Objective To analyze the causes of early death in elderly patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis ( MHD) and major risk factors.Methods A retrospective study was conducted.Fourty-three patients who had undergone MHD between January 2005 and December 2015 and died within 3 -12 months after hemodialysis in the Hemodialysis Center of China Aerospace Center Hospital were included in Group A while 106 patients who had undergone hemodialysis in the same period but survived for over 12 months were selected as control group(Group B).Results The main causes of early death of 43 elderly patients with MHD were cardiovascular ( 46.5%) and cerebrovascular diseases ( 25.6%) (CCVD), and infections(14.0%).The age,proportion of patients with diabetes and CVD,and the proportion of patients using the central venous catheter( CVC) as vascular access were higher in Group A,but the level of hemoglobin and serum albumin was lower.Indicators of cardiac structure and function showed that the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd),left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT),and left ventricular myocardial quality index(LVMI)in Group A were well above those in Group B, but EF and E/A ratio were significantly lower(P<0.05 and P<0.01).COX regression analysis indicated that the comorbidity with CVD, a lower level of serum albumin and EF were the main risk factors for early mortality in elderly patients under MHD.Conclusion The main cause of early death in elderly MHD patients is CCVD.The comorbidity of CVD, malnutrition and decreased left ventricular systolic function might be the main risk factors for early mortality in elderly MHD patients.Early and adequate dialysis,active treatment of underlying diseases, and the correction of hypoalbuminemia can decrease complications,prolong life and improve the quality of life.

Objective To observe the effect of Ningxia aqueous extracts of fruitless lycium sprout (AEFLS) on cardiomyo cyte antioxidation and apoptosis-related protein expression in aging mice.Methods The natural aging C57BL/6J mice with 13 months old were randomly divided into aged control group,AEFLS low dose group (AEFLS1),AEFLS middle dose group (AEFLS2)and AEFLS high dose group(AEFLS3).The AEFLS1,AEFLS2 and AEFLS3 groups were respectively given with 5,10,20 mg/kg AEFLS gavage,while the aged control group was given with the normal saline gavage,for continuous8 weeks.The xan thine oxidase assay and thiobarbituric acid method were used for the determination of SOD and MDA in heart tissues.Western-blot and immunohistochemical method were used to detect the expressions of Bcl-2,Bax and Capase-3 in heart tissue.Results Compared with the aged control group,the MDA level in the AEFLS2 and AEFLS3 groups was decreased,while the SOD activity was increased,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).The Western-blot result showed that compared with the aged control group,the optical density value of Bcl-2 in the AEFLS2 and AEFLS3 groups was increased,but the optical density values of Bax and Capase-3 were decreased (P＜0.01);the immunohistochemical results showed that compared with the aged control group,the immunopositive(IP) expressions of Bcl-2 protein in heart tissues in the AEFLS2 and AEFLS3 groups were increased (P＜0.01),while the IP expressions of Bax and Capase-3 were decreased (P＜0.01).Conclusion Middle and high doses of AEFLS can increase the antioxidative ability of myocardial tissue,up-regulates the Bcl-2 expression,down-regulates the Bax and Capase-3 expressions and plays anti-cardiomyocyte apoptotic role.

Objectives To evaluate the lung function in patients of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by uremia and to analyze related factors.Methods The pulmonary function of 70 patients with uremia ( 40 patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism, 30 MHD patients without SHPT) and 30 healthy people was determined.Correlative analysis was performed between parameters such as pulmonary function indexes and clinical or laboratory parameters. Results Lung function was significantly different between patients with uremia and healthy subjects(P<0.05, respectively). A number of lung function indicators were negatively correlated with iPTH,C reactive protein( CRP) ,dialysis age but were positively correlated with hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin(Alb) (P <0.05).Conclusion Patients with SHPT show impaired lung function.IPTH, dialysis age, Hb, Alb and CRP can be used as important indicators of lung function.

Since December 2019,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been found to be the culprit in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),causing a global pandemic.Despite the existence of many vaccine programs,the number of confirmed cases and fatalities due to COVID-19 is still increasing.Furthermore,a number of variants have been reported.Because of the absence of approved anti-coronavirus drugs,the treatment and management of COVID-19 has become a global challenge.Under these circumstances,drug repurposing is an effective method to identify candidate drugs with a shorter cycle of clinical trials.Here,we summarize the current status of the application of drug repurposing in COVID-19,including drug repurposing based on virtual computer screening,network pharmacology,and bioactivity,which may be a beneficial COVID-19 treatment.