Objective To investigate the relationships of serum levels of long non-coding RNA antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (lncRNA ANRIL) and long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation gene 1 (lncRNA PVT1) with the condition of disease and prognosis of children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods A total of 124 children diagnosed with ARDS were selected as patient group, and another 124 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination during the same period were selected as control group. Children with ARDS were divided into severe group (34 cases), moderate group (42 cases), and mild group (48 cases) according to the severity of their condition. Based on prognosis, the children with ARDS were further categorized into poor prognosis group (55 cases) and good prognosis group (69 cases). Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the serum levels of lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the influencing factors for poor prognosis in children with ARDS, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to assess the predictive value of serum lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1 levels for poor prognosis in these children. Results The serum levels of lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1 in the patient group were significantly higher than those in the control group. (P < 0.05). The serum levels of lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1 increased with the severity of the condition in the mild, moderate and severe groups (P < 0.05). The serum levels of lncRNA ANRIL, lncRNA PVT1, oxygenation index (OI), respiratory rate and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score in the poor prognosis group were significantly higher than those in the good prognosis group (P < 0.05). OI, respiratory rate, lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1 were identified as influencing factors for poor prognosis in children (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting poor prognosis in children with ARDS based on serum lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1 levels was 0.827 and 0.737, respectively, with cutoff values of 11.35 and 4.36. The combined prediction had an AUC of 0.876, which was superior to the individual prediction of serum lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1 levels (P < 0.05). Conclusion The serum levels of lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1 are upregulated in children with ARDS, and both lncRNA ANRIL and lncRNA PVT1 are influencing factors for poor prognosis. The combined prediction of these two markers has high value.

Background/Aims: We aimed to determine the association between blood urea level and incident cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients. Methods: The association between blood urea level and liver fibrosis/liver-related events were evaluated on continuous scale with restricted cubic spline curves based on generalized additive model or Cox proportional hazards models. Then, the above associations were evaluated by urea level within intervals. Results: Among 4,282 patients who had undergone liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography, baseline urea level had a U-shaped association with LSM and hepatic decompensation development after a median follow-up of 5.5 years. Compared to patients with urea of 3.6–9.9 mmol/L, those with urea ≤3.5 mmol/L (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.68–10.24) and ≥10 mmol/L (aHR, 5.22; 95% CI, 1.86–14.67) had higher risk of hepatic decompensation. Patients with urea ≤3.5 mmol/L also had higher risk of incident cirrhosis (aHR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.50–6.98). The association between low urea level and incident cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation was consistently observed in subgroups by age, gender, albumin level, and comorbidities. The U-shaped relationship between urea level and LSM was validated in another population screening study (n=917). Likewise, urea ≤3.5 mmol/L was associated with a higher risk of incident cirrhosis in a territory-wide cohort of 12,476 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease at a median follow-up of 9.9 years (aHR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.03–1.57). Conclusions We identified a U-shaped relationship between the urea level and liver fibrosis/incident cirrhosis/hepatic decompensation in patients with CLD.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor in China. Radiotherapy is the first-line treatment. After appropriate radiotherapy, about 5%-15% patients experience recurrence. In view of the poor efficacy and high incidence of severe late toxicities associated with re-irradiation, salvage surgery by the transnasal endoscopic approach is recommended for recurrent NPC (rNPC). Compared with re-irradiation, endoscopic surgery can better prolong survival, improve the quality of life, and reduce complications and medical expenses of patients with rNPC. However, the complexity of the nasopharyngeal skull base enhances the difficulty and risk of surgery. Expanding the boundary of surgical resection remains a clinical challenge for otolaryngologists. In this regard, to help more advanced patients with rNPC, the surgical innovative system of NPC needs to be established by multi-disciplinary cooperation, involving skull base anatomy-based investigation, appropriate administration of the internal carotid artery (ICA), repair of skull base defect, and establishment of various types of endoscopic endonasal nasopharyngectomy.

