Study on the efficacy of early treatment with pirfenidone on the lung function of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is classified under fibrotic interstitial pneumonia,characterized by a chronic and progressive course.The predominant clinical features of IPF include dyspnea and pulmonary dysfunction.AIM To assess the effects of pirfenidone in the early treatment of IPF on lung function in patients.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 113 patients with IPF who were treated in our hospital from November 2017 to January 2023.These patients were divided into two groups:control group(n=53)and observation group(n=60).In the control group,patients received routine therapy in combination with methylprednisolone tablets,while those in the observation group received routine therapy together with pirfenidone.After applying these distinct treatment approaches to the two groups,we assessed several parameters,including the overall effectiveness of clinical therapy,the occurrence of adverse reactions(e.g.,nausea,vomiting,and anorexia),symptom severity scores,pulmonary function index levels,inflammatory marker levels,and the 6-min walk distance before and after treatment in both groups.RESULTS The observation group exhibited significantly higher rates than the control group after therapy,with a clear distinction(P<0.05).After treatment,the observation group experienced significantly fewer adverse reactions than the control group,with a noticeable difference(P<0.05).When analyzing the symptom severity scores between the two groups of patients after treatment,the observation group had significantly lower scores than the control group,with a distinct difference(P<0.05).When comparing the pulmonary function index levels between the two groups of patients after therapy,the observation group displayed significantly higher levels than the control group,with a noticeable difference(P<0.05).Evaluating the inflammatory marker data(C-reactive protein,interleukin-2[IL-2],and IL-8)between the two groups of patients after therapy,the observation group exhibited significantly lower levels than the control group,with significant disparities(P<0.05).Comparison of the 6-min walking distance data between the two groups of patients after treatment showed that the observation group achieved significantly greater distances than the control group,with a marked difference(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Prompt initiation of pirfenidone treatment in individuals diagnosed with IPF can enhance pulmonary function,elevate inflammatory factor levels,and increase the distance covered in the 6-min walk test.This intervention is conducive to effectively decreasing the occurrence of adverse reactions in patients.

老年低视力患者生活质量与护理服务需求的研究

目的:通过调查老年低视力患者的生活质量及其护理服务需求,为提高和改善老年低视力群体的生活质量提供理论依据。方法:采用横断面的研究方法,以福州市某三甲医院老年低视力患者200例为研究对象,采用中文版低视力生活质量量表(CLVQOL)、护理服务需求问卷表进行调查。结果:老年低视力患者生活质量得分为54.92±12.11分,护理服务需求得分为30.34±8.93分,中、高需求者为88%。生存质量与护理服务需求呈负相关(r=-0.266,P<0.01)。结论:老年低视力患者的生活质量水平较低,护理服务需求高,尤其是视功能康复训练方面的护理服务需求。针对我国面临老龄化日趋严重的重要社会问题,重视老年低视力群体的护理服务需求,探讨提供精准的视觉护理服务干预,提高其生活质量是非常必要的。

Recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying thymosin β4 suppresses experimental colitis in mice

AIMTo investigate the protective effect of a recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying thymosin β4 (AAV-Tβ4) on murine colitis via intracolonic administration.METHODSAAV-Tβ4 was prepared and intracolonically used to mediate the secretory expression of Tβ4 in mouse colons. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was applied to induce the murine ulcerative colitis, and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) was used to establish a mouse colitis model resembling Crohn’s disease. The disease severity and colon injuries were observed and graded to reveal the effects of AAV-Tβ4 on colitis. The activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined using biochemical assays. Colonic levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 were measured using ELISA, and mucosal epithelial cell apoptosis and proliferation were detected by TUNEL assay and immunochemistry, respectively.RESULTSRecombinant AAVs efficiently delivered LacZ and Tβ4 into the colonic tissues of the mice, and AAV-Tβ4 led to a strong expression of Tβ4 in mouse colons. In both the DSS and TNBS colitis models, AAV-Tβ4-treated mice displayed distinctly attenuated colon injuries and reduced apoptosis rate of colonic mucosal epithelia. AAV-Tβ4 significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltrations and relieved oxidative stress in the inflamed colons of the mice, as evidenced by decreases in MPO activity and MDA content and increases in SOD activity. AAV-Tβ4 also modulated colonic TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 levels and suppressed the compensatory proliferation of colonic epithelial cells in DSS- and TNBS-treated mice.CONCLUSIONTβ4 exerts a protective effect on murine colitis, indicating that AAV-Tβ4 could potentially be developed into a promising agent for the therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Long-term protection against dengue viruses in mice conferred by a tetravalent DNA vaccine candidate

DEAR EDITOR,The development of an effective tetravalent vaccine against dengue viruses(DENVs)has become a world priority.We previously showed that four monovalent dengue DNA vaccines expressing premembrane(prM)and envelope(E)proteins displayed effective protection against corresponding challenges in mice.Thus,to elucidate the overall immunity and persistence of the tetravalent formulation(TetraME),we evaluated the humoral and cellular immune responses as well as the long-term protection in the current study.TetraME-immunized mice displayed increased production of Th1/Th2-typed cytokines upon stimulation with heterologous DENV antigens.Moreover,high levels of tetravalent DENV antibodies and sterilized immunity were detected long-term(30 weeks after immunization).These findings provide feasible validation for the potential utility of this vaccine formulation.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation benefits postoperative pain relief of oocyte retrieval:A randomized controlled trial

Background Transvaginal oocyte retrieval is frequently followed by adverse events related to anesthesia and the procedure.Some research showed that transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)can relieve intraoperative pain and postoperative nausea.Objective This study examined whether TEAS can alleviate pain and relieve adverse symptoms after oocyte retrieval.Design,setting,participants and interventions Altogether 128 patients were randomly divided into the TEAS group and the mock TEAS group.The two groups received a 30-minute-long TEAS or mock TEAS treatment that began 30 min after oocyte retrieval.Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the visual analog scale(VAS)pain score.Secondary outcomes were pressure pain threshold,McGill score,pain rating index(PRI),present pain intensity(PPI),VAS stress score,VAS anxiety score,and postoperative adverse symptoms.Results The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable(P>0.05).The VAS pain scores of the TEAS group were lower than those of the mock TEAS group at 60 and 90 min after oocyte retrieval(P<0.05).The McGill score,PRI and PPI in the TEAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 60 min after oocyte retrieval(P<0.05).However,the two groups had equivalent beneficial effects regarding the negative emotions,such as nervousness and anxiety(P>0.05).The TEAS group was superior to the mock TEAS group for relieving postoperative adverse symptoms(P<0.05).Conclusion TEAS treatment can relieve postoperative pain and postoperative adverse symptoms for patients undergoing oocyte retrieval.