Objective To evaluate the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-based standard treatment on obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance (IR) in the elderly.Methods 63 elderly type 2 diabetes patients diagnosed as OSAHS were randomly divided into control group (n =31) and CPAP group (n =32).Patients in control group were treated with conventional therapy including diet control,exercise and antidiabetic drugs,and patients in CPAP group were treated with CPAP treatment combined with conventional therapy.Fasting glucose (FBG),oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT),homeostasis model assessment of IR index (HOMA-IR),body mass index (BMI),apnea-hypopnea index (AHI),lowest oxygen saturation (L-SaO2) and the dosage of insulin application were observed after 7 days,1 month,3 months of the treatment.Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was determined before and after 3 months of the treatment.Results In CPAP group,levels of FBG and 2 h OGTT glucose,HOMA-IR,AHI,daily insulin dosage were significantly reduced and L-SaO2 was significantly increased after 7 days of the treatment; BMI was significantly reduced after 1 month of the treatment;HbA1c level was significantly reduced after 3 months of the treatment.In control group,L-SaO2 was significantly reduced along with the multiple time points; daily insulin dosage was significantly increased after 3 months of the treatment.There were no significant differences in all observed indicators between groups before treatment.There were significant differences in the observed indicators between groups after treatment except for BMI after 7 days of the treatment.Conclusions Compared with conventional therapy,CPAP-based standard treatment has more efficacy on increasing insulin sensitivity and improving insulin resistance in elderly patients with OSAHS and type 2 diabetes.

ObjectiveTo evaluate analytical performance of NT-proBNP on Electro-Chemiluminescence Immunoassay system.MethodsThe precision,accuracy,limit of blank ( LoB ),limit of detection (LoD),functional sensitivity (FS),analytical measure range (AMR),maximal dilution rate,clinical reportable range(CRR) and the analytical anti-interference ability of NT-proBNP were evaluated according to EP documents issued by CLSI and related references.The analytical performance data were compared to quality standards declared by the manusfacturers.According to CLSI C28-A2,80 healthy volunteers,aged from 18 to 74, were chosen and divided into 4 groups on average for biological reference intervals verification.Results The within-run CV and total CV were 1.1％ -2.2％and 1.5％ -2.9％ respectively.The deviations from controls distributed by National Center for Clinical Laboratory and affiliated calibrators were 2.7％ -5.9％ and 2.7％ -7.5％,respectively.The results of LoB,LoD and FS were 2.5,7.8 and 8.8 pg/ml,respectively.AMR was 8 -35 126 pg/ml,and the most suitable dilution rate was 1∶ 2,so the CRR was 9 -70 252 pg/ml.428 μmol/L bilirubin,2 g/L haematoglobin and 2 200 FIU chyle didn't interfere with the NT-proBNP assay.Moreover,almost all the data from different age groups were in the range of biological reference intervals declared by the manusfacturers, except one test data (167 pg/ml).Conclusions The analyticalperformance of NT-proBNP analyzed on Roche Cobas E601electrochemiluminescence immunoassay systemisconsistentwiththestandarlswhichmanufacturershas proclaimed.The establishment of LoD,FS,maximal dilution and CRR for NT-proBNP assay could provide the quality assurance for clinical use and the biological reference intervals declared by manusfacturers could meet the clinical needs.

Thirty cases of pituitary stalk interruption syndrome were divided into normal height (group 1) and short stature (group 2).There was no significant difference in growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ levels between two groups(P＞0.05).Expected height and body mass index in group 1 were higher than those in group 2,while testosterone,cortisol,and FT4 were lower.Height were positively correlated with age,expected height,birth weight,and body mass index.The height of patients with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome depended on both genetic factors and the hormones from pituitary-target gland.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes in intestinal alpha-defensin-5 (RD-5),beta-defensin-2 (BD-2) mRNA after acute liver failure(ALF),and to explore their role in ALF.Methods A total of 60 C57BL5 mice were divided into 4 groups by means of random number table method:normal control group,ALF group,E.coli via gavage group and ALF + E.coli via gavage group.Intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (500 mg/kg) and lipopolysaccharide(10 μg/kg) to make the model,in addition,ALF mice were fed with E.coli,and the observation time was 6 hours,12 hours,and 24 hours after modeling,and each time point had 6 specimens.Real-time PCR was used to test the RD-5 mRNA and BD-2 mRNA levels in the ileum tissue.Results The levels of RD-5 and BD-2 showed dynamic change in the experiment of ALF.Compared with the levels of RD-5 and BD-2(11.25 ±0.74,23.86 ±0.39) of the normal control group,the levels of RD-5 and BD-2 in ALF group and E.coli via gavage group increased at 6 hours after modeling(14.19 ±0.39,26.79 ± 0.36 and 12.57 ± 0.68,26.45 ± 0.85),and the differences were significant(all P＜0.05);at 12 hours after modeling,the RD-5 and BD-2 reached to the maximum concentration(15.76 ±0.33,29.10 ± 0.61 and 12.90 ± 0.96,27.42 ± 0.71),and the differences were statistically signi-ficant (all P ＜ 0.05).The degree of elevation of BD-2 was higher than RD-5.Later,they gradually declined.Conclusions RD-5 and BD-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of intestinal endotoxemia in experimental ALF.

