Aim To study the in vitro and in vivo an-tioxidant activity of Inula nervosa wall. in order to le-gitimately use the resources of I. nervosa. Methods The medicinal ingredients of aboveground and under-ground parts of I. nervosa were extracted by different extraction methods. Ultrasonic extractions from differ-ent parts were compared by their in vitro and in vivo antioxidant effects. Results Ultrasound alcohol ex-traction had the highest content of total phenols and fla-vonoids, with the content of total phenolics much high-er than that of total flavonoids. Ultrasound alcohol ex-tractions had very good scavenging effect on DPPH, ABTS and superoxide anion radical, with the extraction from underground part more effective than extraction from aboveground part. Ultrasound alcohol extractions significantly increased the level of catalase ( CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capaci-ty (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activi-ty and decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, kidney and serum in drenching aging mice. The antioxidant activity of high concentration of the ex-traction from aerial part was equivalent to that of low concentration of the extraction from underground part. Conclusions Ultrasound alcohol extractions of I. ner-vosa have very good scavenging effect on free radicals, which indicates good antioxidant ability. Antioxidant activity of underground part is much stronger than that of the aboveground part.

Objective To observe the effects of betulinic acid (BA) on proliferation of human hepatoma stem cell;To discuss its anti-cancer mechanism from the aspects of cell cycle and cell apoptosis. Methods HepG2 stem cells were cultivated in vitro and testified the self-renewal capacity. The effects of BA in concentration of 40, 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25μmol/L on the cell vitality of cultured human liver cancer stem cells for 24 and 48 hours were measured with CCK-8 method. The human hepatoma stem cell line HepG2 was administrated by BA at concentrations of 40, 20, 10, 5μmol/L for 48 hours, and cell cycle and apoptosis rate were measured by flow cytometry. Results BA could inhibit HepG2 stem cell proliferation obviously with dose-effect relationship. BA influenced cell cycle, and induced tumor stem cell apoptosis. 40μmol/L BA blocked cell cycle in S phase, and cell apoptosis rate reached 10.86%. Conclusion BA has obvious inhibitory effects on proliferation of HepG2 liver cancer stem cell, which probably plays a part in anti-cancer by influencing cell cycle and inducing cell apoptosis.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of novel coronavirus positive cases including confirmed cases with clinical symptoms and asymptomatic infected cases in Guangzhou.Methods:Epidemiological data were collected on the nucleic acid positive cases of COVID-19 in Guangzhou from January to September 2020. The epidemiological characteristics, the distribution of time intervals between the confirmed/isolation date and the date of the first positive detection were analyzed, at last the influencing factors for the confirmed cases and asymptomatic infected persons were discussed.Results:From January 7 to September 4 in 2020, a total of 1 097 nucleic acid positive cases were identified, including 658 confirmed cases (59.98%) and 439 asymptomatic infected cases (40.02%). Among the 658 confirmed cases, the median age was 42 years old, the cases indicated two significant peaks. one of the peaks was related to the imported and associated cases from Hubei province, and the other peak was connected with individuals from overseas. In terms of 439 asymptomatic infected cases, the median age was 32 years old. There were two stages in these cases. The first stage followed the second peak of confirmed cases, and the second stage overlapped with the confirmed cases in Guangzhou when the epidemic was in a period of normal prevention and control, mainly related to imported cases from abroad. The asymptomatic infected persons accounted for 57.32% in all the imported infected cases. In both of asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, the positive rate of pharyngeal swabs was higher than that of nasopharyngeal swabs and anal swabs. There were statistically significant differences in age, source of infection and gender composition between confirmed cases and asymptomatic infected persons ( P<0.05). Older age groups were more likely to have clinical symptoms, with ≥40 years being the risk factor for confirmed cases (OR=2.334, P=0.001), and 20-39 years less likely to have clinical symptoms (OR=0.620, P=0.047), compared with the 0-19 years old group. Compared with those infected in China, those infected abroad were less likely to develop clinical symptoms and became confirmed cases (OR=0.723, P=0.013). Women were more likely to have clinical symptoms than men (OR=1.574, P=0.001). Conclusions:At present, asymptomatic infected persons and confirmed patients with clinical symptoms co-existed, and the number of asymptomatic infected patients was higher than that of confirmed cases in Guangzhou. High age, domestic infection and female may be risk factors for confirmed cases. It was of great value to further explore these underlying mechanisms for the prevention and treatment of the COVID-19.

Objective:To identify a strain isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient and to investigate its biological characteristics.Methods:The strain was analyzed by several methods including Gram staining, biochemical identification, 16S rRNA and recN gene sequencing, average nucleotide identity (ANI), antibiotic susceptibility testing and detection of drug resistance and virulence genes. Results:The strain was Gram-positive cocci and formed α-hemolytic colonies on the blood plate. It was identified as Streptococcus parasuis by 16S rRNA, recN gene and whole-genome sequencing. It was sensitive to multiple antibiotics and carried the genes encoding a variety of virulence factors such as adhesion. Conclusions:Streptococcus parasuis could cause human infection and be identified by whole-genome sequencing.

