Antiviral therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan City, China. The SARS-CoV-2 is genetically similar to the coronavirus derived from bat. The SARS-CoV-2, the SARS-CoV and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) all belong to beta coronavirus. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019, effective antiviral drugs have become a hot issue in the world. Very little about SARS-CoV-2 is known and there is no precedent for treatment. The National Health Commission has repeatedly revised the diagnosis and treatment guide for the coronavirus disease 2019. The latest guide is "New Coronary Virus-Infected Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Plan (Seventh Trial Version)"(short for Seventh Version of Diagnosis and Treatment Plan). But the use of antiviral drugs is still on trial and no rigorous clinical trials data is available. Hot anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs include interferon α, ribavirin, lopinavir/ritonavir, chloroquine phosphate, abidol, as well as hydroxychloroquine sulfate and remdesivir. But the later 2 drugs aren't mentioned in the Seventh Version of Diagnosis and Treatment Plan.

Characteristics of tidal breathing pulmonary function in children with tracheobronchomalacia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristics of tidal breathing pulmonary function in children with tracheobronchomalacia (TBM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, 30 children who were diagnosed with TBM using electronic bronchoscopy were enrolled in the observation group; 30 healthy children were recruited in the normal control group. For individuals in each group, the assessment of tidal breath pulmonary function was performed at diagnosis and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after diagnosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in tidal volume, inspiratory time, expiratory time, and inspiratory to expiratory ratio between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had a significantly higher respiratory rate and significantly lower ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory time (TPTEF/TE) and ratio of volume to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory volume (VPTEF/VE). There was a time-dependent increase in TPTEF/TE and VPTEF/VE for TBM children from the time of initial diagnosis to 12 months after diagnosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Tidal breathing pulmonary function has characteristic changes in children with TBM. Tidal breathing pulmonary function tends to be recovered with increased age in children with TBM.</p>

Insulin-like growth factor-1 upregulates the expression of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus cells via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Growth factors and other biological methods have become very popular in the repair of degenerative interevrtebral disc. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) can promote the proliferation of nucleus pulposus cells, and synthesis of functional extracellular matrix, but the mechanisms remain unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of IGF-Ⅰ on the expressions of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus cells, and to explore its signal transduction mechanism.METHODS: The human nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured. Passage 3 nucleus pulposus cells were induced in different concentrations of IGF-1 (0, 20, 50, 100 and 200 μg/L), respectively. The expressions of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ were detected by reverse transcription PCR and western blot assay. Western blot assay was adopted to observe the effect of 100 μg/L IGF-1 on the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in nucleus pulposus cells,and the expression of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ was detected after the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway by LY294002.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: With the increase of IGF concentration, the expression levels of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ were increased gradually. 100 μg/L IGF-1 could significantly promote the expressions of p-PI3K and p-Akt (P <0.01), while LY294002 reversed this effcet (P < 0.01). 100 μg/L IGF-1 significantly upregulated the expression levels of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus cells (P < 0.01); in contrast, LY294002 significantly downregulated the expression levels of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ promoted by IGF-1(P < 0.01). These results indicate that IGF-1 can promote the expression levels of aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Clinical significance of detection of plasma PCT,NT-pro-BNP and cTnT levels in patients with sepsis / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To evaluate whether there is a correlation among plasma levels of procalcitonin (PCT),N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP)and cardiac troponin T (cTnT)in patients with sepsis,as well as significance to prognosis of patients.Methods 48 patients with sepsis who were admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital between September 2014 and March 2015 were chosen for study,patients were divided into severe and mild sepsis groups according to the disease condition,plasma levels of PCT,NT-pro-BNP,and cTnT were de-tected,mortality of patients were analyzed statistically,relation between plasma levels of PCT,NT-pro-BNP,cT-nT and patients’death were compared.Results The plasma levels of PCT,NT-pro-BNP and cTnT in severe sepsis group were significantly higher than those in mild sepsis group (all P <0.05);mortality of mild sepsis group was significantly lower than that of severe sepsis group (10.53% vs 41.38%,P <0.05);Levels of PCT,NT-pro-BNP and cTnT levels in died patients were all higher than surviving patients (all P <0.05);levels of PCT and NT-pro-BNP,NT-pro-BNP and cTnT were positively correlated respectively (rs = 0.337,P <0.05;rs =0.456,P =0.001, respectively ),while PCT was not significantly correlated with cTnT.Plasma levels of PCT,NT-pro-BNP,and cTnT were all correlated with the prognosis of patients (P <0.05),and is helpful for judging the prognosis of pa-tients,combination of three indexes had better prognostic value for the prognosis.Conclusion Combination detec-tion of plasmid levels of PCT,NP-pro-BNP,and cTnT can assess the severity of infection in patients with sepsis, and preliminarily judge the prognosis of patients with sepsis.

