Visfatin as a therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: The rising prevalence of musculoskeletal pathologies in developed countries has caused a dramatic impact on social welfare. Amidst these musculoskeletal pathologies is Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that mostly affects the synovium. RA metabolic-associated alterations, including distorted adipokine production, enhance RA inflammatory environment. Among the altered adipokines, visfatin is particularly involved in RA inflammation and catabolism and stands out as an essential enzyme linked to critical cell features.

Areas covered: We discuss the potential mechanism supporting the contribution of visfatin to RA and the association between RA and obesity. We discuss the repurposing of cancer-tested drugs to inhibit visfatin in the context of RA. Additionally, we address the possibility of combining these drugs with current RA therapy. Finally, we explore the future of visfatin as an RA biomarker or therapeutic target.

Expert opinion: Inhibition of visfatin has become an interesting therapeutic approach for RA pathology. Such a feat has already been attained in oncology using small molecule inhibitors, which suggest that a similar course of action would be worth pursuing in the RA context. Visfatin will become an important biomarker and therapeutic target for RA.     

高乳酸血症-卒中样发作综合征型线粒体脑肌病一家系两代四例报告

线粒体脑肌病属于罕见性母系遗传病，本文回顾性分析了1家4例高乳酸血症-卒中样发作综合征（MELAS）型线粒体脑肌病患者，其主要表现为卒中样发作、头痛、癫痫、高乳酸血症、肌肉不耐受疲劳、高级智能下降、听力下降和身材矮小等，结合特征性影像学变化、基因检测及肌肉活检明确诊断，并结合文献对只有女儿能将其线粒体DNA（mt-DNA）传递给下一代的母系遗传MELAS型线粒体脑肌病临床特点进行了总结分析，旨在帮助临床认识此病，进一步提高MELAS型线粒体脑肌病的临床诊断率。     

High-definition optical magnification with digital chromoendoscopy detects gastric mucosal changes in dyspeptic-patients

BACKGROUND Accurate detection of gastric infection by Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) and premalignant lesions are important for effective provision of treatment,preventing the development of gastric neoplasia.Optical enhancement systems with optical magnification improved the identification of mucosal superficial and vascular patterns in patients with dyspepsia.AIM To evaluate an optical enhancement system with high-definition magnification,for diagnosis of normal gastric mucosa,H.pylori-associated gastritis,and gastric atrophy.METHODS A cross-sectional,nonrandomized study from November 2015 to April 2016 performed in a single-tertiary academic center from Ecuador.Seventy-two consecutive patients with functional dyspepsia according to the Rome III criteria,were tested for H.pylori using a stool antigen test and were assigned to an Hp+group or an Hp-control group.Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with highdefinition optical magnification and digital chromoendoscopy was performed,and patients were classified into 4 groups,in accordance to the microvasculararchitecture pattern of the mucosa.Interobserver and intraobserver agreement among operators were calculated.RESULTS Of the 72 participants,35 were Hp+ and 37 were Hp-.Among 10 patients with normal mucosal histology in biopsy samples,90% had a Type I pattern of microvascular architecture by endoscopy.Among participants with type IIa and type IIb patterns,significantly more were Hp+ than Hp-(32 vs 8),and most(31 out of 40) had histological diagnoses of chronic active gastritis.Two of the three participants with a histological diagnosis of atrophy had a type III microvascular pattern.The type I pattern predicted normal mucosa,type IIa–IIb predicted H.pylori infection,and type III predicted atrophy with sensitivities of 90.0%,91.4%,and 66.7%,respectively.The intraobserver and interobserver agreements had kappa values of 0.91 and 0.89,respectively.CONCLUSION High-definition optical magnification with digital chromoendoscopy is useful for diagnosis of normal gastric mucosa and H.pylori-associated gastritis with high accuracy,but further studies are needed to determine whether endoscopic diagnosis of gastric atrophy is feasible.     

