Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis Correlates With Long COVID-19 at One-Year After Discharge

Background@#Long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in recovered patients (RPs) is gradually recognized by more people. However, how long it will last and the underlining mechanism remains unclear. @*Methods@#We conducted a prospective follow-up study to evaluate the long-term symptoms and clinical indices of RPs at one-year after discharge from Union Hospital, Wuhan, China between December 2020 to May 2021. We also performed the 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples from RPs and healthy controls (HCs) and analyzed the correlation between the gut microbiota and long COVID-19. @*Results@#In total, 187 RPs were enrolled, among them, 84 (44.9%) RPs reported long COVID-19 symptoms at one-year after discharge. The most common long-term symptoms were cardiopulmonary symptoms, including chest tightness after activity (39/187, 20.9%), palpitations on exercise (27/187, 14.4%), sputum (21/187, 11.2%), cough (15/187, 8.0%) and chest pain (13/187, 7.0%), followed by systemic symptoms including fatigue (34/187, 18.2%) and myalgia (20/187, 10.7%), and digestive symptoms including constipation (14/187, 7.5%), anorexia (13/187, 7.0%), and diarrhea (8/187, 4.3%). Sixty-six (35.9%) RPs presented either anxiety or depression (42/187 [22.8%] and 53/187 [28.8%] respectively), and the proportion of anxiety or depression in the long symptomatic group was significantly higher than that in the asymptomatic group (41/187 [50.6%] vs. 25/187 [24.3%]). Compared with the asymptomatic group, scores of all nine 36-Item Short Form General Health Survey domains were lower in the symptomatic group (all P < 0.05). One hundred thirty RPs and 32 HCs (non-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infected subjects) performed fecal sample sequencing.Compared with HCs, symptomatic RPs had obvious gut microbiota dysbiosis including significantly reduced bacterial diversities and lower relative abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing salutary symbionts such as Eubacterium_hallii_group, Subdoligranulum, Ruminococcus, Dorea, Coprococcus, and Eubacterium_ventriosum_group. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of Eubacterium_hallii_group, Subdoligranulum, and Ruminococcus showed decreasing tendencies between HCs, the asymptomatic group, and the symptomatic group. @*Conclusion@#This study demonstrated the presence of long COVID-19 which correlates with gut microbiota dysbiosis in RPs at one-year after discharge, indicating gut microbiota may play an important role in long COVID-19.

The relationship between anti epidemic mentality and post traumatic stress disorder in medical college students during the COVID-19 pandemic / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship between an anti epidemic mentality and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among college students during the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention of PTSD when college students experience sudden crisis events in the future.@*Methods@#An online questionnaire survey was conducted among 9 399 undergraduates from Shanxi Medical University using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C) and the public anti epidemic psychology self examination scale.@*Results@#During the COVID-19 pandemic, the total PCL-C scores of college students were (22.74±7.78), and the positive rate of PTSD symptoms was 5.3%. The detection rates of symptom recurrence, avoidance/numbness symptoms and increased alertness symptoms were 27.0%, 16.6% and 8.6 %, respectively. The average score of avoidance/numbness symptoms in the three symptom groups was (9.21±3.39), the two items with the highest scores were repeated recall of traumatic events (1.57±0.71) and impaired concentration (1.47±0.71). Females scored higher than males on the increased alertness dimension(6.82±2.61，6.67±2.72) ( t = -6.49 ， P <0.05). In respect to PCL-C total scores and the scores of each dimension, rural areas were associated with higher scores than urban areas, and non medical students scored higher than medical students, while the scores of those who grew up with siblings were higher than only children ( P <0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between an anti epidemic mentality and total PTSD scores ( r =0.51, P <0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that the place of origin, choice of college major, and antiepidemic mentality were predictors of PTSD symptoms ( P <0.01).@*Conclusion@#Anti epidemic mentality is associated with the occurrence of PTSD among college students.

