Reproductive height determines the loss of clonal grasses with nitrogen enrichment in a temperate grassland.

Tall clonal grasses commonly display competitive advantages with nitrogen (N) enrichment. However, it is currently unknown whether the height is derived from the vegetative or reproductive module. Moreover, it is unclear whether the height of the vegetative or reproductive system regulates the probability of extinction and colonization, and determines species diversity. In this study, the impacts on clonal grasses were studied in a field experiment employing two frequencies (twice a year vs. monthly) crossing with nine N addition rates in a temperate grassland, China. We found that the N addition decreased species frequency and increased extinction probability, but did not change the species colonization probability. A low frequency of N addition decreased species frequency and colonization probability, but increased extinction probability. Moreover, we found that species reproductive height was the best index to predict the extinction probability of clonal grasses in N-enriched conditions. The low frequency of N addition may overestimate the negative effect from N deposition on clonal grass diversity, suggesting that a higher frequency of N addition is more suitable in assessing the ecological effects of N deposition. Overall, this study illustrates that reproductive height was associated with the clonal species extinction probability under N-enriched environment.

The association between early fluid strategy and prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome: A post hoc study of CHARDS.

We aimed to assess general fluid management in China and evaluate the association between fluid balance and survival outcomes in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. A retrospective, multicenter study including ARDS patients was conducted. We described the fluid management of ARDS patients in China. Furthermore, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients subdivided by cumulative fluid balance were also analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed with hospital mortality as the outcome. From June 2016 to February 2018, 527 ARDS patients were included in our study. The mean cumulative fluid balance was 1669 (-1101 to 4351) mL in the first 7 day after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Patients were divided into four groups based on cumulative fluid balance of the first 7 day after ICU admission: Group I (≤0 L), Group II (>0 L, ≤3 L), Group III (>3 L, ≤5 L), and Group IV (>5 L). Significantly lower hospital mortality was observed in patients with a lower cumulative fluid balance on day 7 of ICU admission (20.5% in Group I vs. 32.8% in Group II, 38.5% in Group III, and 50% in Group IV, p < 0.001). A lower fluid balance is associated with lower hospital mortality in patients with ARDS. However, a large-scale and well-designed randomized controlled trial is needed in the future.

Autumn nitrogen enrichment destabilizes ecosystem biomass production in a semiarid grassland.

Nitrogen (N) deposition decreases the temporal stability of ecosystem aboveground biomass production (ecosystem stability). However, little is known about how the responses of ecosystem stability differ based on seasonal N enrichment. By adding N in autumn, winter, or growing season, from October 2014 to May 2020, in a temperate grassland in northern China, we found that only N addition in autumn resulted in a significantly positive correlation between ecosystem mean aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and its standard deviation and significantly reduced ecosystem stability. Autumn N-induced reduction in ecosystem stability was associated with the vanished negative effect of community-wide species asynchrony (asynchronous dynamics among populations to environmental perturbations) on the standard deviation of ecosystem ANPP in combination with the emerged positive effect of dominance (Simpson's dominance index that indicates the relative weight of dominant species in a community). Our findings indicate that autumn N addition might overestimate the negative effect of annual atmospheric N deposition on ecosystem stability, suggesting that to better evaluate the influence of N deposition in temperate grasslands, both field experiments and global modeling should consider not only the annual N load but also its seasonal dynamics. Moreover, further studies should pay more attention to the alteration in the ecosystem temporal deviations, which might be more sensitive to human-induced environmental changes.

Acinetobacter baumannii among Patients Receiving Glucocorticoid Aerosol Therapy during Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, China.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen associated with severe illness and death. Glucocorticoid aerosol is a common inhalation therapy in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. We conducted a prospective cohort study to analyze the association between glucocorticoid aerosol therapy and A. baumannii isolation from ventilator patients in China. Of 497 enrolled patients, 262 (52.7%) received glucocorticoid aerosol, and A. baumannii was isolated from 159 (32.0%). Glucocorticoid aerosol therapy was an independent risk factor for A. baumannii isolation (hazard ratio 1.5, 95% CI 1.02-2.28; p = 0.038). Patients receiving glucocorticoid aerosol had a higher cumulative hazard for A. baumannii isolation and analysis showed that glucocorticoid aerosol therapy increased A. baumannii isolation in most subpopulations. Glucocorticoid aerosol was not a direct risk factor for 30-day mortality, but A. baumannii isolation was independently associated with 30-day mortality in ventilator patients. Physicians should consider potential A. baumannii infection when prescribing glucocorticoid aerosol therapy.

