Sonographic Growth Charts for Kidney Length in Normal Korean Children: a Prospective Observational Study

Kidney length is the most useful parameter for clinical measurement of kidney size, and is useful to distinguish acute kidney injury from chronic kidney disease. In this prospective observational study of 437 normal children aged between 0 and < 13 years, kidney length was measured using sonography. There were good correlations between kidney length and somatic values, including age, weight, height, and body surface area. The rapid growth of height during the first 2 years of life was intimately associated with a similar increase in kidney length, suggesting that height should be considered an important factor correlating with kidney length. Based on our findings, the following regression equation for the reference values of bilateral kidney length for Korean children was obtained: kidney length of the right kidney (cm) = 0.051 × height (cm) + 2.102; kidney length of the left kidney (cm) = 0.051 × height (cm) + 2.280. This equation may aid in the diagnosis of various kidney disorders.     

临床药师参与1例甲巯咪唑致胰岛素自身免疫综合征患者救治分析

摘 要 目的：探讨临床药师在药源性低发病率疾病诊治中的作用。方法: 临床药师通过参与1例甲巯咪唑致胰岛素自身免疫综合征患者的诊治过程,从用药角度提出诊治见解,避免了疾病的误诊和漏诊,针对患者低血糖频发的现象,提出合理化的用药方案。结果: 医师接受建议并成功控制患者低血糖发作,予以出院,1个月后院外随访疾病控制良好。结论:临床药师通过充分掌握专科药物特点并深入结合患者病情进行分析,可协助临床医师在药源性低发病率疾病诊治中提出合理化建议,优化治疗方案,减少疾病的漏诊和误诊,提高治愈率。     

美国FDA医疗器械监管数字化转型的进展分析及eSTAR模板的应用

目的：深入剖析美国FDA数字化转型背景、组织架构、战略重点,在医疗器械监管方面的具体措施,以及在加强医疗器械上市前审查计划方面的进展,以期对我国信息化引领的医疗器械技术审评的现代化起到一定的启示作用。方法：对FDA近年来在数字化转型方面的战略规划及进展进行概述,重点介绍基于可扩展标记语言（Extensible Markup Language,XML）格式的eSTAR模板,分析所依托的语言优势,提高数据标准化、数据系统兼容性,便于数据读取处理分析,有效提高审评过程的一致性、完整性及效率。受理不仅是对资料完整性的审核,也是对数据格式/数据标准的筛选过程,经筛选纳入FDA内部数据库,以便后期调用及统计分析,将数据转化为监管工具。结果与结论：我国医疗器械技术审评注册申报信息化平台迭代升级和数据库构建,应积极应用先进的电子信息技术和基础设施,进一步优化上市前审查流程并节省时间和资源,促进数据读取处理分析共享,将监管数据转变为监管证据和监管新工具,加速数据驱动型数字化转型,提高服务响应速度,提升服务质量。     

The promise of exosome applications in treating central nervous system diseases

Exosomes (EXs), a type of extracellular vesicles, are secreted from virtually all types of cells. EXs serve as cell-to-cell communicators by conveying proteins and nucleic acids with regulatory functions. Increasing evidence shows that EXs are implicated in the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Moreover, EXs have recently been highlighted as a new promising therapeutic strategy for in vivo delivery of nucleotides and drugs. Studies have revealed that infusion of EXs elicits beneficial effects on the CNS injury animal models. As compared to cell-based therapy, EXs-based therapy for CNS diseases has unique advantages, opening a new path for neurological medicine. In this review, we summarized the current state of knowledge of EXs, the roles and applications of EXs as a viable pathological biomarker, and EX-based therapy for CNS diseases.     

A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Treatment with Botulinum Toxin in Patients with Recalcitrant and Persistent Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea

BackgroundThere are few pharmacologic options to reduce erythema and flushing in patients with recalcitrant erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR). We previously reported two cases of refractory flushing and erythema of rosacea that were successfully treated with intradermal botulinum toxin injection, and additional research is needed to prove the efficacy and safety of this treatment.ObjectiveTo report the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin injection as an aid in persistent erythema of rosacea patients.MethodsA total of 20 Korean patients with recalcitrant ETR were enrolled to receive treatment by injection of botulinum toxin. Patients received one treatment of intradermal botulinum toxin injection and were assessed 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment. The severity of erythema and telangiectasia was investigated by a non-treating physician, and the Erythema Index (EI) was assessed by mexameter at each visit. Patient satisfaction and any adverse events were also assessed at each visit.Results17 patients completed all follow-up visits and were included in the analysis. Intradermal injection of botulinum toxin significantly reduced erythema severity and EI in ETR patients. Patients reported a satisfaction score of 2.94±0.56 at 8 weeks after treatment. Except for three patients who discontinued the study early due to inconvenience of facial muscle paralysis, 17 patients participating in the final analysis did not report side effects except injection pain at the time of the procedure.ConclusionIntradermal injection of botulinum toxin can be used as an effective and relatively safe adjuvant agent for recalcitrant and persistent erythema of ETR patients.     