Overview of Research on Chinese Medicine Patents for Prevention and Treatment of Asthenopia and Analysis Their Medication Rule / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To explore drug utilizing regularity of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in treating and preventing asthenopia by analyzing the patent status of TCM in the field of asthenopia control for nearly 20 years. Method: Global patents about TCM in treating and preventing asthenopia were systematic searched in IncoPat platform.The application trend,legal status and categories of patents were analyzed.Meanwhile,the oral prescriptions and external prescriptions were performed correlation index analysis by IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0,respectively;the difference of compatibility rules between them was compared. Result: The number of global patents in treating and preventing asthenopia gradually increased,and the proportion of patents from China was more than 99%.The main patent applications were pharmaceutical composition,oral preparation,external eye patch and so on,but the ratio of licensed patents in total patents was low.In term of drug utilizing regularity,the oral prescriptions paid much attention to using TCM for nourishing the liver and kidney,while external prescriptions highlighted relieving sickness heat and detoxification. Conclusion: Patents of TCM in treating and preventing asthenopia has been kept increasing in recent years,but the authorization rate is low.Formulation based on TCM theory can be statistically summarized,which can be helpful for the development of anti-asthenopia products.

Effects of NF-κB inhibitor on nerve injury in rats after intracerebral hemorrhage / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the regulatory effect of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, pyrrolidine di-thiocarbamate (PDTC), on nerve function and neural cell apoptosis in rats after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).METH-ODS:SPF Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 rats in each group: sham group, ICH group, PDTC at low concentration (Plow) group and PDTC at high concentration (Phigh) group.Autologous blood injection was used to establish ICH model.After 2 h of surgery, the rats in Plow group and Phigh group were intraperitoneal injected with PDTC at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively , while rats in sham group and ICH group were injected with the same volume of saline .The neurological function score was classified with modified Longa grading method .TUNEL assay was used to detected the neural cell apoptosis , and the content of malondialdehyde ( MDA) and the activity of superoxide dis-mutase (SOD) were measured.Furthermore, the protein levels of p-P65 and cleaved caspase-3 in brain tissues were deter-mined by Western blot .RESULTS: Compared with sham group , the rats in ICH group had higher neurological function score (P<0.05).After treatment with PDTC, the neurological function score was decreased (P<0.05), but no signifi-cant difference between P low group and P high group was observed .Compared with sham group , the number of apoptotic cells in ICH group was increased ( P<0.05 ) .After treatment with PDTC , the neural cell apoptosis was restrained , and the number of apoptotic cells in Phigh group was lower than that in Plow group (P<0.05).Compared with sham group, the con-tent of MDA was increased and the activity of SOD was decreased in ICH group (P<0.05).After treatment with PDTC, the content of MDA was decreased while the activity of SOD was increased , and the variation trend was more obvious in Phigh group (P<0.05).Compared with sham group, the protein levels of p-P65 and cleaved caspase-3 in ICH group were increased (P<0.05).After treatment with PDTC, the protein levels of p-P65 and cleaved caspase-3 were decreased, and those in Phigh group were lower than those in P low group.CONCLUSION: NF-κB inhibitor PDTC plays a role in the se-condary brain injury after ICH , and the protective effect increases at the higher dose .The mechanism may be related to re-ducing MDA content and increasing SOD activity , and further inhibiting neural cell apoptosis .

Posterior pedicle screw fixation for treatment of fracture and dislocation of atlantoaxial spine / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of fracture and dislocation of atlantoaxial spine via posterior approach .Methods 19 patients with fracture and dislocation of atlantoaxial spine in this hospital from June 2011 to December 2013 were selected and treated with open reduction and pedicle screw fixation via posterior approach . The X‐radiographs were postoperatively re‐examined at regular time for understanding the correction of fracture and dislocation and implant fusion results ,the neurological functions were evaluated according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) scores . Results All cases got bony fusion without the occurrence of internal fixation loosening ,broken screw or broken rod .The JOA score was improved from preoperative (7 .35 ± 2 .39) points to postoperative (13 .21 ± 2 .53) points (P<0 .05) .Conclusion The posteri‐or atlantoaxial pedicle screw fixation and fusion for treating upper cervical spine injury has satisfactory effect .

