Special strategies and management of urological diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: initial experiences from a Medical Center of China

ABSTRACT Although urological diseases are not directly related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), urologists need to make comprehensive plans for this disease. Urological conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and tumors are very common in elderly patients. This group of patients is often accompanied by underlying comorbidities or immune dysfunction. They are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and they tend to have severe manifestations. Although fever can occur along with urological infections, it is actually one of the commonest symptoms of COVID-19; urologists must always maintain a high index of suspicion in their clinical practices. As a urological surgeon, how we can protect medical staff during surgery is a major concern. Our hospital had early adoption of a series of strict protective and control measures, and was able to avoid cross-infection and outbreak of COVID-19. This paper discusses the effective measures that can be useful when dealing with urological patients with COVID-19.

Biological characteristics of wild Angelica sinensis seed / 中国中药杂志

Wild Angelica sinensis is almost endangered, studying the biological characteristics of wild A. sinensis seeds is helpful for varietal improvement and its conservation. This paper systematically studied the morphological structure, thousand seed weight, viability, storage and other basic biological characteristics of wild A. sinensis fruits and seeds, and focused on the germination of excised embryos,the development of embryo, the effects of the temperature,light and hormones on seed germination.The study found that:①The embryos are not fully developed when harvested, the initial germination rate was low, the embryos can develop. After 15 days of low temperature storage, the embryos can develop completely and the germination rate is significantly increased. These results show that wild A. sinensis seeds have no dormancy, and the low germination rate is due to the low maturity of wild A. sinensis seeds. ②The sui-table germination temperature of wild A. sinensis is 15-25 ℃,and the optimal temperature is 20 ℃. Light does not affect the germination of A. sinensis seeds.③The applicable concentration of GA_3 can promote seeds germination, IAA and 6-BA has no significant effect on germination.④The optimum storage condition is dry storage at 4 ℃. Wild A. sinensis seeds can be stored for 1.5 years and cultivated seeds can be stored for 1 year.During the introduction and conservation, the best treatment conditions were dry storage at 4 ℃ for 30 d and soaking seeds with 200 mg·L~(-1) GA_3, the germination rate can reach 86.7%.

Population characteristics and threatened of wild Angelica sinensis in Gansu province / 中国中药杂志

The study aims to investigate spatial distribution pattern and age structure of wild Angelica sinensis in Gansu province.Ten plots each with an area of 100 m2 were set and the spatial coordinates of all wild A. sinensis individuals were measured within each plot. Based on plant individual mapping data,we explored the spatial distribution pattern and its differences between different life history stages of wild A. sinensis in Gansu province by using nearest neighbor distance statistics. Correlation analysis were carried out to explore the relationship between spatial aggregation degree and topographic factors. We also distinguished individuals to three life history stages( i.e. seedlings,adults and boltings) and then test the differences among/between them using nonparametric test.(1)We found that the dominant spatial distribution pattern of wild A. sinensis population in Gansu was aggregated distribution. There was no significant correlation between spatial aggregation degree of wild A. sinensis and altitude,slope and aspect. There was no significant difference between the average distance from seedlings to their nearest bolting individuals; the average distance from adult individuals to their nearest seedlings was significantly larger than the average distance from adult individuals to their nearest adult individuals; and the average distance from bolting individuals to their nearest adult individuals was significantly smaller than the average distance from bolting individuals to their nearest bolting individuals.(2)The age structure was showed as a declining population,characterized by less seedlings and bolting individuals,while more adult individuals within population. The population characteristics of wild A. sinensis,characterized by aggregated distribution pattern and senescent type of age structure,are disadvantage to its population development. The factors,such as habitat specialization,human activities and intraspecific competition,which shapes the current population characteristics,may increase the threatened status of wild A. sinensis. We suggest to strengthen the protection of wild A. sinensis.

