Humans ; Liver Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology

Abstract: Objective To investigate the dynamic changes and clinical significance of specific antibodies in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A retrospective study was conducted to collect 141 adult COVID-19 survivors who were followed up in the Eighth Hospital affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University from February 6, 2020, to March 24, 2021. The patients were divided into severe group (severe and critical) and non-severe group (light and ordinary) according to the diagnosis at discharge. The antibody changes of the two groups were compared and analyzed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after discharge. Results After discharge from hospital, the positive rate of IgG in the severe group was 95.00% after 1 week and 100.00% in the following year, in the positive rate of IgG in the non-severe group was 59.50% after 1 week, 90.08% in 6 months and 76.03% in one year. The level of serum IgG in the severe group was significantly higher than that in non-severe group (Z=-2.441, P=0.015). One-year follow-up: the serum IgG in the severe group was significantly higher than that in the non-severe group (Z=-3.410, P=0.001). The serum IgM level of the severe group after one year follow-up was lower than that of the six months follow-up, the difference was statistically significant (Z=-2.259, P=0.024). The serum IgG and IgM level of the non-severe group after one year follow-up was lower than that of the six months follow-up, the difference was statistically significant (Z=-7.37, P<0.01; Z=3.850, P<0.01). Conclusion The level of serum protective antibody in COVID-19 patients remained high within 6 months after discharge, and remained stable within 1 year after discharge. The antibody titers in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the non-severe group and lasted for at least one year. COVID-19 survivors receive 1 year of natural immune protection, and patients with critical conditions receive immunity for longer periods of time.

The aim of this research is to refine the protocol of purification of SA and identify the character of SA. By utilizing the cold-denaturing method, most of other kinds of protein were screened out and SA was purified from the fermentation broth of L-183 by using the refined affinity chromatography method. The rate of recollection was checked to be 75%～85%. By identification, it is indicated that the molecular weight of self-made SA was 74.5kD, the biotin-combining number 3.2, the activity 11.2u/mg, the pI around 7.4. So, the essential characters of SA are same as described by documents.

Objective To investigate the correlation of blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and depression in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).Methods Consecutive patients with CSVD admitted to hospital were enrolled prospectively.The patients completed head MRI and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination after admission.The BBB damage degree was evaluated by using albumin CSF/serum ratio (Q-Alb).At 3 months after onset,the depression was assessed according to the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders,4th edition (DSM-Ⅳ).The correlation between the BBB damage and depression in patients with CSVD was analyzed,Results A total of 130 consecutive patients with CSVD were enrolled,including 58 (44.62％) had depression within 3 months.There were significant differences in the proportions of patients with lacunar infarction (43.10％ vs.26.39％;x2 =4.008,P =0.045),leukoaraiosis (75.86％ vs.58.33％;x2 =4.408,P =0.036),and cerebral microbleed (27.59％ vs.12.50％;x2 =4.707,P =0.030),and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (5.02 ± 2.51 vs.3.60 ± 2.43;t =3.256,P =0.001),Fazekas scales of deep white matter (2.35 ± 1.00 vs.1.56 ± 1.05;t =4.358,P ＜0.001) and the proportion of Q-AIb category (x2 =6.852,P =0.033) between the depression group and the non-depression group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the baseline NIHSS scores (odds ratio [OR] 1.248,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.027-1.517;P =0.026),leukoaraiosis (OR 14.786,95％ CI 1.776-123.111;P=0.013),Fazekas scales of deep white matter (OR 1.847,95％ CI 1.210-2.819;P=0.004),and Q-Alb (OR 30.417,95％ CI 3.662-252.643;P =0.004) had significant independent correlation with depression.Conclusions The BBB damage is independently associated with depression in patients with CSVD.