Impact of the size and number of swollen joints on serum C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study in Japan

Clinical Rheumatology - No studies have yet reported the influence of swelling in individual joints on serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. To examine this association, we...     

Comparison of composite disease activity indices for rheumatoid arthritis

To evaluate the composite disease activity indices for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we compared disease activities and the changes therein calculated using the Disease Activity Score based on 28 joint counts using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), DAS28-CRP (C-reactive protein), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) in a cohort of 1,412 patients with RA. The median (1st; 3rd quartile) scores were 4.20 (3.31; 5.14) for DAS28-ESR, 3.44 (2.59; 4.36) for DAS28-CRP, 13.6 (7.49; 21.1) for SDAI, and 12.0 (6.9; 18.9) for CDAI. Absolute scores and their changes were significantly correlated (p < 0.0001) in all combinations among these four disease activity indices; however, their correlations were lower in males than in females. Correlations between disease activity indices and the clinical and acute phase reactant variables were different according to disease activity index, sex and age. A comparison of the number of patients in each disease activity category according to the disease activity indices using kappa-statistics revealed an almost perfect agreement between SDAI and CDAI (κ = 0.871), a moderate agreement between DAS28-ESR and SDAI (κ = 0.415) or CDAI (κ = 0.427), but only fair agreement between DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP (κ = 0.329). For the selection of a disease activity index for an evaluation of RA patients, both the convenience and the characteristics of the respective disease activity index should be considered.     

Angiographic and intravascular ultrasound follow up of paclitaxel‐ and sirolimus‐eluting stent after poststent high‐pressure balloon dilation: From the poststent optimal stent expansion trial

Objectives : The aims of this study were to identify the efficacy of optimal stent expansion (OSE) according to the Multicenter Ultrasound Stenting in Coronaries Study (MUSIC Study) criteria in drug‐eluting stent (DES) and compare paclitaxel‐eluting stent (PES) to sirolimus‐eluting stent (SES). Background : Although poststent high‐pressure balloon dilatation is proposed after bare metal stent implantation according to OSE, defined by the criteria of the MUSIC Study, very little data are available in DES. Methods : Two hundred fifty patients (M:F = 149:101; age, 61.5 ± 9.2 years) who underwent 9‐month follow‐up angiography in the Poststent Optimal Stent Expansion Trial (POET) were included in this study. We assessed angiographic in‐stent restenosis (ISR) and neointima volume (NV) using IVUS at 9 months. Results : At 9‐month follow up, there were no significant differences in ISR and NV index (NV/stent length, mm²) between patients with and without OSE. However, the rate of ISR and NV index were higher in PES [ISR: 18 (13.7%) and 4 (3.4%), P = 0.004; NV index: 1.02 ± 0.99 mm² and 0.21 ± 0.37, P < 0.001 in PES and SES]. Conclusions : OSE according to the MUSIC Study criteria was not related to ISR and NV in the DES era but PES had a significantly higher ISR rate and NV than SES after poststent high‐pressure balloon dilatation. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of Schisandra chinensis Baillon (Schizandraceae) on lipopolysaccharide induced lung inflammation in mice

Aim of the study

This study was aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective and anti-aging activity of extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans from the roots and leaves of Damnacanthus officinarum Huang to provide the pharmacological basis in traditional medicine.

Materials and methods

Investigations on the neuroprotective and lifespan activity were carried out, which were observed by utilizing the following models: observing the worms’ chemosensory behavior test based on the aversion index in the assay plate, neuroprotective activity of nematode by evaluating the ASH neuron survival and lifespan test in C. elegans.

Results

It has been shown that the ethanol, n-butanol and aqueous extracts in the roots possessed significantly neuroprotective effect both in chemosensory behavior test and ASH neuron survival model. The same extracts in the leaves showed similar activities in two models, but have less potency revealing by the data. Four candidate extracts, possessing excellent neuroprotective activity, extend lifespan in C. elegans. The n-butanol extracts in the root part showed best efficacy among them.

Conclusion

The results show the n-butanol and aqueous extracts are the major pharmacological plant extracts. Moreover, the neuroprotective and lifespan-extension activity effects of root extracts are superior to leave extracts, supporting the traditional application of above-ground parts of DOH in treating various diseases associated with brain disorders and anti-aging.