose after high glucose group (group HL) and low glucose after fluctuation group (group FL).The ROS level, apoptotic rate, intracellu-lar calcium, insulin release and PTEN protein expression were analyzed.RESULTS:Compared with groups H and L, the insulin secretion decreased, and intracellular calcium, ROS level, PTEN protein expression and apoptotic rate increased in group F ( P<0.05) .Compared with group H, the intracellular calcium, ROS level, PTEN protein expression and apoptot-ic rate in group HL decreased, but were still higher than those in group L (P<0.05).Compared with group F, the intra-cellular calcium, ROS level, PTEN protein expression and apoptotic rate in group FL decreased, but were still higher than those in group L (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Glucose fluctuation can cause the apoptosis of islet cells more easily than constant high glucose.This may be related to the change of intracellular calcium and increase in oxidative stress which pro-motes PTEN expression.The recovery of glucose level to some extent relieves oxidative stress, decrease PTEN expression and reduce cell damage.

Objective To investigate the correlations among homocysteine(Hcy)level,serum cystatin C (Cys-c)and diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).Methods Two hundred and three diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes were enrolled,including 123 DPN patients(DPN+)and 80 non-DPN(DPN-)patients.Levels of serum Hcy,Cys-c,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)and fiber fibrinogen(Fg)were detected.The above indi-cators and the baseline data such as sex,age,duration,BMI,WHR,HOMA-IR(CP),HOMA-islet(CP)were statistically analyzed. Results Hcy,Cys-c,and the duration of the DPN+ group were significantly higher than those in the DPN-group(P<0.05,respectively).HOMA-islet(CP)in the DPN-group was markedly higher than that in the DPN+group(P<0.01).The prevalence of DPN in the high level of Hcy group was much higher than that in the low and the normal level of Hcy group.Hcy was still significantly correlated with the Cys-c after taking the controlled procedure such as duration and fibrinogen. Conclusion High levels of Hcy and Cys-c are the criti-cal risk factors of DPN,collaborative determination of Hcy and Cys-c level might be of quitevaluable in early diag-nosis of DPN.

Objective:To explore the safety and nosocomial infection control measures of COVID-19 patients of end-stage respiratory failure after lung transplantation.Methods:Lung transplantation was performed for a COVID-19 patient with end-stage respiratory failure after a negative conversion of 2019-nCoV nucleic acid. Before operation, all medical staff received simulated training on nosocomial infection. The procedures were performed in an operation room with a negative pressure environment. The three-grade preventive strategy was implemented and wearing positive pressure protective mask of electric air supply required. During operation, the patient was managed according to the in-hospital protection process. The environment and medical instruments were disinfected after operation.Results:The operation was completed successfully. The 2019-nCoV nucleic acid test was negative for many times after operation. Participants were placed in medical isolation for 14 days after surgery. During the period, nucleic acid test was negative twice.Conclusions:As an exploratory treatment, lung transplantation is a safe option for end-stage respiratory failure in COVID-19 in operation room with a negative pressure environment and implementations of three-grade preventive strategy.

Objective : To investigate the effects of melatonin ( MEL) on the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) induced by platelet - derived growth factor (PDGF⁃BB) and explore its correlation with the regulation of autophagy levels . Methods : The HSC⁃T6 cells were divided into the following groups : control group , model group and MEL (low , medium and high) treatment groups . After 24 hours culture , the cells adhered to the wall and were changed into serum⁃free DMEM medium to synchronize the cells to the G0 stage . After 24 hours culture , all groups were given with PDGF ⁃ BB ( 10 ng/ml) excepted the control group . Besides , melatonin of different concentrations ( 1 nmol/L , 1 μmol/L and 0. 1 mmol/L) were added immediately in three treated groups . After incubated for 48 hours , the effect of MEL on the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells activated by PDGF⁃BB was detected by CCK8 method . The protein expression levels of LC3b and α ⁃SMA in hepatic stellate cells were determined by Western blot . The expression levels of LC3b mRNA and α ⁃SMA mRNA in hepatic stellate cells were determined by qRT⁃PCR . The ultrastructure of HSCs was observed by transmission electron microscopy to understand the autophagy level. Results : Compared with control group , PDGF⁃BB could induce the proliferation of HSCs ( P < 0. 01) . Compared with model group , MEL inhibited the proliferation of HSCs activated by PDGF⁃BB ( P < 0. 01) . Compared with the control group , LC3b and α ⁃SMA protein expressions significantly increased in the model group ( all P < 0. 05) , and LC3b mRNA and α ⁃SMA mRNA expressions significantly increased in the model group (P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 01) . Compared with the model group , MEL could inhibit such effects (LC3b : P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 01 ; α ⁃SMA : P < 0. 01) . Transmission electron microscopy ( TEM) showed that compared with the control group , autopolysosome significantly increased in the model group (P < 0. 05) . Compared with model group , autopolysosome significantly decreased in MEL treatment group (P < 0. 01) . Conclusion The up⁃regulation of autophagy level can promote the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells and the inhibition of hepatic stellate cell proliferation by MEL may be related to the down⁃regulation of autophagy level .