Background: and Purpose Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune-mediated disorder characterized by demyelinating or axonal injury of the peripheral nerve. Our aim is to determine whether serum amyloid A (SAA) is a biomarker of demyelinating injury and disease severity in patients with GBS. Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 40 patients with either the demyelinating or axonal GBS and sex- and age-matched controls with other neurological diseases as well as healthy subjects. The demographic and clinical features at entry were collected. The serum levels of the SAA isoforms SAA1, SAA2, and SAA4 were determined in the patients with GBS and the controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed for the associations between levels of different SAA isoforms and the clinical features of the patients. Results: The levels of SAA2 and SAA4 were significantly higher in patients with GBS than in both the other neurological disease controls and the healthy subjects (p<0.05 for all). The level of SAA1 did not differ between patients with GBS and the controls. The level of SAA2 was considerably higher in GBS patients with antecedent infection than in those without infection (p=0.020). The levels of different SAA isoforms were not associated with the disease severity or other clinical features of patients with GBS (p>0.05 for all). Conclusions Increased levels of SAA2 and SAA4 may only represent the acute inflammatory status and so cannot be utilized as biomarkers of the disease severity or demyelinating injury in patients with GBS.

Background: and Purpose Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune-mediated disorder characterized by demyelinating or axonal injury of the peripheral nerve. Our aim is to determine whether serum amyloid A (SAA) is a biomarker of demyelinating injury and disease severity in patients with GBS. Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 40 patients with either the demyelinating or axonal GBS and sex- and age-matched controls with other neurological diseases as well as healthy subjects. The demographic and clinical features at entry were collected. The serum levels of the SAA isoforms SAA1, SAA2, and SAA4 were determined in the patients with GBS and the controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed for the associations between levels of different SAA isoforms and the clinical features of the patients. Results: The levels of SAA2 and SAA4 were significantly higher in patients with GBS than in both the other neurological disease controls and the healthy subjects (p<0.05 for all). The level of SAA1 did not differ between patients with GBS and the controls. The level of SAA2 was considerably higher in GBS patients with antecedent infection than in those without infection (p=0.020). The levels of different SAA isoforms were not associated with the disease severity or other clinical features of patients with GBS (p>0.05 for all). Conclusions Increased levels of SAA2 and SAA4 may only represent the acute inflammatory status and so cannot be utilized as biomarkers of the disease severity or demyelinating injury in patients with GBS.

Background: and Purpose Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune-mediated disorder characterized by demyelinating or axonal injury of the peripheral nerve. Our aim is to determine whether serum amyloid A (SAA) is a biomarker of demyelinating injury and disease severity in patients with GBS. Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 40 patients with either the demyelinating or axonal GBS and sex- and age-matched controls with other neurological diseases as well as healthy subjects. The demographic and clinical features at entry were collected. The serum levels of the SAA isoforms SAA1, SAA2, and SAA4 were determined in the patients with GBS and the controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed for the associations between levels of different SAA isoforms and the clinical features of the patients. Results: The levels of SAA2 and SAA4 were significantly higher in patients with GBS than in both the other neurological disease controls and the healthy subjects (p<0.05 for all). The level of SAA1 did not differ between patients with GBS and the controls. The level of SAA2 was considerably higher in GBS patients with antecedent infection than in those without infection (p=0.020). The levels of different SAA isoforms were not associated with the disease severity or other clinical features of patients with GBS (p>0.05 for all). Conclusions Increased levels of SAA2 and SAA4 may only represent the acute inflammatory status and so cannot be utilized as biomarkers of the disease severity or demyelinating injury in patients with GBS.