Effects of Liuwei Dihuang Granule (symbols; see text) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization pre-embryo transfer in infertility women with Kidney-yin deficiency syndrome and the proteome expressions in the follicular fluid / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Liuwei Dihuang Granule ([symbols; see text], LDG) for tonifying Kidney (Shen) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization pre-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) of infertility women with Kidney-yin deficiency syndrome and to explore its mechanism by detecting the proteome expression in the follicular fluid.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six infertility patients of Kidney-yin deficiency syndrome who would undergo IVF-ET, were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a control group according to a random number table, 33 cases in each group. Another 33 cases of non-Kidney-yin deficiency syndrome was taken as a syndrome-control group. Besides Western routine therapy, LDG was given 3 menstrual cycles before IVF to the treatment group, and a placebo granule to the control and syndrome-control groups. The scores of Kidney-yin deficiency symptoms (sore waist and knees, dry vagina, dysphoria with feverish sensation in the chest, palms and soles, etc.) were assessed, the number of retrieved oocytes, rates of high quality oocytes and embryos, fertility rate and clinical pregnancy rate were recorded, and the follicular fluid was collected on the day when the ovum was picked up, the differential protein expression was detected using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and then, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was applied to identify the proteins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The syndrome score in the treatment group decreased significantly from 16.09±2.58 to 8.67±2.13, while it changed insignificantly in the control group, with a significant difference in the lowering score between the two groups (P<0.05); the high quality rates of oocytes and embryos and clinical pregnancy rate were all superior in the treatment group to the control group (82.29% vs 78.08%, 76.76% vs 68.79%, 63.64% vs 36.36%, all P<0.05). The protein expression map from the follicular fluid showed that compared with the control group, 33 differential protein expressions were found in the syndrome-control group, among which 18 were down-regulated, and 15 up-regulated; in the treatment group 28 differential protein expressions were found, among which 15 were down-regulated, and 13 up-regulated. Through MALDI-TOF-MS, 14 proteins were identified (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For the infertility patients undergoing IVF, LDG could alleviate clinical symptoms, improve rates of high quality oocytes and embryos, so as to raise clinical pregnancy rate. The mechanism may be through regulating proteome expression in the follicular fluid to improve the developmental microenvironment for oocytes which would lead to a successful embryo implantation.</p>

Research progress of the biological characteristics of IkappaB kinase and its inhibitors / 药学学报

The NF-kappaB pathway regulates the expression of over 150 target genes, e.g., cytokines, chemokines, leukocyte adhesion molecules and inducible effector enzymes. Consequently, it plays a crucial role in innate and adaptive immune responses, inflammatory response, stress responses, apoptosis and so on. IkappaB kinase (IKK) is the key of this pathway, and it owns a special structure which consists of catalytic subunit and regulatory subunit. Naturally, the activation of IKK needs the interaction of the two subunits and phosphorylation by its upstream kinases. Actually, there are two methods of activation of the NF-kappaB pathway, and both of the methods need the IKK complex. Given to the crucial role of IKK, researchers have isolated and synthesized amounts of IKK inhibitors, and these provide a great convenience to develop novel anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor drugs.

Primary study on absorption, translocation and accumulation of N, P and K of Achyranthes bidentata / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the absorption, translocation and accumulation of N, P and K on Achyranthes bidentata.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The contents of N, P and K were determined by mean of sulfuric acid-hydrogen peroxide assimilating method, vanadium-ammonium molybdate colorimetric method and flame photometric method, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The contents of N, P and K in the plant were decreasing during the growth period. The absorption rates of the three nutrients by A. Bidentata showed double-peak curves in the whole growth period, maximum absorption rate appeared in the middle ten days of October. About 8.59 kg of N, 1.36 kg of P and 7.40 kg of K were needed to produce each 100 kg root.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The key nutrients absorption period is in the first ten days of September and in the middle ten days of October.</p>