Objective To investigate the serum lipoprotein (Lp) (a) level in patients with acute ischemic stroke and the prediction for short-term functional outcome. Methods The levels of serum Lp(a) were measured in 210 patients with acute ischemic stroke (within 24 h after onset) and 100 healthy people matched the gender and age. The patients were assessed with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) as admission, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) as discharge. Results The median of Lp(a) was 325 mg/L (IQR: 180~545) in patients,significantly more than 148 mg/L (IQR: 69~265) in the normal controls (P<0.001). Level of serum Lp(a) was an independent variable for functional outcome (OR=1.004, 95%CI: 1.001~1.007, P<0.001) and death (OR=1.006, 95%CI: 1.001~1.008, P<0.001) in patients. In the receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under curve was more in the combined model [Lp(a) and NIHSS] than the NIHSS alone.Conclusion Serum Lp(a) increased in the in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and may predict the short-term outcome independently.

ObjectiveTo investigate the pathologic characteristics of the sural nerve in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. MethodsClinical, electrophysiologic, laboratory data and sural nerve biopsy of 11 patients were reviewed. The clinical and laboratory data were compatible with the diagnosis of ALS. The sural nerve was removed and immediately fixed in 10% formalin and phosphate-buffered 2.5% glutaraldehyde and processed according to the procedure used in our laboratory for light and ultrastructural examination.Results4 groups were distinguished based on pathologic changes: normal; with mild axon degeneration and demyelination; with mild loss of the myelinated nerve, axon degeneration and demyelination; with severe loss of the myelinated nerve, axon degeneration and demyelination.ConclusionPredominantly axonal neuropathies are common and occur early in ALS. Axon degeneration of the nerve fibers is predominant, and demyelination also can be performed in patients with ALS.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of focal fractional laser treatment(FFLT)for atrophic acne scars. Methods A randomized, self-controlled study was performed. A total of 20 patients with atrophic facial acne scars were enrolled into this study. Treatments were randomly administered in a split-face manner. Half of each subject′s face received FFLT(FFLT side), and the other half underwent full-face fractional CO2 laser resurfacing(control side), for one session. All the patients were followed up for 3 months after the treatment. Evaluation was based on the ECCA grading scale (échelle d′évaluation clinique des cicatrices d′acné)and patient satisfaction score. A VISIA skin detector was used to take photographs and evaluate skin texture. Moreover, physical parameters of the skin, including erythema index, melanin index and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), were measured. Adverse effects were recorded and evaluated. Statistical analysis was carried out by paired t test, Wilcoxon paired rank test, Fisher′s exact test and repeated-measure analysis of variance. Results The ECCA score decreased from 51.24 ± 17.61 at the baseline to 34.46 ± 14.99 at 3 months after the treatment at the FFLT side(t = 7.886, P < 0.05), and from 50.96 ± 18.96 to 38.29 ± 14.86 at the control side(t =6.123, P < 0.05), and was significantly lower in the FFLT side than in the control side (t = 4.462, P < 0.05)at 3 months after the treatment. The improvement rate was significantly higher in the FFLT side than in the control side (32.75% vs. 24.86%, P = 0.016 by Fisher′s exact test)at 3 months after the treatment. Decreased pain and edema scores were observed at the FFLT side compared with the control side at 1 hour after the treatment (both P < 0.05), but no significant difference was noted in the duration of erythema or crusting between the two sides (both P > 0.05). Compared with those before the treatment, skin texture scores decreased in both sides (both P < 0.05), and were significantly lower in the FFLT side than in the control side at 3 months after the treatment(P < 0.05). The erythema index was significantly lower in the FFLT side than in the control side in both scarred areas and non-scarred areas on day 1 after the treatment (both P < 0.05). Both melanin index and TEWL at the FFLT side were significantly increased in scarred areas, but decreased in non-scarred areas compared with those at the control side within 3 days after the treatment (all P < 0.05). Similarly, the water content of the stratum corneum at the FFLT side was significantly lower in scarred areas, but higher in non-scarred areas compared with that at the control side between day 1 and 7 after the treatment (both P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the erythema index, TEWL or water content of the stratum corneum between the FFLT side and control side at scarred areas or non-scarred areas(all P > 0.05)from 2 weeks to 3 months after the treatment(all P > 0.05). Conclusion FFLT can improve therapeutic outcomes in atrophic acne scars with reduced adverse reactions.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg or 200 mg combined with yiqibuvir for 12 weeks in patients with various genotypes of chronic hepatitis C, without cirrhosis or compensated stage cirrhosis.Methods:Patients with chronic hepatitis C (without cirrhosis or compensated stage cirrhosis) were randomly assigned to the antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg group (100 mg group) or the antaitasvir phosphate 200 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg group (200 mg group) in a 1∶1 ratio. The drugs were continuously administered once a day for 12 weeks and observed for 24 weeks after drug withdrawal. The drug safety profile was assessed concurrently with the observation of the sustained virological response (SVR12) in the two patient groups 12 weeks following the drug cessation. The intention-to-treat concept was used to define as closely as possible a full analysis set, including all randomized cases who received the experimental drug at least once. The safety set was collected from all subjects who received the experimental drug at least once (regardless of whether they participated in the randomization group) in this study. All efficacy endpoints and safety profile data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The primary efficacy endpoint was SVR12. The primary analysis was performed on a full analysis set. The frequency and proportion of cases were calculated in the experimental drug group (antaitasvir phosphate capsules combined with yiqibuvir tablets) that achieved "HCV RNA