Prognosis and Survival Analysis of Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the survival status and prognosis of patients with essential thrombocythemia(ET) and analyze the prognostic factors for the patients' survival, so as to provide a evidence for clinical treatment and prognosis evaluation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis of 118 patients with ET was conducted in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University and Zhongshan Municipale People's Hospital from December 2002 to December 2013. The clinical characteristics were summarized, such as the survival curve and multi-factor analysis, therefore looking for the disease characteristics and risk factors affecting the survival and prognosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 118 ET patients enrolled in this study, the survival rate of ET patients for 1, 3, 5 and 10 years were 95.5%,92.6%,89% and 81.6%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the age ≥60 years old at diagnosis, cardiovascular risk factors, anamnesis of thrombosis or hemorrhage, anemia(hemoglobin<120 g/L), thrombocythemia (≥1 000×10/L), risk stratification and hydroxyurea or HHT(hemoharringtonine) use in high-risk group were factors affecting the suvival rate, 7 out of those factors influencing survival rate were statistically significant (P<0.05). COX regression analysis showed that independent risk factors affecting survival have not yet been found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ET patients display a high survival rate and long survival time, and their conversion risk into the marrow fibrosis or leukemia has been found to be low. The age≥60 years old at diagnosis, cardiovascular risk factors, anamnesis of thrombosis or hemorrhage, anemia and therombocythemia are the risk factors affecting prognosis. The use of hydroxyurea or HHT in high-risk group can improve the prognosis.</p>

Expressions of fractalkine and CD11c on common carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques from apoE(-/-) mice / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association of fractalkine (FKN) and CD11c expressions oncommon carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques from apoE(-/-) mice with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 24 apoE(-/-) mice were divided into two groups and fed on a high-fat diet or a normal diet for 12 weeks. Then the blood lipids as well as the plaque area and vascular stenosis rate of the common carotid artery were measured to evaluate the severity of atherosclerotic lesions of the animals. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the levels of FKN and CD11c expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plaque areas and vascular stenosis rates of the common carotid artery in the experimental group were remarkably larger than those in control group (about 4-fold and 2-fold, respectively). The level of FKN expression in the experimental group was 2 times of that in the control group (P<0.05), and the number of CD11c (+) cells in the plaques in the experimental group was about 4 times of than in the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expressions of chemokine and FKN remarkably increase in apoE (-/-) atherosclerotic plaques, suggesting that chemokine and FKN may paly important roles in the development of atherosclerosis.</p>

Relationship between seedling grade of angelica and biomass accumulation and quality of product / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To research the relationship between the seedling grade of angelica and the biomass accumulation, output and quality of product, so as to provide base for establishing seedling standard.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Thirty seedlings of Angelica were collected from the main production area in Gansu province, such as Minxian, Zahngxian, Dangchang and Weiyuan county, all the samples were measured with weigh of single seedling and the seedling were divided into three grade by the clustering analysis results, the grade were made to treatment to do field test and laboratory experiment.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The weigh of dry root, above ground and the whole plant in growth period of treatment 2 (the weigh of single seedling between 0.74-1.38 g) were all superior to other treatments and the ck. The treatment 2 had low bolting percentage, the weigh of single root was higher and the yield was the highest. The characters of product from the treatment 2 was well and the content of ferulic acid was higher than the standard of Chinese pharmacopoeia (2010 year part 1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The plant from the grade 2 seedling with larger growth increment, higher output and better quality, which can be the best seedling in production.</p>

