A case of sudden cardiac death due to mitochondrial disease

A 25-year-old, emaciated man without medical treatment was found to have died suddenly at home by his mother. At autopsy, there were no injuries to his body, but significant circulatory insufficiency was observed. Electron microscopy revealed abnormal mitochondria in cells of the cardiac conduction system. The conduction system was filled with mitochondrial size abnormalities and mitochondrial cristae abnormalities. No notable abnormal findings were observed in other organs. Genetic examination of the blood revealed the mitochondrial pathogenetic variant m.3243A>G. Epileptic seizures, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state were unlikely to be the cause of sudden death. The cause of death was diagnosed as arrhythmia possibly induced by the failure of the cardiac conduction system due to mitochondrial disease. This is a rare case of sudden death caused by an accumulation of abnormal mitochondria in the cardiac conduction system.     

寰枢椎后路柔性固定的生物力学研究

目的分析细棒、PEEK棒固定对寰枢关节稳定性的影响。方法采用6具新鲜成人枕骨(occipital bone,Oc)~颈椎C4节段进行测试,模拟以下手术及固定状态:①完整状态;②损伤状态:枢椎齿状突II型骨折;③坚强固定:寰枢椎均采用普通椎弓根螺钉固定,直径3.5 mm钛棒连接;④PEEK棒:直径3.5 mm的PEEK棒连接;⑤细棒:直径2.0 mm钛棒连接。采用重复测量实验设计,在完整、损伤和不同的固定状态下,通过脊柱试验机对标本分别施加1.5 N·m的前屈/后伸、左/右侧弯和左/右轴向旋转的纯力偶矩。采用Optotrak三维运动测量系统连续采集标本运动,分析寰枢椎之间角度运动范围和中性区。结果采用直径3.5 mm的钛棒,2.0 mm的细棒以及3.5 mm的PEEK棒固定后,在前屈、后伸、侧弯和旋转方向上均显著减小了固定节段的运动范围(P<0.05)。直径3.5 mm和2.0 mm的棒固定后的运动范围,在各个方向上无显著性差异。PEEK棒固定的运动范围仅在侧弯方向上大于坚强固定(P=0.005),其他方向无显著性差异。3种固定方式在屈伸、侧弯和旋转方向上均显著减小了固定节段的中性区(P<0.05)。各种固定方式之间相比较,无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论在寰枢关节采用直径2.0 mm的细棒固定,与坚强固定的稳定性相当。采用直径3.5 mm的PEEK棒固定,在前屈、后伸、旋转方向上与坚强固定的稳定性相当,在侧弯方向上弱于坚强固定。     

Hepatitis B and circadian rhythm of the liver

The circadian rhythm in humans is determined by the central clock located in the hypothalamus’s suprachiasmatic nucleus, and it synchronizes the peripheral clocks in other tissues. Circadian clock genes and clock-controlled genes exist in almost all cell types. They have an essential role in many physiological processes, including lipid metabolism in the liver, regulation of the immune system, and the severity of infections. In addition, circadian rhythm genes can stimulate the immune response of host cells to virus infection. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of liver disease and liver cancer globally. HBV infection depends on the host cell, and hepatocyte circadian rhythm genes are associated with HBV replication, survival, and spread. The core circadian rhythm proteins, REV-ERB and brain and muscle ARNTL-like protein 1, have a crucial role in HBV replication in hepatocytes. In addition to influencing the virus’s life cycle, the circadian rhythm also affects the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of antiviral vaccines. Therefore, it is vital to apply antiviral therapy at the appropriate time of day to reduce toxicity and improve the effectiveness of antiviral treatment. For these reasons, understanding the role of the circadian rhythm in the regulation of HBV infection and host responses to the virus provides us with a new perspective of the interplay of the circadian rhythm and anti-HBV therapy. Therefore, this review emphasizes the importance of the circadian rhythm in HBV infection and the optimization of antiviral treatment based on the circadian rhythm-dependent immune response.     

Role of the newly designed Ankle Foot Orthosis on balance related parametersin drop foot post stroke patients

BackgroundPassive and hybrid passive ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are often prescribed in post stroke drop foot; however, the effects of these AFOs on balance related parameters in these patients seem unclear. Accordingly, the aim of current study was to evaluate the role of the newly designed hybrid passive and Posterior Leaf Spring (PLS) AFOs on balance related parameters including: self-reported balance confidence (ABC), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in post stroke drop foot patients.MethodsFifteen post stroke drop foot patients were recruited in current study. Then, ABC, TUG and BBS were assessed with newly designed AFO and PLS AFO.ResultsThe results of this study were shown a significant improvement in ABC, TUG and BBS scores with the newly designed AFO than PLS AFO (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study suggested that the newly designed AFO was improved the balance related parameters than PLS AFO.     

PREDICT-GTN 1: Can we improve the FIGO scoring system in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia?

