lei liu

Extended endoscopic sinus surgery (EESS) can reduce the recurrence rate of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the application of modified “protective middle turbinate-EESS” (mEESS) on patients with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and allergic rhinitis (AR). Forty-three patients with CRSwNP and AR were classified into 2 groups, the mEESS group (n=23) and the functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) group (n=20), and were followed up for 6 months and 1 year after surgery. The disease severity was assessed by the Lund-Mackay score, the Lund-Kennedy score, and the visual analog scale (VAS) score. The patency rate of the frontal sinus was evaluated by endoscopy. Patient satisfaction was also followed up. No preoperative differences or postoperative complications were found between the 2 groups. The VAS score and Lund-Kennedy score of the 2 groups were lower at 6 months and 1 year after surgery. The olfactory function of the mEESS group was significantly better than that of the FESS group at 6 months post-operative. The patency rate of the frontal sinus orifice in the mEESS group was significantly higher than that in the FESS group at 6 months and 1 year post-operative. Patient satisfaction in the mEESS group was relatively higher than that in the FESS group. mEESS improves frontal sinus drainage, olfactory sense, and patient satisfaction in the short term.

Low protein diet plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases. However, exact role is unclear so far. We aimed to find out the effect of low protein diet on patients with cardiovascular disease.

The PRISMA guidelines were followed throughout the research project until 10th Apr 2023. MeSH phrases and Boolean operators were used to search PubMed for suitable studies. The entire estimate was expressed as a 95% confidence interval around the mean difference. The model was picked because of the discrepancies found in the research. Choi's Q test and I2 statistics were used to determine the degree of variation between experiments. The funnel plot was used to qualitatively examine the publishing bias.

Low-protein diets have a greater impact on waist circumference [-8.82 (-9.51, -8.13), P<0000.1] and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) [-0.05 (-0.07, -0.03), P<0000.1] alteration than non-LPD diets, as measured by the standard mean difference (SMD). Further, significant changes were observed in weight loss [1.51 (1.25, 1.77), P<0.00001], BMI, [0.46 (0.25, 0.67), P<0.0001], change systolic [2.48 (1.20, 3.77), P=0.0002] and diastolic blood pressure [1.49 (0.72, 2.26), P=0.0002], low density lipoprotein [0.09 (0.06, 0.12), P<0.00001], triglyceride [0.52 (0.49, 0.55), P<0.00001], in non-LPD group as compared to LPD group.

The results indicated the role of low protein diet on patients with cardiovascular disease.

To reveal the phenotypic differences between human ocular surface stromal cells (hOSSCs) cultured from the corneal, limbal, and scleral compartments.

A comparative analysis of cultured hOSSCs derived from four unrelated donors was conducted by multichromatic flow cytometry for six distinct CD antigens, including the CD73, CD90, CD105, CD166, CD146, and CD34.

The hOSSCs, as well as the reference cells, displayed phenotypical profiles that were similar in high expression of the hallmark mesenchymal stem cell markers CD73, CD90, and CD105, and also the cancer stem cell marker CD166. Notably, there was considerable variation regarding the expression of CD34, where the highest levels were found in the corneal and scleral compartments. The multi-differentiation potential marker CD146 was also expressed highly variably, ranging from 9% to 89%, but the limbal stromal and endometrial mesenchymal stem cells significantly surpassed their counterparts within the ocular and reference groups, respectively. The use of six markers enabled investigation of 64 possible variants, however, just four variants accounted for almost 90% of all hOSSCs, with the co-expression of CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD166 and a combination of CD146 and CD34. The limbal compartment appeared unique in that it displayed greatest immunophenotype diversity and harbored the highest proportion of the CD146+CD34- pericyte-like forms, but, interestingly, the pericyte-like cells were also found in the avascular cornea.

Our findings confirm that the hOSSCs exhibit an immunophenotype consistent with that of MSCs, further highlight the phenotypical heterogeneity in stroma from distinct ocular surface compartments, and finally underscore the uniqueness of the limbal region.

To assay the Trichinella-specific IgM and IgG antibody responses during the early stage of infection, serum was collected from mice infected with the muscle larvae (ML) of T. spiralis (ISS534) at different dpi (days post infection) up to 60 days.

The levels of IgM and IgG antibodies in serum were measured by ES antigens from different stage of T. spiralis using the ELISA method in Shanghai, China in 2017.

