Expressions of toll-like receptors 2 and 4, and relative cellular factors in HIV patients with tuberculosis infection

Purpose: To investigate the expressions of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IFN-γ (IFN- gamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with tuberculosis (TB) infection.Methods: Two groups of HIV patients (68 in each group) were used for this study. These were HIV with TB (HIV/TB) group and HIV without TB group. A third group (68 healthy people) served as control. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was adopted to measure TLR-2 and TLR-4 expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), while the serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 were determined by ELISA.Results: The △Ct values of TLR-2 and TLR-4 in HIV/TB and HIV groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Compared to control group, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 significantly increased, while IFN-γ and IL-2 in HIV/TB and HIV groups significantly decreased (p < 0.05). However, IFN-γ and IL-2 decreased significantly in HIV/TB group (p < 0.05). Expression of TLR2 correlated positively with serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10, but negatively with IFN-γ and IL-2 (p < 0.05).Conclusion: TLR2 signal pathway plays a role in HIV patients with TB infection by promoting the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10, while inhibiting IFN-γ and IL-2 cellular factors, and thus may provide a new pathway for the treatment of patients with HIV/TB.Keywords: HIV, Tuberculosis, Toll-like receptor, Cellular factors, Tumor necrosis factor, Interleuki

Differential impact of affective and cognitive attributes on preference under deliberation and distraction

Two experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that affective information looms relatively larger than cognitive information when individuals are distracted for a period of time compared to when they engage in deliberative thinking. In two studies, participants were presented with information about 4 decision alternatives: An affective alternative that scored high on affective attributes but low on cognitive attributes, a cognitive alternative with the opposite trade-off, and two fillers. They were then asked to indicate their attitudes toward each of four decision alternatives either immediately, after a period of deliberation, or after a period of distraction. The results of both experiments demonstrated that participants significantly preferred the affective alternative to the cognitive alternative after distraction, but not after deliberation. The implications for understanding when and how unconscious thought may lead to better decisions are being discussed

Prognostic value of vitamin D in patients with pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic role of vitamin D in pneumonia patients  through meta-analysis.Methods: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for relevant studies that assessed the impact of vitamin D on the risk of adverse outcomes among patients with pneumonia. Risk ratios (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) were pooled using meta-analysis. Q-test and I2 statistics were used to evaluate between-study heterogeneity.Results: Six studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis of these studies indicated that low vitamin D status was associated with higher risk of mortality among pneumonia patients (RR = 2.59, 95 % CI = 1.32-5.08; p = 0.005). Results from meta-analysis of studies with adjusted estimates suggest that low vitamin D status was independently associated with higher risk of mortality among pneumonia patients (RR = 3.15, 95 % CI 1.54-6.44, p = 0.002). There was no significant risk of bias in the meta-analysis.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that low vitamin D level is associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes in patients with pneumonia.Keywords: Pneumonia, Vitamin D, Prognosis, Meta-analysis, Systematic revie

Utjecaj otopine u čvrstom stanju i starenja na mikrostrukturu i mehanička svojstva kompozita čestica SiCp/Al-Si-Cu-Mg