Objective To evaluate the application effect of telemedicine robot on the postoperative follow-up of liver transplantation recipients from donation after cardiac death (DCD). Methods A total of 100 recipients undergoing liver transplantation from DCD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Jiaotong University from January 2014 to December 2017 were recruited in this investigation. According to differnt follow-up patterns, all recipients were divided into the research group (n=50, follow-up by telemedicine robot) and control group (n=50, follow-up by traditional telephone). The compliance (medication compliance, self-monitoring, life compliance and follow-up compliance), follow-up time and follow-up satisfaction at postoperative 3 months of all DCD liver transplantation recipients were analyzed and statistically compared between research group and control group. Results The scores of medication compliance, self-monitoring, life compliance, follow-up compliance and the total score of compliance in the research group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). The each follow-up time of liver transplantation recipients in the research group was (9±4) min, significantly shorter than (13±4) min in the control group (t=-4.452, P < 0.001). The score of satisfaction during postoperative follow-up in the research group was 19.8±2.6, significantly higher than 16.2±3.1 in the control group (t=6.234, P < 0.001). Conclusions The application effect of telemedicine robot on the postoperative follow-up of liver transplantation recipients from DCD is satisfactory, deserves widespread application in clinical practice. It is expected to become an indispensable part of the postoperative follow-up of liver transplantation recipients from DCD.

Objective To systematically review the effect of enteral nutrition via a naso-gastric (intestinal) tube (NG) vs a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy (PEG/PEJ) after liver transplantation,and provide support for the selection of proper nutrition.Methods Pub Med,web of science,Cochrane Library (Jan,2018),CNKI,VIP and Wanfang Date were search until Jan,2018.Two authors independently assessed the trials for inclusion and extracted the data.Discrepancies were resolved in consultation with a third reviewer,about the research of retrospective study for the effects of enteral nutrition via NG vs PEG/PEJ after liver transplantation was performed and supplemented.Publication bias were evaluated,and Meta-analyses were conducted with RevMan5.3.Results 4 studies were collected,involving 430 patients.The Meta-analysis showed that starting time of enteral nutrition of PEG/PEJ was earlier than NG (MD =-1.77,95％ CI-1.83 to-1.70,P＜0.05).The average hospitalization time of PEG/PEJ was shorter than NG (MD=-2.88,95％CI-5.19 to-0.56,P＜0.05).The diarrhea incidence of PEG/PEJ was higher than NG (OR=1.66,95％CI 1.04 to 2.65,P＜0.05),and gastroesophageal reflux incidence of PEG/PEJ was lower than NG (OR=0.29,95％CI 0.12 to 0.66,P＜0.05).The gastric retention rate of PEG/PEJ was lower than NG (OR =0.26,95％ CI 0.14 to 0.41,P＜0.05).Dislocation incidence of PEG/PEJ was lower than NG (OR =0.06,95％CI 0.01 to 0.46,P＜0.05).The pneumonia incidence of PEG/PEJ tube was lower than NG (OR=0.59,95％CI 0.36 to 0.99,P＜0.05).There were no significant differences between PEG/PEJ and NG on indwelling time,occlusion,abdominal infection,acute renal insufficiency,and acute rejection reaction.Conclusion PEG/PEJ had earlier starting time of enteral nutrition,shorter hospitalization time,lower nutrition tube placement related complications such as gastric esophagus reflux,gastric retention,dislocation rate and lower incidence of pneumonia,but the incidence of diarrhea was higher.NG is the first choice after liver transplantation,and for patients with serious basic diseases,weak digestive function or digestive system disorders PEG/PEJ can be chosen.

Objective To assess the value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in left ventricular structure and function in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).Methods Twenty-five patients with ESRD and 10 healthy subjects underwent CMR.Left ventricular end diastolic volume(EDV),end-diastolic diameter(EDD),end-systolic volume(ESV),end-systolic diameter(ESD),stroke volume(SV),ejection fraction(EF),LVM and interventricular septum (IVS) thickness were measured and compared.The parameters from CMR and 2DTTE were compared.Results The EF in patients with ESRD was significantly lower than that in controls (P＜0.001),while ESV,ESD,IVS and LVM were respectively higher than these in controls (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference (P＞0.05) in ESV between CMR and 2DTTE,but EF of CMR was significantly higher than this of 2DTTE (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference (P =0.296) in left ventricular systolic functional category.Bland-Altman plots showed a good agreement between the two methods.Conclusion CMR is a helpful tool to assess left ventricular structure and function in patients with ESRD.

