Objective To investigate effect of Irbesartan on plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) in elderly patients with moderate to severe essential hypertension.Methods Forty patients with essential hypertension who were ≥60 years of age and had been treated with two or more antihypertensive drugs but whose systolic pressure were ≥160 mmHg and or whose diastolic pressure were ≥100mmHg,entered into the present study. Irbesartan 150mg daily was added to their original treatment for 6 week. ET-1 and NO were measured before and 6 week after treatment.used forty-two healthy adults as controls. Results In the treatment group,ET-1 was significantly decreased and NO was significantly increased after 6 weeks,addition of Irbesartan.As compared with controls,ET-1 of treatment group was higher both before and after addition of Irbesartan ( P

Objective To establish a rapid detection method for invasive candidiasis based on droplet digital polymerase chain reaction(ddPCR).Methods We developed an assay system using a microtitre-based digital PCR platform and designed primer probes specific for four Candida species,namely Candida albicans,Candida smoothii,Candida near-smoothii,and Candida tropicalis.(1)The Limit of Blank(LOB)range and positive judg-ment value were determined by analyzing No Template Control(NTC)samples.(2)The Limit of Detection(LOD)range was determined by diluting positive samples with 10 replicate extractions at each concentration gradient.(3)The Linear Limit of Quantitation(LOQ)range was determined by repetitive testing of diluted samples.(4)The linear range limit was determined through gradient dilution of the positive samples.(5)The coefficient of variation(CV),calculated from the logarithmic values of the resultant concentrations,was assessed by extracting and test-ing positive samples in 12 repetitions at both high and low concentrations.(6)Method reliability was evaluated by calculating the CV from the logarithmic values of the resultant concentrations obtained from clinical samples with fungal culture results.Results The ddPCR assay detected Candida LOB at a range of 0～81 copies/mL,with a positive threshold set at≥3 positive microdroplets.The LOD and LOQ were determined to be 3×102 copies/mL.The linear range for detecting different concentration gradients was found to be between 3×102 and 3×107 copies/mL,with high correlation coefficients observed for Candida albicans(R2=0.999 5),Candida smoothii(R2=0.998 9),Candida near-smoothii(R2=0.999 4),and Candida tropicalis(R2=0.999).Additionally,the coefficient of variation for the resultant concentration logarithmic values was less than 5%,meeting precision requirements.Furthermore,preliminary validation using clinical specimens demonstrated consistent results compared to clinical culture findings.Conclusion ddPCR exhibits rapidity,high sensitivity,good repeatability,and high specificity in detecting inva-sive candidiasis in critically ill patients.This study highlights the potential value of droplet digital PCR as a diag-nostic tool for invasive candidiasis.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Methods:Consecutive Chinese patients with RA were recruited from August 2015 to September 2019 at Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. Demo-graphic data and clinical data were collected including indicators of disease activity, functional assessment and radiographic assessment, comorbidities and previous medications. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the related factors of hypertension in RA patients.Results:There were 674 RA patients recruited with 82.3%(555/674) female and mean age (50±13) years. The prevalence rate of hypertension was 32.9% (222/674), followed by dyslipidemia (9.9%, n=67), type 2 diabetes (8.8%, n=59), hyperuricemia (8.5%, n=43), fatty liver disease (8.0%, n=54), cardiovascular disease (6.2%, n=42) and chronic kidney disease (3.3%, n=22). Compared with those without hypertension, RA patients with hypertension had advanced age with longstanding disease duration, higher disease activity indicators, worse joint destruction, and higher proportions of comorbidities. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that comorbidities including hyperuricemia [ OR=1.977, 95% CI(1.002, 3.900)], dyslipidemia [ OR=1.903, 95% CI(1.102, 3.288)] and fatty liver disease [ OR=2.335, 95% CI(1.278, 4.265)] were risk factors of hypertension after adjustment for age and gender. Conclusion:Hyperten-sion is the most common comorbidity in RA patients which is associated with comor-bidities including hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease. Detection and management of hyperten-sion and other cardiovascular disease related comorbidities in RA patients should be emphasized.

