Objective To analyze the correlation of inflammatory markers C-reactive proten(CRP),serum amyloid protein A(SAA),interleukin-6(IL-6)levels and subjective sleep characteristics in patients with first-episode acute cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 113 patients with first-episode cerebral infarction admitted to the Department of Neurology,the People's Hospital of Fuyang from March 2022 to April 2023 were prospectively and continuously selected as subjects.According to the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI),they were divided into insomnia group(PSQI＞7 points)and non-insomnia group(PSQI ≤7 points).General demo-graphic data and differences in CRP,SAA,IL-6 levels,Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA)and Hamilton depression scale(HAMD)scores were compared between the two groups.Partial correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between three serum markers and PSQI effect factors.Results There were no significant differences in age,gender,baseline NIHSS score and mRS score between the two groups(P＞0.05).HAMD scores(z=-3.993,P＜0.001),HAMA scores(z=-3.806,P＜0.001),CRP,IL-6,SAA(P＜0.001)in insomnia group were significantly higher than those in non-insomnia group.The history of hyperlipidemia between the two groups was statistically significant(z=5.913,P=0.015).Multivariate Logisitic regression analysis showed that CRP(OR=1.55,P＜0.01),HAMD scores,HAMA scores and hyperlipidemia were independent risk factors for chronic insomnia in patients with first-episode cerebral infarction,and HAMD scores had a greater effect than HAMA scores(OR:1.10 vs 1.04).Partial correlation analysis showed that IL-6 and CRP levels were significantly correlated with the total score of PSQI(P＜0.05),while SAA was not significantly correla-ted with the total score of PSQI(P＞0.05).IL-6 level was positively correlated with sleep quality(r=0.231)sleep efficiency(r=0.322)and sleep duration(r=0.221).SAA level was positively correlated with sleep efficiency(r=0.242),while CRP level was posi-tively correlated with sleep latency(r=0.194),sleep duration(r=0.247)and sleep efficiency(r=0.225).Conclusion The inflam-matory markers CRP,IL-6 and SAA levels were elevated in the patients with first-episode cerebral infarction accompanied by insomnia,which were correlated with the severity of insomnia.The correlation between CRP and IL-6 levels and sleep characteristics was consistent with each other.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of functional RNAs that play critical roles in different diseases. NcRNAs include microRNAs, long ncRNAs, and circular RNAs. They are highly expressed in the brain and are involved in the regulation of physiological and pathophysiological processes of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Mounting evidence indicates that ncRNAs play key roles in CNS diseases. Further elucidating the mechanisms of ncRNA underlying the process of regulating glial function that may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for CNS diseases.
Humans ; RNA, Untranslated/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; RNA, Circular ; Central Nervous System Diseases/genetics*

Humans ; Tacrolimus/therapeutic use* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy* ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: The onset and clinical presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are sex-related. Few studies have investigated the distinctions in clinical characteristics and treatment preferences in male and female SLE patients in the initial cohort. This study aimed to improve the understanding of Chinese SLE patients by characterizing the different sexes of SLE patients in the inception cohort. METHODS: Based on the initial patient cohort established by the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research Group, a total of 8713 patients (795 men and 7918 women) with newly diagnosed SLE were enrolled between April 2009 and March 2021. Of these, 2900 patients (347 men and 2553 women) were eligible for lupus nephritis (LN). A cross-sectional analysis of the baseline demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, organ damage, initial treatment regimens, and renal pathology classification was performed according to sex. RESULTS: In the SLE group, as compared to female patients, male patients had a later age of onset (male vs. female: 37.0 ± 15.8 years vs. 35.1 ± 13.7 years, P  = 0.006) and a higher SLE