Clinical features and outcomes of 221 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

RationaleIn late December 2019, an outbreak of acute respiratory illness, now officially named as COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019, emerged in Wuhan, China, now spreading across the whole country and world. More data were needed to understand the clinical characteristics of the disease. ObjectivesTo study the epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of patients with COVID-19. Methodswe performed a single center, retrospective case series study in 221 patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at a university hospital. Measurements and Main ResultsThe median age was 55.0 years and 48.9% were male and only 8 (3.6%) patients had a history of exposure to the Huanan Seafood Market. Compared to the non-severe pneumonia patients, the median age of the severe patients was significantly older, and they were more likely to have chronic comorbidities. Most common symptoms in severe patients were high fever, anorexia and dyspnea. On admission, 33.0% patients showed leukopenia and 73.8% showed lymphopenia. In addition, the severe patients suffered a higher rate of co-infections with bacteria or fungus and they were more likely to developing complications. As of February 15, 2020, 19.0% patients had been discharged and 5.4% patients died. 80% of severe cases received ICU care, and 52.3% of them transferred to the general wards due to relieved symptoms, and the mortality rate of severe patients in ICU was 20.5%. ConclusionsThe COVID-19 epidemic spreads rapidly by human-to-human transmission. Patients with elder age, chronic comorbidities, blood leukocyte/lymphocyte count, procalcitonin level, co-infection and severe complications might increase the risk of poor clinical outcomes.

MicroRNA-146 a promotes proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells by up-regulating cyclin D1 expression / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To detect and verifica the gene profile difference of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) and its role in the pro-liferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by gene chip technology. Methods: Artificially synthesized miR-146a mimics(50 nmol/L) ,miR-146 inhibitor ( 50 nmol/L ) , scramble ( 50 nmol/L ) and PBS were transfected into cultured primary rat VSMCs in vitro. After transfection,Real time PCR was used to measure the levels of miR-146a and the cell counting kit 8(CCK8) was employed to investigate the proliferation of VSMCs. The VSMCs interfered by miR-146a inhibitor or miR-146a control were examined by gene chips and the profile of gene were analyzed by bioinformatics technology to detect the different genes and signal transduction pathway. The changes in mRNAs and proteins were accessed separately by Real time PCR and Western blot. Results: Compared with sham and control VSMCs,miR-146a expression level was significantly decreased in treatment with miR-146a inhibitor(P0. 05),however,the mRNA and protein expression levels of cyclin D1 significantly increased in treatment with miR-146a mimics VSMCs group and decreased in miR-146a inhibitor VSMCs group ( compared with sham VSMCs group, both P<0. 05 ) . Conclusion: Our data indicated that miR-146a may promote the proliferation of rat VSMCs by up-regulating cyclin D1 expression.

Chemerin promotes proliferation of mouse vascular smooth muscle cells by up-regulating p-JNK / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the proliferation property of stable chemerin gene knockdown vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs) and to explore its mechanism .METHODS:The normal VSMCs , chemerin gene interfering control VSMCs and stable chemerin gene knockdown VSMCs were divided into normal group , PDGF group, control group and knockdown group .The VSMCs in PDGF group were given platelet-derived growth factor-BB ( PDGF-BB) to initiate proli-feration.The cell counting and BrdU assay were employed to investigate the proliferation property of VSMCs .The mitogen-activated protein kinase ( MAPK) signal pathway was determined by Western blot .RESULTS:The cell number and BrdU A value in PDGF-BB-treated VSMCs significantly increased as compared with the normal VSMCs ( P<0.05 ) .Compared with the normal VSMCs , the chemerin knockdown VSMCs showed obviously decreased cell number and BrdU A value ( P<0.05).Simultaneously, no significant difference in the proliferation of VSMCs between the normal VSMCs and the control VSMCs was observed.No significant difference of the protein levels of p-ERK1/2, ERK1/2, p-p38 MAPK and p38 MAPK among 4 kinds of VSMCs was found .The protein level of p-JNK in PDGF-BB-treated VSMCs was up-regulated, while it was down-regulated in chemerin knockdown VSMCs compared with the normal VSMCs .CONCLUSION: Chemerin pro-motes the proliferation of mouse vascular smooth muscle cells by up-regulating p-JNK production .

