ABSTRACT Objective To investigate whether the mitochondrial DNA content could predict the embryo viability Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Reproductive genetics laboratory Patient(s) A total of 421 biopsied samples obtained from 129 patients Intervention(s) Embryo biopsies samples underwent whole genome amplification (WGA) and were tested by next generation sequencing (NGS) and array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH), 30 samples were selected randomly to undergo quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Main Outcome Measure(s) Those embryos which obtained the consistent chromosome status determined both aCGH and NGS platform were further classified. We investigated the relationship of mtDNA content with several factors including female patient age, embryo morphology, chromosome status, and live birth rate of both blastocysts and blastomeres. Result(s) A total of 386 (110 blastomeres and 276 blastocysts) out of 399 embryos showed consistent chromosome status outcome. We found no statistically difference was observed in aneuploid and euploid blastocysts (p=0.14), the same phenomenon was observed in aneuploid and euploid blastomeres (p=0.89). Similarly, the mtDNA content was independent of female patient age, embryo morphology and live birth rate. Conclusion(s) The mtDNA content did not provide a reliable prediction of the viability of blastocysts to initiate a pregnancy.
To investigate the effect of chest physiotherapy (CPT) on patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV).A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. Sixty-eight adult patients undergoing invasive MV over 48 hours admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College from December 2014 to October 2016 were enrolled, and they were divided into CPT group (n = 37) and control group (n = 31) by random number table. The patients in control group received routine physical therapy; while those in the CPT group received comprehensive CPT including manual lung inflation, vibration expectoration and early functional exercise etc. on the basis of the treatment in control group. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score and oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) before and after the treatment in both two groups were observed as well as the respiratory function and vital signs before and after CPT. The laboratory indicators after treatment, incidence of complications, duration of MV and the length of ICU stay in the two groups were recorded.The incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in the CPT group was significantly lower than that of control group (5.4% vs. 25.8%, P < 0.05), the patients in control group also had atelectasis, deep vein thrombosis and other complications, while no such complications were found in the CPT group. The duration of MV (hours: 77.4±41.0 vs. 133.9±117.2) and the length of ICU stay (hours: 134.4±71.4 vs. 207.4±177.7) in CPT group were significantly shorter than those of the control group (both P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in APACHE II score and PaO2/FiO2 before treatment between the two groups. After treatment for 2 days, the APACHE II score in both groups was gradually decreased, and that in CPT group was more significantly, it was significantly lower than that of control group after treatment for 4 days (8.6±3.9 vs. 12.5±5.3, P < 0.05). The PaO2/FiO2 in the two groups was gradually increased after treatment. PaO2/FiO2 in CPT group was significantly increased at 3 days after treatment as compared with that before treatment [mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 278.1±79.0 vs. 224.2±98.9], while PaO2/FiO2 in the control group did not appear significantly increased until after 4-day treatment (mmHg: 302.3±93.1 vs. 232.3±116.7, both P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in vital signs and respiratory function parameters including tidal volume (VT), respiratory rate (RR), peak airway pressure (Ppeak) and mean airway pressure (Pmean) before and after treatment in CPT group excepting pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) was significantly higher than that before treatment (0.985±0.016 vs. 0.978±0.018, P 2 0.05), indicating that CPT treatment did not cause fluctuations in respiratory function and vital signs. Blood lactate in CPT group was significantly lower than that of control group (mmol/L: 1.10±0.79 vs. 1.32±1.09, P < 0.05), indicating that CPT treatment, especially early functional exercise, could improve the oxygen supply and limb circulation.CPT treatment has some effect on prevention of VAP and other complications in patients undergoing MV, which could shorten the duration of MV and the length of ICU stay, and promote the recovery of patients.
Objective: The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a worldwide pandemic. Currently, supportive care measures remain the standard of care for severe and critical COVID-19 patients, such as ventilation oxygenation, fluid management and blood purification. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of early blood purification therapy upon severe and/or critical COVID-19 patients. Patients and Methods: From January 31, 2020 to March 1, 2020, a total 5 patients with COVID-19 (3 critical type cases and 2 severe type cases) received early blood purification treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. Clinical indexes, including oxygen concentration, blood gas analysis, oxygenation index, and laboratory test as well as disease scores were recorded and analyzed before and after the treatment with blood purification. Results: Among the 5 patients, 4 were males ranging from 35 to 80 year old (Mean age = 63 ± 17.87). All cases with characteristics of OI <300 mm Hg, decline in lymphocyte (LYMPH)%, boost in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), troponin T (TNT), B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-alpha (IFN-a), three with high flow nasal cannula (HFNC), two with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and acute kidney injury (AKI), and one with shock and IV. Blood purification therapy significantly decreased the serum levels of inflammatory cytokine, ameliorated the concomitant symptoms and complications. Finally, one case was discharged from the hospital, 4 cases were transferred to the general ward, and all the 5 cases survived. Conclusion: Continuous blood purification therapy held promising prospects for alleviating the deteriorative progression of severe and critical types of COVID-19 in the early stage, together with ameliorating the accumulation of inflammatory cytokine and the concomitant symptoms and complications by efficacious immunoadsorption. Trial Registration: www.chictr.org.cn, Identifier (ChiCTR2000031930).
