Cardiac Troponin I association with critical illness and death risk in 726 seriously ill COVID-19 patients: A retrospective cohort study

Background: For coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), early identification of patients with serious symptoms at risk of critical illness and death is important for personalized treatment and balancing medical resources.Methods: Demographics, clinical characteristics, and laboratory tests data from 726 patients with serious COVID-19 at Tongji Hospital (Wuhan, China) were analyzed. Patients were classified into critical group (n = 174) and severe group (n= 552), the critical group was sub-divided into survivors (n = 47) and non-survivors (n = 127).Results: Multivariable analyses revealed the risk factors associated with critical illness in serious patients were: Advanced age, high respiratory rate (RR), high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, high hypersensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) level, and thrombocytopenia on admission. High hs-cTnI level was the independent risk factor of mortality among critically ill patients in the unadjusted and adjusted models. ROC curves demonstrated that hs-cTnI and LDH were predictive factors for critical illness in patients with serious COVID-19 whereas procalcitonin and D-Dimer with hs-cTnI and LDH were predictive parameters in mortality risk.Conclusions: Advanced age, high RR, LDH, hs-cTnI, and thrombocytopenia, constitute risk factors for critical illness among patients with serious COVID-19, and the hs-cTnI level helps predict fatal outcomes in critically ill patients.     

胸主动脉腔内修复术中应用体外开窗技术重建左锁骨下动脉的临床分析

目的 探讨体外开窗技术在胸主动脉腔内修复术(TEVAR)中重建左锁骨下动脉(LSA)的方法和疗效。方法 回顾性分析2016年1月—2018年12月南京鼓楼医院和徐州市中心医院血管外科应用体外开窗技术在TEVAR中重建LSA的67例患者的临床资料,其中男51例、女16例,年龄41～76(63±5)岁。67例中,B型主动脉夹层50例、胸主动脉瘤11例、壁间血肿4例、主动脉溃疡2例。观察患者TEVAR后的内漏发生率,主体和分支支架的位置、完整性和通畅性,以及患者手术相关死亡率。结果 67例患者中,有66例成功采用体外开窗技术重建LSA,技术成功率达98.5%;另1例因术中对位不准确转为烟囱技术重建LSA,术后均获随访(3~48个月)。术后即刻造影提示存在少量Ⅰ型内漏3例,未予处理,术后3个月复查主动脉CT血管造影(CTA))提示内漏消失;2例患者术后出现左上肢乏力,其中1例伴头晕,均在随访过程中逐渐恢复,无肢体缺血坏死。随访中所有患者分支支架及主体支架均通畅并保持着良好的完整性,无主动脉覆膜支架移位、内漏等并发症,无手术相关死亡患者。结论 体外开窗技术为TEVAR中重建LSA提供了技术支持,方法简单有效,短、中期随访结果满意。     

Identification and Validation of Six Autophagy-related Long Non-coding RNAs as Prognostic Signature in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a commonly occurring tumour with poor prognosis. Autophagy-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have received much attention as biomarkers for cancer prognosis and diagnosis. However, few studies have focused on their prognostic predictive value specifically in CRC. This research aimed to construct a robust autophagy-related lncRNA prognostic signature for CRC. Autophagy-related lncRNAs from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were screened using univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and the resulting key lncRNAs were used to establish a prognostic risk score model. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to detect the expression of several lncRNAs in cancer tissues from CRC patients and in normal tissues adjacent to the cancer tissues. A prognostic signature comprising lncRNAs {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AC125603.2","term_id":"21630347","term_text":"AC125603.2"}}AC125603.2, LINC00909, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AC016876.1","term_id":"6539320","term_text":"AC016876.1"}}AC016876.1, MIR210HG, AC009237.14, and LINC01063 was identified in patients with CRC. A graphical nomogram based on the autophagy-related lncRNA signature was developed to predict CRC patients'' 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. Overall survival in patients with low risk scores was significantly better than in those with high risk scores (P < 0.0001); a similar result was obtained in an internal validation sample. The nomogram was shown to be suitable for clinical use and gave correct predictions. The 1- and 3-year values of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.797 and 0.771 in the model sample, and 0.656 and 0.642 in the internal validation sample, respectively. The C-index values for the verification samples and training samples were 0.756 (95% CI = 0.668-0.762) and 0.715 (95% CI = 0.683-0.829), respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that the six autophagy-related lncRNAs were greatly enriched in CRC-related signalling pathways, including p53 and VEGF signalling. The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of lncRNAs in CRC was higher than that in adjacent tissues, consistent with the expression trends of lncRNAs in the CRC data set. In summary, we established a signature of six autophagy-related lncRNAs that could effectively guide clinical prediction of prognosis in patients with CRC. This lncRNA signature has significant clinical implications for improving the prediction of outcomes and, with further prospective validation, could be used to guide tailored therapy for CRC patients.     

