Prognostic value of D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio in the adverse outcomes of patients hospitalized for heart failure.

To evaluate the clinical value of plasma D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio (DFR) in patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF). Clinical data of 235 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to identify significant prognosticators.

Prognostic value of DCTA scoring system in heart failure.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of a novel scoring system, based on D‑dimer, total cholesterol, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), and serum albumin levels, in patients with heart failure.

Methods: A total of 221 patients diagnosed with heart failure between May 2016 to January 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The prognostic significance of the biomarkers D‑dimer, total cholesterol, hs-cTnT, and serum albumin was determined with univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models.

Bilateral and symmetric C1-C2 dumbbell ganglioneuromas associated with neurofibromatosis type 1: A case report.

Background: Ganglioneuroma (GN) is a rare and benign tumor that originates from autonomic nervous system ganglion cells. The most frequently involved sites are the posterior mediastinum, the abdominal cavity, and the retroperitoneal space. It rarely occurs in the cervical area, compressing the spinal cord.

[Effects of altered IFNAR expression on CD4+ CD25+ treg cell dysfunction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To explore the role of type I interferon (IFNalpha) on the function of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Twenty patients with newly-onset active SLE and 20 healthy controls were recruited in this study. The expressions of type I interferon a receptor (IFNAR) on Treg cells were analyzed using flow cytometry.

New ideas for teaching electrocardiogram interpretation and improving classroom teaching content.

Background: Interpreting an electrocardiogram (ECG) is not only one of the most important parts of diagnostics but also one of the most difficult areas to teach. Owing to the abstract nature of the basic theoretical knowledge of the ECG, its scattered characteristics, and tedious and difficult-to-remember subject matter, teaching how to interpret ECGs is as difficult for teachers to teach as it is for students to learn. In order to enable medical students to master basic knowledge of ECG interpretation skills in a limited teaching time, we modified the content used for traditional ECG teaching and now propose a new ECG teaching method called the "graphics-sequence memory method.

A case of isolated aorta occlusion caused by Takayasu arteritis.

We report a rare case of Takayasu arteritis causing isolated complete obliteration of the aorta. A 24-year-old woman with night sweats, weight loss, and claudication was hospitalized because of refractory hypertension. Laboratory tests showed increased inflammatory indexes.

Survival analysis of late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a cohort study in China.

The aim of this study is to explore the survival rate and risk factors of mortality in patients with late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a large cohort. Clinical presentations, disease activity, organ damage scores, autoantibody profile, and mortality data were obtained retrospectively from late-onset SLE patients (onset age ≥50 years) diagnosed between 1995 and 2009. The risk factors of organ damage were evaluated by the chi-square test and logistic regression.

Neutrophil extracellular traps in sterile inflammation: the story after dying?

Evidences accumulated that the death of neutrophils are not the end of their missions. The neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), web-like structure, formed after neutrophils dying contribute greatly to immune defense, in both innate and adaptive immunity. Interestingly, previous studies revealed that the generation and activation of NETs do not only rely on bacteria induction, but also in patients with sterile inflammatory diseases, implying an undeniable correlation between NETs and these diseases.

[Essence of meridians based on neural electric field].

The physiological and pathological phenomenon along the running courses of meridians such as enrichment of small charged molecular, low-resistance, isotope migration, electromyography phenomenon, acoustical conductivity, thermal radiation, magnetic phenomenon and optical-electrical characteristics, etc. are explored in this article. And based on the above mentioned studies, it is concluded that as a physiological sensation along meridians, propagated sensation could only be the result of the reflection of nerve excitation.

Rapamycin-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy in a kidney transplantation patient.

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is characterized by abnormalities in cerebral white matter and neurologic symptoms. It can be caused by immunosuppressive drugs or autoimmune diseases. We describe a case of PRES in a kidney transplantation patient treated with rapamycin.

[Analysis of the risk factors of community-acquired pneumonia in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: The clinical data were collected from 121 inpatients with pSS and univariate analysis and logistic regression were conducted to analyze the risk factors of CAP.

Results: The incidence of CAP in the 121 patients with pSS was 27.

Atrial myxoma with metastasis misdiagnosed as Takayasu arteritis.

The objective of the study is to report a case of atrial myxoma with bloodstream metastasis misdiagnosed to be Takayasu arteritis. A 23-year-old woman manifested with fever, repetitive vasocerebral events and extremities ischemic signs (claudication, difference of BP in arms and absence of pulse) for 5 years. Imaging studies revealed multiple cerebral infarction, bilateral iliac artery stenosis and as thrombosis formation.

Diffuse lupus encephalopathy in a case of rhupus syndrome.

"Rhupus syndrome" is a rare clinical condition, which is related to anti-CCP antibody, characterized by overlapping clinical and immunologic features of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Previous reports mentioned that patients have more RA-associated damage, and little organic damage associated with SLE. The severe organ damage, especially central nervous system involvement has been reported to be rare in patients with rhupus syndrome.