Prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases in collagen synthesis

Collagens are the most abundant proteins in the extracellular matrix. They provide a framework to build organs and tissues and give structural support to make them resistant to mechanical load and forces. Several intra‐ and extracellular modifications are needed to make functional collagen molecules, intracellular post‐translational modifications of proline and lysine residues having key roles in this. In this article, we provide a review on the enzymes responsible for the proline and lysine modifications, that is collagen prolyl 4‐hydroxylases, 3‐hydroxylases and lysyl hydroxylases, and discuss their biological functions and involvement in diseases.     

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.     

四川省三州地区卫生人力资源配置与公平性评价分析

目的:了解2011-2017年四川省三州地区卫生人力资源配置现状,为三州地区卫生人力资源的合理配置提供参考。方法:利用千人卫生人力资源拥有量指标、基尼系数和卫生人力资源密度指数(HRDI)分析卫生人力资源配置现状及其公平性。结果:三州地区千人卫生人力资源拥有量呈增长趋势;基尼系数大多超过0.4,仅护士按人口分布的基尼系数较小;卫生人力资源密度指数较小,需要量、缺乏量及缺乏比例均较大。结论:三州地区卫生人力得到一定程度改善;但配置公平性较差,尤其按地理、经济分布很不均衡;医护人员短缺,需要重点投入。     

Prevalence of HER2 Expression and Its Correlation with Clinicopathological Parameters in Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma in North-East Indian Population

Objective: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (erbb2/HER2) overexpression, has now been implicatedin advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. The study was conducted to determine the rate of HER2positivity in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma in North-EastIndia and to assess the impact of various demographic and clinical parameters on HER2 positivity. Methods: A total of68 patients of age >18 years of gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma diagnosed on histopathological examinationfrom September 2016 to February 2018 at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Assam were enrolled for the observational(epidemiological) study. All patients were subjected to the HER2 immunohistochemistry test using a FDA-approved,standardized test kit. HER2 expression was correlated with various demographic and clinicopathological parameters.Results: The overall rate of HER2 positivity in the population studied was 56% (n=38). The rate was non-significantlyhigher in male, older age group (>60 years) and Hindu population. Similarly, HER2 positivity rate was higher in patientswith well differentiated histology and was more common in patients with stage II and III diseases, but neither of theassociations is statistically significant. HER2 positivity rate was significantly higher in proximal and in GEJ tumours(56% versus 44%, P=0.002). Conclusion: HER2 overexpression was evident in 56% of the North-East Indian patientswith locally advanced and metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. The overexpression correlatedsignificantly with primary tumour site. Routine testing of gastric and gastroesophageal tumours for HER2 expressionis recommended to provide a therapeutic advantage in Indian patients.     

Resistin is elevated in cystic fibrosis sputum and correlates negatively with lung function

Background

Resistin is an immunometabolic mediator that is elevated in several inflammatory disorders. A ligand for Toll-like receptor 4, resistin modulates the recruitment and activation of myeloid cells, notably neutrophils. Neutrophils are major drivers of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease, in part due to the release of human neutrophil elastase- and myeloperoxidase-rich primary granules, leading to tissue damage. Here we assessed the relationship of resistin to CF lung disease.

Emerging Viral Infections Causing Anterior Uveitis

Purpose: To review the systemic and ocular manifestations of specific emergent viral infectious diseases relevant to the ophthalmologist with particular emphasis on anterior uveitis

Methods: Review of literature.

Results: Arboviral diseases are among the most important emergent and resurgent human infections, occurring mostly in tropical and subtropical zones, but appearing in virtually all regions of the world as a result of climate change, travel, and globalization. Arboviral infections are transmitted to humans by the bite of hematophagous arthropods, mainly mosquitoes. Systemic disease may range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. A wide variety of ocular manifestations, including uveitis, has been reported in association with these emerging viral diseases. Numerous viruses other than arboviruses also have been recently recognized as a potential cause of uveitis.

Conclusions: Proper clinical diagnosis of any emerging infectious disease is based on epidemiological data, history, systemic symptoms and signs, and the pattern of ocular involvement. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by detection of virus-specific DNA or antivirus antibodies in serum.     