Interaction between hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide on cardiac protection in rats with metabolic syndrome / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the interaction between hydrogen sulfide (H2S)/cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) system and nitric oxide (NO)/nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system on cardiac protection in metabolic syndrome (MS) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty one male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, MS group, H2S donor group, CSE inhibitor group, NOS inhibitor group, and NO donor group. The MS rat model was established by a high-fat diet of 16 weeks. Rats in control and MS groups were subjected to normal saline and the other four groups were respectively subjected to sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, 56 μmol/kg), D,L-propargylglycine (PPG, 37.5 mg/kg), Nψ-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 18 mg/kg), L-Arginine (500 mg/kg) every day. Four weeks later, the obesity indices, blood sugar of oral glucose tolerance test in each time point (0,30,60, and 120 minutes) and blood lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein) were measured. The computer-based electrophysiological recorder system was used to measure the changes of the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), the maximal rate of pressure increase in the contraction phase (+dP/dtmax), and the maximal rate of pressure decrease in the diastole phase (-dP/dtmax). H2S and NO concentration in plasma and myocardium, as well as CSE, constitutive NOS (cNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS) activities in myocardium were measured with colorimetric method. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to assess the gene expression of CSE and endothelial NOS (eNOS) mRNAs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, the obesity indices, blood sugar at each time point, and blood lipids significantly increased in MS group (P<0.05). H2S and NO concentration in plasma and myocardium, CSE and cNOS activities in myocardium, the expressions of CSE mRNA and eNOS mRNA, and the myocardial function significantly decreased in MS group (P<0.05). Compared with MS group, NO concentration in plasma and myocardium, cNOS and iNOS activities in myocardium, and the expression of eNOS mRNA significantly increased in CSE inhibitor group (P<0.05). However, activities of cNOS and iNOS in myocardium and the expression of eNOS mRNA were significantly decreased in H2S donor group (P<0.01), while the myocardial function significantly increased (P<0.05). H2S concentration in plasma and myocardium, and the expression of CSE mRNA significantly increased in NOS inhibitor group (P<0.05). However, in NO donor group, the CSE activity in myocardium and the expression of CSE mRNA significantly decreased (P<0.05). And the myocardial function was improved significantly (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both the H2S/CSE and NO/NOS systems appear to have a mutual down-regulation effect on myocardium in MS rats. Meanwhile, exogenous H2S and NO supplement is cardioprotective in rat model of MS.</p>

Mast cell degranulator compound 48-80 promotes atherosclerotic plaque in apolipoprotein E knockout mice with perivascular common carotid collar placement / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Study of the relationship between mast cells and atherosclerosis is mostly dependent on pathological observation and cytology experiments. To investigate the effects of mast cells degranulation on plaque and their possible mechanisms we used apolipoprotein E knockout mice which had been placed perivascular common carotid collar with mast cells degranulator compound 48-80.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty apolipoprotein E knockout mice were fed a western-type diet and operated on with placement of perivascular right common carotid collar. Four weeks after surgery, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with compound 48-80 (0.5 mg/kg) or D-Hanks every other day for 4 times. The serum lipids and activity of tryptase were measured. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Corresponding sections were stained with toluidine blue and immunohistochemically with antibodies against macrophage-specific antigen, alpha-smooth muscle actin, interleukin-1beta and von Willebrand factor. Simultaneously, basic fibroblast growth factor was detected by in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No pathological change was observed in common carotid non-collar placement but atherogenesis in common carotid collar placement of both groups. There was a significant increase in plaque area ((5.85+/-0.75) x 10(4) vs (0.86+/-0.28) x 10(4) microm(2), P<0.05), the degree of lumen stenosis ((81+/-15)% vs (41+/-12)%, P<0.05), the activity of tryptase in serum ((0.57+/-0.13) U/L vs (0.36+/-0.10) U/L, P<0.05), and the percentage of degranulated mast cells ((80.6+/-17.8)% vs (13.5+/-4.1)%, P<0.05). The expressions of macrophage-specific antigen, alpha-smooth muscle actin, interleukin-1beta, basic fibroblast growth factor and the density of neovessel in plaque were more in the compound 48-80 group than in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Perivascular common carotid collar placement can promote atherosclerotic plaque formation in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. Compound 48-80 increases plaque area and the degree of lumen stenosis by the mechanism that compound 48-80 promotes proliferation of smooth muscle cells and aggregation of macrophages. Compound 48-80 promotes angiogenesis in plaque. The mechanism is potentially that compound 48-80 increases the expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA and protein in plaque. Compound 48-80 enhances the expression of interleukin-1beta in plaque.</p>

