Chinese herbal medicine for post-viral fatigue: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common symptom after viral infection. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is thought to be a potential effective intervention in relieving fatigue. PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of CHM for the treatment of post-viral fatigue. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: The protocol of this systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022380356). Trials reported changes of fatigue symptom, which compared CHM to no treatment, placebo or drugs, were included. Six electronic databases and three clinical trial registration platforms were searched from inception to November 2023. Literature screening, data extraction, and risk bias assessment were independently carried out by two reviewers. Quality of the included trials was evaluated using Cochrane risk of bias tool, and the certainty of the evidence was evaluated using GRADE. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4, mean difference (MD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) was used for estimate effect of continuous data. Heterogeneity among trials was assessed through I2 value. RESULTS: Overall, nineteen studies with 1921 patients were included. Results of individual trial or meta-analysis showed that CHM was better than no treatment (MD = -0.80 scores, 95%CI -1.43 to -0.17 scores, P = 0.01, 60 participants, 1 trial), placebo (MD = -1.90 scores, 95%CI -2.38 to -1.42 scores, P<0.00001, 184 participants, 1 trial), placebo on basis of rehabilitation therapy (MD = -14.90 scores, 95%CI -24.53 to -5.27 scores, P = 0.02, 118 participants, 1 trial) or drugs (MD = -0.38 scores, 95%CI -0.48 to -0.27 scores, I2 = 0%, P<0.00001, 498 participants, 4 trials) on relieving fatigue symptoms assessing by Traditional Chinese Medicine fatigue scores. Trials compared CHM plus drugs to drugs alone also showed better effect of combination therapy (average MD = -0.56 scores). In addition, CHM may improve the percentage of CD4 T lymphocytes and reduce the level of serum IL-6 (MD = -14.64 scores, 95%CI 18.36 to -10.91 scores, I2 = 0%, P<0.00001, 146 participants, 2 trials). CONCLUSION: Current systematic review found that the participation of CHM can improve the symptoms of post-viral fatigue and some immune indicators. However, the safety of CHM remains unknown and large sample, high quality multicenter RCTs are still needed in the future.

Fabrication of superhydrophilic porous carbon materials through a porogen-free method: Surface and structure modification promoting the two-electron oxygen reduction activity.

HYPOTHESIS: Electrochemical manufacture of H2O2 through the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e- ORR), providing prospects of the distributed production of H2O2 in remote regions, is considered a promising alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone oxidation process. EXPERIMENTS: In this study, one glucose-derived oxygen-enriched porous carbon material (labeled as HGC500) is developed through a porogen-free strategy integrating structural and active site modification. FINDINGS: The superhydrophilic surface and porous structure together promote the mass transfer of reactants and accessibility of active sites in the aqueous reaction, while the abundant CO species (e.g., aldehyde groups) are taken for the main active site to facilitate the 2e- ORR catalytic process. Benefiting from the above merits, the obtained HGC500 possesses superior performance with a selectivity of 92 % and mass activity of 43.6 A gcat-1 at 0.65 V (vs. RHE). Besides, the HGC500 can operate steadily for 12 h with the accumulation of H2O2 reaching up to 4090±71 ppm and a Faradic efficiency of 95 %. The H2O2 generated from the electrocatalytic process in 3 h can degrade a variety of organic pollutants (10 ppm) in 4-20 min, displaying the potential in practical applications.

Rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of Ni2P nanosheets from black phosphorus.

The high dielectric loss tangent value of black phosphorus nanosheets enables them to be selectively heated under microwave radiation to realize the in situ surface reaction of BP with Ni2+ to prepare thermodynamically unstable two-dimensional Ni2P.

Atomically Dispersed Fe-N5 Sites Anchored on 3D N-Doped Porous Carbon for Efficient Selective Oxidation of Aromatic Alkanes at Room Temperature.

