Investigating the differences of body mass index and waist circumference in the follow-up assessment of patients to cardiac rehabilitation with acute coronary syndrome.

Obesity management is a key point during cardiac rehabilitation. The effect of new index, waist circumference (WC), in the obesity management of cardiac rehabilitation is not clear yet. Therefore, our study compared the WC index to the body mass index (BMI) in the evaluation of obesity management for the patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a well-designed cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP).

Number needed to screen for acute revascularization trials in stroke: Prognostic and predictive imaging biomarkers.

Objective To systematically assess imaging biomarkers on CT-based multimodal imaging for their being predictive versus prognostic biomarkers for intravenous and endovascular (IA) revascularization therapy, and for their prevalence. Methods Our retrospective study included patients suspected of acute ischemic stroke with admission work-up including a non-contrast head CT, perfusion CT, and CT angiography. Modified Rankin scores at 90 days were used as outcomes.

Plasma Markers of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the Second and Third Trimester.

To determine plasma markers of oxidative stress during the second and third trimester of pregnancy in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We conducted a prospective nested case-control study involving 400 pregnant women, 22 of whom developed GDM. As control group, 30 normal pregnant women were chosen randomly.

The prognostic value of regional lymph node metastases in patients of Guangdong Province, China with differentiated thyroid cancer: A multicenter retrospective clinical study.

Although the prognostic value of nodal metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer remains controversial, it is of interest to evaluate and understand the different characteristics of predictive outcomes.A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 215 untreated patients with differentiated thyroid cancer from July 1997 to July 2015 in 4 medical centers of Guangdong Province. A total of 107 patients with nodal metastases (group A) were compared to 108 patients without metastases (group B).

Potential gray matter unpruned in adolescents and young adults dependent on dextromethorphan-containing cough syrups: evidence from cortical and subcortical study.

Adolescence is a unique period in neurodevelopment. Dextromethorphan (DXM)-containing cough syrups are new addictive drugs used by adolescents and young adults. The effects of chronic DXM abuse on neurodevelopment in adolescents and young adults are still unknown.

PB2-Q591K Mutation Determines the Pathogenicity of Avian H9N2 Influenza Viruses for Mammalian Species.

Background: Influenza A subtype H9N2 is widespread and prevalent in poultry. It has repeatedly transmitted zoonotically to cause mild influenza-like illness in humans and is regarded as a potential pandemic candidate. In additon, the six internal genes of H7N9 and H10N8 viruses which caused infection in human in China as well as some of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strains are origined from H9N2.

Altered white matter microstructure identified with tract-based spatial statistics in irritable bowel syndrome: a diffusion tensor imaging study.

The neural mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) are far from being completely understood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate potential white matter (WM) microstructural changes and underlying causes for WM impairment in IBS using diffusion tensor imaging. The present prospective study involved 19 patients with IBS and 20 healthy controls.

Estimating years of life lost from cardiovascular mortality related to air pollution in Guangzhou, China.

Previous studies have mainly used mortality or morbidity as the health outcome to examine the air pollution-health association. Little evidence is available on relationships between air pollutants and years of life lost (YLL). We aimed to estimate the YLL from cardiovascular mortality due to air pollution.

Cancer stem cell markers predict a poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Background: Relevant markers of CSCs may serve as prognostic biomarkers of RCC. However, their actual prognostic significance remains inconclusive. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to reevaluate the association of CSCs-relevant markers (CXCR4, CD133, CD44, CD105) expression with RCC prognosis more precisely.

Altered pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of cisatracurium in patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation during anaesthetic induction period.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of cisatracurium in patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR) during the anaesthetic induction period.

Methods: Thirty patients in the clinical trial were divided into two groups: the MR group (n = 15) and the control group (n = 15). Arterial blood samples were obtained before (time 0) and at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 20 min after intravenous injection of 0.

Short-Term Hypoxia Accelerates Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats by Suppressing Osteoblastogenesis but Enhancing Osteoclastogenesis.

BACKGROUND Although it has been reported that hypoxic exposure can attenuate hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and some other diseases, effects of hypoxia on osteoporosis are still unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS The current study investigated whether short-term hypoxic exposure (in comparison with normoxic conditions) affects bone metabolism in normal or ovariectomized (OVX) adult female rats in an vivo study. Micro-computed tomography bone volume/structural analyses, histological examination, and serum bone turnover biochemical assays were used.

Dihydromyricetin Ameliorates 3NP-induced Behavioral Deficits and Striatal Injury in Rats.

