Increased Risk of Parkinson's Disease in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Population-Based,Propensity Score-Matched,Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by repetitive episodes of apnea/hypopnea and hypoxia, is associated with systemic inflammation and induces metabolic, endocrine, and cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation might have an impact on neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the possible association between OSA and Parkinson''s disease (PD). Random samples out of 1 million individuals were collected from Taiwan''s National Health Insurance database. A total of 16,730 patients with newly diagnosed OSA from 2002 to 2008 were recruited and compared with a cohort of 16,730 patients without OSA matched for age, gender, and comorbidities using propensity scoring. All patients were tracked until a diagnosis of PD, death, or the end of 2011.During the mean 5.6-year follow-up period, the incidence rates of PD were 2.30 per 1000 person-years in the OSA cohort and 1.71per 1000 person-years in the comparison group. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) for PD was greater in older patients (≧ 65 years) and male patients with OSA than the controls, respective IRRs being 1.34 and 1.47. After adjustment for the comorbidities, patients with OSA were 1.37 times more likely to have PD than patients without (95% CI = 1.12–1.68, P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that older patients and patients with coronary artery disease, stroke, or chronic kidney disease had a higher risk for PD than their counter parts. Log-rank analysis revealed that patients with OSA had significantly higher cumulative incidence rates of PD than the comparison group (P = 0.0048). Patients with OSA are at an increased risk for subsequent PD, especially elderly male patients.     

伴双手麻木的结节性皮肤淀粉样变一例

患者男，53岁，因面部、双手、阴茎、臀部结节斑块5年就诊于福州市皮肤病防治院皮肤科。5年前无明显诱因患者前额出现数个粟粒至蚕豆大小结节，因无自觉症状，未予治疗。皮疹逐渐增多、增大，双上眼睑、鼻背、双手指、阴茎、臀部等部位逐渐出现类似皮疹，伴双手麻木感，呈阵发性，与天气冷热无关，无发热、四肢乏力、关节肿痛等不适，曾自行外用多种药膏（具体不详）无效。既往史及家族史无特殊，各系统检查未见明显异常……     

MIR-140-5p affects chondrocyte proliferation,apoptosis, and inflammation by targeting HMGB1 in osteoarthritis

Inflammation Research - This study aimed to test the expression and biological function of miR-140-5p in osteoarthritis (OA), and identify its target gene and explore its mechanism in OA....     

Facile synthesis of PEI-based crystalline templated mesoporous silica with molecular chirality for improved oral delivery of the poorly water-soluble drug

The aim of this study was to build up a novel chiral mesoporous silica called PEIs@TA-CMS through a facile biomimetic strategy and to explore its potential to serve as a drug carrier for improving the delivery efficiency of poorly water-soluble drug. PEIs@TA-CMS was synthesized by using a chiral crystalline complex associated of tartaric acid and polyethyleneimine (PEIs) as templates, scaffolds and catalysts. The structural features including morphology, size, pore structure and texture properties were systematacially studied. The results showed that PEIs@TA-CMS was monodispersed spherical nanoparticles in a uniformed diameter of 120–130 nm with well-developed pore structure (S_BET: 1009.94 m²/g, pore size <2.21 nm). Then PEIs@TA-CMS was employed as nimodipine (NMP) carrier and compared with the drug carry ability of MCM41. After drug loading, NMP was effectively transformed from the crystalline state to an amorphous state due to the space confinement in mesopores. As expected, PEIs@TA-CMS had superiority in both drug loading and drug release compared to MCM41. It could incorporate NMP with high efficiency, and the dissolution-promoting effect of PEIs@TA-CMS was more obvious because of the unique interconnected curved pore channels. Meanwhile, PEIs@TA-CMS could significantly improve the oral adsorption of NMP to a satisfactory level, which showed approximately 3.26-fold higher in bioavailability, and could effectively prolong the survival time of mice on cerebral anoxia from 10.98 to 17.33 min.