On account of the increasing demand for aromatic ketones and the challenging task of mass production in the chemical industry, efficient and sustainable catalysts are urgently needed to catalyze the conversion of aromatic alkyl compounds into high value-added products via the activation of C-H bonds. Herein, Fe single-site atoms anchored on a N-doped three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon nanostructure (Fe-MEG-800) synthesized through the self-assembly hydrothermal method are reported. Detailed characterization analyses, such as aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-HAADF-STEM), are employed to prove the isolated single Fe atom dispersing on the carbon nanostructure, along with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis confirming the Fe-N5 coordination structure. Furthermore, the 3D cross-linked structure not only provides an abundant open-framework structure for the mass transfer during the reaction but also facilitates the exposure of more active sites and promotes the reaction procedure. The as-prepared catalyst possesses high catalytic activity toward the C-H bond at room temperature. In the model reaction of oxidizing ethylbenzene (EB) to high-value acetophenone (AcPO), the conversion and the selectivity of the reaction are both over 99%. In addition, the catalyst also presents favorable stability with retaining high performance even after eight cycles. The possible adsorption sites of the reactant and oxidant are explored through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Based on the analysis of experimental and theoretical results, a possible mechanism for the oxidation of EB to AcPO involving •OH, O2•-, and 1O2 is also proposed.

Boosting the Zn-ion energy storage capability of graphene sandwiched nanoporous VOx derived from MXene.

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are emerging in grid energy storage due to zinc abundance and intrinsic safety. However, developing suitable cathode materials with satisfactory stability and rate capacity remains a great challenge. Herein, a structure of layered MXene derived nanoporous VOx wrapped with graphene nanosheets (rGO-VOx) is constructed as a cathode for ZIBs. The incorporation of two typical 2D materials imparts composites with shortened diffusion pathways and increased electrical conductivity. Thus, the rGO-VOx cathode exhibits a remarkable rate capability of 196 mA h g-1 at 8 A g-1 and long-term stability with 90% retention after over 1200 cycles at 5 A g-1 in an aqueous coin cell. The Zn storage mechanism is also systematically investigated. The layered V2O5 transforms into layered ZnxV2O5·nH2O with larger interspacing upon cycling. NaV6O15 and the in situ formed ZnxV2O5·nH2O co-contribute to the subsequent insertion and extraction process.

[Impacts of Fertilization on Soil Antibiotic Resistance Genes Across Croplands: A Meta-Analysis].

The objective of this study was to clarify and quantify the impact of fertilizer applications on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in cropland soil. The target was to provide scientific basis for a better understanding of the source and accumulation and transportation characteristics of ARGs in soil and adaptive management strategy-making to secure the ecological environment and human health safety. By collecting data from literature published within the last 20 years (2000-2020), we established a database with 215 and 201 groups of a paired data-set consisting of the quantity and relative abundance of ARGs under independent experimental conditions. Compared to that with no fertilizer, the combined application of organic fertilizer significantly increased the quantity and relative abundance of soil ARGs by 110.0% and 91.0%, respectively. However, chemical fertilization had no significant effect on soil ARGs. The increment of relative abundance of soil ARGs by the combined application of organic fertilizer in the subtropical region was equivalent to 2.6 times that in the warm temperate zone. Compared with that in black soil and dark brown soil, the combined application of organic fertilizer significantly increased the relative abundance of ARGs in red soil and paddy soil in the subtropical region. The increment for the quantity of ARGs (147.6%) by the combined application of organic fertilizer in soil with pH<7 was significantly higher than that in soil with pH>7(110.4%). Compared to poultry manure, livestock manure application significantly increased the quantity and relative abundance of ARGs. The increment of the relative abundance of organic fertilizer to sulfonamide, multidrug, and macrolide ARGs (170.5%-201.2%) was significantly higher than that of quinolone, tetracycline, and aminoglycoside ARGs (61.5%-115.6%). After more than 10 years of applying organic fertilizer, the quantity of soil ARGs significantly increased by 104.2%-112.3%, whereas the effect on the relative abundance was uncertain. Climate, soil spatial properties, and source and amount of organic fertilizer were the main factors affecting the accumulation of ARGs in farmland soil. Management strategies and solutions should pay more attention to effectively minimizing the accumulation and spread of ARGs in agro-ecosystems for high-quality agricultural development in the future.

Synergistic Effect of N-Doped sp2 Carbon and Porous Structure in Graphene Gels toward Selective Oxidation of C-H Bond.