Effect of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Transforming Growth Factor-Β1 Combined with Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the Repair of Degenerated Intervertebral Discs in Rat Models / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of the combination of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-Β1 (TGF-Β1), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogel (TCH) gel on the repair of degenerative intervertebral disc in rat models.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat models of intervertebral disc degeneration were established by acupuncture. The degenerative effects were observed under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The BMSCs was cultured in vitro and then transfected by adenovirus with enhanced green fluorescent protein to make it carry the gene of enhanced green fluorescent protein,which functioned as fluorescence labeling. The SD rat models of intervertebral disc degeneration were divided into four groups: group A, treated with the combination of bFGF, TGF-Β1,BMSCs,and TCH gel; group B, treated with the combination of BMSCs and TCH gel;group C, treated with the combination of bFGF,TGF-Β1, and TCH gel;and group D, treated with PBS buffer solution. After the corresponding reagents were injected into the degenerative intervertebral discs of each group, the rats were cultivated for another four weeks and then the repair effects of the intervertebral discs were observed under MRI. Furthermore,the intervertebral discs of each group were taken out and observed by HE and Masson staining. The nucleus pulposus was aspirated and the expressions of aggrecan,collagen 2,Sox-9,and collagen I of nucleus pulposus of each group were tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The transplanted BMSCs survived in the intervertebral disc and differentiated into nucleus pulposus-like cells. MRI showed that:the signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus of group A was much higher than that of the rest groups, the signal intensity of group B was higher than that of group C, and the signal intensity of group D was the lowest,in which the dura mater spinalis was in compression and the spinal cord changed in beaded shape. The differences of the Pfirrmann grading among the four groups had statistical significance (P<0.05). The results of the HE and Masson stains showed:the intervertebral disc of group A was well-structured,the quantity of nucleus pulposus cells was larger than that of the other three groups,and the boundary between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus was clearly defined;the quantity of the nucleus pulposus cells of group B was larger than that of group C, and the broken annulus fibrosus was not observed in group B, while the broken annulus fibrosus could be observed in group C; and, the nucleus pulposus cells of group D were replaced by fibrous tissue. The results of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot tests showed that,in terms of the expressions of aggrecan,collagen 2 and Sox-9,group A was the highest, followed by group B,group C,and group D (P<0.05); in terms of the expression of collagen 1,there was no obvious difference among these four groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The transplanted BMSCs can survive in the degenerative intervertebral disc and differentiate into nucleus pulposus-like cells. The combination of bFGF, TGF-Β1, BMSCs,and TCH gel has obvious repair effect on the degenerative intervertebral discs. The effect of the combination of BMSCs and TCH gel on transplantation therapy of the degenerative intervertebral discs is better than that of the combination of bFGF, TGF-Β1 and TCH gel but worse than that of the combination of bFGF, TGF-Β1, BMSCs, and TCH gel.</p>

Role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in restoring the functions of degenerative nucleus pulposus cells / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in restoring the functions of degenerative nucleus pulposus cells (dNPCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The animal models of degenerative nucleus pulposus were established by means of acupuncture and aspiration. The BMSCs as well as the normal and degeneratived nucleus pulposus cells of SD rats were isolated and cultured. The BMSCs/alginate gel complex and dNPCs/alginate gel complex were used for indirect co-culture in vitro, which was set as experiment group. The NPCs and dNPCs cultured alone as positive and negative controls. The cell growth conditions were observed by light microscopy, and suitable cells were selected to combine alginate gel stents and cultured in transwell plate. Seven days later, nucleus pulposus cells of each group were recycled, and the mRNA expressions of Collagen2, SOX 9, and Aggrecan were detected by RT-PCR, and the Collagen1, 2, and Aggrecan were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After non-contact co-culture for 7 days, the mRNA levels of Collagen2, SOX 9, and Aggrecan increased apparently in BMSCs+dNPCs group, while it was significantly lower in dNPCs sample (all P<0.05). The content of Collagen2 and Aggrecan detected by Western blotting in BMSCs+dNPCs group got close to NPCs sample, but it was significantly higher than dNPCs samples (all P<0.05), while the content of Collagen1in BMSCs+dNPCs group got close to NPCs samples, but it was significantly lower than dNPCs sample (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence results showed that cytoplasm was dyed red and the color near the caryon became dark in BMSCs+dNPCs group and dNPCs group;however, the colored scope of cytoplasm and the dark colored scope surrounding the caryon in BMSCs+dNPCs group was obviously larger than dNPCs group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Under a 3D non-contact co-culture system, BMSCs can promote the expression of epimatrix of the dNPCs, which shows that BMSCs can restore the functions of dNPCs of intervertebral disc to certain extent.</p>

