The effects of carnitine supplementation on clinical characteristics of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveThe beneficial effects of carnitine supplementation on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of carnitine supplementation on liver function, lipid profile, body mass index, body weight, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were performed. Only randomized placebo-controlled human studies that examined the effects of carnitine supplementation on liver function, lipid profile, body mass index, body weight, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance up to September 2019 were included. Fixed effects or random-effects models were applied to compute the pooled effect size. Heterogeneity assessments were performed using Cochran’s Q test and I-squared statistics. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Jaded scale.ResultsA total of 5 articles were selected, including 334 individuals (167 in control and 167 in intervention groups). The results demonstrated that carnitine supplementation significantly reduced homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD: −0.91; 95 % CI: −1.11, −0.72; p < 0.001, I² = 0.0 %) and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (WMD: −16.62; 95 % CI: −28.11, −5.14; IU/l; p = 0.005, I² = 93.5 %), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (WMD: -33.39; 95 % CI: −45.13, −21.66; IU/l; p < 0.001, I² = 93.4 %), and triglycerides (TG) (WMD: −22.13; 95 % CI: −38.91, −5.34; mg/dl; p = 0.01; I² = 0.0 %). However, the results of the pooled effect size did not show any significant effect of carnitine supplementation on body mass index (BMI) (WMD: 0.07; 95 % CI: −0.15, 0.29; p = 0.55; I² = 0.0 %), body weight (WMD: −0.28; 95 % CI: −2.23, 1.68; p = 0.78; I² = 45.7 %), the levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (γGT) (WMD: −11.31; 95 % CI: −24.35, 1.73; IU/l; p = 0.09, I² = 61.1 %), cholesterol (WMD: −13.58; 95 % CI: −46.77, 19.60; mg/dl; p = 0.42; I² = 94.9 %), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD: 1.36; 95 % CI: −0.96, 3.68; mg/dl; p = 0.25; I² = 64.7 %), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD: −14.85; 95 % CI: −45.43, 15.73; mg/dl; p = 0.34; I² = 96.4 %).ConclusionsThis analysis shows that carnitine supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease demonstrates a reduction in AST, ALT, TG levels and HOMA-IR. However, no significant effect of carnitine supplementation was observed on BMI, body weight, the levels of γGT, TC, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.     

冠心病心绞痛患者健康教育和心理护理效果

目的探讨对冠心病心绞痛患者给予健康教育联合心理护理干预后对其生活质量等方面产生的影响。方法选择我院2017年4月-2019年2月收治的100例冠心病心绞痛患者作为实验对象;抽签法分组后探究每组患者护理方式;对照组(50例):选择基础护理方式展开疾病护理;试验组(50例):选择基础护理+健康教育+心理护理方式展开疾病护理;对比各组患者表现出的护理工作满意度以及生活质量评定差异。结果试验组冠心病心绞痛患者护理工作总满意度(98.00%)高于对照组(82.00%)明显(P<0.05);试验组冠心病心绞痛患者睡眠情感、社会生活、精力以及躯体活动评分均高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论冠心病心绞痛患者在接受临床护理工作期间,对于护理工作满意度的提升,各项生活质量指标(睡眠情感、社会生活、精力以及躯体活动)评分结果的提升,均获得明显作用效果,最终对于冠心病心绞痛患者生活质量以及康复状态的显著提升,奠定基础。     

miR-451a suppresses the development of breast cancer via targeted inhibition of CCND2

Extensive research has indicated that miRNAs are crucial for the occurrence and progression of cancers. miR-451a, involved in breast cancer (BC), is one of the miRNAs. This study focused on the mechanism by which miR-451a regulates BC. The levels of miR-451a in BC tissues and cell lines were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Kaplan‒Meier analysis showed that this was intimately related to the patient's overall survival rate. Functional experiments revealed the negative effects of miR-451a on the abilities of BC cells to multiply (tested by Cell Counting Kit-8), migrate (tested by wound healing assay), and invade (tested by Transwell assay) and its positive effects on apoptosis (tested by flow cytometry). Western blotting indicated that the expression of tumor-related proteins was affected by miR-451a. Moreover, in vivo experiments suggested that tumor growth was clearly restrained by an miR-451a agonist in a xenograft tumor model. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that miR-451a directly targeted Cyclin D2 (CCND2), as demonstrated by the luciferase reporter assay. An opposite change in the level of CCND2 and miR-451a in BC was indicated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, functional experiments and western blotting analysis confirmed that CCND2 accelerated BC progression, which was regulated by miR-451a. Cumulatively, research on miR-451a may be valuable for BC treatment.     

Impact and Predictors of Noncircular Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Shapes on Estimating Aortic Stenosis Severity by Means of Continuity Equations

Determining aortic stenosis (AS) severity is clinically important. Calculating aortic valve (AV) area by means of the continuity equation assumes a circular left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The full impact of this assumption in calculating AV area is unknown. Predictors of noncircular LVOT shape in patients with AS are undefined.In 109 adult patients with AS who underwent multiplanar transesophageal echocardiography, we calculated AV area by means of the standard continuity method and by a modified method involving planimetric LVOT area.We found 54 circular, 37 horizontal-oval, 8 vertical-oval, and 10 irregular LVOTs. Area derived by direct planimetry correlated better with the modified than the standard continuity method (r=0.89 vs r=0.85; both P=0.0001). Valve areas of patients with mild, moderate, or severe AS by planimetry were more often mischaracterized with use of the standard than modified method (29 vs 18; P <0.0001). Horizontal-oval AV area derived by planimetry (1.28 ± 0.55 cm²) was underestimated by the standard method (1.05 ± 0.47 cm²; P=0.001), but not by the modified method. Congenital AV morphology and low cardiac index were the only multivariate predictors of horizontal-oval shape. Low cardiac index was the only predictor of noncircular shape.More than half our patients with AS had noncircular LVOTs. Using the modified method reduces mischaracterizations of AS severity. Congenital AV morphology and low cardiac index predict horizontal-oval or noncircular shape. These data suggest the value of direct LVOT measurement to calculate AS severity in patients who have congenital AV or a low cardiac index.     

不同剂量地佐辛术后镇痛对老年患者肝功能的影响

目的 探讨地佐辛术后镇痛对高龄患者围术期肝功能的影响。方法 选择2018 年1 月～2020 年6 月吉安市中心人民医院麻醉科收治的ASA 分级Ⅱ～Ⅲ级高龄患者80 例，按照随机数字表法，分为A 组、B 组、C 组、D 组，每组各20 例。分别给予0.4 mg/kg、0.5 mg/kg、0.6 mg/kg、0.7 mg/kg 地佐辛进行术后镇痛，评估术后1、2、6、12、24、48 h 患者的疼痛程度[视觉模拟评分法（VAS）]、术后镇静效果（Ramsay 评分法）及肝功能指标（ALT、AST）水平，评价不同剂量的地佐辛术后镇痛对高龄患者围术期肝功能的影响。结果 C 组术后患者不同时间段VAS 疼痛评分低于A 组、B 组、D 组，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；四组患者术后1、2、6 h Ramsay 镇静评分比较，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；但术后12、24、48 h Ramay 镇痛评分比较，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。C 组肝功能指标ALT、AST优于A 组、B 组、D 组，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 高龄患者术后镇痛应用0.6 mg/kg地佐辛对围术期肝功能的影响最小。