Efficacy of low-dose corticosteroids in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a prospective observational study.

Background: There is still no agreement on whether corticosteroids can reduce mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of low-dose corticosteroid administration in patients with ARDS. Methods: A prospective observational study of patients with ARDS in 17 hospitals in China was performed between March 2016 and February 2018. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between different groups. The effects of corticosteroids were assessed by using the Kaplan-Meier method and a multivariate Cox regression. Results: A total of 527 ARDS patients were enrolled in the study. Sixty-five patients (12.3%) were administered low-dose (methylprednisolone ≤1 mg·kg-1·d-1) corticosteroids. The median dose was equivalent to 0.67 (0.57-0.81) mg/kg methylprednisolone for a median duration of 10 days. The control group included 224 patients (42.5%) who had never receive corticosteroids. In the matched sample, the hospital mortality rates in the low-dose (n=40) and control groups (n=80) were 27.5% and 42.5% (P=0.110), respectively. The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the low-dose corticosteroid group than in the control group (24.0 vs. 17.0, P=0.002), and the multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that the low-dose group had a significantly lower risk of death than the control group (HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.24-0.97; P=0.040). Conclusions: The administration of low-dose corticosteroids may reduce mortality in patients with ARDS.

Analysis of the Dose-Response Effects of Physical Activity on Cardiocerebrovascular and All-Cause Mortality in Hypertension.

Background: Leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MV-PA) has been consistently regarded as a protective factor to prevent and treat hypertension. However, the effect of different levels of MV-PA against cardiocerebrovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertension is still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the dose relationships of MV-PA on these adverse outcomes in hypertension. Methods: In the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2006, participants with hypertension were enrolled and classified into inactive (0 MET-h/week), low-active (0 < to < 7.5 MET-h/week), and high-active (≥ 7.5 MET-h/week) groups. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted with a hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). To further explore the association between different levels of MV-PA and adverse outcomes, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, subgroup analysis, and restricted cubic spline curves were performed. Results: During a median 10.93-year follow-up, 1,510 and 347 patients had died from any causes and cardiocerebrovascular, respectively. The high-active group had the highest event-free survivals of all outcomes compared with low-active and inactive groups. A multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the high-active and low-active groups were associated with reduced risks of all-cause [HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.60-0.82; 0.76 (0.68-0.86), respectively] and cardiocerebrovascular mortality [0.56 (0.41-0.77); 0.63 (0.50-0.81), respectively] compared with the inactive group. Subgroup analysis and restricted cubic spline curves showed that MV-PA surpassing 15 MET-h/week could decrease the risks of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality with inverse relationships, which was not the case for cerebrovascular mortality, indicating a U-shaped association. Conclusion: Our study suggests that highly active MV-PA of 7.5 to < 15 MET-h/week was associated with the lowest risks of cardiocerebrovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertension.

Severe pulmonary co-infection with varicella-zoster virus, Pneumocystis jirovecii and Cytomegalovirus: a case report.

Pneumocystis jirovecii, Cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster virus are all opportunistically infective pathogens, but pulmonary co-infection with these pathogens is rare. Herein, this case report describes a patient with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia treated with methylprednisolone and cyclosporine that presented with rapidly progressive severe respiratory failure. Analysis of microbial nucleic acid sequences in both blood and sputum using next-generation sequencing revealed pulmonary co-infection with Pneumocystis jirovecii, varicella-zoster virus, and possibly Cytomegalovirus. After timely targeted and supportive treatments, the patient recovered. This case report highlights the imaging features of co-infection with these pathogens, the importance of next-generation sequencing for early diagnosis in immunosuppressed patients, and the effects of corticosteroid therapy.

Pro-Inflammatory diet accounts for higher prevalence of retinopathy in diabetes participants rather than normal glucose and prediabetes: Results from NHANES, 2005-2008.

