Risk of Malnutrition Is Common in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly spread across the world. However, the nutritional status of COVID-19 patients has not yet been extensively examined. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of COVID-19 patients and to identify factors independently associated with malnutrition risk. METHODS: In this single-center, cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 760 hospitalized COVID-19 patients between 29 January 2020 and 15 March 2020. Based on the Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS) 2002 score, we divided patients into the normal nutrition group (NRS score <3) and the malnutrition risk group (NRS score ≥3). The associations of age, gender, symptoms, comorbidities, BMI, serum albumin and prealbumin concentrations, disease severity, activities of daily living (ADL) score, and clinical outcomes with malnutrition risk were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with malnutrition risk. RESULTS: Of patients with COVID-19, 82.6% were at risk of malnutrition. There were statistical differences in the age, incidence of fever, BMI, serum albumin and prealbumin concentrations, ADL score, and disease severity between the 2 groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥65 y (vs. <65 y; OR: 5.40; P < 0.001), serum albumin <35 g/L (vs. ≥35 g/L; OR: 3.61; P < 0.001), serum prealbumin <150 mg/L (vs. ≥150 mg/L; OR: 2.88; P = 0.042), critical cases (vs. moderate cases; OR: 4.46; P < 0.001), ADL score 41-60 (vs. ADL score 100; OR: 4.50; P = 0.012), and ADL score ≤40 (vs. ADL score 100; OR: 9.49; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the risk of malnutrition in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that prevalence of malnutrition risk was high in COVID-19 patients. Older age, low serum albumin and prealbumin concentrations, ADL score <60, and disease severity were independent factors associated with malnutrition risk.

An active and stable multifunctional catalyst with defective UiO-66 as a support for Pd over the continuous catalytic conversion of acetone and hydrogen.

The one-pot synthesis of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and methyl isobutyl methanol (MIBC) from acetone and hydrogen is a typical cascade reaction comprised of aldol condensation-dehydration-hydrogenation. Pd loss and aggregation during long term operation are typical problems in industrial application. In this paper, an active and stable catalyst was achieved with defective UiO-66 as a support for Pd, which was synthesized with the ratio 15 : 1 of ZrOCl2·8H2O to ZrCl4 as Zr-precursors. The resultant Pd catalyst remained active for at least 1000 h with a MIBK + MIBC selectivity of 84.87-93.09% and acetone conversion of 45.26-53.22% in a continuous trickle-bed reactor. Besides the increased Brønsted acid amount generated by the defect sites was favorable for the activity, the cavity confinement in the UiO-66 (R = 15 : 1) structure also efficiently prevented Pd loss and aggregation during the long term run. The contrast of the characterization of the fresh and used Pd/UiO-66 (R = 15 : 1) indicated that the deactivation of the catalyst was attributed to carbonaceous accumulation on the catalyst surface, which could be easily regenerated by calcination. This work supplied a new alternative for the design and utilization of industrial catalysts for MIBK and MIBC synthesis.

Overexpression of ROD1 inhibits invasion of breast cancer cells by suppressing the translocation of ß-catenin into the nucleus.

The incidence of breast cancer is increasing throughout the world. Although significant progress has been made in diagnostic techniques and targeted therapies, the prognosis of breast cancer remains poor. Regulator of differentiation 1 (ROD1) may inhibit the development of several types of cancer. However, the role of ROD1 in breast cancer cells remains unknown. In the present study, western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that expression of ROD1 was significantly reduced in breast cancer cells. Overexpression of ROD1 reduced the proliferation rate, demonstrated using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Additionally, the overexpression of ROD1 decreased the invasiveness of breast cancer cells, indicating that ROD1 may serve as a tumor suppressor. Additionally, the data suggested that ROD1 significantly suppressed the activity of Wnt luciferase reporter (TOP Flash) in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that ROD1 may interact with ß-catenin by using co-immunoprecipitation, resulting in suppression of ß-catenin migration into the nucleus. Notably, ROD1 demonstrated its anticancer effect by decreasing ß-catenin (Y333) phosphorylation in a nude mouse xenograft model. Overexpression of ROD1 may downregulate Ki67 protein levels, as determined by immunohistochemistry. These results indicated that ROD1 may be used as a therapeutic target in patients with breast cancer.

[Clinical study of maxillary protraction combined with maxillary molar distalization appliance therapy on cross bite and crowding malocclusion].

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of maxillary protraction combined with maxillary molar distalization appliance therapy on skeletal Class III cross bite malocclusion. METHODS: 60 patients with cross bite and crowding malocclusion were treated with maxillary protraction combined with maxillary molar distalization appliance. The arch length was analyzed before wearing appliance (T1), after debonding appliance(T2), and one year after debonding appliance(T3). SPSS10.0 software package was used for ANOVA. RESULTS: Before therapy, the maxillary arch length was not enough with arch length discrepancy. After active treatment, the device had extended the length of the upper dental arch significantly to relieve crowding and change the cross bite. Esthetics were greatly enhanced. CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary protraction combined with maxillary molar distalization appliance therapy change the maxillary arch length. However, further study is necessary to understand the long-term clinical effect.