Epigenome-wide DNA methylation analysis of myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a common neuromuscular junction disorder and autoimmune disease mediated by several antibodies. Several studies have shown that genetic factors play an important role in MG pathogenesis. To gain insight into the epigenetic factors affecting MG, we report here genome-scale DNA methylation profiles of MG. DNA was extracted from eight MG patients and four healthy controls for genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using the Illumina HumanMethylation 850K BeadChip. Verification of pyrosequencing was conducted based on differential methylation positions. Subsequently, C2C12 and HT22 cell lines (derived from mouse) were treated with demethylation drugs. Transcribed mRNA of the screened differential genes was detected using quantitative real-time PCR. The control and MG group were compared, and two key probe positions were selected. The corresponding genes were CAMK1D and CREB5 (P < 0.05). Similarly, the myasthenic crisis (MC) and non-MC group were compared and four key probe positions were selected. The corresponding genes were SAV1, STK3, YAP1, and WWTR1 (P < 0.05). Subsequently, pyrosequencing was performed for verification, revealing that hypomethylation of CAMK1D was significantly different between the MG and control group (P < 0.001). Moreover, transcription of CREB5, PKD, YAP1, and STK3 genes in the C2C12 cells was downregulated (P < 0.05) after drug treatment, but only YAP1 mRNA was downregulated in HT22 cells (P < 0.05). This is the first study to investigate genome-scale DNA methylation profiles of MG using 850 K BeadChip. The identified molecular markers of methylation may aid in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of MG.

A comparative analysis of 375 patients with lateral and medial medullary infarction.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have compared the etiology and clinical features between pure lateral medullary infarction (LMI) and pure medial medullary infarction (MMI). METHODS: All patients included were hospitalized at The First Affiliated Hospital and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2015 to July 2020. Their risk factors, clinical manifestation, stroke mechanisms and short-term prognosis were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among the 387 patients enrolled, 266 (68.7%) had LMI, 109 (28.2%) had MMI, and 12 (3.1%) (nine men and three women) had LMI plus MMI. We analyzed the 375 patients of LMI and MMI. The average ages of LMI and MMI were 59.4 years and 62.69 years, respectively. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the existing risk factors of MMI relative to LMI. Prior infarction, poor glycemic control, and atherosclerosis were more frequently associated with MMI than with LMI. The clinical manifestation was significantly different between LMI and MMI. We used modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score as the short-term prognostic evaluation criteria, and MMI appeared worse than LMI. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that: (1) patients with MMI are older than those with LMI; (2) prior infarction, poor glycemic control, and atherosclerosis are independent risk factors of MMI than that of LMI; (3) the clinical manifestations of LMI and MMI are heterogeneous; (4) short-term prognosis of MMI is worse than LMI.

Correlation Study of Short-Term Mental Health in Patients Discharged After Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection without Comorbidities: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The WHO has upgraded the status of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from epidemic to global pandemic. The psychometric properties aspects of COVID-19 patients without comorbidities in the short term after discharge have not been reported. In this study, the Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used to evaluate the psychometric properties and to find relevant risk factors. METHODS: The study was conducted in seven hospitals from January 2020 to April 2020. The SF-36 questionnaire was administered one month after discharge. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression model were used to analyze the risk factors of psychometric properties impairment. RESULTS: In univariate analysis of independent risk factors, according to the comparison of whether the duration of positive nucleic acid was greater than 20 days, the positive nucleic acid duration was independently related to the decreased role-emotional value [100, IQR (66-100) vs 100, IQR (0, 100); p = 0.0156]. In addition, multivariable linear regression model showed that male sex and positive nucleic acid duration were related to decreased role-emotional value (p = 0.03< 0.05; p = 0.01< 0.05, respectively). Mental health was associated with age (p= 0.0435). Subsequently, we divided into three subgroups: less than seven days, 7 to 14 days and more than 14 days according to the positive nucleic acid duration. The results revealed that there were significant differences in the vitality value and mental health value of patients aged 46 to 69 in the subgroup where the positive nucleic acid duration longer than 14 days (p= 0.0472; p= 0.0311< 0.05, respectively). Similarly, there are also significant differences in role-emotional value in different genders (p= 0.0316). CONCLUSION: The study described the psychometric properties of COVID-19 patients without comorbidities shortly after discharge. Risk factors for psychometric properties damage included age, male sex, and nucleic acid duration.