The SiC particles (SiCp, mass fraction 30 %) reinforced with the Al-Si-Cu-Mg matrix composite have been prepared using one-way press method, sintering, and hot extrusion. The composite was subjected to solid solution treatment at temperatures of 470 °C, 485 °C, 500 °C, 515 °C, and 530 °C for 4 h. The sample was then subjected to ageing treatment at temperatures of 160 °C and 180 °C during different times after solid solution treatment at 515 °C for 4 h. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the SiCp/Al-Si-Cu-Mg matrix composite under the different ageing and solid solution treatments were tested using SEM and TEM microhardness analysis. The results show that the white granulated metallic compounds of the SiCp/Al-Si-Cu-Mg composite materials, which are formed in the sintering process of composite materials, dissolve back after the solid solution treatment at different temperatures. The higher the solid solution temperature, the more metallic compounds dissolve back. The microhardness of the composites reached maximum after solution treatment at 515 °C for 4 h. Following the ageing treatment and with the prolongation of ageing time, the hardness of the composite material reached “double peak” phenomenon. With the increase in ageing temperature, the hardening speed of the composite material also increased, but at the same time, the hardening ability had reduced. After the ageing treatment, the second phases of the composite are discoid Al5Cu6Mg2. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Pripravljen je kompozit čestica SiC (SiCp) u masenom udjelom 30 % u matrici Al-Si-Cu-Mg prešanjem, sinteriranjem i ekstrudiranjem. Kompozit je 4 sata bio izložen otapanju u čvrstom stanju pri 470 °C, 485 °C, 500 °C, 515 °C i 530 °C. Nakon toga na uzorak je 4 sata pri 515 °C djelovalo otapanje u čvrstom stanju, a zatim su uzorci starili različito vrijeme pri temperaturama 160 i 180 °C. Mikrostruktura i mehanička svojstva kompozita proučena su tehnikama pretražnom i transmisijskom mikroskopijom te analizom mikrotvrdoće. Pri sinteriranju kompozita SiCp/Al-Si-Cu-Mg nastaje bijeli zrnasti metalni spoj koji se otapa u čvrstu otopinu pri različitim temperaturama. Što je viša temperatura čvrste otopine, više se otopi metalnog spoja. Mikrotvrdoća doseže maksimum pri izlaganju reakcijama u čvrstom stanju pri 515 °C kroz četiri sata. Nakon starenja i s produljenjem starenja tvrdoća materijala pokazuje dvostruki vrh. S povišenjem temperature povećava se brzina očvršćivanja, no istodobno se smanjuje mogućnost očvršćenja. Druga faza kompozita nakon starenja je diskoidni Al5Cu6Mg2. Ovo djelo je dano na korištenje pod licencom Creative Commons Imenovanje 4.0 međunarodna

Case Report: Integrated echocardiographic assessment guided Liwen procedure for treating obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ventricular aneurysm

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic myocardial disease, with an estimated incidence of 0.2%–6%, and is the main cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes. Left ventricular apical aneurysm (LVAA) is a rare subtype of HCM, accounting for about 5% of HCM patients, and has a higher incidence of cardiovascular adverse events. In cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with LVAA (HOCM-LVAA) that do not respond adequately to optimized medical therapy, the echocardiography-guided percutaneous intra-myocardial septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA, Liwen procedure) emerges as a promising and effective novel therapeutic approach. In this case report, we present for the first time a comprehensive application of echocardiographic techniques, including TTE, 2-D STE, and contrast enhancement, in the diagnosis, treatment, surgical guidance, and assessment of therapeutic outcomes in a case of HOCM-LVAA

Diagnosis and microecological characteristics of aerobic vaginitis in outpatients based on preformed enzymes

AbstractObjectiveAerobic vaginitis (AV) is a recently proposed term for genital tract infection in women. The diagnosis of AV is mainly based on descriptive diagnostic criteria proposed by Donders and co-workers. The objective of this study is to report AV prevalence in southwest China using an objective assay kit based on preformed enzymes and also to determine its characteristics.Materials and methodsA total of 1948 outpatients were enrolled and tested by a commercial diagnostic kit to investigate the AV prevalence and characteristics in southwestern China. The study mainly examined the vaginal ecosystem, age distribution, Lactobacillus amount, and changes in pH. Differences within groups were analyzed by Wilcoxon two-sample test.ResultsThe AV detection rate is 15.40%. The AV patients were usually seen in the sexually active age group of 20–30 years, followed by those in the age group of 30–40 years. The vaginal ecosystems of all the patients studied were absolutely abnormal, and diagnosed to have a combined infection [aerobic vaginitis (AV) + bacterial vaginitis (BV) 61.33%; 184/300]. Aerobic bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, were predominantly found in the vaginal samples of these women.ConclusionAV is a common type of genital infection in southwestern China and is characterized by sexually active age and combined infection predominated by the AV and BV type