Clinical analysis of immune function changes in children with bronchial pneumonia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate changes in serum complement, immunoglobulins and lymphocyte subsets in children with common and severe bronchial pneumonia, and the role of immune function testing in bronchial pneumonia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty children with common bronchial pneumonia, 20 with severe bronchial pneumonia and 20 healthy children (as controls) were enrolled in this study. Immunization rate scattering turbidimetry and six-color flow cytometry were used to detect changes in serum levels of IgA, IgG and IgM, complement C3 and C4 and CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD16(+), CD56(+) and CD19(+) cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IgA levels of children with common and severe pneumonia were significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). The IgG level of children with severe pneumonia was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of IgM and complement C3 and C4 between the two pneumonia groups and the control group (P>0.05). Compared with the controls, the children with severe pneumonia showed significantly lower CD4(+) and CD3(+) counts (P<0.05) and a significantly higher CD19(+) count (P<0.05), and the CD16(+) and CD56(+) counts of children with severe pneumonia were significantly lower than in the controls and in children with common pneumonia (P<0.05). There were no differences in CD8(+) count and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio between the two pneumonia groups and the control group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Immune dysfunction exists in children with bronchial pneumonia, especially those with severe pneumonia. Changes in immune function are correlated with the severity of pneumonia. Immune function testing in children with pneumonia has important clinical significance.</p>

Application of bacterial cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in children with pulmonary infection / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the value of bacterial cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) in children with pulmonary infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bacterial cultures sampled from both sputum and BALF were performed on 80 hospitalized children with pulmonary infection between June 2008 and February 2011.Culture results between the two samples were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 80 children with pulmonary infection, bacterial cultures of BALF showed that Viridans Streptococci were found in 72 cases (90%), Neisseria in 41 cases (51%), Streptococcus pneumoniae in 11 cases (14%), Staphylococcus Aureus in 3 cases (4%) and Escherichia coli in 3 cases (4%). The positive rates of Viridans Streptococci in the bacterial cultures of BALF was not significantly different from the bacterial cultures of sputum, but the positive rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the bacterial cultures of BALF was significantly higher than in the bacterial cultures of sputum (4%). Moreover, Escherichia coli were found only by bacterial cultures of BALF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Bacterial cultures of BALF are useful in the identification of pathogenic bacteria for pulmonary infection in children. Due to the samples taken from the lesion regions in bacterial cultures of BALF, the results of may be more reliable.</p>

Observation on electroacupuncture combined with routine western medicine therapy for promoting consciousness of the patient with coma caused by craniocerebral trauma / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the promoting consciousness effect of electroacupuncture combined with routine western medicine therapy on the patient with coma caused by craniocerebral trauma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture-medication group treated with electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Quze (PC 3) and routine western medicine, and a control group treated with routine western medicine, 16 cases in each group. Glasgow (GCS) scores were assessed after treatment for 7 sessions and 30 sessions respectively and the promoting consciousness rate was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment of 7 sessions, GCS score was 6.88 +/- 1.63 in the acupuncture-medication group and 5.25-1.65 in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05); after treatment of 7 sessions, the promoting consciousness rate was 25.0% in the acupuncture-medication group and 0 in the western medicine group, and after treatment for 30 sessions, the promoting conscious ness rate was 81. 3% in the acupuncture-medication group and 43.8% in the western medicine group with a signifi cant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Quze (PC 3) combined with western medicine has a good promoting consciousness effect in the patient with coma caused by craniocerebral trauma, which is better than that of simple western medicine.</p>

