Bayesian consensus clustering for multivariate longitudinal data

In clinical and epidemiological studies, there is a growing interest in studying the heterogeneity among patients based on longitudinal characteristics to identify subtypes of the study population. Compared to clustering a single longitudinal marker, simultaneously clustering multiple longitudinal markers allow additional information to be incorporated into the clustering process, which reveals co-existing longitudinal patterns and generates deeper biological insight. In the current study, we propose a Bayesian consensus clustering (BCC) model for multivariate longitudinal data. Instead of arriving at a single overall clustering, the proposed model allows each marker to follow marker-specific local clustering and these local clusterings are aggregated to find a global (consensus) clustering. To estimate the posterior distribution of model parameters, a Gibbs sampling algorithm is proposed. We apply our proposed model to the primary biliary cirrhosis study to identify patient subtypes that may be associated with their prognosis. We also perform simulation studies to compare the clustering performance between the proposed model and existing models under several scenarios. The results demonstrate that the proposed BCC model serves as a useful tool for clustering multivariate longitudinal data.     

Instability of the extensor digitorum tendons in Jaccoud arthropathy assessed by semi-dynamic MRI of the metacarpophalangeal joints

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that Jaccoud arthropathy (JA) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with instability of the extensor digitorum (ED) tendons during flexion of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints by comparing the position of the ED tendons between SLE patients with JA and control subjects on hand MRI obtained with flexed and extended MCP joints.Materials and methodsThirty-two hands of SLE patients with JA (13 women and 3 men; mean age, 50.0 ± 12.2 [SD] years; age range: 26–68 years) and 24 hands of sex- and age-matched control subjects (20 women and 4 men; mean age, 50.1 ± 13.0 [SD] years; age range: 24–68 years) were included in the study. Axial spin echo T1-weighted MRI images of the second to fifth MCP joints in flexion and in extension were obtained. Two radiologists (R1 and R2) separately measured the amplitude and assessed the direction of the displacement of the ED tendons with respect to the midline at the level of each MCP joint. Statistical analysis included two-way ANOVA with random effects to assess differences in amplitude and Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test to assess differences in direction with P-values < 0.0083 and < 0.0063 considered as statistically significant respectively.ResultsAmplitude of the displacement of the ED tendons was statistically significantly greater in SLE patients with JA than in control subjects in flexion for both readers (median 58°, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 50°–65° vs. 20°, 95% CI: 16°–24°; P < 0.0001 for R1 and 54°, 95% CI: 47°–61° vs. 25°, 95% CI: 22°–28°; P < 0.0001 for R2) and in extension for one reader (17°, 95% CI: 15°–20° vs. 14°, 95% CI: 11°–16°; P = 0.0048 for R1 and 20°, 95% CI: 15°–25° vs. 16°, 95% CI: 12°–18°; P = 0.0292 for R2). Ulnar deviation of the ED tendons was statistically significantly more frequent in SLE patients with JA than in control subjects in flexion and in extension for both readers (P < 0.0001).ConclusionJA is associated with instability of the ED tendons in patients with SLE best depicted when MCP joints are flexed.     

狼疮肾炎患者自噬水平及其对足细胞相关蛋白表达水平的影响

目的探讨狼疮肾炎(lupus nephritis,LN)患者自噬水平及其对足细胞相关蛋白表达水平的影响。方法选择2017年5月至2019年5月于榆林市第一医院收治的69例LN患者为LN组,50例系统性红斑狼疮(systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE)患者为SLE组,50例肾切除手术患者为对照组,观察3组肾脏足细胞内自噬体数量,比较3组肾脏组织中自噬相关蛋白、微管相关蛋白轻链3(LC3)、B淋巴细胞瘤蛋白质-2-相互作用蛋白(Beclin1)的表达,以及足细胞相关蛋白,肾病蛋白(Nephrin)、足突蛋白(Podocin)的表达。分离狼疮肾炎患者肾脏足细胞,将足细胞分为自噬抑制组和自噬诱导组,自噬抑制组加入100 nmol/L 3-甲基腺嘌呤(3-MA),自噬诱导组加入100 nmol/L雷帕霉素(RAPA),比较3组足细胞内自噬体数量及LC3、Beclin-1、Podocin、Nephrin等蛋白的表达。结果LN组、SLE组肾脏足细胞内自噬体数量及LC3、Beclin-1、Podocin、Nephrin蛋白表达量显著高于对照组(P<0.05);SLE组肾脏足细胞内自噬体数量及LC3、Beclin-1、Podocin、Nephrin蛋白表达量显著高于LN组(P<0.05);自噬诱导组足细胞内自噬体数量及LC3、Beclin-1、Podocin、Nephrin蛋白表达量显著高于正常对照组、自噬抑制组(P<0.05);正常对照组足细胞内自噬体数量及LC3、Beclin-1、Podocin、Nephrin蛋白表达量显著高于自噬抑制组(P<0.05)。结论LN患者自噬水平呈升高状态,自噬水平升高可能通过上调足细胞相关蛋白Podocin、Nephrin水平而减轻足细胞损伤,抑制LN病情进展。     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞培养鉴定及复方扶芳藤合剂含药血清对细胞增殖的影响

