Analysis of factors influencing the determination of indications for allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Objective: To develop a questionnaire and a scoring system for evaluating physicians' knowledge of allergen immunotherapy (AIT).

Methods: Questionnaire was designed using the Questionnaire Star tool. A total of 1024 physicians were assessed, and based on the score divided into accurate judgment and inaccurate judgment groups.

IL-34 and coronary heart disease complicated with diabetes mellitus.

Coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus are closely related to chronic low-grade inflammation. Interleukin-34 (IL-34) is a new member of the interleukin family discovered in recent years. It is involved in the pathophysiological process of mononuclear phagocyte system mainly via binding to colony stimulating factor-1 receptor, and it is closely related to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of hospitalized children with community-acquired Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia during 2017/2018, Chengde, China.

Community acquired-pneumonia (CAP) has varying causative pathogens and clinical characteristics. This study investigated the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M pneumoniae) and evaluated the clinical characteristics in infected hospitalized children by disease severity.From throat swabs of hospitalized children (5 months to 14 years) with CAP collected between November 2017 and May 2018, M pneumoniae and other CAP pathogens were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating miRNA-499 and miRNA-22 in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Currently, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents a serious cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically evaluate the roles of miRNA-499 and miRNA-22 as potential biomarkers for AMI.

Methods: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we measured circulating levels of miRNAs in 50 AMI patients and 50 non-MI populations.

Serum microRNA expression profiling identifies serum biomarkers for HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The identification of high-sensitivity biomarkers for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from high-risk individuals is essential.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to identify and validate serum microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC.

Methods: Illumina sequencing was employed to screen the expression profiles of miRNAs in serum samples of HCV-related HCC patients and liver cirrhosis (LC) patients.

Improving the Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Serum AFP Expression in Combination with GPC3 and Micro-RNA MiR-122 Expression.

Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) greatly improves the survival and prognosisfor patients. In this study weevaluate the diagnostic promise of combining serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) expression with two potential biomarkers, serum glypican-3 (GPC3) and expression of the micro-RNA miR-122 for hepatitis C virus (HCV) related early-stage HCC. For this study serum samples from 47 patients with early-stage HCC, 54 chronic HCV (CH) carriers, 35 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 54 health controls (HC) were collected.

Diagnosis accuracy of serum glypican-3 level in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Previous studies have evaluated the diagnostic value of serum glypican-3 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the results remain inconsistent and even controversial. Thus, the aim of the present meta-analysis was to clarify the diagnostic accuracy of serum glypican-3 for hepatocellular carcinoma.