Low Trend for VZV-Associated Disease Patients to Visit Neurologists.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a skin disease that can also cause virus-infectious peripheral neuropathies. Despite this, there is limited information on patient preferences for seeking medical attention for HZ and zoster-associated pain (ZAP). Our study aimed to evaluate how frequently patients with ZAP choose to visit neurologists for their symptoms.

What Happens to the Preserved Renal Parenchyma After Clamped Partial Nephrectomy?

Background: Most partial nephrectomies (PNs) are performed with hilar occlusion to reduce blood loss and optimize visualization. However, the histologic status of the preserved renal parenchyma years after PN is unknown.

Objective: To compare the histologic chronic kidney disease (CKD) score of renal parenchyma before and years after PN, and to explore factors associated with CKD-score increase and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline.

IgA, albumin, and eosinopenia as early indicators of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with acute ulcerative colitis.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can significantly complicate and worsen the condition of acute severe ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. We aimed to explore the predictive risk factors to prevent and identify CMV infection at an early stage in acute UC patients.

Methods: A total of 115 moderate-to-severe active UC patients from 17 hospitals throughout China were enrolled.

Long-Term Outcomes of Treatments for Central Precocious Puberty or Early and Fast Puberty in Chinese Girls.

Context: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) have been widely used to treat idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) or early and fast puberty (EFP). However, large-scale studies to evaluate the treatment effects on final adult height (FAH) are still lacking.

Objective: To assess the effects of long-term treatment for CPP/EFP on FAH and its main influencing factors.

Expert consensus on multidisciplinary therapy of colorectal cancer with lung metastases (2019 edition).

The lungs are the second most common site of metastasis for colorectal cancer (CRC) after the liver. Rectal cancer is associated with a higher incidence of lung metastases compared to colon cancer. In China, the proportion of rectal cancer cases is around 50%, much higher than that in Western countries (nearly 30%).

Safety and efficacy of a novel abluminal groove-filled biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent for the treatment of de novo coronary lesions: Final five-year results of the patient-level pooled analysis from the TARGET I and TARGET II trials.

Objectives: The study reports the final 5-year safety and effectiveness outcomes of the novel abluminal groove-filled biodegradable polymer-coated FIREHAWK sirolimus-eluting stent in a large patient cohort.

Background: The TARGET clinical program was conducted to evaluate the performance of the FIREHAWK stent, and this objective performance criterion study pooled long-term safety and efficacy data from three TARGET trials for greater statistical power to analyze low-frequency events.

Methods: Patient-level pooled data from 1,007 individuals in the TARGET I randomized controlled trial (n = 227), TARGET I long lesion cohort (n = 50), and TARGET II registry (n = 730) were prospectively collected and analyzed.

Serum levels of human epididymis protein 4 are more stable than cancer antigen 125 in early and mid-term pregnancy.

Aim: Previous studies have shown serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels could serve as predictive markers in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. However, HE4 levels have been less well studied during pregnancy, especially in threatened abortion, while CA125 levels were fluctuated. Our study aimed to assess the stability of HE4 and CA125 levels through trimesters and in cases of threatened abortion.

Smad nuclear interacting protein 1 (SNIP1) inhibits intestinal inflammation through regulation of epithelial barrier function.

Smad nuclear interacting protein 1 (SNIP1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the mechanisms involved are still largely unknown. Our results demonstrated that SNIP1 was markedly decreased in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) from IBD patients compared with healthy controls.

Local Brain Activity Differences Between Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia Patients: A Resting-State Functional MRI Study.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) can develop into postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), both of which are painful diseases. PHN patients suffer chronic pain and emotional disorders. Previous studies showed that the PHN brain displayed abnormal activity and structural change, but the difference in brain activity between HZ and PHN is still not known.

A multi-center phase II study and biomarker analysis of combined cetuximab and modified FOLFIRI as second-line treatment in patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of cetuximab combined with modified FOLFIRI (mFOLFIRI) as a second-line treatment in metastatic gastric cancer patients and to identify potential biomarkers of clinical outcomes.

