Scientific reports
-
Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) is widely applicable, either as a strategy for pulmonary reexpansion, elimination of pulmonary secretion or to reduce hyperinflation. However, there is no consensus in the literature about the real benefits of EPAP in reducing dynamic hyperinflation (DH) and increasing exercise tolerance in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To systematically review the effects of EPAP application during the submaximal stress test on DH and exercise capacity in patients with COPD. ⋯ The other outcomes analyzed were not significantly altered by the use of EPAP. Our study demonstrates that the use of EPAP does not prevent the onset of DH and may reduce lower limb exercise capacity in patients with COPD. However, larger and higher-quality studies are needed to clarify the potential benefit of EPAP in this population.
-
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is caused by chronic compression of the spinal cord and is the most common cause of myelopathy in adults. No drug is currently available to mitigate CSM. Herein, we made a rat model of CSM by epidurally implanting an expanding water-absorbent polymer underneath the laminae compress the spinal cord. ⋯ In addition, ZNS increased gene expressions of cystine/glutamate exchange transporter (xCT) and metallothionein 2A in the spinal cord in CSM rats, and also in the primary astrocytes. ZNS increased the glutathione (GSH) level in the spinal motor neurons of CSM rats. ZNS potentially ameliorates loss of the spinal motor neurons and demyelination of the pyramidal tracts in patients with CSM.
-
Although many studies investigated the associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor-1 (PLA2R1) gene and susceptibility to idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), some showed inconsistent results. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis examining the associations between PLA2R1 SNPs and IMN susceptibility after systematic searches in the PubMed and Web of Science databases. Our meta-analysis for rs4664308 A>G including 2,542 IMN patients and 4,396 controls in seven studies showed a significant association between the G allele and a lower risk of IMN, as determined using an allelic model (odds ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval [0.41-0.50]), an additive model (for GG vs. ⋯ AA: 0.40; [0.36-0.45]), a dominant model (0.37; [0.34-0.42]) and a recessive model (0.38; [0.31-0.48]). Our meta-analysis also suggested associations between rs3828323, rs35771982, rs3749117 and rs3749119 and IMN susceptibility although high heterogeneities and/or publication biases were observed. We did not study in our meta-analysis, but other studies indicated that high-risk genotype combinations of rs2187668 in the human leucocyte antigen-DQ a-chain 1 gene and rs4664308 in the PLA2R1 gene had even stronger associations and could affect the formation of anti-PLA2R1 antibodies, suggesting these SNPs could be novel therapeutic targets.
-
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease accompanied with severe paralysis or even death, while the pathogenesis of ALS is still unclear and no effective therapy exists. The accumulating evidence has indicated the association between gut microbiota and various neurological diseases. Thus, to explore the potential role of gut microbiome in ALS, 20 patients diagnosed with probable or definite ALS and 20 healthy controls were enrolled and their fecal excrements were collected. ⋯ Additionally, decreased gene function associated with metabolic pathways was observed in ALS patients. The metagenomics further demonstrated the discrepancies in microflora at the species level and relevant metabolites thereof were also revealed when combined with metabolomics. In conclusion, the altered composition of the gut microbiota and metabolic products in ALS patients provided deeper insights into the pathogenesis of ALS, and these biomarkers might be established as potential therapeutic targets which deserve further exploration.