N-doped carbon materials represent a type of metal-free catalyst for diverse organic synthetic reactions. However, single N-doped carbon materials perform insufficiently in the selective oxidation reaction of C-H bond compared with metal catalysts or multielement co-doped materials. There are a few reports on the application of three-dimensional (3D) carbon materials in such a reaction. Besides, the relationship between the well-developed porous structures, heteroatom doping, and their catalytic performance is unclear. In this study, 3D porous N-doped graphene aerogel catalysts with high activity and selectivity for the C-H bond oxidation under mild reaction conditions have been synthesized through a two-step method. Systematic studies on the dosage of N sources, pyrolysis temperature, and their influences on the catalytic performances have been evolved. Moreover, solid evidence of the synergistic effect of sp2 C atoms adjacent to the N atoms and porous structure promoting the performance has been provided in this work.

Proventive and Therapentic Effects of Endothelial Progenitor Cells on Monocrotaline-Induced Hepatic Vein Occlusion Disease / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of endothelial progenitor cells on monocrotaline-induced hepatic vein occlusion disease in mice.@*METHODS@#C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: saline group (n=15), monocrotaline group (n=15), and endothelial progenitor cell infusion group (n=15). Liver function (TBIL, ALT, AST), liver index, and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured on the 8 day after intragastric administration. Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic central venous endothelial cells and hepatocytes were observed by both HE and immunohistochemical staining. Hepatic fibrosis was observed by Masson's trichrome staining.@*RESULTS@#By the light microscopy, the liver of the monocrotaline group showed moderate to the severe injuries of hepatic sinusoidal and central venous endothelial cells, and hepatic venous congestion. Masson staining showed moderate to severe hepatic fibrosis of central vein and hepatic sinus. In the endothelial progenitor cell group, hepatic sinusoidal and central venous endothelial cell injuries, and the fibrosis of central hepatic vein and hepatic sinus were mild to moderate. Hepatic venous congestion was reduced in comparison with that in the mice of the monocrotaline group. Compared with the endothelial progenitor cell group, the liver index was higher, the liver function was more abnormal, and the serum expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were higher in the monocrotaline group.@*CONCLUSION@#The monocrotaline-induced damage of hepatic sinusoidal and central venous endothelial cells is an linitiating factor for hepatic vein occlusive disease. Infusion of endothelial progenitor cells can play a role in preventing and treating hepatic vein occlusion.

Ultralong Hydroxyapatite Nanowire-Based Filter Paper for High-Performance Water Purification.

A new kind of environmentally friendly filter paper based on ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires (HAPNWs) and cellulose fibers (CFs) with excellent filtration and adsorption properties has been developed for the application in high-performance water purification. The use of polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin increases the wet mechanical strength of the as-prepared HAPNW/CF filter paper. The addition of CFs enhances the mechanical strength of the HAPNW/CF filter paper. Owing to the porous structure and superhydrophilicity of the as-prepared HAPNW/CF filter paper, the pure water flux is as high as 287.28 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 under cross-flow conditions, which is about 3200 times higher than that of the cellulose fiber paper with addition of PAE. More importantly, the as-prepared HAPNW/CF filter paper shows superior performance in the removal of TiO2 nanoparticles (>98.61%) and bacteria (up to 100%) in water by the size exclusion and blocking effect. In addition, the HAPNW/CF filter paper also exhibits high adsorption capacities for methyl blue (273.97 mg g-1) and Pb2+ ions (508.16 mg g-1). The adsorption mechanism of the HAPNW/CF filter paper is investigated. The as-prepared environmentally friendly HAPNW/CF filter paper with both excellent filtration and adsorption properties has promising application in high-performance water purification to tackle the worldwide water scarcity problem.

Peroxiredoxin-1 promotes cell proliferation and metastasis through enhancing Akt/mTOR in human osteosarcoma cells.