Methods: All 61 patients received an initial intravenous (IV) dose of cetuximab (400 mg/m) and weekly doses (250 mg/m) thereafter, starting on day 1. On day 2 of each 14-day period, patients received IV irinotecan (180 mg/m), leucovorin (200 mg/m), and an IV bolus dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m) followed by a continuous infusion of 5-FU (2400 mg/m) for 46 h.

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma-a rare cause of superior vena cava thrombosis and constrictive pericarditis.

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PMPM) is an extremely rare, highly lethal and often misdiagnosed tumor. We report a 60-year-old woman complaining of dry cough, shortness of breath and exertional dyspnea due to a large pericardial effusion. The pericardial fluid volume declined after pericardiocentesis; analysis of the fluid revealed malignant cells and was negative for tuberculosis.

Serum CD166: a novel hepatocellular carcinoma tumor marker.

Background: We evaluated the diagnostic value of serum-CD166 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Tissue-CD166 was measured using immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation and migration were evaluated using MTT and Transwell assays, respectively.

[The functional study of antithrombin L99 mutation].

Objective: To study the molecular mechanisms of inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency caused by AT L99 mutation.

Methods: Wild type (WT), L99V, L99A, L99I and L99S AT were purified from drosophila expression system. The binding capacity of AT and the low molecular weight heparin sodium was analyzed by the heparin binding assay.

Cluster of differentiation 166 (CD166) regulated by phosphatidylinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling to exert its anti-apoptotic role via yes-associated protein (YAP) in liver cancer.

Cluster of differentiation 166 (CD166 or Alcam) is a cell surface molecule that can be greatly induced in liver cancer cells after serum deprivation, suggesting its role in influencing cell survival. However, whether and how CD166 acts as an anti-apoptotic regulator needs to be further investigated. Here, we report that gene silencing of CD166 promoted apoptosis via down-regulation of Bcl-2 in liver cancer cells.

[The binding mechanisms of F VIII Trp1707Ser mutation-associated inhibitor].

Objective: To investigate the binding mechanisms of FVIII Trp1707Ser mutation-associated inhibitor.

Methods: The APPT, PT, TT, Fg and FVIII:C were detected to make phenotypic diagnosis of haemophilia A. Inhibitors titer were measured by Bethesda method.

[Molecular analysis of a patient with hemophilia A caused by FVIII His99Arg mutation].

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of a Chinese hemophilia A patient in whom there was a discrepancy between the clinical bleeding symptoms and laboratory assay of FVIII activity (FVIII: C).

Methods: FVIII: C was detected by chromogenic and one-stage methods, and FVIII: Ag by ELISA. The APTT corrected test was used to screen the FVIII inhibitor and PCR amplification to analyze all the exons and flanking sequences of F8 gene of the proband, PCR products were purified and sequenced directly.

[Two novel mutations in one pedigree with hereditary Factor VII deficiency].

Objective: To explore the mutations of coagulation factor VII (FVII) gene in one pedigree with hereditary FVII deficiency, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms of FVII deficiency.

Methods: FVII gene mutations were analysed in the pedigree by direct DNA sequencing. The mutated DNA fragments were cloned into pMD19-T simple TA vector, and sequenced to confirm their distribution on chromosome.

[Analysis of phenotype and genotype in four Chinese pedigrees with inherited coagulation factor V deficiency.].

Objective: To identify the phenotype and genotype in four Chinese pedigrees with inherited coagulation factor V (FV) deficiency.

Methods: The tests of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), FV activity (FV:C) and FV antigen (FV:Ag) were used for phenotype diagnosis. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of F5 gene were amplified by PCR and analyzed by direct sequencing.

[Two new mutations of AT gene in type I inherited antithrombin deficiency.].

Objective: To identify the clinical phenotype and gene mutation in two kindreds with type I inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency.

Methods: The coagulation and anticoagulation testing and thrombophilia screening were used for phenotypic diagnosis and immunonephelometry and chromogenic assay for plasma level of AT antigen (AT:Ag) and AT activity (AT:A), respectively. All of the seven exons and intron-exon boundaries and untranslation regions of AT gene were amplified by PCR, and the PCR products analysis was by direct sequencing.