XueBiJing Injection Versus Placebo for Critically Ill Patients With Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To investigate whether XueBiJing injection improves clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Thirty-three hospitals in China.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of a TCM Formula Li-Ru-Kang in Rats With Hyperplasia of Mammary Gland and the Underlying Biological Mechanisms.

Li-Ru-Kang (LRK), a formula of eight traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), has been used to treat hyperplasia of mammary gland (HMG) in TCM clinics. However, how LRK works in HMG patients is unclear. To explore the possible mechanisms of LRK against HMG, the network pharmacology was used to screen the potential targets and possible pathways that involved in LRK treated HMG.

Long non-coding RNA, CHRF, predicts poor prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma and promotes cell proliferation and migration.

Research has demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial factors in carcinogenesis. LncRNA, cardiac hypertrophy-related factor (CHRF), has been demonstrated to act as an oncogene in a variety of types of tumor. However, its biological function in lung adenocarcinoma remains to be elucidated.

Sciatic and femoral nerve injury among patients who received Bernese peri-acetabular osteotomy.

Aim: To investigate the incidence, risk factors, and the last follow-up recovery status of sciatic and femoral nerve injury among patients who received Bernese peri-acetabular osteotomy (PAO).

Patients And Methods: The clinical file of 643 consecutive patients who received PAO from June 2012 to June 2016 was retrospectively reviewed. The number of nerve injury patients was calculated and the causes of injury were recorded.

Diets That Promote Colon Inflammation Associate With Risk of Colorectal Carcinomas That Contain Fusobacterium nucleatum.

Background & Aims: Specific nutritional components are likely to induce intestinal inflammation, which is characterized by increased levels of interleukin 6 (IL6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-receptor superfamily member 1B (TNFRSF1B) in the circulation and promotes colorectal carcinogenesis. The inflammatory effects of a diet can be estimated based on an empiric dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) score, calculated based on intake of 18 foods associated with plasma levels of IL6, CRP, and TNFRSF1B. An inflammatory environment in the colon (based on increased levels of IL6, CRP, and TNFRSF1B in peripheral blood) contributes to impairment of the mucosal barrier and altered immune cell responses, affecting the composition of the intestinal microbiota.

Chrysotoxene induces apoptosis of human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells and via activation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway.

Previous studies have indicated that chrysotoxene may be a potential drug used to treat tumors, however the effect of chrysotoxene on hepatoblastoma remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect and elucidate the potential molecular mechanism of chrysotoxene on human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells. Chrysotoxene (5-40 µg/ml) exhibited cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells with inhibitory rates of 24.

Unexpected Long Lower Limb in Patients with Unilateral Hip Dislocation.

Background: Several methods are commonly used to predict lower-limb-length discrepancy (LLD) on pelvic radiographs. It is not clear how the lower-limb length of patients with unilateral developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH) changes and whether a pelvic radiograph is reliable to predict LLD. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of LLD in patients with unilateral DDH by measuring full-length standing anteroposterior radiographs.

Coronal plane alignment of the lower limbs in patients with unilateral developmental hip dislocation.

Purpose: We aimed to identify the coronal plane alignment of lower limbs in patients with unilateral developmental hip dislocation (UDHD) and observe the difference between Hartofilakidis type II and III.

Patients And Methods: The radiographic data of 76 patients who met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed, including the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), mechanical proximal tibial angle (MPTA), and lateral distal tibial angle (LDTA).

Results: The valgus alignment on ipsilateral side was most frequently seen in both Hartofilakidis type II (51.

Optic Neuritis in the Older Chinese Population: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study.

Objective: This study aims to describe the clinical manifestations and outcomes in a cohort of older Chinese patients.

Method: A retrospective study of patients aged ≥ 45 years who had a first episode of optic neuritis (ON) between May 2008 and November 2012. Clinical features at onset and last follow-up were analyzed within subgroups (age 45-65 years and age ≥ 65 years).

The p16/miR-217/EGR1 pathway modulates age-related tenogenic differentiation in tendon stem/progenitor cells.

Previous studies have shown that the differentiation potential declines with the age of progenitor cells and is linked to altered levels of senescence markers. The purpose of this study was to test whether senescence marker p16 affects age-related tenogenic differentiation in tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs). Young and aged TSPCs were isolated from young/healthy and aged/degenerated human Achilles tendons, respectively.

A Novel AGRN Mutation Leads to Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome Only Affecting Limb-girdle Muscle.

Background: Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMSs) are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders caused by impaired neuromuscular transmission. The defect of AGRN was one of the causes of CMS through influencing the development and maintenance of neuromuscular transmission. However, CMS reports about this gene mutation were rare.