Oxidized high-density lipoprotein promotes maturation and migration of bone marrow derived dendritic cells from C57BL/6J mice / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the influence of oxidized high-density lipoprotein (oxHDL) on the maturation and migration of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) from C57BL/6J mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The C57BL/6J mice bone marrow cell suspension was prepared and purified. Recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rmGM-CSF) and recombinant interleukin-4 (rmIL-4) were used to promote monocytes to differentiate and suppress lymphocytes. Then 50 microg/mL oxHDL was added to stimulate BMDCs, using 50 microg/mL high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as homologous protein control, PBS as negative control, and 1 microg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as positive control. The CD86 and MHCII expression rates were detected with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Liquid scintillation counting (LSC) was used in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs) to reflect the ability of BMDCs in stimulating the proliferation of homologous T cells. Levels of cytokines IL-12 and IL-10 were detected by ELISA. The cell migration was evaluated with the transwell system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with PBS group, the expressions of CD86 and MHCII, counts per minute of MLRs, secretion of IL-12 and IL-10, and number of migrated cells in oxHDL group and LPS group significantly increased (all P<0.05), while the increment was less in oxHDL group than LPS group. The number of migrated cells in oxHDL group was about twice of that in HDL group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>OxHDL may promote the maturation and migration of BMDCs in vitro.</p>

Opposite effects of WEB2086 on angiogenesis in atheromas and ischemic hindlimb of apoE gene deficient mice / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Our previous research has suggested that platelet activating factor receptor was related to atherosclerosis. The present study investigated the effect of a platelet activating factor receptor antagonist-WEB2086 on angiogenesis in aortal plaque and ischemic hindlimb of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight-week-old apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were fed with a 0.15% cholesterol diet to develop advanced lesions. At age 32 weeks unilateral hindlimb ischemia was surgically induced and the mice were divided into two groups: with or without WEB2086 mixed with their drinking water (4.3 mg in 100 ml). At age 40 weeks blood was collected from the orbit for measurement of serum lipids and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine platelet activating factor and oxidized low density lipoprotein in the gastrocnemius and aorta. Whole-Mount CD31 stain and plaque-associated sprouting have been used to estimate angiogenesis in plaque from the aorta and laser Doppler perfusion imaging and immunohistochemical expression of von Willebrand factor have been used to estimate angiogenesis in ischemic hindlimb.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lipid composition of serum was not different between the groups. However, the amount of platelet activating factor and oxidized low density lipoprotein detected in the aorta was significantly higher than that in the gastrocnemius of ischemic hindlimb. The ratio of lesion to aorta levels was significantly reduced by administration of WEB2086, (31.52 +/- 6.18)% vs (55.58 +/- 8.34)%, P < 0.01. The mean density of intimal capillaries in atherosclerotic plaque, (31.13 +/- 9.20)% vs (57.74 +/- 11.28)%, P < 0.01, and the mean number of sprouts per aorta were significantly reduced, 183.92 +/- 34.17 vs 392.54 +/- 76.79, P < 0.01, in the WEB2086 group. Blood flow (0.85 +/- 0.12 vs 0.45 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01) and capillary density of ischemic hindlimb (1.18 +/- 0.17 vs 0.53 +/- 0.09, P < 0.01) were markedly increased in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice treated with WEB2086 versus controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The study provides evidence that WEB2086 can inhibit angiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaque but promote it in ischemic hindlimb.</p>

Investigation of body hair assessment of Chinese women in Shandong region and its preliminary application in polycystic ovary syndrome patients / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To determine a suitable standard of hirsutism for Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)patients living in Shandong region.Methods A total of 623 unbiased women from the general population in Jinan city,131 PCOS patients and 84 controls from outpatients in Shandong region were studied with questionnaires,physical and pelvic ultrasound examination,body hair on 11 sites were evaluated,and 9(lip,chin,arm,thigh,chest,upperbelly,lowerbelly,upperback,lowback)of them which were called hormone Ferriman-Gallwey(F-G)score and 2(forearm,leg)sites of indifferent hormone score were calculated according to the score system described by Ferriman and Gallwey.Results(1)Both body hair F-G score and indifferent hormone score distribution mode in the≤40 years old population were un-normal and both the 95th percentages of score were 2.(2)The hirsutism was significantly higher in PCOS patients[48.1%(63/131)]than in controls[4.8%(4/84)]by F-G score≥2(X~2=47.68,P