A 31-year-old male normotensive patient with aldosterone-producmg adenoma complained of thirst,polydipsia,polyuria,and periodical paraplegia.The diagnosis is raised by signs of hypokalemia.Despite the lack of hypertension,primary aldosteronism was confirmed by persistent hypokalemia,increased urinary potassium,increased urinary and plasma aldosterone levels and suppressed plasma rennin activity (PRA).The blood pressure profile was studied by ambulatory monitoring,and the mean blood pressure of 24h was normal and the circadian rhythm remained normal. Surgical removal of the histologically typical aldosterone-producing adenomas normalized the kalemia.The patient had a marked fall in blood pressure with mean values of 21/17 mm Hg ( diurnal and nocturnal blood pressure were 19/17 and 22/17 mm Hg respectively)and recovery of normal urinary and plasma aldosterone levels and PRA 6 weeks after surgery.This suggests that excess serum aldosterone induced relative hypertension in those patients whose blood pressure was spontaneously very low.Our observations call for primary hyperaldosteronism assay in patients with hypokalemia and renal potassium leakage.

BACKGROUND: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly people is becoming increasingly a new hot spot for the clinical study of Alzheimer disease at present, and it is still unknown how many cases of MCI will convert into Alzheimer disease. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence rate of mild cognitive impairment and the conversion rates into dementia and Alzheimer disease among elderly people.DESIGN: A prospective cohort study based on diagnosis. SETTING: Second Department of Cadre's Ward, Bethune International Peace Hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: The subjects were 216 MCI patients and 2 302 subjects with normal cognition selected in the baseline investigation to the retired cadres aged 60 years and above, in 26 military cadres' sanatoriums of Shijiazhuang city between August and September 2001.METHODS: The MCI diagnosis was according to the MCI diagnostic standard in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ), and the diagnosis of dementia was according to the standard in DSM-Ⅳ revised by American Psychiatric Association. Alzheimer disease was diagnosed according to the standards of National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/the Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA). All the 216 MCIpatients and 2 302 subjects with normal cognition were enrolled in the 3-year cohort study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidences of MCI among subjects with normal cognition; the annual conversion rates into Alzheimer disease in MCI patients and subjects with normal cognition; the relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of MCI and normal cognition developing into Alzheimer disease. RESULTS: The MCI group and normal cognition group were followed up once every year for 3 years. Of the 216 MCI patients, 7 died, and 209 were followed up actually, and the follow-up rate was 96.8%. Of the 2 302 subjects with normal cognition, 36 died, and 2 266 were followed up actually,and the follow-up rate was 98.4%. ① In the elderly subjects with normal cognition, the annual incidence of MCI was 4.8%, and those of dementia and Alzheimer disease were 1.3% and 0.8 respectively. ② The annual in cidence rates of dementia and Alzheimer disease in MCI patients were 8.1% and 5.6% respectively, which were insignificantly different between males and females (P ＞ 0.05). ③ The incidence rates of dementia and Alzheimer disease showed a descending trend with the elevation of educational level in both the MCI patients (trend x2 =5.57, P=0.02; trend x2 =4.92, P=0.03) and the subjects with normal cognition (trend x2 =23.1, P＜ 0.001; trend x2 =18.0, P ＜ 0.001). ④ The annual incidence rates of dementia and Alzheimer disease showed an ascending trend with aging in both the MCI patients (trend x2 =14.6, P ＜ 0.01; trend x2 =13.9, P ＜ 0.01) and the subjects with normal cognition (trend x2 =32.3, P ＜ 0.01; trend x2=23.8, P ＜ 0.01). ⑤ The relative risks of the conversion into dementia and Alz heimer disease in MCI patients were 6.4 and 7.4 times as many as those in the subjects with normal cognition.CONCLUSION: The risks of conversion into dementia and Alzheimer disease in elderly MCI patients are far higher than those in elderly people with normal cognition. It should be reinforced to monitor elderly MCI patients, who are the of high risk group of dementia.

