Estrogen and estrogen receptors in kidney diseases

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are posing great threats to global health within this century. Studies have suggested that estrogen and estrogen receptors (ERs) play important roles in many physiological processes in the kidney. For instance, they are crucial in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and modulating endothelin-1 (ET-1) system in the kidney. Estrogen takes part in the kidney repair and regeneration via its receptors. Estrogen also participates in the regulation of phosphorus homeostasis via its receptors in the proximal tubule. The ERα polymorphisms have been associated with the susceptibilities and outcomes of several renal diseases. As a consequence, the altered or dysregulated estrogen/ERs signaling pathways may contribute to a variety of kidney diseases, including various causes-induced AKI, diabetic kidney disease (DKD), lupus nephritis (LN), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), CKD complications, etc. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that targeting estrogen/ERs signaling pathways might have protective effects against certain renal disorders. However, many unsolved problems still exist in knowledge regarding the roles of estrogen and ERs in distinct kidney diseases. Further research is needed to shed light on this area and to enable the discovery of pathway-specific therapies for kidney diseases.     

Hand grip strength as a predictor of recovery from low back pain in the pregnant women-a prospective study

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal problem during pregnancy with an estimated prevalence ranging from 30% to 78%. The symptoms usually disappear gradually after delivery, but some women may have persistent problems even later in their lives. The definite mechanism behind LBP during pregnancy remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether hand grip strength (HGS), which is a straightforward and reliable indicator of overall muscle strength, is associated with unrecovered LBP after delivery.Methods257 pregnant women who registered at obstetrics units in two tertiary hospitals from January 2016 to June 2017 and meanwhile suffered the LBP during pregnancy were included. They were grouped based on whether they recovered from LBP after delivery (recovery was de?ned as a pain rating of ≤3). The variables such as age, HGS, and education level were recorded and examined for the risk analysis of unrecovered LBP. Also, the Pearson correlation between HGS levels and pain intensities was investigated.ResultsLBP without recovery at two years after delivery was reported among 22.7% of the subjects. Women with increasing age, low HGS (<25 kg), LBP in a previous pregnancy, back pain, sick leave, and a large amount of physical demand (all p < 0.05), were more likely to report LBP without recovery. Besides, there was a significant correlation between HGS values and the intensities of LBP (r = ?0.525; p = 0.003).ConclusionsLow HGS has the highest OR value (adjusted OR = 9.12, P < 0.001) among these factors. The present findings may be used to design and encourage a specific stabilization exercise regime to build well stability of the lumbar spinal column and thus alleviating the LBP.     

微信平台干预对体外受精-胚胎移植患者生活质量及焦虑抑郁的影响

目的 探讨提高体外受精-胚胎移植女性患者生活质量,降低其焦虑、抑郁的方法.方法 将接受体外受精-胚胎移植治疗的72例女性患者按照入院时间分为对照组与观察组各3 6例.对照组采用常规护理,观察组在此基础上,由医生、护士及心理咨询师通过微信公众号及微信群对患者进行健康教育及心理干预.比较两组干预前后生活质量、焦虑、抑郁评分及临床妊娠结局.结果 干预后观察组生活质量中社会关系、身心关系及耐受性评分显著高于对照组,焦虑、抑郁评分显著低于对照组,临床妊娠率显著高于对照组(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).结论 微信平台干预可提高体外受精-胚胎移植患者生活质量,改善其焦虑、抑郁状态及妊娠结局.     

镰刀菌对太子参品质影响及DON毒素在其煎煮过程中迁移规律研究

目的:探究镰刀菌对太子参品质的影响和太子参中脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(DON)毒素在其煎煮过程中的迁移规律。方法:采用反式培养法,探讨镰刀菌侵染太子参后DON毒素积累变化及对太子参质量的影响,计算水煎煮后汤液DON毒素的迁移率。结果:受镰刀菌侵染后,太子参表面会形成1层白色菌丝和黑色沉积物,DON毒素在太子参中随时间推移显著增加;受镰刀菌侵染的太子参中总皂苷和多糖含量分别为对照组的1.5、2.0倍,而太子参环肽B含量显著降低。镰刀菌侵染太子参20 d后,DON毒素质量分数达到45.40μg·kg–1,DON毒素煎煮后转移率为12.50%~27.90%。结论:研究结果为制定中药材DON毒素限量标准及临床安全用药提供了参考。     

