OBJECTIVE:To systematically review the effects of long-term oral low-dose of azithromycin on pulmonary func-tion and clinical signs of patients with stable COPD. METHODS:Retrieved from PubMed,Medline,CJFD,VIP and Wanfang da-tabase,randomized controlled trials(RCTs)about long-term oral low-doses of azithromycin for stable COPD were collected. After quality evaluation according to modified Jadad scale,Meta-analysis was conducted by Rev Man 5.2 statistical software. RESULTS:A total of 13 RCTs were included,involving 1207 patients. Meta-analysis showed that,long-term oral low-doses of azithromycin could significantly improve FEV1[SMD=0.78,95%CI(0.62,0.93),P<0.001],FEV1%[SMD=0.81,95%CI(0.61,1.00),P<0.001],FEV1/FVC [SMD=3.91,95%CI(2.58,5.24),P<0.001] and 6MWD[SMD=23.74,95%CI(21.20,26.18),P<0.001] in sta-ble COPD patients,meanwhile significantly reduce dyspnea score [SMD=-1.15,95%CI(-1.60,-0.71),P<0.001],quality of life score [SMD=-1.82,95%CI(-2.74,-0.90),P<0.001] and 24 h sputum volume[SMD=-18.68,95%CI(-24.79,-12.56), P<0.001],with statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS:Long-term oral low-doses of azithromycin can improve pulmonary func-tion,dyspnea,activity tolerance and quality of life in acute exacerbation of COPD patients.

No abstract available.
Snake Bites* ; Snakes*

Objective To observe the anti-fibrosis therapeutic effect and mechanism of Qingshen granule for treatment of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) accompanied by damp-heat syndrome.Methods Sixty-eight patients with CRF accompanied by damp-heat syndrome were randomly divided into a control group and a observation group, and the study was completed only in 61 patients, 31 in the control group and 30 in the observation group. Thirty subjects having taken physical health examination were assigned in a healthy control group. All the patients in both treatment groups were treated with conventional western medical therapy and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) retention enema, and for patients in observation group, Qingshen granule was given additionally, 1 bag (10 g) thrice a day taken orally. The therapeutic course was 8 weeks. The clinical therapeutic effect, the levels of serum creatinine (SCr), the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum interleukin-17 (IL-17), collagen type Ⅲ (Col-Ⅲ) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured before and after treatment in the two treatment groups, and the above results were compared with those in healthy control group.Results Clinically, the total effective rates of the disease and of the TCM syndrome in observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (86.67% vs. 58.06%, 83.33% vs. 45.16%, bothP < 0.01). In the observation group, the level of SCr was obviously lower, and the level of eGFR was markedly higher after treatment, and compared with the control group, the changes in above data after treatment in observation group were more significant [SCr (μmol/L): 250.62±164.97 vs. 393.72±183.64, eGFR (mL·min-1·1.73 m-2): 33.42±17.24 vs. 39.72±23.85, bothP < 0.05]. After treatment, the levels of serum IL-17, Col-Ⅲ and NF-κB p65 in PBMC were obviously lowered in both treatment groups compared with those before treatment, the therapeutic effect in observation group being superior to that in the control group [IL-17 (ng/L): 17.47±8.87 vs. 25.51±16.69, Col-Ⅲ (μg/L): 17.06±8.76 vs. 23.77±10.44, NF-κB p65 (μg/L): 0.58±0.34 vs. 0.83±0.30, allP < 0.05].Conclusion The Qingshen granule can ameliorate the clinical symptoms, improve renal function, decrease the levels of serum IL-17, Col-Ⅲ and NF-κB p65 in PBMC, intervene renal fibrosis in patients with CRF and damp-heat syndrome, ultimately delaying the progress of CRF.

Synovial sarcoma is a rare malignancy in the thoracic cavity, especially in the mediastinum. In this paper, a case of primary mediastinal synovial sarcoma is reported. A 34-year-old woman was hospitalized with dyspnea. Her chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed a 16x13x11 cm mass in her anterior mediastinal space. Surgical resection was performed but was incomplete. The pathological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of monophasic spindle cell synovial sarcoma. The patient underwent adjuvant radiotherapy for two months, but local recurrence and metastasis occurred in her pleural cavity. She eventually underwent chemotherapy for one year and died 18 months after her operation.
Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pleural Cavity ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis of a proband with distinctive facial features, global developmental delay, seizures and hypoplasia of corpus callosum through next generation sequencing (NGS). METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the proband and his family members. Whole exome and flanking sequences were screened by NGS. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The proband was found to carry a heterozygous c.2824G>T (p.G942X) variant of the ZEB2 gene, which was verified by Sanger sequencing to be a de novo variant. CONCLUSION The heterozygous c.2824G>T (p.G942X) variant of the ZEB2 gene probably underlies the Mowat-Wilson syndrome in the proband.
Facies ; Genetic Variation ; Heterozygote ; Hirschsprung Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; genetics ; Microcephaly ; genetics ; Whole Exome Sequencing ; Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2 ; genetics

