Clinical value of D-dimer and CRP in evaluating the prognosis of 2019 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the levels of D-dimer and inflammatory factors C-reactive protein（CRP）and prognosis in patients with 2019 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia（COVID-19）.Methods The clinical data of a total of 242 patients with COVID-19 who were treated in hospital from February 4th 2020 to February 18th 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the classification standard,the patients with COVID-19 were divided into common patients(131 cases), severe patients（88 cases）, and critical patients（23 cases）. The difference between the levels of D-dimer and CRP in patients with pneumonia of different severity and clinical outcomes was compared and the correlation between D-dimer and CRP was analyzed.ResultsThe levels of D-dimer and CRP in severe and critical patients were significantly higher than those in common patients(P<0.05). The levels of CRP in critical patients were significantly higher than those in severe patients(P<0.05). These two indicator levels of patients who died of COVID-19 within 30 dayswere significantly higher than those who survived. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the levels of D-dimer were positively correlated with the levels of CRP(r=0.649，P<0.05).ConclusionD-dimer and CRP are highly expressed in severe and critical patients, and the severe abnormality of the two indicators in the early stage of COVID-19 predicted the poor prognosis. D-dimer and CRP have certain clinical value in evaluating the severity and prognosis of COVID-19.

Effects of surface proteins and lipids on molecular structure, thermal properties, and enzymatic hydrolysis of rice starch

Abstract Rice starches with different amylose contents were treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to deplete surface proteins and lipids, and the changes in molecular structure, thermal properties, and enzymatic hydrolysis were evaluated. SDS treatment did not significantly change the molecular weight distribution, crystalline structure, short-range ordered degree, and gelatinization properties of starch, but significantly altered the pasting properties and increased the swelling power of starch. The removal of surface proteins and lipids increased the enzymatic hydrolysis and in vitro digestion of starch. The influences of removing surface proteins and lipids from starch on swelling power, pasting properties, and enzymatic hydrolysis were different among the various starches because of the differences in molecular structures of different starch styles. The aforementioned results indicated that removing the surface proteins and lipids from starch did not change the molecular structure but had significant effects on some functional properties.

Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 enhances the cisplatin-induced apoptosis in breast cancer T47D cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of ABT-737 combined with cisplatin on apoptosis of breast cancer cell line T47D cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>T47D cells cultured in vitro was used for this experiment. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. The expression of apoptosis-related protein was determined by Western blot. Morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed by fluorescence microscopy. The apoptosis rate was examined by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The MTT assay showed that ABT-737 significantly decreased the IC(50) of cisplatin in T47D cells [(26.00 ± 1.41) µmol/L of single cisplatin vs. (13.00 ± 1.11) µmol/L of combination (ABT-737 + cisplatin)]. As a single agent, ABT-737 did not inhibit the proliferation of T47D cells, but enhanced the inhibitory effect of cisplatin in a dose-dependent manner. The detection of the cleavage of PARP showed that ABT-737 lowered the doses of cisplatin to induce apoptosis and shortened the induction time of apoptosis in T47D cells. Compared with the single use of cisplatin, the combination of ABT-737 and cisplatin accelerated the cleavage of PARP and caspase3, but did not alter the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), and Bax. Both flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy showed that ABT-737 combined with cisplatin significantly increased the apoptosis induction in T47D cells (2.3% ± 0.1 % in the control, 30.0% ± 0.8% in the cisplatin alone, and 49.0% ± 0.5% in the cisplatin + ABT-737 groups, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 can significantly enhance cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer T47D cells in vitro.</p>

Rat kidney mitochondrial damage induced by acute cadmium administration / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate effect of acute cadmium administration on mitochondria from rat kidney.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>24 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups. Four groups of rats were injected with saline, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mg/kg weight subcutaneously, once daily, for 5 days, respectively. Ultrastructural change of rat kidney mitochondria was observed, and respiration function, membrane potential, mitochondria swelling, and superoxide level were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ultrastructural changes included matrix vacuolation, swelling and condensation of mitochondria. In group of 1.8 mg/kg body weight, the oxygen consumption rate during state 3 respiration [(6.25 +/- 0.61) nmol/L O2 x min(-1) x mg(-1)] and RCR value (2.45 +/- 0.23) were significantly lower than those of control group [(9.66 +/- 1.16) nmol/L O2 x min(-1) x mg(-1)] (P < 0.05), indicating respiration inhibition. The membrane potential and superoxide level of the same group were 85.89% +/- 3.82% and 116.33% +/- 3.06% of control values (P < 0.05), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acute cadmium administration can cause rat kidney mitochondrial damage in a dose-effect manner, including inhibition of respiration, dissipation of membrane potential, swelling of mitochondria matrix. Such damage might be related to the increase of mitochondrial free radical.</p>