Etiologic fraction and interaction of risk factors for primary hepatic carcinoma in Guangxi, China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore etiologic fraction (EF) and interaction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and other risk factors for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in Guangxi, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A hospital-based case-control study including 500 PHC patients and 500 nontumorous patients was carried out in Guangxi. EF and interactions of HBV infection and other risk factors for PHC were analyzed by crossover analysis and nonconditional multiple logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBV infection, family history of PHC, diabetes mellitus, eating raw fish, heavy alcohol consumption, frequently used drug, low income, mental oppression and blood type B all were risk factors for PHC. With EFs of 0.725, 0.186, 0.119, 0.486, 0.385, 0.438, 0.277, 0.607, 0.299, respectively and with etiologic fractions attributable to interaction [EF(A xB)] of 0.736, 0.643, 0.849, 0.551, 0.592, 0.618, 0.902, 0.577; and indices of interaction of 0.743, 0.651, 0.853, 0.560, 0.600, 0.626, 0.907, 0.586, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Main risk factors for PHC might include HBV infection, family history of PHC, diabetes mellitus, eating raw fish, heavy alcohol consumption, frequently used drug, low income, mental oppression and blood type B. HBV infection with other risk factors might exert synergistic action on developing PHC and increase the risk of PHC.</p>

Evaluation of the risk of clonorchiasis inducing primary hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between clonorchiasis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and analyze the synergistic actions of HBV infection, alcohol consumption and clonorchiasis on HCC development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This hospital-based case-control study was conducted among 444 HCC patients (cases) and 500 non tumor patients (controls) to compare the prevalence of clonorchiasis in the cases and the controls. The risk of clonorchiasis and the synergistic actions between HBV infection, alcohol consumption and clonorchiasis on HCC development were analyzed by crossover analysis and multiple logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of clonorchiasis in the cases (16.44%) was much higher than that of the controls (2.40%) (X2 = 56.58, P less than 0.01). In the case group, the OR value of those with clonorchiasis was 8.00 (95% CI: 4.34-14.92). The OR value was 4.82 (95% CI: 2.32-10.26) for the subjects whose clonorchiasis was diagnosed less than 10 years before their diagnosis of HCC, and was 17.54 (95% CI: 5.47-57.18) for those whose HCC was diagnosed more than 10 years ago. HBV infection, alcohol consumption and clonorchiasis showed an additive interaction in the development of HCC, with a relative excess risk of interaction of 110.43 and 18.23; attributable proportion of interaction of 0.80 and 0.63; synergy index of 5.18 and 2.84, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Clonorchiasis could be an important risk factor for HCC. When the course of clonorchiasis is prolonged, the risk of HCC could increase. HBV infection, alcohol consumption and clonorchiasis might have synergistic actions on the development of HCC.</p>

Synergistic effect of HBV infection, alcohol and raw fish consumption on oncogenisis of primary hepatic carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation of eating raw fish with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC), and to investigate the synergistic effect of HBV infection, alcohol consumption and eating raw fish on the oncogenesis of PHC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A hospital-based case-control study was conducted among 500 PHC patients and 500 non-cancerous patients in order to compare the history of eating raw fish. The synergistic pathogenetic action of eating raw fish, HBV infection and alcohol consumption on carcinogenesis of PHC was analyzed by crossover analysis and multiple logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of eating raw fish in the past between the case (54.8%) and the control group (8.4%) were significantly different (P < 0.001). OR value of suffering PHC in the patients who ate raw fish in the past was 13.6 (95% CI: 9.1-19.5) when compared with the non-cancerous patient. HBV infection, alcohol consumption and eating raw fish showed an interactive effect on the development of PHC, with a relative excessive risk of interaction(RERI) of 195.3 and 17.8; attributable proportion of interaction (API) of 0.8630 and 0.5251; and synergy index (S) of 7.5 and 2.8, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A history of eating raw fish may be an important risk factor for suffering primary hepatic carcinoma. HBV infection, alcohol consumption and eating raw fish may have a synergistic effect on the developing of primary hepatic carcinoma.</p>

An experimental study on the repair of full skin loss of rabbits with composite chitosan artificial skin / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the practicability of repair of full skin loss of rabbits with composite chitosan artificial skin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Dermal substitute was prepared aseptically by mixing fibroblasts with composite dermal matrix gel. Keratinocytes were then seeded on the substitute and submersion - cultured thereafter for 1 week in keratinocyte culture medium. The composite was further cultured for 1 approximately 2 weeks on the surface of the culture liquid to form artificial skin. The composite chitosan artificial skin was then grafted onto the full skin loss wound of rabbits. Histological changes were undertaken periodically by tissue sampling from the grafted wound. The systemic reaction of rabbits to the artificial skin was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the grafted wounds healed very well without any suppuration, bleeding or infection under the grafted skin. No obvious immune rejection was seen. The artificial skin could cover the wounds for a long time with good elasticity and easy to be manipulation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The composite chitosan artificial skin could be an optimal biological dressing with good histocompatibility and easy to be manipulation.</p>