Could non-HDL-cholesterol be a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background/objectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is accepted as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia and recommended as a target of lipid lowering therapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and relationship between OSA severity and serum LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in OSA patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated treatment naïve 2361 subjects admitted to the sleep laboratory of a university hospital for polysomnography. All subjects’ lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured.ResultsOut of 2361 patients (mean age 49.6 ± 11.9 years; 68.9% male, apnea-hypopnea index 36.6 ± 28.4/h), 185 (7.8%) had no OSA and 2176 (92.2%) had OSA. Atherogenic dyslipidemia prevalence was high (57–66%) in OSA patients, and especially increased in severe OSA compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Though total and LDL-cholesterol did not differ between those with and without OSA, non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.020), and triglycerides (p = 0.001) were higher and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.018) were lower in OSA patients than non-OSA. Non-HDL-cholesterol was significantly correlated with OSA severity (p < 0.001) and hypoxia parameters (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-cholesterol showed no correlation.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and non-HDL-cholesterol levels are significantly increased, predominantly in severe OSA patients. Non-HDL-cholesterol but not LDL-cholesterol, is significantly correlated with OSA severity and hypoxia parameters. Therefore, it could be better to use non-HDL-cholesterol, which is a guideline recommended target of lipid therapy, as a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.     

Parenchymal calcification is associated with the neurological prognosis in patients with congenital rubella syndrome

Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) results from maternal rubella virus infection in early pregnancy. Abnormal neuroimaging findings have been analyzed in a small number of CRS patients in the past; however, their clinical significance has been poorly addressed. Therefore, we have investigated the neuroimaging findings of 31 patients with CRS from previous studies. The most common finding was parenchymal calcification, which was observed in 18 of 31 patients (58.1%). A multivariable logistic regression model showed that it was associated with psychomotor or mental retardation (p = 0.018), suggesting that parenchymal calcification in CRS could be a prognostic factor.     

Ⅱ型固有淋巴样细胞在嗜酸性粒细胞性慢性鼻窦炎发病机制中的作用研究进展

慢性鼻窦炎(CRS)是一种常见的慢性非特异感染性鼻部疾病,病理分型主要分为Th2细胞介导的嗜酸性粒细胞性鼻窦炎(ECRS)和Th1细胞介导的非嗜酸性粒细胞性鼻窦炎(非ECRS)2种表型。欧洲国家CRS患病人群主要表现为ECRS,而随着亚洲国家的急剧工业化发展,其ECRS的比例也在急剧增加。ECRS发病机制复杂,涉及多种免疫细胞和相关因子相互作用。其治疗方法包括抗生素、激素药物治疗及手术治疗等,但仍有部分患者症状难以改善或存在复发的风险。Ⅱ型固有淋巴样细胞(ILC2s)是一种非B、非T的新型淋巴细胞,与Th2免疫应答关系密切。文章就ILC2s在ECRS发病机制中的作用进行综述,以期为ECRS的诊断和治疗提供理论参考。     

Clinical analysis of peritoneal dialysis in the treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

Objective To observe the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) caused by lupus nephritis, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, or primary glomerulonephritis who were treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) and then withdrew PD because of renal recovery. Methods Data of the above patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were diagnosed as RPGN and received PD therapy in Kidney Disease Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University from February 2009 to August 2018. The patients were divided into early withdrawal group (PD time≤183 days, n=24) and late withdrawal group (PD time＞183 day, n=24). The differences of clinical characteristics between the two groups were compared. The cumulative incidence of adverse events in both groups was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the risk factors influencing the prognosis of patients. Results Forty-eight RPGN patients were included. The median time of maintaining PD was 178(76, 378) days. Compared with the late withdrawal group, the patients in early withdrawal group had lower levels of urine volume, serum albumin and parathyroid hormone, and lower rates of gross hematuria and hypertension at the beginning of PD, and received higher rates of methylprednisolone impulse, combined immunosuppressive agents, and hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy (all P＜0.05). At the time of PD withdrawal, the levels of serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum albumin and parathyroid hormone in the early withdrawal group were significantly lower than those in the late withdrawal group (all P＜0.05). The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that there was no significant difference in the cumulative survival of patients in both groups (log-rank test χ2=3.485, P=0.062). Cox regression analysis revealed serum creatinine≥209 μmol/L at the time of PD withdrawal was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis (HR=5.253，95%CI 1.757-15.702, P=0.003). Conclusions PD can be used for RPGN patients caused by lupus nephritis, ANCA-associated vasculitis and primary nephritis. Serum creatinine≥209 μmol/L at the time of PD withdrawal is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis.     

垂黄清脉冲剂干预治疗冠心病稳定型心绞痛热毒痰瘀证患者NF-κB信号通路的研究

目的 探讨垂黄清脉冲剂对冠心病稳定型心绞痛（热毒痰瘀证）患者NF-κB信号通路的调控。方法 本试验研究方法采用单盲、随机、对照法，选取就诊于宁夏医科大学总医院临床诊断为冠心病稳定型心绞痛（热毒痰瘀证）患者94例，将其随机分入对照组48例和试验组46例。两组均给予内科常规西药治疗，对照组加服银丹心脑通软胶囊，试验组加服垂黄清脉冲剂，疗程为3个月。于治疗前、后记录患者的基本情况，并采集血清样本，用酶联免疫吸附测定法（Elisa法）检测血清中TNF-α、NF-κB、IL-6、ICAM-1、VCAM-1、ET-1、NO浓度水平进行对比，用SPSS22.0将数据进行统计学分析。结果 与治疗前比较，两组治疗后Gensini积分、血清中TNF-α、NF-κB、IL-6、ICAM-1、VCAM-1、ET-1浓度水平均较治疗前显著降低，NO浓度水平显著升高（P < 0.05，P < 0.01），其中试验组显著程度尤为明显（P < 0.01）。与治疗后对照组比较，试验组Gensini积分、血清中TNF-α、NF-κB、IL-6、ICAM-1、VCAM-1、ET-1浓度水平降低，NO浓度水平升高趋势更明显（P < 0.01）。结论 垂黄清脉冲剂治疗冠心病稳定型心绞痛（热毒痰瘀证）在改善患者症状；改善冠状动脉管腔狭窄程度；通过降低炎症标志物TNF-α、NF-κB、IL-6、ICAM-1、VCAM-1的水平，减小ET-1/NO比值，从而对NF-κB信号通路进行部分调控，以有效抑制或截断血管内皮的炎症级联反应过程，清除炎症损伤因素以及保护血管内皮功能等方面均有显著优势，临床疗效确切值得肯定和推广应用。