Objective: To observe the status of social support and its related factors in peritoneal dialysis (PD) so as to find an access to improvement. Methods: We included 488 stable peritoneal dialysis patients in this study. Their social support status was evaluated by Xiao's Social Support Scale. Hamilton Depression Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale were used for exploring depression and anxiety status, respectively. Results: Subjective social support in patients with spouse was higher than those without spouse (P<0.05). Subjective social support was negatively related to age (r=-0.334, P<0.01). Objective social support was positively correlated with economic condition (r=0.352, P<0.01). The objective social support scores, subjective social support scores and total social support scores in patients without government imbursement were significantly lower than in patients with medical insurance and rural cooperative medical insurance, while there was no statistical difference in social support between patients with medical insurance and those with rural cooperative medical insurance. Pearson correlation analysis showed that depression was negatively associated with utilization rate of social support (r=-0.255, P<0.01), while anxiety status was negatively correlated with objective social support (r=-0.295, P<0.01). Conclusion: Marriage status, age, economic condition and the way of payment were factors affecting social support. Depression and anxiety status were significantly associated with poor social support. When anxiety was more serious, objective social support was lower while when depression was more serious, social support utilization was lower. Individualized intervention should be provided to different patients.

Clinical manifestations and genes of a case from a family with pseudoachondroplasia caused by COMP gene mutation treated in the Department of Pediatrics of the First People′s Hospital of Yunnan Province were retrospectively analyzed.The male patient aged 3 years and 3 months old had a history of slow growth for 1 year.Physical examinations showed that the patient′s height: 87.5 cm (less than -3 SD), 55.0 cm on top, 32.5 cm on bottom, mild O-leg, Nervous system physical examination suggested normal muscle strength of lower limbs and low muscle tone.Genetic examination revealed that the heterozygous gene variation of exon 11 of the COMP gene was chr19: 18897437 A >g [hg19], nm_000095.2, c.1159T >c, p.CY3 387 Arg, namely the transformation of cysteine to arginine at position 1159 of the translation product protein.Genetic testing is an important basis for the diagnosis of pseudoachondroplasia.It can avoid mistreatment, so as not to affect the predicted adult height of children.

OBJECTIVETo report the initial application of brain protection device in the dilatation and stenting of atherosclerotic stenosis of the carotid and vertebral artery.

METHODSEighteen patients with 21 atherosclerotic stenoses of the carotid or vertebral artery underwent dilatation and/or stenting with brain protection device (filterwire or angioguard). The clinical results were summarized and the indispensability and feasibility of the device was discussed.

RESULTSWith the aid of brain protection device, endovascular dilatation and (or) stenting were performed in all the patients with 21 stenoses of the carotid or vertebral artery. The interventional manipulation was successful and no complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONSBrain protection device is helpful to decrease the embolic complication caused by atherosclerotic plaque and thromboembolus and to increase the security of interventional therapy, during the dilatation and/or stenting of stenosis of the carotid or vertebral artery.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; adverse effects ; methods ; Carotid Stenosis ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protective Devices ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ; therapy

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy of whey protein powder in peritoneal dialysis hypoproteinemia patients.Methods From August 2019 to August 2020,100 patients with peritoneal dialysis hypoproteinemia from the Peritoneal Dialysis Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were investigated.The patients were separated into 2 groups randomly;the study group were administered whey protein powder and the control group with high protein food.After 32 weeks of treatment,biochemical and biometric indices including hemoglobin(Hb),albumin(ALB),prealbumin(PA),triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),phosphorus(P),low density lipoprotein(LDL),high density lipoprotein(HDL),serum creatinine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),estimated glo-merular filtration rate(eGFR),total spKt/Vurea(TKt/V),total creatinine clearance rate(TCcr),hand grip strength(HG),triceps skinfold(TSF),arm circumference(AMC),mid-arm muscle circumference(MAMC)were compared between groups.Results Compared with 0 week,at 16 and 32 weeks,ALB,PA,and HG were significantly increased in the study group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,ALB,PA,and HG increased significantly at 16 and 32 weeks in the study group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in TG,TC,HDL,LDL,eGFR,TKt/V,and TCcr at 0,8,16,and 32 weeks between the control and study groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion For patients with peritoneal dialysis hypoproteinemia caused by insufficient protein intake or excessive protein loss,the addition of whey protein during peritoneal dialysis can significantly improve the nutritional status of patients,with greater efficacy than a high protein diet alone.

