Medicine
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease caused by multiple enteroviruses (EVs) in China. To better define the etiologic agents and clinical characteristics of HFMD, we conducted this study in Yunnan, China. In this study, 1280 stool specimens were collected from pediatric patients hospitalized for treatment of HFMD in 2010. ⋯ Of the 26 critical cases, 13 were caused by EV71, 9 by CA16, 2 by CA4, and 1 each were the result of CA10 and E9, respectively. All EV71, CA16, CA10, and CA4 isolates were highly homologous to the strains isolated from mainland China, and belonged to the C4a, B1a, G, and C genotypes, respectively. Our study showed that EV71 and CA16 were the main causative agents for severe and critical HFMD, but other serotypes can also cause severe and critical cases.
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No official spirometry reference values for Chinese are available. To establish new Chinese reference values and prediction equations for lung parameters in Chinese individuals of 10 to 81 years of age. Pulmonary functions were measured according to the American Thoracic Society criteria in 1457 subjects from the Zhejiang coastal province (China). ⋯ The relationship between height and lung function parameters was nonlinear, with the variance of lung function parameters increasing with increasing height. For each sex, the z scores differed significantly by BMI (P < .001). This study provides spirometry equations that can be used for Chinese individuals.
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To study the relationship between pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) rs1136287, rs1894286 polymorphisms and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in northern Chinese populations. The study was carried out on case-control methods. Ninety-six patients with AMD and 98 health controls were recruited who were matched with the former by age and gender, rs1136287 and rs1894286 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). ⋯ The T-C haplotype frequency of rs1136287-rs1894286 in PEDF were significantly correlated to the increased susceptibility to AMD (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.02-2.40). The rs1136287 polymorphism in PEDF may be related to the occurrence risk of AMD. Additionally, a haplotype is also a non-ignorable risk factor.
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Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by vascular dysplasia, including typically systemic telangiectases and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Due to its variable clinical manifestations, HHT patients often seek medical care from different medical subspecialties and thus experience delays in diagnosis and treatment. This study is designed to analyze the clinical features and treatment options for patients with HHT. ⋯ Patients with HHT have variable clinical characteristics, and their diagnoses were delayed on average by about 26 years. An experienced multidisciplinary team is needed for the early diagnosis and optimal management of patients with HHT. Thalidomide may be an effective choice to alleviate the bleeding symptoms of patients with HHT.
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Review Meta Analysis
Prognostic role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
The potential prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in gastric cancer remains controversial. This meta-analysis examines the association between TILs and survival outcomes in gastric cancer. ⋯ The results from this meta-analysis suggest that high expression of TILs, mainly by CD8 lymphocytes, may be a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with gastric cancer.