[Modified capsular arthroplasty for young patients with developmental dislocation of the hip].

Developmental dislocation of the hip(DDH) is one of the most serious hip diseases. Patients with unilateral DDH are prone to secondary osteoarthritis, low back pain, gait disturbance and compensatory scoliosis because of the leg length discrepancy. Total hip arthroplasty(THA) is the highly effective treatment for patients with hip pain or dysfunction caused by unilateral DDH, thus decrease the demand for hip-preserving surgeries such as capsular arthroplasty which may postpone or avoid hip replacement.

F-fallypride PET-CT of dopamine D2/D3 receptors in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease with unclear pathogenesis. To date, there have been no reports regarding the distribution of dopamine receptors outside the striatum in ALS patients. In this study, 17 ALS patients and 11 healthy controls underwent F-fallypride positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and completed cognitive-related tests for assessment of the distribution of dopamine receptors inside and outside the striatum in ALS and evaluation of the relationships between the distribution of dopamine receptors and cognitive function.

Enhanced tenogenic differentiation and tendon-like tissue formation by CHIP overexpression in tendon-derived stem cells.

The carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP, also known as STUB1) plays critical roles in the proliferation and differentiation of many types of cells. The potential function of CHIP in tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) remains largely unknown at present. Here, we investigated the effects of CHIP on tenogenic differentiation of TDSCs via lentivirus-mediated overexpression.

Hypoxia promotes chemotherapy resistance by down-regulating SKA1 gene expression in human osteosarcoma.

Drug resistance has always been the main problem in osteosarcoma treatment, and hypoxia seems to be one of the many causes for drug resistance. Therefore, in this study, we investigated how hypoxia triggers chemotherapy resistance in osteosarcoma. We first screened hypoxia- and normoxia- cultured osteosarcoma cells in silico to identify the differentially expressed genes specifically related to drug resistance.

Nonadherence to sublingual immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis: a real-life analysis.

Background: To sustain the long-lasting beneficial effects of allergen-specific sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), an adequate duration of treatment is required. Nevertheless, many patients discontinue prematurely and therefore fail to obtain satisfactory therapeutic effect in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to analyze the causes leading to premature discontinuation of SLIT in allergic rhinitis (AR), and to provide the corresponding countermeasures for the following SLIT course.

Detection of Thyroid Abnormalities in Aquaporin-4 Antibody-Seropositive Optic Neuritis Patients.

Objective: This study retrospectively analyzed the frequency of anti-thyroid antibodies (ATAs) and thyroid disease in patients with optic neuritis (ON).

Methods: Tests of serum thyroglobulin (TG) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and thyroid function were performed in 97 ON patients. Blood also was drawn to test for AQP4-Ab using cell-based and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Clinical Features and Visual Outcomes of Optic Neuritis in Chinese Children.

. Although optic neuritis (ON) in children is relatively common, visual outcomes and factors associated with the condition have not been well documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and visual outcomes of ON in Chinese children.

Efficacy and Safety of One-Stage Selective Discectomy Combined with Expansive Hemilaminectomy in the Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Objectives: We designed a novel surgical strategy named one-stage selective discectomy combined with expansive hemilaminectomy, which might theoretically reduce the postoperative complications of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). The objective of this study is to evaluate its efficacy and safety.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with CSM were enrolled in this study.

Type II Odontoid Fracture with Atlantoaxial Dislocation Presenting as Symptomatic Seizures: A Case Report.

Objective And Background: To report symptomatic seizures of a patient with an old type II odontoid fracture with atlantoaxial dislocation. The type II odontoid fracture is a dangerous disease and presents as neurological deficits. Because of the compression of upper cervical cord, without timely diagnosis and treatment, a type II odontoid fracture may result in sudden death.

Optic neuritis: a 5-year follow-up study of Chinese patients based on aquaporin-4 antibody status and ages.

Little work has been performed on the long-term outcome of optic neuritis (ON) according to the status of aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) and long-term prognosis in older patients in China. This study retrospectively analyzed medical records in a cohort of Chinese patients with 5-year follow-up according to AQP4-Ab status and ages from January 2009 to December 2010. The clinical features, laboratory findings and risk factors for prognosis were analyzed.

Comorbidity as an independent prognostic factor in elderly patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of comorbidities in the outcomes of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in a Chinese population. Fifty-six newly diagnosed PTCL patients aged >60 years were enrolled in our institution between April 2008 and August 2014. Medical record details including clinical parameters, pathological status, and treatment were reviewed.