OBJECTIVES: To explore the value of serum cystatin C (CysC) levels in evaluating renal prognosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January, 2014 to December, 2018. Based on baseline serum CysC levels, the patients were divided into high serum CysC (>1.03 mg/L) group and normal serum CysC (≤1.03 mg/L) group. The composite endpoint for poor renal prognosis was defined as ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Lasso regression, multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to identify the risk factors and compare renal survival rates between the two groups. Smooth curves fitting and threshold effect analysis were used to explore the relationship between serum CysC levels and the outcomes. A nomogram model was constructed and its predictive performance was evaluated using concordance index, calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 356 IgAN patients were enrolled, who were followed up for 4.65±0.93 years. The composite endpoint occurred in 74 patients. High serum CysC was identified as an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis in IgAN (HR=2.142, 95% CI 1.222 to 3.755), and the patients with high serum CysC levels had a lower renal survival rate (Log-rank χ²=47.970, P<0.001). In patients with serum CysC below 2.12 mg/L, a higher CysC level was associated with an increased risk of poor renal prognosis (β=3.487, 95% CI: 2.561-4.413, P<0.001), while above this level, the increase of the risk was not significant (β=0.676, 95% CI: -0.642-1.995, P=0.315). The nomogram model based on serum CysC and 3 other independent risk factors demonstrated good internal validity with a concordance index of 0.873 (95% CI: 0.839-0.907) and an AUC of 0.909 (95% CI: 0.873-0.945). CONCLUSIONS Serum CysC levels are associated with renal prognosis in IgAN patients, and high serum CysC an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis.
Humans ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/diagnosis* ; Cystatin C/blood* ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Nomograms ; Middle Aged

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic performance of MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2018 in high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with intrahepatic parenchymal substantial lesions ≤3.0 cm.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in hospitals between September 2014 to April 2020. 131 pathologically confirmed non-HCC cases with lesions ≤3.0 cm in diameter were randomly matched with 131 cases with lesions ≤3.0 cm in diameter and divided into benign (56 cases), other hepatic malignant tumor (OM, 75 cases), and HCC group (131 cases) in a 1:1 ratio. MRI features of the lesions were analyzed and classified according to LI-RADS v2018 criteria (tie-break rule was applied to lesions with both HCC and LR-M features). Taking the pathological results as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the LI-RADS v2018 classification criteria and the more stringent LR-5 criteria (with three main signs of HCC at the same time) were calculated for HCC, OM or benign lesions diagnosis. Mann -Whitney U test was used to compare the classification results. Results:The number of cases classified as LR-M, LR-1, LR-2, LR-3, LR-4, and LR-5 in HCC group after applying the tie-break rule were 14, 0, 0, 12, 28, and 77, respectively. There were 40, 0, 0, 4, 17, 14 and 8, 5, 1, 26, 13, 3 cases in benign and OM group, respectively. There were 41 (41/77), 4 (4/14) and 1 (1/3) lesion case in the HCC, OM and benign group, respectively, that met the more stringent LR-5 criteria. The sensitivity of LR-4 combined with LR-5 (LR-4/5) criteria, LR-5 criteria and more stringent LR-5 criteria for HCC diagnosis were 80.2% (105/131), 58.8% (77/131) and 31.3% (41/131), respectively, and the specificity were 64.1% (84/131), 87.0% (114/131) and 96.2% (126/131), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of LR-M were 53.3% (40/75) and 88.2% (165/187), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity using LR-1 combined with LR-2 (LR-1/2) criteria for the diagnosis of benign liver lesions were 10.7% (6/56) and 100% (206/206), respectively.Conclusions:LR-1/2, LR-5, and LR-M criteria have high diagnostic specificity for intrahepatic lesions with a diameter of ≤3.0 cm. Lesions classified as LR-3 are more likely to be benign. The specificity of LR-4/5 criteria is low, while the more stringent LR-5 criteria has a high specificity for HCC diagnosis.