Bioinformatics Analyses of Potential miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Axis in HBV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Aims: We aimed to explore the crucial miRNA-mRNA axis through bioinformatics analysis and provide evidences for the development of pathophysiological mechanisms and new therapies for HBV-related HCC.Methods: MiRNA ({"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE76903","term_id":"76903"}}GSE76903) and mRNA ({"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE77509","term_id":"77509"}}GSE77509) dataset were used to screen differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) and differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs) using R software. Overlapping genes between DE-mRNAs and target genes of DE-miRNAs were identified as candidate genes. Hub genes were obtained via cytohubba analysis. The expression at protein and mRNA levels and prognostic value of hub genes were evaluated based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Key miRNA-mRNA axes were constructed according to predicted miRNA-mRNA pairs. MiRNA expression and prognostic role were respectively identified using starBase v3.0 and Kaplan-Meier plotter database. Real-time PCR was performed to verify the expression of crucial miRNAs and mRNAs. Coexpression of crucial miRNA and mRNA were analyzed using starBase v3.0.Results: CDK1, CCNB1, CKS2 and CCNE1 were screened as hub genes, which were significantly upregulated at protein and mRNA levels. These up-regulated hub genes were also significantly associated with poor prognosis. Hsa-mir-195-5p/CDK1, hsa-mir-5589-3p/CCNB1 and hsa-let-7c-3p/CKS2 were screened as critical miRNA-mRNA axes. Critical miRNAs were decreased in HCC, which indicates unfavourable prognosis. QPCR results showed that crucial miRNAs were decreased, whereas critical mRNAs were increased in HBV-related HCC. A reverse relationship between miRNA and mRNA in crucial axis was further verified.Conclusion: This study identified several miRNA-mRNA axes in HBV-related HCC. Hsa-mir-195-5p/CDK1, hsa-mir-5589-3p/CCNB1 and hsa-let-7c-3p/CKS2 might serve as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HBV-related HCC.     

Extracellular pH changes and accompanying cation shifts during ouabain-induced spreading depression

Interstitial ionic shifts that accompany ouabain-induced spreading depression (SD) were studied in rat hippocampal and cortical slices in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca(2+). A double-barreled ion-selective microelectrode specific for H(+), K(+), Na(+), or Ca(2+) was placed in the CA1 stratum radiatum or midcortical layer. Superfusion of 100 microM ouabain caused a rapid, negative, interstitial voltage shift (2-10 mV) after 3-5 min. The negativity was accompanied by a rapid alkaline transient followed by prolonged acidosis. In media containing 3 mM Ca(2+), the alkalosis induced by ouabain averaged 0.07 +/- 0.01 unit pH. In media with no added Ca(2+) and 2 mM EGTA, the alkaline shift was not significantly different (0.09 +/- 0.02 unit pH). The alkaline transient was unaffected by inhibiting Na(+)-H(+) exchange with ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA) or by blocking endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) uptake with thapsigargin or cyclopiazonic acid. Alkaline transients were also observed in Ca(2+)-free media when SD was induced by microinjecting high K(+). The late acidification accompanying ouabain-induced SD was significantly reduced in Ca(2+)-free media and in solutions containing EIPA. The ouabain-induced SD was associated with a rapid but relatively modest increase in [K(+)](o). In the presence of 3 mM external Ca(2+), the mean peak elevation of [K(+)](o) was 12 +/- 0.62 mM. In Ca(2+)-free media, the elevation of [K(+)](o) had a more gradual onset and reached a significantly larger peak value, which averaged 22 +/- 1.1 mM. The decrease in [Na(+)](o) that accompanied ouabain-induced SD was somewhat greater. The [Na(+)](o) decreased by averages of 40 +/- 7 and 33 +/- 3 mM in Ca(2+) and Ca(2+)-free media, respectively. In media containing 1.2 mM Ca(2+), ouabain-induced SD was associated with a substantial decrease in [Ca(2+)](o) that averaged 0.73 +/- 0. 07 mM. These data demonstrate that in comparison with conventional SD, ouabain-induced SD exhibits ion shifts that are qualitatively similar but quantitatively diminished. The presence of external Ca(2+) can modulate the phenomenon but is irrelevant to the generation of the SD and its accompanying alkaline pH transient. Significance of these results is discussed in reference to the propagation of SD and the generation of interstitial pH changes.     

