Mediating effect of coping strategy and psychological status between illness perception and quality of life among patients with atrial fibrillation: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study investigated the mediating effects of coping strategies and psychological status on the relationship between illness perception and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 178 patients with AF who were admitted to a tertiary hospital in Beijing City in mainland from March 2020 and June 2022. Assessments were made for HRQoL using the Short Form Health Survey depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, anxiety using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), illness perception using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), AF symptoms using the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS), and coping strategies using the Brief-COPE Scale.

Positive effect of Balint group on burnout and self-efficacy of head nurses in China: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Burnout is common among nurses and can lead to negative outcomes of medical care. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of Balint groups to reduce burnout in head nurses in a Chinese hospital.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial with a pre- and post-test.

The effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression, illness perception, and in atrial fibrillation patients: a six-month longitudinal study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often leads to an impaired Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in many patients. Moreover, psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and illness perception have been found to significantly correlate with HRQoL. This study aims to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in enhancing HRQoL and mitigating psychological distress among AF patients.

Cluster analysis of antiphospholipid antibodies-associated adverse pregnancy outcome patients: based on a 13-years cohort study.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are the leading causes of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). We conducted cluster analysis to identify distinct phenotypes among aPLs-associated APOs patients. This approach aims to facilitate risk stratification and improve pregnancy outcomes for obstetric APS.

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles reduce inflammation and pyroptosis in acute kidney injury via miR-223-3p/HDAC2/SNRK.

Objective: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been demonstrated as a potential therapeutic agent in acute kidney injury (AKI). However, little is known about the mechanisms of action of BMSC-derived EVs in AKI. Based on this, our research was designed to investigate the mechanism behind BMSC-derived EVs controlling inflammation and pyroptosis during AKI.

SERPINA1 and plasminogen as novel biomarkers in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome patients.

Objectives: To explore the potential biomarkers and mechanisms in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS) patients by placental proteomics.

Methods: Among 212 follow-up pregnancy patients based on the Chinese Rheumatism Data Center database (CRDC), we continuously recruited 30 pregnancy patients at the late stage of pregnancy for proteomics study. Fresh placental tissues were collected and 4D label-free technologies were used to analyse the placental proteome in patients.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids ameliorate renal stone-induced renal tubular damage via miR-93-5p/Pknox1 axis.

Objectives: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can decrease the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation, which accounts for 80% of all renal stones. This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanisms of PUFAs against renal stones.

Methods: Urine samples of patients with renal stones and biopsy tissue samples from patients with nephrocalcinosis were tested for miR-93-5p expression.

Effects of Cognitive Behavior Therapy on Depression, Illness Perception, and Quality of Life in Atrial Fibrillation Patients.

Background: AF Patients with depression resulted in a markedly reduced quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: It was A longitudinal randomized controlled trial with a pre and 12-weeks post-test.

LncRNA NORAD deficiency alleviates kidney injury in mice and decreases the inflammatory response and apoptosis of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated HK-2 cells via the miR-577/GOLPH3 axis.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are significant regulators for sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). Noncoding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) is highly expressed in the serum of patients with neonatal sepsis. We aimed to reveal the role of NORAD in sepsis-associated AKI.

Characteristics and risk factors of retinal vasculopathy in antiphospholipid syndrome.

Background: Retinal vasculopathy including retinal artery occlusion (RAO) or retinal vein occlusion (RVO) was recently found to occur more frequently in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients than non-APS patients. This study aims to investigate the clinical manifestation and risk factors of retinal vasculopathy among APS patients.

Methods: In this single-center prospective cohort study, we evaluated APS patients with or without retinal vasculopathy during 2018-2020 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Calcium dobesilate alleviates renal dysfunction and inflammation by targeting nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of sepsis that increases mortality and the risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. Oxidative stress and apoptosis are reported to exert critical function in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated AKI. Calcium dobesilate (CaD) was reported to play a protective role in renal diseases.

MicroRNA-204 attenuates oxidative stress damage of renal tubular epithelial cells in calcium oxalate kidney-stone formation via MUC4-mediated ERK signaling pathway.

Oxalate-induced oxidative stress causes damage to cells, accompanied with renal deposition of calcium oxalate crystals. Recent studies have highlighted the extensive functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in various processes, including cellular responses to oxidative stress. Hence, this study was intended to analyze the role of miR-204 in the calcium oxalate kidney-stone formation and the underlying mechanism.

Alteration of lung tissues proteins in birch pollen induced asthma mice before and after SCIT.

