A comparison of Doppler measures of ovarian blood flow between women with and without ovarian dysfunction and correlations of Doppler indices with ovarian dysfunction markers: a meta-analysis.

Background: Doppler ultrasonography is used to study ovarian vascular characteristics. However, the outcomes are reported with a considerable variability in literature. Here we review the differences in Doppler ultrasound-measured ovarian blood flow indices between women with and without ovarian dysfunction and seeks correlations between Doppler measures and ovarian markers.

A tract-based spatial statistics study of white matter integrity in epilepsy.

Objective: To explore the changes of cerebral white matter diffusion tensor in epilepsy.

Methods: This study was a retrospective study based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Twenty-six epileptic patients and 42 normal controls matched for sex, age and handedness were enrolled in our research.

A 3-Year Clinical Evaluation of Endodontically Treated Posterior Teeth Restored with Resin Nanoceramic Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacture (CAD/CAM)-Fabricated Partial Crowns.

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the clinical effects of resin nanoceramic (RNC) computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) partial crowns on posterior teeth after root canal treatment over a 3-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 132 posterior teeth restored with CAD/CAM partial crowns were placed in 128 patients. The observation group (n=66) was restored with RNC restorations, while the control group received lithium disilicate-based glass ceramic (LDGC) CAD restorations.

Effect of cognitive behavioral intervention on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with epilepsy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients with epilepsy.

Methods: Each study subject was randomly assigned to a CBT (n=46) or control (n=49) group (1:1 ratio), and the first group underwent an 8-week CBT treatment. Anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOLIE-31) were assessed at both baseline and endpoint using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HDMA) and quality of life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) scales.

Effect of electrical cardioversion on 1-year outcomes in patients with early recurrence after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence is common in the 3-month blanking-period after catheter ablation, during which electrical cardioversion (ECV) is usually performed to restore sinus rhythm. Whether ECV can affect the clinical outcome of post-ablation AF patients is inconsistent, however. We aimed to explore the 1-year effect of ECV on AF recurrence and rehospitalization in patients experienced recurrence within 3-month after AF catheter ablation.

Down-Regulation of CIDEA Promoted Tumor Growth and Contributed to Cisplatin Resistance by Regulating the JNK-p21/Bad Signaling Pathways in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignancies with poor prognosis and lack of effective targeted therapies. In this study, we investigated the tumor suppressive role of the cell death inducing DFF like effector A (CIDEA) in ESCC. Firstly, public datasets and ESCC tissue microarray analysis showed that CIDEA was frequently down-regulated at both the mRNA and protein level.

Healthcare quality and mortality among patients hospitalized for heart failure by hospital level in Beijing, China.

Aims: This study sought to compare healthcare quality and 30 day, 90 day, and 1 year mortality rates among patients admitted to secondary and tertiary hospitals for heart failure (HF) in Beijing.

Methods And Results: This study retrospectively enrolled patients hospitalized with a primary discharge diagnosis of HF during January 2014 to December 2015, from five tertiary and four secondary hospitals, in Beijing, China. Mortality data were extracted from Beijing Death Surveillance Database.

Association between use of amiodarone for non-valvular atrial fibrillation and patient survival: from the prospective China Atrial Fibrillation Registry.

Background: Post hoc analysis of the landmark atrial fibrillation follow-up investigation of rhythm management trial revealed that amiodarone was associated with higher risks of mortality, intensive care unit admission, and non-cardiovascular death. We aim to evaluate the association between amiodarone use and patient survival under updated medical mode and level using data from the China Atrial Fibrillation (China-AF) Registry study.

Methods: Clinical data of 8161 non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients who were antiarrhythmic drug (AAD)-naive before enrollment into the China-AF Registry, recruited between August 2011 and February 2017, were collected.

Sex Differences in Presentation, Quality of Life, and Treatment in Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Patients: Insights from the China Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study.

BACKGROUND There is a growing recognition of sex-related disparities in atrial fibrillation (AF). However, limited data is available in Chinese AF patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We compared symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and treatment of AF according to sex from the China AF Registry study.

The Association Between the Use of Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation and Patient Prognosis Using Data from the China Atrial Fibrillation (China-AF) Registry.

BACKGROUND Results of the landmark Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) trial comparing rhythm control and rate control strategies has led to dramatic changes in the pharmacological management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. We sought to investigate the effect of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) on the clinical outcomes of NVAF patients using "real-world" data from China. MATERIAL AND METHODS We evaluated the association between AAD usage and clinical outcomes using clinical data of 8161 NVAF patients who were AAD-naive before enrollment in the China Atrial Fibrillation Registry, recruited between August 2011 and February 2017.

Artificially Cultivated Alleviates Diabetic Nephropathy and Its Podocyte Injury via Inhibiting P2X7R Expression and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation.