降钙素基因相关肽在哮喘豚鼠内脏传入系统的定量分析

本文应用放射免疫分析方法研究了实验性哮喘豚鼠与下呼吸道有关的内脏传入系统内降钙素基因相关肽含量的变化 ,藉以探讨降钙素基因相关肽在哮喘发病时的作用机制。结果表明 ,哮喘豚鼠与下呼吸道有关的内脏传入系统 (结状神经节、C7～T5 节段脊神经节和脊髓后角、孤束核等处 )中的降钙素基因相关肽含量明显高于各对照组 ( P<0 .0 5)。本研究提示 ,下呼吸道和肺的内脏传入成分中的降钙素基因相关肽可能参与哮喘发病的病理生理过程。     

牙周炎牙龈中表皮生长因子受体表达的研究

目的:观察表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)在牙周炎中的表达。方法:采用免疫组化方法,检测15例健康人、32例成人牙周炎(AP)和12例青少年牙周炎(JP)患者牙龈的EGFR表达。结果:正常牙龈EGFR仅局限于基底细胞膜;在AP患者牙周袋内壁或结合上皮,大部分上皮细胞膜存在EGFR高水平表达,基底层最强烈,随角化细胞的分化而逐渐减弱消失;JP患者牙龈亦出现局限于上皮生发层的高水平表达。AP与JP之间或与正常牙龈之间差异非常显著(P＜0.01)。结论: EGFR可能影响着结合上皮向根方迁移的过程,在AP和JP 的发生发展中起着一定的作用。     

氧伲修饰的β2—糖蛋白—1诱导抗心磷脂抗体的产生

目的：探讨蛋白质的氧化修饰与体内抗磷脂抗体产生的关系。方法：首先,在体外以次黄嘌呤／黄嘌呤氧化酶氧化系统氧化大鼠β２－ＧＰ１,然后以氧化的β２－ＧＰ１（ｏｘβ２－ＧＰ１）免疫同种大鼠,最后以ＥＬＩＳＡ方法检测被免疫大鼠β２－ＧＰ１血清中的抗心磷脂抗体（ＡＣＡ）。结果：氧化的β２－ＧＰ１免疫的大鼠血清中产生高滴度的ＡＣＡ。结论：β２－ＧＰ１的氧化修饰在ＡＣＡ的产生上可能起十分重要的作用。     

基于CT和MRI膝关节有限元模型建立与不同载荷下生物力学特性分析

基于CT和MRI图像数据建立膝关节有限元模型,采用六面体网格对不同载荷系统下人体膝关节生物力学特性进行研究,并进行有效性验证。建立膝关节有限元模型包括:股骨、胫骨、髌骨、腓骨、股骨软骨、胫骨软骨、腓骨软骨、半月板、前后交叉韧带、内外侧副韧带、髌韧带和股四头肌腱等。对膝关节施加1 kN轴向压缩载荷、134 N后向抽屉力和5、10、15 N[?m内翻力矩和外翻力矩,分析膝关节内软骨和半月板的接触应力和接触面积,股骨内外翻倾角以及位移变化情况。在1 kN压缩载荷和134 N抽屉力作用下,股骨软骨、内外侧半月板和内外侧胫骨软骨的接触应力峰值分别为4.47、3.25、2.83、2.70、2.53 MPa,Von Mises应力峰值分别为2.22、2.44、2.25、2.07、1.64 MPa。股骨相对胫骨前向位移为4.19 mm。施加5、10、15 N[?m内翻和外翻力矩时,股骨内翻和外翻倾角分别为3.49°、4.48°、4.91°和3.22°、3.62°、4.01°。随着力矩的线性增大,膝关节各组成部分的应力呈非线性变化趋势。膝关节软骨、半月板和韧带的研究结果符合其生物力学特性,与前人数值分析和实验研究结果相一致,可为临床膝关节生理病理分析和治疗提供一定的理论依据。