Osteosarcoma is characterized by high propensity for metastasis, especially to the lung, which is the main cause of death. Peroxiredoxin-1 (PRDX1) plays significant roles in multiple processes of initiation and progression of tumorogenesis. However, whether PRDX1 participates in metastasis of osteosarcoma remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that PRDX1 overexpressed in osteosarcoma tissues comparing to adjacent non-tumor tissues. Two independent cohorts of patients showed high level of PRDX1 correlated with clinicopathological features such as larger tumor size and advanced tumor metastasis stage. While patients with high PRDX1 level have poor prognosis. Notably, expression level of PRDX1 especially increased in lung lesion of osteosarcoma patients, indicating that PRDX1 may promote lung metastasis. Ectopic expression of PRDX1 promotes osteosarcoma cell migration and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, whereas knockdown of PRDX1 expression suppresses cell metastatic behaviors such as invasion and migration. Furthermore, we found that PRDX1 promotes cells metastasis through enhancing Akt/mTOR signal pathway. Taken together, our findings prove the important role of PRDX1 in the molecular etiology of osteosarcoma and suggest that PRDX1 may be a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Central aortic systolic blood pressure can predict prolonged QTc duration better than brachial artery systolic blood pressure in rural community residents.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have suggested that prolonged electrocardiogram QTc duration was independent risk factor for both increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, but there was no dating about the relationship between central aortic systolic blood pressure (CASP) and QTc duration. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between CASP and QTc duration, and assess whether CASP can predict prolonged QTc duration more than BSBP. METHODS: A total of 500 patients were enrolled in this study, central and brachial aortic blood pressure and electrocardiogram QTc duration were measured. Pearson correlation was assessed for determining the associations of QTc duration with clinical conditions. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent predictor of prolonged QTc duration. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the utility of blood pressure for prolonged QTc duration. RESULTS: We found QTc durations were significantly positive with CASP (r = 0.308, p < 0.001), BSBP (r = 0.227, p < 0.001), and age (r = 0.154, p = 0.010), but negatively related to heart rate (r = -440, p < 0.001). A multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the CASP was an independent determinant of prolonged QTc (OR = 1.648; 95%CI: 1.032, 2.101; p < 0.001). CASP had a better predictive value for prolonged QTc duration than (AUC: 0.771 vs. 0.646, p < 0.001) BSBP. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the non-invasive CASP is independently correlated with QTc duration, and CASP can predict prolonged QTc duration more than BSBP.

The Association of Circulating MiR-29b and Interleukin-6 with Subclinical Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although it is widely acknowledged that atherosclerosis is mainly a chronic inflammatory process, in which both miR-29b and interleukin-6 (IL-6) play multifaceted roles, the association between miR-29b and IL-6 remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between miR-29b and IL-6 and to test whether circulating levels of miR-29b and IL-6 could predict atherosclerosis. METHODS: A total of 170 participants were divided into two groups according to carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT): study group (CIMT ≥ 0.9mm) and control group (CIMT < 0.9mm). Levels of circulating miR-29b and IL-6 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The association of miR-29b and IL-6 levels with CIMT was assessed using Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The study group showed higher miR-29b levels (31.61 ± 3.05 vs. 27.91 ± 1.71 Ct, p < 0.001) and IL-6 levels (3.40 ± 0.67 vs. 2.99 ± 0.37 pg/ml, p < 0.001), compared with the control group. CIMT was positively correlated with miR-29b (r = 0.587, p < 0.001) and IL-6 (r = 0.410, p < 0.001), and miR-29b levels were also correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.242, p = 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis also showed that CIMT was positively correlated with miR-29b and IL-6. After adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and C-reactive protein, CIMT was still closely correlated with miR-29b and IL-6. The combination of miR-29b and IL-6 (AUC = 0.901, p < 0.001) offered a better predictive index for atherosclerosis than either miR-29b (AUC = 0.867, p < 0.001) or IL-6 (AUC = 0.747, p < 0.001) alone. CONCLUSION: Circulating levels of miR-29b and IL-6 may be independently correlated with subclinical atherosclerosis, and may serve as novel biomarkers for the identification of atherosclerosis.

Prevalence and determinants of left ventricular geometric abnormalities in hypertensive patients: A study based on the updated classification system of left ventricular geometry.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to determine whether different risk factors were associated with different type of left ventricular (LV) geometric abnormalities. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 2290 hypertensive participants without other cardiovascular disease, valve disease and with ejection fraction ≥50%. The type of LV geometric abnormality was defined on the basis of the new classification system. RESULTS: LV geometric abnormalities were detected in 1479 subjects (64.6%), wherein concentric LV remodeling is the most common LV geometric abnormality (40.3%). Large waist circumference (WC) and neck circumference (NC) were positively associated with concentric LV remodeling, whereas body mass index (BMI) [odds ratio (OR) 0.89, 95% CI 0.85∼0.92, P ＜ 0.001] and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98∼0.99, P = 0.018) were inversely associated with concentric abnormalities. SBP and age were positively associated with eccentric dilated LVH, while male was inversely associated with eccentric dilated left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Age was the strongest risk factor for eccentric dilated LVH (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03∼1.07, P ＜ 0.001). Age, NC, SBP, hyperuricemia, and alcohol use were positively associated with concentric LVH, whereas BMI (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90∼0.99, P = 0.033) and male (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.07∼0.18, P ＜ 0.001) were negatively associated with concentric LVH. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertensive LV geometric abnormality in rural area of Southern China was obvious higher. Compared with eccentric LV geometric abnormalities, there were more risk factors, including large WC and NC, age, NC, SBP, hyperuricemia, alcohol use, BMI and gender, which were associated with concentric LV geometric abnormalities.

