Matcha Green Tea Alleviates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice by Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Inflammatory Responses

Lately, matcha green tea has gained popularity as a beverage and food additive. It has proved to be effective in preventing obesity and related metabolic syndromes. However, the underlying mechanisms of its control effects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are complicated and remain elusive. In the present study, we performed an in vivo experiment using male C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet and simultaneously treated with matcha for six weeks. Serum biochemical parameters, histological changes, lipid accumulation, inflammatory cytokines, and relevant indicators were examined. Dietary supplementation of matcha effectively prevented excessive accumulation of visceral and hepatic lipid, elevated blood glucose, dyslipidemia, abnormal liver function, and steatosis hepatitis. RNA sequencing analyses of differentially expressed genes in liver samples indicated that matcha treatment decreased the activity of lipid droplet-associated proteins and increased the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, suggesting improved metabolic capacity and liver function. The current study provided evidence for new dietary strategies based on matcha supplementation to ameliorate lipotoxicity-induced obesity and NALFD.     

100例茎突过长综合征分析

目的：分析茎突过长综合征的临床特点。方法;选择茎突过长综合征100例,男32例,女68例。根据病史,临床症状、检查方法、茎突长短进行分析。结果：100例中误诊为慢性咽炎78例,误诊为咽部异感症8例,误诊率86%,茎突最短27mm,最长56mm,平均长34mm。结论：本病易误诊,通过咽部触诊,X线摄片可提高确诊率。     

中国北方汉族、维吾尔族、哈萨克族DYS19基因座的遗传多态性

目的;研究DYS19基因座在中国北方汉族、维吾尔族、哈萨克族群体中的遗传多态性及其法医学应用。方法：应用聚合酶链反应后变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离扩增产物结合银染显带的方法,对101例北方汉族、56例维吾尔族、30例哈萨克族无关男性个体的DYS19基因座进行检测。结果：DYS19基因座在3个群体中共检出5种等位基因,基因频率分布范围分别为0．069－0．594,0．071－0．500,0．100－0．667;个人识别机率分别为0．600,0．675,0．491。χ^2检验表明等位基因分布具有明显的人群差异。家系调查符合单体父系遗传方式。结论：DYS19基因座个人识别机率高,属较高鉴别能力的遗传标记系统,且具有明显的人群分布差异,在法医学及人类遗传学研究中具有重要的应用价值。     

Intradialytic systolic blood pressure variation can predict long-term mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

International Urology and Nephrology - It is unclear which time-points of intradialytic blood pressure (BP) best predict prognosis. Thus, it is important to assess the association between different...     

Diffusion-weighted imaging for predicting tumor consistency and extent of resection in patients with pituitary adenoma

This study aimed to investigate the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting tumor consistency, extent of surgical resection, and recurrence in pituitary adenoma (PA). We reviewed a prospectively collected database of surgically treated PA between March 2016 and October 2017. Predictors for extent of resection and recurrence/progression were assessed with logistic and Cox regression analysis. Of the 183 patients, the tumor consistency was found soft in 107 (58.5%) patients, intermediate in 41 (22.4%) patients, and hard in 35 (19.1%) patients. The mean of ADC ratio was 0.92 ± 0.22 for hard tumor, 1.03 ± 0.22 for intermediate tumor, and 1.41 ± 0.62 for soft tumor (P < 0.001). The mean collagen content was 25.86% ± 15.00% for hard tumor, 16.05% ± 9.90% for intermediate tumor, and 5.00% ± 6.00% for soft tumor (P < 0.001). Spearman analysis showed a significant correlation between ADC ratio and collagen content (ρ = ? 0.367; P < 0.001). Gross-total resection (GTR) was obtained in 68.3% of patients, and multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ADC ratio (OR, 12.135; 95% CI, 4.001–36.804; P < 0.001), giant PA (OR, 0.233; 95% CI, 0.105–0.520; P < 0.001), and invasion (OR, 0.459; 95% CI, 0.220–0.960; P = 0.039) were significantly predictive of GTR. Twenty-seven (14.8%) patients suffered recurrence/progression in the mean follow-up of 35.14 months. Invasion (HR, 2.728; 95% CI, 1.262–5.899; P = 0.011) was identified as independent predictors of recurrence/progression. ADC ratio of DWI could be used for preoperative assessment of tumor consistency, tumor collagen content, and extent of surgical resection, which might be useful in preoperative planning for patients with PA.

