AbstractObjectiveTo study the clinical characteristics of patients in Zhejiang province, China, infected with the 2019 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) responsible for ...coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-2019).DesignRetrospective case series.SettingSeven hospitals in Zhejiang province, China.Participants62 patients admitted to hospital with laboratory confirmed SARS-Cov-2 infection. Data were collected from 10 January 2020 to 26 January 2020.Main outcome measuresClinical data, collected using a standardised case report form, such as temperature, history of exposure, incubation period. If information was not clear, the working group in Hangzhou contacted the doctor responsible for treating the patient for clarification.ResultsOf the 62 patients studied (median age 41 years), only one was admitted to an intensive care unit, and no patients died during the study. According to research, none of the infected patients in Zhejiang province were ever exposed to the Huanan seafood market, the original source of the virus; all studied cases were infected by human to human transmission. The most common symptoms at onset of illness were fever in 48 (77%) patients, cough in 50 (81%), expectoration in 35 (56%), headache in 21 (34%), myalgia or fatigue in 32 (52%), diarrhoea in 3 (8%), and haemoptysis in 2 (3%). Only two patients (3%) developed shortness of breath on admission. The median time from exposure to onset of illness was 4 days (interquartile range 3-5 days), and from onset of symptoms to first hospital admission was 2 (1-4) days.ConclusionAs of early February 2020, compared with patients initially infected with SARS-Cov-2 in Wuhan, the symptoms of patients in Zhejiang province are relatively mild.
To investigate the factors associated with the duration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA shedding in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). A retrospective cohort of ...COVID‐19 patients admitted to a designated hospital in Beijing was analyzed to study the factors affecting the duration of viral shedding. The median duration of viral shedding was 11 days (IQR, 8‐14.3 days) as measured from illness onset. Univariate regression analysis showed that disease severity, corticosteroid therapy, fever (temperature>38.5°C), and time from onset to hospitalization were associated with prolonged duration of viral shedding (P < .05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that fever (temperature>38.5°C) (OR, 5.1, 95%CI: 1.5‐18.1), corticosteroid therapy (OR, 6.3, 95%CI: 1.5‐27.8), and time from onset to hospitalization (OR, 1.8, 95%CI: 1.19‐2.7) were associated with increased odds of prolonged duration of viral shedding. Corticosteroid treatment, fever (temperature>38.5°C), and longer time from onset to hospitalization were associated with prolonged viral shedding in COVID‐19 patients.
Highlights
Corticosteroid treatment was associated with prolonged viral shedding in COVID‐19 patients
•Hippocampal neurogenesis reduction accompanied with cognitive decline happens in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.•We review the integration of new born neurons and the roles of physical ...exercise induces hippocampal neurogenesis in humans and rodents.•Physical exercise has emerged as an effective, low-cost, and low-tech way for prevention or slowdown of cognitive decline.
Accumulating evidence from animal and human research indicate that adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays a key role in cognition. Meanwhile, cognitive decline is well known to associate with ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Therefore, prevention of hippocampal neurogenesis reduction should be critical for these diseases. Physical exercise, a potent enhancer of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, has emerged as a potential therapy or an adjunctive therapeutic strategy for cognitive decline. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on hippocampal neurogenesis and the incorporation of new born neurons into the neuronal network in humans and in rodents. By focusing on hippocampal neurogenesis, we illustrate the role and possible mechanisms of physical exercise in cognition preservation.
Objective. To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at “Zusanli” (ST36) and “Shangjuxu”(ST37) on reducing inflammatory reaction and improving intestinal dysfunction in patients with ...sepsis-induced intestinal dysfunction with syndrome of obstruction of the bowels Qi. Methods. A total of 71 patients with sepsis-induced intestinal dysfunction with syndrome of obstruction of the bowels Qi were randomly assigned to control group (n=36) and treatment group (n=35). Patients in control group were given conventional therapies including fluid resuscitation, anti-infection, vasoactive agents, mechanical ventilation, supply of enteral nutrition, and glutamine as soon as possible. In addition to conventional therapies, patients in treatment group underwent 20 minutes of EA at ST36-ST37 twice a day for five days. At baseline, day 1, day 3, and day 7 after treatment, the plasma levels of procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), intestinal fatty acid-binding proteins (I-FABP), D-lactate, citrulline, and TCM quantitative score of intestinal dysfunction were measured and recorded, respectively. And days on mechanical ventilation (MV), length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU), and 28d mortality were recorded. Results. During treatment, the plasma levels of PCT, TNF-α, I-FABP, D-lactate, and TCM quantitative score of intestinal dysfunction were declining in both groups, while the treatment group showed a significant decline (P<0.05). Plasma levels of citrulline were increasing in both groups, while the treatment group showed a significant increase (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the days on MV, length of stay in ICU, and 28d mortality between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions. EA at ST36-ST37 can reduce inflammatory reaction and has protective effects on intestinal function in patients with sepsis-induced intestinal dysfunction with syndrome of obstruction of the bowels Qi. Trial Registration. This trial was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn/(ChiCTR-IOR-17010910).