Serum screening of celiac disease in Chinese adults with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome in Hubei, China / 中华内科杂志

Objective To screen the prevalence of celiac disease with serologic markers in the central Chinese population,specifically in patients with chronic diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).Methods A total of 282 adult patients with D-IBS were selected based on ROME Ⅲ criteria with 296 age and sex matched consecutive healthy individuals as controls.A gluten-free diet (GFD) was advised in subjects positive for IgA/IgG anti-htTG/DGP antibodies and the serologic antibodies were retested after the GFD.Results Among the 578 study subjects,five D-IBS patients (5/282,1.77％) and two healthy controls (2/296,0.68％) were positive for anti-htTG/DGP antibodies.Among the seven positive cases,one was lost to follow-up and only four were evaluated during GFD therapy for an average of 5.2 months with clinical and/or serological manifestations improved.Conclusions The prevalence of celiac disease may not be uncommon in China.Compared with the healthy population,patients with D-IBS tend to be affected more.Thus,it is significantly important to conduct routine screening for celiac disease in patients with D-IBS.

Effects of H_2O_2 on apoptosis of skeletal muscle satellite cell and mitochondrial membrane potential / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To observe the effects of H_2O_2 on apoptosis of skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSC)and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and protective effect of erythropoietin(EPO). METHODS: SMSC in vitro were divided into three groups: H_2O_2 group, H_2O_2+EPO group and control. Apoptosis rate and the means were obverted by monofluorescence flow cytometry. The morphological change of apoptosis cells were observed under fluorescence microscopy after Hoechst 33258 staining. RESULTS: The cells in H_2O_2 group show the highest apoptosis rate (22.13±1.79)%. In H_2O_2+EPO group, apoptosis rate were (16.47±2.53)%, (4.97±0.55)% and (2.93±0.47)% according to the EPO treated levels (10, 20 or 40 kU/L), respectively. MMP level in H_2O_2 group was the lowest 9.70±0.09. MMP levels in H_2O_2+EPO group were 12.67±0.32, 27.90±0.66, 44.53±0.93, respectively according to the EPO treated levels (10, 20 or 40 kU/L). In control group, apoptosis rate was 1.93±0.57 and MMP was 51.37±0.64. In H_2O_2 group and H_2O_2+ low dosage EPO group, Hoechst 33258 staining showed obvious apoptosis. CONCLUSION: EPO inhibits the apoptosis induced by H_2O_2 and stabilizes the MMP, which is related to the dosage of EPO.

Comparison of Angioseal closure device with manual compression in patients undergoing angiograph and angioplasty / 中国实用内科杂志

Objective To assess the safety and efficiency of Angioseal device in patients undergoing coronary percutaneous procedure.Methods A prospective trial was carried out in 260 patients undergoing angiograph and angioplasty during october 2002 to July 2003.All patients were divided into two groups: Angioseal closure device and manual compression.Results In angiography,the time to hemostasis was (1.8?0.9)min by Angioseal and (25.3?13.4)min by manual compression(P

Application of Cypher~(TM) drug-eluting stent to patients with acute myocardial infarction / 中国实用内科杂志

Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of the implication of Cypher~(TM) drug-eluting stent in primary PTCA of acute myocardial infarction.Methods From November,2002 to November,2004,77cases of acute myocardial infarction patients enrolled into our hospital were treated by PCI within 12 hours after the heart attack.All patients were divided into two groups:Cypher~(TM) drug-eluting stent group(38) and conventional stainless steel stent group(39).Results The success rate of PCI were 100% in either group.38 Cypher~(TM) drug-eluting stent and 39 conventional stainless steel stent were implanted respectively.There was no significant difference in CAG result or clinical state among these two groups.Conclusion Cypher~(TM) drug-eluting stent can be safely and efficiently used in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Study of puncture method of Angioseal closure device by femoral artery / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To study the puncture method of Angioseal closure device by femoral artery. Methods A prospective trial was carried out in 80 patients using Angioseal closure device in angiography and angioplasty. All patients were divided into tow groups, according to the horizontal distance between the entrance of skin and the entrance of the femoral artery: Group A, the distance 1.5 cm. Results 1. The rate of successful puncture was 92% in group A and 81% in group B (P