Effect of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseⅡinhibitor KN-93 on late sodium current in rabbits model of heart failure / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the change of late sodium current (INaL) and the effect of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseⅡ (CaMKⅡ) inhibitor KN-93 on INaLin the cardiomyocytes after isoproterenol-induced heart fai-lure (HF) in rabbits. METHODS:The rabbit model of HF was induced by injecting isoproterenol (300 μg·kg-1· d-1) for 15 d. One month later, all rabbits received by echocardiography and HE staining to observe the morphological changes of myocardium for evaluating the HF model. The protein expression of NaV1.5, CaMKⅡδ and phosphorylated CaMKⅡδ was determined by Western blot. The ventricular myocytes were isolated from the rabbits of normal saline(NS) group and HF group by Langendorff perfusion, and the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record INaL. RE-SULTS:Compared with NS group,the heart rate in HF group was increased (P<0.01), the ventricular cavity was en-larged (P<0.05),and the cardiac function was decreased(P<0.01). Compared with NS group,the cardiomyocytes in HF group arranged in disorder, vacuolar degeneration and myocardial interstitial edema were observed, and fibrous tissue increased. The protein levels of NaV1.5,CaMKⅡδ and phosphorylated CaMKⅡδ in HF group were higher than those in NS group(P<0.01). INaLin HF group significantly increased compared with NS group (P<0.01). After adding sea anemone toxin Ⅱ (ATXⅡ), the density of INaLin HF group and NS group was significantly increased, but that in HF group increased more obviously than that in NS group (P<0.01). After ATXⅡ had induced stable current, we added KN-93 into NS group and HF group,and we found that the ATXⅡ-increased INaLin NS group and HF group was signifi-cantly decreased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:CaMKⅡinhibitor KN-93 inhibits the increase in INaLin HF rabbits,which may be related to the activity of CaMKⅡδ and the regulation of CaMKⅡ δ on INaL.

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and atrial fibrillation / 中国病理生理杂志

Atrial fibrillation ( AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice .Mitochondrial oxidative stress is supposed to contribute to development , progression and self-perpetuation of AF .Reactive oxygen species ( ROS) is the major molecule mediating mitochondrial oxidative stress damage .ROS can alter the redox status of various molecular targets, which quite specifically leads to functional alterations of ion channel activity or activation of a variety of redox sensi -tive signal transduction pathways .Eventually , it leads to atrial electrical remodeling and promotes the development of AF . Therefore, mitochondrial oxidative stress pathways may be a new target for the therapy of atrial fibrillation .

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and atrial fibrillation / 中国病理生理杂志

Atrial fibrillation ( AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice .Mitochondrial oxidative stress is supposed to contribute to development , progression and self-perpetuation of AF .Reactive oxygen species ( ROS) is the major molecule mediating mitochondrial oxidative stress damage .ROS can alter the redox status of various molecular targets, which quite specifically leads to functional alterations of ion channel activity or activation of a variety of redox sensi -tive signal transduction pathways .Eventually , it leads to atrial electrical remodeling and promotes the development of AF . Therefore, mitochondrial oxidative stress pathways may be a new target for the therapy of atrial fibrillation .

