Association Analysis of Hyperlipidemia with the 28-Day All-Cause Mortality of COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objective This study aimed to determine the association of hyperlipidemia with clinical endpoints among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, especially those with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes. Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study included all patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 from 21 hospitals in Hubei province, China between December 31, 2019 and April 21, 2020. Patients who were aged < 18 or ≥ 85 years old, in pregnancy, with acute lethal organ injury (e.g., acute myocardial infarction, severe acute pancreatitis, acute stroke), hypothyroidism, malignant diseases, severe malnutrition, and those with normal lipid profile under lipid-lowering medicines (e.g., statin, niacin, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, and ezetimibe) were excluded. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis at 1:1 ratio was performed to minimize baseline differences between patient groups of hyperlipidemia and non-hyperlipidemia. PSM analyses with the same strategies were further conducted for the parameters of hyperlipidemia in patients with increased triglyceride (TG), increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Mixed-effect Cox model analysis was performed to investigate the associations of the 28-days all-cause deaths of COVID-19 patients with hyperlipidemia and the abnormalities of lipid parameters. The results were verified in male, female patients, and in patients with pre-existing CVDs and type 2 diabetes. Results Of 10 945 inpatients confirmed as COVID-19, there were 9822 inpatients included in the study, comprising 3513 (35.8%) cases without hyperlipidemia and 6309 (64.2%) cases with hyperlipidemia. Based on a mixed-effect Cox model after PSM at 1:1 ratio, hyperlipidemia was not associated with increased or decreased 28-day all-cause death [adjusted hazard ratio (

Study of clinical practical model of urinary system injury / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>In order to improve the clinical treatment level of urinary system injury, it is necessary to build up an animal model of urinary system wound, which is not only analogous to real clinical practice, but also simple and practical.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We have developed the third generation of firearm fragment wound generator based on the first and the second producer. The best explosive charge of the blank cartridge was selected by gradient powder loading experiments. The firearm fragment injuries were made to the bulbous urethra of 10 New Zealand male rabbits. One week preoperatively and 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, all the animals underwent urethroscopy and urethrography. At 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, two animals were randomly selected and killed, and the urethra was cut off for pathological examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The shooting distance of the third generation of firearm fragment wound generator is 2 cm. The best explosive charge of the blank cartridge is 1 g of nitrocotton. All rabbits survived the procedures and stayed alive until they were killed. Injuries were limited to bulbous urethra and distal urethra. Round damaged areas, 1-1.5 cm in length, on the ventral wall were observed. Ureteroscopy results showed that canal diameter gradually shrank by over 50% in 9 rabbits. The rate of success was 90%. Urethrography result noted that a 1-1.3 cm stricture was formed at the bulbous urethra. Histology results of injured stricture urethra showed that fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia and hyaline degeneration caused further stricture in the canal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The third generation of firearm fragment wound generator imitates the bullet firing process and is more accurate and repeatable. The corresponding rabbit model of traumatic complex urethral stricture simulates the real complex clinical conditions. This animal model provides a standardized platform for clinical researches on treating traumatic injuries to the urinary system.</p>

A surface-modified biodegradable urethral scaffold seeded with urethral epithelial cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Efficient cell adhesion and proliferation is a central issue in cell-based tissue engineering, which offers great promise for repair of urethral defects or strictures. This study evaluated the adhesion and growth of rabbit uroepithelium on a surface-modified three-dimensional poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Urethral mucosa were harvested from male New Zealand rabbits and the urothelium were dissociated and then cultured. Immunocytochemistry on cultured uroepithelium for pancytokeratin and uroplakin II and TE-7 confirmed pure populations. After in vitro proliferation, cells were seeded onto a surface-modified urethral scaffold with non-knitted filaments. The morphology and viability of the cells were examined by immunohistochemical and fluorescence staining. Inverted and scanning microscopes were used to document cell growth and adhesion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three to five days after primary culture, the uroepithelial cells gradually became confluent, assuming a cobblestone pattern. The filaments of the urethral scaffold had excellent biocompatibility and allowed growth of the uroepithelium, without affecting viability. The uroepithelial cells adhered to and grew well on the scaffold. After 3 - 7 days, the cells grew vigorously and meshes of the scaffold were full of uroepitheliums.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The surface-modified urethral scaffold with non-knitted filaments allows the growth of uroepithelium and can serve as a carrier for the tissue engineering of urethra.</p>

Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor in prostate cancer and its significance / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in prostate cancer (PCa) and its biological significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Specimens from 75 patients with PCa (32 cases), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, 16 cases), high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN, 15 cases) and normal prostate (NP, 12 cases) were comprised in the study. The PCa was divided into high Gleason score group (Gleason score > or = 7) and low Gleason score group (Gleason score < 7). Immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies against HIF-1 alpha, VEGF and CD34. Microvessel density (MVD) was analyzed by staining with antibodies to CD34.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rates of HIF-1alpha were significantly higher in PCa (62.5%) and PIN (60.0%) than those in BPH (6.3%) and NP(0) (P < 0.05), respectively. The positive rates of VEGF were significantly higher in PCa (78.1%) and PIN (73.3%) than those in BPH (18.7%) and NP (8.3%) (P < 0.05), respectively. A higher concentration of MVD was observed in PCa (66.9 +/- 18.0) compared with those in BPH (28.3 +/- 6.9) and NP (15.3 +/- 2.9) (P < 0.05). MVD and the positive rates of HIF-1alpha and VEGF were significantly higher in high Gleason score group than those in low Gleason score group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that the overexpression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF are closely related to PCa, and the son score group. up-regulation of HIF-1alpha and VEGF are early events in PCa.</p>

Influence of Intestinal Trefoil Factor on Interleukin-6 in Neonatal Rats with Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Its Clinical Significance / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the influence of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) on interleukin-6(IL-6) in neonatal rat with necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC) ,and to discuss the protective machanism of ITF on NEC.Methods Thirty-two neonatal rats were divided randomly into four groups,group A as control group,group B as NEC group,group C as NEC+NS 0.2 mL group,group D as NEC+ITF 0.2 mg group.NEC model of neonatal rats were established.On the 4th day,all the subjects were put to death.Intestinal tissue within the boundary of ileum and cecum was obtained to observe histological changes.Other intestinal tissue was treated into homogenate.After the homogenate was centrifuged,supernates were used to test the density of IL-6.Results The density of IL-6 significantly decreased in group A,D than those in group B and C (Pa0.05).The pathological lesions indicated that intestinal tissue necrosis was severe in group B and C,which was graded as 3 points,but obviously lessen in group D,which was graded as 1 point,with ITF interfering.Conclusions Intestinal inflammation is ameliorated after ITF are injected hypodermically or intraperitoneally.ITF may provide a brand-new way for the therapy of NEC in neonatal rats.

Changes of the Activity of Nuclear Factor-?B in Neonatal Rat Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Intervention Effect of Intestinal Trefoil Factor on Them / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To study the effect of intestinal trefoil factor(ITF) on nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) in neonatal rats intestinal tissues with necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC),and to discuss whether ITF had protective function in NEC,and its role in the mechanism of NEC.Methods Fifty neonatal rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:group A as control group,group B as control plus ITF 0.2 mg group,group C as NEC group,group D as NEC plus normal saline(NS),group E as NEC plus ITF 0.2 mg.NEC models of neonatal rats were established.On the 4th day,all subjects were put to death.The intestinal tissue located at the boundary of ileum and cecum were obtained to observe histological changes and NF-?B level.Results The density of NF-?B(p65) increased significantly in group C and D compared with those in group A,B and E(Pa