The anti-Trichinella IgM and IgG could be detected by ES antigens from the adult three days worm (Ad3) as early as 5 dpi and 8 dpi, respectively. ES antigens from the mixture of adult six days worm & new born larvae (Ad6+NBL) was similar to Ad3. When antibodies were detected by these two antigens, the levels of IgM peaked at 14 dpi and then declined from 15 dpi to 60 dpi; the IgG peaked at 20 dpi, and gradually declined, however, higher detection levels were maintained until 60 dpi.

Ad3 ES antigens showed more antigenicity than Ad6+NBL ES on titer detection of IgM and IgG antibodies, and the production of Ad3 ES is easier. In terms of early diagnosis, these two antigens are better than the ML ES antigens of T. spiralis, which antibodies could not be detected before 20dpi. Ad3 ES antigens might be good candidate for the early diagnosis of trichinellosis or the mixture of Ad3 and Ad6+NBL ES might be used.

Previous studies have reached different conclusions regarding an association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms and depression. This meta-analysis was designed to clarify these controversies. Literatures were identified reviewing the national and international databases. The eligible articles for meta-analysis were determined by quality assessment and implementation of inclusion/exclusion criteria. This meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.2 software. The odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CIs) were calculated using a fixed effects model. Funnel plots and Egger’s regression tests were used to assess the publication bias. A total of nine studies that met the inclusion criteria were identified by performing a comprehensive search on the association between APOE polymorphisms and depression. APOE ε4 allele was significantly associated with depression (allele: OR=1.36, 95%CI=1.11-1.66, P=0.003; dominant: OR=1.34, 95%CI=1.06-1.68, P=0.001; recessive: OR= 1.11, 95%CI =0.45-2.76, P=0.82). HAMD scores were higher in depression patients with-APOE ε4 genotype than who without-APOE ε4 genotype (OR=0.96, 95%CI=0.16-1.76, P=0.02). APOE ε4 allele increased the depression risk; depressive patients carrying APOE ε4 allele had more severe depressive symptoms.

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a common autoimmune disease involving abnormal Th17 activation. The aim of the current study was to investigate the immunosuppression effect of Cyclosporine A (Cys A), a potent immunosuppressor on the proliferation and activation of T cells, on the activation of Th17 cells.Blood samples from both inactive and active pSS patients as well as healthy controls were collected and serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected and tested for IL-17 and RORγt expression. Subsequently, PBMCs were treated in vitro with Cys A in a series of doses and incubation time and the effect of Cys A on inhibiting Th17 activation was tested by measuring IL-17 and RORγt expression.IL-17 in both serum and PBMCs as well as RORγt in PBMCs from active pSS patients were significantly elevated on both the mRNA and protein levels comparing to those from both inactive pSS patients and healthy controlCys A in the final concentration of 80ng/ml and the treatment time of 24h showed strong inhibition effect on the expression of IL-17 and RORγt in PBMCs from active pSS patients. However, Cys A in various doses and incubation times did not show much impact on inhibiting IL-17 as well as RORγt expression in PBMCs from healthy donors and inactive pSS patients.Cys A possesses the capability in immunosuppressing the activation of Th17 cells, suggesting that Cys A may be a potential treatment for pSS and maybe other autoimmune diseases.

Many additives, e.g., flame retardants and/or appropriate nanoparticles directlyincorporated into the base polymer can be employed to protect polymericmaterials against attack by fire. Nowadays, novel nanomaterials including polyhedraloligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) are employed to impart potential flameretardation characteristics to polymers, which open up new ways to prepare flameretarded materials. In this work, octaphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane(ph-POSS) and its bromide derivative (Br.ph-POSS) were used as novel fillers for polystyreneand the differences in their enhanced combustion properties were investigatedand discussed. The microstructures of composites were characterized by TEM, whichindicated that POSS nanoparticles were dispersed in the base polymer homogeneouslyand the amount of fillers were gradually increased with higher amount of POSS. Thecombustion behaviour of the composites was tested by cone calorimetry, whichshowed that their flame retardant properties were also greatly improved by increasedamounts of POSS fillers. Nevertheless, there are some differences in the combustionproperties of the composites which are due to different kinds of POSS nanoparticles,i.e., Br.ph-POSS system was more effective in reducing the peak heat release rate(pHRR) (the largest relative decline in pHRR was 84.2%), while ph-POSS resulted inslower smoke production rate (SPR) and rather bigger drops in peak values of COrelease rate (CORR) and CO concentration (COC) during the combustion test (thelargest relative decline in peak values of CORR and COC were 81.8% and 84.3%,respectively). These improvements are attributed to the homogenously dispersedPOSS nanoparticles and related Br-Sb synergistic effects, while the differences are dueto the presence of different substituents and/or elements in dissimilar POSS cages.