Oncological and reproductive outcomes of conization combined with pelvic node evaluation in patients with early-stage cervical cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis study aims to preliminarily assess the oncological and reproductive outcomes of fertility preservation treatment using conization combined with pelvic node evaluation in young patients with early-stage cervical cancer (ECC) through meta-analysis.MethodsIn this meta-analysis, we analyzed studies published in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and Clinical Trials. gov that appeared in our search from inception to 0 7/02/2023.ResultsThere were 17 relevant studies with a total of 620 patients included, of which 444 patients received conization combined with pelvic node evaluation. The combined pregnancy rate was 45.4% (95% CI: 0.34–0.57), the combined live birth rate was 33.9% (95% CI: 0.26–0.42), the combined miscarriage rate was 4.8% (95% CI: 0.02–0.092), the combined preterm delivery rate was 5.1% (95% CI: 0.02–0.092), and the combined recurrence rate was 1.9% (95% CI: 0.006–0.035), which did not significantly differ from that of patients who received radical surgery (OR: 0.689, 95% CI: 0.506–0.938).ConclusionCervical conization combined with pelvic lymph node evaluation for fertility preservation in young ECC patients can achieve oncological outcomes similar to radical surgery while improving pregnancy success rates and preserving postoperative fertility. In summary, fertility preservation treatment using cervical conization combined with pelvic lymph node evaluation may be considered as a viable option for young ECC patients with strong fertility preservation desire, resulting in better pregnancy and live birth outcomes.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#myprospero, identifier PROSPERO (CRD42023423432)

Buyang Huanwu Decoction for Healthcare: Evidence-Based Theoretical Interpretations of Treating Different Diseases with the Same Method and Target of Vascularity

Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) is a famous herbal prescription that has been used to treat stroke for centuries. Recent studies reported that the use of BHD had been extended to treat various kinds of disorders according to the TCM syndrome theory of Treating Different Diseases with the Same Method (TDDSM). Here, an overview of systematic reviews (SRs) of BHD for healthcare was conducted to interpret the TCM theory of TDDSM and its target of vascularity in an evidence-based manner. Literature searches were carried out in 5 databases to search SRs of BHD for any indication up to August 2013. Thirteen eligible SRs were identified which reported a wide range of vascular conditions. Based on the Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire scores, the quality of included SRs was varied, with an average score of 4 points. We found that there is premature evidence for the use of BHD for healthcare, whereas BHD was well tolerable in all patients. BHD can be used to treat many disorders with the same therapeutic principle of invigorating Qi to activate blood circulation, which is essentially a manifestation of the TDDSM and is likely to account for targeting the specific pathogenesis of vascular diseases

Podoplanin-positive cancer cells at the edge of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas are involved in invasion

Podoplanin (PDPN) is a well established lymphatic endothelial marker and has frequently been observed in cancer cells at the edge of cancer masses. Previous studies investigating the association between PDPN expression and patient prognosis have had contradictory results. In the present study, it was hypothesized that the different locations of PDPNpositive cells may explain these varying results. The present study aimed to focus on PDPN expression at the edge of esophageal cancer cell nests. In order to analyze the clinical significance of this PDPN expression, immunohistochemistry was performed using esophageal cancer tissue microarrays. PDPN expression at the edge of the cancer cell nest was found to be significantly associated with invasion (P<0.05) and poor prognosis (P<0.001) in patients with cancer. To further investigate the role of PDPN expression in cancer cells, the PDPN gene was cloned and transfected into esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines. PDPN expression was also knocked down using small interfering RNA. PDPNpositive cancer cells were found to exhibit invasion characteristics. Thus, PDPN expression at the edge of a cancer cell nest may indicate invasion and represent a poor prognostic factor for ESCCs.published_or_final_versio