Objective To study gender-related differences of clinical characteristics and vascular complications in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma(APA).Method Consecutive 315 patients with APA confirmed by pathological diagnosis were included and the clinical features and vascular complications were compared based on gender.Results (1) Of the 315 patients with APA,female accounted for 52.7％ (166/315).Male patients with APA presented a higher BMI,compared with females [(25.4± 2.9) vs (24.1 ± 3.2) kg/m2,P＜0.01],and the history of smoking and drinking was more common in male patients.No significant difference was found in regard to the age,duration,hypokalemia,tumor size,and family history of hypertension between two groups (P＞0.05).(2) No significant difference was found in the prevalence of hypertension,duration of hypertension,blood pressure,and antihypertensive medieation between two groups.However,the patients with grade 3 hypertension tended to be more prevalent in males(P =0.08).(3) Serum aldosterone concentrations were similar in two groups,but 24 h urinary aldosterone showed an increased trend in male group (P =0.07).(4) The overall prevalences of cardiovascular (51.0％ vs 36.1％) and cerebrovascular (9.4％ vs 3.0％) complications were significantly higher in male group (P ＜ 0.05).Further analysis of cardiac events revealed significantly higher rates of left ventricular hypertrophy (23.5％ vs 13.9％) and arrhythmia (21.5％ vs 10.8％) in males (P＜0.05).However,no significant difference in the prevalence between two groups was found in regard to cerebral hemorrhage,infarction,and chronic renal insufficiency.(5) The fall of blood pressure and recovery from hypokalemia were comparable between males and females in two weeks after sugery.However,in the patients with persistent hypertension,the number of antihypertensive drugs used in males was greater than that in females and more male patients needed ≥ 2 types of antihypertensive drugs.Conclusion There were significant gender-related differences with regard to clinical features and vascular complications in patients with APA.

Objective:The programmed death receptor 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway can negatively regulate the immune response of the body, and serum soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) can reflect the expression level of PD-L1. This study aims to compare the expressional differences of sPD-L1 in serum between patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC) and further explore the factors influencing the clinical cure of CHB.Methods:60 cases with CHB, 40 cases with CHC, and 60 healthy controls were selected. Serum levels of sPD-L1 were detected using an ELISA kit. The relationship between sPD-L1 levels and viral load, liver injury indicators, and others was analyzed in CHB and CHC patients. According to the distribution type of the data, a one-way ANOVA or Kruskal Wallis test as well as Pearson’s correlation or Spearman’s rank correlation analysis were performed. A difference of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The serum sPD-L1 levels were significantly higher in CHB patients (414.6 ± 214.9) pg/ml than those in CHC patients (58.9 ± 122.1) pg/ml and the healthy control group (66.27 ± 24.43) pg/ml, and there was no statistically significant difference in serum sPD-L1 between CHC patients and the healthy control group. Further grouping and correlation analysis showed that the level of serum sPD-L1 was positively correlated with the content of HBsAg in CHB patients but not with HBV DNA, alanine transaminase, albumin, and other liver injury indicators. Additionally, there was no correlation between serum sPD-L1 levels, HCV RNA, and liver injury indicators in CHC patients.Conclusion:The serum sPD-L1 levels are significantly higher in CHB patients than those in the healthy control group and the CHC group, and there is a positive correlation between sPD-L1 levels and HBsAg. The persistent presence of HBsAg is an important mechanism for the activity of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, indicating that the activity of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway may be an important factor that cannot be clinically cured in CHB as in CHC.

Objective To explore the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among elderly veterans. Methods 2 674 veterans ( aged 60 years and over) from 26 military sanatorium in Shijiazhuang city were studied. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Global Deterioration Scale, Activity of Daily Living, Hachinski Ischemic Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale were served as screening tools. Results The prevalence of total MCI was 8 08% in elderly people. The standardized prevalence of MCI was 6 87% in male and 10 38% in female (P

Objective To investigate the risk factors predicting pathology grade upgrading after radical prostatectomy using the 2014 International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) grading system.Methods A total of 205 patients who underwent biopsy and radical prostatectomy from January 2017 to December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively.The median and range of the patients' age,PSA level,prostate volume,number of biopsy core examined,Gleason score and ISUP grade were 66 (45-81) years old,17.16(0.89-1254.00)ng/ml,36.4(4.1-152.1) rnl,10(1-15),7(6-10),and 3(1-5) respectively.The patients were divided into group of upgrading ISUP grade and group without upgrading ISUP grade.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis and receiving operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to identify predictors of ISUP upgrading and determine the optimal cut off value respectively.Result The median and range of Gleason score and ISUP grade after radical prostatectomy were 7 (6-10),and 3 (1-5) respectively.The radical prostatectomy ISUP grade upgraded in 73 (35.6％) out of 205 cases when compared with biopsy ISUP grade.Radical prostatectomy ISUP grades were concordant in 91 cases (44.4％) and downgraded in 41 cases(20.0％).Of 101 with biopsy ISUP grades less than or equal to 2,the ISUP grade of radical prostatectomy upgraded in 58 cases (57.4％),while radical prostatectomy ISUP grade upgraded in only 18 (26.9％) of 67 patients with biopsy ISUP grades of 3 or 4.Biopsy ISUP grades represent an independent predictor for ISUP grade upgrading after radical prostatectomy (OR =0.496,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Patients with biopsy ISUP grades less than or equal to 2 are at great risk of ISUP grade upgrading after radical prostatectomy.