Retinopathy is a chronic inflammatory disease whose prognosis could be improved with dietary interventions. However, the association between a pro-inflammatory diet and the prevalence of retinopathy has not been fully elucidated. We assess the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII), which is a comprehensive index determining inflammatory potential derived from food parameters according to literature, and the prevalence of retinopathy based on the data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2008 involving 2,403 participants. Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) was not related to the occurrence of retinopathy in the general, non-diabetic, or middle-aged participants. In the diabetic and aged participants, one unit increment of E-DII accounted for 14 and 15% higher the prevalence of retinopathy respectively. The highest E-DII group had a 78 and 79% higher prevalence of retinopathy than the lowest group respectively. After adjusting for several covariables, the highest E-DII group was still associated with a 68% increase in retinopathy in diabetic patients. These results suggest that E-DII is positively associated with the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients.

High-Dose versus Standard-Dose Tigecycline Treatment of Secondary Bloodstream Infections Caused by Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: An Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-AB) infections have become difficult to treat and are associated with a high mortality rate. Tigecycline is one of the most effective agents used to treat XDR-AB infections, but data from treating bloodstream infection (BSI) in standard dose do not look promising, because of its low plasma concentration. Secondary BSI with primary infection source may indicate tigecycline treatment with a higher dose. Currently, little is known about the application of high-dose tigecycline among patients with secondary BSI caused by XDR-AB. We aimed to investigate the outcomes for high-dose (HD) tigecycline treatment versus standard-dose (SD) treatment of these patients. METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted at four university affiliated hospitals in mainland China. Adult inpatients who were confirmed as having secondary BSI caused by XDR-AB and received definitive tigecycline treatment were consecutively included. Patients who were treated with 50 mg every 12 h were defined as the SD group, and a twice dose was defined as the HD group. RESULTS: Of the enrolled patients, 63 received SD and 88 received HD tigecycline treatment. Patients in the two groups had similar with regard to baseline clinical conditions. The 30-day survival was affected by the source of the primary infection. Survival was significantly better in patients with non-pulmonary-infection-related BSI than in patients with pulmonary-infection-related BSI. Multivariate Cox regression confirmed that HD had a protective effect only observed in patients with non-pneumonia-related BSI. CONCLUSION: A tigecycline dose that is twice its standard dose is better for the treatment of XDR-AB infection only in BSI associated with non-pulmonary infection.

Ten-Year Changes in Bloodstream Infection With Acinetobacter Baumannii Complex in Intensive Care Units in Eastern China: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: There is little evidence on the changing prevalence, microbiological profile, and outcome of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii complex (ABC)-caused bloodstream infection (ABCBSI) specified in intensive care units (ICUs) in long-term studies, especially in China. Objective: We aimed to investigate changes in incidence, antibiotic resistance, therapy, and prognosis of ABCBSI in ICUs in eastern China during 2009-2018. Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted, and microbiological and clinical data for patients with ABCBSI acquired in nine adult ICUs in eastern China from 2009 to 2018. Results: A total of 202 cases were enrolled. For the years 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018, the incidence of ABCBSI increased significantly, as did the percentage of pan-drug-resistant isolates and resistant rates to most of antimicrobial agents; the percentage of drug-sensitive isolates decreased (all P < 0.05). The frequency of treatment with carbapenems and tigecycline increased, and that of cephalosporins decreased. Compared with those in the first years (2009-2012), ABCBSI patients in the lattermost years (2017-2018) were less often treated with appropriate empirical therapy, more often underwent pneumonia-related ABCBSI and mechanical ventilation support, and had higher 28-day mortality rates. Multivariate Cox regression indicated that increase in the degree of ABC antibiotics resistance, pneumonia-related ABCBSI, and septic shock were risk factors of 28-day mortality and associated with significant lower survival days. Conclusions: The past decade has witnessed a marked increase in the incidence of ABCBSI and in antibiotic resistance, with increasing pneumonia-related infections and worrisome mortality in ICUs in China. Controlling increasing resistance and preventing nosocomial pneumonia may play important roles in combatting these infections.

Protectin D1 protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through inhibition of neutrophil infiltration and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in lung tissue.

