Circulating CCL20: A potential biomarker for active vitiligo together with the number of Th1/17 cells

Background

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease with varying pathological features. Activation of the CCL20-CCR6 axis plays an important role in chronic inflammatory diseases. However, whether CCL20-CCR6 and Th1/17 cells are indicative of active vitiligo is unclear.

Theory of mind,mental state talk and social relationships in aging: The case of friendship

Objectives: Previous research has shown a decline in Theory of mind (ToM) associated with normal aging. However, very few studies have investigated older people’s ToM using an ecological approach. The present study was designed to fill this gap and examine older people’s frequency of mental state talk (MST) in describing their best friend, together with their performance on a traditional ToM task. In addition, the study examined the association between these two ToM indices and relationships with friends and family members.

Method: Seventy-two healthy older adults (age range 60–79) participated in the study. We measured ToM ability with a classic measure, the Faux Pas task, and selected the Describe-a-friend task to measure MST frequency; social relationships were investigated with the Lubben Social Network Scale. Correlation and regression analyses were performed.

Results: No significant association between MST and scores on the Faux Pas task emerged. In addition, MST (but not Faux Pas scores) significantly predicted friendships (but not family relationships) over and above general cognitive functioning.

Conclusion: These findings show the crucial distinction between possessing an ability and using it in daily life and suggest the need to move toward more ecological measures of older adults’ abilities. In addition, the present results indicate that the spontaneous use of ToM ability, not the ability per se, impacts on older adults’ social relationships.     

Physical health-related quality of life among older adults with personality disorders

Objectives: Personality Disorders (PDs) are associated with a multitude of negative consequences. The negative PD effects on health can be even more burdensome for older adults given the physical and social functioning changes that occur with age; however, the majority of research examining the influence of PDs focuses on younger adults. The present study seeks to investigate the relationship between PDs and physical health-related quality of life (PHRQoL) in adults over the age of 50.

Methods: Data for 16,884 adults ages 50 and older from the 2001–2002 National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were analyzed. Multiple linear regression models were analyzed to investigate the relationships of seven PDs and participants’ PHRQoL.

Results: All PDs except histrionic and avoidant PD had statistically significant negative associations with PHRQoL scores, indicating that respondents diagnosed with PDs were expected to have lower PHRQoL than those without PDs, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. When psychosocial covariates were added to the model, only dependent, obsessive-compulsive and paranoid PDs were significantly related to PHRQoL score.

Conclusions: For adults ages 50 and older, a diagnosis of PD was weakly associated with lower PHRQoL scores for three PDs, however this is unlikely to be a causal association. The strength of the relationship between PDs and PHRQoL varies by type of PD. Given the higher rates of functional and social changes that occur with age, future research should focus on potential causes of worse physical health among older adults with PDs.     

Epstein-Barr Virus–Related Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Transplant Recipients: A Case Series

Background

Solid organ transplantation is associated with a higher risk of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–related lymphoproliferative disease due to immunosuppressive regimen. Little evidence is currently available on post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) in the lung transplant (LuTx) setting, particularly in cystic fibrosis (CF) recipients.

Health Care Utilization After Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study

Background

Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) can reduce the burden of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) but its effect on health care utilization and costs after such therapy is poorly known. We sought to compare the rates of cardiovascular (CV)-related hospitalizations, survival, and health care costs in patients with recurrent VT treated either with VT ablation or with medical therapy.

综合护理干预对肺癌胸腔镜术后患者的影响

目的探讨对肺癌胸腔镜术后患者行综合护理干预对于并发症以及生存质量的临床影响。方法抽取到本院接受治疗的132例肺癌胸腔镜术后患者,研究时间为2017年1月—2018年12月,将其按照双盲法分成综合组和对照组,分别为66例患者。综合组行综合护理措施,对照组行常规护理措施,观察两组患者的临床资料,并且比较两组患者的并发症以及生存质量。结果综合组患者接受护理后并发症发生率3例(4.55%),明显低于对照组11例(16.67%),综合组生存质量评分均高于对照组,P<0.05。结论对肺癌胸腔镜术后患者行综合护理干预,降低并发症的发几率,提高了生存质量。     

浅谈“百病皆在调气血”在哈氏妇科的应用

气血理论是中医重要理论，妇科疾病应首调其气血，哈氏妇科是全国中医妇科十大流派之一，诊治疾病独具特色，哈孝廉教授宗古人"百病皆在调气血"思想，治疗崩漏、产后身痛、滑胎等妇科常见疾病，疗效显著，值得深入学习与探讨。     

Aberrant expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway genes in aggressive malignant gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors

IntroductionRecent reports on gene expression profiling (GEP) show several genes associated with malignant progression of GIST. However, genes associated with malignant transformation have not been clarified. Here, we aimed to reveal distinct genes in aggressive malignant GIST, using comprehensive gene expression analysis.Materials and methodsWe investigated GEP obtained by microarrays for 43 gastric GISTs, which mostly harbored KIT and PDGFRA mutations and integrated clinicopathological risk information. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed for FZD7, a receptor of Wnt ligands.ResultsGEP divided 43 gastric GISTs into two clusters. A cluster included seven of eight high-risk GISTs (88%) in modified NIH classification and was defined as high-risk cluster; the other cluster was defined as low-risk cluster. The number of probes with over 3-fold changes between the two clusters was 1,177, in which probes corresponding to 16 oncogenes were included. Genes involved in the Wnt signaling pathway were the most abundant among the 16 oncogenes. Focusing on 73 Wnt signaling pathway genes of the 21,578 probes, 12 upregulated and 5 downregulated genes were found in the high-risk cluster. Major cascade genes promoting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, including WNT11, FZD family, and DVL2, were upregulated in the high-risk cluster. SNAI1, SNAI2, and BIRC5, which are activated by this pathway and increase cell proliferation, were also upregulated. These gene expression alterations were consistent in the positive direction of this pathway. GISTs in high-risk cluster strongly expressed FZD7.ConclusionWnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may play an important role in malignant transformation of indolent GIST.     

Large-scale analysis of interindividual variability in single and paired-pulse TMS data

ObjectiveThis study brought together over 60 transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) researchers to create the largest known sample of individual participant single and paired-pulse TMS data to date, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of factors driving response variability.MethodsAuthors of previously published studies were contacted and asked to share deidentified individual TMS data. Mixed-effects regression investigated a range of individual and study level variables for their contribution to variability in response to single and paired-pulse TMS data.Results687 healthy participant’s data were pooled across 35 studies. Target muscle, pulse waveform, neuronavigation use, and TMS machine significantly predicted an individual’s single-pulse TMS amplitude. Baseline motor evoked potential amplitude, motor cortex hemisphere, and motor threshold (MT) significantly predicted short-interval intracortical inhibition response. Baseline motor evoked potential amplitude, test stimulus intensity, interstimulus interval, and MT significantly predicted intracortical facilitation response. Age, hemisphere, and TMS machine significantly predicted MT.ConclusionsThis large-scale analysis has identified a number of factors influencing participants’ responses to single and paired-pulse TMS. We provide specific recommendations to minimise interindividual variability in single and paired-pulse TMS data.SignificanceThis study has used large-scale analyses to give clarity to factors driving variance in TMS data. We hope that this ongoing collaborative approach will increase standardisation of methods and thus the utility of single and paired-pulse TMS.     

Long-term Implications of Tracheostomy in Cardiac Surgery Patients: Decannulation and Mortality

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