BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that a healthy diet helps to prevent the development of Alzheimer disease (AD). This study aimed to investigate whether spicy food consumption is associated with cognition and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of AD in the Chinese population. METHODS: We enrolled 55 AD patients and 55 age- and gender-matched cognitively normal (CN) subjects in a case-control study, as well as a cohort of 131 participants without subjective cognitive decline (non-AD) in a cross-sectional study. Spicy food consumption was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Associations of FFQ scores with cognition and CSF biomarkers of AD were analyzed. RESULTS: In the case-control study, spicy food consumption was lower in AD patients than that in CNs (4.0 [4.0-8.0] vs. 8.0 [4.5-10.0], P < 0.001); FFQ scores were positively associated with Mini-Mental Status Examination scores in the total sample (r = 0.218, P = 0.014). In the cross-sectional study, the association between spicy food consumption and cognition levels was verified in non-AD subjects (r = 0.264, P = 0.0023). Moreover, higher FFQ scores were significantly associated with higher β-Amyloid (1-42) (Aβ42) levels and lower phospho-tau/Aβ42 and total tau/Aβ42 ratios in the CSF of non-AD subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Spicy food consumption is closely related to higher cognition levels and reversed AD biomarkers in the CSF, suggesting that a capsaicin-rich diet might have the potential to modify the cognitive status and cerebral pathologies associated with AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Biomarkers ; Case-Control Studies ; Cognition ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Peptide Fragments ; tau Proteins

【Objective】 To study the diagnostic value of computed tomography(CT) in the diagnosis of infantile congenital lung malformation(CLM) . 【Methods】 A total of 76 CLM patients diagnosed in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from May 2019 to May 2020 were selected. The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative CT and prenatal ultrasound(US) diagnosis of CLM was compared based on the gold standard of pathological results. The preoperative CT findings and differential diagnosis were analyzed. 【Results】 Among the 76 cases of CLM, there were 36 cases of congenital pulmonary airway malformation(CPAM), 26 cases of pulmonary sequestration(PS), 8 cases of congenital lobar emphysema(CLE), and 6 cases of mixed type. There was a moderate agreement between CT and US diagnosis of CLM(Kappa = 0.465, P < 0.05). The accuracy rate of CT diagnosis was 85.5%, which was higher than that of US(69.7%). McNemar test result is P = 0.001, the difference of diagnostic value between CT and US was statistically significant. In terms of CT manifestations, CPAM was mainly characterized by cystic lesions of different sizes. PS showed pulmonary mass with abnormal blood supply artery, mainly from the aortic branch. CLE was characterized by overexpansion of the pulmonary lobes and thinning of the pulmonary blood vessels. 【Conclusions】 In infantile CLM, preoperative CT is an important supplementary examination for prenatal US. Different types of CLM have different manifestations. CT can diagnose and distinguish different types of CLM, which provides an important basis for preoperative clinical evaluation.

Objective:To observe the efficacy of laminoplasty with reconstructing of cervical extensor attachment on cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) involving C₂ segment. Methods:From March, 2014 to January, 2017, 46 cases with CSM involving C₂ accepted surgery in our hospital. They were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods. Control group (n = 21) accepted traditional laminoplasty, while observation group (n = 25) accepted laminoplasty with extensor muscle attachment point reconstruction. They were assessed with Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) spinal scores, cervical range of motion (ROM), cervical curvature, areas of posterior cervical muscles and axial symptoms. Results:There was no significant difference at operative time and intraoperative blood loss (t < 0.863, P > 0.05) between groups. After surgery, the JOA score increased in both groups (F > 24.961, P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between two groups (t < 0.282, P > 0.05). ROM varied little in both groups (F < 0.931, P > 0.05). The cervical neutral position curvature decreased in the control group (F = 8.241, P < 0.01), but not in the observation group (F = 2.705, P > 0.05). The areas of posterior muscle decreased in control group (t = 2.678, P < 0.05), but not in the observation group (t = 0.854, P > 0.05). The incidence of axial symptoms was less in the observation group than in the control group (Z = -2.192, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Laminoplasty could relieve the spinal compression at C₂ segment and promote the recovery of neurological function, and it can do better in cervical curvature and posterior cervical muscle atrophy as combination with reconstruction of extensor muscle attachment, to reduce the axial symptoms.