Protectin D1 (PD1), a DHA-derived lipid mediator, has recently been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving properties. To date, little is known about the effect of PD1 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of PD1 on LPS-induced ALI and its potential mechanisms of action. ALI was induced via an intraperitoneal injection of LPS, where PD1 (2 ng/mouse) was administered intravenously 30 min after LPS challenge. Mice were sacrificed 24 h after modeling. Lung histopathological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was tested using immunohistochemistry. Tumor necrosis-α and interleukin-6 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum were measured using ELISA. To detect neutrophil extracellular traps produced by infiltrated neutrophils in the lung tissue, immunofluorescence staining was performed using anti-MPO and anti-histone H3 antibodies. The results indicated that PD1 significantly attenuated histological damage and neutrophil infiltration in lung tissue, reduced the lung wet/dry weight ratio, protein concentration and proinflammatory cytokine levels in BALF and decreased proinflammatory cytokine levels in serum. Moreover, neutrophil citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3) expression was also reduced after PD1 administration. In conclusion, PD1 attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice via inhibition of neutrophil extracellular trap formation in lung tissue. Therefore, PD1 administration may serve to be a new strategy for treating ALI.

Mingmu Xiaomeng Tablets Restore Autophagy and Alleviate Diabetic Retinopathy by Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Mingmu Xiaomeng tablets (MMXM) on the expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-related proteins in a diabetic rat model. Methods: Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control (NC), diabetic model (DM) control, MMXM, and calcium dobesilate (CD) Rats injected with streptozotocin (STZ) were used as an experimental diabetes model. After 14 weeks, autophagy and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway proteins were detected by western blot. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in Müller cells was examined by immunohistochemistry. Retinal function was evaluated with electroretinography, and retinal ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Serum cytokine levels were detected with protein chip technology. Results: MMXM restored autophagy by decreasing the protein expression of LC3-II and p62 and reducing the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR, thus promoting autophagy. MMXM decreased GFAP expression in retinal Müller cells; restored electrophysiology indexes and retinal ultrastructures; and reduced serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Conclusion: MMXM may protect the diabetic retina by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and enhancing autophagy.

The association between outcomes and body mass index in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Limited information exists about the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the outcome of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hospital mortality of patients with ARDS in relation to BMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study including patients with ARDS. ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Body weight and height were obtained to calculate BMI. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, invasive positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) free days within 28 days and length of stays in the ICU and hospital. RESULTS: Among 523 patients, 28 (5%) were underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2 ), 299 (57%) were normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 ), 159 (30%) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2 ) and 37 (7%) were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 ). Increasing BMI was associated with younger age (P = 0.017), hypertension (P = 0.003) and diabetes (P = 0.02). Compared with normal weight, being overweight and obese resulted in lower mortality regardless of whether in the hospital (P = 0.019) or ICU (P = 0.044). However, after risk adjustment, only obesity was associated with lower hospital mortality (OR 0.393, 95% CI 0.169-0.914, P = 0.030). With the increase of BMI, the in-hospital mortality and ICU mortality of ARDS dropped gradually (from 57.1% to 24.3%, P = 0.021, and from 53.6% to 24.3%, P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with lower mortality in patients with ARDS. With the increase of BMI, the mortality of ARDS drops gradually.

