Objective:To investigate the prevalence of uremic pruritus and related factors in patients undergoing hemodialysis.Methods:A total of 212 patients with uremia who undergo hemodialysis in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University in March 2021 were included in this cross-sectional study. Data including gender, age and blood biochemical indicators were collected. The 5D itch scale was used to evaluate skin itch in patients. The included patients were divided into pruritus and no pruritus groups according to evaluation results. Related indicators were compared between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis of skin itch related factors was performed.Results:According to 5D itch scale evaluation results, 129 patients (60.85%) of the 212 patients had no skin pruritus, and 83 patients (39.15%) had skin pruritus. In the pruritus group, age, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase, brain natriuretic peptide, ferritin were 63.0 (51.0, 72.0) years, 1.66 (0.30, 7.85) mg/L, 93.0 (70.0, 118.0) U/L, 192.0 (84.9, 446.4) ng/L and 421.0 (291.6, 577.6) μg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than 53.0 (42.0, 63.0) years, 0.40 (0.30, 1.88) mg/L, 79.0 (62.0, 99.0) U/L, 143.3 (65.8, 256.5) ng/L, 356.8 (203.3, 528.4) μg/L in the pruritus group ( Z = -3.14, -3.96, -3.05, -2.88, -2.11, all P < 0.05). Increased hypersensitive C-reactive protein, brain natriuretic peptide, ferritin levels ( Wald = 14.58, 4.17, 4.23, all P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for uremic pruritus. Conclusion:Uremic pruritus remains a serious problem in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Increased hypersensitive C-reactive protein, ferritin, brain natriuretic peptide levels are independent risk factors for uremic pruritus. In clinical work, physicians should focus on strengthening the early identification of patients, optimizing treatment measures, and improving the quality of life of patients.

Objective:To investigate the application value of standardized outcomes in nephrology hemodialysis (SONG-HD) scale in evaluating the fatigue level of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and the factors that affect fatigue.Methods:A total of 201 patients undergoing regular MHD who received treatment in the Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University in April 2021 were included in April, 2021. The SONG-HD scale was used to evaluate patient's fatigue level. Fatigue was assessed using face-to-face interview questionnaire. Clinical and laboratory indicators were analyzed. Univariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the factors that affect fatigue of patients undergoing MHD.Results:Among the 201 MHD patients, 73.1% (147/201) had fatigue. The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and parathyroid hormone levels in patients with fatigue were 0.91 (0.30, 3.63) mg/L and 216.00 (141.00, 347.00) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than 0.40 (0.30, 2.01) mg/L and 153.00 (96.73, 308.50) ng/L in patients who had no fatigue ( Z = 2.12, 2.17, both P < 0.05). The pre-dialysis carbon dioxide binding capacity and blood albumin levels in patients who had fatigue were (21.03 ± 2.65) mmol/L and (36.76 ± 3.20) g/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than (22.68 ± 3.01) mmol/L and (38.61 ± 2.85) g/L in patients who had no fatigue ( t = 3.77, 3.73, both P < 0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, pre-dialysis carbon dioxide binding capacity, serum albumin level, and parathyroid hormone level were related to the occurrence of fatigue in patients undergoing MHD ( Wald = 4.32, 12.39, 12.23, 4.66, all P < 0.05). Additionally, in a multivariate model adjusted for confounding factors, the independent risk factors for fatigue in patients undergoing MHD were relatively low pre-dialysis carbon dioxide binding capacity and serum albumin level ( Wald = 12.41, 11.67, both P < 0.05). Conclusion:The incidence of fatigue is high in patients undergoing MHD. The SONG-HD scale is convenient to use in assessing the fatigue level of patients undergoing MHD. After adjusting for confounding factors, fatigue in patients undergoing MHD is associated with reduced levels of pre-dialysis carbon dioxide binding capacity and serum albumin.

Objective:To correlate peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with the occurrence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).Methods:This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 203 patients who underwent long-term MHD at the Blood Purification Center, Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from May to June 2021 were included in this study. The counts of peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes were determined and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was calculated. These patients were divided into a RLS group and a non-RLS group according to whether they developed RLS. RLS-related factors were evaluated using face-to-face interview questionnaires. Various clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed. The influential factors of RLS in patients undergoing MHD were analyzed through univariate regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:A total of 203 patients undergoing MHD were enrolled, 30 individuals were determined as current RLS cases (14.78%). The levels of NLR and PTH in the RLS group were 4.86 (3.39, 5.82) L/L and 244.50 (143.25, 406.50) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the normal group [3.51 (2.60, 5.24) L/L, 147.00 (94.80, 263.50) ng/L, Z = -3.38, -2.64, both P < 0.05]. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR, PTH, uric acid, and neutrophil count were correlated with RLS (Wald χ2 = 7.96, 4.99, 4.76, 8.33, all P < 0.05). NLR was the independent risk factor of RLS (Wald χ2 = 6.14, P < 0.05) in multivariate models adjusting for confounding factor. Conclusion:The prevalence of RLS is high in patients undergoing MHD. RLS is assicuated with NLR among patients undergoing MHD after adjusting for confounding factor. RLS is likely associated with systemic inflammatory diseases.

Objective: To investigate the expression change, biological role and action mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00978 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The expression levels of LINC00978 in tumor tissues and serum samples of NSCLC patients were detected by the qRT-PCR. The effects of knockdown and overexpression of LINC00978 on the biological function of A549 cells were determined by the CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell migration and invasion assays. The action mechanisms of LINC00978 in NSCLC were investigated by the flow cytometry, qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Results: The expression levels of LINC00978 in the tissues ( t =2.465, P ＜0.05) and serum samples ( t =8.781, P ＜0.01) of NSCLC patients increased. The knockdown of LINC00978 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells ( P ＜0.01) and induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and apoptosis of A549 cells ( P ＜0.01). The knockdown of LINC00978 downregulated the expression of Cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 , and upregulated the expression of Bax ( P ＜0.05). In addition, the knockdown of LINC00978 inhibited the expression of N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, Slug and Twist, and promoted the expression of E-cadherin ( P ＜0.05). The overexpression of LINC00978 had the opposite effect. Conclusion LINC00978 is highly expressed in NSCLC and can promote the occurrence and progression of NSCLC, which may serve as a potential target for the diagnosis and therapy of NSCLC.

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Placenta ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Cell Nucleus