INTRODUCTION: An echocardiographic calcium score (ECS) predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. Its utility in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is unknown. METHODS: This cross-sectional study assessed 125 patients on PD. The ECS (range 0-8) was compared between subjects with CVD and those without. RESULTS: Among the subjects, 54 had CVD and 71 did not. Subjects with CVD were older (69 years vs. 56 years, P < 0.001) and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) (81.5% vs. 45.1%, P < 0.001). They had lower diastolic blood pressure (72 mmHg vs. 81 mmHg, P < 0.001), lower phosphate (1.6 mmol/L vs. 1.9 mmol/L, P = 0.002), albumin (30 g/L vs. 32 g/L, P = 0.001), parathyroid hormone (34.4 pmol/L vs. 55.8 pmol/L, P = 0.002), total cholesterol (4.5 vs. 4.9, P = 0.047), LDL cholesterol (2.4 mmol/L vs. 2.8 mmol/L, P = 0.019) and HDL cholesterol (0.8 mmol/L vs. 1.1 mmol/L, P = 0.002). The ECS was found to be higher in subjects with CVD than in those without (2 vs. 1, P = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, only DM and age were independently associated with CVD. CONCLUSION The ECS was significantly higher in PD patients with CVD than in those without, reflecting a higher vascular calcification burden in the former. It is a potentially useful tool to quantify vascular calcification in PD patients.
Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnostic imaging* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Calcium ; Peritoneal Dialysis/adverse effects* ; Vascular Calcification/epidemiology* ; Echocardiography

Objective:To explore the role of transgelin(TAGLN) in the occurrence and development of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its possible signal pathway.Methods:One hundred cases of PTC tissues and corresponding paracancerous normal thyroid tissues were collected. Realtime quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of TAGLN in PTC tissues and corresponding paracancerous normal thyroid tissues. PTC cells were transfected with plasmid and shRNA lentivirus vector respectively to up-regulate or down-regulate the expression of TAGLN in order to detect the effects of them on the proliferation, invasion, and migration by cell proliferation assay(cell counting kit-8, CCK-8)and cell invasion and migration assays (Transwell). The effects of TAGLN on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular-signal regulating kinase (ERK) signal pathway was detected with Western blotting.Results:RT-qPCR showed that there was no difference in the expression of TAGLN mRNA between PTC and corresponding paracancerous normal thyroid tissues ( P>0.05); Western blotting demonstrated that the expression of TAGLN protein in PTC tissues was significantly lower than that in corresponding paracancerous normal thyroid tissues ( P<0.01). Immunohistochemical results revealed that the expression of TAGLN in PTC tissues was significantly lower than that in corresponding paracancerous normal thyroid tissues. Overexpression of TAGLN inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of PTC cells ( P<0.01), but knockdown of TAGLN promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of PTC cells ( P<0.01). Overexpression of TAGLN decreased the expression of phosphorylated ERK ( P<0.05), whereas silencing TAGLN increased phosphorylated ERK level in PTC cells( P<0.01). Conclusion:The expression of TAGLN in PTC is significantly decreased. It is related to the occurrence and development of PTC, and its mechanism may be related to MAPK/ERK signal pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes (hUCMSCs-ex) injection on cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) rats induced by Adriamycin(ADR).Methods:One hundred male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group (20 rats) and the DCM group (80 rats). The rats in DCM group were treated with ADR by intravenous injection to induce DCM.DCM rats were randomly divided equally into DCM group, low-dose group, medium-dose group and high-dose group which were received intravenous injection 1 mL/kg Dulbecco′s modified eagle medium(DMEM), 20 μg/kg, 100 μg/kg and 250 μg/kg exosomes.After modeling, 10 rats in normal group and 30 rats in DCM group were randomly selected to receive echocardiography to evaluate the cardiac function.After exosomes treatment, 10 rats were randomly selected form each group for echocardiography to evaluate the cardiac function.The morphological changes in myocardial cells were observed by using Masson staining in each group; Western blot detection between groups of rats was used to analyze the expression of myocardial collagen Ⅰ type(COLⅠ), Smad2 and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).Results:Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS)in the DCM group [(64.30±3.51)% and (38.70±2.85)%] were significantly lower than those of the normal group [(78.80±1.52)% and (50.60±1.50)%], and the differences were statistically significant ( t=20.518, 22.311, all P<0.01). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) [(4.62±0.13) mm and (3.40±0.12) mm] of the DCM group were significantly higher than those of the normal group[(3.29±0.24) mm and (3.16±0.33) mm], and the differences were statistically significant( t=2.854, 3.800, all P<0.01). After exosomes treatment, LVEF[(84.3±2.6)% and (83.4±3.2)%] in the medium-dose and high-dose groups were significantly higher than that in the DCM group [(79.2±2.4)%], and the diffe-rences were statistically significant(all P<0.01). Masson staining found that collagen fibers were less in exosomes treating group than those in the DCM group; Western blot test showed that high-dose exosomes can reduce the expression of α-SMA and Smad2, high-dose and low-dose exosomes can both significantly reduce the expression of COLⅠ. Conclusions:It suggests that exosomes intravenous injection from hUCMSCs-ex can significantly improve myocardial fibrosis in DCM rats induced by ADR and cardiac function.

