Objective:To explore the spousal correlations of total cholesterol(TC),total triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and to investigate the reasons behind these spousal correlations.Methods:Participants and data were from the baseline survey of family-based cohort studies in Fangshan,Beijing and Tulou,Fujian.The ori-gin of spousal correlations were explored from perspectives of convergence,assortative mating,social ho-mogamy.Pearson's correlation and generalized linear models(GLM)were used to estimate the spousal correlation.Convergence was assessed by Pearson's correlation between the phenotypic differences be-tween couples and the duration of marriage,with GLM used for further validation.Pearson's correlation of genetic risk scores(GRS)and couple-specific Mendelian randomization(MR)were calculated to assess the genetic correlation and possible causal relationships between spouses.Two-independent-sample t-tests were used to compare GRS consistency across subgroups divided by education attainment,couple-specific MR and Q statistics used to test assortative mating in subgroups and intergroup differences.Results:In the study,342 couples(287 couples from Fangshan and 55 couples from Fujian)were included,with the average age of(64.91±8.76)years.Spousal correlations of TC,TG,HDL-C,and LDL-C showed statistically significant associations both before and after adjusting for covariates,with effect sizes of 0.229(95％CI:0.125-0.327),0.257(95％CI:0.155-0.354),0.179(95％CI:0.074-0.280),and 0.181(95％CI:0.076-0.282).For convergence,for each additional year of marriage,ΔTC increased by 0.016 mmol/L(95％CI:0.001-0.033 mmol/L),and ΔLDL-C increased by 0.017 mmol/L(95％CI:0.002-0.031 mmol/L).For assortative mating,GRS correlations and results of couple specific MR didn't show any statistical significance.For social homogamy,no differences in GRS or assortative mating were found between subgroups stratified by education attainment.Conclusion:The blood lipid in participants exhibit spousal phenotypic correlations,however,no effects of convergence,assortative mating or social homogamy were observed.More independent studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to further validate these findings in the future.

Objective:To explore the spousal correlations of total cholesterol(TC),total triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and to investigate the reasons behind these spousal correlations.Methods:Participants and data were from the baseline survey of family-based cohort studies in Fangshan,Beijing and Tulou,Fujian.The ori-gin of spousal correlations were explored from perspectives of convergence,assortative mating,social ho-mogamy.Pearson's correlation and generalized linear models(GLM)were used to estimate the spousal correlation.Convergence was assessed by Pearson's correlation between the phenotypic differences be-tween couples and the duration of marriage,with GLM used for further validation.Pearson's correlation of genetic risk scores(GRS)and couple-specific Mendelian randomization(MR)were calculated to assess the genetic correlation and possible causal relationships between spouses.Two-independent-sample t-tests were used to compare GRS consistency across subgroups divided by education attainment,couple-specific MR and Q statistics used to test assortative mating in subgroups and intergroup differences.Results:In the study,342 couples(287 couples from Fangshan and 55 couples from Fujian)were included,with the average age of(64.91±8.76)years.Spousal correlations of TC,TG,HDL-C,and LDL-C showed statistically significant associations both before and after adjusting for covariates,with effect sizes of 0.229(95％CI:0.125-0.327),0.257(95％CI:0.155-0.354),0.179(95％CI:0.074-0.280),and 0.181(95％CI:0.076-0.282).For convergence,for each additional year of marriage,ΔTC increased by 0.016 mmol/L(95％CI:0.001-0.033 mmol/L),and ΔLDL-C increased by 0.017 mmol/L(95％CI:0.002-0.031 mmol/L).For assortative mating,GRS correlations and results of couple specific MR didn't show any statistical significance.For social homogamy,no differences in GRS or assortative mating were found between subgroups stratified by education attainment.Conclusion:The blood lipid in participants exhibit spousal phenotypic correlations,however,no effects of convergence,assortative mating or social homogamy were observed.More independent studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to further validate these findings in the future.

Dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein 6 (DPPX) antibody-associated encephalitis, mediated by DPPX antibodies in serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid, is a novel autoimmune encephalitis. It presents with multifocal and diverse neurological disorders characterized by the triad of prodromal weight loss and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea predominately), cognitive-mental dysfunction, and central nervous system hyperexcitability. Brain magnetic resonance imaging shows non-specific abnormalities. Immunotherapy can result in clinical improvements, but the disease is prone to relapse.

Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy is a curable autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Meninges, brain, spinal cord and optic nerve are mainly involved. Radial paraventricular enhancement and/or long segment lesions of spinal cord with central enhancement can be seen on magnetic resonance imaging. Brain biopsy shows perivascular inflammation with microglia activation. The disease is sensitive to steroid therapy. Glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody is considered as a specific biomarker of the disease.