     

Experience managing distal ureteral strictures with Boari flap-psoas hitch and comparison of open and laparoscopic procedures

BackgroundTo summarize our experience with the Boari flap-psoas hitch and compare the indications, perioperative data and outcomes between open and laparoscopic procedures.MethodsThis study retrospectively reviewed 35 patients with complex distal ureteral stricture between January 2015 and April 2019. All patients were treated with Boari flap-psoas hitch by either an open or a laparoscopic procedure. Selection criteria were based on the etiology, comorbidities, medical history, and patient preference.ResultsAll surgeries were performed successfully. The median operation time was 201 min (range, 120 to 300 min), and the median estimated blood loss was 50 mL (range, 20 to 400 mL). The median postoperative hospitalization was 9 days (range, 3 to 46 days). Nineteen patients were treated by the open procedure, and 16 were treated by the transperitoneal laparoscopic procedure. The surgical indication of open surgery was broader than that for laparoscopic surgery. For patients experiencing iatrogenic injury and ureterovesical reimplantation failure, no significant differences in sex, laterality, operative time, ASA score or postoperative hospitalization stay were observed between the two groups. The median estimated blood loss was lower in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (P=0.047). Patients in the open group had more surgical complications than patients in the laparoscopic group (P=0.049). The postoperative follow-up showed the radiological resolution of hydronephrosis in 33 patients.ConclusionsWith the appropriate surgical considerations, Boari flap-psoas hitch is a valid method to bridge distal ureteral defects. For select patients, laparoscopic surgery had advantages being a minimal invasive surgery with less estimated blood loss and fewer surgical complications.     

Neoadjuvant combination of pazopanib or axitinib and programmed cell death protein-1-activated dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer cells immunotherapy may facilitate surgery in patients with renal cell carcinoma

BackgroundRadical/cytoreductive nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery may be thought to be not safe or unfeasible in some renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients in which tumor is locally advanced or highly complicated. Neoadjuvant therapy may reduce the volume of the tumor, thus facilitates surgery. The aim the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant combination of pazopanib or axitinib and PD-1-activated dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer (PD-1/DC-CIK) cell immunotherapy in those patients.MethodsData from 16 RCC patients who received neoadjuvant pazopanib (Group P, n=9) or axitinib (Group A, n=7) plus PD-1/DC-CIK cells immunotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 9 participants that were potential candidates for radical/cytoreductive nephrectomy (RN/CN) had locally advanced tumor and 5 participants with partial nephrectomy (PN) absolute indications had highly complicated tumors. The efficacy outcomes were based on volume changes of the primary tumor, lymph nodes, and tumor thrombus in 13 participants with complete computed tomography (CT) imaging. The treatment-related toxicities and surgical complications were also reported.ResultsWith a median of 2.1 months treatment, the overall volume of the tumors decreased by a median of 42.30% [interquartile range (IQR): 19.37–66.78%]. Specifically, the median reduction of tumor volume was 88.77 and 15.50 cm³ in group P and group A, respectively (P=0.014). However, participants in Group P were more likely to experience grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) than those in Group A (44.4% vs. 0). Finally, all participants were candidates for appropriate surgery after neoadjuvant therapy (as assessed by the surgeon), and 10 participants accepted surgery, including 5 PN, 4 RN/CN, and 1 lymph node dissection. A solitary participant had Clavien grade IV acute renal failure required dialysis and another had grade II lymphatic leakage.ConclusionsNeoadjuvant combination of pazopanib or axitinib and PD-1/DC-CIK cells immunotherapy was well-tolerated and could effectively reduce the volume of tumors in locally advanced or highly complicated RCC patients.     

An Environmental Dilemma for China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Explosion of Disposable Plastic Wastes

Plastic pollution control has been on top of the political agenda in China. In January 2020, China announced a phased ban on the production and usage of various types of single-use plastics as a solution to environmental pollution problems. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 seems to be a new obstacle to the ban on single-use plastic products. To basically satisfied the daily necessities and contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 under the background of the regular epidemic prevention and control in China, online ordering, contactless delivery and wearing mask have become an important and feasible way of daily life. However, the unrestrained use of disposable plastic bags, lunch boxes and masks within the nationwide quarantine leads to hundreds of millions of plastics wastes every day. The potential environmental pollution caused by the use of disposable plastic products during the pandemic should arouse social concern. The Chinese government should manage environmental protection in parallel with anti-pandemic endeavors as the situation of the pandemic evolves.