Objective:To observe the effect of Dredging Correcting Manipulation on cblC methylmalonic aciduria (MMA). Methods:From October, 2017 to October, 2018, 72 children with cblC MMA combined with growth retardation were divided into control group (n = 36) and experimental group (n = 36) according to the consent of their parents. The control group accepted routine medicine, and the experimental group received Dredging Correcting Manipulation in addition. The Griffiths Development Scale-Chinese version (GDS-C) was used to evaluate the two groups before and after treatment. At the same time, body length, body mass and head circumference were measured. Results:Six cases in the control group and five cases in the experimental group were dropped out. There was no significant difference in the development quotients of GDS-C in gross movement, personal and social, hearing and speech, hand-eye coordination, operation and total quotient between two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, all the development quotients increased in both groups (t > 6.110, P < 0.001), and the development quotients of GDS-C in gross movement, personal and social, hand-eye coordination and total quotient were higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.154, P < 0.05), as well as the body length (t = 2.027, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Dredging Correcting Manipulation can promote the neuropsychological and physical development of children with cblC MMA combined with retardation.

Objective: To detect the methylation status of ribosomal S6 kinase 4 (RSK4)in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC)and to study its correlation with mRNA expression and clinical features. Methods: 134 cases PTC tissues and corresponding paracancerous thyroid tissues were collected. DNA methylation status of RSK4 gene in PTC tissues and corresponding paracancerous tissues were analyzed by methylation specific PCR and bisulfite genomic sequencing, and mRNA expression was detected by quantitative realtime PCR. The relationship of DNA methylation status with mRNA expression and clinical features was analyzed. Results: The methylation rate of RSK4 in PTC tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues by methylation specific PCR (P<0.05)and bisulfite genomic sequencing (P<0.01). The RSK4 mRNA level in PTC tissues was significantly lower than that in paracancerous tissues (P<0.01). In PTC tissues, RSK4 mRNA expression in methylation group was lower than that in unmethylation group (P<0.01). The RSK4 mRNA level in PTC of methylation was lower than that in paracancerous tissues of methylation (P<0.01); the RSK4 mRNA level in PTC of unmethylation was also lower than that in paracancerous tissues of unmethylated ones (P<0.01). There was relationship of RSK4 hypermethylation with lymphatic metastasis and TNM grade (P<0.05). Serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroid peroxidase antibody, and thyroglobulin antibody in methylation group were higher than those in unmethylation group (P<0.05). Conclusion The hypermethylation of RSK4 promoter′s CpG islands might be one of the mechanisms for poor expression of RSK4 in PTC, which may serve as a molecular target of early diagnosis and treatment.

