Gaslighting in alleged assault ascertained as Munchausen syndrome transcending to malingering in highly counterintuitive self inflicted acid burns

A factitious disorder leading to the self-infliction of highly counter-intuitive burns was diagnosed in a middle-aged female. The injuries were otherwise alleged to have been sustained by assault inflicted upon her by an unknown person. The case was diagnosed by medico-legal interpretation of injuries, in spite of a highly deceptive and concocted history by the patient and her husband. The entity was unique in being associated with magnificent primary, secondary and tertiary gains. The exploitation of the morbid sequel to malinger by the patient, and the involvement of the husband for the prolongation of the illness of his wife for financial gains as gaslighting was highly unusual. The self-infliction of injuries over hands is seen in factitious disorder. However, a combination of a guarded self-immersion of the hands and feet in a corrosive by an illiterate female, followed by malingering to earn livelihood is unprecedented in factitious disorders. The delayed presentation which required amputation of all the limbs to save the life of the patient is a glaring highlight of this case.     

HLA-B evolutionary divergence is associated with outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection

We examined the correlation between class I HLA evolutionary divergence (HED), a surrogate for the capacity to present different peptides, and the outcomes of 234 adult inpatients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotyped by next-generation sequencing (NGS). HED scores for HLA class I (HLA-A, -B, and -C) genotypes were calculated using Grantham’s distance. Higher HED scores for HLA-B, but not HLA-A or -C, are significantly associated with a decreased probability of poor outcomes including ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death (OR = 0.93; P = 0.04) in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, increased HLA-B HED score, younger age, and no comorbidity were independently associated with favorable outcomes (P = 0.02, P = 0.01, and P = 0.05, respectively). This finding is consistent with the notion that broader peptide repertoires presented by class I HLA may be beneficial in infection control.     

Circulating angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and COVID-19

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered a widespread outbreak since December 2019. The SARS-CoV-2 infection-related illness has been dubbed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization. Asymptomatic and subclinical infections, a severe hyper-inflammatory state, and mortality are all examples of clinical signs. After attaching to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can enter cells through membrane fusion and endocytosis. In addition to enabling viruses to cling to target cells, the connection between the spike protein (S-protein) of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 may potentially impair the functionality of ACE2. Blood pressure is controlled by ACE2, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of the active vasoconstrictor octapeptide angiotensin (Ang) II to the heptapeptide Ang-(1-7) and free L-Phe. Additionally, Ang I can be broken down by ACE2 into Ang-(1-9) and metabolized into Ang-(1-7). Numerous studies have demonstrated that circulating ACE2 (cACE2) and Ang-(1-7) have the ability to restore myocardial damage in a variety of cardiovascular diseases and have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-cardiomyocyte fibrosis actions. There have been some suggestions for raising ACE2 expression in COVID-19 patients, which might be used as a target for the creation of novel treatment therapies. With regard to this, SARS-CoV-2 is neutralized by soluble recombinant human ACE2 (hrsACE2), which binds the viral S-protein and reduces damage to a variety of organs, including the heart, kidneys, and lungs, by lowering Ang II concentrations and enhancing conversion to Ang-(1-7). This review aims to investigate how the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and cACE2 are related. Additionally, there will be discussion of a number of potential therapeutic approaches to tip the ACE/ACE-2 balance in favor of the ACE-2/Ang-(1-7) axis.     

结直肠腺瘤危险因素

目的 研究结直肠腺瘤发生相关的危险因素,为结直肠早癌病变的筛查及诊疗提供预警信息。方法 选取2014年1月至2020年6月于河北医科大学第二医院行结肠镜检查经病理诊断为结直肠腺瘤的患者1 126例作为病例组,以同期行结肠镜检查结果阴性的患者1 800例作为对照组。收集患者性别、年龄、吸烟史、饮酒史、排便习惯(正常、腹泻、便秘、腹泻与便秘交替)、总胆固醇及甘油三酯水平等资料。进行多因素Logistic回归分析,探究上述因素对结直肠腺瘤发生的影响。为了进一步排除混杂因素的干扰,组间1∶1匹配,进行多因素条件Logistic回归分析,探究结直肠腺瘤发生的独立危险因素。结果 多因素Logistic回归分析显示,性别、年龄、饮酒史、吸烟史、排便习惯、总胆固醇和甘油三酯水平为结直肠腺瘤发生的独立危险因素(P<0.05)。多因素条件Logistic回归分析显示,排便习惯及甘油三酯水平是结直肠腺癌发生的独立危险因素,慢性腹泻、慢性便秘患者发生结直肠腺瘤的风险高于排便习惯正常者(P<0.05),甘油三酯水平较高患者发生结直肠腺瘤的风险高于甘油三酯水平正常者(P<0.05)。结论 排便习惯及甘油三酯水平是结直肠腺瘤发生的独立危险因素,慢性腹泻、慢性便秘、甘油三酯升高者发生结直肠腺瘤风险更高。     

基于TCA循环关键酶测定研究督灸治疗早期强直性脊柱炎患者关节活动度的疗效及机制＊

目的 基于TCA循环（三羧酸循环，tricarboxylic acid cycle）关键酶测定研究督灸治疗早期强直性脊柱炎（AS）肾虚督寒证患者关节活动度的疗效及生物学机制。方法 110例早期AS肾虚督寒证患者随机分为观察组和对照组，各55例。对照组口服甲氨蝶呤+洛索洛芬钠，观察组在对照组治疗基础上给予督灸，疗程均为12周。观察治疗前后患者的病情活动指数（bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index，BASDAI）、功能指数（bath ankylosing spondylitis fundation index，BASFI）、活动度衡量指数（bath ankylosing measure index activity index，BASMI）、总和指数（bath ankylosing spondylitis patient slobal，BAS-G）、指-地距、枕-墙距、胸廓活动度、Schober试验水平和早期AS肾虚督寒证中医辨证（肾虚督寒证）评分；检测血清炎症因子肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-18（IL-18）、血沉（ESR）和C-反应蛋白（CRP）含量；检测TCA循环关键酶柠檬酸合成酶（citrate synthase，CS）、异柠檬酸脱氢酶（isocitrate dehydrogenase，IDH）及α-酮戊二酸脱氢酶（α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase，α-KGDHC）的水平；比较治疗12周患者的临床疗效及随访6个月复发率。结果 临床研究过程脱落6例。观察组总有效率96.2%，明显高于观察组的82.4%（P<0.05）；观察组随访6个月复发率5.7%，明显低于对照组的21.6%（P<0.05）。治疗12周后，观察组患者BASDAI、BASFI、BASMI、BAS-G、指-地距、枕-墙距和肾虚督寒证评分较对照组明显下降（P<0.05），胸廓活动度和Schober试验较对照组明显升高（P<0.05）；观察组患者TNF-α、IL-18、ESR、CRP、CS和IDH水平较对照组明显下降（P<0.05），α-KGDHC水平较对照组明显升高（P<0.05）。结论 督灸可以有效改善早期AS肾虚督寒证患者的临床症状，复发率低，值得临床推广应用。