Objective:To observe any effect of supplementing basic swallowing training with balloon catheter dilation on the swallowing function of tracheostomy patients with pontine hemorrhage.Methods:A total of 40 pontine hemorrhage patients with tracheostomy and swallowing disorders were divided randomly into an observation group and a control group, each of 20. Both groups were given nutritional neurodrugs and basic swallowing training, but the observation group also received 25 minutes of balloon catheter dilation, five times a week for 6 weeks. Before and after the 6 weeks of treatment one swallowing therapist evaluated the feeding ability and leakage-aspiration status of each subject assigning functional oral intake (FOIS) ratings and Rosenbek Leakage/Aspiration Rating Scale (PAS) ratings double-blinded. The Watian water swallowing test was also applied.Results:After the treatment the average FOIS and PAS scores of both groups had improved significantly, with those of the observation group then significantly better than among the control group on average. The total treatment effectiveness rate was 70% in the observation group, significantly better than the 30% in the control group.Conclusion:Supplementing swallowing training with balloon catheter dilation can better improve the swallowing of patients recovering from a tracheotomy after pontine hemorrhage.

Objective To establish the method of simultaneous determination of four main components of Danggui Liuhuang Decoction,including phellodendrine,palmatine,calycosin,and ferulic acid and provide reference for the quality control of Danggui Liuhuang Decoction.Methods Based on the HPLC-MS/MS analysis method,the positive ion data acquisition mode were adopted for the mass spectrometry detection and the four main components were quantified with multiple reaction monitoring mode(MRM)by ESI source.The chromatographic column was Agilent Extend-C18(5 μm,4.6 mm×250 mm),and gradient elution was performed with methanol and 0.5%formic acid in water.Results The linear range of phellodendrine was from 2-200 nmol/ml,and the linear range of palmatine,calycosin and ferulic acid was from 20-2 000 nmol/ml.The contents of the four components in the seven batches of Danggui Liuhuang Decoction were relatively stable,among which ferulic acid was mainly found in Phellodendrine and Coptidis;Phellodendrine was only detected in cortex phellodendri;the content of calycosin in Scutellaria baicalensis and Astragalus was higher;palmatine was detected in both Phellodendron and Astragalus.Conclusion The method had high sensitivity,good specificity and sample stability,which could meet the requirements of quantitative analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine compounds,and could provide reference for further pharmacokinetics study on the content changes of traditional Chinese medicine compounds in biological samples.

Objective To investigate the effect of dapagliflozin on vascular function and progression of renal function in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods A total of 122 DN patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 61 cases in each group. The control group received conventional treatment, while the observation group received conventional treatment and dapagliflozin. Glycometabolism, vascular function, renal function indicators and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment, there were no significant differences in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-hour postprandial glucose (2 hPG) between the two groups (P>0.05), but the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The flow-mediated dilation (FMD) for 1 minute at resting state and FMD for 5 minutes at ischemia state were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group (P < 0.05); the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and 24-hour urinary sodium level in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the 24-hour urine protein level was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Dapagliflozin can effectively alleviate vascular function damage and inhibit the progression of renal function damage in DN patients.

Objective:To document any effect of environmental enrichment on nerve regeneration in a mouse model of sciatic nerve compression and explore its mechanism.Methods:A crushed sciatic nerve model was successfully established in 22 C57BL/6 mice, and they were then randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. The mice of the intervention group were raised in a cage with an enriched environment, while those of the control group were kept in a standard cage. Two weeks later, both groups′ gait was analyzed and the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the sciatic nerve was measured. The proportion of myelinated sciatic nerve fibers was examined using toluidine blue staining, and the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP), growth associated protein-43 (GAP43) and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75 NTR) was measured using immunofluorescence intensity. Results:①The latency of the CMAP [(1.05±0.04)ms] was significantly shortened in the intervention group compared with the control group and the amplitude was significantly higher. ②Gait analysis showed a significant increase in the average contact intensity, stride length and stride rate of the intervention group compared with the control group. However, the step axis angle of the intervention group was significantly smaller than in the control group on average. ③The stained nerve fibers in the intervention group were orderly and dense, and the average number of myelinated fibers was significantly greater than in the control group. ④Quantitative analysis of the immunofluorescence showed that the levels of MBP, GAP43 and p75 NTR in the sciatic nerves of the intervention group were, on average, significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion:An enriched environmental can promote the regeneration and functional recovery of crushed sciatic nerves by promoting the proliferation and myelination of Schwann cells.