Incidence and outcomes of acute respiratory distress syndrome in intensive care units of mainland China: a multicentre prospective longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence and mortality of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in medical/respiratory intensive care units (MICUs/RICUs) to assess ventilation management and the use of adjunct therapy in routine clinical practice for patients fulfilling the Berlin definition of ARDS in mainland China. METHODS: This was a multicentre prospective longitudinal study. Patients who met the Berlin definition of ARDS were included. Baseline data and data on ventilator management and the use of adjunct therapy were collected. RESULTS: Of the 18,793 patients admitted to participating ICUs during the study timeframe, 672 patients fulfilled the Berlin ARDS criteria and 527 patients were included in the analysis. The most common predisposing factor for ARDS in 402 (77.0) patients was pneumonia. The prevalence rates were 9.7% (51/527) for mild ARDS, 47.4% (250/527) for moderate ARDS, and 42.9% (226/527) for severe ARDS. In total, 400 (75.9%) patients were managed with invasive mechanical ventilation during their ICU stays. All ARDS patients received a tidal volume of 6.8 (5.8-7.9) mL/kg of their predicted body weight and a positive end-expository pressure (PEEP) of 8 (6-12) cmH2O. Recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) and prone positioning were used in 61 (15.3%) and 85 (16.1%) ventilated patients, respectively. Life-sustaining care was withdrawn from 92 (17.5%) patients. When these patients were included in the mortality analysis, 244 (46.3%) ARDS patients (16 (31.4%) with mild ARDS, 101 (40.4%) with moderate ARDS, and 127 (56.2%) with severe ARDS) died in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 18 ICUs in mainland China, the incidence of ARDS was low. The rates of mortality and withdrawal of life-sustaining care were high. The recommended lung protective strategy was followed with a high degree of compliance, but the implementation of adjunct treatment was lacking. These findings indicate the potential for improvement in the management of patients with ARDS in China. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02975908 . Registered on 29 November 2016-retrospectively registered.

Prognostic Value of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, is reported to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether ADMA is an independent predictor for future mortality and adverse clinical events among patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS: Electronic literature databases (Central, MEDLINE, and Embase) were searched for relevant observational studies on the prognostic value of ADMA in HF patients published before January 2019. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratio and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for risk evaluation. RESULTS: 10 studies with 2195 participants were identified and analyzed. The pooled HR of composite clinical events for the highest vs. lowest quartiles from categorical variable results was 1.34 (95% CI: 1.15-1.57, P < 0.001, I 2 = 0%), which is 1.31 (95% CI: 1.10-1.55, P < 0.005, I 2 = 0%) in the subgroup of acute decompensated HF. The pooled HR of composite clinical events from continuous variable results was 1.41 (95% CI: 1.21-1.63, P < 0.001, I 2 = 21.9%), with 0.1 µM increment accounting for the increasing 25% risk for composite adverse clinical events. The pooled HR for all-cause mortality was 2.38 (95% CI: 1.48-3.82, P < 0.001, I 2 = 0%) after sensitivity analysis. Two studies reporting the HR of inhospital mortality in HF patients regarded it as a prognostic indicator, with categorical variable HR as 1.26 (95% CI: 1.07-1.84, P < 0.05) and continuous variable OR as 2.15 (95% CI: 1.17-4.29, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ADMA is an independent predictor for composite clinical outcomes among HF patients with both short-term and long-term prognostic value.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals novel insights into the response to Cr(VI) exposure in Cr(VI) tolerant ectomycorrhizal fungi Pisolithus sp. 1 LS-2017.

Chromium (Cr) is one of the most toxic heavy metals and a health hazard to millions of people worldwide. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can assist plants in phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil. Cr tolerance differs among ECM fungal varieties, but the underlying molecular mechanisms of Cr tolerance in ECM fungi are not clear. This study identified, analysed and compared the Cr(VI)-induced transcriptional changes between Cr(VI)-tolerant strain (Pisolithus sp. 1 LS-2017) and Cr(VI)-sensitive strain (Pisolithus sp. 2 LS-2017) by de novo transcriptomic analysis. The results showed that 93,642 assembled unique transcripts representing the 22,353 (46.76%) unigenes matched the proteins we have known in the Nr database and 47,801 unigenes were got from the Pisolithus spp. For DEGs between the control and 10 mg/L Cr(VI) treatment, cyanoamino acid metabolic, type I diabetes mellitus metabolism, nitrogen metabolism and beta-Alanine metabolism pathways were significantly enriched (p < 0.05) in Pisolithus sp. 1 LS-2017. Two nitrate reductase family genes (nidD, niiA) provide Cr(VI) tolerance for Pisolithus sp. 1 LS-2017 by regulating Cr(VI) reduction. In addition, NO produced by nidD, niiA regulated denitrification can alleviate Cr(VI) induced oxidative stress. In Pisolithus sp. 2 LS-2017, the alcC, aldA and lcf2 gene may alleviate Cr(VI) induced oxidative stress by protecting SH groups and increasing secondary metabolism, reducing detoxify aldehydes to carboxylic acids and producing LCPUFAs respectively; .T gene regulate Cr(VI) induced wound healing by pigmentation and stability of melanin in spore; MKP2 gene accelerate Cr(VI) induced cell death and gpmA gene regulated Cr(VI) induced energy emergency.

