Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio: a controversial marker in predicting Crohn’s disease severity

Peripheral blood-derived inflammation-based scores such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have recently been proposed as prognostic markers in ulcerative colitis. In some previous serological markers are commonly used to detect the severity of the Crohn’s disease (CD), but their sensitivity and specificity are relatively low. So we want to use simple indicators which are easy to obtain to predict disease severity. Now, we investigated and compared the capacity of NLR and other inflammatory markers in detecting CD activity and differentiating CD patients from healthy controls. These CD patients had not received corticosteroid or immunosuppressive drugs within a defined period of time. Data from our hospital between 2010 and 2012 was used. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cells (WBC), platelet count and albumin were measured in 44 patients with active CD, 66 patients with inactive CD, and 55 healthy blood donors. Disease activity was assessed by the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index. In the active CD group, NLR values were found to be elevated compared to inactive CD patients and controls (6.00±7.38, 5.53±6.18 and 1.84±0.85, respectively), but statistical difference was not found between active and inactive CD groups. The overall accuracy of NLR (cutoff: 2.13 fl), CRP (cutoff: 10.5 mg/dl), ESR (cutoff: 19.5 mm/hour) and WBC (cutoff: 9.2 × 10⁹/l) in differentiating CD patients from healthy controls was 80.9%, 67.3%, 71% and 60% respectively. NLR values were found to be correlated with WBC and CRP levels. NLR increased in CD patients compared with healthy subjects. NLR had the best accuracy in determination of CD patients and healthy controls. NLR did not show a discriminative value in disease activity.     

Tailoring of pore structure in mesoporous carbon for favourable flavin mediated interfacial electron transfer in microbial fuel cells

Mesoporous carbon (MC) is supposed to be a good candidate for microbial fuel cell (MFC) anodes as it possesses a large specific area for the redox reaction of the electron shuttles and should deliver high power density. However, the power generation performance of MC anodes is often un-satisfying. It seems that a large portion of the pore surface is not available for anodic redox reaction but the reason is not clear. Here, three MCs with different pore sizes and pore shapes were fabricated and used to explore the effect of the pore structure on the bioelectrocatalysis in Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 MFCs. It is interesting that MC with 40–60 nm spheric pores (MC-III) possesses superior bio-electrocatalytic performance to the CMK-3 (MC-I with 3 nm channel like pores) and the one with 14 nm spheric pores (MC-II) although the specific surface area of MC-III is lower than MC-II and MC-I. The reason might be that the MC-III provides a more favorable pore structure than the other two MCs for flavin based redox reaction at the interface between the biofilm and the electrode. As a result, the MC-III anode delivered the highest power density at around 1700 mW m⁻², which is 1.6 fold higher than that of the MC-I anode. A possible mechanism for the pore shape/size dependent interfacial electron transfer process has also been proposed. This work reveals that spheric mesopores with large pore width could be more favorable than the narrow channel-like pores for flavin based interfacial electron transfer in biofilm anodes, which will provide some insights for the design of the mesoporous anode in MFCs.

Spherical mesopores with large pore width are more favorable to flavin mediated interfacial electron transfer in microbial fuel cells.     

Venous thromboembolism in non-COVID-19 population during the pandemic: a nationwide multicenter retrospective survey

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Although mechanical thrombectomy is a powerful predictor of stroke outcome, it induces vessel wall injury in the acute phase. This study aimed to analyze...     

Left atrial function assessed by tissue doppler imaging as a new predictor of cardiac events after non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) function is a predictor for future cardiac events in patients with non‐ST‐elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE‐ACS). The aim of this study was to assess whether left atrium (LA) function has additional predictive value for the prognosis of NSTE‐ACS patients, especially when assessed by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Methods and Results: This study prospectively recruited 164 patients with NSTE‐ACS where clinical and echocardiographic parameters were collected within the first 72 hours of admission. Primary end point was assessed during the 6‐month follow‐up period which included cardiac mortality and/or rehospitalization for recurrent ACS or heart failure. Atrial function was assessed by conventional echocardiographic parameters and by TDI that measured the mean atrial contraction velocity at the midsegments of interatrial septum, anterior, inferior, and lateral wall of LA (mLA‐V). The primary end point occurred in 33 (20.1%) patients who had lower mLV‐A (5.4 ± 1.6 vs 6.5 ± 1.4 cm/sec, P < 0.01). Patients with mLA‐V <6.3 cm/sec had more cardiac events (30.9% vs 9.6%, P < 0.01). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, mLA‐V <6.3 cm/sec was an independent predictor for cardiac events (odds ratio: 2.79, 95% confidence interval: 1.07–7.30, P = 0.04). Furthermore, mLA‐V<6.3 cm/sec had an incremental predictive value for cardiac events to clinical data, LV ejection fraction, and LV diastolic function (E/E’) (P = 0.02). Conclusions: In patients with NSTE‐ACS, early assessment of LA function by TDI appears useful to predict the midterm cardiac events, which adds prognostic information in addition to that of LV function.     