Objective:To study the relations of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, vaginal micro-environmental disorder with cervical lesion.Methods:A total of 1 019 women including 623 with normal cervical (NC), 303 with low-grade cervical lesion (CIN Ⅰ) and 93 with high-grade cervical lesion (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ) were enrolled in this study from the communities in Shanxi province, China. Case-control method was adopted, with NC as the control group and CIN as the case group. Related information was collected including demographic characteristics and relevant factors related to cervical lesions. HPV genotypes were detected by flow-through hybridization technology. Vaginal pH was detected by the pH test paper. Vaginal H 2O 2 was detected by the combined detection kit of aerobic vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal cleanliness was detected by smear method. Results:Data from the unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that HPV infection (CINⅠ: a OR=1.39, 95 %CI: 1.01-1.90; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: a OR=11.74, 95 %CI: 6.96-19.80), H 2O 2 (CINⅠ: a OR=2.09, 95 %CI: 1.47-2.98; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: a OR=4.12, 95 %CI: 2.01-8.43), cleanliness (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ: a OR=2.62, 95 %CI: 1.65-4.14), and composite indicators (CINⅠ: a OR=1.67, 95 %CI: 1.24-2.25; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: a OR=4.24, 95 %CI: 2.30-7.81) all had increased the risk of cervical lesion and the trend on the severity ( P<0.001) of cervical lesions. Additionally, we observed a synergic effect between HPV infection and vaginal micro-environmental composite indicator in CINⅡ/Ⅲ. With or without HPV infection, the ORs value of CINⅠ caused by vaginal micro-environment disorder remained close. Conclusions:Results from our study revealed that vaginal micro-environmental composite indicator could increase the risk for cervical lesion, in particular with the high-grade ones which all posed stronger risks when combined with HPV infection. However, the role of vaginal micro-environment disorder in the occurrence of CIN Ⅰ should not be ignored.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients aged between 40 and 50 years old undergoing cardiac valvular surgery and the impact on outcome. Methods: The clinical data of 286 patients aged between 40 and 50 years old undergoing cardiac valve surgery in Guangdong Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2012 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperative coronary angiography was performed in all patients. All patients enrolled were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group according to the existence or not of postoperative AKI. Patients with AKI were further divided into AKI stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3 groups according to KDIGO guideline. Demographic characteristics, preoperative clinical data including serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, uric acid, urinary protein, presence or absence of chronic kidney disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary artery pressure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, preoperative co-morbidity (hypertension, diabetes, anemia, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease), preoperative medication(vasoactive drugs, diuretic, renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RASI), surgical data (contrast dosage in coronary angiography, type of cardiac valve surgery) were recorded and analyzed in this retrospective study. The risk factors for postoperative AKI and its impact on clinical outcomes (mortality, hospitalization expenses and Intensive Care Unit stay duration) were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for postoperative AKI and the adjusted variables with P<0.2 were selected for the multivariate logistic regression analysis to define the independent determinants for AKI. Results: AKI was defined in 106 out of 286 enrolled patients, including 96 patients with AKI stage 1, 10 patients with AKI stage 2 and no patients with AKI stage 3. The proportion of coexisting cerebrovascular diseases was higher in AKI group than in non-AKI group (9(8.49%) and 5(2.78%), χ²=4.677, P=0.031), while there was no difference among other baseline data between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative complications of cerebral vascular disease was an independent risk factor of postoperative AKI (OR=3.578, 95%CI 1.139-11.242, P=0.029). Five out of 106 AKI patients died during hospitalization while there was only 1 patient died among 180 patients without AKI. Patients with AKI after cardiac valve operation experienced higher mortality than patients without AKI (χ²=5.625, P=0.028). Further analysis showed that there was no difference in hospitalization mortality between patients with AKI stage 2 and stage (χ²=0.686, P=0.408) while the hospitalization mortality in patients with AKI stage 2 was higher than those without AKI (χ²=8.113, P=0.004). The hospitalization expenses in patients with AKI were 10.38(8.59,12.54) ×10⁴ RMB, significantly higher than that in patients without AKI (9.72(8.03,11.93) ×10⁴ RMB)(P=0.043). There was no difference in hospitalization expenses between patients with AKI stage 1 and without AKI (P=0.635). The hospitalization expenses in patients with AKI stage 2 was higher than those without AKI (P=0.023). Intensive Care Unit stay duration in patients with AKI was 3(1,4) days, significantly higher than those without AKI (P=0.044). There was no difference in Intensive Care Unit stay duration in patients with AKI stage 1 and without AKI (P=0.978), while Intensive Care Unit stay duration in patients with AKI stage 2 was significantly longer than those without AKI (P=0.006). Conclusions Preoperative complications of cerebral vascular disease is an independent risk factor of postoperative AKI. Non-senile patients with AKI after cardiac valvular surgery is associated with a higher proportion of mortality, hospitalization expenses and Intensive Care Unit stay duration as compared patients without postoperative AKI.