High concentration LiBr is beneficial to enhance the Br− oxidation rate, displaying stable low voltage plateau during charging process for lithium–oxygen batteries. However, the sufficient cyclic ...performance is generally restricted by uncontrollable high level Br3−, resulting in the low energy efficiency and shuttle effect. Herein, a nanoreactor, red-ox mediators shuttling suppressor and lithium-metal protector with the combination of the high concentration and shuttle-free LiBr are successfully constructed by anchoring the Br3− to carbonized ZIF-8 supported on reduced graphene oxide substrate (ZC-rGO). ZnO-decorated/nitrogen-doped 3D carbon framework of ZC-rGO cathode can accurately capture Br3− by space confinement effects and/or chemisorption, which is beneficial to improve the oxidation of discharge products (Li2O2) and avoid the anode corrosion. The Li–O2 battery demonstrates enormous advantages of the RMs in comparation with the typical rGO-based batteries, such as better cycling performance (>90 cycles) and more stable overpotential (<1.0 V). The proposed strategy in this study opens up a new way of inhibiting the shuttle effect of RMs in Li–O2 batteries and other halogen batteries.
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•A MOF-based multifunctional cathode of ZC-rGO is successfully constructed.•The capture effect on Br3− helps to retain redox property and inhibit Br3− shuttle.•Cycle stability of ZC-rGO-based Li–O2 battery is greatly enhanced even with 1 M LiBr.•A low overpotential of 0.94 V is achieved in ZC-rGO-based Li–O2 battery.
To explore the autoimmune response and outcome in the central nervous system (CNS) at the onset of viral infection and correlation between autoantibodies and viruses.
A retrospective observational ...study was conducted in 121 patients (2016-2021) with a CNS viral infection confirmed via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) next-generation sequencing (cohort A). Their clinical information was analysed and CSF samples were screened for autoantibodies against monkey cerebellum by tissue-based assay. In situ hybridisation was used to detect Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in brain tissue of 8 patients with glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP)-IgG and nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue of 2 patients with GFAP-IgG as control (cohort B).
Among cohort A (male:female=79:42; median age: 42 (14-78) years old), 61 (50.4%) participants had detectable autoantibodies in CSF. Compared with other viruses, EBV increased the odds of having GFAP-IgG (OR 18.22, 95% CI 6.54 to 50.77, p<0.001). In cohort B, EBV was found in the brain tissue from two of eight (25.0%) patients with GFAP-IgG. Autoantibody-positive patients had a higher CSF protein level (median: 1126.00 (281.00-5352.00) vs 700.00 (76.70-2899.00), p<0.001), lower CSF chloride level (mean: 119.80±6.24 vs 122.84±5.26, p=0.005), lower ratios of CSF-glucose/serum-glucose (median: 0.500.13-0.94 vs 0.600.26-1.23,
=0.003), more meningitis (26/61 (42.6%) vs 12/60 (20.0%), p=0.007) and higher follow-up modified Rankin Scale scores (1 (0-6) vs 0 (0-3), p=0.037) compared with antibody-negative patients. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that autoantibody-positive patients experienced significantly worse outcomes (p=0.031).
Autoimmune responses are found at the onset of viral encephalitis. EBV in the CNS increases the risk for autoimmunity to GFAP.
To investigate the effects of mTOR inhibitors everolimus (EVE) and gemcitabine (GEM) on the proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell line U2932, and ...further explore the molecular mechanisms, so as to provide new ideas and experimental basis for the clinical treatment of DLBCL.
