Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Correlates with Reduced Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction in Hemodialysis Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is considered an important determinant of cardiovascular events. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between Lp-PLA2 and LVEF in HD patients. METHODS: Fifty-seven HD patients with coronary heart disease were enrolled. Predialysis and postdialysis venous whole blood samples were collected. The patients were divided into preserved and reduced LVEF groups. The relationship between Lp-PLA2 and LVEF was assessed. RESULTS: A significant difference in C-reactive protein (CRP) and Lp-PLA2 was observed, with higher levels noted in patients with reduced LVEF (P ≤ .001). Both Lp-PLA2 and CRP were negatively correlated with LVEF in the HD patients. Only Lp-PLA2 remained associated with LVEF in multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 levels are associated with LVEF and could potentially be used to evaluate chronic heart failure with reduced LVEF in HD patients for risk stratification management.

Treatment Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Brucellosis: Case Series in Heilongjiang and Systematic Review of Literature / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#Clinical characteristics and outcome in COVID-19 with brucellosis patients has not been well demonstrated, we tried to analyze clinical outcome in local and literature COVID-19 cases with brucellosis before and after recovery.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively collected hospitalization data of comorbid patients and prospectively followed up after discharge in Heilongjiang Infectious Disease Hospital from January 15, 2020 to April 29, 2022. Demographics, epidemiological, clinical symptoms, radiological and laboratory data, treatment medicines and outcomes, and follow up were analyzed, and findings of a systematic review were demonstrated.@*RESULTS@#A total of four COVID-19 with brucellosis patients were included. One patient had active brucellosis before covid and 3 patients had nonactive brucellosis before brucellosis. The median age was 54.5 years, and all were males (100.0%). Two cases (50.0%) were moderate, and one was mild and asymptomatic, respectively. Three cases (75.0%) had at least one comorbidity (brucellosis excluded). All 4 patients were found in COVID-19 nucleic acid screening. Case C and D had only headache and fever on admission, respectively. Four cases were treated with Traditional Chinese medicine, western medicines for three cases, no adverse reaction occurred during hospitalization. All patients were cured and discharged. Moreover, one case (25.0%) had still active brucellosis without re-positive COVID-19, and other three cases (75.0%) have no symptoms of discomfort except one case fell fatigue and anxious during the follow-up period after recovery. Conducting the literature review, two similar cases have been reported in two case reports, and were both recovered, whereas, no data of follow up after recovery.@*CONCLUSION@#These cases indicate that COVID-19 patients with brucellosis had favorable outcome before and after recovery. More clinical studies should be conducted to confirm our findings.

Respiratory infectious diseases and tissue "damage-repair" balance:pathological characteristics, treatment, and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Respiratory infectious diseases are important diseases causing major public safety events, posing a great threat to life, health, and social development. Effective control and scientific treatment of the diseases is the key basis for ensuring the stability and long-term development of the community of a shared future for human health. Although the pathogens of respiratory viral infectious diseases are diverse and the process is complex, the common pathological basis of their pathogenesis is characterized by the "damage-repair" functional imbalance of the immune microenvironment of the lesions, which leads to the subsequent structural and functional destruction of important organs. Therefore, the treatment should focus on antivirus and immunological regulation, strengthen the protection against immune injury, and promote the functional repair of damaged tissues. The above conclusions are the scientific core of host-directed therapies(HDT), which coincides with "human-disease co-treatment and healthy qi and pathogen interaction" in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theories. Under the support of TCM and western medicine theories, the complete pathological chain "infection-immunity-injury" of respiratory viral infectious diseases is integrated with dynamic change in "healthy qi-pathogen" in TCM to transform the treatment focus from the diseases to the patients. It is possible to fundamentally correct the "damage-repair" imbalance in the disease state, change the environment for disease development, and bring benefits to patients by strengthening human intervention, maintaining immune homeostasis, enhancing the protection of tissues and organs, and promoting the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. This study focused on the common and key pathological processes of respiratory infectious diseases, especially the immune damage caused by the viral infection, to seek effective prevention and treatment strategies, review relevant theoretical progress, summarize effective drug candidates, prospect future research and development, and highlight the therapeutic characteristics of TCM.