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) patients are treated according to the eight-variable International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) scoring system, that aims to predict first-line single-agent chemotherapy resistance. FIGO is imperfect with one-third of low-risk patients developing disease resistance to first-line single-agent chemotherapy. We aimed to generate simplified models that improve upon FIGO. Logistic regression (LR) and multilayer perceptron (MLP) modelling (n = 4191) generated six models (M1-6). M1, all eight FIGO variables (scored data); M2, all eight FIGO variables (scored and raw data); M3, nonimaging variables (scored data); M4, nonimaging variables (scored and raw data); M5, imaging variables (scored data); and M6, pretreatment hCG (raw data) + imaging variables (scored data). Performance was compared to FIGO using true and false positive rates, positive and negative predictive values, diagnostic odds ratio, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, Bland-Altman calibration plots, decision curve analysis and contingency tables. M1-6 were calibrated and outperformed FIGO on true positive rate and positive predictive value. Using LR and MLP, M1, M2 and M4 generated small improvements to the ROC curve and decision curve analysis. M3, M5 and M6 matched FIGO or performed less well. Compared to FIGO, most (excluding LR M4 and MLP M5) had significant discordance in patient classification (McNemar's test P < .05); 55-112 undertreated, 46-206 overtreated. Statistical modelling yielded only small gains over FIGO performance, arising through recategorisation of treatment-resistant patients, with a significant proportion of under/overtreatment as the available data have been used a priori to allocate primary chemotherapy. Streamlining FIGO should now be the focus.     

流动人口基层医疗卫生机构首诊现状及影响因素分析

目的:了解流动人口基层首诊现状及其影响因素,为推进流动人口分级诊疗提供实证参考依据。方法:基于2017年全国流动人口动态监测调查数据中82734名最近1次患病(负伤)流动人口数据,利用SPSS 25.0统计软件分析其基层首诊情况及影响因素。结果:82734名最近1次患病(负伤)流动人口中首选到基层医疗卫生机构就诊15936人,基层首诊率仅为19.3%;二分类logistic回归分析结果显示:年龄≥65岁、农业户口、流动时间0~5年、患慢性病、至少参加1项医疗保险,居住地到最近医疗服务机构所需时间≤15 min的流动人口患病后更愿意选择到基层首诊。学历大专及以上、家庭月均收入>10000元、市跨县、东北地区、不愿意落户、自评健康状况为不健康的流动人口患病后更不愿意选择到基层首诊。结论:流动人口患病(负伤)后选择到基层首诊率较低,年龄、受教育程度、户口类型、家庭月均总收入、流动时间、流动范围、流入地区域、落户意愿、自评健康状况、是否患慢性病、有无参加医疗保险、居住地到最近医疗服务机构所需时间是影响流动人口患病(负伤)后选择到基层首诊的主要因素。     

滋肾育胎丸加减方预防ACA阳性者不良妊娠结局的效果及机制研究＊

目的 探讨滋肾育胎丸加减方预防抗磷脂抗体（ACA）阳性者不良妊娠结局的效果及机制研究。方法 选取2016年2月至2019年2月我院收治的89例ACA阳性，先兆性流产或有习惯性流产（RSA）史患者，将采用西医治疗的40例作为对照组，将采用西医联合滋肾育胎丸加减方治疗的49例作为观察组，比较两组中医证候疗效、中医证候积分、ACA-IgA、ACA-IgM、ACA-IgG、凝血指标［血小板聚集功能（PAF）、活化蛋白C（PC）、抗凝血酶（AT）、纤溶酶原激活抑制物-1（PAI-1）］、Th1/Th2细胞因子［干扰素γ（IFN-γ）、白介素-2（IL-2）、白介素-4（IL-4）、白介素-10（IL-10）］、妊娠结局、安全性。结果 治疗2周后检测ACA，观察组2例未降低，对照组11例未降低，观察组未降低患者占比低于对照组（P<0.05）；观察组总有效率100.00%高于对照组85.00%（P<0.05）；观察组治疗4周、7周后中医证候积分低于对照组（P<0.05）；观察组治疗4周、7周后ACA-IgA、ACA-IgM、ACA-IgG低于对照组（P<0.05）；观察组治疗4周、7周后PAF、PAI-1低于对照组，PC、AT高于对照组（P<0.05）；观察组治疗4周、7周后IFN-γ、IL-2低于对照组，IL-4、IL-10高于对照组（P<0.05）；观察组活产率95.92%高于对照组80.00%（P<0.05）；组间不良反应总发生率比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 动态监测ACA对滋肾育胎丸加减方精准应用具有指导意义，指导滋肾育胎丸加减方通过调理脏腑、气血、经络功能，改善先兆性流产或有RSA史患者临床症状及凝血因子指标，降低ACA水平，并可改善患者免疫耐受功能，提高胎儿活产率，且安全性高。