Objective To investigate the effect of chronic iodine excess on hypothalamic type Ⅱ deiodinase (D2) and serum thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) levels in rats. Methods One hundred and eighty four-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (NI) and 3-fold, 6-fold, 10-fold, and 50-fold high iodine (HI) groups. Double distilled water and iodine solutions at concentrations of 277, 692, 1 245, and 6 788 μg/L were administered for 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively. Brain tissue was taken after sacrifice, serum TRH levels were detected by ELISA, and hypothalamic D2 levels were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Serum TRH levels in the 10-fold and 50-fold HI groups at 4 weeks, 6-fold and 50-fold HI groups at 8 weeks, 6-fold HI group at 12 weeks, and the 3-fold and 50-fold HI groups at 24 weeks were significantly lower than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression of hypothalamic D2 at each time-point was increased in the HI groups in comparison with the control group. Conclusion Chronic iodine excess can boost the expression of hypothalamic D2 and lessen the serum TRH level in rats.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and outcome of transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS). Methods: Sixty consecutive patients with cryptogenic stroke who undertook transcatheter PFO closure between May 2015 and September 2017 in Beijing Tiantan Hospital were enrolled in this prospective study.Transcranial Doppler (TCD) bubble test was performed and right-left shunt(RLS) was confirmed in all patients.Closure success rate,effective closure rate, complications, recurrence of ischemic stroke and new onset atrial fibrillation were evaluated. Results: A total of 60 patients (42 male,age range 24-68 (47±11)years) were included in the study.PFO size (motionless state) was (1.6±0.6)mm.RLS before closure was graded and 11 patients had moderate RLS and 48 patients had large RLS (include 41 patients who experienced shower or curtain effect).Closure success rate was 100% (60/60).No severe complications were observed.At 6 months,45 patients completed TCD bubble test.Of these, 4 patients suffered from moderate to large residual and thus effective closure rate was 91%(41/45).The mean follow-up period was 2-29 (median 12) months. During the follow-up, only 1 patient experienced recurrent cerebral infarction.New onset atrial fibrillation was not detected. Conclusion Transcatheter PFO closure is effective,safe and related with a good outcome in reduction of recurrent CS for patients with PFO.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome characterized by multiple organ failure and high short-term mortality rate, and it has always been a research hotspot in the field of severe liver diseases. Therefore, early and accurate risk stratification and timely intervention are of great significance to improve prognosis. This article summarizes the serum biomarkers identified in recent years for evaluating the prognosis of patients with ACLF, and it is pointed out that new serum biomarkers have an important guiding significance in the prognostic evaluation of ACLF patients.