Volume 02 · Issue 02 · 2016

Regulatory T-cells (Tregs), known for their immune suppressive function, have been reported in higher numbers, with activated phenotypes and greater potency, in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver diseases than in normal conditions. The numbers, phenotypes, and function of intrahepatic and/or tumor-infiltrating Tregs in HBV-related liver diseases also differ from those of Tregs in the peripheral blood. By inhibiting the function of effector T-cells (Teffs), Tregs play a substantial role in the formation and maintenance of the liver's suppressive microenvironment, which might account for the progression of HBV-related hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In acute hepatitis B virus infection, Tregs can safeguard the liver from damage at the cost of prolonged antiviral processes, which results in chronic HBV infection in the liver. Furthermore, Tregs play a role in the development of cirrhosis, the transformation of cirrhosis to HCC, and the progression and metastasis of HCC. Higher levels of Tregs in the peripheral blood and/or tumor sites signify a poorer prognosis in HBV-related liver conditions, and observational data from mouse models and human patients support the theory that depleting Tregs may be therapeutic in HBV-related liver diseases by inducing antiviral and antitumor immunity.

Recently, several cohort studies suggested a positive relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is inconsistent with the results of functional research. Our aim was to further evaluate this correlation by conducting a systematic review.

Computerized literature searches of the Medline database, EMBASE database, and PubMed were used to evaluate the relationship between SUA and T2DM in cohort studies. Cochran's Q and I² statistics were used to evaluate heterogeneity among studies, and pooled relative risk (RR) and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects and fixed-effects models. The summary RR and OR of per 1 mg/ml-SUA increase were calculated separately because of their different epidemiological implications and calculation methods. Additionally, sensitivity analysis, stratified analysis, meta-regression, and multiple meta-regression were applied to investigate the heterogeneity among studies.

A total of 970 articles were retrieved from the searches. Sixteen publications of cohort studies containing 61,714 participants were included. The pooled RR was 1.131 (95% CI: 1.084-1.179) with significant heterogeneity among studies (I² = 51.9%, P= 0.018). Adjusted RR to evaluate the stability of the relationship between SUA and T2DM in the sensitivity analysis was similar (RR = 1.140, 95% CI: 1.087-1.197), with statistically significant heterogeneity (I² = 54.5%, P = 0.015). Stratified analysis and meta-regression showed that the positive relationship remained irrespective of age, sex, region, and adjustment for confounding factors including body mass index, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, alcohol consumption, smoking, blood cholesterol, waist circumference, fatty liver, and drugs affecting SUA.

Although SUA is independently associated with development of T2DM, insulin resistance increased as the baseline SUA concentration increased; thus, the correlation between SUA and T2DM requires further evaluation and the baseline insulin resistance status should also be considered.

To evaluate whether stem cell transplantation improves global left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to determine the appropriate stem cell therapy dose as well as the effective period after stem cell transplantation for therapy.

A systematic literature search included Pubmed, MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and Cochrane Evidence-Based Medicine databases. The retrieval time limit ranged from January 1990 to June 2016. We also obtained full texts through manual retrieval, interlibrary loan and document delivery service, or by contacting the authors directly. According to our inclusion and exclusion criteria, data were extracted independently by two evaluators. In case of disagreement, a joint discussion occurred and a third researcher was utilized. Data were analyzed quantitatively using Revman 5.2. Summary results are presented as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We collected individual trial data and conducted a meta-analysis to compare changes in global left ventricular ejection fraction (ΔLVEF) after stem cell therapy. In this study, four subgroups were based on stem cell dose (1 × 10⁷ cells, 1 × 10⁸ cells, 1 × 10⁹ cells, and 1 × 10¹⁰ cells) and three subgroups were based on follow-up time (<6 months, 6-12 months, and ≥12 months).

Thirty-four studies, which included 40 randomized controlled trials, were included in this meta-analysis, and 1927 patients were evaluated. Changes in global LVEF were significantly higher in the stem cell transplantation group than in the control group (95% CI: 2.35-4.26%, P < 0.01). We found no significant differences in ΔLVEF between the bone marrow stem cells (BMCs) group and control group when the dose of BMCs was 1 × 10⁷ [ΔLVEF 95% CI: 0.12-3.96%, P= 0.04]. The ΔLVEF in the BMCs groups was significantly higher than in the control groups when the dose of BMCs was 1 × 10⁸ [ΔLVEF 95% CI: 0.95-4.25%, P= 0.002] and 1 × 10⁹ [ΔLVEF 95% CI: 2.31-4.20%, P < 0.01]. In addition, when the dose of BMCs was between 10⁹ and 10¹⁰ cells, we did not observe any significant differences [ΔLVEF 95% CI:-0.99-11.82%, P = 0.10]. Our data suggest stem cell therapy improves cardiac function in AMI patients when treated with an appropriate dose of BMCs.

Stem cell transplantation after AMI could improve global LVEF. Stem cells may be effectively administered to patients with AMI doses between 10⁸ and 10⁹ cells.

This study aims to determine the distribution of observed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) incidence in contemporary cohorts in China, and to identify cut-off points for ASCVD risk classification based on traditional criteria and new equations developed by Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China (China-PAR).

The study populations included cohorts in the China-PAR project, with 34,757 participants eligible for the current analysis. Traditional risk stratification was assessed by using Chinese guidelines on prevention of CVD and hypertension, and 5 risk groups were classified based on these guidelines after slight modification for available risk factors. Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to obtain the cumulative incidence of observed ASCVD events for all subjects and sub-groups. The predicted 10-year ASCVD risk was obtained using the China-PAR equations.