Multivisceral resection for locally advanced gastric cancer: A retrospective study

BackgroundMultivisceral resection may be the exclusive radical procedure for cT4b gastric cancer patients. However, most surgeons refuse to select surgery because of the theoretical higher mortality, morbidity and poorer prognosis.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed cT4b gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery from January 1,1997 to December 31,2018. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Short-term results and prognostic values of clinical and pathologic factors were also analyzed.ResultsPatients underwent multivisceral resection had an acceptable mortality and morbidity. The overall 5-year survival rate of multivisceral resection was higher than that of palliative surgery (P < 0.05). And independent prognostic factors of multivisceral resection were R+ resection, extensive lymph node involved (>15), vascular cancer emboli, and postoperative chemotherapy.Conclusions: cT4b gastric cancer patients underwent multivisceral resection experience acceptable mortality and morbidity. The independent prognostic factors for multivisceral resection were completeness of resection, extensive lymph node involvement (>15), vascular cancer emboli, and postoperative chemotherapy.     

The use of artificial intelligence and robotics in regional anaesthesia

The current fourth industrial revolution is a distinct technological era characterised by the blurring of physics, computing and biology. The driver of change is data, powered by artificial intelligence. The UK National Health Service Topol Report embraced this digital revolution and emphasised the importance of artificial intelligence to the health service. Application of artificial intelligence within regional anaesthesia, however, remains limited. An example of the use of a convoluted neural network applied to visual detection of nerves on ultrasound images is described. New technologies that may impact on regional anaesthesia include robotics and artificial sensing. Robotics in anaesthesia falls into three categories. The first, used commonly, is pharmaceutical, typified by target-controlled anaesthesia using electroencephalography within a feedback loop. Other types include mechanical robots that provide precision and dexterity better than humans, and cognitive robots that act as decision support systems. It is likely that the latter technology will expand considerably over the next decades and provide an autopilot for anaesthesia. Technical robotics will focus on the development of accurate sensors for training that incorporate visual and motion metrics. These will be incorporated into augmented reality and visual reality environments that will provide training at home or the office on life-like simulators. Real-time feedback will be offered that stimulates and rewards performance. In discussing the scope, applications, limitations and barriers to adoption of these technologies, we aimed to stimulate discussion towards a framework for the optimal application of current and emerging technologies in regional anaesthesia.     

Placental Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling,PGC-1α, and Inflammatory Pathways Are Associated With Metabolic Outcomes at 4–6 Years of Age: The ECHO Healthy Start Cohort

An adverse intrauterine environment is associated with the future risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Changes in placental function may underpin the intrauterine origins of adult disease, but longitudinal studies linking placental function with childhood outcomes are rare. Here, we determined the abundance and phosphorylation of protein intermediates involved in insulin signaling, inflammation, cortisol metabolism, protein glycosylation, and mitochondrial biogenesis in placental villus samples from healthy mothers from the Healthy Start cohort. Using MANOVA, we tested the association between placental proteins and offspring adiposity (fat mass percentage) at birth (n = 109) and infancy (4–6 months, n = 104), and adiposity, skinfold thickness, triglycerides, and insulin in children (4–6 years, n = 66). Placental IGF-1 receptor protein was positively associated with serum triglycerides in children. GSK3β phosphorylation at serine 9, a readout of insulin and growth factor signaling, and the ratio of phosphorylated to total JNK2 were both positively associated with midthigh skinfold thickness in children. Moreover, peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC)-1α abundance was positively associated with insulin in children. In conclusion, placental insulin/IGF-1 signaling, PGC-1α, and inflammation pathways were positively associated with metabolic outcomes in 4- to 6-year-old children, identifying a novel link between placental function and long-term metabolic outcomes.