Objective:To analyze the incidence of stillbirth and the associated factors in pregnancy among pregnant residents in Wuhan.Methods:A previous birth cohort was retrospectively reviewed. The cohort was based on Wuhan Maternal and Child Information System, and the perinatal information of pregnant residents in Wuhan from January 1, 2011, to September 30, 2017 and information of selected cases was collected, including socio-demographic characteristics, pregnant history, and healthcare information during pregnancy and labor. Data on stillbirth, including fetal death in uterus and in labor, were selected for this study. Chi-square test was adopted for comparing the differences in pregnancy-related factors between live birth and stillbirth, and binary logistic regressions for exploring the influencing factors associated with the occurrence of stillbirth. Results:A total of 509 057 deliveries in Wuhan were included in this study, including 505 839 live births and 3 218 stillbirths (3 155 after exclusion of fetal death in labor), with an overall incidence of stillbirth of 6.32‰(3 218/509 057), and an annual incidence between 4.90‰ to 8.11‰. Statistically significant differences were found between the live birth and stillbirth group in the following items: maternal age [<25 years old: 19.28% (97 544/505 839) vs 19.36% (623/3 218); 25-30 years old: 48.45% (245 077/505 839) vs 45.15% (1 453/3 218); 30-35 years old: 26.09% (131 952/505 839) vs 26.29% (846/3 218); >35 years old: 6.18% (31 266/505 839) vs 9.20% (296/3 218)], educational background [middle school or below: 22.90% (115 833/505 839) vs 22.03% (709/3 218); high school: 36.37% (183 978/505 839) vs 38.72% (1 246/3 218); college or above: 40.73% (206 028/505 839) vs 39.25% (1 263/3 218)], occupation [brainworker or professionals: 33.51% (169 514/505 839) vs 31.54% (1 015/3 218); manual or freelance worker: 66.38% (335 763/505 839) vs 68.34% (2 199/3 218)], residential area [urban area: 70.00% (354 365/505 839) vs 76.32% (2 456/3 218); rural area: 30.00% (151 474/505 839) vs 23.68%(762/3 218)], and time of conception [spring (March to May): 24.27% (122 746/505 839) vs 24.08% (775/3 218); summer (June to August): 24.09% (121 867/505 839) vs 23.87% (768/3 218); fall (September to November): 26.69% (135 012/505 839) vs 25.08% (807/3 218); winter (December to next February): 24.95% (126 214/505 839) vs 26.97% (868/3 218)] (all P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in fetal gender ( P>0.05). Besides, gravidity [once: 49.32% (249 484/505 839) vs 47.02% (1 513/3 218); over twice: 50.68% (256 355/505 839) vs 52.98% (1 705/3 218)], parity [once: 73.60% (372 316/505 839) vs 77.07% (2 480/3 218); over twice: 26.40% (133 523/505 839) vs 22.93% (738/3 218)], history of stillbirth [0.33% (842/256 355) vs 0.65% (11/1 705)], hypertensive disorders in pregnancy [3.25% (16 464/505 839) vs 5.59% (180/3 218)], first trimester vaginal bleeding [2.02% (10 251/505 839) vs 2.61% (84/3 218)], placenta previa [0.98% (4 963/505 491) vs 2.64% (53/2 009)], and oligohydramnios [2.52% (12 764/505 839) vs 1.90% (61/3 218)] differed significantly between the two groups (all P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of the proportion of women with gestational diabetes mellitus and previous spontaneous abortion (both P>0.05). After exclusion of fetal death in labor from the 3 218 stillbirths, the same results were achieved. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that women who were over 30 years old (30-35 years old: OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.30-1.56; >35 years old: OR=2.59, 95% CI: 2.25-2.98), with a high school degree or below (middle school or below: OR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.21-1.55; high school: OR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.16-1.42), manual or freelance worker ( OR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.07-1.31), in the urban area ( OR=1.43, 95% CI:1.31-1.57), and gravidity ≥ 2 times ( OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.21-1.43), primiparity ( OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.58-1.96), gestational hypertension ( OR=2.80, 95% CI: 2.40-3.27), vaginal bleeding in the first trimester ( OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.08-1.68), placenta previa ( OR=10.86, 95% CI: 8.84-13.35) and history of stillbirth ( OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.30-3.98) were all risk factors of stillbirth. Conclusion:Pregnant women who were over 30 years old, less educated, manual worker or freelance or with a history of adverse pregnancy, vaginal bleeding in the first trimester, hypertension in pregnancy, and placenta previa are at higher risk of stillbirth

INTRODUCTION: Chest physiotherapy (CPT) may benefit children aged below five years who suffer from lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). However, its effects depend on the technique used. This study aimed to determine whether mechanical CPT using the LEGA-Kid® mechanical percussion device is superior to manual CPT in children with LRTI. METHODS: Children aged five months to five years who were admitted and referred for CPT from January to April 2017 were randomised to either manual CPT or mechanical CPT with LEGA-Kid. Outcomes measured before intervention and two hours after intervention were respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation and modified Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (mRDAI) score. RESULTS: All 30 enrolled patients showed significant reduction in post-intervention RR and mRDAI scores. There was an 8% reduction in RR for the manual CPT group (p = 0.002) and a 16.5% reduction in the mechanical CPT group (p = 0.0001), with a significantly greater reduction in the latter (p = 0.024). mRDAI scores decreased by 2.96 in the manual group (p = 0.0001) and 3.62 in the mechanical group (p = 0.002), with no significant difference between the groups. There was no significant improvement in oxygen saturation, and no adverse events were observed after CPT. CONCLUSION Children receiving both manual and mechanical CPT showed improvements in respiratory distress symptoms, with no adverse effects. A combined strategy of nebulised hypertonic saline followed by CPT for LRTI removes airway secretions and results in improvements in moderately severe respiratory distress. The LEGA-Kid mechanical CPT method is superior to manual CPT in reducing the RR.
Child ; Humans ; Percussion/methods* ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome ; Respiratory Therapy/methods* ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Single-Blind Method