Objective: To investigate the treatment of auricle and periauricular arteriovenous malformations. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 30 patients with auricle and periauricular arteriovenous malformations in Changfeng Hospital from February 2012 to March 2017. First, the patients were treated with anhydrous ethanol embolization, followed by transcatheter or direct percutaneous injection of anhydrous ethanol into the malformed vascular tissues. Angiography was performed every time with ethanol injection. The volume of malformed vascular tissues and injection pressure and speed were measured by hand-push angiography. The injection speed of the contrast agent was usually 0.2 ml/s, and malformed vascular tissue volume equal to the dose of the contrast medium filled with the malformed vascular tissues. With the same dose, injection pressure and speed, anhydrous ethanol was injected until all or part of the lesion was cured. The series of treatments were performed with the interval of 1 to 2 months. After embolization, wedge resection combined with lesion was performed to improve the shape of auricle, and to repair the defect of auricle in the cases of obvious auricle hypertrophy. The skin flap adjacent to the auricle was used to treat the auricle defect caused by embolization. Results: The clinical manifestations of 30 patients such as ulcer, bleeding and tinnitus, were improved after 3 times of ethanol embolization. Angiography showed that the abnormal vascular mass completely disappeared in 8 patients. The vascular mass was shrunken by 50% to 75% in 15 patients, and that of 7 patients shrunken less than 50%. Six cases with obvious hypertrophic deformation of auricle were treated with wedge-shaped resection of auricle lesion to reduce the auricles. Three patients suffered partial auricle necrosis after ethanol embolization. They were treated with periauricular pedicle flap to repair the defects. Conclusions Sequential embolization with anhydrous ethanol could effectively improve the clinical manifestations and control the development of the lesions in patients with auricular arteriovenous malformations. When the auricle was obviously hypertrophic and deformed, the shape of the auricle could be improved with surgery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has been reported that taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may increase the risk of atherosclerosis. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) as a surrogate factor for atherosclerosis in epileptic patients. METHODS: We searched NCBI (PubMed), ISI Web of Knowledge, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases for studies of the association between AEDs and CA-IMT in epileptic patients. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool results across studies. RESULTS: Fifteen studies involving 1,775 epileptic patients were included in the analysis. The overall CA-IMT was significantly larger among users of AEDs [mean difference (MD)=0.09 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.06–0.12 mm). When stratified by age, the MD was similar in adult patients (MD=0.09 mm, 95% CI=0.06–0.13 mm), but no significant difference was observed in children (MD=0.03 mm, 95% CI=0.00–0.07 mm). Regarding specific AEDs, monotherapy with carbamazepine (CBZ) or valproic acid (VPA) was associated with a larger CA-IMT, while phenytoin monotherapy was not and the result for lamotrigine was inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that using AEDs is associated with the CA-IMT in patients with epilepsy, particularly for adult patients. In particular, CBZ and VPA may be related to a significant increase in CA-IMT.
Adult ; Anticonvulsants* ; Atherosclerosis ; Carbamazepine ; Carotid Arteries* ; Child ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Phenytoin ; Valproic Acid

Objective To evaluate the application value of time-intensity curve analysis of contrastenhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in differential diagnosis of malignant and benign breast masses.Methods From January 2015 to September 2015,30 patients with one lesion confirmed by surgical pathology were examined by CEUS.Then time-intensity curve analysis was performed.Results 16 lesions were found in the benign group and 14 lesions were in the malignant group.Five parameters of benign and malignant group were statistically analyzed,including Perfusion slope rate (C),intensity of peak (A),Subsidence slope rate (K),time of peak value (T) and area under the curve (Area).The perfusion slope rate (C) of benign and malignant group is [(0.24 ± 0.41) vs (0.67 ± 0.39)].There was no statistical difference between the two groups in intensity of peak (A),Subsidence slope rate (K),time of peak value (T) and area under the curve (Area),except perfusion slope rate (P＜0.05).Conclusion Time-intensity curve analysis of CEUS has certain effect on differential diagnosis of malignant and benign breast masses.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the significance of expression of p53, Mdm2 and p21WAF/ CIP1 proteins and their relationships. METHODS Pathological specimens from thyroid carcinoma, adjacent non-tumor thyroid tissues and thyroid benign lesions were examined for p53, Mdm2 and p21WAF/CIP1 proteins by tissue microarray technique and immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS The positive expression rate of p53, Mdm2 and p21WAF/CIP1 in thyroid carcinoma was 50.6 %(37/73), 63.0 %(47/73) and 38.4 %(28/73) respectively. The expression of p53 and Mdm2 increased(P