Organ distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in SARS patients: implications for pathogenesis and virus transmission pathways

We previously identified the major pathological changes in the respiratory and immune systems of patients who died of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) but gained little information on the organ distribution of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In the present study, we used a murine monoclonal antibody specific for SARS-CoV nucleoprotein, and probes specific for a SARS-CoV RNA polymerase gene fragment, for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively, to detect SARS-CoV systematically in tissues from patients who died of SARS. SARS-CoV was found in lung, trachea/bronchus, stomach, small intestine, distal convoluted renal tubule, sweat gland, parathyroid, pituitary, pancreas, adrenal gland, liver and cerebrum, but was not detected in oesophagus, spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, heart, aorta, cerebellum, thyroid, testis, ovary, uterus or muscle. These results suggest that, in addition to the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract and other organs with detectable SARS-CoV may also be targets of SARS-CoV infection. The pathological changes in these organs may be caused directly by the cytopathic effect mediated by local replication of the SARS-CoV; or indirectly as a result of systemic responses to respiratory failure or the harmful immune response induced by viral infection. In addition to viral spread through a respiratory route, SARS-CoV in the intestinal tract, kidney and sweat glands may be excreted via faeces, urine and sweat, thereby leading to virus transmission. This study provides important information for understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV infection and sheds light on possible virus transmission pathways. This data will be useful for designing new strategies for prevention and treatment of SARS.     

A role for hyaluronan in macrophage accumulation and collagen deposition after bleomycin-induced lung injury

Elevated concentrations of hyaluronan (HA) are associated with the accumulation of macrophages in the lung after injury. We have investigated the role of HA in the inflammatory and fibrotic responses to lung injury using the intratracheal instillation of bleomycin in rats as a model. After bleomycin-induced lung injury, both HA content in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and staining for HA in macrophages accumulating in injured areas of the lung were maximal at 4 d. Increased HA in BAL correlated with increased locomotion of isolated alveolar macrophages. HA-binding peptide was able to specifically block macrophage motility in vitro. Importantly, systemic administration of HA-binding peptide to rats before injury not only decreased alveolar macrophage motility and accumulation in the lung, but also reduced lung collagen alpha (I) messenger RNA and hydroxyproline contents. We propose a model in which HA plays a critical role in the inflammatory response and fibrotic consequences of acute lung injury.     

Implementation and evaluation of a multifunctional telemedicine system in NTUH

In this article, we proposed a multifunctional telemedicine system supporting both telediagnosis and teleconsultation services. We attempted not only to insure that the implementation of this system satisfied most requirements, but also to evaluate the impact of the system. With regard to system architecture, we designed a unified multimedia database to store all types of data and used two kinds of network (ATM and ISDN) for different possible applications. As for data transmission, the REFRESH and PREFETCH mechanisms were implemented to enhance data transfer efficiency. A total of 1107 consultations employing the telemedicine system were performed during the past 3 years. This technology was used most frequently for radiology consultation (32.7%, n = 362) and ultrasonic examination (19.5%, n = 216). An evaluation of the impact on diagnosis (507 valid cases) indicated that the diagnosis in 80 cases (15.78%) were altered on the basis of second opinions from a medical center; and the number of patients transferred to the medical center was reduced from 24 (4.7%) to eight cases. Most of the rural-site physicians (97%) thought that they did benefit from specialists' experience and knowledge via the telemedicine system. Based on 431 valid questionnaires, the number of the patients with confidence in the telemedicine system at their local healthcare center increased from 72.6% to 87.5%. Overall, more than 90% of patients and physicians believed that the system was valuable and provided satisfactory services.     

人白细胞介素13cDNA的克隆及序列测定

用反转录－多聚酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）技术从中国人外周血淋巴细胞中克隆了ＩＬ－１３ｃＤＮＡ，序列测定表明克隆的ＩＬ－１３ｃＤＮＡ含成熟的ＩＬ－１３蛋白全部编码，且存在编码第９８位Ｇｌｎ的密码子ＣＡＧ，这为进一步表达ＩＬ－１３并深入探究功能奠定了基础。     

X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) C--116G polymorphisms in bipolar disorders and age of onset

X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), a critical gene in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, is located on chromosome 22q12, which has been linked with bipolar disorders in several studies. Recently, associations have been reported between a polymorphism (-116C --> G) in the promoter region of XBP1, and bipolar disorders in both case-control study and family-based association study, however, this finding is not yet confirmed by other research using independent sample populations. To replicate this finding and determine the association between onset age of bipolar disorders and the XBP1 C--116G polymorphism, we investigated the prevalence of this polymorphism in a Chinese population (153 bipolar disorder patients and 174 controls). We were unable, however, to demonstrate a significant association between the C--116G polymorphism and bipolar disorders (P = 0.674 for genotype and P = 0.436 for allele frequency) or age at onset (P = 0.563). Further, no association was demonstrated between this polymorphism and family history in bipolar disorder patients. These negative findings suggest that the XBP1 C--116G polymorphism does not play a major role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorders in Chinese populations.     

