A sensitive indicator for the severity of COVID-19: thiol

Background/aimThiol status is a good reflector of the cellular redox and have vital roles in various cellular signaling pathways. The purpose of the study was to investigate thiol status in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and methods A total of 587 subjects (517 patients/70 healthy controls) were enrolled in the study.The patients were categorized into the groups regarding to the severity of disease (mild, moderate, severe, and critical).Thiol status of all groups were compared.ResultsThe patients had significantly diminished thiol levels compared to controls. Thiol levels were gradually decreased as the severity of the disease increased. Logistic regression analyses identified that thiol concentrations were an independent risk factor for the disease severity in each phase (mild group OR 0.975, 95%CI 0.965-0.986; moderate group, OR 0.964, 95%CI 0.953-0.976; severe group OR 0.953, 95%CI 0.941-0.965; critical group OR 0.947, 95%CI 0.935-0.960).Thiol test exhibited the largest area under the curve at 0.949, with the highest sensitivity (98.6%) and specificity (80.4%).ConclusionsDepleted thiol status was observed in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Decline of the thiol levels by degrees while the severity of infection increased was closely related to the progression of the disease. This outcome highlights that thiols could be an impressible biomarker for predicting of the severity of COVID-19.     

Cation-osmotic Haemolysis in Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion

The purpose of this work was to use a new technique to assess erythrocyte deformability in patients with retinal vein occlusion. Erythrocyte microrheology changes were measured by cation-osmotic haemolysis (COH) in healthy donors and in patients with both central (n= 6) and branch (n= 16) retinal vein occlusion up to 12 months after the occlusion. The patient group consisted of five patients with ischaemic and 17 with oedematous vein occlusion. The control group consisted of the same number of age-, sex- and risk factor (hypertension)-matched donors. In patients with retinal vein occlusion, COH was significantly decreased compared to the control group. The decrease was most marked at low and high concentrations of incubating media where the differences reached high statistical significance (p<0.01–0.001). In our previous experiments we showed that COH and erythrocyte deformability (ED) are closely related and that COH reflects basic information about erythrocyte deformability. Thus, decreased COH in patients with retinal vein occlusion points to reduced ED in comparison with the control group. We, therefore, assume that impairment in ED together with other microrheological abnormalities contributes to the pathophysiology of changes in patients with retinal vein occlusion.     

Incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a comparison of two definitions

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and outcome of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children by comparing two commonly used definitions: the lung injury score and the American-European Consensus Conference definition. The causes and risk for developing ARDS were also studied. METHODS: Part prospective and retrospective analysis of 8100 consecutive hospital admissions from 1 June 1995 to 1 April 1997. RESULTS: Twenty one patients fulfilled the criteria for ARDS. Both definitions identified the same group of patients. The incidence was 2.8/1000 hospital admissions or 4.2% of paediatric intensive care unit admissions. The main causes were sepsis and pneumonia. Mortality was 13 of 21. Factors predicting death were a high admission paediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score (30.38 v 18.75) and the presence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (92% v 25%). CONCLUSION: Both definitions identified similar groups of patients. The incidence in this population was higher than that reported elsewhere, but mortality and cause were similar to those in developed countries. Poor outcome was associated with sepsis, a high admission PRISM score, and simultaneous occurrence of other organ dysfunction.     

Thrombin generation in morbid obesity: significant reduction after weight loss

Summary. Background: Patients with morbid obesity (MO; body mass index > 40 kg m^?2) suffer from an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, venous thromboembolism and all‐cause mortality. Objectives: Because weight loss by bariatric surgery reduces cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality, we hypothesized that the plasmatic clotting system might be involved in cardiovascular risk. Patients/Methods: Thirty‐six MO patients [mean age 42 (±13) years; 29 female) were investigated before and 2 years after bariatric surgery. Thrombin generation was measured with a commercially available assay (Technothrombin‐TGA,Technoclone). Metabolic parameters and parameters of the hemostatic system, such as tissue factor (TF), TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI), plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) and prothrombinfragment 1.2 (F1.2), were determined. To investigate associations of changing parameters, deltas were calculated. Results: Metabolic parameters improved with a mean weight loss of 41 (±19) kg. Postoperatively, the lag phase was significantly extended compared with preoperative values [median (25th–75th percentile), 7 (4–12) vs. 12 (7–19) min, P = 0.005]. Peak thrombin decreased after weight loss from 345 (232–455) to 282 (111–388) nm (P = 0.015) and the area under the curve from 3962 (3432–5023) to 3227 (2202–4030) nm thrombin (P < 0.001). TF, PAI‐1 and F1.2 significantly decreased after weight loss. Analyses of the deltas showed a significant correlation between peak thrombin and total cholesterol (r = 0.50), triglycerides (r = 0.46) and HbA1c (r = 0.55). Moreover, an inverse correlation was found between insulin resistance and the lag phase (r = ?0.46). Conclusion: Thrombin generation, a marker of the overall coagulation potential, decreased significantly with weight reduction. This might, at least in part, explain the decreased risk of cardiovascular disease after bariatric surgery.     