Caffeic Acid–coated Nanolayer on Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Potentiates the Host Immune Responses,Angiogenesis, and Odontogenesis

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate whether mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) can be modified with caffeic acid (CA) to form caffeic acid/mineral trioxide aggregate (CAMTA) cement and to evaluate its physicochemical and biological properties as well as its capability in immune suppression and angiogenesis.MethodsMTA was immersed in trishydroxymethyl aminomethane buffer with CA to allow coating onto MTA powders. X-ray diffractometry and tensile stress-strain tests were conducted to assess for physical characteristics of CAMTA and to evaluate for successful modification of MTA. Then, the CAMTA cement was immersed in simulated body fluid to evaluate its hydroxyapatite formation capabilities and Si release profiles. In addition, RAW 264.7 cells and human dental pulp stem cells were used to evaluate CAMTA’s immunosuppressive capabilities and cell responses, respectively. hDPSCs were also used to assess CAMTA’s angiogenic capabilities.ResultsThe X-ray diffractometry results showed that CA can be successfully coated onto MTA without disrupting or losing MTA’s original structural properties, thus allowing us to retain the initial advantages of MTA. CAMTA was shown to have higher mechanical properties compared with MTA and had rougher pitted surfaces, which were hypothesized to lead to enhanced adhesion, proliferation, and secretion of angiogenic- and odontogenic-related proteins. In addition, it was found that CAMTA was able to enhance hydroxyapatite formation and immunosuppressive capabilities compared with MTA.ConclusionsCAMTA cements were found to have improved physicochemical and biological characteristics compared with their counterpart. In addition, CAMTA cements had enhanced odontogenic, angiogenic, and immunosuppressive properties compared with MTA. All of the results of this study proved that CAMTA cements could be a biomaterial for future clinical applications and tissue engineering use.     

孟鲁司特治疗呼吸道合胞病毒毛细支气管炎症状及反复喘息疗效研究

背景　呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV）毛细支气管炎易出现反复喘息，且下呼吸道分泌物中半胱氨酸白三烯（CysLTs）水平升高。而孟鲁司特是一种白三烯受体拮抗剂，关于其治疗RSV毛细支气管炎症状的研究相对较少。目的　探讨孟鲁司特改善婴幼儿RSV毛细支气管炎后症状及减轻反复喘息发作的有效性和安全性。方法　2015年6月-2017年6月连续纳入在潍坊市妇幼保健院出院的RSV毛细支气管炎患儿，随机分为治疗组、对照组。Ⅰ期，治疗组：口服孟鲁司特颗粒（4 mg）12周，1次/d；对照组：口服安慰剂12周，1次/d。对两组无症状天数、个人日记评分进行评估。随访9个月（Ⅱ期），观察Ⅰ+Ⅱ期反复喘息人数和医疗资源应用情况等。依据意向性分析（ITT）原则，应用全分析集（FAS）分析数据。结果　共纳入研究对象186例，治疗组92例，对照组94例。治疗组完成Ⅰ期研究的患儿为89例，对照组为90例；治疗组完成Ⅰ+Ⅱ期的患儿为84例，对照组为86例。治疗组平均依从性为97.8%（7 560/7 728），对照组平均依从性为97.4%（7 690/7 896），两组患儿平均依从性比较，差异无统计学意义（χ2=3.16，P=0.07）。在Ⅰ期研究期间，两组无症状天数、日间无症状天数、夜间无症状天数、个人日记评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。在整个研究过程中（Ⅰ+Ⅱ期），治疗组RSV毛细支气管炎喘息复发人数少于对照组（P<0.05），治疗组喘息患儿出现2次及以上喘息比例低于对照组（χ2=5.14，P=0.02）。Ⅰ+Ⅱ期研究期间治疗组医疗资源应用人数、β-受体激动剂应用人数、糖皮质激素应用人数、住院人数低于对照组（P<0.05）。在事后亚组分析中，治疗组有湿疹史与父母哮喘史的患儿中无症状天数〔（49.7±20.2）、（51.3±20.9）d〕多于对照组〔（36.3±20.4）、（37.8±19.3）d〕（t=2.19，P=0.03；t=2.24，P=0.03）。整个研究过程中没有患儿因不良反应退出研究，两组间胃肠道紊乱、皮疹、转氨酶升高发生率比较，差异均无统计学意义（χ2=0.23，P=0.63；χ2=0.03，P=0.86；χ2=0.15，P=0.69）。结论　口服孟鲁司特（4 mg）12周不能改善RSV毛细支气管炎患儿呼吸道症状，但能降低患儿反复喘息发作次数。口服孟鲁司特（4 mg）有一定效果且安全。