Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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There is growing evidence linking low levels of vitamin D3 to an increased risk of many autoimmune diseases. Compared to the general population, hypovitaminosis D is more prevalent among children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which can be associated with sun exposure avoidance, long-term corticosteroid treatment, and renal disease. Therefore, we launched this study to assess the correlation between 25 (OH) D3 (VitD3) levels and the disease activity of children with SLE (cSLE) in Taiwan. ⋯ This study shows that VitD3 deficiency is common in patients with cSLE. It was also noted that serum VitD3 levels negatively correlate to SLEDAI-2K, which can be partially explained by less usage of SCS.
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The comprehensive surveillance for interval changes in signal-averaged P-wave (SAPW) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) remains lacking. We aimed to analyze the SAPW parameters before and after PVI and explored their link to the left atrial electrical properties. ⋯ The consistent changes in SAPW and left atrial electrical properties after PVI suggest that SAPW may be used as a noninvasive tool to monitor the responses to PVI.
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Allergic rhinitis is a frequent disorder during pregnancy, while in children it is triggered by significantly lower serum vitamin E level. This research aimed to investigate whether serum vitamin E level exhibited clinical significance in pregnant women with allergic rhinitis. ⋯ In conclusion, this research has demonstrated that pregnant women with allergic rhinitis showed significantly lower serum level of vitamin E. The decreased vitamin E showed a correlation with the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis in pregnant women.
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Observational Study
Morphometric and ultrasonographic determinants of difficult laryngoscopy in obese patients: A prospective observational study.
Obese people have a higher risk of difficult laryngoscopy due to their thick neck, large tongue, and redundant pharyngeal soft tissue. However, there is still no established predictive factor for difficult laryngoscopy in obese population. ⋯ Greater neck circumference was an independent risk factor for difficult laryngoscopy in obese patients. This finding provides a way of reducing unanticipated difficult airway in this high-risk population.
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Magnolol is a component of the bark of Magnolia officinalis, which is a traditional herbal remedy used in China. In this study, we investigated whether magnolol can reduce myocardial injury induced by renal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). ⋯ Magnolol reduces myocardial injury induced by renal I/R. The underlying mechanisms for this effect might be related to modulation of the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the limiting of apoptosis.