Comparison of Laparoscopic-Assisted Operations and Laparotomy Operations for the Treatment of Hirschsprung Disease: Evidence From a Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the relative merits among laparoscopic-assisted operations and laparotomy operations for patients with Hirschsprung disease.PubMed, Web of Science, and Wanfang databases were searched for the related articles. We analyzed dichotomous variables by estimating odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and continuous variables using the weighted mean difference (WMD) with the 95% CI. The random-effects model (REM) was used to combine the results. The outcome measures included operating time (OT), estimated blood loss (EBL), length of hospital stay (LOHS), mean first bowel movement (MFBM), and number of complications.Sixteen articles were included in the meta-analysis. These studies involved a total of 774 patients, 396 of whom underwent laparoscopic-assisted operations and 378 of whom underwent laparotomy operations. The EBL (WMD = −1.48, 95% CI = −1.82, −1.13), LOHS (WMD = −0.67, 95% CI = −0.86, −0.49), MFBM (WMD = −0.83, 95% CI = −1.05, −0.61), and number of complications (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.40, 0.89) were significantly lower in laparoscopic-assisted operations than in laparotomy operations. The OT (WMD = 0.12, 95% CI = −0.05, 0.28) showed no significant differences between laparoscopic-assisted operations and laparotomy operations.Compared with laparotomy operations, laparoscopic-assisted operations are generally safer and more reliable for patients with Hirschsprung disease.     

不同氢溴酸右美沙芬口服固体制剂的溶出度考察

目的：对6个厂家不同氢溴酸右美沙芬口服固体制剂进行体外溶出度考察，比较体外溶出情况，为临床用药提供参考。方法：采用转篮法，转速100 r·min^-1，用高效液相色谱法测定氢溴酸右美沙芬口服固体制剂在0.1 mol·L^-1盐酸溶液中的溶出曲线；以威布尔方程拟合溶出参数T₅₀、T_d、m，并对参数进行方差分析。结果：氢溴酸右美沙普通片、分散片、胶囊以及软胶囊的平均累积溶出度分别为94.3%、101.3%、105.2%、93.4%。溶出参数T₅₀、T_d差异较大，其中T₅₀最大的是最小的13.4倍。结论：氢溴酸右美沙片、分散片、胶囊以及软胶囊体外溶出行为差别大，产品质量存在较大差异。     

40岁以上高龄女性体外受精-胚胎移植妊娠结局分析

目的：探讨40岁以上高龄女性体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）的妊娠结局，旨在为高龄女性提供生育咨询以及为改善高龄女性个体化辅助生殖治疗结局提供临床依据。方法：选择我院生殖中心2015年1月—2017年12月女方年龄≥40岁且使用自身卵子行体外受精的共2 467个治疗周期资料，对各项临床数据进行回顾性分析。结果：40岁及以上行辅助生殖治疗的患者，随着女性年龄增加获卵数明显减少（40～48岁女性平均获卵数分别为2.97、 2.69、2.17、2.01、1.77、1.61、1.68、1.29和1.00，44～48岁与40～43岁依次组间比较均P＜0.05），尤其是44岁以上女性胚胎发育潜能明显降低（40～48岁囊胚形成率分别为48.90%、43.72%、33.67%、34.29%、24.39%、21.14%、26.32%、16.67%和0%，44～48岁与40～43岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05）。共有518个周期行新鲜胚胎移植，结果显示，随女性年龄增加，临床妊娠率（40～48岁临床妊娠率分别为26.92%、21.15%、20.79%、10.96%、18.87%、11.11%、5.88%、0%和0%，43～48岁与40～42岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05）、种植率（40～48岁种植率分别为23.65%、19.51%、17.70%、8.54%、7.49%、10.81%、5.56%、0%和0%，43～48岁与40～42岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05）和活产率均显著降低（40～46岁活产率分别为18.46%、10.58%、9.90%、5.48%、5.66%、2.78%和5.88%，43～46岁与40～42岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05），43岁以上者结局更差。44岁以上女性自然流产率明显增高（40～45岁流产率分别为31.43%、50.00%、52.38%、50.00%、70.00%和75.00%，44～45岁与40～43岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05）。46岁女性仅1例妊娠并分娩，47岁和48岁女性均无成功妊娠。与抗苗勒管激素（AMH）＞1.0 ng/mL组相比，AMH≤1.0 ng/mL组妊娠率、种植率及活产率均显著下降（27.04% vs. 14.74%，22.99% vs. 13.50%，15.88% vs. 7.37%；均P＜0.05），流产率明显升高（41.27% vs. 50.00%，P＜0.05）。结论：≥40岁高龄女性随年龄增长生育力逐渐降低。40～43岁年龄段女性助孕仍有一定的价值，尤其是卵巢仍有一定储备者（AMH＞1.0 ng/mL），但44岁以上女性原则上不再建议ART助孕，对于46岁以上卵巢功能衰竭的女性强烈建议卵子捐赠或收养。