Objective To observe the serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels in retinal branch vein occlusion (BRVO) patients with with hypertension or non-hypertension. Methods A total of 120 patients (120 eyes) with BRVO were divided into hypertension group [72 eyes, blood pressure 140 - 175/90 - 105 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)] and non-hypertension group (48 eyes, blood pressure 100 - 139/70 - 88 mmHg). According to the sex and age, 78 patients with hypertensive non-retinal vascular diseases and 48 patients with non-hypertensive and non-retinal vascular diseases were collected by a way of same-size ratio as hypertension control group and non-hypertension control group, respectively. Fasting venous blood was collected from all patients in the morning and serum Hcy levels were measured by rate method. The total Hcy concentration over 15.0 μ mol/L was defined as high level Hcy. Fasting serum glucose and fasting serum lipid were also measured. Measurement data among groups were compared with t test. Results The serum Hcy levels were (26.82±28.0), (8.39±3.11), (21.37±4.24), (9.25±3.31) μmol/L in the hypertension group, hypertension control group, non-hypertension group and non-hypertension control group, respectively. The serum Hcy levels of patients in the hypertension group was significantly higher than that in the hypertension control group (t=3.324, P=0.004). The serum Hcy levels of patients in the non-hypertension group was significantly higher than that in the non-hypertension control group (t=2.216, P=0.049). The serum Hcy levels of patients in the hypertension group was significantly higher than that in the non-hypertension group, but the difference had not statistical significance (t=0.581, P=0.566). Among 120 patients, there were 68 patients (56.67%) with high level of Hcy (40 patients in the hypertension group and 28 patients in the non-hypertension group). Among the 40 patients with high levels of Hcy in the hypertension group, 36 patients were older than 50 years old (90.00%) and 4 patients were less or equal than 50 years old (10.00%). Among the 28 patients with high levels of Hcy in the non-hypertension group, 16 patients were older than 50 years old (57.14%); 12 patients were less or equal than 50 years old (42.86%), whose indexes of serum glucose and serum lipid were not abnormal. There was significant difference in age distribution of patients with high level of Hcy between the hypertension group and the non-hypertension group (χ2=9.882, P=0.002), but there was no significant difference in sex distribution (χ2=2.052, P=0.216). Conclusions The level of serum Hcy increased both in BRVO patients with hypertension and non-hypertension. The indexes of serum glucose and serum lipid were not abnormal in BRVO patients aged less or equal than 50 years old with non-hypertensive except for the increase of serum Hcy level.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with Huaier granules in treatment of primary liver cancer (PLC).MethodsThe databases including the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, CNKI, VIP were searched to obtain the relevant literatures of Huaier granule combined with TACE therapy (Huaier+TACE group) and alone TACE therapy (TACE group) in the treatment of PLC. The short-term curative effects (objective response rate and disease control rate), 6 and 12-month survival rates, immune function change, and adverse reactions were extracted. The RevMan 5.3 software was applied to carry out the meta analysis.ResultsFifteen studies involving 1 781 cases were enrolled in this study, of which 876 cases underwent the Huaier+TACE, 905 underwent the TACE. The meta analysis results showed that the objective response rate and disease control rate, 6 and 12-month survival rates of the Huaier+TACE group were significantly more superior as compared with of the TACE group (P<0.05), the adverse reaction incidence had no significant difference (P>0.05). Compared with the TACE group, the CD4 +/CD8 + of the Huaier+TACE group was significantly improved (P<0.05).ConclusionFrom results of meta analysis, Huaier granule combined with TACE could improve therapeutic effect, increase survival rate, and improve life quality of PLC.
Objective To explore the use of ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) in pediatric diagnosis, treatment and doctor-patient communication, evaluate the professionalism and accuracy of the medical advice provided, and assess its ability to provide psychological support. Methods The knowledge databases of ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 versions as of April 2023 were selected. A total of 30 diagnosis and treatment questions and 10 doctor-patient communication questions regarding the pediatric urinary system were submitted to ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4.0, and the answers to ChatGPT were evaluated. Results The answers to the 40 questions answered by ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4.0 all reached the qualified level. The answers to 30 diagnostic and treatment questions in ChatGPT 4.0 version were superior to those in ChatGPT 3.5 version (P=0.024). There was no statistically significant difference in the answers to the 10 doctor-patient communication questions answered by ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 versions (P=0.727). For prevention, single symptom, and disease diagnosis and treatment questions, ChatGPT’s answer scores were relatively high. For questions related to the diagnosis and treatment of complex medical conditions, ChatGPT’s answer scores were relatively low. Conclusion ChatGPT has certain value in assisting pediatric diagnosis, treatment and doctor-patient communication, but the medical advice provided by ChatGPT cannot completely replace the professional judgment and personal care of doctors.