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is a classic form of allergen-specific immunotherapy that is used to treat birch pollen induced allergic asthma. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of SCIT, we aimed to profile lung samples to explore changes in the differential proteome before and after SCIT in mice with allergic asthma. Fresh lungs were collected from three groups of female BALB/c mice: 1) control mice, 2) birch pollen-induced allergic mice, and 3) birch pollen-induced allergic mice with SCIT.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Value of Non-criteria Antibodies for Antiphospholipid Syndrome Patients in a Chinese Cohort.

Objective: Although specific anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPLs) have been used in the diagnosis of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) for years, new biomarkers are required to increase its diagnostic and risk-predictive power. This study aimed to explore the value of several non-criteria aPLs in a Chinese cohort.

Methods: A total of 312 subjects, namely, 100 patients diagnosed with primary APS, 51 with APS secondary to SLE, 71 with SLE, and 90 healthy controls, were recruited.

Comparison of Different Test Systems for the Detection of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in a Chinese Cohort.

Background: Diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is based on the positivity of laboratory criteria antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). Test results for aPLs could be contradictory among different detection methods as well as commercial manufacturers. This study aimed to assess and compare the diagnostic and analytic performances of four commercial assays prevalently used in China.

Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on renal anemia in patients on hemodialysis: a meta-analysis.

Background: L-carnitine is an amino acid derivative that is thought to be helpful for treating renal anemia in hemodialysis patients. However, the mechanism remains to be fully elucidated.

Methods: A literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and conduct a meta-analysis for investigating the effect of L-carnitine in the treatment of renal anemia in participants receiving hemodialysis.

Combination therapy with Exendin-4 and islet transplantation as a synergistic treatment for diabetic nephropathy in rats.

Objective: To explore the improvement and mechanism of combination therapy with Exendin-4 (Ex4) and islet transplantation (IT) on the rat model with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Main Methods: The DN rat model was established by injecting streptozotocin (STZ), supplemented by high-fat and high-glucose feeding. Forty DN rats were assigned to four groups treated with saline, Ex4, IT, and Ex4 combined with IT, respectively, using the healthy rat as normal control.

Etelcalcetide versus placebo for secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients receiving hemodialysis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of etelcalcetide for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients receiving hemodialysis, and a meta-analysis was performed using randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Materials And Methods: We searched studies published on PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase to collect RCTs comparing etelcalcetide with placebo for the treatment of SHPT. Unpublished studies and information were also searched in ClinicalTrials.

TWEAK/Fn14 axis in respiratory diseases.

Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a well known multifunctional cytokine extensively distributed in cell types and tissues. Accumulating evidence has shown that TWEAK binding to the receptor factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) participates in diverse pathologic processes including cell proliferation and death, angiogenesis, carcinogenesis and inflammation. Interestingly, alterations of intracellular signaling cascades are correlated to the development of respiratory disease.

The clinical data from 19 critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a single-centered, retrospective, observational study.

Background: The objectives of this study were to analyze the clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and evaluate the diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical manifestation and auxiliary examination of 19 patients with COVID-19 from the Liyuan Hospital intensive care unit (ICU) between January 16, 2020 and February 20, 2020 was undertaken.

Results: There were 11 male and 8 female cases among the patients.

The efficacy of group cognitive-behavioural therapy plus duloxetine for generalised anxiety disorder versus duloxetine alone.

Objective: To explore whether and how group cognitive-behavioural therapy (GCBT) plus medication differs from medication alone for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

Methods: Hundred and seventy patients were randomly assigned to the GCBT plus duloxetine (n=89) or duloxetine group (n=81). The primary outcomes were Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) response and remission rates.

Advances in the clinical and mechanism research of pollen induced seasonal allergic asthma.

Seasonal allergic asthma prevalence has been increasing over the last decades and is one of global health concerns now. Pollen is one of the main reasons to cause seasonal allergic asthma and influenced by multiple risk factors. Thunderstorm-related asthma is a typical type of seasonal allergic asthma that thunderstorms occurring can induce severe asthma attacks during pollen season.

Chinese Birch Pollen Allergy and Immunotherapy in Mice.

Birch pollen allergy is a common cause of spring pollinosis in China. However, there is little research on birch pollen allergen in China and only the major allergen (Bet v 1) has been fully characterized. Chinese birch pollen-induced airway inflammation models in BALB/c mice were developed and administered subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT).

Characterization and in vitro expression of arginine kinase gene in the invasive western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis.

Arginine kinase (AK) plays a critical role in insect energy metabolism and has been proposed to be a potential insecticide target for commercial exploitation. In this study, the full length cDNA encoding a typical group 1 insect AK (FoAK) was isolated from the western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Sequence analysis showed that FoAK contains an open reading frame of 1068 nucleotides, which encods a protein of 355 amino acid residues including the signature sequence pattern of ATP-guanidino kinases.