Association of Opioid Use Disorder With 2016 Presidential Voting Patterns: Cross-sectional Study in New York State at Census Tract Level

BackgroundOpioid overdose-related deaths have increased dramatically in recent years. Combating the opioid epidemic requires better understanding of the epidemiology of opioid poisoning (OP) and opioid use disorder (OUD).ObjectiveWe aimed to discover geospatial patterns in nonmedical opioid use and its correlations with demographic features related to despair and economic hardship, most notably the US presidential voting patterns in 2016 at census tract level in New York State.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis used data from New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System claims data and the presidential voting results of 2016 in New York State from the Harvard Election Data Archive. We included 63,958 patients who had at least one OUD diagnosis between 2010 and 2016 and 36,004 patients with at least one OP diagnosis between 2012 and 2016. Geospatial mappings were created to compare areas of New York in OUD rates and presidential voting patterns. A multiple regression model examines the extent that certain factors explain OUD rate variation.ResultsSeveral areas shared similar patterns of OUD rates and Republican vote: census tracts in western New York, central New York, and Suffolk County. The correlation between OUD rates and the Republican vote was .38 (P<.001). The regression model with census tract level of demographic and socioeconomic factors explains 30% of the variance in OUD rates, with disability and Republican vote as the most significant predictors.ConclusionsAt the census tract level, OUD rates were positively correlated with Republican support in the 2016 presidential election, disability, unemployment, and unmarried status. Socioeconomic and demographic despair-related features explain a large portion of the association between the Republican vote and OUD. Together, these findings underscore the importance of socioeconomic interventions in combating the opioid epidemic.     

藿香正气片增强镇静催眠药的镇静与催眠作用的研究

目的研究藿香正气片增强镇静催眠药对小鼠的镇静催眠作用.为临床增添了一个中西药结合的镇静催眠合剂提供药理依据.方法应用抖笼换能器法观察藿香正气片对小鼠的自发活动的影响.由此观察藿香正气片与镇静催眠药的协同作用.测定藿香正气片与镇静催眠药对小鼠的入睡时间及睡眠持续时间的作用.两个实验均分成四组,生理水组、藿香正气片组、安定组、安定+藿香正气片组.结果1.对小鼠自发活动的影响.(1)藿香正气片组与生理盐水组比较,具有极显著性差异(P＜0.01).(2)安定组与安定+藿香正气片组比较具有显著性差异(P＜0.05).2.藿香正气片增强镇静催眠药对小鼠的睡眠作用.(1)藿香正气片组与生理盐水组比较具有显著性差异(P＜0.05).(2)藿香正气片+安定组与安定组比较具有极显著性差异(P＜0.01).结论藿香正气片与安定合用对镇静及催眠确有协同作用.     

肝硬化患者幽门螺杆菌感染的差异性

观察肝硬变患者幽门螺杆菌感染的差异性及其对病情的影响.结果发现随着肝功能的减退,ChildA组,ChildB组,ChildC组HP的感染率逐步升高,CagA、VacA阳性率也逐步升高,ChildC与各组比较HP的感染率,CagA、VacA的阳性率均显著增高,差异有显著性(P<0.05),胃排空无差异(P>0.05).其余各组间比较无差异(P>0.05).提示肝硬变患者与对照组比较HP的感染率及其菌株无显著差异,胃的排空与HP的感染无关,肝脏功能状况与HP感染相关性有待进一步研究.     

口腔链球丙酮酸氧化酶的克隆和序列分析

目的 阐明血链球菌产生过氧化氢及其调节的分子机理。方法 根据已知的肺炎链球菌丙酮酸氧化酶基因（spxB）序列设计PCR引物,扩增血链球菌ATCC10557的丙酮酸氧化酶基因,以pUC18及M13mp18、M13mp19为载体进行克隆和亚克隆,并进行序列分析。结果 成功地从血链球菌ATCC10557扩增出丙酮酸氧化酶基因,获得该基因的全部序列（1788bp),具有完整的开放读框,能编码591个氨基酸的多肽。结论 血链球菌丙酮酸氧化酶基因的克隆和序列分析,为进一步研究调节血链球菌产生过氧化氢的分子机理打下了基础。