Prognostic value of HbA1c for in-hospital and short-term mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: HbA1c, the most commonly used indicator of chronic glucose metabolism, is closely associated with cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between HbA1c and the mortality of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients has not been elucidated yet. Here, we aim to conduct a systematic review assessing the effect of HbA1c on in-hospital and short-term mortality in ACS patients. METHODS: Relevant studies reported before July 2019 were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Embase, and Central. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to evaluate the predictive value of HbA1c for the in-hospital mortality and short-term mortality. RESULTS: Data from 25 studies involving 304,253 ACS patients was included in systematic review. The pooled RR of in-hospital mortality was 1.246 (95% CI 1.113-1.396, p: 0.000, I2 = 48.6%, n = 14) after sensitivity analysis in studies reporting HbA1c as categorial valuable. The pooled RR was 1.042 (95% CI 0.904-1.202, p: 0.57, I2 = 82.7%, n = 4) in random-effects model for studies reporting it as continuous valuable. Subgroup analysis by diabetic status showed that elevated HbA1c is associated increased short-term mortality in ACS patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) history and without DM (RR: 2.31, 95% CI (1.81-2.94), p = 0.000, I2 = 0.0%, n = 5; RR: 2.56, 95% CI 1.38-4.74, p = 0.003, I2 = 0.0%, n = 2, respectively), which was not the case for patients with DM and patients from studies incorporating DM and non-DM individuals (RR: 1.16, 95% CI 0.79-1.69, p = 0.451, I2 = 31.9%, n = 3; RR: 1.10, 95% CI 0.51-2.38), p = 0.809, I2 = 47.4%, n = 4, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Higher HbA1c is a potential indicator for in-hospital death in ACS patients as well as a predictor for short-term mortality in ACS patients without known DM and without DM.

Total Syntheses of (-)-Spirooliganones A and B and Their Diastereoisomers: Absolute Stereochemistry and Inhibitory Activity against Coxsackie Virus B3.

To investigate the effects of configuration on bioactivity, spirooliganones A and B and their six diastereoisomers (1-8) were synthesized in 11 steps. The key benzopyran core was assembled by intermolecular [4 + 2] hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition between (-)-sabinene and o-quinone methide, which was generated from the corresponding o-hydroxybenzyl alcohol. After establishing the absolute configuration, the inhibitory activities of spirooliganones 1-8 against Coxsackie virus B3 were evaluated, and the primary structure-activity relationships were analyzed. Compound 3 was the most potent compound, with an IC50 of 0.41 µM.

Sesquiterpenes from the roots of Illicium oligandrum.

Two new sesquiterpenes, oligandrin (1) and oligandric acid (2), together with three analogues, tashironin A (3), tashironin (4), and oplodiol (5), were isolated from the roots of Illicium oligandrum. The structures of new compounds were determined based on 1D and 2D NMR experiments and X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 represents a presumed biosynthetic precursor of seco-prezizaane sesquiterpenes which consists of a novel 6/6/5 tricarbocyclic skeleton. Compound 2 is the first example of chamipinene-type sesquiterpene possessing a 6/4/6 tricyclic system from the genus Illicium. Compounds 1-5 were evaluated in vitro for their activity against coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3), influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2), and influenza virus A/FM/1/47 (H1N1). Compound 1 showed selective antiviral activity against CVB3 with IC50 value of 11.11 µM.

Antiviral spirooliganones A and B with unprecedented skeletons from the roots of Illicium oligandrum.

Two novel spirooliganones A (1) and (2), a pair of spiro carbon epimers, with a rare dioxaspiro skeleton were isolated from the roots of Illicium oligandrum. The structures were fully determined by spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods, especially modified Mosher's method, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Spirooliganone B was found to exhibit more potent activities against coxsackie virus B3 and influenza virus A (H3N2) (IC50 3.70-5.05 µM) than spirooliganone A. The biosynthetic pathway involving a hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of the epimers was proposed.