高效液相法测定排毒养颜胶囊中大黄素的含量

目的：建立排毒养颜胶囊中大黄素含量测定方法。方法：用高效液相法测定,选定YWG－C18分析柱（4．6mm*250mm,5um),流动相：甲醇－0．25％磷酸（80：20）,检测波长：436nm,流速：1．1ml/min,柱温：室温。结果：本法简便,灵敏,准确,生理性好,线性范围0．36－1．80ug(r=0.9999),平均回收率99．14％,RSD．0．81％,结论：建立的定量可用于排毒养颜胶囊的质量控制标准。     

Comparison of the effect of bipolar coagulation and fibrillar structured oxidized cellulose on formation epidural fibrosis in rats

Background/aim Epidural fibrosis (EF) is a common cause of failed back surgery syndrome seen after spinal surgeries. The most frequent reason for the formation of EF is accumulated blood and its products in the operation zone. On the development of EF, the effect of bipolar coagulation and fibrillar oxidized cellulose, which are used frequently to control bleeding, was investigated.Materials and methodsIn the study, 45 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups (control, fibrillar, and bipolar). Lumbar laminectomy was applied to all rats under sterile conditions. In the control group, the epidural area was washed with saline solution. Bleeding was controlled with fibrillar oxidized cellulose in the fibrillar group, with bipolar coagulation in the bipolar group. The area to which laminectomy had been applied was removed as a block 6 weeks later and evaluated histopathologically and genetically in terms of EF development. Fibrosis degree was determined histopathologically by counting fibroblasts using the modified Lubina and EF He grading systems. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ-1), and mRNA levels were measured by the droplet digital polymerase chain reaction method.ResultsThe number of epidural fibroblasts, percentage of modified Lubina, amount of IL-6, and He grading rates were significantly lower in the fibrillar group than in the bipolar and control groups (p ˂ 0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference among the control, fibrillar, and bipolar groups in terms of TGFβ-1 values (p= 0.525).ConclusionThe use of fibrillar oxidized cellulose was more effective for hemostasis than bipolar coagulation in reducing the development of EF.     

卡西霉素对血小板在脑微血管内皮细胞粘附的影响及药物的阻断作用

体外实验表明calcimycin0.01μmol·L^-1刺激牛脑微血管内皮细胞25min,使兔血小板与脑微血管内皮细胞的粘附率增高17.1%。PAF受体拮抗剂WEB20860.1,1.0和10.0μumol·L^-1对血小板在脑微血管内皮细胞上粘附的抑制率分别为9.0,22.9和23.1%。DMPP0.1,1.0,10.0μmol·L^-1及Tet0.1,1.0,10。Oμmol·L^-1的抑制率分别为9.7,15.6,22.1%和7.8,15.6及24.6%,提示DMPP和Tet对脑血管有保护作用。     

6-(αα-二苯基乙酰哌嗪基苯基)-4,5-二氢-5-甲基-3(2H)-哒嗪酮对兔血小板聚集及TXB_2,cAMP的影响

6-(αα-二苯基乙酰哌嗪基苯基)-4,5-二氢-5-甲基-3(2H)-哒嗪酮(简称DMDP)是我院新合成的哒嗪酮的衍生物。DMDP可以显著抑制由花生四烯酸(AA(?),ADP和血小板活化因子(PAF)诱导的免血小板聚集,其IC_(50)分别为1.12±0.1.4.19±0.5和2.97±0.1μmol/L。实验还表明DMDP在1～500 μmol/L浓度范围内呈剂量依赖性地抑制兔血小板内血栓素B_2含量,但升高兔血小板内环腺苷酸水平,这可能是其抑制血小板聚集的作用机理之一。