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This study aimed to explore the modulatory effects of menopause hormone therapy (MHT) on mood disorders among postmenopausal women. A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit postmenopausal women, including patients (arranged MHT for over 3 years as the medication group) and non-MHT controls. All participants were asked to respond to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) questionnaires to assess their depression and anxiety status. A total of 230 cases from the two groups were determined based on propensity score matching analysis by matching the menopausal age and menopausal durations. We found that MHT served as a favorable modulator in the depression status of postmenopausal women. Among the four factors of the CES-D questionnaire, our data indicated that the differences between the two groups fell primarily into two aspects: depressive emotion, and somatic symptoms or retarded activities. MHT was mainly involved in improving the depression of overweight women. However, no substantial effects of MHT were observed on the regulation of anxiety. Postmenopausal women, especially the overweight population, who have experienced MHT exhibited an improved depressive status but not their anxiety condition.

This study aimed to explore the modulatory effects of menopause hormone therapy (MHT) on mood disorders among postmenopausal women. A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit postmenopausal women, including patients (arranged MHT for over 3 years as the medication group) and non-MHT controls. All participants were asked to respond to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) questionnaires to assess their depression and anxiety status. A total of 230 cases from the two groups were determined based on propensity score matching analysis by matching the menopausal age and menopausal durations. We found that MHT served as a favorable modulator in the depression status of postmenopausal women. Among the four factors of the CES-D questionnaire, our data indicated that the differences between the two groups fell primarily into two aspects: depressive emotion, and somatic symptoms or retarded activities. MHT was mainly involved in improving the depression of overweight women. However, no substantial effects of MHT were observed on the regulation of anxiety. Postmenopausal women, especially the overweight population, who have experienced MHT exhibited an improved depressive status but not their anxiety condition.

Background: Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Glucocorticoids have been the most effective drug for the treatment of pemphigus; however, some patients are insensitive to glucocorticoid therapy. Cyclophosphamide has been extensively used in the treatment of pemphigus. Objectives: To observe and evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose glucocorticoid with weekly intravenous cyclophosphamide in the treatment of refractory pemphigus vulgaris insensitive to glucocorticoids. Methods: Clinical data of 19 patients with refractory pemphigus vulgaris (insensitive to glucocorticoid) who were treated with high-dose glucocorticoids(1.5 mg/kg/day prednisone) and weekly intravenous infusion of cyclophosphamide, and 24 patients who were sensitive to glucocorticoid therapy received a medium dose of glucocorticoid alone (1 mg/kg/day prednisone) were retrospectively analyzed. Results: By the time the disease was brought under control, the average total dose of cyclophosphamide was 2.02 g. Comparison between the glucocorticoid-insensitive and glucocorticoid-sensitive groups showed that the average time to disease control was 2.68 vs. 2 weeks, and the average daily dosage of steroid was 1.33 ± 0.53 vs. 0.90 ± 0.28 mg/kg. At the 12- and 18-month follow-ups, the recurrence rate of the glucocorticoid-insensitive group was significantly lower than that of the sensitive group (5.3 vs. 37.5%, 15.8 vs. 45.8%). No serious adverse reactions were observed. Conclusion: High-dose glucocorticoid plus weekly intravenous infusion of cyclophosphamide safely, effectively, and rapidly controlled the conditions of the patients with refractory pemphigus who were insensitive to glucocorticoids, shortened the duration of hospitalization, avoided the risk of complications that could be caused by further increasing the dose of glucocorticoids (>1.5 mg/kg/day), and lowered the recurrence rate within 18 months.

Background: Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Glucocorticoids have been the most effective drug for the treatment of pemphigus; however, some patients are insensitive to glucocorticoid therapy. Cyclophosphamide has been extensively used in the treatment of pemphigus. Objectives: To observe and evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose glucocorticoid with weekly intravenous cyclophosphamide in the treatment of refractory pemphigus vulgaris insensitive to glucocorticoids. Methods: Clinical data of 19 patients with refractory pemphigus vulgaris (insensitive to glucocorticoid) who were treated with high-dose glucocorticoids(1.5 mg/kg/day prednisone) and weekly intravenous infusion of cyclophosphamide, and 24 patients who were sensitive to glucocorticoid therapy received a medium dose of glucocorticoid alone (1 mg/kg/day prednisone) were retrospectively analyzed. Results: By the time the disease was brought under control, the average total dose of cyclophosphamide was 2.02 g. Comparison between the glucocorticoid-insensitive and glucocorticoid-sensitive groups showed that the average time to disease control was 2.68 vs. 2 weeks, and the average daily dosage of steroid was 1.33 ± 0.53 vs. 0.90 ± 0.28 mg/kg. At the 12- and 18-month follow-ups, the recurrence rate of the glucocorticoid-insensitive group was significantly lower than that of the sensitive group (5.3 vs. 37.5%, 15.8 vs. 45.8%). No serious adverse reactions were observed. Conclusion: High-dose glucocorticoid plus weekly intravenous infusion of cyclophosphamide safely, effectively, and rapidly controlled the conditions of the patients with refractory pemphigus who were insensitive to glucocorticoids, shortened the duration of hospitalization, avoided the risk of complications that could be caused by further increasing the dose of glucocorticoids (>1.5 mg/kg/day), and lowered the recurrence rate within 18 months.

