Objective Emerging evidence suggests an increased prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prototype of autoimmune disease, compared to the general population. However, the conclusions were inconsistent, and the causal relationship between COVID-19 and SLE remains unknown. Methods In this study, we aimed to evaluate the bidirectional causal relationship between COVID-19 and SLE using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, including MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method. Results The results of IVW showed a negative effect of SLE on severe COVID-19 (OR = 0.962, p = 0.040) and COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.988, p = 0.025), which disappeared after Bonferroni correction. No causal effect of SLE on hospitalized COVID-19 was observed (OR = 0.983, p = 0.148). In the reverse analysis, no causal effects of severe COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.045, p = 0.664), hospitalized COVID-19 (OR = 0.872, p = 0.109), and COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.943, p = 0.811) on SLE were found. Conclusion The findings of our bidirectional causal inference analysis did not support a genetically predicted causal relationship between SLE and COVID-19; thus, their association observed in previous observational studies may have been caused by confounding factors.
Abstract Background: Primary giant cell tumor of the axis is a rare. The authors reported a case of a primary giant cell tumor of the axis revealed by cervical pain, and discussed the diagnosis and treatment of giant cell tumor.Case presentation: The patient presented to our clinic with neck pain and unstable gait. X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed osteolysis of the body and vertebral arch of the axis. Histologic evaluation gave a conclusion of a giant tumor, grade II. Spondylectomy of the axis was performed by the transoral approach. The local recurrence of the tumor was found 3 months later and the patient refused further therapy.Conclusion: Primary giant cell tumor of the axis is a rare type tumor with poor prognosis. Definitive diagnosis should be based on histopathological morphology and surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible.
To investigate the folate intake level of early pregnant women and its influencing factors in Chengdu.The healthy singleton pregnant women with 8-14 weeks of pregnancy in an obstetrical clinic of maternal-and-child health care institution in Chengdu in 2017 were selected as the object of the study. The basic information of pregnant women was collected by questionnaire survey, and the dietary intake of all kinds of food in early pregnancy was collected by 3-day 24-hour dietary recall method, and the average daily intake of folate was calculated according to China Food Composition(2018). A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect the use of folic acid supplements in pregnant women in the past one month, and the average daily intake of folic acid supplements was calculated. According to the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes(2013), the folate intake <600 μg DFE/d was defined as insufficient, and folic acid supplements intake ≥1000 μg/d was defined as excessive. The influencing factors of folate intake were analyzed by binary Logistic regression model.A total of 1579 valid samples were included. The average folate intake of early pregnant women in Chengdu was 865.8(778.6, 1461.0) μg DFE/d, the average dietary folate intake was 145.4(101.9, 200.7) μg/d, and the average folic acid supplements intake was 400.0(400.0, 800.0) μg/d. The rate of insufficient intake of folate in early pregnancy was 12.1%, and the rate of excessive intake of folic acid supplements was 13.0%. Compared with the primiparous group, the risk of insufficient folate intake was higher in the multiparous group(OR=1.708, 95%CI 1.175-2.482). Compared with the low income group, risk of insufficient folate intake in the medium and high income group was lower(OR=0.660, 95%CI 0.477-0.913); taking folic acid supplements before pregnancy has a lower risk of overdose of folic acid than the non-taking group(OR=0.594, 95%CI 0.423-0.835).The phenomenon of insufficient intake of total folate and excessive intake of folic acid supplements coexists among women in early pregnancy in Chengdu, and the rational use of folic acid supplements is worthy of attention.
The purpose of this study was to precisely evaluate the serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) level in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) relative to that in normal controls and to test the causal relationship between DKK-1 and the risk of AS.Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, WANFANG DATA, VIP, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were comprehensively searched until July 2022 for pertinent studies. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by the fixed or random-effect model. In Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis on the causal relationship between serum DKK-1 level and AS risk, the inverse variance weighting method (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median method, and weighted pattern method were applied. Sensitivity analyses, including the horizontal pleiotropy test, heterogeneity test, and leave-one-out test, were also performed.The meta-analysis of 40 studies containing 2,371 AS patients and 1,633 healthy controls showed that there was no significant difference in DKK-1 serum level between AS patients and normal controls (pooled SMD=0.207, 95% CI =-0.418-0.832, P=0.516). The subgroup analysis of the CRP ≤ 10 mg/L group showed that AS patients had higher serum DKK-1 concentration than the healthy controls (SMD=2.267, 95% CI = 0.102-4.432, P=0.040). Similarly, MR analysis also demonstrated no significant association between DKK-1 serum level and AS (IVW OR=0.999, 95% CI = 0.989-1.008, P=0.800). All sensitivity analyses revealed consistent results.There was no significant change in serum DKK-1 concentration between AS patients and healthy controls. In addition, no causal relationship exists between serum DKK-1 levels and AS risk.
Giant intrapelvic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors arising in the sciatic nerve in the pelvic cavity are a rare occurrence and their symptomatology is usually misdiagnosed as intervertebral disc herniation. We herein report the case of a 46-year old woman presenting with pain, hypesthesia and weakness of the left lower extremity due to a giant intrapelvic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the sciatic nerve. Prior to being referred to our institution, the patient was misdiagnosed as a case of sciatica due to a lumbar disc herniation and underwent an operation unsuccessfully, as there was little symptomatic improvement 2 months after the surgery. A magnetic resonance imaging examination of the pelvic cavity revealed a tumor of the sciatic nerve. The mass was resected via the posterior approach and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Intrapelvic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are an uncommon cause of sciatica and are commonly misdiagnosed as lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Accurate diagnosis and complete surgical excision prior to metastasis are crucial for effective management of this condition.
Migration of wires and pins within the heart is an uncommon complication. Intracardic migration of Kirschner wire can cause several complications.A 55-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency service with dyspnea, stabbing chest pain. The patient's medical history showed that he had undergone a fixation operation using Kirschner wire and plate for treatment of the right sternoclavicular joint dislocation about 5 months prior. Chest computerized tomography revealed a metallic foreign body locating in the pericardium between the aorta and the right ventricle. There were not any serious complications occurred before operation due to the timely detection of potential risks. Removal of the wire was performed via median sternotomy under general anesthesia without cardiopulmonary bypass. The symptoms of dyspnea and chest pain were relieved after surgery, and the patient recovered without any complications.The Kirschner wire should be used judiciously in amphiarthrosis in orthopedic surgery for the risk of breakage and migration. The possibility of intracardiac migration of wire should be considered when chest symptoms presenting after surgery with the Kirschner wire. Migrated wires must be removed immediately to prevent serious complications. Regular follow-up and early removal of fixation wires are recommended to prevent migration of wires.