小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分离培养新方法

本研究旨在建立一种方便、快捷、有效体外分离培养小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（mesenchymalstemcells,MSC）的方法。在无菌条件下取小鼠股骨、胫骨,分别用全骨髓贴壁法、骨片消化法、骨髓加骨片法分离小鼠MSC,比较Msc集落出现时间、大小及数量;应用流式细胞术检测细胞免疫表型,并进行MSC成骨、成脂分化鉴定。结果表明,骨髓加骨片法出现的集落时间最早,集落数量最多,第4天集落数为20±4个;骨片消化法为11．5±2．5个;全骨髓贴壁法最少,为9．5±1．5个;到第3代时,骨髓加骨片法获得细胞数量最多,是全骨髓贴壁法和骨片消化法的2倍;流式细胞术检测结果显示,获得的细胞高表达干细胞标志之一Sca-1,高表达CDdd、CD29,不表达白细胞表面抗原CIM5和内皮细胞标志CD31等;所分离的MSC在成骨诱导体系和成脂诱导体系中能分别向成骨细胞和脂肪细胞分化,具有典型的MSC特性。结论：骨髓加骨片法是一种方便、快捷、有效的小鼠骨髓MSC分离方法。     

Do Modic changes affect cervical sagittal alignment and motion in symptomatic patients?

Purpose

The cervical segmental instability often occurs simultaneously with Modic changes (MCs). However, it is unknown whether there is a relation between the two diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MCs and cervical segmental instability, cervical curvature and range of motion (ROM) in the cervical spine.

Methods

A total of 464 patients with neck pain or cervical neurologic symptoms who underwent imaging examination were analyzed retrospectively. Based on MRI imaging cervical MCs were diagnosed, and patients were divided into with or without MCs groups. The cervical curvature and range of motion were measured. We compared the incidence of cervical instability, cervical curvature and ROM between the two group patients and their relationships with MCs were studied. Logistic regression was used to study the risk factors associated with MCs.

Results

MCs were observed in 94 of 464 patients and 122 of total 2320 cervical segments and were most frequent at C5–6 segment. The incidence of the cervical instability was significantly higher in patients with MCs than those without MCs at cervical level C3–7. In addition, cervical curvature and ROM in patients with MCs were less than those without MCs. Logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of cervical spine instability, less cervical curvature and ROM were risk factors for MCs.

Conclusions

Patients with MCs were prone to have cervical instability at the same cervical level and may have a higher possibility of less cervical curvature and ROM.

     

Cytotoxic polyhydroxylated pregnane glycosides from Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta

Fourteen new polyhydroxylated pregnane glycosides, cissasteroid A–N (1–14), and five known analogues (15–19), were isolated from the dried whole plant of Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data, chemical hydrolysis, and ECD measurements. All the compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines, and inhibitory activity against NO release in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Compared with cisplatin, compound 7 showed more potent cytotoxicities against the HL-60, A549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW480 cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 2.19, 14.38, 2.00, 7.58, and 7.44 μM, respectively. The preliminary study of structure–activity relationship indicated that benzoic acid esterification at C-20 may have a negative effect on the cytotoxic activity of polyhydroxylated pregnane derivatives in these five human cancer cell lines. These results revealed the potential of compound 7 as an ideal antitumor lead compound.

Fourteen new polyhydroxylated pregnane glycosides, cissasteroid A–N (1–14), and five known analogues (15–19), were isolated from the dried whole plant of Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta.     

巩膜瓣可调整缝线在小梁切除术中的临床观察

目的:观察巩膜瓣可调整缝线在小梁切除术中应用的效果。方法:在巩膜瓣两侧切口边缘(约中央处)作一对张力较大的外露可调整缝线,外露端在角膜缘前透明角膜处约lmm。结果:78例(84眼)术后3d3眼出现Ⅰ级浅前房,术后6d5眼拆线后出现Ⅰ级浅前房,经处理后恢复正常,无1眼发生持续性浅前房。术后5～21d通过调整可拆除缝线及按摩眼球,眼压均控制在5.3～12.6mmHg(lmmHg=0.133kPa)之间(非接触眼压计NDEKNT-2000);术后随访视力较术前提高者25例占32%、不变者47例占60%、下降者6例占8%。结论:巩膜瓣可调整缝线的应用可有效地调节眼压,大大减少术后浅前房发生率,提高手术成功率。