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of transperitoneal robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) versus extraperitoneal single port RARP.Methods:A retrospective analysis was perfoumed on 142 cases of RARP from July 2019 to June 2020 in Robotic Minimally Invasive Center of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, including 82 cases(Group A) , aged 70.0(65.6-78.0), undergoing transperitoneal RARP and 60 cases(Group B), aged 68.2 years old(60.1-79.2), undergoing extraperitoneal single port RARP. For group A, PSA was 12.9(5.6-64.0) ng/ml, with 26 cases of less than 10 ng/ml(31.7%), 40 cases of 10-20 ng/ml(48.8%), and 16 cases of more than 20 ng/ml(19.5%), the Gleason score was 7.2(6.0-10.0), with 14 cases(17.1%) of ≤6, 56 cases(68.3%) of 7, and 12 cases(14.6%) of ≥8, and the prostate volume was 61.3(29.0-112.0) ml. There were 49 cases with BMI≤25 kg/m 2, accounting for 59.8%, and 33 cases with BMI>25 kg/m 2, accounting for 40.2%. There were 17 cases(20.7%) of T 1, 44 cases(53.7%) of T 2 and 21 cases(25.6%) of T 3. The proportion of lymph node dissection was 17.1%, and 4 cases(4.9%)had a history of operation. For group B, the PSA was 12.2(1.0-42.6)ng/ml, with 20 cases (33.3%) of <10 ng/ml, 31 cases(51.7%)of 10-20 ng/ml, and 9 cases (15%) of >20 ng/ml. Gleason score was 7.1(6.0-9.0), with 12 cases (20.0%) of ≤6, 42 cases (70.0%) of 7, and 6 cases (10.0%)of ≥8. Prostate volume was 42.4(31.2-72.8)ml on average. There were 37 cases (61.7%) with BMI≤25 kg/m 2, and 23 cases (38.3%)with BMI >25 kg/m 2 . There were 17 cases(28.3%)of T 1, 32 cases(53.3%)of T 2 and 11 cases(18.3%)of T 3.The proportion of lymph node dissection was 11.7% and 4 cases (6.7%) had a history of operation.There was no statistically significant difference in term of age, PSA level, Gleason score, BMI, clinical stage, proportion of lymph node dissection or history of operation between the two groups( P>0.05), but there was statistically significant difference for prostate volume( P<0.05). All operations were performed by the same operator. Four different ways of bladder neck and urethral dissociation was selected according to the intraoperative conditions in Group A, include VIP style, T-shape incision style, VIP plus T-shape incision style or the style along the lateral side of the bladder neck. Small and single anterograde incision stripping of bladder neck was routinely performed in the Group B. Postoperative follow-up was performed to compare the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, bladder neck and urethral anastomosis time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative exhaust time, postoperative complications, positive rate of surgical margin, indwelling time of urinary catheter, urinary continence satisfaction rate of immediately after operation, 3 months and 6 months after operation, wound healing and aesthetics. Results:All of the operations were successfully completed under robot-assisted laparoscopy, and there was no conversion to open surgery. The operation time was 56.0(45.0-112.0) min in the Group A and 65.4(55.5-96.8) min in the Group B, and there was no statistically significant difference( P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss was 76.2(30.0-120.5) ml and 55.6(45.5-114.6) ml, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant( P>0.05). The time of bladder neck urethral anastomosis was 18.9(12.6-25.6) min and 16.2(10.7-19.3) min, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant( P>0.05). The postoperative hospital stay days were 9.3(8.0-16.0) d and 8.4(7.0-13.0) d, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant( P>0.05). The postoperative exhaust time was 1.3(0.7-3.0) d and 3.4(2.0-7.0) d, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). There was 1 case of anastomotic fistula with ureteral injury in Group A, and no serious complication in Group B, and the difference was not statistically significant( P>0.05). The number of positive surgical margin in the two groups was 13(15.9%)and 9(15.0%)respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant( P>0.05). The indwelling time of urinary catheter after operation was 9(7-21) d and 6(4-8) d, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). The number of patients with satisfactory urinary continence immediately after surgery, 3 months and 6 months after surgery in the two groups were 8(9.8%), 51(62.2%), 62(75.6%) and 17(28.3%), 43(71.7%) and 54(90.0%), respectively. The differences were statistically significant( P<0.05). The total incision lengths in the two groups were 12.1(10.4-13.4) cm and 5.6(5.0-6.0) cm, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusions:The extraperitoneal single port RARP is safe and feasible, and the postoperative effect is similar to that of transperitoneal RARP. It has the advantages of shorter recovery time, higher urinary continence satisfaction rate, neater and more beautiful incision. The long-term therapeutic effect needs further confirming by prospective study.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intravascular ultrasound guided tranradial rotational atherectomy ( RA) followed by drug eluting stent ( DES) implantation in treating patients with heavily calcified coronary lesions.Methods Clinical characteristics , coronary angiogram , intravascular ultrasound images , peri-procedure and follow-up data ( including death , myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization ) of 44 patients treated with RA and DES implantation under the guidance of IVUS in our department from March 2011 to March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.IVUS examination was carried out before RA , after RA and stent implantation to guide whether further RA or post dilatation was needed.According to the arc of calcification , the patients were divided into group A (90°-270°,18 cases) and group B (271°-360°,26 cases).Results In A and B group, the arc of calcification was (195 ±71)°in group A and (345 ±23)°in group B(P<0.01), length of calcification was (34.4 ±11.8)mm in group A and (20.0 ±6.6) mm in group B ( P<0.05).Number of burrs used and size of largest burr used were similar between 2 groups (both P>0.05).Acute cross sectional area gain after RA was (0.43 ±0.32)mm2 in group A and (0.53 ±0.38)mm2 in group B (P>0.05).After RA, there was significant decrease in the arc of calcification in group B compared with baseline ( ( 324 ±52 ) °vs.( 345 ±23 ) °, P <0.05 ).The minimal lumen area and diameter were significantly increased after RA resulting in significant decrease in the plaque burden in both groups ( all P<0.05 ).The final minimal lumen area after stenting were similar between 2 groups (P>0.05).Procedure success rate was 100%(44/44) without any major complications such as death , acute myocardial infarction and coronary perforation.During the ( 16.6 ±6.3 ) months follow-up, there was 1 death in group A , 1 target lesion revascularization in group B and there was no acute myocardial infarction in the 2 groups.Conclusion Heavily calcified coronary lesions can be effectively and safely treated by transradial RA under the guidance of IVUS.