Effect of transfer factor on immunity and its efficacy in patients with varruca plana / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To observe the effect of transfer factor on immunity in patients with varruca plana and the clinical effect of treatment. Methods Sixty patients with varruca plana were randomly divided into a treatment group (treated with transfer factor) and a control group (treated with routine therapy). Before and after the treatment, T-lymphocyte subgroups in peripheral blood of all the patients were determined by flow cytometry and serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10)and in-terferon-gamma (INF-γ)were detected by ELISA. The same detections were done to the twenty healthy volunteers as healthy controls. Results Effective rates in the treatment group and control group were 76.67 % and 43. 33 %, respectively (x2=5. 63,P<0.05). Decrease of CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and increase of CD8+ cells were found in varruca plana group as com-pared with the healthy controls(P<0.01 ). After the treatment of transfer factor, increase of CD3+ cells ,CD4+ cells (P<0.05), CD4+/CD8+ ratio (P<0. 01)and decrease of CD8+ cells(P<0.01)were found in the treatment group as compared with those before treatment, while there were no significant difference in the control group before and after the treatment. Higher IL-10 and lower INF-γ in serum were found in varruca plana group as compared with the healthy controls (P<0.05). After the treat-ment of transfer factor, decrease of IL-10 and increase INF-γ in serum (P<0. 05)were found in the treatment group as compared with those before treatment, while there were no significant difference in control group before and after the treatment. Conclusion The results reveal that immunity is im-paired in patients with varruca plana. Transfer factor can enhance the immunity of the patients. Therefore, varruca plana patients treated with transfer factor receive better effects.

Effects of potassium channel activators on transient inward current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP)) activator cromakalim (CRK) on action potentials and transient inward current (I(ti)) in isolated guinea pig papillary and ventricular myocytes and to explore the mechanisms of effects of I(ti) and K(ATP) treatment in idiopathic ventricular tachycardia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The whole-cell patch clamp recording technique was used to detect the action potentials and I(ti) and K(ATP) current alterations during the stimulated and triggered activity. Myocytes were isolated from guinea pig ventricle by enzyme digestion. The experiment was divided into four groups: (1) Control; (2) Control + Ouabain; (3) Control + CRK; (4) Control + Ouabain + CRK. (5) Control + Ouabain + CRK + glibenclamide (GLB). The action potential of guinea pig papillary muscles was measured by using standard microelectrode. The parameters in the experiment included the amplitude (APA), resting potentials (RP), action potentials duration (APD), as well as maximum rise of the action potential (Vmax).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) When the guinea pig ventricular papillary myocytes were pretreated with Ouabain 0.5 micromol/L, APD prolonged significantly, especially APD(20), APD(50), APD(90). Delayed after depolorazion (DAD) and triggered activity were elicited. I(ti) currents and DAD as well as triggered activity increased. I(ti) current was (126.9 +/- 10.8) pA, lagT (1173.0 +/- 70.9) ms (n = 10, P < 0.01). (2) When guinea pig ventricular myocytes were pretreated with CRK (10 micromol/L), APD was shortened and the amplitude of DAD was lowered. The coupling time in CRK group was significantly prolonged compared with Ouabain group (n = 10, P < 0.01). (3) CRK 50 micromol/L pretreatment of the ventricular myocytes led to an increase of K(ATP) up to (342 +/- 89) pA, which was statistically significant as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker glibenclamide (10 micromol/L) could antagonize the effects of CRK on APD and I(ti) currents.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CRK might reduce the toxic effect of Ouabain on cardiomyocytes, shorten APD, terminate DAD and trigger excitation, and have protective effect on cardiomyocytes. The effects of CRK, may be associated with the inhibiting I(ti) current and increasing K(ATP).</p>

Estimation on the number of drug users in Hongjiang, Hunan: a capture-recapture study / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To estimate the number of drug users in Hongjiang, Hunan and to develop strategy for drug reduction in the future.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two capture-recapture methods were used to estimate the numbers of drug addicts. Random stratified sampling survey was used to verify the optimum allocation. The first capture-recapture method (CR1) referred to the number from optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey conducted in the communities and the number from local Public Security Bureau list being the second capture. The second capture-recapture method (CR2) referred to the collection of records in the detoxification unit with an interval of 4 months. The estimated number was calculated under Seber's adjustment formula. Face to face interview was carried out during the optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey process.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 1388 interviewed in the communities, 24 (1.73%) were identified as drug addicts under the optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey. When the figure 1.73% was applied to the total population (72,709) in Hongjiang, the result yielded an estimation of 1258 drug addicts. The estimated numbers of CR1 and CR2 were 904 and 1069 respectively. However, the number was 1.3 to 1.6 fold higher than the reported number (687) by local Public Security Bureau.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The capture-recapture method seemed a better method in estimating the number of drug addicts.</p>

Comparing inhibition effects of four antihistamines on chemokines and cytokines expression of cultured nasal polyps in vitro / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the inhibition effects of different antihistamines on the expressions of chemokines and cytokines released by nasal polyps in vitro.Methods The fresh nasal polyps resected under endoscope from the patients admitted to our hospital were cultured with mizolastine,cetirizine,loratadine,fexofenadine,dexamethasone,or ciclosporin A respectively for 24 h,with the addition of histamine and arachidonic acid.The total RNA of polyps was obtained and purified with tripure isolation reagent.The mRNA expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1),monocyte chemoattractant protein-3(MCP-3),regulated on activation,normal T cell expressed and secreted(RANTES),eotaxin were analyzed by RT-PCR.The concentrations of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5 and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)in cultured supernatant was detected by ELISA.Results The MCP-1 mRNA expression in nasal polyps treated by mizolastine was weaker than those by loratadine and fexofenadine;the MCP-3 mRNA expression by mizolastine was weaker than those by cetirizine and loratadine;the RANTES mRNA expression by mizolastine was weaker than those by loratadine and fexofenadine;the eotaxin mRNA expression by mizolastine was weaker than that by cetirizine(all P