Objective To investigate the correlation between vertebral artery tortuosity and posterior circulation ischemia (PCI). Methods The patients with PCI aged ≥50 years old and the controls without PCI at the same time were enrolled. CT angiography was performed in all patients. The cervical vertebral artery tortuosity was observed and rated, and the related risk factors for influencing PCI were analyzed. Results A total of 112 patients with PCI and 90 controls were enrolled. Univariate analysis showed that the proportions of patients with hypertension (80. 36% vs. 54. 44% ; χ2 = 15. 613, P < 0. 001), smoking (35. 71% vs. 18. 89% ; χ2 = 6. 974, P = 0. 008), alcohol consumption (25. 89% vs. 10. 00% ; χ2 = 8. 253, P = 0. 004), posterior circulation vascular stenosis (54. 46% vs. 24. 44% ; χ2 = 18. 578, P < 0. 001), and vertebral artery tortuosity (71. 43% vs. 48. 89% ; χ2 = 10. 695, P = 0. 001), as well as the levels of the total cholesterol (4. 96 ± 1. 26 mmol/L vs. 4. 61 ± 1. 04 mmol/L; t = - 2. 110, P = 0. 036 ), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3. 02 ± 0. 90 mmol/L vs. 2. 69 ± 0. 78 mmol/L; t = - 2. 671, P = 0. 008 ), and fibrinogen (3. 67 ± 1. 69 mg/L vs. 3. 25 ± 0. 97 mg/L; t = - 2. 002, P = 0. 047) in the PCI group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The proportion of bilateral vertebral artery tortuosity in the PCI group was significantly higher that in the control group (30. 36% vs. 12. 22% ; χ2 = 9. 478, P =0. 002). The proportion of grade 3 vertebral artery tortuosity in the PCI group was significantly higher than that in the control group (43. 75% vs. 26. 67% ; χ2 = 6. 310, P = 0. 012). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that smoking (odds ratio [OR] 2. 339, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1. 037-5. 278; P =0. 041), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 1. 580,95% CI 1. 050-2. 377; P = 0. 028), hypertension (OR 2. 631, 95% CI 1. 237-5. 596; P = 0. 012), posterior circulation vascular stenosis (OR 3. 419, 95% CI 1. 638-7. 134; P = 0. 001), and vertebral artery tortuosity (OR 2. 413, 95% CI 1. 212-4. 803; P = 0. 012) were the independent risk factors for PCI. Conclusion The vertebral artery tortuosity is an independent risk factor for PCI in the middle-aged and elderly people.

Background Epidemiological investigation in human has been conclusive. In postmenopausal women,the incidence of cataract is higher than men at the same age. In addition,hormone replacement therapy may protect against the development of cataract. However,this role of androgen is not clear. Objective This study was to explore the effects of estrogen and androgen on anti-oxidative ability of lens after ovariectomy. Methods Fifty-six three-month-old clean female Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,sham operation group, castration group,estrogen eyedrops group;estrogen injection group;androgen eyedrops group;androgen injection group and 8 rats for each. Ovariectomy was performed in the rats of castration group and gonadal hormone application group, and estradiol benzoate solution or testosterone propionate solution were utilized topically or systemly in 5 months after ovariectomy for 6 weeks respectively. Only abdominal cut was curried out in sham operation group. The lenses of rats were examined weekly under the slit lamp. The serum estrogen and androgen levels of rats were detected before,after operation and 6 weeks following the administration of gonadal hormone. The contents of superoxide dismutase( SOD) , glutathione( GSH) ,malondialdehyde( MDA) and water-soluble protein ( WSP) in rat lens homogenate were detected at the end of the experiment. Utilization of animals complied with the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. Results No opacity of lenses was found during the experiment duration in various groups. The serum estradiol levels of rats in sham group were insignificantly different from normal groups in various time points( P>0. 05). The evident decline of serum estradiol was detected in the rats of castration group and gonadal hormone application groups compared with sham group in 5 months after operation( all P<0. 01). However,at the sixth weeks after the system use of estradiol or testosterone,the serum estradiol levels were significantly higher than the castration group and topical application groups of gonadal hormone(P<0. 01). The contents of SOD,GSH and WSP in lenses were considerably increased,but the MDA level in lenses was decreased after system use of estrogen ( P<0. 01). The activity of SOD and GSH were lower after system use of testosterone in comparison with castration rats ( P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion Estrogen can protect lens against oxidation damage. However, androgen, to a certain extent, may contribute to the development of oxidative damage in OVX female rats.

To investigate the therapeutic effects and associated complications of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT). 40 patients with various malignant hematopoietic diseases received allo-PBSCT. The preparative regimens were based on BUCY2 or modified BUCY2. The acute graft-versus host disease (aGVHD) was prevented by cyclosporin A and short-term MTX regimen in all patients. Two patients from donors with one fully mismatched HLA on DRB1 locus and 4 from unrelated donor also administered Zenapox (CD25 MAb) at dosage of 1 mg/kg every day on the day before transplantation and day 4 after transplantation. These 6 patients were also treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Transfusion of the donor cells: The median of the transfused nucleated cells was 5.38 x 10(8)/kg and that of the CD34+ cells was 7.8 x 10(6)/kg respectively. All the patients gained hematopoietic reconstruction except one who died of infection before engraftment. Seven patients got II degrees-IV degrees aGVHI) and the incidence was 17.5%. Fourteen patients got cGVHD and the incidence was 53.8% in the patients who survived over 6 months. Twenty-eight patients had fever or other characteristics of infection. The median follow-up time was 13.8 months. The incidence of transplantation related mortality (TRM) was 17.5% and 2 patients relapsed (5.0%). It was concluded that allo-PBSCT can reconstruct hematopoiesis quickly and is a favorable therapeutic method for leukemia.
China/epidemiology ; Cyclosporine/*therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft vs Host Disease/*prevention & control ; Leukemia/*therapy ; Leukemia, Lymphoid/therapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy ; *Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects ; Sepsis/epidemiology ; Sepsis/etiology

Objective To investigate the processing characteristics of locative prepositions in patients with Chinese aphasia,and to provide the theoretical evidence for the rehabilitation of aphasia.Methods Twenty aphasic patients caused by left-hemisphere stroke and twenty matched normal controls were studied.Using the locative prepo- sition repeating task(single words,locative preposition phrases and words in sentences),the comprehension task, filling-gap task,the visual-spatial function task and the short-term memory task,we compared the performance be- tween these two groups.Results The aphasic patients had more difficulty in repeating locative prepositions in sen- tences,in comprehension task and filling-gap task,their short term memory was impaired.Both groups did well in re- peating single words and phrases.Conclusion The processing of locative prepositions was impaired in Chinese aphasics.The repetition of locative prepositions was more difficult than that of phrases and single words.The preposi- tions were often omitted.It might be due to the impairment of their short-term memory,or it might have something to do with role they played in the syntactic structure.The latter might also impact the comprehension and filling-gap score.We should make plans before rehabilitation therapy.

Objeetive To investigate the risk of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and the outcome as well as its influencing factors at 3 months after thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).Methods Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients with NVAF were enrolled retrospectively.Their demography,vascular risk factors and other clinical data were collected.The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the outcome at 3 months after symptom onset.The mRS score ≤ 2 was defined as good outcome,and ＞ 2 was defined as poor outcome.Results A total of 119 acute ischemic stroke patients with NVAF were enrolled,including 63 males (52.9％) and 56 females (47.1％); their mean age was 72.1± 10.0; 45 (37.81％) were treated with recombinant tissue type plasminogen activator (rtPA),55 (46.2％) had a good outcome and 27 (22.7％) combined with HT.Compared with the poor outcome group,the mean age was younger in the good outcome group (P =0.028).The proportions of the patients with ischemic heart disease and the time from onset to treatment ＞ 4.5 h were lower (P ＜0.05).The baseline systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure,as well as the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score were lower (P ＜0.05),while the proportion of patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis with rtPA was higher (P =0.019).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patients with ischemic heart disease (odds ratio [OR] 4.572,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.392-15.014; P =0.012),systolic blood pressure before treatment (OR 1.028,95％ CI 1.007-1.049; P =0.009),baseline NIHSS score (OR 1.058,95％ CI 1.002-1.117; P =0.042) were the independent risk factors for poor outcome,while intravenous thrombolysis with rtPA (CI 0.264,95％ CI 0.102-0.683; P =0.006) was an independent protective factor for poor outcome.The proportions of the baseline systolic blood pressure,fasting blood glucose and NIHSS score,as well as the patients with a history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the HT group were significantly higher than those in the non-HT group (all P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the baseline NIHSS score (OR 1.147,95％ CI 1.068-1.231; P＜0.001),baseline systolic blood pressure (OR 1.951,95％ CI 1.921-1.982; P =0.002),and blood glucose level (OR 1.191,95％ CI 1.095-1.294; P ＜ 0.001) were the independent risk factors for HT.Compared with the non-thrombolysis group,the mean age of the thrombolysis group was younger (P =0.021),the baseline systolic blood pressure,fasting glucose and NIHSS scores,as well as the proportions of patients with hyperlipidemia,previous stroke or TIA history,and using antihypertensive drugs before admission were higher (all P ＜ 0.05).The proportion of patients with ischemic heart disease were lower (P =0.035),but the proportion of the patients with a good outcome was higher (P =0.019).Conclusions Patients with ischemic heart disease,systolic blood pressure and higher baseline NIHSS score before treatment were the independent risk factors for poor outcome,while intravenous thrombolytic therapy with rtPA was an independent protective factor for poor outcome; the high baseline NIHSS score,baseline systolic blood pressure and glucose level were the independent risk factors for HT.For acute ischemic stroke patients with NVAF,such as no obvious contraindications for thrombolytic therapy,might benefit from intravenous thrombolytic therapy,and it could not increase the risk of HT,but the blood pressure and glucose level of the patients should be controlled appropriately.

Objective To isolate and culture sweat gland epithelial cells in vitro,and to study the effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on intracellular flee calcium concentration ([Ca~(2+)]i) of cultured sweat gland epithelial cells.Methods Sweat glands epithelial cells were collected by enzymatic digestion.After ACh was added to the primary and first passage cells,[Ca~(2+)]i was examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and the Ca~(2+) sensitive dye Fura 3/AM.Results The primary and first passage epithe- lial cells grew well.After ACh was added,opening of the calcium channel and significant [Ca~(2+)]i increase were observed when the primary and first passage cells were incubated with high concentration of calcium (2 mmol/L);no significant [Ca~(2+)]i increase was observed in those cultured without calcium.Conclusion Upon stimulation with ACh,calcium channels of cultured primary and first passage sweat gland epithelial cells would open,influx of extracellular Ca~(2+) occurred,which resulted in an increase of [Ca~(2+)]i.Extracellular bound calcium was therefore converted into intracellular free calcium.