The influence of humic acid on the toxicity of nano‐ZnO and Zn2+ to the Anabaena sp.

This study explored the effects of humic acid (HA) on the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles (nano‐ZnO) and Zn²⁺ to Anabaena sp. Typical chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, including effective quantum yield, photosynthetic efficiency and maximal electron transport rate, were measured by a pulse‐amplitude modulated fluorometer. Results showed that nano‐ZnO and Zn²⁺ could inhibit Anabaena sp. growth with the EC₅₀ (concentration for 50% of maximal effect) of 0.74 ± 0.01 and 0.3 ± 0.01 mg/L, respectively. In the presence of 3.0 mg/L of HA, EC₅₀ of nano‐ZnO increased to 1.15 ± 0.04 mg/L and EC₅₀ of Zn²⁺ was still 0.3 ± 0.01 mg/L. Scanning electron microscopy observation revealed that HA prevented the adhesion of nano‐ZnO on the algae cells due to the increased electrostatic repulsion. The generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and cellular lipid peroxidation were significantly limited by HA. Nano‐ZnO had more damage to the cell membrane than Zn²⁺ did, which could be proven by the malondialdehyde content in Anabaena sp. cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 895–903, 2015.     

Risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder in acute trauma patients: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most commonly reported mental health consequences, followed by disasters and traumatic events, either natural or man-made. At present, there are no unified results for the prevalence rate of PTSD in patients suffering from acute trauma and related influencing factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the existing literatures, thus obtaining a comprehensive estimation of the combined prevalence rate of PTSD and related factors in trauma patients, so as to provide evidence support for clinical disease prediction models and intervention strategies.Methods:Published articles will be retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Database. Research reports will be searched in March 2021. STATA 14.0 software will be applied for data analysis. Mantel–Haenszel fixed effect model or DerSimonian–Laird random effect model will be selected to estimate the pooled prevalence of PTSD in patients with acute trauma and associated factors.Results:We will disseminate the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis via publications in peer-reviewed journals.Conclusions:The results of this analysis can be used to establish a risk prediction model of PTSD in patients experiencing acute trauma, so as to provide intervention strategies.OSF Registration Number:DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/Z275U.     

Effects of diallyl trisulfide on induction of apoptotic death in murine leukemia WEHI‐3 cells in vitro and alterations of the immune responses in normal and leukemic mice in vivo

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a chemopreventive dietary constituent and extracted from garlic, has been shown to against cultured many types of human cancer cell liens but the fate of apoptosis in murine leukemia cells in vitro and immune responses in leukemic mice remain elusive. Herein, we clarified the actions of DATS on growth inhibition of murine leukemia WEHI‐3 cells in vitro and used WEHI‐3 cells to generate leukemic mice in vivo, following to investigate the effects of DATS in animal model. In in vitro study, DATS induced apoptosis of WEHI‐3 cells through the G0/G1 phase arrest and induction of caspase‐3 activation. In in vivo study DATS decreased the weight of spleen of leukemia mice but did not affect the spleen weight of normal mice. DATS promoted the immune responses such as promotions of the macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell activities in WEHI‐3 leukemic and normal mice. However, DATS only promotes NK cell activities in normal mice. DATS increases the surface markers of CD11b and Mac‐3 in leukemia mice but only promoted CD3 in normal mice. In conclusion, the present study indicates that DATS induces cell death through induction of apoptosis in mice leukemia WHEI‐3 cells. DATS also promotes immune responses in leukemia and normal mice in vivo. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 1343–1353, 2015.     

Protective effect of Juglanin against doxorubicin-induced cognitive impairment in rats: Effect on oxidative, inflammatory and apoptotic machineries

Metabolic Brain Disease - Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective anticancer drug, however, side effects such as cognitive impairment and cardiotoxicity have limited its clinical use. Juglanin (JUG) is a...     

磁共振成像在心内膜心肌活检阴性心肌炎患者中的诊断价值:回顾性病例系列研究

目的分析临床诊断心肌炎但心内膜心肌活检(EMB)阴性患者的心脏磁共振(CMR)表现,探讨CMR在此类患者中的诊断价值。方法该研究为回顾性分析。纳入符合2013年欧洲心脏病学会(ESC)心肌炎临床诊断标准,但EMB阴性的患者14例。所有患者均行CMR检查,通过黑血序列、电影序列、T2W-STIR序列及钆对比剂延迟增强(LGE)序列,评价心脏的形态学、功能学、组织学改变。结果该研究共纳入14例符合临床诊断标准的心肌炎患者,男10例,女4例,年龄为(25.6±13.2)岁,症状发作至行CMR检查时间间隔为21(13,60)d,症状发作距离EMB检查时间为19(9,40)d。CMR阳性患者13例,表现为心肌水肿、纤维化、射血分数减低、心包积液或心腔增大等。14例患者中共9例患者存在CMR形态和/或功能异常,其中左心房增大1例,左心室增大1例,右心室增大3例,左心室收缩末期容积指数超过正常范围4例,左心室射血分数<50%3例,右心室射血分数<40%5例,心包积液深度>3 mm 3例。14例患者中,有11例存在组织学改变,其中6例患者的T2比值≥2;LGE阳性10例(10/14),最常见的强化模式为左心室侧壁心外膜下和/或室间隔肌壁间(9例),另外左心室壁广泛心内膜下强化2例,无右心室壁强化。结论CMR能够在体评估心脏形态、功能及组织学改变,对于EMB阴性的心肌炎患者,CMR具有良好的补充诊断价值。     

