Background: Viral infection contributing to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development has been largely reported. However, the SLE risk in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is unknown. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (2000) in Taiwan. We identified 43,567 patients with HPV infection and 174,268 age- and sex-matched uninfected controls from 2002 to 2012. Individuals were followed up from index date (first date of diagnosis with HPV) until the occurrence of SLE, at the end of the study (December 2013), or when they were withdrawn from the insurance program. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was calculated using the univariate Poisson regression. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) were calculated, and sensitive and subgroups analyses were also conducted. Results: Compared with the non-HPV controls, the IRR of SLE in HPV patients was 1.52 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–2.12). The risk of SLE in HPV-infected individuals was significantly high (aHR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.06–2.06) after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities. Men aged between 16 and 45 years were more susceptible to developing SLE (aHR: 21.57, 95% CI: 2.52–184.60, p = 0.0051). Conclusion: Our study showed a significantly higher risk of SLE among HPV-infected patients, especially in men aged between 16 and 45 years.

ABSTRACT. The clinical significance of serum S-100β levels in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), as a reference index to assess HIE severity, was evaluated in this study. On the basis of our strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, relevant high-quality case-control studies reporting the association between HIE and S-100β protein were selected from electronic database searches. The STATA version 12.0 software was used for the statistical analyses. The database search initially retrieved 93 studies (37 in English and 56 in Chinese), and following a multistep screening process, 13 high-quality studies were eventually included in our meta-analysis. The 13 case-control studies included a total of 646 HIE neonates and 381 healthy controls. The results of this meta-analysis revealed that serum S-100β levels in mild, moderate, and severe HIE neonates were significantly higher than those in healthy controls, and the differences were statistically significant. Importantly, the serum S-100β levels increased incrementally with HIE severity. Our results support the hypothesis that S-100β is an important biological indicator of HIE and serum S-100β levels can be used as a reference index to assess HIE severity.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of "Tiao Shen Jie Yu" acupuncture, conventional acupuncture, and tamsulosin to treat non-inflammatory chronic prostatitis (type IIIB CP). <br><br>Methods: 105 patients were randomly divided into the "Tiao Shen Jie Yu" acupuncture group, conventional acupuncture group, and tamsulosin group, 35 cases in each group. In the "Tiao Shen Jie Yu" acupuncture group, PC6 (Neiguan), PC7 (Daling), HT7 (Shenmen), RN6 (Qihai), RN4 (Guanyuan), ST28 (Shuidao), ST36 (Zusanli), SP9 (Yinlingquan), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), and LR3 (Taichong) were selected; In the conventional acupuncture group, RN4 (Guanyuan), RN3 (Zhongji), KI3 (Taixi), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), BL54 (Zhibian) through ST28 (Shuidao), BL20 (Pishu), and BL23 (Shenshu) were set. Acupuncture was given once every other day, 30 minutes each time, three times a week, 12 times in a row as a course of treatment. Tamsulosin group took tamsulosin 0.2mg orally, once a day for four weeks. The three groups were observed for two methods. The NIH-CPSI total score, NIH-CPSI pain symptom score, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score were compared among the three groups. After one course of treatment and after two methods of treatment, and the recurrence rate and clinical efficacy were evaluated. <br><br>Results: The NIH-CPSI total score, NIH-CPSI pain symptom score, HAMD and HAMA scores of the three groups after one course of treatment and two courses of treatment were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.01). After one course of treatment and two courses of treatment, the total NIH-CPSI score, NIH-CPSI pain score, HAMD, and HAMA score in the "Tiao Shen Jie Yu" acupuncture group decreased more than those in the conventional acupuncture group and tamsulosin group (all P<0.05). The recurrence rate of the "Tiao Shen Jie Yu" acupuncture group was lower than that of the conventional acupuncture group and tamsulosin group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The total effective rates of the conventional acupuncture group and tamsulosin group were 78.13% (25/32) and 69.70% (23/33), respectively, which were lower than 97.06% (33/34) of the "Tiao Shen Jie Yu" acupuncture group. No severe adverse reactions occurred in the safety evaluation.<br><br>Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of "Tiao Shen Jie Yu" Acupuncture on type III BCP is better than that of conventional acupuncture and tamsulosin, and it is better than that of traditional acupuncture and tamsulosin in relieving prostatitis symptoms, anxiety, and depression.