目的:建立SD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs)的分离培养方法,观察不同浓度的复方扶芳藤合剂大鼠含药血清对大鼠BMSCs增殖的影响。方法:通过全骨髓贴壁法体外分离、培养、纯化BMSCs,对其进行细胞形态学观察,将BMSCs进行成骨、成脂定向诱导分化,采用流式细胞仪检测其表面标志物,分析其细胞周期,进行BMSCs鉴定;采用不同浓度(20%、10%和5%)的复方扶芳藤合剂含药血清和空白血清连续7 d对大鼠BM SCs进行干预,以CCK-8法检测其吸光度值,对比各组细胞生长情况。结果:BMSCs具有典型的成纤维样细胞形态,集落生长呈漩涡状。BMSCs成脂、成骨诱导后,油红O染色和茜素红染色均呈阳性。第3代BMSCs表型CD29、CD44、CD34、CD44表达分别为99.645%、99.677%、0.016%、0.133%;不同浓度的复方扶芳藤合剂含药血清和空白血清连续干预7 d后,CCK-8法检测显示:20%浓度的复方扶芳藤合剂含药血清组,其1~7 d的吸光度均值均高于20%浓度的空白血清组(P<0.05);10%的含药血清组的吸光度均值在3~7 d,高于10%的空白血清组(P<0.05);5%的含药血清组与5%的空白血清组比较无明显差异(P>0.05)。结论:全骨髓贴壁法分离、培养BM SCs,操作简单,方法稳定,可大量扩增BMSCs。扩增后的BMSCs具有间充质干细胞的生物学特性,具有多向分化潜能。复方扶芳藤合剂含药血清干预后的BMSCs增殖能力增强,其中20%浓度的复方扶芳藤合剂含药血清在本实验中为最佳干预浓度。     

肠炎清合剂治疗慢性复发型溃疡性结肠炎大肠湿热证的临床观察

目的:观察肠炎清合剂对慢性复发型溃疡性结肠炎(UC)大肠湿热证患者诱导缓解效果及维持治疗对复发的影响,并从神经-内分泌-免疫炎症网络方面探讨了其作用机制。方法:将112例符合要求的患者随机分成对照组55例和观察组57例。对照组内服美沙拉嗪肠溶片,1.0 g/次,4次/d;Mayo评分系统≥7分者,加服醋酸泼尼松片,0.75 mg·kg^-1·d^-1;加用双歧杆菌活菌散剂,1包/次,2次/d,餐后温水冲服。观察组在对照组治疗的基础上服用肠炎清合剂,1包/次,分早晚2次服用。两组疗程均为连续治疗6周,再每周门诊复诊1次。进入缓解期后,两组患者均给予美沙拉嗪肠溶片,0.5 g/次,3次/d,维持治疗;观察组仍内服肠炎清合剂内服,至大肠湿热证评分减少≥90%以上。记录进入6周内缓解期的人数和缓解时间;进行治疗前后结肠镜检查,并进行Geboes指数和Baron法评价;进行治疗前后大肠湿热证评分和Mayo评分;检测治疗前后外周血白细胞介素-6(IL-6),IL-8,IL^-10,IL^-17,血管活性肠肽(VIP),胃动素(MTL)和神经肽Y(NPY);随访24周,记录复发情况。结果:经6周治疗后,观察组临床有效率为100%,黏膜愈合率为96.4%,均分别高于对照组的89.09%和81.82%(P<0.05),两组患者内镜应答率均为100%;经6周治疗后,观察组临床缓解率为91.23%,高于对照组的76.36%(χ2=4.581,P<0.05),观察组平均缓解时间短于对照组(P<0.01);治疗后观察组结肠黏膜评分,Geboes指数、大肠湿热证评分和Mayo评分均低于对照组(P<0.01);观察组患者外周血IL-6,IL-8和IL^-17水平均低于对照组(P<0.01),IL^-10水平高于对照组(P<0.01);观察组患者外周血VIP,MTL水平均低对照组(P<0.01),NPY水平高于对照组(P<0.01);观察组复发率为17.54%,低于对照组的38.18%(χ2=5.955,P<0.05);观察组平均复发时间长于对照组(P<0.01)。结论:在常规西医治疗的基础上,肠炎清合剂用于慢性复发型UC大肠湿热证的治疗,可诱导病情缓解,缩短病程,并能降低复发率,推迟复发时间,并对神经-内分泌-免疫炎症网络具有调节作用,从而可改善病情。     

