Hypertension is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a cohort study

Abstract

Background

Comorbidities are commonly seen in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the clinical implication is not yet well-delineated. We aim to characterize the prevalence and clinical implications of comorbidities in patients with COVID-19.     

Shape changes produced in detergent extracted bovine retinal pigment epithelium when exposed to ATP. A comparison with fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells

The response of single detergent treated bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture to ATP was measured with an image analyser. The most pronounced contraction was produced by 1.0 mM ATP with most change taking place in the first 10 min. At 1 h the area had decreased by about 33%, perimeter 22% and maximum length 25%. By way of comparison rabbit skin fibroblasts had a decreased area of approximately 40%, perimeter 25% and maximum length 22%. Bovine aortic smooth muscle cells on the other hand decreased in area by 55%, perimeter 40% and maximum length 36%. It is hoped that this assay may be used to evaluate drugs which could counteract contractile events in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.     

Antisense Smad2 inhibits high glucose-stimulated production of extracellular matrix in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells

Transforminggrowthfactor-β1(TGF-β1)is amultifunctionalpolypeptidethatregulatesanum-berofcellularprocesses,includingcellprolifera-tion,differentiation,apoptosis,migration,matrix synthesis,andtheimmuneresponse[1,2].Inchron-icrenaldiseases,TGF-β1isakeymediatorofex-tracellularmatrix(ECM)accumulation[3].Oneof thetargetrenalcellsforTGF-β1isglomerular mesangialcellsthatarecapableofproducingcom-ponentsofECM,suchascollagens,lamininand fibronectin[4,5].Recentstudiesindicatedthatinhi-bitionofT…     

Diagrammatic recording of head and neck tumours1

The increasing demands of clinical audit have resulted in the need for accurate data collection. The use of tumour maps allows standardization of the records of patients with head and neck cancer, which facilitates collation of data in multicentre studies and makes interdepartmental comparisons more meaningful. The aim of this study was to develop an improved standard set of tumour maps for recording the stage of head and neck tumours. A review of the existing tumour diagrams was performed to identify those anatomical areas that are not adequately represented or where ambiguity exists. The areas where improvements could be made were identified as: (1) the anterior commissure of the larynx; (2) axial and sagittal views of the larynx; (3) the pyriform fossa and cervical oesophagus; (4) the oropharynx and vallecula; (5) the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses; and (6) cervical nodal involvement. A new set of tumour maps is presented in an attempt to correct some of the limitations of the existing diagrams.     

Parvalbumin 3 is an Abundant Ca2+ Buffer in Hair Cells

Ca2+ signaling serves distinct purposes in different parts of a hair cell. The Ca2+ concentration in stereocilia regulates adaptation and, through rapid transduction-channel reclosure, underlies amplification of mechanical signals. In presynaptic active zones, Ca2+ mediates the exocytotic release of afferent neurotransmitter. At efferent synapses, Ca2+ activates the K+ channels that dominate the inhibitory postsynaptic potential. A copious supply of diffusible protein buffer isolates the three signals by restricting the spread of free Ca2+ and limiting the duration of its action. Using cDNA subtraction and a gene expression assay based on in situ hybridization, we detected abundant expression of mRNAs encoding the Ca2+ buffer parvalbumin 3 in bullfrog saccular and chicken cochlear hair cells. We cloned cDNAs encoding this protein from the corresponding inner-ear libraries and raised antisera against recombinant bullfrog parvalbumin 3. Immunohistochemical labeling indicated that parvalbumin 3 is a prominent Ca2+-binding protein in the compact, cylindrical hair cells of the bullfrog's sacculus, and occurs as well in the narrow, peanut-shaped hair cells of that organ. Using quantitative Western blot analysis, we ascertained that the concentration of parvalbumin 3 in saccular hair cells is approximately 3 mM. Parvalbumin 3 is therefore a significant mobile Ca2+ buffer, and perhaps the dominant buffer, in many types of hair cell. Moreover, parvalbumin 3 provides an early marker for developing hair cells in the frog, chicken, and zebrafish.     

小包装全氟丙烷气体动力学实验研究

为检验塑料小包装全氟丙烷气体（C3F8）在不同包装和储存方法时浓度变化，将装有5～7mlC3F8的聚氯乙烯小袋，根据不同储藏温度和外包装方法随机分成四组：（1）22℃聚乙烯外包装，（2）36℃聚乙烯外包装，（3）22℃铝箔真空外包装，（4）-29℃聚乙烯外包装；每一组C3F8小袋气体存放一定时间后，应用气相色谱分析方法进行浓度测量。结果：第3组C3F8浓度最高和稳定，第2组浓度随放置时间降低最明显，第4组是临床应用气体的储藏和包装方法，其30天样本浓度和第3组相等，但放置一年时浓度降低。结果显示：塑料小包装C3F8予以铝箔真空外包装是一种可行的方法，利于C3F8运输和普及；聚乙烯外包装的C3F8，应放在-29℃保存，时间不超过一年。     

加热及增加细胞内氧自由基水平对恶性胶质瘤细胞生物学特性的影响

本文就加热及同时增加细胞内氧自由基水平对恶性胶质瘤细胞存活、增殖和细胞间隙连结通讯的影响做初步观察。用Ｍ．Ｔ．Ｔ法测定胶质瘤细胞存活率；用Ｋｉ－６７抗增殖细胞核抗原单克隆抗体，通过免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ染色分析胶质瘤细胞的增殖活性；用划痕染料示踪技术观察胶质瘤细胞的细胞间隙连结通讯。结果表明，Ｈ２Ｏ２和３ＡＴ能增强加热对胶质瘤细胞存活与增殖的抑制作用，促进胶质瘤细胞间隙连结通讯的改善，存在着明显的剂量和时间效应。实验结果提示，通过内外源性增加胶质瘤细胞内的氧自由基水平，将有助于强化加热治疗胶质瘤效果，并可以减少加热的剂且，降低副作用。