Xian-Mei Qi, Ya Luo, Mei-Yue Song, Ying Liu, Ting Shu, Ying Liu, Jun-Ling Pang, Jing Wang, Chen Wang
Chinese Medical JournalVol.134,No.082021
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001461
Abstract
Pneumoconiosis refers to a spectrum of pulmonary diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dust, usually as the result of certain occupations. The main pathological features include chronic pulmonary inflammation and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, which can eventually lead to death caused by respiratory and/or heart failure. Pneumoconiosis is widespread globally, seriously threatening global public health. Its high incidence and mortality lie in improper occupational protection, and in the lack of early diagnostic methods and effective treatments. This article reviews the epidemiology, safeguard procedures, diagnosis, and treatment of pneumoconiosis, and summarizes recent research advances and future research prospects.
Xiao-Lang Jiang, Yun Shi, Bin Chen, Jun-Hao Jiang, Tao Ma, Chang-Po Lin, Da-Qiao Guo, Xin Xu, Zhi-Hui Dong, Wei-Guo Fu
Chinese Medical JournalVol.134,No.082021
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001229
Abstract
Background:
Although endovascular therapy has been widely used for focal aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD), its performance for extensive AIOD (EAIOD) is not fully evaluated. We aimed to demonstrate the long-term results of EAIOD treated by endovascular therapy and to identify the potential risk factors for the loss of primary patency.
Methods:
Between January 2008 and June 2018, patients with a clinical diagnosis of the 2007 TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC II) C and D AIOD lesions who underwent endovascular treatment in our institution were enrolled. Demographic, diagnosis, procedure characteristics, and follow-up information were reviewed. Univariate analysis was used to identify the correlation between the variables and the primary patency. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with primary patency. Five- and 10-year primary and secondary patency, as well as survival rates, were calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.
Results:
A total of 148 patients underwent endovascular treatment in our center. Of these, 39.2% were classified as having TASC II C lesions and 60.8% as having TASC II D lesions. The technical success rate was 88.5%. The mean follow-up time was 79.2 ± 29.2 months. Primary and secondary patency was 82.1% and 89.4% at 5 years, and 74.8% and 83.1% at 10 years, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 84.2%. Compared with patients without loss of primary patency, patients with this condition showed significant differences in age, TASC II classification, infrainguinal lesions, critical limb ischemia (CLI), and smoking. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed age <61 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 6.47; 95% CI: 1.47-28.36; P = 0.01), CLI (aOR: 7.81; 95% CI: 1.92-31.89; P = 0.04), and smoking (aOR: 10.15; 95% CI: 2.79-36.90; P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for the loss of primary patency.
Conclusions:
Endovascular therapy was an effective treatment for EAIOD with encouraging patency and survival rate. Age <61 years, CLI, and smoking were independent risk factors for the loss of primary patency.
Shuai Liu, Dong Zhao, Miao Wang, Yue Qi, Jia-Yi Sun, Jun Liu, Yan Li, Jing Liu
Chinese Medical JournalVol.134,No.082021
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001383
Abstract
Background:
Cumulative blood pressure (BP), a measure incorporating the level and duration of BP exposure, is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the level at which cumulative BP could significantly increase the risk remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of 15-year cumulative BP levels with the long-term risk of CVD, and to examine whether the association is independent of BP levels at one examination.
Methods:
Data from a 26-year follow-up of the Chinese Multi-provincial Cohort Study-Beijing Project were analyzed. Cumulative BP levels between 1992 and 2007 were calculated among 2429 participants free of CVD in 2007. Cardiovascular events (including coronary heart disease and stroke) occurring from 2007 to 2018 were registered. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD incidence associated with quartiles of cumulative systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were calculated.
