Objective To provide basis for the formulation of policies and measures that will reduce the work pressure on nurses and to provide them with a better working environment. Methods An investigation was made via questionnaires into 942 nurses working in designated SARS hospitals and a comprehensive analysis was conducted by means of multivariant stepwise regression. Results The major factors affecting the pressure on nurses include: lack of support from and communications with families, arduousness of tasks to an unbearable point, extreme strictness in management, and unsoundness of treatment and living conditions. Conclusion Good communications with families are of great significance to nurses working in isolated areas. It is imperative to rationally allocate the human resources of nurses, show more concern for them, encourage them to participate in management, and strengthen scientific prevention so as to create a better working environment.

Objective To study relationships between myocardial injury and the levels of serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods A retrospectively analysis was conducted. 170 ACS patients [including 110 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 60 cases of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS)] with ischemic chest pain or chest discomfort onset within the prior 12 hours admitted to the cardiology department of Tianjin Union Medicine Center from January 2014 to July 2016 were enrolled. Thirty-six healthy cases were enrolled as control during the same time. The levels of serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 on 1, 3 and 7 days after admission and myocardial function indicators were analyzed. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and readmission rate were analyzed after 1 year follow-up. The correlation between serum complement levels and myocardial function indicators was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results ① The levels of serum C3, C4 and C5b-9 on the first day in NSTE-ACS group and STEMI group were significantly higher than control group [C3 (g/L): 1.04±0.33, 1.26±0.35 vs. 0.39±0.21, C4 (g/L): 0.31±0.14, 0.33±0.10 vs. 0.19±0.07, C5b-9 (g/L): 575.46±197.26, 659.26±160.77 vs. 501.40±141.51, all P < 0.05]. There were no changes of serum C3, C4 in NSTE-ACS group, but C5b-9 decreased after a peak (g/L: 700.63±218.42) at 3 days. Serum complements in STEMI group reached peak on the third day [C3 (g/L): 1.37±0.33, C4 (g/L): 0.42±0.12, C5b-9 (g/L): 754.72±136.22]. The levels of serum C4 and C5b-9 in STEMI group were higher than NSTE-ACS group on the third and seventh day. ② The levels of troponin T (TnT), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), solution intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) scores and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) numbers in STEMI group were significantly higher than those in the NSTE-ACS group, which were as opposite as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, there were no significant differences in levels of serum N-terminal pro-brain nitric peptide (NT-proBNP), Fibrinogen (Fib), readmission rate and incidence of MACE between STEMI and NSTE-ACS groups. ③ According to GRACE, patients with ACS were divided into low risk group (≤ 108 scores, 26 cases), intermediate risk group (109-140 scores, 61 cases) and highest group (> 140 scores, 83 cases). TnT and sICAM-1 in intermediate risk group were significantly increased as compared with low risk group. Levels of TnT, sICAM-1, C3, C4 and C5b-9 in the highest group were significantly higher than the low and intermediate risk groups, however the lowest LVEF was found in the highest group. ④ It was shown by Pearson correlation analyses that levels of serum C3, C4, C5b-9 were positively correlated with TnT (r value was 0.481, 0.367, 0.292, respectively, all P <0.01), sICAM-1 (r value was 0.298, 0.249, 0.365, respectively, all P < 0.01), but negatively correlated with LVEF (r value was -0.384, -0.260, -0.200, respectively, all P < 0.01). In addition sICAM-1 positively correlated with TnT (r = 0.536, P = 0.000), but negatively correlated with LVEF (r = -0.341, P = 0.001). Conclusions Serum complements activation was found in the acute phase of ACS patients. Serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 are involved in the process of myocardial injury, and may reflect severity of myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction.

Objective To study whether placenta previa and type affect the body mass of newborns and increase the occurrence rate of small for gestational age (SGA).Methods The clinical data in 290 inpatients with placenta previa in our hospital from January 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed;contemporaneous 290 inpatients with non-placenta previa were randomly selected as the control group.The influences of placenta previa and type on fetal gestational weeks,neonatal body mass and SGA were comparatively analyzed by using the standard t test or Chi-square tests.The Logistic regression analysis was adopted to analyze the association between placenta previa and the adverse pregnancy outcomes.Results Compared with non-placenta previa group,the age in the patients with placenta previa was elder(30.9 ±4.6 vs.29.1 ± 4.0,P＜0.01),had more gravidas (3.2 ± 1.8 vs.2.2±1.4,P＜0.01) and parities (1.4+0.7 vs.1.1±0.6,P＜0.01),lower pregnant weeks at birth (37.7±1.7 vs.39.0± 1.5,P＜0.01).The neonatal body masses in the complete placenta previa and dangerous placenta previa were (3 038.1 ± 450.0)g and (2 940.9 ± 503.0)g respectively,which were on the significantly lower side compared with the non-placenta previa group(P＜ 0.05).After correcting the risk factors of ages,gravidas,parities,GDM and gestation weeks,the risk of complete and dangerous placenta previa was slightly higher[OR 1.21,95％CI(0.29,6.02);OR 2.25,95％CI(0.88,5.77)],but the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusion Complete and dangerous placenta previa has a higher risk of SGA.

Objective:To discuss the effect of trigeminus nerves on the phenotype of MHC after facial paralysis; Methods:The morphologic changes were observed by histochemical methods 、the phenotype of MHC by SDS PAGE 、the tension of contraction and the threshold value of electrical stimulation by electrical physiological methods; Results: trigeminus nerves could delay the decomposing of MHC, maintain the tension of contraction and the threshold value of electrical stimulation; Conclusion: Sensory nerves could delay the muscular atrophy ,and should be repaired when we repair motor nerves.