Background/aims: It is known that chronic low-grade inflammation contributes to the initiation and development of both diabetes and diabetic nephropathy (DN), so we designed this study to investigate the role of P2X7R and NLRP3 inflammasome in DN pathogenesis and the antagonistic effects of artificially cultivated (ACOS).

Methods: A rat model of DN caused by high-fat-diet feeding and low-dose streptozotocin injection and a mouse podocyte injury model induced by high-glucose (HG) stimulation were established, and the intervention effects of ACOS on them were observed. The biological parameters of serum and urine and the pathological manifestations of kidney tissue were examined.

Purinergic 2X7 Receptor is Involved in the Podocyte Damage of Obesity-Related Glomerulopathy via Activating Nucleotide-Binding and Oligomerization Domain-Like Receptor Protein 3 Inflammasome.

Background: The nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome composed of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), and caspase-1 is engaged in the inflammatory response of many kidney diseases and can be activated by purinergic 2X7 receptor (P2X7R). This study was conducted to explore whether P2X7R plays a pathogenic role in the podocyte damage of obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) and whether this role is mediated by the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Methods: A mouse model of ORG was established by high-fat diet feeding.

Long non-coding RNA RMST silencing protects against middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced ischemic stroke.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as major regulators in neurological diseases, and clarifying their roles in cerebral ischemic injury may provide novel targets for treating ischemic stroke. In this study, we mainly studied the role of lncRNA-RMST in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced mouse brain injury. We showed that RMST expression level was significantly up-regulated in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated primary hippocampal neuron, MCAO-induced injured brain, and the plasma of patients with ischemic stroke.

Prospects of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Meta-analysis.

Objectives: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a modern diagnostic method that can also be used to study microperfusion. This study compared the time to peak intensity measured by CEUS in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and healthy control participants.

Methods: After a comprehensive literature search in multiple electronic databases and study selection, a random-effect meta-analysis was performed to compare the time to peak intensity measured by CEUS in patients with PAD and healthy controls, which followed meta-regression analyses for identification of factors affecting the outcomes.

CD39/CD73 and the imbalance of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells in allergic asthma.

In the immune system, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain self‑tolerance and Th17 cells mediate inflammatory responses. CD39 is expressed on the surface of a subset of naturally occurring human Tregs that are important in constraining pathogenic Th17 cells. Additional studies have shown that Tregs differentiate into interleukin‑17 (IL‑17)+Foxp3+ T cells.

[Diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in paratracheal mediastinal lesions].

Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in diagnosing mediastinal lesions.

Methods: A total of 264 patients with mediastinal lesions on chest CT at Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University between January 2010 and April 2012 were retrospectively enrolled. Their cytopathological results were difficult to be assessed by conventional bronchoscopy.

[Characteristics of histone deacetylase 9 in peripheral blood of patients with bronchial asthma].

Objective: To investigate the expression pattern of histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) in peripheral blood of asthmatics and its effect on immune cells (Th2, Th17, Tregs) involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Methods: Forty-seven asthmatics from Ruijin Hospital were recruited and assigned to intermittent, mild and moderate-severe groups. Lung function test and Asthma Control Questionnaire were performed to evaluate asthma control and severity.

[Sensitivity of new reagents for laboratory monitoring of low molecular weight heparin: an in vitro study].

Objective: To explore the sensitivity of new activated clotting time (ACT) reagent for laboratory monitoring of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH).

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 30 healthy volunteers and different doses of LMWH (dalteparin) added. The dalteparin concentration of final blood samples was 0.

Influence of CD14 polymorphism on CD14 expression in patients with extensive burns.

We sought to investigate the association of CD14 genotype with the risk of mortality after burn, and we also attempted to evaluate whether CD14-159 C/T polymorphism affects the kinetics and extent of CD14 expression as well as its release, and TNF-alpha expression in burned patients. The study involved 64 patients in Chinese Han population incurring burns covering more than 30% of the total body surface area. CD14 polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.

[CD14 genomic polymorphism influences CD14 expression in whole blood culture].

Objective: To investigate whether -159C/T promoter polymorphism of the CD14 gene influences the CD14 expression as well as release in whole blood culture.

Methods: One hundred and eighteen healthy human blood donors were included in the present study. CD14 mRNA expression and soluble CD14 levels were measured using a whole blood cell culture model with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation.

[Association between a genomic polymorphism within the CD14 locus and severe sepsis susceptibility as well as prognosis in patients after extensive burns].

Objective: To investigate the relation of a lipopolysaccharide receptor CD14C-159T gene polymorphism to severe sepsis susceptibility and prognosis in patients with extensive burns.

Methods: The study group consisted of 118 normal controls and 16 patients with burns covering more than 60 percent total body surface area. Typing of each patient for the CD14C-159T gene polymorphism was performed by analyzing restriction fragments of a Hae III-digested DNA fragment obtained using polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RFLP).