高频电针结合臭氧对膝骨关节炎患者血清IL-1及TNF-α表达的影响

目的:研究高频电针(100Hz)结合膝关节腔内注射臭氧对膝骨关节炎(KOA)患者血清IL-1及TNF-α水平的影响。方法:将195例KOA患者随机分为三组,100 Hz电针治疗组(A组,n=65); 膝关节腔内臭氧注射治疗组(B组,n=65); 100 Hz电针结合膝关节腔内臭氧注射治疗组(C组,n=65),疗程均为3周。分别于治疗前和治疗后检测患者血清IL-1及TNF-α水平,并进行WOMAC 指数评分。结果:治疗后,三组患者的血清IL-1、TNF-α含量均较治疗开始前有所降低; 且C 组改善水平优于A、B 组,B组改善水平优于A组,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05); 治疗后,三组患者WOMAC 指数评分均较治疗前有所降低; 且C 组WOMAC评分好于A和B 组,B 组WOMAC评分优于A 组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:高频电针结合膝关节腔内注射臭氧可显著抑制KOA患者血清 IL-1、TNF-α的表达,改善患者WOMAC指数评分。     

500 Cases of High-intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Ablated Uterine Fibroids and Adenomyosis

ObjectiveClinical outcomes of 500 high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)-treated uterine fibroids and adenomyosis are analyzed and presented.Materials and methodsThis is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis from a single tertiary medical center. From April 2015 to October 2018, 546 cases were enrolled for the study. After excluding 46 patients with less than 3 months of follow-up period, there were 404 fibroids, 149 adenomyosis and 53 mixed conditions entered for analysis. The patients’ uterine fibroids and adenomyosis were treated by HIFU according to Chongqing Haifu protocol, with 12 cm diameter transducer of focal length 10–16  cm at 0.8 or 1.6 MHz T2-weight MRI imaging was rendered prior to and 3 month post treatment to assess lesion volume change using non-perfusion volume, which was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes including quality of life, subjective satisfaction, adverse events and pregnancy rate were determined using self-reported questionnaires. The mean follow up period ranged from 3 to 38 months with an average of 21 months.ResultsThree months after HIFU-treated uterine fibroids and adenomyosis, the lesion size reduced 40.2% and 46.3%, respectively. Symptoms all improved with better quality of life for the fibroid group, while those with adenomyosis or combined diseases benefit the most from pain control. Serum CA125 decreased significantly for all studied groups, and LDH only showed improvement for fibroids group. Number of adverse events is comparable to Chongqing data (approximately 10.2%), with mostly mild and self-resolving conditions. No permanent sequelae or death was documented. Twelve pregnancies are reported in this cohort.ConclusionHIFU is safe and effective in treating uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. The results are reproducible if standardized treatment schedules are followed. It is a promising treatment alternative with the advantages of precision, non-invasiveness, rapid recovery and readiness for pregnancy.     

Sensory evoked potentials in patients with Rett syndrome through the lens of animal studies: Systematic review

ObjectiveSystematically review the abnormalities in event related potential (ERP) recorded in Rett Syndrome (RTT) patients and animals in search of translational biomarkers of deficits related to the particular neurophysiological processes of known genetic origin (MECP2 mutations).MethodsPubmed, ISI Web of Knowledge and BIORXIV were searched for the relevant articles according to PRISMA standards.ResultsERP components are generally delayed across all sensory modalities both in RTT patients and its animal model, while findings on ERPs amplitude strongly depend on stimulus properties and presentation rate. Studies on RTT animal models uncovered the abnormalities in the excitatory and inhibitory transmission as critical mechanisms underlying the ERPs changes, but showed that even similar ERP alterations in auditory and visual domains have a diverse neural basis. A range of novel approaches has been developed in animal studies bringing along the meaningful neurophysiological interpretation of ERP measures in RTT patients.ConclusionsWhile there is a clear evidence for sensory ERPs abnormalities in RTT, to further advance the field there is a need in a large-scale ERP studies with the functionally-relevant experimental paradigms.SignificanceThe review provides insights into domain-specific neural basis of the ERP abnormalities and promotes clinical application of the ERP measures as the non-invasive functional biomarkers of RTT pathophysiology.     

独活寄生汤治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的临床效果

目的：探讨独活寄生汤对骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折（OVCF）患者高迁移率族蛋白-1（HMGB-1）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、降钙素原（PCT）的影响。方法：选取2015年4月至2016年9月广州中医药大学第二附属医院收治的OVCF患者92例作为研究对象，按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组和观察组，每组46例。2组均行经皮椎体后凸成形术治疗，对照组给予常规处理，观察组在此基础上加用独活寄生汤，2组均治疗2周。比较2组术后2周的骨折愈合情况、股骨颈骨密度及日本骨科协会腰痛评价表（JOA）评分，术前、术后3 d的炎性反应递质水平，术后1、3、7 d的疼痛视觉模拟评分（VAS）。结果：与术前比较，术后2周，2组伤椎前缘高度、股骨颈骨密度及JOA评分均升高，且观察组高于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；2组伤椎楔变角及后凸Cobb角均降低，且观察组低于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；术后3 d，2组血清TNF-α、CRP、PCT及HMGB-1水平均升高，且观察组低于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。与术后1 d比较，术后3、7 d，2组VAS评分均降低，且观察组低于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：采用独活寄生汤治疗OVCF，可降低患者炎性反应递质水平，减轻疼痛，并可改善患者骨质疏松症状，促进骨折愈合，疗效显著。     

