Donor characteristics do not influence transfusion-related acute lung injury incidence in a secondary analysis of two case-control studies

Objective

To investigate the relation between donor characteristics and TRALI incidence.

Altered IL-1 Expression and Compartmentalization in Monocytes from Patients with AIDS Stimulated with Mycobacterium avium Complex

The pathophysiologic basis for the exuberant intracellular growth of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in AIDS patients is unclear but may relate to altered expression of modulatory cytokines. Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and TNF- expression by monocytes from AIDS patients and healthy subjects (HS) stimulated with isogeneic MAC strains (SmT, smooth-transparent, virulent; SmD, smooth-domed, avirulent) was examined. Spontaneous cytokine production was not observed in patients with AIDS. MAC strains induced less IL-1 and IL-1 release in AIDS patients than HS (P < 0.05). The ratio of cell-associated to supernatant IL-1 also was increased in AIDS patients (P = 0.03). IL-1 mRNA expression paralleled protein release in either group of subjects. In both HS and AIDS patients, stimulation with SmD induced more IL-1 and TNF- release by monocytes compared to SmT. In AIDS patients, SmD also induced greater IL-6 release than SmT (P < 0.01). Alterations in monocyte expression and compartmentalization of the regulatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-6 may enhance bacterial replication and contribute to the patho-genesis of MAC infection in AIDS.     

Combined effect of Controlling Nutritional Status and Acute Kidney Injury on severe COVID-19 short-term outcomes

Introduction/ObjectivesAcute kidney injury (AKI) and malnutrition are two complications commonly reported in severe forms of COVID-19, their combined effect on short-term mortality is, however, not yet investigated. The objective of this study is to determine both their individual and combined effects on short-term prognosis.Materials and methodsThis is a prospective, uni-centric study, including 247 severe COVID-19 patients, admitted between April 25th and June 20th, 2020, at the University Hospital of Blida. AKI was defined according to the KDIGO-2012 guidelines. Nutritional status was assessed using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score. The association with in-hospital mortality was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and proportional Cox regression.ResultsAmong the 247 severely affected COVID-19 patients included in this study, 34.4% developed AKI, 30.4 and 1.2%, respectively, had moderate and severe CONUT scores, 17.7% worsened and progressed to a critical state and 26.7% did not survive. Both AKI and CONUT score were significantly associated with mortality in a dose-response manner (pLog-Rank < 0.0001). Their relative risks are respectively (HR = 3.25 CI 95% [1.99–5.3] and HR = 2.42 CI 95% [1.5–3.9], p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the highest risk was observed for the AKI-CONUT-high combination (HR = 3.0, 95% CI [1.5–6.1], p = 0.002).ConclusionA possible synergistic interaction between AKI and CONUT score for COVID-19 short-term mortality has been highlighted. Monitoring of renal function associated with assessment of nutritional status should be performed routinely and systematically from the early stages of admission.     

EGCG调控miR-133a/b-3p和TGF-β1/Smad3抗慢性阻塞性肺疾病的作用研究

目的:探讨表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)大鼠的保护作用和机制。方法:通过烟熏和脂多糖滴注建立大鼠COPD模型。每日灌胃给予100或200 mg/kg EGCG,4 w后观察肺部形态学改变。检测肺促炎细胞因子、MDA、GSH、SOD水平。免疫组化法评价纤维连接蛋白(fibronectin)和波形蛋白(vimentin)表达情况,Western blot检测TGF-β_1、p-Smad3表达水平,q PCR检测fibronectin、vimentin、TGF-β_1mRNA和微小RNA(miR)-133a/b-3p水平。结果:与正常对照组比较,模型组肺泡壁破损明显,肺组织促炎细胞因子、MDA及Smad3磷酸化水平显著升高,GSH、SOD、miR-133a/b-3p水平显著降低,fibronectin、vimentin、TGF-β_1蛋白表达显著升高。与模型组比较,EGCG能改善COPD大鼠的肺损伤,显著降低促炎细胞因子、MDA和Smad3的磷酸化水平,升高GSH、SOD、miR-133a/b-3p水平,并减少fibronectin、vimentin、TGF-β_1蛋白表达。结论:EGCG能改善COPD大鼠的肺损伤,其作用机制与调控肺TGF-β_1/Smad3和miR-133a/b-3p水平,抑制氧化应激和炎症有关。     

Paeonol protects rat vascular endothelial cells from ox-LDL-induced injury in vitro via downregulating microRNA-21 expression and TNF-α release

Aim： Paeonol （2＇-hydroxy-4＇-methoxyacetophenone） from Cortex moutan root is a potential therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis. This study sought to investigate the mechanisms underlying anti-inflammatory effects of paeonol in rat vascular endothelial cells （VECs） in vitro.
Methods： VECs were isolated from rat thoracic aortas. The cells were pretreated with paeonol for 24 h, and then stimulated with ox-LDL for another 24 h. The expression of microRNA-21 （miR-21） and PTEN in VECs was analyzed using qRT-PCR. The expression of PTEN protein was detected by Western blotting. TNF-α release by VECs was measured by ELISA.

Results： Ox-LDL treatment inhibited VEC growth in dose- and time-dependent manners （the value of IC50 was about 20 mg/L at 24 h）. Furthermore, ox-LDL （20 mg/L） significantly increased miR-21 expression and inhibited the expression of PTEN, one of downstream target genes of miR-21 in VECs. In addition, ox-LDL （20 mg/L） significantly increased the release of TNF-α from VECs. Pretreatment with paeonol increased the survival rate of ox-LDL-treated VECs in dose- and time-dependent manners. Moreover, paeonol （120 μmol/L） prevented ox-LDL-induced increases in miR-21 expression and TNF-α release, and ox-LDL-induced inhibition in PTEN expression. A dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-21 bound directly to PTEN＇s 3＇-UTR, thus inhibiting PTEN expression. In ox-LDL treated VECs, transfection with a miR-21 mimic significantly increased miR-21 expression and inhibited PTEN expression, and attenuated the protective effects of paeonol pretreatment, whereas transfection with an miR-21 inhibitor significantly decreased miR-21 expression and increased PTEN expression, thus enhanced the protective effects of paeonol pretreatment.

Conclusion： miR-21 is an important target of paeonol for its protective effects against ox-LDL-induced VEC injury, which may play critical roles in development of atherosclerosis.     

miR-155联合超声对分化型甲状腺癌淋巴结转移的诊断价值分析

目的探讨微小RNA-155(miR-155)联合超声对分化型甲状腺癌淋巴结转移的诊断价值。方法选取接受治疗的分化型甲状腺癌患者112例作为甲状腺癌组,另选取同期收治的结节性甲状腺肿患者30例作为良性对照组。采用实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)检测2组患者血清及组织中miR-155的相对表达量,分析分化型甲状腺癌患者血清及组织中miR-155的表达与临床病理参数的关系。采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析术前超声以及血清miR-155对分化型甲状腺癌淋巴结转移的诊断价值。结果甲状腺癌组的血清及组织中miR-155的相对表达量均明显高于良性对照组(P<0.01),有淋巴结转移、肿瘤直径>2 cm、TNM分期Ⅲ+Ⅳ期的患者血清及组织中miR-155的相对表达量分别高于无淋巴结转移、肿瘤直径≤2 cm、TNM分期Ⅰ+Ⅱ期的患者(均P<0.05)。ROC结果显示,超声以及血清miR-155对分化型甲状腺癌淋巴结转移均有一定的诊断价值,曲线下面积分别为:0.839(95%CI:0.760～0.919)、0.837(95%CI:0.763～0.912),但漏诊率和误诊率均超过10%。...