Objective To observe the influences of Qingshen (Kidney-Clearing) Granules,with effects of clearing heat,resolving dampness and dispelling stasis,on expressions of Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducers and activator of transcriptions 3 (STAT3) in Janus-activated kinasesignaltransducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway mediated by Leptin in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF)-damp-heat pattern,and investigate the mechanism of Qingshen Granules in treatment of CRF.Methods The patients with CRF-damp-heat pattern (n =68) were randomly divided into treatment group and control group (each n =34).The study was completed actually in 60 patients,and 29 in treatment group and 31 in control group.All 2 groups were given basic treatment of Western medicine,and treatment group was additionally given Qingshen Granules (thrice daily and 1 bas every time) for 12 weeks.The clinical efficacy and changes of serum creatinine (SCr),estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR),serum Leptin,JAK2 and STAT3 were observed in 2 groups.Results The clinical efficacy was 86.21％ (25/29) and total effective rate of TCM patterns was 82.76％ (24/29) in treatment group,and 58.06％ (18/31) and 54.84％ (17/31) in control group (P ＜0.05).After treatment,the level of SCr decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.01) and level of GFR increased significantly (P ＜ 0.01) in treatment group compared with those before treatment,which were superior to those in control group at the same term (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the level of Leptin,and expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.01) in treatment group compared with those before treatment,which were superior to those in control group at the same term (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜0.01).Conclusion Qingshen Granules can reduce the level of Leptin and expressions of JAK2 and STAT3,inhibit the activation of JAK/STAT signaling pathway mediated by Leptin,relieve clinical symptoms and improve kidney function in patients with CRF-damp-heat pattern.

A bronchial artery aneurysm is a rare condition, which needs optimal treatment due to the possibility of a life-threatening hemorrhage by rupture. The surgical removal of the aneurysm is the standard treatment. However, there are a few reports of coil embolization with a transcatheter. A 69 year-old man was referred for a further evaluation of a mass in the right hilum on chest radiography. He denied any respiratory symptoms. A chest CT scan showed a 3 x 3 x 4.5 cm sized vascular mass with strong contrast enhancement on the right hilar area that originated from the bronchial artery. On the angiogram, the bronchial artery originated from the descending thoracic aorta at the T8 level. A bronchial artery aneurysm was catheterized selectively. and embolized successfully with a coil. After coil embolization, the selective bronchial arteriography confirmed complete occlusion. We report this case of bronchial aneurysm that was treated successfully with coil embolization.
Aged ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Bronchial Arteries* ; Catheters ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Radiography ; Rupture ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cat eye syndrome (CES) is a very rare chromosomal syndrome characterized by various malformations such as anal atresia, preauricular malformation, coloboma of the iris, and congenial heart and renal defects. This genetic disorder is caused by partial duplication of chromosome 22, mostly as a result of a supernumerary isodicentric marker chromosome idic(22)(q11.2). Various congenital abnormalities and extreme phenotypic variability in CES patients have been reported, which have made prenatal diagnosis of CES difficult. We report the first case diagnosed with CES prenatally by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in a woman who was referred to our hospital, for a fetus presenting with heart anomaly.
Animals ; Anus, Imperforate ; Cats* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22* ; Coloboma ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Fetus ; Genetic Markers ; Heart ; Humans ; Iris ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prenatal Diagnosis*