Application and problems of quinoline alkaloids in the treatment of COVID-19 / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

The febrile respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become the focus of global attention. Up to now, the infection has been continuing to spread all over the world and it is urgent to develop specific drugs for SARS-CoV-2. Finding effective and safe drugs which are already available in the market for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the main strategies to solve the problem in time. As quinoline alkaloids against malaria, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been proved to have the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Quinoline alkaloids are expected to be important drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. In this article, the research and application of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are reviewed from the aspects of pharmacokinetics, drug interaction, clinical research progress, treatment plan optimization and resolution of optical enantiomers. The possible problems are summarized in order to provide reference for further research and clinical application of quinoline alkaloids in the treatment of COVID-19.

Effect of Xuebijing injection on the number of T lymphocytes and Toll-like receptors as adjuvant therapy of severe abdominal infections / 中国感染与化疗杂志

ObjectiveTo examine the effect of Xuebijing Injection on the number of T lymphocytes and Toll-like receptors as adjuvant therapy of severe abdominal infections.MethodsA total of 78 patients with severe abdominal infection who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit were divided into control group and treatment group. The patients in control group received conventional therapy alone, while the patients in treatment group received Xuebijing Injection (50 mL twice daily for 2 weeks) in addition to conventional therapy. Blood sample was drawn before and after 2-week treatment to determine T lymphocytes. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated to determine the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and TLR4. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and gastrointestinal function score were recorded before and after treatment.ResultsThe levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ of peripheral blood in the Xuebijing-treated patients were signiifcantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01), but the levels of CD8+ was signiifcantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01). The levels of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the treatment group were signiifcantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01). The APACHE II score and gastrointestinal function score in treatment group were signiifcantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01).ConclusionXuebijing Injection as adjuvant therapy of severe abdominal infection can improve the number of T lymphocytes, and reduce the expression of Toll-like receptors.

Variability of macroscopic dimensions of Moso bamboo

In order to the macroscopic geometry distributions of vascular bundles in Moso bamboo tubes. The circumference of bamboo tubes was measured, used a simple quadratic diameter formula to analyze the differences between the tubes in bamboo culm, and the arrangement of vascular bundles was investigated by cross sectional images of bamboo tubes. The results shown that the vascular bundles were differently distributed in a bamboo tube. In the outer layer, the vascular bundles had a variety of shapes, and were aligned parallel to each other. In the inner layers, the vascular bundles weren't aligned but uniform in shape. It was concluded that the vascular bundle sections arranged in parallel should be separated from the non-parallel sections for the maximum bamboo utilization