Immune enhancement of 30% ethanol elution fraction of Artemisia absinthium ethanol extract with macroporous resin / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects of 30% ethanol elution fraction of Artemisia absinthium extract with macroporous resin (AAEM-30%) on the dendritic cell (DC) and immunity of mice. Methods:AAEM-30% was obtained from the alcoholic extracts of A. absinthium by AB-8 macroporous resin, and its polysaccharide, flavonoid, and terpenoid contents were determined. The expressions of AAEM-30% on DC surface molecular cluster of differentiation (CD) 40, CD80 and CD86 were detected in vitro by flow cytometry, and the expressions of DC cytokines IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effect of AAEM-30% on the immune function of ICR mice was measured in vivo with different doses (50 and 100 mg/kg) and different administration methods (subcutaneous injection, intraperitoneal injection, and gavage). Results:The contents of polysaccharides, flavonoids, and terpenoids in AAEM-30% were 24.30%, 22.50% and 28.19%, respectively. AAEM-30% significantly enhanced the expression of CD40, and CD86 and the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α (all P<0.001). Compared with the control group, no statistically significant differences were found in the body mass of mice compared with the three administration methods (all P>0.05). The thymus index in the 50 and 100 mg/kg AAEM-30% intraperitoneal injection groups and the spleen index in the 50 mg/kg AAEM-30% gavage group were increased (all P<0.05). CD19 + cells increased in the 100 mg/kg AAEM-30% intraperitoneal injection group ( P<0.01) and in the 50 mg/kg AAEM-30% gavage group ( P<0.05). The CD11b + and CD11c + counts increased in the 100 mg/kg AAEM-30% gavage group ( P<0.05). The number of CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes was increased by both gavage and intraperitoneal administration (all P<0.05). Conclusions:AAEM-30% can promote the maturation of DC and enhanced the immunity of mice without obvious side effects.

Clinical analysis of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and plasma neurofilament light chain levels in patients with Parkinson's disease / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the relationship between rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder(RBD)and neurofilament light chain(NfL)levels in patients with Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods:General clinical data of 121 PD patients and 38 healthy controls(HC)who visited the Department of Geriatric Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from June 2019 to January 2021 were collected in a prospective study.According to the Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Questionnaire(RBDSQ), PD patients were divided into a PD with RBD group(PD-RBD, RBDSQ≥6)and a PD without RBD group(PD-NRBD, RBDSQ<6). General clinical data and plasma NfL levels of patients in the groups were compared.In addition, symptoms during exercise, during non-exercise, and sleep quality in the groups were also compared.Results:Plasma NfL levels were higher in the PD group than in the HC group(19.39 ng/L, 12.58-31.78; 14.85 ng/L, 9.78-22.15; Z=-2.492, P<0.05); plasma NfL levels were significantly higher in the PD-RBD group than in the PD-NRBD group and in the HC group(25.29 ng/L, 19.09-34.75; 17.14 ng/L, 11.70-26.67; 14.85 ng/L, 9.78-22.15; Z=-3.434, P<0.01); there was no significant difference in plasma NfL levels between the HC group and the PD-NRBD group( P>0.05). Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that, when the plasma NfL cutoff was set at 17.86 ng/L, PD-RBD and PD-NRBD could be distinguished( AUC=0.70, 95% CI=0.60-0.80, sensitivity 82%, specificity 54%). Binary logistic regression identified NfL level as an independent predictor of PD-RBD( β=0.068, OR=1.103, P=0.003). Conclusions:PD-RBD patients have increased plasma NfL levels, which can potentially serve as a biomarker for PD with RBD.