To analyze the clinical profile and therapeutic effect of re-operation treatment in uremic patients complicated with persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism(SHPT)after parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation.Twelve persistent SHPT patients who were treated with reoperation of paramyroidectomy(PTX)were enrolled in this study during the period from Jan 2014 to Jul 2017 in our hospital.We evaluated the location of the remaining parathyroid glands by ultrasonography,dual-phase 99 Tcm-sestamibi scintigraphy,CT and MR imaging of the neck before the operation.We resected the parathyroid gland tissue in situ,and the ectopic parathyroid glands hiding in thymus,mediastinal,tracheal esophageal groove,thyroid gland and other locations in the neck.During the surgery,nanocarbon imaging was used to help identify the parathyroid gland and parathyroid hormone assay(IOPTH)was measured at the end of the surgery.We observed the changes of clinical symptoms after the surgery and collected blood parameters including serum intact aramyroidhomone(i-PTH),calcium(Ca),phosphoms(P),calcium and phosphorus product before and after surgery.Complications and failure were also analyzed.All the 12 patients underwented successful operation.The postoperative pathological results were hyperplastic parathyroid glands tissue.22 parathyroid glands were resected,among which 14 were located at the neck in situ,8 were ectopic,i.e.,located at thymus in 4 cases,superior mediastinum in 2 cases and thyroid parenchyma in 2 cases.The clinical symptoms were significantly improved including osteoarthritis,skin itching and limb weakness.The levels of serum iPTH,calcium,phosphorus and calcium and phosphorus product were significantly lower than those before operation(<0.05).Ten patients presented hypocalcemia after surgery and the level of calcium returned to normal after supplement of calcium.Temporary injury of laryngeal nerve was found in4 cases,but there was no patient with transient bucking,dyspnea or death.No recurrence was found during 1 year follow-up.It was very important to locate the residual parathyroid gland accurately with a variety of imaging methods in uremic patients complicated with persistent or recurrent SHPT when they needed re-operation.Surgeons should explorate ectopic parathyroid gland according to the concept of the superior mediastinum dissection and the central compartment neck dissection.Meanwhile,the use of nanocarbon assisted parathyroid gland negative imaging and rapid IOPTH can significantly improve the success rate of surgery and reduce surgical complications.
Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; complications ; surgery ; Parathyroid Glands ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroidectomy ; Reoperation ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Uremia ; complications

Objective To observe the effect of limited laminectomy combined with foraminal stenosis decompression on preventing C5nerve root palsy and improving neurological function. Methods From March,2014 to May,2016,69 patients with multi-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent surgical treatment in our hospital were included.Thirty-eight patients(group A)were treated with limited lami-nectomy combined with foraminal stenosis decompression and internal fixation,and 31 patients(group B)under-went routine laminectomy and internal fixation.The postoperative neurological recovery rate,cervical curvature index(CCI)and C5palsy rate were recorded and analyzed. Results No spinal cord and nerve injury occurred during the operation.The width of laminectomy was(16.8±2.1)mm in group A,and was significantly less than(21.7±2.5)mm in group B(t=8.849,P<0.001).There was no significant difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between two groups(t<0.439,P>0.05).The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score increased continuously after surgery in both groups (F>42.996, P<0.05), and no significant difference was found between them at each time point(t<1.021,P>0.05).The cervical curva-ture index improved after surgery(F>86.379,P<0.05),and no significant difference was found between them at each time point(t<0.943,P>0.05).The spinal cord drift distance was(3.6±0.7)mm in group A,and ws signifi-cantly shorter than(2.5±0.5)mm in group B(t=7.602,P<0.001).There was no significantly difference in the neu-rological recovery rate between two groups(t=0.724,P=0.471).The C5palsy rate was lower in group A(5.2%,2/38)than in group B(22.5%,7/31)(χ2=4.514,P=0.034). Conclusion Limited laminectomy combined with foraminal stenosis decompression could relieve the spinal cord com-pression and restrict the excessive back drift, promote the neurological function recovery and reduce the inci-dence of C5palsy.

We investigated epidemiological characteristic of scrub typhus in Yongshan County,Yunnan Province,China. The serum samples were collected from the patients with fever for detecting the antibody against Orientia tsutsugamsushi (Ot) by colloidal gold immunoassay assay.Rat traps were used to capture rodents.The spleen tissues of the captured rodents were detected by nested-polymerase chain reaction for rickettsia groEL segment.The groEL segments were sequenced and analyzed the homology with the other known sequences.Thirty-four scrub typhus cases were found in Yongshan County,Yunnan Prov-ince from May 2015 to October 2015.Among them,21 cases were confirmed by laboratory tests and 13 cases were clinical di-agnosis diseases.Of these patients,32.35% of the cases occurred in June.The 32.35% were in the group of the 40-49 year-old,and 79.41% were farmers,94.12% exhibited eschar or skin ulcer(31.25% were observed in groin of these cases),and rash developed in 50%.In 39 spleen tissue samples of Rattus flavipectus,9 samples showed positive for groEL gene Ot,but gro-EL gene of Typhus group rickettsia and spotted fever group rickettsia were negative.Sequence analysis showed that YSP30 was closely related to some Saitama related strains of Ot,such as HSB1,FAR1 and UAP4,while the other 8 strains were closely related to some Karp related strains of Ot,such as UT213,UT221 and SH205.It was confirmed that the Yongshan County was the natural foci of scrub typhus by the serological and molecular biological detections.There are Karp and Saitama genotype related Ots in the natural foci.

We assessed genetic and environmental effects on bone development of the hand and wrist, and on key anthropometric measures in Chinese young twins. In total, 139 monozygotic and 95 dizygotic twin pairs aged from 5 to 18 years were recruited. The twin correlations of total hand and wrist scores for monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins were 0.71 and 0.36, respectively. Bivariate model analysis showed moderate genetic correlations only for total skeletal maturity vs. weight and total skeletal maturity vs. waist circumference (r, 0.51 and 0.46, respectively). Our findings demonstrated that genetic factors played important roles in bone development of the hand and wrist in Chinese young twins, and that these genetic effects might be distinct from those influencing anthropometric measures.
Adolescent ; Bone Development ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; Hand Bones ; growth & development ; Humans ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic ; Wrist ; growth & development