雷公藤多苷辅助治疗狼疮性肾炎的Meta分析

目的:系统评价雷公藤多苷联合西药治疗狼疮性肾炎（LN）的疗效。方法:计算机检索2009—2019年中国知网、维普数据库、万方数据库、PubMed数据库及Springer电子期刊,查找以雷公藤多苷联合西药治疗LN的随机对照试验(RCT),按纳入标准和排除标准筛选文献、提取资料和评价纳入研究的方法学质量后,采用Revman5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果:1)共纳入8篇文章,657例患者,其中观察组330例,对照组327例,各研究均明确指出基线均衡,具有可比性。2)Meta分析结果显示:雷公藤多苷辅助治疗LN在提高缓解率(OR=1.58,95%CI［1.08,2.32］,P=0.02),降低血尿素氮(MD=-1.14,95%CI［-2.13,-0.14］,P=0.03),降低血肌酐(MD=-9.93,95%CI［-17.94,-1.93］,P=0.02),提升血清白蛋白(MD=3.99,95%CI［0.82,7.17］,P=0.01),增加补体C3(MD=0.16,95%CI［0.05,0.27］,P=0.003),增加补体C4(MD=0.09,95%CI［-0.03,0.15］,P=0.003)等方面明显优于单用激素或免疫抑制剂等西药治疗,其差异有统计学意义。在降低24 h尿蛋白及发生不良反应等方面无统计学意义。结论:本次Meta分析显示雷公藤多苷辅助治疗LN对比单纯使用西药(激素、免疫抑制剂、细胞毒性药物),在提高缓解率,升高血清白蛋白,降低血尿素氮、血肌酐及提高补体C3、C4方面疗效突出,差异均有统计学意义。但由于此次收录的文献质量相对不高,样本数量较少,未来更需要更多高质量,大样本,研究设计方案更严谨的随机对照试验,对雷公藤多苷辅助治疗LN有更精确的评估。     

Evaluation of an acetated Ringer-based contrast material mixture for postmortem computed tomography angiography

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare an established postmortem contrast medium mixture based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) to an isotonic crystalloid with acetated Ringer solution (AR) as the base, both mixed with water-soluble iodinated contrast medium for postmortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) with the aim to avoid alterations of the corpse during autopsy.Materials and methodsThe study included 20 cadavers; 10 had PMCTA with AR and 10 with PEG. PMCTA images were analyzed with respect to image quality, vascular contrast patterns and artifacts. Autopsy was evaluated for visual, organ, vessel and haptic alterations. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to search for differences in image quality between the two groups. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.ResultsAR provided excellent contrast within the right coronary artery (P < 0.001) but a lack of contrast within the left coronary artery (P = 0.008) whereas PEG showed the opposite. A better image quality was observed in the PEG group by comparison with the AR group for right common carotid artery (P = 0.03), left common carotid artery (P = 0.01) and left coronary artery (P = 0.008). No differences were found for ascending aorta (P = 0.65), aortic arch (P = 0.09), right circle of Willis (P = 0.17), left circle of Willis (P = 0.08), inferior vena cava (P = 0.07) and abdominal aorta (P = 0.08). Severe extravasation occurred in all (10/10; 100%) cadavers in the AR group but in none (0/10; 0%) in the PEG group (P < 0.001). At autopsy, visual alteration with lilac discoloration of the face was observed in 4/10 cadavers (40%) in the AR group and in 9/10 cadavers (90%) in the PEG group (P = 0.057). Haptic alterations were observed in 3/10 cadavers (30%) in the AR group and 10/10 cadavers (100%) in the PEG group (P = 0.003).ConclusionAR results in contrast medium mixture extravasation in all cadavers, but PEG altered the autopsy more severely. Both carrier substances result in specific substance-related artifacts and dependent opacification of the coronary arteries, but PEG is recommended for PMCTA exclusively with regard to diagnostic imaging.