International Collaborative Clinic/American College of Rheumatology damage index score (male vs. female: 0.47 ± 1.13 vs. 0.34 ± 0.81, P  = 0.015), LN (male vs. female: 43.6% vs. 32.2%, P < 0.001), fever (male vs. female: 18.0% vs. 14.6%, P  = 0.010), thrombocytopenia (male vs. female: 21.4% vs. 18.5%, P  = 0.050), serositis (male vs. female: 14.7% vs. 11.7%, P  = 0.013), renal damage (male vs. female: 11.1% vs. 7.4%, P < 0.001), and treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) (P < 0.001). The frequency of leukopenia (male vs. female: 20.5% vs. 25.4%, P  = 0.002) and arthritis (male vs. female: 22.0% vs. 29.9%, P < 0.001) was less in male patients with SLE. In LN, no differences were observed in disease duration, SLE Disease Activity Index score, renal biopsy pathological typing, or 24-h urine protein quantification among the sexes. In comparisons with female patients with LN, male patients had later onset ages (P  = 0.026), high serum creatinine (P < 0.001), higher end-stage renal failure rates (P  = 0.002), musculoskeletal damage (P  = 0.023), cardiovascular impairment (P  = 0.009), and CYC use (P  = 0.001); while leukopenia (P  = 0.017), arthritis (P  = 0.014), and mycophenolate usage (P  = 0.013) rates were lower. CONCLUSIONS Male SLE patients had more severe organ damage and a higher LN incidence compared with female SLE patients; therefore, they may require more aggressive initial treatment compared to female patients.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Sex Characteristics ; East Asian People ; Severity of Illness Index ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis* ; Lupus Nephritis/pathology* ; Registries ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Leukopenia/drug therapy* ; Arthritis

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab(RTX) as remission-mainten-ance therapy in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA) associated vasculitis(AAV).Methods:Patients with AAV, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), treated with rituximab (RTX) in Peking Union Medical College Hospital during September 2005 to June 2021 were included into this study. Clinical data, relapse rate, time of first relapse and adverse events were collected and analyzed. The cumulative relapse rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier, t test, and Man-Whithey U test and chi-square were used to compare differences between two groups. Results:① Thirty-nine AAV patients were enrolled, including 36 GPA and 3 MPA. During the 20(3, 104) months follow-up, 59.0%(23/39) patients had suffered relapses. The time for first relapse was 11(3, 42) months after remission. ② There were no difference in the relapse rate [60.0%(18/30) vs 55.6%(5/9), χ2=0.06, P=1.000), the time of first relapse [15(3, 42) vs 10(9, 30), Z=0.45, P=0.678], CD19 + B [23.5 (5, 148) cell/μl vs 3(2, 15) cell/μl, Z=0.57, P=0.605] and serum IgG [7.09(5.13, 13.90) g/L vs 9.72(5.32, 12.0) g/L, Z=0.36, P=0.770] between standard dose and low-dose groups. The rate of major relapse-free was significantly less in patients treated with standard dose than patients with reduced dose of RTX {87.1%[95% CI(73.4%, 100.8R%)] vs 64.3%[95% CI(23.1%, 105.4%)], χ2=7.59, P=0.006}. ③ There were no difference in relapse rate [50.0%(3/6) vs 60.6%(20/33), χ2=0.24, P=0.674], time of first relapse [23(6, 25) vs 11(3, 42), Z=0.05, P=0.982], CD19 + B[35(15, 50) cell/μl vs 10(0, 148) cell/μl, Z=0.95, P=0.382] and serum IgG[6.70(5.91, 7.49) g/L vs 7.69(3.78, 13.90) g/L, Z=0.48, P=0.700] between the fixed interval dosage and the on-demand dosage groups. There was no difference in the rate of major relapse-free between the two groups (100% vs 77.8%, χ2=1.79, P=0.181). ④ The incidence of infusion reaction was 5.1%(2/39) and infection was 20.5%(8/39). Serum IgG level was 4.37(3.78, 13.4) g/L at infection. There was no difference in safety between the standard and low-dose groups or between fixed interval and on-demand dosage groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:There is no significant difference in relapse rate bet-ween the standard RTX dose and low-dose RTX induction therapy group, but the major relapse rate is sign-ificantly reduced in the standard dose RTX therapy. The relapse rate of fixed intervals dosage group is similar to that of on-demand dosage group. The safety profile of the standard dose and low-dose induction therapy groups or fixed intervals and on-demand dosage groups is similiar.

