Cardiomyopathies ; complications ; Diverticulum ; complications ; Hematoma ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Background Primary open angle glaucoma(POAG) is a common type of glaucoma.It has been well known that a lot of factors are associated with the pathogenesis of POAG,but genetic factor plays a critical role.Optineurin (OPTN)gene is the second confirmed POAG-relevant gene,and screening its mutation in the population contribute to the deeply understanding of the pathogenesis of POAG.Objective The present study was to investigate the association between sequence variants of OPTN gene and POAG in Chinese patients.Methods DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of 100 POAG patients and 60 cataract individuals.The coding exons of OPTN gene were amplified by PCR.PCR products were then sequenced directly to assay the variants and contrasted to original sequence in GenBank.This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Shenzhen Eye Hospital.All the subjects signed the written inform consent.Results A case-controlled study was designed.The mean intraocular pressure (IOP)of the POAG patients was (29.0±6.5)mmHg,and that of the cataract patients was (13.7 ±2.4)mmHg.Variant of synonymous coding T34T was found in 60 POAG patients.Genetic type frequencies of AA,GA and GG were 10％,50％ and 40％ in the POAG patients,and those of cataract patients were 0,25％ and 75％ respectively,showing significant difference between them (x2 =20.416,P =0.000).The allele frequencies of A and G were 35％ and 65％ in the POAG patients,and those of cataract patients were 12.5％ and 87.5％,with a statistically significant difference (x2 ＝ 19.464,P =0.000).The sequence changes of non-synonymous coding variants (M98K,691-692insA G,R545Q,H486R) were also found in both POAG and cataract patients,but no significant difference was seen in the genetype and allele frequencies between two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusions No obvious association of OPTN gene variant with POAG is verified.The variant of T34T maybe increase the risk of POAG.

Acupressure ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Curvatures ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Male ; Melphalan ; administration & dosage ; Neoplasm Seeding ; Retinal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Retinoblastoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Vitreous Body ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo discuss the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines reducing phlegm and resolving masses in treatment of iodine deficiency-induced goiter by observing the expression of growth factors and the balance-regulating mechanism of proliferation and apoptosis.

METHOD180 four-week-old Wistar rats were selected to establish the iodine deficiency model. After the modeling, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the model control group, the iodine group, the phlegm compound group, the L-T4 group and the phlegm compound and L-T4 group. At the 21st day and 77th day after administration, 15 rats in each group were killed to collect specimens. Doses were calculated and adjusted according to body surface area and body weight. TT3, TT4 radioimmunoassay, TSH, immunoradiometric method were adopted. Fas, FasL and PCNA protein expressions are detected using immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTCompared with the normal group and the model group, the expressions of fas and FasL in the phlegm Group significantly increased, the expressions of fas and FasL in the phlegm and L-T4 group were also increased significantly. The expression of fas in the L-T4 Group was significantly lower than that of the L-T4 group and the phlegm compound and L-T4 group. Compared with the normal group, the expression of PCNA of the phlegm group and the phlegm and L-T4 group was significantly lower. Compared with the model group, the expression of PCNA of the iodine group, the phlegm groups and the phlegm and L-T4 group were significantly lower. Compared with the normal group, the expression of VEGF in the iodine group significantly decreased after treatment. Compared with the iodine group, the expression of VEGF in the phlegm group and the L-T4 group significantly reduced. Compared with the normal group, the expression of TGF-beta1 in the model group and the phlegm group significantly increased. Compared with model group, the expression of TGF-beta1 in the iodine group significantly reduced. Compared with the phlegm group, the expression of TGF-beta1 in the phlegm compound and L-T4 group was significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONTraditional Chinese medicines reducing phlegm and resolving masses can completely recover goiter by promoting apoptosis of thyroid cells, inhibiting their proliferation and the expression of growth factors and enhancing the expression of TGF-beta, without causing injury on thyroid cells.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Goiter ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thyroid Hormones ; secretion ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of Pizhen for the treatment of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome.