Mutation status and burden can improve prognostic prediction of patients with lower‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Patients with lower‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR‐MDS) as defined by the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) have more favorable prognosis in general, but significant inter‐individual heterogeneity exists. In this study, we examined the molecular profile of 15 MDS‐relevant genes in 159 patients with LR‐MDS using next‐generation sequencing. In univariate COX regression, shorter overall survival (OS) was associated with mutation status of ASXL1 (P = .001), RUNX1 (P = .031), EZH2 (P = .049), TP53 (P = .016), SRSF2 (P = .046), JAK2 (P = .040), and IDH2 (P = .035). We also found significantly shorter OS in patients with an adjusted TET2 variant allele frequency (VAF) ≥18% versus those with either an adjusted TET2 VAF <18% or without TET2 mutations (median: 20.4 vs 47.8 months; P = .020; HR = 2.183, 95%CI: 1.129‐4.224). After adjustment for IPSS, shorter OS was associated with mutation status of ASXL1 (P < .001; HR = 4.306, 95% CI: 2.144‐8.650), TP53 (P = .004; HR = 4.863, 95% CI: 1.662‐14.230) and JAK2 (P = .002; HR = 5.466, 95%CI: 1.848‐16.169), as well as adjusted TET2 VAF ≥18% (P = .008; HR = 2.492, 95% CI: 1.273‐4.876). Also, OS was increasingly shorter as the number of mutational factors increased (P < .001). A novel prognostic scoring system incorporating the presence/absence of the four independent mutational factors into the IPSS further stratified LR‐MDS patients into three prognostically different groups (P < .001). The newly developed scoring system redefined 10.1% (16/159) of patients as a higher‐risk group, who could not be predicted by the currently prognostic models. In conclusion, integration of the IPSS with mutation status/burden of certain MDS‐relevant genes may improve the prognostication of patients with LR‐MDS and could help identify those with worse‐than‐expected prognosis for more aggressive treatment.     

Association between fetoplacental Doppler results,placental pathology,and angiogenic factors among pregnant women with anxiety

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate whether state and trait anxiety among pregnant women were associated with fetoplacental Doppler findings, abnormal placental pathology, and placental angiogenic factors.Materials and methodsA total of 102 pregnant women at 32–35 gestational weeks were recruited and examined prospectively. State and trait anxiety were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Using Doppler ultrasound, pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and uterine artery (UtA) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) were determined. Doppler parameters were converted into multiples of the median (MoM). Abnormal placental pathology was classified into 2 groups: vascular underperfusion (VU) and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine placental cells staining positive for placental growth factor (PLGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1-α (HIF-1α), which are markers for angiogenesis and hypoxic status, respectively.ResultsWomen with high state anxiety scores had low MCA-PI MoM and CPR MoM, while those with high trait anxiety scores had low MCA-PI MoM. VU was associated with a higher incidence of high trait anxiety scores, and HCA was associated with a higher incidence of high state and trait anxiety scores. Regression analysis showed a relationship between maternal state anxiety on MCA-PI MoM and HCA after controlling for covariates. Maternal trait anxiety exhibited relationships with VU and HCA after adjustment.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that maternal anxiety is associated with altered fetal cerebral blood flow and abnormal placental pathology but is not associated with uteroplacental insufficiency and placental angiogenic factors.     

Does obesity put your brain at risk?

Background and aimsThe negative impact of obesity on the brain is an issue of increasing clinical interest. Hence, this review summarized evidence linking obesity with brain morphology (gray and white matter volume), brain function (functional activation and connectivity), and cognitive function.MethodsA criticals review of the relevant published English articles between 2008 and 2022, using PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. Studies were included if (1) an experimental/intervention study was conducted (2) the experiment/intervention included both high fat diet or body weight, whether it could counteract the negative effect brain morphological or functional change. Critical analysis for a supporting study was also carried out.ResultsBrain dysfunction can be recognized as result from neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, change in gut-brain hormonal functionality decrease regional blood flow or diminished hippocampal size and change in gut-brain hormonal functionality; which collectively translate into a cycle of deranged metabolic control and cognitive deficits, often obesity referred as changes in brain biochemistry and brain function. Recently, a few changes in brain structure and functions could be traced back even to obese children or adult. Evidence here suggested that obesity elicits early neuroinflammation effects, which likely disrupt the normal metabolism in hypothalamus, and hippocampus result from brain insulin resistance. The mechanisms of these robust effects are discussed herein.ConclusionBrain disease is inseparable from obesity itself and requires a better recognition to allow future therapeutic targeting for treatment of obesity. Additional research is needed to identify the best treatment targets and to identify if these changes reversible.     

中学生家庭应激源与物质主义价值观的关系:亲子依恋的中介作用

目的:考察中学生物质主义价值观与家庭应激源、亲子依恋的关系。方法:采用青少年物质主义价值观量表、家庭压力量表和青少年父母与同伴依恋问卷中的父母分问卷,对江苏某高中1344名学生进行调查。结果:家庭应激源显著正向预测中学生物质主义价值观水平,亲子依恋显著负向预测中学生物质主义价值观水平;中介回归分析结果显示,在考虑亲子依恋的影响时,家庭应激源对中学生物质主义价值水平的预测作用虽仍显著但已减弱。亲子依恋在家庭应激源与物质主义价值观之间的间接效应占总效应的13.30%,其90%置信区间为[0.003,0.024],P0.05。结论:亲子依恋在中学生家庭应激源和物质主义价值观水平之间起部分中介作用。