Objective This study aimed to explore the potential effects of terahertz (THz) waves on primary cultured neurons from 4 rat brain regions (hippocampus,cerebral cortex,cerebellum,and brainstem)and 3 kinds of neuron-like cells (MN9D,PC12,and HT22 cells) under nonthermal conditions.Methods THz waves with an output power of 50 (0.16 THz) and 10 (0.17 THz) mW with exposure times of 6 and 60 min were used in this study.Analysis of temperature change,neurite growth,cell membrane roughness,micromorphology,neurotransmitters and synaptic-related proteins (SYN and PSD95) was used to evaluate the potential effects.Results Temperature increase caused by the THz wave was negligible.THz waves induced significant neurotransmitter changes in primary hippocampal,cerebellar,and brainstem neurons and in MN9D and PC12 cells.THz wave downregulated SYN expression in primary hippocampal neurons and downregulated PSD95 expression in primary cortical neurons.Conclusion Different types of cells responded differently after THz wave exposure,and primary hippocampal and cortical neurons and MN9D cells were relatively sensitive to the THz waves.The biological effects were positively correlated with the exposure time of the THz waves.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment strategy of chronic low-er limb arterial ischemic. Methods The clinical data of 60 patients with chronic lower limb arterial ische-mic-treated from January 2017 to May 2017 were analyzed retrospectively (63 affected limbs). According to the patient's physical condition, clinical symptoms and pathological features, individualized surgical treat-ment was selected, including autogenous great saphenous vein or artificial blood vessel bypass grafting, ar-tery intima stripped, balloon dilatation, stenting, intracavity volume reduction, or hybrid procedures. The ankle brachial index of preoperative and postoperative 3 months was monitored, and patients were classified according to the Rutherford classification standard. Results Sixty cases were underwent surgery treatment, three patients were treated with bilateral lower limbs in the same period, successfully 58 cases and success rate reached 96. 67％. One case was subjected to amputation, and 1 case died (cardiovascular disease). Postoperative 3 month follow-up, the Rutherford grading of 59 affected limbs was improved markedly, aver-age ankle brachial index of postoperative was higher than preoperative ( P<0. 05 ) . Six cases of patients with ulcer were cured, the ulcer surface of 2 cases were significantly narrowed. Conclusions The inci-dence of chronic lower limb arterial ischemic is increasing year by year, the treatment ideas are constantly updated. It is safe and effective to select individualized treatment according to the patients' physical condi-tion, clinical symptoms and pathological feature. However it still needs to enlarge the sample and extend the time of follow-up to verify this point.

PURPOSE: To perform an economic evaluation of the different treatment methods available for primary open-angle glaucoma in a Korean setting, including medication, selective laser trabeculoplasty, or surgery. METHODS: Three independent Markov chains were constructed for each treatment option to simulate treatment progress and to evaluate the total treatment costs for each initial strategy. The Markov chain consisted of different stages (5, 10, 20 stages), with each stage being one year. Assuming 1000 patients, a Monte Carlo simulation was iterated 1000 times to evaluate the cost of treatment over 5, 10 and 20 years. RESULTS: During the initial five years, medication as the initial treatment was the most expensive, whereas laser trabeculoplasty was the cheapest. After ten years, surgery became the cheapest treatment. In ten years, if the success rate of surgery is greater than 30.1%, it was more economic to choose surgery as the initial treatment. For laser trabeculoplasty, if the success rate was greater than 16.3%, laser treatment was more economical than was medication. Our model shows that only if the annual cost of medication decreases to 60,000 won or 55,000 won, then the cost of choosing medication as the initial treatment strategy will be more economical than that of laser therapy or surgery, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The economic value of choosing laser therapy as the initial treatment strategy is the greatest over five simulated-years, whereas surgery had the greatest economic value over more than ten years.
Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Markov Chains ; Trabeculectomy

The International Standard Chinese-English Basic Nomenclature of Chinese medicine (ISN) was released in 2007, a nomenclature list consisting of 6 500 Chinese medical terms. ISN was the culmination of several years of collaborative diligent work of over 200 specialists who represent Chinese medicine in 68 countries. The overall goal for devising standard English nomenclature for Chinese medicine is to develop a practical international standard nomenclature for Chinese medical basic terms, to make it compatible with contemporary research and educational standards in the globalized health care service. In this article, provided is an overview of principles and methods for the multilingual translations, the processes behind the particular content of the Chinese-English ISN and an introduction to the ongoing new projects, i.e. the multilingual versions of ISN (International Standards of Chinese-Spanish, Chinese-French and Chinese-Portuguese Basic Nomenclature of Chinese Medicine).
Anatomy ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Multilingualism ; Publications ; standards ; Reference Standards ; Terminology as Topic ; Translating ; Vocabulary, Controlled ; World Health Organization