Translation and validation of Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 into Chinese: CAIMS2

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity, reliability, and cultural relevance of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 (AIMS2) as a health assessment tool for Chinese-speaking patients with arthritis. METHODS: The cultural relevance, language equivalency, and content validity of the AIMS2, Chinese version (CAIMS2) were evaluated by an expert panel. Measurement performance was tested on 240 subjects (rheumatoid arthritis = 81, osteoarthritis = 77, healthy = 82). Subjects (n = 175) were retested within 2 weeks for testing of reliability. RESULTS: Three items were modified and 2 items were added, as suggested by the expert panel. Interitem reliability was satisfactory (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.8552-0.9594). Test-retest reliability of the CAIMS2 subscales ranged from 0.770 to 0.952 in subjects in whom the CAIMS2 was self administered. Significant score differences between patients with arthritis and healthy subjects were found in all 12 subscales, except for the support from family and friends and tension subscales. CAIMS2 subscale scores correlated with clinical and laboratory measures of disease activity and patients' perceived quality of life as measured using the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument. CONCLUSION: Empirical data support CAIMS2 is a valid and reliable health status measure for Chinese speaking patients with arthritis.     

Primary adrenal insufficiency in a child with a mitochondrial DNA deletion

Mitochondrial disorders can affect any organ system, but certain tissues, such as skeletal muscle, heart, and brain are more susceptible to oxidative phosphorylation defects because of their high energy requirements. Endocrinological manifestations, especially diabetes mellitus, are common but they rarely dominate the clinical picture. We describe a 5-year-old girl who died of primary adrenal insufficiency with a mitochondrial disease. Biochemical studies in muscle showed decreased respiratory chain enzyme activities. We detected a novel 7.0 kb mtDNA deletion in muscle from the proband, but not in her mother's white blood cells. Our findings further enlarge the spectrum of clinical presentation associated with mitochondrial DNA deletions.     

Role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in hyperoxia-induced lung injury

Glutamate (Glu) N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is present in the lungs, and NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 attenuates oxidant lung injury. We hypothesized that Glu excitotoxicity may participate in the pathogenesis of hyperoxia-induced lung injury. To determine possible pulmonary protective effects, we administered 0.05 ml/kg MK-801 or saline intraperitoneally daily to neonatal rats exposed to more than 95% oxygen in air. After 7 days, MK-801 decreased the hyperoxia-associated elevation of wet-to-dry lung weight, total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, total protein and lactate dehydroase in BAL fluid, total myeloperoxidase activity, and lung pathological injury. MK-801 inhibited hyperoxia-associated increments in reactive oxygen species production and NF-kappaB production. Hence, NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 ameliorates hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats, and is associated with decreased reactive oxygen species and NF-kappaB. We conclude that Glu may play an important role in hyperoxia-induced lung injury by activation of NMDA receptor.     

Radiofrequency ablation of atrial tachycardia originating from the triangle of Koch

Atrial tachycardia (AT) originating in the triangle of Koch is reported rarely and presents a potential risk of atrioventricular (AV) block during radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation. Eight patients with AT in the triangle of Koch undergoing RF ablation are presented. There were five women and three men, ranging in age from 32 to 74 years. One patient had bicuspid aortic valve disease, and the other seven patients had no structural heart disease. At electrophysiological study, AT was inducible in all eight patients. In one patient, AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia was also inducible. The site of AT was located by recording the earliest atrial activation during AT and successful RF ablation. Fluoroscopy confirmed the corresponding site to the region of the triangle of Koch. The earliest atrial activation was 35+/-9 ms before the surface P wave, and was recorded at the apex of the triangle of Koch near the bundle of His in six patients and midway between the bundle of His and coronary sinus os in two patients. At the successful RF application site, His potential was not recorded in any patient. The mean AV ratio was 5:1 (range 1:1 to 12:1). RF ablation at the successful site resulted in accelerated junctional rhythm in four of the eight patients and successfully terminated AT in all eight patients, with first-degree AV block in one patient. In conclusion, AT from the triangle of Koch is a distinct entity and RF ablation can be successfully performed; however, a potential risk of AV block remains.