Objective To evaluate the value of proteinuria in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery in elderly patients.Methods To retrospectively analyze the perioperative clinical data of elderly patients (age 60 or older)undergone cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at Guangdong General Hospital from January 2005 to December 2010.Target patients were divided into two groups according to AKI defined by the KDIGO criteria.Data for those two groups were examined by single-factor analysis,and then logistic regression analysis was used to further determine independent factors of AKI after cardiac surgery.Results Among 848 elderly patients,AKI occurred in 524(61.8％) participants,including 39.2％(n=332)at AKI stage 1,16.6％ (n =141) at AK I stage 2,and 6.0 ％ (n=51) at AKI stage 3.A total of 15.9 ％ of patients(n=135) had preoperative proteinuria,including 12.4 ％ (n =106) with mild proteinuria,and 3.5 ％ (n =30) with heavy proteinuria.Logistic regression analysis showed that proteinuria was correlated with postoperative AKI.With the increase of proteinuria,the risk of AKI also increased,and the OR values of mild and severe proteinuria were 1.758 (1.020-3.029) and 4.758 (1.326-17.077),respectively.Conclusions Preoperative proteinuria may predict the occurrence of AKI after cardiac surgery in elderly patients.There is a gradual increase in the risk of AKI as proteinuria becomes more severe.Early institution of therapeutic interventions may be used in elderly patients with preoperative proteinuria undergoing cardiac surgery to attenuate the risk of AKI.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the contents of secoiridoid substances (gentiopicroside, swertiamarin, sweroside) in the leaves of Gentiana rigescens from different populations in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (Shorted for Dali prefecture), and to provide reference for the selection of fine varieties, the development and utilization of G.rigescens. METHODS: The contents of secoiridoid substances in the leaves of G. rigescens from different populations in Dali prefecture were determined by HPLC, and the HPLC fingerprint was established. The contents of secoiridoid substances in the leaves of G. rigescens from different populations was studied by using single factor variance analysis, clustering analysis and principal component analysis. RESULTS: There were statistical significance in the contents of gentiamarin, swertiamarin and sweroside and the total contents in the leaves of G. rigescens from different populations in Dali prefecture (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Twelve common peaks were found in HPLC fingerprint, and HPLC fingerprint similarities of common peaks except Gantong population were all over 0. 972. Three peaks of them were identified as the characteristic peaks of gentiamarin, swertiamarin and sweroside which were correlated to the activities. The total contents of gentiamarin, swertiamarin and sweroside from different populations obtained by clustering analysis were consistent with that by HPLC fingerprint principal component analysis. CONCLUSIONS: There are great differences in the content of gentiamarin, swertiamarin and sweroside in the leaves of G. rigescens from different populations in Dali prefecture. The similarity of secoiridoid substances in the leaves of G. rigescens from different populations except Gantong population is higher.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the aging people.The early diagnosis is very important to slow down the progression and improve the prognosis of AD.At present,most researches focus on the subjective cognitive decline (SCD),which is considered as the preclinical stage of AD.The use of biological markers to predict whether the progress of SCD to AD is necessary.The progresses of imaging studies on SCD were reviewed in this article.

Objective To evaluate the position of the fetal conus medullaris during pregnancy and its value in detecting tethered cord syndrome(TCS). Methods Nine hundred and seventy-four normal fetuses and 46 fetuses with TCS between 15 and 41 weeks gestation were involved in the study.Parameters D 1 (the distance between the end of the conus medullaris and the caudal edge of last vertebral body ossification center) and D2 (the distance from the end of the conus medullaris to the caudal skin namely the intersection point of the extending line of D1 and the skin) were measured in the caudal midsagittal plane of the spine. Sixty normal fetuses were chosed randomly for interobserver variability.Correlation analysis between these two parameters and gestational age(GA) were conducted and the normal reference value of these parameters were calculated in normal group. The ratios of growth parameters ( Biparietal diameter, Head circumference,Abdominal circumference,Femur length) to D1 and D2 were calculated separately to observe the difference of the ratios between two groups. All the parameters and ratios of normal fetuses were compared with that of TCS cases.Results There was no significant difference in D1 and D2 between two observers.A significant linear correlation between the parameters and GA was found in normal group,linear regression equations were D1=0.251 GA -2.265 cm (R2=0.926,P <0.01) and D2=0.267 GA -1.812 cm(R2=0.928,P <0.01),respectively.D1 and D2 were much lower in normal group than in abnormal group (all P <0.01). The ratios of the growth parameters to D1 and D2 were relatively stable and had statistically differences between two groups in different gestational age. Conclusions The methods that determination of D1 and D2 are simple and feasible,and could help to the prenatal diagnosis of TCS.

ObjectiveAnalyze the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza in treating coronary heart disease (CHD).MethodsThe animal experiment using actual research, namely the selection of rat isolated heart perfusion model, rat model of myocardial ischemia and ventricular tachycardia in rabbits model, then the effects of different animal groups in hemodynamics, coronary flow, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) the results of the content.ResultsAfter treatment, the content of SOD was significantly increased and the content of MDA was significantly decreased in the treatment group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionTraditional chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza has significant effect on the treatment of coronary heart disease, which is beneficial to the recovery of patients' condition, and is worthy of clinical application.

Objective We aimed to investigate the clinical values of combination of blood creatinine and cystatin C for acute kidney injury(AKI)diagnosi. Methods Total 7 627 patients were studied retrospectively. The AKI was classified by creatinine or cystatin C according to the Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Results The maximum levels of cystatin C and creatinine were correlated(Spearman′s rank coefficient 0.699,P < 0.001). The area under a receiver operating characteristic curve of maximum cystatin C value for pre-dicting in-hospital death was 0.761(95% confidence interval 0.693 ~ 0.828). Total 1 004 and 173 patients were classified into AKI by blood creatinine or by cystatin C(13.2% vs.2.3%,P<0.001),respectively.The total inci-dence of AKI was 14.7% diagnosed by the combination of the two markers.In multivariable logistic model,the cre-atinine negative plus cystatin C positive group was associated with a higher in-hospital death compared with the cre-atinine and cystatin C double negative group(OR 15.524,95% confidence interval 5.110 ~ 47.166,P < 0.001). Conclusion Combination of cystatin C increased sensitivity of creatinine for AKI diagnosis and facilitated to iden-tify in-hospital patients with high risk.