A total of 1922 ASCVD events were identified during an average follow-up of 14.1 years. According to the group classification based on traditional risk stratification, the observed 10-year risks for ASCVD were 4.61% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.11-5.10%) in the moderate-risk group and 8.74% (95% CI: 7.82-9.66%) in the high-risk group. Based on the China-PAR equations for risk assessment of ASCVD, those with predicted risks of <5%, 5-10%, and ≥10% could be classified into categories of low-, moderate-, and high-risk for ASCVD, respectively.

The findings enable development of a simple method for classification of individuals into low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups, based on the China-PAR equations. The method will be useful for self-management and prevention of ASCVD in Chinese adults.

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients often have impaired quality of life (QOL), anxiety, depression, and reduced daily physical activity (DPA) and physical performance. The contributions of these latter factors to reduced QOL in MHD are poorly understood. We examined the association of QOL with anxiety, depression, DPA, and physical performance.

Seventy-two relatively healthy adult MHD patients, vintage ≥6 months, and 39 normals of similar age range and gender distribution were studied. QOL was assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF). Anxiety and depression were each evaluated with two questionnaires. DPA and physical performance were assessed with a physical activity monitor, Human Activity Profile, and 6-minute walk, sit-to-stand, and stair-climbing tests.

Most KDQOL components were reduced in MHD patients versus normals. KDQOL components in patients were commonly inversely correlated with measures of anxiety and depression (P < 0.05) and were more reduced in patients with both anxiety and depression. KDQOL was often impaired in patients with either anxiety or depression. However, most KDQOL scores did not differ between patients and normals without anxiety or depression. DPA, Human Activity Profile, and physical performance often correlated with KDQOL scores in adjusted models, but after further adjustment for anxiety and depression, DPA, Human Activity Profile, and physical performance correlated less frequently with KDQOL scores. This reduction in significant correlations after adjustment for anxiety and depression was particularly pronounced for the association between KDQOL and DPA.

In relatively healthy MHD patients, KDQOL scores are usually decreased in those with anxiety and/or depression but are usually normal in those without anxiety or depression. Lower DPA in MHD patients with reduced KDQOL scores often appears to be associated with anxiety and depression. The relationship between QOL and physical performance appears to be less influenced by anxiety and/or depression. These data suggest that treatment of anxiety and depression in MHD patients may improve their QOL, DPA, and possibly physical performance.

This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of active and passive tobacco smoking among Beijing residents in 2011.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using a stratified multistage cluster random sampling method to select a representative sample of 20,242, among Beijing residents aged 18-79 years. Active and passive tobacco smoking information was collected by a standardized and validated questionnaire in a face-to-face interview. All estimates of prevalence and numbers were weighted by the 2010 Beijing Population Census data and the sampling scheme.

Among Beijing residents aged 18-79 years, the overall prevalence of ever smokers and current smokers were 33.13% and 30.18%, respectively. The prevalence in males was much higher than that in females (60.75% vs. 3.75% for ever smokers, and 55.53% vs. 3.21% for current smokers, respectively). For overall current smokers, 14.12 cigarettes were consumed per day. However, only 8.91% of ever smokers quitted smoking at the time of the survey, and 2.44% of ever smokers quitted smoking in recent two years. Furthermore, 44.74% of overall nonsmokers and former smokers, with 47.03% of males and 43.63% of females, reported exposure to secondhand smoke for at least 15 minutes per day and at least one day per week.

Tobacco smoking prevalence is still extremely high in Beijing. Nonsmokers do still suffer from secondhand smoke critically. Further urgent efforts for tobacco control are warranted in Beijing.

We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to analyze the features of coronary artery atheromatous plaque in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and mild-to-moderate angiographic coronary stenosis. The aim was to determine the clinical significance of plaque characteristics as well as the relationship between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and coronary artery lesions.

HbA1c levels were evaluated in 85 patients (96 lesions), of whom 46 had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT Group) and 39 had normal blood glucose (NBG Group). IVUS was used to analyze the lesion vessel of both groups qualitatively and quantitatively. The external elastic membrane area (EEMA), minimal lumen area (MLA), plaque area (PA), and plaque burden (PB) were measured for both the target lesion and the reference segments (reference external elastic membrane area (REEMA), reference minimal lumen area (RMLA), reference plaque area (RPA), and reference plaque burden (RPB), respectively).

HbA1c levels were significantly higher in the IGT Group than in the NBG Group (P < 0.05). In the IGT Group there was more soft plaque, eccentric plaque, and positive remodeling, and less calcification, while in the NBG Group there was much harder plaque and calcification, no reconstruction, and negative remodeling (P < 0.05). MLA was smaller in the IGT Group than in the NBG Group, while EEMA, PA, and PB were clearly greater (P < 0.05). In the meantime, RMLA was clearly smaller in the IGT Group than in the NBG Group, while RPA and RPB were greater (P < 0.05). HbA1c levels were positively correlated with PA and PB, and negatively correlated with MLA.

IVUS is very valuable for the evaluation of mild-to-moderate coronary lesions. The coronary artery lesions in patients with IGT are more serious and widespread than those in patients with NBG. HbA1c levels might be of some value in assessing the severity of coronary artery lesions.