Objective: To examine the causal relationship between body mass index (BMI) and 25 types of autoimmune diseases (ADs) using Mendelian randomization (MR) study method. Methods: The genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for BMI and 25 types of ADs were obtained from IEU OPEN GWAS database. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to BMI were used as instrumental variables, 25 types of ADs were used as study outcomes, and MR analysis was performed using inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test, horizontal pleiotropy was tested using MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO, and results robustness was verified with leave-one-out method. Results: Cochran's Q test showed heterogeneity of MR analysis results (P<0.05), and a random effect model was employed. The results of MR analysis showed that elevated BMI increased the incidence risks of type 1 diabetes mellitus (OR=1.519, 95%CI: 1.281-1.801), IgA nephropathy (OR=1.227, 95%CI: 1.134-1.327), adult Still disease (OR=1.002, 95%CI: 1.001-1.003), multiple sclerosis (OR=1.303, 95%CI: 1.115-1.523), narcolepsy (OR=1.029, 95%CI: 1.017-1.040), Hashimoto thyroiditis (OR=1.561, 95%CI: 1.391-1.751), autoimmune hepatitis (OR=1.481, 95%CI: 1.076-2.038), rheumatoid arthritis (OR=1.209, 95%CI: 1.054-1.386), psoriasis vulgaris (OR=1.719, 95%CI: 1.427-2.070) and pernicious anemia (OR=1.001, 95%CI: 1.000-1.002). No causal relationship was found with other ADs (all P>0.05). MR-Egger regression identified no horizontal pleiotropy of instrumental variables (all P>0.05), while MR-PRESSO test identified partial horizontal pleiotropy (all P<0.05), which remained consistent with the original results after adjustment (P>0.05). Leave-one-out analysis showed results robustness. Conclusion There are causal relationship among BMI and type 1 diabetes mellitus, IgA nephropathy, adult Still disease, multiple sclerosis, narcolepsy, Hashimoto thyroiditis, autoimmune hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis vulgaris and pernicious anemia.

China ; epidemiology ; Escherichia coli Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Escherichia coli O157 ; classification ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Humans ; Shiga Toxin 1 ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; Shiga Toxin 2 ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; Sorbitol

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and immunologic regulation function of interleukin-23 and its related cytokines in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients. Levels of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were detected by reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction in 30 patients with chronic ITP and 15 healthy volunteers. The quantity of IL-23, IL-12, IL-17 in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that low detectable mRNA levels of IL-23p19, IL-12p35, IL-27 and IL-12p40 were found in all patients and healthy persons. Trace of IL-17 mRNA were expressed in PBMNC of part of patients and normal controls. Levels of IL-12p35, IL-27, IL-17 mRNA between healthy persons and chronic ITP patients were not statistically different. Compared with normal controls, patients showed the lower expression levels of IL-23p19 and IL-12p40 mRNA (p < 0.01). The IL-12 levels of chronic ITP patients were significantly higher than that of normal controls (p < 0.01). The IL-23 and IL-17 levels of chronic ITP patients were same to that of normal controls. It is concluded that the imbalance of T cell subsets in ITP patients mainly associated with IL-12, but not with IL-23 and IL-17.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-23 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; metabolism ; Young Adult

AIM: To find specific metabolic markers for women entering peri-menopausal period and patients with menopausal syndrome based on

Objective: To investigate the changes of proportion on both consistent condom use and syphilis infection among low-fee female sex workers aged 35 and above (LFSW), in order to provide evidence for targeted intervention strategies. Methods: A total of six cities-Liuzhou city and Pingnan couty of Guigang city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jinghong city of Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture and Dali city of Dali Bai autonomous prefecture of Yunnan province, Zhangjiajie city and Jianghua Yao autonomous county of Yongzhou city Hunan province were involved in this study, with 60 eligible participants needed in each city, estimated through a pre-study. The first cross-sectional survey was completed from October 2012 to January 2013. Face-to-face questionnaire interview was carried out to collect information on socio-demography, work-related information and condom use situation. Blood was collected for syphilis testing. The second cross-sectional survey was carried out from June to September, 2015 under the same procedure. Results: A total of 371 and 403 eligible participants were included in the first and second survey, respectively. When comparing the two surveys, we noticed that the average age showed a slight change, from 42.4 years to 43.8 years old (t=3.537, P<0.001) and the average price for every commercial sex exchange increased from 36.8 RMB to 49.5 RMB (t=11.961, P<0.001). In the first survey, 46.9% (174/371) of the participants had more than two years of experience working as LFSW, compared to 61.3% (247/403) in the second survey (χ(2)=16.125, P<0.001). Also, 46.9% (174/371) of the participants consistently used condoms with clients in the past month in the first survey versus 64.3% (259/403) (χ(2)=23.641, P<0.001) in the second one. Rates of syphilis infection were found from 15.9% (59/371) in the first survey reduced to 7.2% (29/403) in the second survey (χ(2)=14.533, P<0.001). Conclusion: Compared with the first survey, the proportion of consistent condoms use showed an increase. Although the proportion of syphilis infection decreased in the second survey, the scope did not meet the criteria on syphilis, set by the government. Targeted intervention strategies on condom promotion and syphilis control should be implemented consistently in this population.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Condoms/trends* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Safe Sex ; Sex Work ; Sex Workers ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syphilis/prevention & control* ; Syphilis Serodiagnosis

A patient with thymoma associated immunodeficiency syndrome (Good's syndrome) and bronchiectasis was retrospectively analyzed. Good's syndrome is a rare condition of immunodeficiency that is characterized by thymoma and hypogammaglobulinemia. It is important to bear in mind that Good's syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis When patients repeatedly visited for bronchiectasis or infection, we should alert to their immune state and history of thymoma. Early screening of immunological status and aggressive correction of immune deficiency are beneficial to improving the prognosis to patients with Good's syndrome.
Agammaglobulinemia/complications* ; Bronchiectasis/complications* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Thymoma/complications* ; Thymus Neoplasms/complications*