Objective:To examine the changes of mimecan protein expression in development of atherosclerosis induced by sinoaortic denervation,and to explore the effects of mimecan knock down on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.Methods:The animals were randomly divided into a sham group and a model group (n=8 in each group).The rat model of blood pressure variability was established by sinoaortic denervation,and the hemodynamic indexes were recorded 20 weeks after the surgery to confirm the success of the model.The thoracic aorta was excised and stained with immunohistochemistry to observe the pathological changes of smooth muscle tissues and the changes of mimecan expression.The mice vascular smooth muscle cells were isolated,and which were treated with mimecan siRNA to knock down the mimecan expression,The cell proliferation was observed by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu) in corporation test and the changes of cell migration was observed by wound healing test.Results:Twenty weeks after sinoaortic denervation,the blood pressure variability in the model group was significantly increased compared with that in the sham group,suggesting the model was successfully established.In addition,the increased blood pressure variability in the model group promoted the proliferation and migration of the vascular smooth muscle cells in thoracic aorta,while the expression of mimecan protein was significantly decreased.In in vitro assays,the knock down of mimecan in mice vascular smooth muscle cells could promote the cell proliferation and migration.Conclusion:Mimecan plays a protective role in the development of sinoaortic denervation induced atherosclerosis through amechanism involving suppression of the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Objective To systematically review the predictive factors associated with reversibility of post-transplantation diabetes mellitus in adults using Meta-analysis,and to provide a theoretical basis for clinical prevention and treatment of diabetes after transplantation.Methods Pub Med,Web of Science,Cochrane Library (Issue 5,2017),CNKI,VIP and WanFang Data were searched from inception until May 2017.Two authors independently assessed the trials for inclusion and extracted the data.Discrepancies were resolved in consultation with a third reviewer.Publication biases were evaluated,and the Meta-analyses were conducted with RevMan5.3.Results A total of 7 studies were analyzed which involved 979 adults.Metaanalysis showed the following significant predictive factors:male (OR =1.73,95％ CI 1.19 to 2.50,P ＜0.05),advanced age (MD =1.73,95％ CI 0.07 to 10.39,P =0.05),high FPG before transplantation (MD=5.66,95％CI 0.11 to 11.31,P=0.05),hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (OR=1.52,95％CI 1.08 to 2.14,P ＜ 0.05),high frequency of combination therapy with MMF (OR =0.26,95％ CI 0.11 to 0.61,P ＜ 0.05),and short time before development of PTDM (MD =-19.08,95％ CI-37.08 to -1.07,P ＜ 0.05).There was no correlation with preoperative BMI,family history of diabetes and acute rejection.Conclusion The study showed that male,advanced age,high FPG before transplantation,hepatitis C virus infection,high frequency combination therapy with MMF,short time before development of posttransplantation diabetes mellitus were the predictive factors associated with reversibility of post-transplantation diabetes mellitus.

Objective To analyze the correlation between emphysema extent measured by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests, symptom score in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) , and to study the value of HRCT in the emphysema quantification in the clinical evaluation of COPD patients. Methods 78 patients with stable COPD were recruited to take the HRCT scan , and emphysema extent was qualified by measuring the proportion of low attenuation area in the whole lung (LAA%). Correlations between LAA% and indices of pulmonary function test, bronchial dilation test, mMRC scale, CAT score and six minutes walking distance (6MWD) were assessed. Results LAA% was negatively correlated with FEV1/FVC and DLCO%pred, and the correlation coefficients were -0.759 and -0.589 (P <0.01), respectively. LAA% was positively related to mMRC score (r = 0.342, P < 0.01), and negatively asso-ciated with 6MWD (r = -0.365,P< 0.01). There was no association between LAA% and indices of bronchodila-tion test (⊿FVC, ⊿FVC%, ⊿FEV1, ⊿FEV1%) (P > 0.05). Conclusions The severity of emphysema measured by HRCT is well correlated with the clinical symptoms , pulmonary function tests and exercise capacity in COPD patients. It can be used to diagnose emphysema early and to evaluate the severity of the disease com-prehensively. Thus, the risk factors of COPD can be controlled and the prognosis of the patients can be im-proved.