Results:
Of the 2429 participants, 42.9% (1042) were men, and the mean age in 2007 was 62.1 ± 7.9 years. Totally, 207 CVD events occurred during the follow-up from 2007 to 2018. Participants with higher levels of cumulative SBP or DBP exhibited a higher incidence rate of CVD (P < 0.001). Compared with the lowest quartile of cumulative SBP, the HR for CVD was 1.03 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-1.81), 1.69 (95% CI: 0.99-2.87), and 2.20 (95% CI: 1.21-3.98) for the second to the fourth quartile of cumulative SBP, and 1.46 (95% CI: 0.86-2.48), 1.99 (95% CI: 1.18-3.35), and 2.08 (95% CI: 1.17-3.71) for the second to the fourth quartile of cumulative DBP, respectively. In further cross-combined group analyses with BP measurements in 2007, 15-year cumulative BP levels higher than the median, that is, 1970.8/1239.9 mmHg·year for cumulative SBP/DBP, which were equivalent to maintaining SBP/DBP levels of 131/83 mmHg or above on average in 15 years, were associated with higher risk of CVD in subsequent years independent of BP measurements at one-time point.
Conclusion:
Cumulative exposure to moderate elevation of BP is independently associated with increased future cardiovascular risk.
Wei-Xun Duan, Wei-Guang Wang, Lin Xia, Chao Xue, Bo Yu, Kai Ren, Wei Yi, Hong-Liang Liang, Xiao-Chao Dong, Jian Zuo, et al.
Chinese Medical JournalVol.134,No.082021
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001459
Abstract
Background:
Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) and acute type A intramural hematoma (ATAIMH) are life-threatening diseases with high mortality. To better understand their clinical features in the Chinese population, we analyzed the data from the first Registry of Aortic Dissection in China (Sino-RAD) to promote the understanding and management of the diseases.
Methods:
All patients with ATAAD and ATAIMH enrolled in Sino-RAD from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016 were involved. The data of patients’ selection, history, symptoms, management, outcomes, and postoperation complications were analyzed in the study. The continuous variables were compared using the Student’s t test for normal distributions and the Mann-Whitney U test for non-normal distributions. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher exact test.
Results:
A total of 1582 patients with ATAAD and 130 patients with ATAIMH were included. The mean age of all patients was 48.4 years. Patients with ATAAD were significantly younger than patients with ATAIMH (48.9 years vs. 55.6 years, P < 0.001). For the total cohort, males were dominant, but the male ratio of patients with ATAAD was significantly higher compared to those with ATAIMH (P = 0.01). The time range from the onset of symptom to hospitalization was 2.0 days. More patients of ATAIMH had hypertension than that of ATAAD (82.3% vs. 67.6%, P < 0.05). Chest and back pain were the most common clinical symptoms. Computerized tomography (CT) was the most common initial diagnostic imaging modality. 84.7% received surgical treatment and in-hospital mortality was 5.3%. Patients with ATAAD mainly received surgical treatment (89.6%), while most patients with ATAIMH received medical treatment (39.2%) or endovascular repair (35.4%).
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that doctors should comprehensively use clinical examination and genetic background screening for patients with ATAAD and ATAIMH and further shorten the time range from symptoms onset to intervention, achieving early diagnosis and treatment, thereby reducing the mortality rate of patients with aortic dissection in China. We should standardize the procedures of aortic dissection treatment and improve people’s understanding. Meanwhile, the curing and transferring efficiency should also be improved.
Wei Lin, Jue Fan, Long-Fei Hu, Yan Zhang, Joshua D. Ooi, Ting Meng, Peng Jin, Xiang Ding, Long-Kai Peng, Lei Song, et al.
Chinese Medical JournalVol.134,No.082021
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001439
Abstract
Background:
Since 2019, a novel coronavirus named 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has emerged worldwide. Apart from fever and respiratory complications, acute kidney injury has been observed in a few patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Furthermore, according to recent findings, the virus has been detected in urine. Angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) has been proposed to serve as the receptor for the entry of 2019-nCoV, which is the same as that for the severe acute respiratory syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the possible cause of kidney damage and the potential route of 2019-nCoV infection in the urinary system.
Methods:
We used both published kidney and bladder cell atlas data and new independent kidney single-cell RNA sequencing data generated in-house to evaluate ACE2 gene expression in all cell types in healthy kidneys and bladders. The Pearson correlation coefficients between ACE2 and all other genes were first generated. Then, genes with r values larger than 0.1 and P values smaller than 0.01 were deemed significant co-expression genes with ACE2.
