Objective To investigate the effect of Peg-Interferon α-2a therapy on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic hepatitis C,and to evaluate the effect of healthcare insurance policy in Guangzhou city on these patients.Methods Totally 102 patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled.Forty-two patients (group A) were treated with Peg-Interferon α-2a plus ribavirin whose medical expenses were covered by medical insurance; 30 patients (group B ) received the same therapy but at their own expenses ; and the other 30 patients ( group C) were not treated with Peg-Interferon α-2a.QOL of patients in three groups were investigated using the general quality of life inventory questionnaire (GQOLI-74) before and after Peg-Interferon α-2a treatment.Wilcoxon test was used to compare on all scales and total scores before and after treatment in each group,and Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to compare on all scales and total scores among three groups.Results Before treatment,the physical function,psychological function,social function,material life and total score of group A were 55.3,58.8,61.9,60.6 and 58.5 ; those of group B were 57.5,60.4,61.1,55.2 and 58.3; those of group C were 58.6,60.3,57.5,54.8 and 56.4.There was no statistic difference on all scales and total scores among three groups (Z =- 1.177,- 0.846,- 1.062,-0.377 and - 1.085,P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,group A had higher QOL on all scales (67.1,76.4,68.1,70.1) and total score (72.6) than group C (54.6,54.0,53.3,57.5 and 54.6,P ＜0.01) ; group B had higher QOL (P ＜0.05) on three scales (65.1,65.0 and 69.6) and total score ( 64.3 ) except material life ( 56.3 ) than group C ; group A had higher QOL on psychological function,material life and total score than group B ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions QOLs of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with Peg-Interferon α-2a are higher than those without Peg-Interferon α-2a treatment.Patients whose medical expenses are covered by medical insurance may have higher QOLs than those at their own expenses.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of microfilaments in the expression of collagenase and TIMP-1 in normal and hypertrophic scar.

METHODSCell culture and Northern blot hybridization methods were used in this study.

RESULTSAfter the disruption of microfilaments with cytochalasin B, mRNA contents of collagenase and TIMP-1 both increased significantly in normal and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONThe result suggest that the microfilament cytoskeleton may regulate the synthesis and degradation of ECM, which may be a mechanism of gene regulation during wound healing.

Actin Cytoskeleton ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagenases ; genetics ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; Wound Healing ; physiology

PURPOSE: MicroRNAs (miRs) were recently recognized to be important for immune cell differentiation and immune regulation. However, whether miRs were involved in allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) remains largely unknown. This study sought to examine changes in miR-146a and T regulatory cells in children with persistent allergic rhinitis (AR) after 3 months of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). METHODS: Twenty-four HDM-sensitized children with persistent AR were enrolled and treated with SCIT (n=13) or SLIT (n=11) for 3 months. Relative miR-146a and Foxp3 mRNA expression, the TRAF6 protein level, and the ratio of post-treatment to baseline IL-10+CD4+ T cells between the SCIT and SLIT groups were examined in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of AR patients using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis, respectively. Serum levels of IL-5 and IL-10 were determined using ELISA. RESULTS: After 3 months of SIT, both the TNSS and INSS scores were significantly decreased compared to the baseline value (P<0.01). The relative expression of miR-146a and Foxp3 mRNA was significantly increased after both SCIT and SLIT (P<0.01). The ratio of post-treatment to baseline IL-10+CD4+ T cells and the serum IL-10 level were significantly increased in both the SCIT and SLIT groups (P<0.01), whereas the TRAF6 protein level and serum IL-5 level were significantly decreased (P<0.01). No significant differences in these biomarkers were observed between the SCIT and SLIT groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that miR-146a and its related biomarkers may be comparably modulated after both SCIT and SLIT, highlighting miR-146a as a potential therapeutic target for the improved management of AR.
Biomarkers ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Differentiation ; Child* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunotherapy* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-5 ; MicroRNAs ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; Rhinitis* ; RNA, Messenger ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of unilateral arytenoid chondroplasty combined with minimally invasive mucosal flap plasty in the management bilateral vocal cord paralysis.Methods:A total of 66 patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis hospitalized in the First Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2018 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, among whom there were 8 males and 58 females, with ages ranging from 35 to 86 years old(mean age (57.8±11.6) years). All patients underwent suspension laryngoscopic CO 2 laser unilateral arytenoid chondroplasty and mucosal flap under general anesthesia. Postoperative follow-up period extended from 6 months to 6 years, with a median duration of 28 months. The study compared the degree of dyspnea and voice quality (subjective and objective evaluation) of the patients pre- and post-operatively, and analyzed the clinical differences between patients with and without preoperative or intraoperative tracheotomy, the extubation rate of tracheotomized patients, the recurrence rate, and the complication rate. Continuous variables conforming to normal distribution were tested by t-test and categorical variables by χ2 test,the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to analyze the improvement in dyspnea before and after surgery. Results:Compared with the preoperative period, 59 patients showed improvement in postoperative dyspnea ( U=161.5, P<0.01); there was no significant difference in voice disorder index 10, subjective auditory-perceptual assessment, and maximal vocalization time ( P>0.05), all of which remained within the relative normal range. Tracheotomy was performed in 32 out of 66 patients, with predominantly degree Ⅲ- dyspnea (46.9%, 15/32), including 26 patients with preoperative tracheotomy and 6 patients with intraoperative tracheotomy. Among the 34 patients who did not undergo tracheotomy, the majority presented with degree Ⅱ-dyspnea (82.4%, 28/34). All patients achieved successful extubation following surgery, with a mean median time to extubation of 1 month. Conclusions:The combination of unilateral arytenoid chondroplasty and minimally invasive mucosal flap plasty represents a refined and effective therapeutic approach for bilateral vocal cord paralysis. This minimally invasive technique has the potential to reduce the rate of tracheotomy.

Objective To establish a quality evaluation method for Abri Mollis Herba based on its morphological characteristics, microscopic features, and the determination of principal component contents. Methods The morphological characteristics of Abri Mollis Herba were identified by morphological authentication methods. Microscopic techniques were employed to observe the microscopic features of both the powdered form and cross-sectional tissue of Abri Mollis Herba. Additionally, a high-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） method was developed to establish the quantify the main components, abrine and soyasaponin Bb, in Abri Mollis Herba. Results The morphological characteristics of Abri Mollis Herba were defined by numerous long pubescence on both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaflets, with indistinct veins and vein islands. The microscopic features mainly included non-glandular hairs, prismatic crystals, and crystal-sheathed fibers in the powdered form. In the root cross-section, xylem bundles, rays, vessels, and stone cells were visible. The stem cross-section displayed rays, vessels, and a hollow pith, while the leaf cross-section revealed collateral vascular bundles, vessels, and prismatic crystals. Conclusion The quality of Abri Mollis Herba could be effectively evaluated by the combination of morphological identification, microscopic authentication, and the quantification of main components abrine and soyasaponin Bb .