AIM: To detect the effect of Sini decoction on glutathione S-transferase (GST) mRNA expression in the ischemic myocardium. METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, ischemic group and Sini decoction group. Total RNA was extracted from the myocardium of mice in each group. The effect of Sini decoction on the expression of GST gene was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of GST mRNA in Sini decoction group was significantly up-regulated compared with the ischemic group and control group. CONCLUSION: Sini decoction can promote the expression of GST gene, which may be related to its protective effect on ischemic myocardium.

AIM: To screen the differentially expressed genes among normal, ischemic and Sini decoction-treated myocardium using DNA microarray.METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, ischemic group and Sini decoction group. Total RNA was extracted from myocardium of each group. cDNA microarray chips containing 2 304 cDNAs were used to investigate the gene expression pattern of each group. RESULTS: Up-and down-regulated genes were 33 and 70 in ischemic group vs control group, respectively. Up-and down-regulated genes were 23 and 52 respectively in Sini decoction group vs ischemic group. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of gene expression pattern of ischemic myocardium based on cDNA microarray can realize high-throughput screening of the genes. Further analysis of those obtained genes information will be helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of myocardial ischemia and the therapeutic mechanism of Sini decoction.

AIM: To investigate the effect of Sini decoction (SND)on the ultrastructure of small intestinal epithelial cells in rats with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) Control group in which sham operation was performed; (2) Model group in which intestinal I/R was produced by clamping super mesenteric artery(SMA) for 1 hour and declamping SMA for 3 hours; (3) SND1 group in which SD (0.6 g/200 g rat) was given via stomach tube 3 d before intestinal I/R; (4) SND2 group in which SD (1.2 g/200 g rat)was given via stomach tube 3 d before intestinal I/R. A strip of small intestine was taken from distal end of ileum for electron microscopic examination. The two-dimensional structural parameters and three-dimensional structural parameters of mitochondria were calculated. RESULTS: (1)Morphological changes of small intestine: In control group, epithelial cells were orderly arranged, with normal mitochondria and intestinal villi. In model group, the gaps between epithelial cells widened. There were a lot of apoptotic cells. Microvilli were short and swelled. Mitochondria were swelled obviously with broken ridges. Endoplasmatic reticulum was severely dilated. In SND1 and SND2 groups, microvilli and epithelial cells were orderly arranged relatively, mitochondria was slightly swelled. (2) Structural parameters of mitochondria: In model group, there were the least mitochondria and the swelling of mitochondria was severe. In SND1 and SND2 groups, the mitochondria was more than that of model group and the swelling were slight. CONCLUSION: Sini decoction can protect small intestine from ischemia-reperfusion injury without dose-dependent effect.

AIM: The work was designed to explore protective effects of a traditional Chinese medicine-sini decoction (SD) on liver in hemorrhagic shock and its mechanism relating to oxygen free radical and nitric oxide. METHODS: Anesthetized Wistar rats were subjected to a hemorrhagic shock protocol for 60 min followed by intravenous injection with normal sodium chloride solution or SD solution. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in liver were examined. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined immunohistochemically. RT-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)was used to assay the mRNA, which were corresponding to eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) and iNOS. RESULTS: The activity of SOD decreased, while the concentration of MDA increased in liver during hemorrhagic shock. SD enhanced SOD activity and inhibited a increase in MDA level in liver ( P

ObjectiveTo explore the epidemiologic features and distribution pattems of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype infection among HIV positive former blood donors (FBDs) and transfusion recipients in Hubei province.Methods597 serum samples from HIV-positive patients in Hubei were collected and examined for anti-HCV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ).Reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) amplification and DNA sequencing were used to evaluate the HCV core regions.ResultsThe prevalence rates of HCV in HIV positive FBDs and transfusion recipients were 76.5％ (205/268) and 57.4％ (189/329) respectively.HCV genotypes 1b (92.8％,90/97) and 2a (7.2％,7/97 ) were detected.ConclusionsBlood donation and blood transfusion are the major modes of HIV-HCV co-infection in Hubei province.The prevalence of HCV in HIV positive transfusion recipients is lower than that in HIV positive FBDs.HCV genotypes 1b and 2a are the predominant strains among HIV-positive FBDs and transfusion recipients.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors associated with death among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods:A total of 217 COVID-19 patients admitted to Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University from December 29, 2019 to January 31, 2020 were enrolled. The general conditions, clinical symptoms, comorbidities, laboratory test indicators and clinical outcomes of the COVID-19 patients were analyzed. According to prognosis, the COVID-19 patients were divided into the death group and the survival group, and the clinical manifestations and laboratory examination results of the two groups were compared by t test and chi-square test. The binary logistics regression model was used to analyze the risk factors related to death. Results:Among the 217 COVID-19 cases, 124 were males and 93 were females, as of March 4, 2020, 25 died and 192 survived, with the mortality of 11.5%. Eighty-nine patients (41.0%) had confirmed history of exposure to the Huanan seafood market or had close contact with another patient with confirmed COVID-19. Among the patients who died, 21(84.0%) were male, 21(84.0%) had comorbidities, 15(60.0%) had more than three types of clinical symptoms, 14(56.0%) had alaine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase>1.5 upper limit of normal (ULN), 13(52.0%) had creatinine (Cr) >104 μmol/L, and 18(72.0%) had procalcitonin (PCT) >0.05 μg/L, whereas the above indicators among the survival patients were 103(53.6%), 95(49.5%), 92(47.9%), 23(12.0%), 14(7.3%) and 47(24.5%), respectively. The differences of the above indicators between the two groups were all statistically significant ( χ2=11.506, 7.889, 14.897, 30.307, 40.585 and 23.807, respectively, all P<0.01). The multivariate analysis results showed that age≥65 years old (odds ratio ( OR)=5.968, 95% confidence interval ( CI)1.991-17.888, P=0.001), male ( OR=6.009, 95% CI 2.504-14.422, P<0.01), comorbidities ( OR=7.152, 95% CI 2.058-24.851, P=0.002), having more than three types of clinical symptoms ( OR=7.944, 95% CI 2.280-27.676, P=0.001), alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase>1.5×ULN ( OR=9.552, 95% CI 3.760-24.269, P<0.01), Cr>104 μmol/L ( OR=11.458, 95% CI 4.289-30.613, P<0.01), lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH)>243 U/L ( OR=7.591, 95% CI 1.683-34.249, P=0.008) and PCT>0.05 μg/L( OR=12.410, 95% CI 4.433-34.744, P<0.01) were risk factors for death among COVID-19 infection patients. Conclusion:For elderly male COVID-19 patients with comorbidities, impaired liver and kidney functions, elevated LDH and PCT are early warning signs for disease deterioration.