Results:
Our results showed the enriched expression of ACE2 in all subtypes of proximal tubule (PT) cells of the kidney. ACE2 expression was found in 5.12%, 5.80%, and 14.38% of the proximal convoluted tubule cells, PT cells, and proximal straight tubule cells, respectively, in three published kidney cell atlas datasets. In addition, ACE2 expression was also confirmed in 12.05%, 6.80%, and 10.20% of cells of the proximal convoluted tubule, PT, and proximal straight tubule, respectively, in our own two healthy kidney samples. For the analysis of public data from three bladder samples, ACE2 expression was low but detectable in bladder epithelial cells. Only 0.25% and 1.28% of intermediate cells and umbrella cells, respectively, had ACE2 expression.
Conclusion:
This study has provided bioinformatics evidence of the potential route of 2019-nCoV infection in the urinary system.
Ning Jiang, Yan-Nan Liu, Jing Bao, Ran Li, Wen-Tao Ni, Xing-Yu Tan, Yu Xu, Li-Ping Peng, Xiao-Rong Wang, Yi-Ming Zeng, et al.
Chinese Medical JournalVol.134,No.082021
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001466
Abstract
Background:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread throughout the world. In this study, we aimed to identify the risk factors for severe COVID-19 to improve treatment guidelines.
Methods:
A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on 313 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients were classified into two groups based on disease severity (nonsevere and severe) according to initial clinical presentation. Laboratory test results and epidemiological and clinical characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to detect potential risk factors associated with severe COVID-19.
Results:
A total of 289 patients (197 nonsevere and 92 severe cases) with a median age of 45.0 (33.0, 61.0) years were included in this study, and 53.3% (154/289) were male. Fever (192/286, 67.1%) and cough (170/289, 58.8%) were commonly observed, followed by sore throat (49/289, 17.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that patients who were aged ≥ 65 years (OR: 2.725, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.317-5.636; P = 0.007), were male (OR: 1.878, 95% CI: 1.002-3.520, P = 0.049), had comorbid diabetes (OR: 3.314, 95% CI: 1.126-9.758, P = 0.030), cough (OR: 3.427, 95% CI: 1.752-6.706, P < 0.001), and/or diarrhea (OR: 2.629, 95% CI: 1.109-6.231, P = 0.028) on admission had a higher risk of severe disease. Moreover, stratification analysis indicated that male patients with diabetes were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (71.4% vs. 28.6%, χ2 = 8.183, P = 0.004).
Conclusions:
The clinical characteristics of those with severe and nonsevere COVID-19 were significantly different. The elderly, male patients with COVID-19, diabetes, and presenting with cough and/or diarrhea on admission may require close monitoring to prevent deterioration.
Yi Liu, Qiu-Fen Guo, Jin-Long Chen, Xi-Rui Li, Fei Hou, Xiao-Yan Liu, Wen-Jing Zhang, Yan Zhang, Fu-Feng Gao, You-Zhong Zhang, et al.
Chinese Medical JournalVol.134,No.082021
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000001475
Abstract
Background:
Recently, T-helper 17 (Th17) cells have been proved to play an important role in promoting cervical cancer. But, till now, few study has been carried out to understand the involvement of these cells in efficacy of anti-tumor treatments. This study aimed to investigate the alterations in the percentage of circulating Th17 cells and related cytokines in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients before and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) and to analyze the correlations between the alterations in Th17 cells and treatment efficacy.
Methods:
A prospective study with 49 LACC (International federation of gynecology and obstetrics [FIGO] stage IIB-IIIB) patients and 23 controls was conducted. Patients received the same cCRT schedule and were followed up for 3 years. Circulating Th17 cells (CD3+CD8- interleukin [IL]-17+ T cells) and related cytokines IL-17, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), IL-10, IL-23, IL-6, and IL-22 were detected before and after cCRT. Correlations between alterations of circulating Th17 cells and treatment efficacy were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).