Epidemiological investigation of a family clustering of COVID-19 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of a family clustering of COVID-19. Methods Field epidemiological survey was conducted. Result Case 1 of the long-term residents from Hubei province was the source of infection of this family clustering. There were 6 cases (from case 2 to case 7) infected in the whole incubation period. The incubation period was more than 14 days for 3 of the second-generation cases. Routes of transmission include respiratory droplets (from case 1 transmitted to case 6, from case 1 to her family members) and closecontact (from case 1 to other cases in her family). All the age groups were generally susceptible, while elderly were easier to progress to critically ill. Besides respiratory symptoms, there were also gastrointestinal symptoms, of which diarrhea was the most common one. Conclusion Family clustering had been an important part for COVID-19 cases.

Clinical and genetic analysis of three pedigrees affected with myotonic dystrophy / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To carry out clinical and genetic analysis for three pedigrees affected with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three probands with clinically diagnosed DM and their familial members were recruited. Clinical data of the patients including clinical manifestations, electrocardiogram (ECG), and electromyogram (EEG) was collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical symptoms of all probands have progressed slowly and included myotonia, muscle weakness and muscle atrophy as the main manifestations. Disorders of other systems have included cataract, arrhythmia, alopecia, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. The EEG of the probands showed characteristic myotonia discharges. Genetic analysis revealed over 50 CTG repeats at the 3' end of the DMPK gene in all three probands.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DM1 is a complex hereditary disorder involving multiple systems and overlaps with other diseases. In addition to clinical symptoms and EEG, genetic testing can facilitate its diagnosis at early stages.</p>

Association study between serum level of 5-LO and Hcy and carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the correlation between 5-LO,Hcy and the stability of carotid artery arteriosclerosis (CAS).Methods A total of 176 patients diagnosis as CAS were assigned as study group then subdivided into stable plaques SP (group) and instable plaques IP(group).108 healthy volunteers were assigned as control group.The serum levels of 5-LO and Hcy were measured and the relationship between the two groups were analyzed.The risk factors of CAS were investigated by Logistic regression analysis and 5-LO and Hcy were used to predict the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque by drawing ROC curve.Results The levels of 5-LO and Hcy in the IP group were higher than those in the SP group and the control group(P＜0.05).The level of Hcy in SP group was higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05),while there is no statistical significance between SP and control group in the level of serum 5-LO(P＞0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that 5-LO,Hcy and diabetes were the risk factors of CAS (P＜0.05).The ROC curve indicate that the optimal cut-off concentration of 5-LO was 232.89 pg/mL for discriminating the IP from SP,the sensibility and specificity were 84.4％ and 81.8％ respectively.And the optimal cut-off concentration of Hcy was 12.53 μmol/L and the sensibility and specificity were 70.1％ and 66.7％ respectively.Conclusion Serum 5-LO and Hcy are risk factors for predicting the stability of CAS plaques;regulating both levels may be a potential target for clinically stable CAS.

The using status quo and analysis of POCT glucose meter / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the problems during using, standard and quality management of the POCT glucose meters in hospital, to analyze the solutions, and to provide reference data for improving the test level of POCT in hospital.Methods The amount, brand and application of portable glucose meters in the hospital were obtained by 3 rounds of surveillance from May to July in 2013.All of those glucose meters were taken part in external quality assessment of Clinical Laboratory Center of National Health and Family Planning Commission.The test results of those glucose meters were compared with that of automatic biochemical analyzer, the comparison results were then analyzed.Results The POCT glucose meters possessed 5 brands in our hospital, and the amount and type of glucose meters in some clinical departments were often changed.When 4 brands which were detected as quality control samples by ministry of health, the accuracy of detection results of 3 concentration of brand Ⅲ were substandard, the CV% of two levels were 11.9%and 10.1%respectively, the remaining 3 brands were in line with the requirements.The qualified percentages of 3 times of comparison were 85.0%, 92.0%and 97.4%.Conclusions The hospital should select the brand of portable glucose meters reasonably, correct use of glucose meters, and it is very necessary to build indoor and interstitial quality evaluation system, at the same time, suggesting the hospital to establish the POCT quality management team, to carry out the instrument comparison periodically, so to guarantee the accurate, reliable results of POCT in hospital.