Objective:To analyze the clinical data of 203 discharged patients with corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19), and to investigate the predictors for the severe cases.Methods:Confirmed COVID-19 cases hospitalized at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 1 to February 1, 2020 were consecutively enrolled, who were divided into severe group and non-severe group.The clinical data of enrolled patients were collected and the clinical manifestations, laboratory results, imaging, treatments and prognosis of patients in the two groups were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U rank sum test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 203 discharged patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. The common clinical manifestations included fever (89.2%, 181/203), dry cough (60.1%, 122/203), chest distress (35.5%, 72/203), shortness of breath(29.1%, 59/203)and myalgia or arthralgia (26.6%, 54/203). The time from disease onset to hospital admission was 5.8 days (1.0 to 20.0 days). Among 203 enrolled patients, 107(52.7%) were divided into severe group and 96(47.3%) were non-severe group. The age in severe group was 60 years (23 to 91 years), which was significantly older than non-severe group (47 years (20 to 86 years)), the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-6.12, P<0.01). There were 63.6%(68/107) patients in severe group with at least one underlying disease, which was significantly more than non-severe group (20.8% (20/96)), the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=37.60, P<0.01). The proportions of patients with increased white blood cells, decreased lymphocytes and albumin, elevated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, lactic acid dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, fasting blood glucose, D-dimer, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin in severe group were all higher. On admission, 172 patients (84.7%) had bilateral patchy shadows or ground glass opacity in the lungs on chest imaging study, 20(9.9%) presented pleural effusion. Fifty-five cases (27.1%) showed progressions of lung lesions on computed tomography (CT) rescan at an average interval of five days. Among 203 patients, 123(60.6%) were given oxygen therapy upon admission, 107(52.7%) were given short-term glucocorticoid therapy, and 131(64.5%) received antiviral therapy; and 26(12.8%) died. The hospital stay was 11.0 days (1.0 to 45.0 days). Conclusions:Fever is the most common symptoms in COVID-19 patients.Elderly and patients with underlying diseases are risk factors for progression to severe cases. The elderly patients should be strengthened early monitoring, paid attention to the control of underlying diseases, and reduce the occurrence of critical diseases.

Objective:To investigate the birth weight (BW) of infants born to pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its associated factors, and to provide more evidence for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in China.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Between January 2004 and December 2021, pregnant women living with HIV and their infants in Hubei Province were recruited and followed up, and clinical data were collected through hospital medical records and HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome comprehensive response information management system. The multivariable linear regression was performed on the collected data to investigate associated influencing factors of BW.Results:In total, 531 pregnant women living with HIV (581 pregnancies) and 581 infants were enrolled. Of the 581 infants, 36 were HIV-positive, with a PMTCT rate of 6.2%. The mean BW of the infants was (3 075.0±470.2) gram. Protease inhibitor (PI) based-anti-retroviral therapy (ART) ( β=-0.1, 95% confidence interval ( CI)-188.2 to -37.1, P=0.004), ART in the first trimester( β=-0.1, 95% CI -201.9 to -65.5, P<0.001), infant HIV infection ( β=-0.1, 95% CI -310.4 to -68.2, P=0.002), hepatitis C virus infection ( β=0.1, 95% CI 71.2 to 410.4, P=0.005) and gestational age ( β=0.6, 95% CI 155.9 to 191.5, P<0.001) were associated with decreased BW. Conclusions:While improving the effectiveness of PMTCT for HIV, more attention should be paid to pregnant women who received ART in the first trimester and PI-based ART for preventing lower BW and improving maternal and infantile health.