Results:
We found that 40 patients finished the entire cCRT schedule and met the endpoint of this study. The percentage of circulating Th17 cells in the LACC patients was higher than that in the controls, and it significantly decreased after cCRT (P < 0.05). After cCRT, patients were divided into two groups based on the average of the Th17 cells declined. The subgroup of patients with a prominent decrease in circulating Th17 cells after cCRT had a higher treatment efficacy and longer PFS and OS times. Compared with the control patients, LACC patients had higher IL-6, IL-10, IL-22, TGF-β levels and a lower IL-23 level (P < 0.05). After cCRT, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-23 level significantly increased and TGF-β level significantly decreased compared with the levels before cCRT (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Circulating Th17 cells in the LACC patients (FIGO stage IIB-IIIB) were higher than those in the controls, but they generally decreased after cCRT. A more pronounced decrease in circulating Th17 cells after cCRT was correlated with better therapeutic effect and longer PFS and OS times.
Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) regulates chondrocyte hypertrophy and bone formation. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of HDAC4 on Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β)-induced chondrocyte extracellular matrix degradation and whether it is regulated through the WNT family member 3A (WNT3A)/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Methods:
Primary chondrocytes (CC) and human chondrosarcoma cells (SW1353 cells) were treated with IL-1β and the level of HDAC4 was assayed using Western blotting. Then, HDAC4 expression in the SW1353 cells was silenced using small interfering RNA to detect the effect of HDAC4 knockdown on the levels of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) and MMP13 induced by IL-1β. After transfection with HDAC4 plasmids, the overexpression efficiency was examined using Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the levels of MMP3 and MMP13 were assayed using Western blotting. After incubation with IL-1β, the translocation of β-catenin into the nucleus was observed using immunofluorescence staining in SW1353 cells to investigate the activation of the WNT3A/β-catenin signaling pathway. Finally, treatment with WNT3A and transfection with glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) plasmids were assessed for their effects on HDAC4 levels using Western blotting.
Results:
IL-1β downregulated HDAC4 levels in chondrocytes and SW1353 cells. Furthermore, HDAC4 knockdown increased the levels of MMP3 and MMP13, which contributed to the degradation of the extracellular matrix. Overexpression of HDAC4 inhibited IL-1β-induced increases in MMP3 and MMP13. IL-1β upregulated the levels of WNT3A, and WNT3A reduced HDAC4 levels in SW1353 cells. GSK-3β rescued IL-1β-induced downregulation of HDAC4 in SW1353 cells.
Conclusion:
HDAC4 exerted an inhibitory effect on IL-1β-induced extracellular matrix degradation and was regulated partially by the WNT3A/β-catenin signaling pathway.
喉咽反流病(LPRD)目前被定义为与胃十二指肠内容物反流的直接和间接影响相关的上呼吸消化道组织炎症,其可能诱导上呼吸消化道的形态学改变。[1]胃内容物pH较低,主要引起酸反流,而十二指肠内容物pH高于胃内容物,可引起弱酸反流或碱性反流。因为食管粘膜中的碳酸酐酶可以转化CO2、细胞代谢产物,转化为碳酸氢盐,起中和胃酸的作用。因此,部分胃酸反流或十二指肠内容物反流在食管远端pH小于4,但到达下咽部时pH大于4,转为弱酸性或碱性反流。因此,采用24小时多通道腔内阻抗-pH(MII-pH)监测,根据下咽部pH的差异,将咽喉返流(LPR)事件分为以下几类[2]:(1)pH≤4时的酸性LPR;(2)当pH为4至7时,弱酸性LPR;(3)pH高于7时的碱性LPR。弱酸性和碱性LPR均称为非酸性反流。根据食管远端和下咽部的pH值,非酸反流可进一步分为真性非酸反流(食管远端和下咽部均pH>4)和假性非酸反流(食管远端pH≤4,但下咽部pH>4)[图1].然而,对于每个患者,LPR事件的真非酸、假非酸和酸反流的比例有助于制定治疗计划。如果真正的非胃酸反流事件占LPR事件的大多数,那么抑酸治疗就不是主要的。如果假性非酸反流和酸反流占优势,那么抑酸治疗还是很重要的。然而,文献中很少有关于这种比例分类的研究,因此我们旨在分析50例疑似LPRD患者的24 h MII-PH数据,以了解各种LPR的比例,这可能有助于制定LPRD的治疗方案。