Oxidative stress is closely involved in neurodegenerative diseases. The present study aimed to examine the effect of anti-oxidant DHM (dihydromyricetin) on 3NP (3-nitropropionic acid) -induced behavioral deficits of experimental rats and striatal histopathological injury by using behavioral, imaging, biochemistry, histochemistry and molecular biology technologies. The experimental results showed that both motor dysfunctions and learning and memory impairments induced by 3NP were significantly reduced after DHM treatment.

Inhibition of the Binding between RGS2 and β-Tubulin Interferes with Spindle Formation and Chromosome Segregation during Mouse Oocyte Maturation In Vitro.

RGS2 is a negative regulator of G protein signaling that contains a GTPase-activating domain and a β-tubulin binding region. This study aimed to determine the localization and function of RGS2 during mouse oocyte maturation in vitro. Immunofluorescent staining revealed that RGS2 was widely expressed in the cytoplasm with a greater abundance on both meiotic spindles and first/second polar bodies from the fully-grown germinal vesicle (GV) stage to the MII stages.

Regulation of Apoptosis by miR-122 in Pterygium via Targeting Bcl-w.

Purpose: To identify the differently expressed micro (mi) RNAs in pterygium compared with normal conjunctiva and investigate the potential role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of pterygium.

Methods: With microRNA microarray and quantitative RT-PCR, we identified that microRNA-122 (miR-122) was significantly decreased in pterygium tissue. We detected the expression of Bcl-w, a predicted target of miR-122, in both pterygium and normal conjunctiva, as well as its correlation with the expression of miR-122.

Aberrant Resting-State Functional Connectivity Density in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-Related Cirrhosis.

There is increasing evidence that cirrhosis may affect functional connectivity among various brain regions in patients prior to onset of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, most investigators have focused mainly on alterations in functional connectivity strengths, and the changes in functional connectivity density (FCD) are largely unknown. Here, we investigated alterations in resting-state FCD in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (HBV-RC) without overt HE.

Abnormal spontaneous regional brain activity in primary insomnia: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Objective: Investigating functional specialization is crucial for a complete understanding of the neural mechanisms of primary insomnia (PI). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a useful tool to explore the functional specialization of PI. However, only a few studies have focused on the functional specialization of PI using resting-state fMRI and results of these studies were far from consistent.

FTY-720P Suppresses Osteoclast Formation by Regulating Expression of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), and Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2).

BACKGROUND Osteoclast formation is closely related to the immune system. FTY720, a new immunosuppressive agent, has some functions in immune regulation. Its main active ingredients become FTY-720P in vivo by phosphorylation modification.

Intrinsic brain network abnormalities in codeine-containing cough syrup-dependent male individuals revealed in resting-state fMRI.

Purpose: To identify codeine-containing cough syrups (CCS)-related modulations of intrinsic connectivity network (ICN) and to investigate whether these changes of ICN can be related to duration of CCS use and to impulsivity behavior in CCS-dependent individuals.

Materials And Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data in 41 CCS-dependent individuals and 34 healthy controls (HC) were scanned at 1.5T and analyzed using independent component analysis (ICA), in combination with a "dual-regression" technique to identify the group differences of three important resting-state networks, the default mode network (DMN), the executive control network (ECN), and the salience network (SN) between the CCS-dependent individuals and HC.

Larger corpus callosum and reduced orbitofrontal cortex homotopic connectivity in codeine cough syrup-dependent male adolescents and young adults.

Objectives: To characterize interhemispheric functional and anatomical connectivity and their relationships with impulsive behaviour in codeine-containing cough syrup (CCS)-dependent male adolescents and young adults.

Methods: We compared volumes of corpus callosum (CC) and its five subregion and voxel-mirrored homotopic functional connectivity (VMHC) in 33 CCS-dependent male adolescents and young adults and 38 healthy controls, group-matched for age, education and smoking status. Barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS.

Effects of the balance between type 1 and type 2 T helper cells on ovarian cancer.

The balance between type 1 and type 2 T helper cells (the Th1-Th2 balance) is closely correlated with cancer, but the correlation in ovarian cancer remains unconfirmed. We investigated the Th1-Th2 balance for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of ovarian cancer. Fifty healthy subjects and 50 ovarian cancer patients were recruited.

Efficacy and safety of Yirui capsule in patients with hyperlipidemia: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Hyperlipidemia is a common disease in China. Although 88.9 % of the Chinese population taking lipid-lowering medications has already used a statin, only 61.

Brain Microstructural Abnormalities Are Related to Physiological Alterations in End-Stage Renal Disease.

Purpose: To study whole-brain microstructural alterations in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and examine the relationship between brain microstructure and physiological indictors in the disease.

Materials And Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging data were collected from 35 patients with ESRD (28 men, 18-61 years) and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs, 32 men, 22-58 years). A voxel-wise analysis was then used to identify microstructural alterations over the whole brain in the ESRD patients compared with the HCs.