Abstract Background: Reports on the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among Chinese patients with psoriasis are very limited. This study, conducted by rheumatologists, estimated the prevalence of PsA in a large number of Chinese patients with psoriasis. Methods: Consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of psoriasis attending nine dermatology clinics in five hospitals were recruited. All psoriasis patients were asked to complete a questionnaire comprising 16 questions to identify possible cases of PsA. All patients with one or more positive answers to the questionnaire were evaluated by two experienced rheumatologists. Results: A total of 2434 psoriasis patients, including 1561 males and 873 females, were enrolled. Both the questionnaire and rheumatologists' examinations were completed in the dermatology clinics. The results identified 252 patients with PsA, comprising 168 males and 84 females. The overall prevalence of PsA among psoriasis patients was 10.4% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 9.1%–11.7%). By sex, the prevalence was 10.8% (95% CI, 9.2%–12.5%) for males and 9.6% (95% CI, 7.7%–11.9%) for females and there was no significant sex difference in the prevalence of PsA ( P = 0.38). Of the 252 PsA patients, 125 (49.6%, 95% CI, 41.3%–59.1%) were newly diagnosed by rheumatologists. Consequently, the prevalence of undiagnosed PsA among psoriasis patients was 5.2% (95% CI, 4.4%–6.2%). Conclusion: The prevalence of PsA in the Chinese population with psoriasis is about 10.4%, which is almost double that of previous reports in the Chinese population, but lower than that in Caucasians.
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Background. Genome-wide association studies found rs955333 located in 6q25.2 was associated with diabetic kidney disease in multiple ethnic populations, including European Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. We aimed to investigate the association between the variant rs955333 in SCAF8-CNKSR3 and DKD susceptibility in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients. Methods. The variant rs955333 was genotyped in 1884 Chinese type 2 diabetes patients. Associations of the variant rs955333 with DKD and DR susceptibility and related quantitative traits were evaluated. Results. The variant rs955333 was not associated with DKD in our samples, while subjects with genotype GG were associated with DR (P = 0.047, OR = 0.5525 [0.308,0.9911]), and it also showed association with microalbuminuria (P = 0.024, beta = -0.1812 [-0.339, -0.024]). Conclusion. Our data suggests the variant rs955333 was not associated with DKD but showed association with diabetic retinopathy in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients.
Abstract Previous pharmacogenomic studies of oral anti-diabetic drugs have primarily focused on the effect of a single site. This study aimed to examine the joint effects of multiple loci on repaglinide or rosiglitazone efficacy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. A total of 209 newly diagnosed T2DM patients were randomly assigned to treatment with repaglinide or rosiglitazone for 48 weeks. The reductions in fasting glucose (ΔFPG), 2h glucose (Δ2hPG) and glycated hemoglobin (ΔHbA1c) levels were significantly associated with genetic score that was constructed using the sum of the effect alleles both in the repaglinide ( P = 0.0011, 0.0002 and 0.0067, respectively) and rosiglitazone cohorts ( P = 0.0002, 0.0014 and 0.0164, respectively) after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and dosage. Survival analyses showed a trend towards a greater attainment rate of target HbA1c level in individuals with a high genetic score in the repaglinide cohort and rosiglitazone cohort ( P log-rank = 0.0815 and 0.0867, respectively) when the attainment of treatment targets were defined as more than 20% decrease of FPG, 2hPG and HbA1c levels after treatment. In conclusion, we identified the joint effects of several T2DM-related loci on the efficacy of oral anti-diabetic drugs; moreover, we built a model to predict the drug efficacy.
Abstract We aimed to compare the therapeutic effect of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) administered at different time windows within the first 6 hours after onset of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A retrospective analysis was performed of data collected from 194 patients who received rt-PA thrombolysis within 4.5 hours after AIS onset and from 29 patients who received rt-PA thrombolysis between 4.5–6 hours after AIS onset. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were statistically decreased in both groups (P < 0.05) at 24 hours and 7 days after onset. There was no statistical difference in the modified Rankin score or mortality at day 90 after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, AIS patients who received rt-PA treatment between 4.5–6 hours after onset were similar in therapeutic efficacy to those who received rt-PA within 4.5 hours after onset. Our results suggest that intravenous thrombolytic therapy for AIS within 4.5–6 hours after onset is effective and safe.
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