Introduction: Group-specific component (GC) and cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily R member 1 (CYP2R1) gene polymorphisms and obesity have been associated with an increased risk for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Asian populations. Objective: This study assessed the associations of interactions between GC gene variants and CYP2R1 gene variants and between genes and obesity with T2DM risk. Methods: A study that included 2,271 subjects was performed. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms in the GC and CYP2R1 genes were genotyped. Interaction analysis was performed using rs7041 in the GC gene and rs1993116 in the CYP2R1 gene. The effects of multiplicative and additive gene-gene and gene-environment interactions on T2DM risk were assessed. Results: The T2DM risk was significantly associated with being overweight/obese, abdominal obesity, rs7041, and rs1993116. A significant additive interaction between rs1993116 and rs7041 was associated with T2DM. In addition, there was a significant multiplicative interaction between rs7041 and body mass index (BMI) associated with elevated blood glucose levels, and at a higher BMI (>28.47), the G allele carrier showed a stronger effect than the TT genotype. Conclusions: The interactions between GC rs7041-CYP2R1 rs1993116 and GC rs7041-BMI may explain the mechanisms by which these factors increase the risk of T2DM development.

Introduction: Group-specific component (GC) and cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily R member 1 (CYP2R1) gene polymorphisms and obesity have been associated with an increased risk for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Asian populations. Objective: This study assessed the associations of interactions between GC gene variants and CYP2R1 gene variants and between genes and obesity with T2DM risk. Methods: A study that included 2,271 subjects was performed. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms in the GC and CYP2R1 genes were genotyped. Interaction analysis was performed using rs7041 in the GC gene and rs1993116 in the CYP2R1 gene. The effects of multiplicative and additive gene-gene and gene-environment interactions on T2DM risk were assessed. Results: The T2DM risk was significantly associated with being overweight/obese, abdominal obesity, rs7041, and rs1993116. A significant additive interaction between rs1993116 and rs7041 was associated with T2DM. In addition, there was a significant multiplicative interaction between rs7041 and body mass index (BMI) associated with elevated blood glucose levels, and at a higher BMI (>28.47), the G allele carrier showed a stronger effect than the TT genotype. Conclusions: The interactions between GC rs7041-CYP2R1 rs1993116 and GC rs7041-BMI may explain the mechanisms by which these factors increase the risk of T2DM development.

Objective: Investigate the role of Yes-associated protein (YAP1) in the development of condyloma acuminatum (CA). Methods: We enrolled 30 male patients with CA and 20 healthy individuals as a control group, to compare the YAP1 expression in their tissue samples. Following this, we overexpressed and downregulated YAP1 expression in HaCaT cells to examine the migratory, proliferative, and apoptotic potential of HaCaT cells expressing different levels of YAP1. Results: In the CA patient tissue samples, an increase in YAP1 expression can be observed. In vitro,the overexpression of YAP1 was shown to promote the growth and migration of HaCaT cells and to activate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway-associated proteins, while the downregulation of YAP1 inhibited cell growth and migration of these cells. Conclusions: YAP1 promotes the growth of keratinocytes in CA through the activation of the EGFR pathway, and it may mediate the development of human papilloma virus-associated diseases.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of herpes zoster, affecting 30% of patients. It seriously affects the quality of life of patients and the curative effect of treatment is limited. So far, researchers do not fully understand the risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia and more research is needed. Objective: The aim of this paper was to investigate the risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia and provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A total of 202 inpatients with herpes zoster in the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were recruited as study subjects. According to the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia, the patients were divided into the postherpetic neuralgia group and the nonpostherpetic neuralgia group. Data on age, gender, initial symptoms, clinical classification, involved nerves, pain grading, antiviral therapy, glucocorticoid use, and other clinical data of patients in the two groups were collected and statistically analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis methods were used to analyze the differences between the two groups and determine the influencing factors of postherpetic neuralgia. Results: The univariate statistical analysis of the factors influencing postherpetic neuralgia showed that the contribution of gender, initial symptoms, general clinical classification, use of glucocorticoid, and the interval from onset to antiviral therapy were not statistically significant, while the differences in age, specific clinical classification, involved nerves, severity of pain during the acute stage, and body side of skin lesion distribution were statistically significant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender, use of glucocorticoid, interval from onset to antiviral therapy, involved nerves, and specific clinical classification showed no statistical significance. However, there were significant differences in age, body side of skin lesion distribution, general clinical classification, and degree of pain during the acute stage of the disease. Conclusion: Pain during the acute stage of herpes zoster, age greater than 70 years, and serious type of skin lesion are risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia (p < 0.05, OR >1).