Objective:To observe the effect of combining biofeedback therapy (BFT) based on virtual reality technology with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on dysphagia among stroke survivors.Methods:Eighty patients were randomly divided into a control group, an rTMS group, a BFT group and a combined treatment group, each of 20. In addition to routine dysphagia rehabilitation, the rTMS and BFT groups were given those treatments, while the combined treatment group was given both for 4 weeks. Swallowing function was evaluated before and after the treatment using the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) and the functional oral intake scale (FOIS). Videofluoroscopy was used to quantify the subjects′ oral and pharyngeal phases and their aspiration status.Results:Significant improvement was observed in the average FOIS and SSA scores, as well as in the average oral and pharyngeal phases and in aspiration. The combined treatment group′s results were significantly better in all those aspects than those of the other 3 groups.Conclusion:The combined application of biofeedback therapy based on virtual reality technology and repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation can improve the swallowing function of stroke survivors with dysphagia. It is worthy of clinical promotion.

BACKGROUND: The association between sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and renal function has rarely been reported in men. We aimed to investigate the above association in a community-based Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 5027 men were included from the survey on prevalence for metabolic diseases and risk factors, which is a population-based study conducted from 2014 to 2016 in Eastern China. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated according to the chronic kidney disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Low eGFR was defined as eGFR <60 mL·min -1 ·1.73 m -2 . RESULTS: After adjusting for age, smoking, metabolic factors, and testosterone, through increasing quartiles of SHBG, a significantly positive association between SHBG quartiles and eGFR was detected in men (Q1 vs. Q4, β -2.53, 95% confidence interval -3.89, -1.17, Ptrend < 0.001). Compared with the highest quartile of SHBG, SHBG in the lowest quartile was associated with 96% higher odds of low eGFR (odds ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.10, 3.48) in the model after full adjustment. According to the stratified analyses, the associations between a 1-standard deviation increase in serum SHBG and the prevalence of low eGFR were significant in men aged ≥60 years old, waist circumference <90 cm, diabetes (no), hypertension (yes), dyslipidemia (no), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (no). CONCLUSIONS Lower serum SHBG levels were significantly associated with lower eGFR and a higher prevalence of low eGFR in Chinese men independent of demographics, lifestyle, metabolic-related risk factors, and testosterone. Large prospective cohort and basic mechanistic studies are warranted in the future.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Prospective Studies ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin/physiology* ; Testosterone ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Glomerular Filtration Rate

Objective: To study the effect of high-dose methylprednisolone intravenous pulse therapy on immunoglobulins and CD series in patients with active moderate-to-severe Graves′ orbitopathy. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with active moderate-to-severe Graves′ orbitopathy were enrolled in this study. All the patients received iv methylprednisolone pulse therapy for 12 weeks according to the 2016 European Thyroid Association/European Group on Graves′Orbitopathy(EUGOGO) Guidelines. Serum thyroidal autoantibodies, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb), anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb), and serum immunoglobulins, such as IgG, IgE, IgA, IgM were evaluated at the baseline, at the end of 4th and 12th week. Percentages of CD3⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells and CD19⁺ B cells, CD16⁺ or CD56⁺ NK cells were also evaluated at each time point. Results: TRAb, TPOA and IgE, IgG, IgA were significantly decreased both after 4th week and after 12th week (all P<0.05). Percentages of CD3⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ /CD8⁺ ratio were gradually decreased after treatment. However, change of CD8⁺ T cells was not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion High-dose methylprednisolone may exert an immunosuppressive effect not only by modifying humoral and cellular immune functions, but also by decreasing serum immunoglobulins.