The Chinese National Twin Registry: a ‘gold mine’ for scientific research

The Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) currently includes data from 61 566 twin pair from 11 provinces or cities in China. Of these, 31 705, 15 060 and 13 531 pairs are monozygotic, same‐sex dizygotic and opposite‐sex dizygotic pairs, respectively, determined by opposite sex or intrapair similarity. Since its establishment in 2001, the CNTR has provided an important resource for analysing genetic and environmental influences on chronic diseases especially cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the CNTR has focused on collecting biologic specimens from disease‐concordant or disease‐discordant twin pairs or from twin pairs reared apart. More than 8000 pairs of these twins have been registered, and blood samples have been collected from more than 1500 pairs. In this review, we summarize the main findings from univariate and multivariate genetic effects analyses, gene–environment interaction studies, omics studies exploring DNA methylation and metabolomic markers associated with phenotypes. There remains further scope for CNTR research and data mining. The plan for future development of the CNTR is described. The CNTR welcomes worldwide collaboration.     

Wnt/β-catenin links oxidative stress to podocyte injury and proteinuria

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Successful Treatment for BK Virus Nephropathy by Leflunomide in a Kidney Transplant Patient: A Case Report

IntroductionThe immunosuppressant agents in kidney transplantation (KT) may lead to various complications such as opportunistic infections and malignancies. BK virus associated nephropathy is a significant complication following KT, and it can result in graft failure. BK virus causes tubulointerstitial nephritis, ureter stenosis, and even graft failure in KT recipients with impaired immune system. We described a 63-year-old woman, who was a hepatitis C carrier and on dialysis for 22 years before KT, who received cadaveric-donor KT 2 years previously. She reported decreasing urine output and general weakness. The serum creatinine level was slightly increased from 2.94 to 4.38 mg/dL.MethodsImmunosuppressant medications including prednisolone, everolimus, cyclosporin, and mycophenolate sodium were continued as maintenance therapy post KT. Kidney biopsy was performed due to deterioration of graft function.ResultsThe kidney biopsy showed consistent results with early-stage polyomavirus nephropathy, characterized by focal viral cytopathic changes with positive immunohistochemical signals and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, immune-complex-mediated (Fig 1 and Fig 2). Negative C4d staining at peritubular capillary was reported. The dosage of mycophenolate sodium was tapered from 720 to 360 mg daily and that of everolimus increased from 0.5 to 1.0 mg daily due to BK viral infection with BK nephropathy. The serum creatinine level was 2.75 mg/dL after treatment.ConclusionEarly detection of BK nephropathy and decreasing immunosuppressant agents are the mainstay of treatment. Substituting leflunomide for mycophenolate sodium and increasing dosage of everolimus has been proposed to solve BK nephropathy. We presented that the use of leflunomide in such situation is in a timely manner.     

玻璃体切割联合内界膜剥除治疗糖尿病性黄斑水肿

评估玻璃体切割联合内界膜剥除对糖尿病性黄斑水肿（DME）的疗效。方法：回顾性病例对照研究。2014年6月至2017年1月间因糖尿病视网膜病变合并玻璃体积血或增殖病变于温州医科大学附属眼视光医院杭州院区行玻璃体切割手术治疗，且术前或术中经光学相干断层扫描（OCT）检查确诊合并DME的患者31例（33眼）纳入研究。16例（18眼）术中联合内界膜剥除作为剥膜组，15例（15眼）仅接受玻璃体切割手术治疗者作为对照组。所有手术均由同一医师主刀完成。术后1、3个月随访时复查OCT，对比观察黄斑中心厚度（CMT）和视力的术后变化情况。随访中CMT和最佳矫正视力（BCVA）比较采用重复测量方差分析，组间CMT和BCVA比较采用独立样本t检验。结果：手术前，手术后1、3个月2组间比较LogMAR视力总体差异有统计学意义（F=15.93，P<0.001）。术后 1个月时剥膜组BCVA高于对照组（t=2.55，P=0.02），但术后3个月时2组间差异无统计学意义（t=0.82， P=0.42）。手术前，手术后1、3个月CMT总体差异无统计学意义（F=2.85，P=0.065）。术后1、3个月时，剥膜组的CMT均低于对照组，2组间差异均有统计学意义（t=2.24，P=0.03；t=3.79，P=0.001）。术后1个月时，剥膜组有效（与术前比CMT减少20%以上）、无效（变化不超过20%）及恶化（增厚超过 20%）的例数分别为8、6、4例，术后3个月时则分别为11、5、2例，与对照组相比，术后1个月时组间差异无统计学意义（Z=-1.687，P=0.092），术后3个月时剥膜组DME改善有效比例明显高于对照组，组间差异有统计学意义（Z=-2.177，P=0.029）。结论：对于非牵拉性DME，内界膜剥除有助于术后早期DME消退。     

miR-34c-3p与M2型肿瘤相关巨噬细胞在三阴性乳腺癌中的表达及意义

目的:检测miR-34c-3p与M2型肿瘤相关巨噬细胞（tumor-associated macrophage,TAM)在三阴性乳腺癌(triple negative breast cancer,TNBC)中的表达，并探讨其在乳腺癌发病中的意义。方法:选择2017年2月至2018年1月于西京医院就诊的68例TNBC患者作为实验组(A组)，以同期就诊的70例乳腺纤维腺瘤患者作为对照组(B组)。采用Real-time RT-PCR 检测组织标本中miR-34c-3p的表达；流式细胞检测M2型TAM的表达；ELISA法检测血清中IL-10的表达。并进一步分析miR-34c-3p的表达与乳腺癌M2型TAM及血清IL-10水平的相关性。结果:A、B组miR-34c-3p的相对表达量分别为0.84±0.08、1.29±0.71，A组明显低于B组，差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与B组比较，A组M2型TAM(CD68+CD163+)细胞比例显著升高(P<0.05)。A组血清IL-10的表达［(19.69±4.93) pg/ml］较B组［(17.26±3.51) pg/ml］显著升高，差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。TNBC组织中miR-34c-3p的表达与M2型TAM比例及血清IL-10表达均呈显著负相关(r=-0.508，r=-0.656，P<0.05)。结论:TNBC组织中miR-34c-3p的表达下调，M2型TAM比例及血清IL-10表达均显著升高，促进TNBC进展。     

小青龙汤古今应用与方证探析

小青龙汤出自《伤寒杂病论》,是疗效确切、使用广泛的经典方剂,一直以来被归为辛温解表剂范畴。本文通过梳理历代的医籍论述,结合古代医案、现代研究、临床应用情况,探讨小青龙汤证的因机证治与方药特点。认为"饮"邪往往是小青龙汤证的病机关键,且治"饮"是小青龙汤组方用药的核心意图所在。若囿于"外寒内饮"之说,恐不能充分发挥其应有的疗效。     

生理学教学核心理念变革的探讨

医学教育改革更多的是热衷于授课形式和方法的改革，而忽视了真正能够渗透到教学各方面的教学理念的改革。结合对生理学教学目标的反思和“岗位胜任力”培养的需求，将生理学教学的核心理念总结为四个方面：“三观”要正，帮助学生树立平衡观、辩证观和整体观；“三基”要牢，培养学生掌握基本的知识架构体系、基本的知识获取能力、基本的操作技能；重视学以致用和强化人文素养。上述核心理念在教学实践中得到学生的广泛认可，临床医学专业学生对核心理念的评价明显高于护理专业。下一步教学改革的方向是在教学理念的指导下如何细化授课内容，以适应专业设置越来越细化的现状。