Gynandromorphic ticks are extremely rare, and often attract parasitologists' attention. During our examination of tick specimens, an engorged gynandromorph of Hyalomma asiaticum was noticed. This is the first record of gynandromorphic ticks from China. In this study, several important morphological structures of normal and gynandromorphic H. asiaticum were analyzed. Comparing to the normal H. asiaticum, the gynandromorphic specimen was a typical bipartite protogynander. Its right side showed normal female characteristics, whereas the left side had normal male traits. Different from other gynandromorphic ticks containing 1 anus, this tick reported here had 2 complete anuses, and the anus of the male part had a single adanal plate.
Animals ; Chimera/*anatomy & histology/genetics ; China ; Female ; Ixodidae/*anatomy & histology/genetics ; Male ; Sheep ; Sheep Diseases/*parasitology ; Tick Infestations/parasitology/*veterinary

OBJECTIVE: To perform carrier screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) among 3049 reproductive-age individuals from Yunnan region and determine the copy number of survival motor neuron (SMN) gene and carrier frequencies. METHODS: Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to determine the copy number of exon 7 of SMN1 and SMN2 genes and identify those with a single copy of SMN1 gene. Prenatal diagnosis was performed for couples whom were both found to be SMA carriers. RESULTS: In total 62 SMA carriers were identified among the 3049 subjects, which yielded a carrier frequency of 1 in 49 (2.03%). No statistical difference was found in the carrier frequency between males and females (1.91% vs. 2.30%, P>0.05). Respectively, 1.3% (41/3049) and 0.69% (21/3049) of the carriers were caused by heterozygous deletion and conversion of the SMN1 gene. The average copy number for SMN1 alleles was 1.99. Two couples were found to be both as SMA carriers, for whom the birth of an affected fetus was avoided by prenatal diagnosis. CONCLUSION No difference was found in the carrier frequency of SMA-related mutations between the two genders in Yunnan region, which was in keeping to an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Determination of the carrier frequency for SMA and SMN gene variants may provide a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the disease.
China ; Female ; Genetic Carrier Screening ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Variation ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein ; genetics ; Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein ; genetics

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and associated chronic pain in corticobasal syndrome (CBS).Methods:Clinical data of 8 patients diagnosed as probable CBS or possible CBS admitted to Beijing Hospital during January 2010 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical information included sex, age, course of disease, chief complaint, neurological examination, blood biochemistry, tumor marker, infection and other laboratory tests; the neuropsychological evaluation included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD); the imaging studies included cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ( 18F-FDG PET). Results:The main clinical manifestations were asymmetrical movement disorders, including rigidity, tremor, myoclonus and abnormalities in posture and gait. Patients showed poor response to levodopa treatment. Among 8 patients, 7 had apraxia, 5 patients had alien hand, and 5 patients had various degrees of cognitive dysfunction. The cranial MRI demonstrated mild cerebral atrophy which was slightly more severe in the contralateral side of the initially affected limb in 7 of the 8 patients. The 18F-FDG PET scan revealed asymmetric decreased metabolism in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobe, as well as in basal ganglia, which was more severe in the contralateral side of the initially affected limb in 5 of the 8 patients. Six of the 8 patients were associated with pain, including dystonic pain in 3 patients, neuropathic pain in 1 patient, musculoskeletal pain in 1 patient, and unexplained pain in 1 patient. Pain was the onset symptom in 1 patient and pain was relieved by taking levodopa in another patient. Conclusions:CBS is characterized by asymmetric dyskinesia and cognitive impairment, and often associated with apraxia, cortical sensory deficits, and alien limb. The MRI and PET are helpful for CBS diagnosis. Pain may be one of the common non-motor symptoms in CBS.

Brain Mapping ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Schizophrenia/therapy* ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation