Objective To evaluate the predictive value of modified early warning score (MEWS) and SMART-COP score on mechanical ventilation in patients with severe influenza A H1N1. Methods Fifty cases diagnosed with severe influenza A H1N1 were retrospectively analyzed. The MEWS and SMART-COP score were calculated. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was evaluated using ROC curve. MEWS, SMART-COP score and AUC were analyzed by Z test. Results The AUCs of MEWS and SMART-COP score for predicting mechanical ventilation were 0. 923 and 0. 889, respectively, which were not significantly different (Z=0. 548, P =0. 584).Conclusion Both of MEWS and SMART-COP score are predictive factors of mechanical ventilation in the patients with severe influenza A H1N1.

AIM: To determine whether the high mobility group protein I (HMGI) is able to bind to the upstream sequence of platelet-derived growth factor B-chain gene and to characterize the HMGI-binding AT-rich regions. METHODS: Recombinant human HMGI (rhHMGI) protein was prepared and electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used. RESULTS: The binding of rhHMGI to PDGF-B (-1 758 / +43 bp) was observed in vitro. Two major HMGI-binding fragments -1 392 / -1 180 bp and -188 / +43 bp were identified, which contained the same AT-rich sequence TTTATAAA (-1 333 / -1 326 bp, -1 314 / -1 307 bp and -30 / -23 bp). An oligonucleotide bound to the TTTATAAA and the GAGACC, the core sequence of the shear stress response element of the PDGF-B, could also bind to the HMGI. Furthermore, HMGI facilitated the binding of NF-?B to the GAGACC in the oligonucleotide. CONCLUSION: The HMGI could bind to the upstream sequence of the PDGF-B gene via the AT-rich sequence TTTATAAA, which may play a role in the transcriptional regulation of the PDGF-B gene.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes,and the complications of staged minimally invasive surgery for adult degenerative scoliosis, comparing with that of the conventional open surgery. Methods: From Jun 2013 to Jun 2017, a total of 42 cases of degenerative scoliosis underwent surgical treatment. Among which, 23 cases underwent staged minimally invasive surgery(MIS group) and 19 cases underwent posterior open surgery(open group). The intra-operative bleeding, and operation time were recorded.The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for low back pain and leg pain.The radiological outcome was evaluated with Cobb angles and sagittal balance parameters (Sagittal Vertical Axis (SVA), Pelvic Incidence (PI)-Lumbar Lordosis (LL), Pelvic Tilt (PT)). The occurrence of complications was recorded. Results: The baseline demographic features of both groups (gender, age, medical comorbidity, etc.) were similar.The mean follow-up period for both groups was more than 2 years.The intraoperative bleeding in the MIS group 405.7±144.8 ml was significantly lower than that in the open group (2 005.3±728.4 ml, t=10.31, P<0.001); The total operation time 414.3±63.0 min of MIS group was significantly longer than that of the open group (304.2±51.8 min, t=6.10, P<0.001), but the operating time of each stage was shorter than the open group. The VAS score for back pain and leg pain,the ODI scores were significantly improved after surgery for both group, there was no significant difference between the two groups, but the low back pain and function in MIS group were better than the open group. The parameters of the coronal and sagittal deformity were significantly improved in both groups, correction of coronal deformity in MIS groupwassignificantly superior to the open group (F=12.02, P=0.001), there was no significant difference in sagittal balance correction between the two groups. The overall complication rate (63.2%) was slightly higher in the open group than in the MIS group (34.8%) without significant difference(χ²=3.36, P=0.07). The incidence of major complications in the open group was significantly higher than that in the MIS group (P=0.014). Conclusion Staged minimally invasive surgery can significantly relieve the patient's pain, improve functionand the coronal and sagittal balance of the patient, the early clinical and radiological outcomes were comparable to the open surgery; Minimally invasive surgery may significantly reduce the amount of bleeding and major complications. Minimally invasive surgery is safe and effective for carefully selected patients with degenerative scoliosis.However, the long-term outcomes of minimally invasive surgery remains to be followed up.

Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, currently available anti-amyloid therapies fail to show effectiveness in the treatment of AD in humans. It has been found that there are different types of Aβ plaque (diffuse and focal types) in the postmortem human brain. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlations among different types of Aβ plaque and AD-related neuropathological and cognitive changes based on a postmortem human brain bank in China. The results indicated that focal plaques, but not diffuse plaques, significantly increased with age in the human hippocampus. We also found that the number of focal plaques was positively correlated with the severity of AD-related neuropathological changes (measured by the "ABC" scoring system) and cognitive decline (measured by the Everyday Cognitive Insider Questionnaire). Furthermore, most of the focal plaques were co-localized with neuritic plaques (identified by Bielschowsky silver staining) and accompanied by microglial and other inflammatory cells. Our findings suggest the potential of using focal-type but not general Aβ plaques as biomarkers for the neuropathological evaluation of AD.
Alzheimer Disease/pathology* ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism* ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor ; Brain/pathology* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/pathology* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases ; Plaque, Amyloid/pathology*