Association of Serum Omentin-1 Concentrations with the Presence of Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND Omentin-1 is one of the adipokines associated with obesity, diabetes, and coronary heart disease development. We determined to investigate whether serum omentin-1 concentrations were correlated with the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIAL AND METHODS Serum omentin-1 concentrations were examined in a cross-sectional population that included 220 patients with AF (70 with paroxysmal AF, 78 with persistent AF, and 72 with permanent AF) and 115 healthy controls. RESULTS Reduced serum omentin-1 concentrations were found in AF patients compared to the controls. In addition, patients with permanent AF had lower serum omentin-1 concentrations compared to patients with persistent AF and patients with paroxysmal AF. Significantly decreased serum omentin-1 concentrations were observed in persistent AF patients compared to paroxysmal AF patients. Spearman correlation analysis suggested that serum omentin-1 concentrations were negatively correlated with left atrial diameter in AF patients. CONCLUSIONS Serum omentin-1 concentrations were correlated with the presence of AF and atrial remolding.

The Relationship of Plasma miR-29a and Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein with Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with a variety of vascular diseases. Previous studies showed that both miR-29a and oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were vital in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between miR-29a and ox-LDL remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the association of miR-29a and ox-LDL and to test whether circulating miR-29a and ox-LDL levels could predict atherosclerosis. METHODS: In 170 participants, plasma levels of miR-29a were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) while plasma ox-LDL levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The relationship between miR-29a level and ox-LDL and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was assessed using the Spearman correlation coefficient and multiple liner regression. RESULTS: Compared with the normal cIMT group, the increased cIMT group had higher levels of ox-LDL (0.47 ± 0.08 vs 0.29 ± 0.06 ng/ml, p = 0.003) and miR-29a (32.93 ± 4.26 vs 26.37 ± 1.04, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between ox-LDL and miR-29a (r = 0.695, p < 0.001), and both the ox-LDL (r = 0.857, p < 0.001) and the miR-29a (r = 0.753, p < 0.001) were positively related to cIMT. Furthermore, multiple liner regression indicated that a significant correlation between ox-LDL and cIMT (ß = 0.768, p < 0.001), as well as between miR-29a and cIMT (ß = 0.686, p <0.001). The combination of miR-29a and ox-LDL (AUC = 0.926, p < 0.001) offered a better predictive value for atherosclerosis than either miR-29a (AUC = 0.759, p < 0.001) or ox-LDL (AUC = 0.762, p < 0.001) alone. CONCLUSION: Increased miR-29a and ox-LDL levels were associated with an early stage of atherosclerosis, and the combination of miR-29a and ox-LDL offered better predictive values for atherosclerosis than either alone.

Mobile emergency (surgical) hospital: Development and application in medical relief of "4.20" Lushan earthquake in Sichuan Province, China.

In the 21st century, natural disasters and emergencies occur frequently worldwide, which leads to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives as well as the direct and indirect economic losses. China has a vast territory frequently struck by natural disasters. However, the reality is not optimistic. Poor organization and management during the rescue actions, the lack of large-scale, systematic medical rescue equipment were all great barriers to the outcomes. Mobile hospitals are expected to provide better health care. We were inspired by the concept of mobile hospital. Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, has set up trauma care system since 1988, in which prehospital care, intensive care, and in-hospital treatment is fully integrated. As a major advantage, such a system provided assurance of "golden hour" rescue treatment. Providing mobile intensive care and prehospital surgical service for severe trauma patients could reduce mortality significantly. Based on the civilian experiences in Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, the mobile emergency (surgical) hospital was developed.

A comparison study on the clinical effects of foscarnet sodium injection and interferon on human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients complicated with herpes zoster.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects of foscarnet sodium injection and interferon on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients complicated with herpes zoster. METHODS: Ninety HIV-infected patients complicated with herpes zoster were divided into a treatment group and a control group that were both treated routinely first. Then the control group and treatment group were administered with interferon and foscarnet sodium injection respectively for four consecutive weeks. RESULTS: After four weeks, the effective rates of the treatment and control groups were 95.6% and 80.0% respectively, which were significantly different (P < 0.05). The pain scores of the two groups were similar before treatment, but the scores of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group two and four weeks after treatment (P < 0.05) as well as were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). The numbers of CD4+ cells and the contents of IL-2 of both groups two and four weeks after treatment significantly exceeded those before treatment (P < 0.05), with significant inter-group differences also (P < 0.05). Two and four weeks after treatment, the treatment group scored significantly higher in physical activity, energy, sleep, social life and emotional reaction than the control group did (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected patients are prone to being complicated with herpes zoster. Compared with interferon, foscarnet sodium injection better improves the clinical outcomes by effectively relieving pain and by regulating immune mediated inflammatory diseases, thus boosting the prognostic quality of life.