Functional and psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatic patients’ quality of life in Saudi Arabia

Quality of Life Research - The COVID-19 pandemic might add to the stressors experienced by people living with rheumatic diseases. This study aimed to examine rheumatic patients’ functional...     

基于网络药理学和实验验证研究柴胡疏肝散治疗慢性萎缩性胃炎的作用机制＊

目的 通过网络药理学的方法进行预测，再深一步进行动物实验验证来研究柴胡疏肝散治疗CAG的作用机制。方法 首先在TCMSP数据库中检索柴胡疏肝散的所有活性成分与药物靶点；通过收集PharmGkb、OMIM、GeneCards和DrugBank数据库中收录的慢性萎缩性胃炎的相关靶点。将药物靶点与疾病靶点进行映射筛选出交集靶点，将得到的交集靶点构建PPI网络与活性成分-共同靶点网络，并对其进行GO和KEGG富集分析。最后利用Vina软件进行分子对接实验验证，并通过免疫印迹法验证柴胡疏肝散对两种受体蛋白EGFR和STAT1的影响。结果 最终筛选得到柴胡疏肝散活性成分104个，潜在靶点238个，与慢性萎缩性胃炎的交集靶点52个；GO与KEGG富集分析分别得到2166条目和148条目，主要涉及到JAK-STAT信号通路、TNF信号通路、HIF-1信号通路等；分子对接结果显示EGFR、STAT1两个靶点能够与核心活性成分能够自发结合成较为稳定的构像；免疫印迹法实验证明柴胡疏肝散能够降低大鼠胃黏膜组织EGFR和STAT1蛋白表达。结论 通过网络药理学和实验验证，发现柴胡疏肝散可能通过调节EGFR和STAT1蛋白表达来共同调控胃黏膜细胞增殖与凋亡，进而发挥着治疗慢性萎缩性胃炎的效果，为深入进行柴胡疏肝散治疗慢性萎缩性胃炎的作用机制研究提供新思路和新方法。     

CD19 + CD21lo/neg cells are increased in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The purpose of this study was to examine recirculating lymphocytes from SSc patients for potential biomarkers of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients with SSc and healthy controls enrolled in the Vanderbilt University Myositis and Scleroderma Treatment Initiative Center cohort between 9/2017–6/2019. Clinical phenotyping was performed by chart abstraction. Immunophenotyping was performed using both mass cytometry and fluorescence cytometry combined with t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding analysis and traditional biaxial gating. This study included 34 patients with SSc-ILD, 14 patients without SSc-ILD, and 25 healthy controls. CD21^lo/neg cells are significantly increased in SSc-ILD but not in SSc without ILD (15.4 ± 13.3% vs. 5.8 ± 0.9%, p = 0.002) or healthy controls (5.0 ± 0.5%, p < 0.0001). While CD21^lo/neg B cells can be identified from a single biaxial gate, tSNE analysis reveals that the biaxial gate is comprised of multiple distinct subsets, all of which are increased in SSc-ILD. CD21^lo/neg cells in both healthy controls and SSc-ILD are predominantly tBET positive and do not have intracellular CD21. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated that CD21^lo/neg B cells diffusely infiltrate the lung parenchyma of an SSc-ILD patient. Additional work is needed to validate this biomarker in larger cohorts and longitudinal studies and to understand the role of these cells in SSc-ILD.

     

Update PONV – Was gibt es Neues bei der Prophylaxe und Therapie von postoperativer Übelkeit und postoperativem Erbrechen?

Die Anaesthesiologie - Auch wenn für Anästhesiologen über Jahrzehnte die Prophylaxe und Therapie postoperativer Schmerzen im Rahmen des postoperativen Patientenkomforts an vorderster...     

The exercise pressor reflex: An update

The exercise pressor reflex is a feedback mechanism engaged upon stimulation of mechano- and metabosensitive skeletal muscle afferents. Activation of these afferents elicits a reflex increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and ventilation in an intensity-dependent manner. Consequently, the exercise pressor reflex has been postulated to be one of the principal mediators of the cardiorespiratory responses to exercise. In this updated review, we will discuss classical and recent advancements in our understating of the exercise pressor reflex function in both human and animal models. Particular attention will be paid to the afferent mechanisms and pathways involved during its activation, its effects on different target organs, its potential role in the abnormal cardiovascular response to exercise in diseased states, and the impact of age and biological sex on these responses. Finally, we will highlight some unanswered questions in the literature that may inspire future investigations in the field.

     

COVID-19 Gender Disparities and Mitigation Recommendations: A Narrative Review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly created widespread impacts on global health and the economy. Data suggest that women are less susceptible to severe illness. However, sex-disaggregated data are incomplete, leaving room for misinterpretation, and focusing only on biologic sex underestimates the gendered impact of the pandemic on women. This narrative review summarizes what is known about gender disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic, domestic, and health burdens along with overlapping vulnerabilities related to the pandemic. In addition, this review outlines recommended strategies that advocacy groups, community leaders, and policymakers should implement to mitigate the widening gender disparities related to COVID-19.