Objective To analysis the correlation between the vulnerability of carotid plaque and ischemic stroke and to explore the clinical significance of assessing vulnerable plaques accurately.Methods A total of 64 patients,who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from October 2014 to February 2016,were classified into ischemic and non-ischemic stroke group according to whether ischemic stroke symptoms occurred during the last 6 months before surgery.To judge the stable and vulnerable plaques,the patients underwent carotid doppler ultrasonography (CDU) before surgery,and the carotid plaques were evaluated with HE staining after CEA.We also analyzed the risk factors of plaque formation and the relevance between the plaque characteristic and ischemic stroke with chi-square test.Kappa test were used to analyze the consistency of CDU and pathology.Results Of the 44 cases in ischemic stroke group,CDU identified 81.8％ (36/44) vulnerable plaques and 18.2％ (8/44) stable plaques,while pathology confirmed 86.4％ (38/44) vulnerable plaques and 13.6％ (6/44) stable plaques.Of the 20 cases in non-ischemic stroke group,CDU identified 35％ (7/20) vulnerable plaques and 65％ (13/20) stable plaques,while pathology confirmed 40％ (8/20) vulnerable plaques and 60％ (12/20) stable plaques.In both CDU and pathology,vulnerable plaques in ischemic stroke group were obviously higher than that in non-ischemia group (x2=13.67,P ＜ 0.001;x2=14.62,P ＜ 0.001).The results of CDU agreed well to that of pathology results (Kappa=0.669,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The vulnerability of plaques were closely related to the ischemic stroke.CDU is a reliable examination method to identify vulnerable plaques.The accurate assessment of vulnerability of plaques has a great significance in preventing ischemic stroke.

Objective To study the effect of electrical stimulation breath training on lung function of patients following pulmonary lobectomy. Methods 62 patients following pulmonary lobectomy were randomly allocated into experimental group (n=30 )and control group (n=32). The experimental group received a 4-week supervised electrical stimulation breath training program using an electric stimulus feedback trainer (20mins per time, 3 times per week);The control group received postoperative routine nursing. Cadiopulmonary function evaluation of 2 groups were tested before and after the experiment. The evaluation included the 6-min walking test (6MWD), FVC, FEV1,W,AT and VO2max/kg. Results After 4 week training, the value of 6MWD,W,FVC,FEV1 all improved, compared to the baseline value (P < 0.05) and the value of 6MWD,W,FVC,FEV1 were more obvious in experimental group, compared to control group(P<0.05). The AT value and the VO2max/kg value increased than the baseline value (P<0.05)and the improvement degree was more remarkable in experimental group than that in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Electrical stimulation breath training can improve cardiopulmonary function of the patients following pulmonary lobectomy.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation is considered as a promising therapy for spinal cord injury. How to more effectively promote the survival of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s in the area of spinal cord injury and to accelerate the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury is a current study focus. Previous studies have found that low-frequency electromagnetic fields can promote bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel proliferation and differentiation, but whether the low-frequency electromagnetic fields can be applied to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation for treatment of spinal cord injury requires further studies. OBJECTIVE:To discuss the effects of low-frequency electromagnetic fields on motor function of spinal cord injury rats after transplantation of bone mesenchymal stem cel s. METHODS:Sixty-four rat models of incomplete spinal cord injury at T 10 were established by compression method and then randomized into control group, transplantation group (bone mesenchymal stem cel transplantation), electromagnetic field group and combination group (electromagnetic field+bone mesenchymal stem cel transplantation). After successful modeling, bone mesenchymal stem cel s labeled with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine were injected into the original injured site in the transplantation group and combination group, which were isolated and purified with the fast adherence method;while alpha-minimum essential medium was injected into the electromagnetic field group and control group for instead. At 24 hours post-operation, the electromagnetic field group and combination group were explored to low-frequency electromagnetic fields (frequency 50 Hz, magnetic indaction intensity 5 mT) for 60 minutes per day. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After cel transplantation for 21 days, the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores in the combination group was higher than the other groups (P<0.05). 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine positive cel s grew wel , and integrated into the normal spine;syringomyelia was reduced, and the number of spinal neural cel s was increased in the combination group. In addition, glial fibril ary acidic protein expression was decreased in the combination group, while matrix metal oproteinase 2 expression was increased. It indicates that low-frequency electromagnetic fields could promote recovery of motor function in the spinal cord injury rats transplanted with bone mesenchymal stem cel s, which could be associated that low-frequency electromagnetic fields facilitate the survival of transplanted bone mesenchymal stem cel s, up-regulate the expression of matrix metal oproteinase 2, and reduce glial scar formation in the spinal cord injured site.