METHODSFrom March 2004 to April 2006, among the 200 patients of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome, 100 patients (75 patients were male and 25 patients were female, ranging in age from 25 to 65 years, with an average of 45 years)were treated with Pizhen, 100 patients (60 patients were male and 40 patients were female, ranging in age from 16 to 63 years, with an average of 35 years) were treated with Acupuncture. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up and the duration ranged from 6 to 12 months, 9.6 months in average. Among the patients in Pizhen group, 79 patients got an excellent result, 12 good, 8 fair, and 1 poor, and the tension exponent of soft tissues decreased from preoperative 3.56 +/- 0.35 to postoperative 2.11 +/- 0.41. In the control group, 43 patients got an excellent result, 21 good, 17 fair, and 19 poor, the tension exponent of soft tissues decreased from preoperative 3.61 +/- 0.21 to postoperative 3.13 +/- 0.56. The therapeutic effects and tension exponent of soft tissue in the two groups had statistical differences (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of Pizhen is better than the the acupuncture for the treatment of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome. The therapy of Pizhen is safe, good and easily to practice.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brachial Plexus ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; therapy

Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Manipulation, Chiropractic ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Stenosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the Th17/Treg (regulatory T cells) immunoregulation in patients coinfected with TB and HIV before and after HAART(highly active anti-retroviral therapy).

METHODS10 HIV cases coinfected with TB (HIV/TB group) and 10 cases infected with HIV only (HIV group) received HAART. PBMCs were stained and immunophenotyping of Th17 (IL-17 expressing T cells) and CD4+ CD25 T cells (Treg) were analysed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe pre-treatment patients tended to have lower Th17 cells and higher Tregs cells compared to post-treatment (1.90% +/- 0.9% vs. 4.65% +/- 1.48%, 16.48% +/- 4.91% vs. 8.29% +/- 3.13% respectively). The percentage of IL-17 before and after HAART were 1.90 +/- 0.9% vs. 4.65 +/- 1.48% respectively in HIV/TB group patients (P < 0.01). The difference between the percentage of IL-17 before and after HAART in the HIV/TB group and the HIV group were 2. 65 +/- 1.62% vs. 0.67% +/- 0.46% respectively (P < 0.01). IL-17 expressing T cells were increased faster after HAART in the former group than the latter. The percentage of Treg before and after HAART were 16.48% +/- 4.91% vs. 8.29% +/- 3.13% respectively in HIV/TB group (P < 0.01). The difference between the percentage of Treg before and after HAART in the HIV/TB group and the HIV group were 8.91% +/- 4.82% vs. 2.63% +/- 2.34% respectively (P < 0.01). Treg were decreased more rapidly after HAART in the former than the latter.

CONCLUSIONSTB and HAART both had an effect on the Th17/Treg ratio of HIV/ TB co-infected patients, which can cause increased Th17 expression, the later plays a pro-inflammatory role. TB and HAART can decrease Treg expression and enhance anti-inflammation response. The fact that Th17/ Treg disorder are more likely to exist in patients with HIV/TB co-infection after HAART for one month suggests a potential role for Th17/Treg imbalance leading to tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome during patients receiving HAART period.

Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Coinfection ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tuberculosis ; immunology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and feasibility of simultaneous bilateral carotid stenting for treating patients with bilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 39 consecutive patients with bilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis undergoing simultaneous bilateral carotid artery stenting in Fuwai hospital from January 2005 to December 2009 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The reduction of the angiographic diameter stenosis after stenting and clinical outcomes of 30 days after stenting including hyperperfusion syndrome, hemodynamic depression, stroke, myocardial infarction and death were assessed.

RESULTSThe patients were 43 - 78 (65.9 ± 8.5) years old, and there were 25 (64.1%) male. Carotid stenting procedure success rate was 100%. Distal embolic protection devices were used in all patients, and 20 (51.3%) out of 39 patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery after carotid stenting. The angiographic diameter stenosis reduced from (87.0 ± 5.8)% to (10.2 ± 5.6)% after stenting (P < 0.01). Up to 30 days after carotid artery stenting, the incidence of hyperperfusion syndrome, hemodynamic depression, minor stroke, major stroke, myocardial infarction and death was 2.6% (1/39), 28.2% (11/39), 5.1% (2/29), 0, 2.6% (1/39), 2.6% (1/39), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe data show that simultaneous bilateral carotid stenting is a technically feasible and safe alternative for patients with severe bilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Stenosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome