Medicine
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Previous studies have suggested that the anticancer agent, arsenic trioxide (ATO), could attenuate T cell mediated immunity by not only inhibiting the proliferative response of T cells but by also increasing the frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Furthermore, ATO represents a reasonable salvage treatment in some patients with refractory severe aplastic anemia (SAA). The current study aimed to evaluate the function of ATO on the Tregs percentage and cytokines changes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SAA patients. ⋯ In addition, ATO significantly reduced the levels of IFN-γ (at 1, 2.5 and 5 μmol/L, P < .001), IL-4 (at 2.5 μmol/L, P = .009; at 5 μmol/L, P < .001), and IL-17 (at 2.5, P = .016; at 5 μmol/L, P < .001). ATO significantly reduced the levels of TGF-β1 at 5 μmol/L (P = .03), but showed no significant effects at 1 and 2.5 μmol/L (P > .05). ATO could mediate the immune regulation, which might contribute to improve hematopoietic recovery in SAA patients.
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Metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is rarely encountered, but has a high mortality rate, Conventional treatments include hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT); however, when the disease progresses to end-stage, cardiac function is significantly inhibited, circulation cannot be maintained, CRRT cannot be tolerated, V-A extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be the last treatment. ⋯ The incidence of MALA is low, but mortality is very high. Intermittent hemodialysis or CRRT should be performed if the lactic acid level is persistently elevated. When severe circulatory dysfunction occurs and cardiac function is inhibited, V-A ECMO support should be performed immediately to maintain circulation, followed by CRRT, which may be the final measure to treat refractory MALA.
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In cases of persistent pupillary membrane (PPM), the eye is usually slightly microphthalmic and emmetropia or hyperopia is often present, yet severe myopia is reportedly rare. Here we presented a case of PPM complicated by vitreomacular traction syndrome and posterior staphyloma due to severe myopia. ⋯ The findings in this case show that when required, vitrectomy should be considered based upon the preoperative Optical coherence tomography findings for PPM.
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Observational Study
Apoptosis in cerebrospinal fluid as outcome predictors in severe traumatic brain injury: An observational study.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), due to its high mortality and morbidity, is an important research topic. Apoptosis plays a pathogenic role in a series of neurological disorders, from neurodegenerative diseases to acute neurological lesions. In this study, we analyzed the association between apoptosis and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), to examine the potential of apoptosis as a biomarker for a TBI outcome. ⋯ However, the AUC for their combined prediction was 0.978, with a specificity and sensitivity of 96.0% and 95.2%, respectively, showing that the combined prediction was more reliable than that of the 2 separate factors. We demonstrated that caspase-3, cytochrome C, sFas, and caspase-9 were significantly increased in the CSF of patients following severe TBI. Furthermore, we found that ICP and caspase-3 were more reliable for outcome prediction in combination, rather than separately.
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To study the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the 3' untranslated region (UTR) rs9722 locus in S100B and the risk of chronic heart failure (CHF), plasma levels of S100B protein as well as has-miR-340-3p in a Chinese Han population. A total of 215 patients with CHF (124 ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and 91 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)) and 215 healthy controls were recruited to analyze the S100B rs9722 genotype by Sanger sequencing. The levels of hsa-miR-340-3p in the plasma were detected by RT-PCR, and S100B levels were detected by ELISA. ⋯ Among ICM, DCM, and control subjects, TT genotype carriers had the highest levels of plasma S100B and hsa-miR-340-3p, followed by the CT genotype and TT genotype, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05). Plasma hsa-miR-340-3p levels were positively correlated with S100B levels in the control subjects and patients with ICM and DCM. The S100B rs9722 locus SNP is associated with CHF risk in a Chinese Han population.