Objective:To analyze the clinical and endoscopic characteristics of gastric low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), and to explore the risk factors related to the progression of LGIN.Methods:The clinical, endoscopic and pathological data of 411 patients with LGIN diagnosed by initial pathological biopsy in the Department of Gastroenterology, the First People′s Hospital of Yichang (the People′s Hospital of China Three Gorges University) from January 1, 2012 to December 30, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and were followed up every three to six months and endoscopy and pathological biopsy were performed. The clinical data of patients were collected, which included age, gender, lesion location, lesion size, lesion type, lesion color, lesion appearance, family history of gastric cancer, history of smoking and alcohol intake, history of pickled food, whether complicated with intestinal metaplasia or gastric atrophy and the degree, whether there was Helicobacter pylori infection. According to the results of last follow up, the differences in above factors between progressive and non-progressive patients, and the risk factors for the progression of LGIN were analyzed. Indenpendent sample t test, chi square test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 411 patients with LGIN, there were 261 males and 150 females, the ratio of male to female was 1.74 ∶1; the mean age was (57.5±10.3) years old (30 to 86 years old). The most common clinical symptoms were abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort and abdominal distension, which accounted for 30.7% (126/411), 25.8% (106/411) and 20.9% (86/411), respectively. The lesions of 245 cases (59.6%) located in gastric antrum; the maximum diameter of lesions of 344 cases (83.7%) was 0.5 to less than 2.0 cm; the lesion types of 232 cases (56.4%), 104 cases (25.3%) and 75 cases (18.2%) were prominent type, flat type and depressed type, respectively. The lesion color of 298 cases (72.5%) was red, and that of 113 cases (27.5%) was normal or white. One hundred and seventy-one cases (41.6%) had surface erosion and 61 cases (14.8%) had surface ulcer. Two hundred and seventy-two cases (66.2%) of LGIN were complicated with intestinal metaplasia, and the proportions of mild, moderate and severe intestinal metaplasia were 50.4% (137/272), 33.8% (92/272) and 15.8% (43/272), respectively; 196 cases (47.7%) of LGIN were with gastric atrophy, and the proportions of mild, moderate and severe degree of gastric atrophy were 58.2% (114/196), 29.1% (57/196) and 12.7% (25/196), respectively. Rapid urease test or 14C urea breath test were carried out in 368 cases (89.5%), the positive rate of Helicobacter pylori infection was 45.1% (166/368), and the proportion of male was higher than that of female (59.6%, 99/166 vs. 40.4%, 67/166), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.537, P<0.05). All 174 patients with LGIN were successfully followed up, and the LGIN lesion of 11.5% (20/174) patients was progressive. The results of univariate analysis indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the lesion location, lesion size, lesion type, lesion appearance, atrophy, family gastric cancer history, history of alcohol intake, and history of pickled food between the patients with progressive lesions (20 cases) and the patients with non-progressive lesions (154 cases) ( χ2=11.950, 22.370, 8.964, 8.552, 10.362, 7.139, 5.913 and 4.668, all P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lesions in gastric corpus, maximum diameter of the lesion ≥2.0 cm, depressed lesions, ulcer lesions, atrophy, family gastric cancer, history of alcohol intake, history of pickled foods were independent risk factors of the progression of LGIN (odds ratio=4.796, 5.457, 4.431, 3.521, 1.380, 21.405, 3.294 and 1.832, 95% confidence interval 2.028 to 6.431, 3.256 to 8.943, 1.356 to 6.410, 1.305 to 5.706, 1.013 to 2.805, 5.062 to 25.391, 2.012 to 5.826, 1.072 to 3.790, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The lesions located in gastric corpus, maximum diameter of the lesion ≥2.0 cm, depressed lesions, ulcer lesions, atrophy, family gastric cancer history, history of alcohol intake, history of pickled foods are independent risk factors of the progression of LGIN. When the patients with LGIN have these characteristics, endoscopic resection should be considered.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of functional limitation and associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:Consecutive patients with RA were recruited from August 2015 to June 2019 at Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics including age, gender, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, clinical disease activity index (CDAI), modified total Sharp score were collected. Physical function was assessed by the Stanford health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI).Ordered logistic regression was used to analyze the related factors of HAQ-DI.Results:A total of 643 RA patients were finally recruited including 114 males and 529 females with mean age (49.7±12.9) years. There were 399 (62.1%) patients having different degrees of functional limitation, who were classified as mild (293, 45.6%), moderate (73, 11.4%) and severe (33, 5.1%). The prevalence of functional limitation was positively correlated with age and disease activity. The most restricted activity was walking [43.5% (280/643)], followed by gripping [36.1% (232/643)], reaching [35.5% (228/643)], daily activities [33.4% (215/643)], hygiene [33.0% (212/643)], dressing and grooming [29.7% (191/643)] and arising [29.1% (187/643)], and the last eating [18.4% (118/643)]. Multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.019, 95% CI 1.004-1.035),pain VAS ( OR=1.820, 95% CI 1.616-2.050), ESR ( OR=1.009, 95% CI 1.001-1.017), CDAI ( OR=1.080, 95% CI 1.059-1.102) and modified total Sharp score ( OR=1.010, 95% CI 1.004-1.015) were associated factors of functional limitation. Conclusion:The majority RA patients have functional limitation. Age, pain and active disease are independent associated factors. Therefore, target treatment and control of pain should be emphasized in RA patients.

Microcystis aeruginosa, a type of algal bloom microalgae, is widely distributed in water, causing serious deteriorated effects on humans and the ecological environment. As a biocontrol microorganism, Bacillus subtilis can synthesize various bioactive substances through non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, to inhibit the growth of M. aeruginosa. Thus, it is imperative to investigate the non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) metabolites of B. subtilis fmb60. Three NRP metabolites from B. subtilis fmb60 including bacillibactin, surfactin and fengycin were extracted and identified by genome mining technology. The growth inhibition of M. aeruginosa was studied by adding various concentrations of NRP metabolites. The half-effect concentration value (EC50.4 d) of M. aeruginosa was 26.5 mg/L after incubation for 4 days. With the increasing concentration, the inhibitory effects of NRP metabolites of B. subtilis fmb60 on M. aeruginosa was enhanced significantly. Compared with the control group, with the addition of 50 mg/L NRP metabolites to the M. aeruginosa, the content of Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo and Yield parameter after cultured for 4 days were decreased by 2.8%, 1.7% and 2.0%, respectively. Those findings indicate that the NRP metabolites of B. subtilis fmb60 can significantly inhibit the photosynthesis and metabolism of M. aeruginosa, which provides a theoretical foundation for the development of biological algae inhibitor of B. subtilis.
Bacillus subtilis ; Humans ; Microcystis ; Peptides ; Photosynthesis