The effect of EVE and GEM on the proliferation of U2932 cells was detected by CCK-8 assay, the IC
of the two drugs was calculated, and the combination index (
=) of the two drugs was calculated by CompuSyn software. The effect of EVE and GEM on apoptosis of U2932 cells was detected by flow cytometry with AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining. Flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to detect the effect of EVE and GEM on the cell cycle of U2932 cells. Western blot assay was used to detect the effects of EVE and GEM on the channel proteins p-mTOR and p-4EBP1, the anti-apoptotic proteins MCL-1 and Survivin, and the cell cycle protein Cyclin D1.
Both EVE and GEM could significantly inhitb
The aim was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and completion rate of 3-month, once-weekly rifapentine and isoniazid for tuberculosis (TB) prevention among Chinese silicosis patients.
Male silicosis ...patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection, aged 18 years to 65 years, with or without latent TB infection, were randomized 1:1 to receive rifapentine/isoniazid under direct observation (3RPT/INH group) or were untreated (observation group). Active TB incidence was compared between the two groups with 37 months of follow-up. Safety profile and complete rates were evaluated.
A total of 1227 adults with silicosis were screened; 513 eligible participants were enrolled and assigned to 3RPT/INH (n = 254) vs. observation (n = 259). Twenty-eight participants were diagnosed with active TB, and 9 and 19 in the 3RPT/INH group and observation groups, respectively. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the cumulative active TB rate was 3.5% (9/254) in the 3RPT/INH group and 7.3% (19/259) in the observation group (log rank p 0.055). On per protocol analysis, the cumulative active TB rates were 0.7% (1/139) and 7.3% (19/259), respectively (log rank p 0.01). Owing to an unexpected high frequency of adverse events (70.4%) and Grade 3 or 4 AEs (7.9%), the completion rate of the 3RPT/INH regimen was 54.7% (139/254). Twenty-six (10.8%) participants had flu-like systemic drug reactions; five (2.1%) experienced hepatotoxicity.
Weekly rifapentine/isoniazid prophylaxis prevented active TB among Chinese people with silicosis when taken, irrespective of LTBI screening; efficacy was reduced by lack of compliance. The regimen must be used with caution because of the high rates of adverse effects.
ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02430259
Novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) has been widely spread in China and several other countries. Early finding of this pneumonia from huge numbers of suspects gives clinicians a big challenge. The aim ...of the study was to develop a rapid screening model for early predicting NCP in a Zhejiang population, as well as its utility in other areas. A total of 880 participants who were initially suspected of NCP from January 17 to February 19 were included. Potential predictors were selected via stepwise logistic regression analysis. The model was established based on epidemiological features, clinical manifestations, white blood cell count, and pulmonary imaging changes, with the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.920. At a cut-off value of 1.0, the model could determine NCP with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 82.3%. We further developed a simplified model by combining the geographical regions and rounding the coefficients, with the AUROC of 0.909, as well as a model without epidemiological factors with the AUROC of 0.859. The study demonstrated that the screening model was a helpful and cost-effective tool for early predicting NCP and had great clinical significance given the high activity of NCP.
BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the effect of levosimendan on biomarkers of myocardial injury and systemic hemodynamics in patients with septic shock. MATERIAL AND METHODS After achieving ...normovolemia and a mean arterial pressure of at least 65 mmHg, 38 septic shock patients with low cardiac output (left ventricular ejective fraction), LEVF £45%) were randomly divided into two groups: levosimendan dobutamine. Patients in the levosimendan and dobutamine groups were maintained with intravenous infusion of levosimendan (0.2 μg/kg/minute) and dobutamine (5 μg/kg/minute) for 24 hours respectively. During treatment we monitored hemodynamics and LVEF, and measured levels of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP), troponin I (TNI), and brain natriuretic peptide(BNP). In addition, the length of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, hospital stay, and 28-day mortality were compared between the two groups. RESULTS The levosimendan group and the dobutamine group were well matched with respect to age (years, 55.4 ± 1 7.5 versus 50.2 ± 13.6) and gender (males, 68.4% versus 57.9%). Levosimendan-treated patients had higher stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac index (CI), LVEF, and left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI), and lower extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) compared to dobutamine-treated patients (p<0.05). HFABP, TNI, and BNP in the levosimendan group were less than in the dobutamine group (p<0.05). There was no difference in the mechanical ventilation time, length of stay in ICU and hospital, and 28-day mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Compared with dobutamine, levosimendan reduces biomarkers of myocardial injury and improves systemic hemodynamics in patients with septic shock. However, it does not reduce the days on mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU and hospital, or 28-day mortality.
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