Aim Vascular endothelial cell growth inhibitor(VEGI) is a recently discovered novel member of the TNF superfamily,which is expressed predominantly in endothelial cells.As an endothelial cell-specific negative regulator of angiogenesis,the relationship between structure and function of VEGI is not understood at present.Methods In order to explore the functional key amino acids of VEGI,four mutants of VEGI(E45→R,G47→A,Y111→F,Y111→T) were construced by site-directed mutagenesis,and recombinant proteins were generated from E.coli.Four mutant proteins behaved similar to the wild type VEGI in various physico-chemical assays.The proliferation of HUVEC and chick choriallantic membrane assay were performed to study the activity of four mutants.Results The mutant E45→R significantly decreased the biological activity,and the mutant G47→A caused a slight drop on activity,but the mutants Y111→F,Y111→T almost completely abolished biological activity.Conclusion It suggests that Y111 is an important residue in biological activity,which may play a direct role in receptor recognition.Moreover,the tyrosine ring and hydroxy group of the amino acid are important determinant of biological activity.Additionally,E45 also plays an important role in biological activity of VEGI.

Aim To evaluate the effects of aspirin on the expression of inflammatory proteins induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods HUVECs were stimulated with different concentrations of ox-LDL. The expression of inflammatory proteins was detected by Western blot.Intracellular ROS generation was measured by flow cytometry using perexide-sensitive flurscent probe 2′, 7′-dichrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA).Results ① Aspirin inhibited COX-2 expression induced by ox-LDL. Cells were preincubated with 2.5 mmol?L-1, 5 mmol?L-1 of aspirin or without any treatment for 30 min and then stimulated by 0.3 g?L-1 ox-LDL for 16 h, COX-2 expression was reduced by treating of aspirin.COX-2 expression was enhanced after the stimulation with ox-LDL, and aspirin inhibited the increasing.② Aspirin suppressed ICAM-1 expression induced by ox-LDL in HUVECs. ICAM-1 expression was increased by ox-LDL stimulation for 16 h, and aspirin significantly down-regulated the expression. Similar results were obtained by immunofluorescence.③ Aspirin partially reduced ROS production induced by ox-LDL in HUVECs. After stimulation with 0.3 g?L-1 ox-LDL for 16 h, the intracellular level of ROS was increased, however, aspirin failed to fully inhibit the phenomenon.Conclusion Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) aspirin significantly down-regulated the expression of COX-2 and ICAM-1 induced by ox-LDL.The results suggested that aspirin could reduce the inflammation responses mediated by ox-LDL on HUVECs in atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in the elderly. Methods The clinical characters of HCM in 70 elderly patients were retrospectively analysed. Results Among the 196 identified HCM patients, 70 were elders. Out of them, 7 patients(10.0%) were suspected as HCM according to the clinical symptoms, 29 patients (41.4%)were suspected as other cardiac diseases, 34 (48.3%) were diagnosed HCM due to other reasons. Among the 70 patients, 12 patients(17.1%) had history of cerebrovascular diseases, 54 (77.1%) manifested symptoms after 45 years of age and 4 (5.7%) showed no obvious symptoms. Among them, 18 patients were examined by UCG for two times and HCM was diagnosed at the second time. Conclusions HCM in the elderly is not an uncommon disease. The onset of cardiac symptoms is relatively late in the elderly HCM and frequently misdiagnosed; cerebrovascular diseases are commonly seen in elderly HCM patients.

Guided by the antioxidant activity, the EtOAc-soluble and n-butanol-soluble fractions of the 50% methanol extract of Lonicera japonica leaves were isolated and purified by various chromatorgraphic methods, and the structures were identified by spectral analysis and comparison to the data reported in literature. As a result, nine compounds were obtained and identified as 5-O-caffeoylquinicacid (1), chlorogenicacid (2), 4-O-caffeoylquinicacid (3), luteolin-7-O-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)] -β-D-glucopyranoside (4), luteoloside (5), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (7), 4, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (8) and luteolin (9). The antioxidant activity of the nine compounds were determined by using DPPH free radical scavenging method, and ascorbic acid was used as a positive control. Their antioxidant activities from high to low were 5 > 9 > 2 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 1 > 3 > 4. Among them, luteoloside (5) had the strongest antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 0.018 18 g x L(-1), and luteolin (IC50 0.023 6 g x L(-1)) and chlorogenicacid (IC50 0.035 17 g x L(-1)) ranks No. 2 and 3. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of luteoloside and luteolin were stronger than that of ascorbic acid (IC50 0.027 54 g x L(-1)). These results gave a basis for the further study and utilization of L. japonica leaves.
Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

Objective To study the protective effects of ischemic postconditioning and preconditioning against ischemic reperfusion injury of skeletal muscle.Methods According to different treatment methods on ischemia-reperfusion injury,forty Wistar rats were divided into I/R group,IPost group,IPC group,IPC + IPost group,control group.Using a rat amputation-like model,Wistar rats underwent temporary amputation at the level of the femur,excluding the femoral vessels.By measuring MDA,MPO,the extent of skeletal muscle infarction,protective effects of postconditioning and preconditioning,postconditioning combined with preconditioning were observed.Results In the Ipost group,IPC group,IPC + Ipost group,MDA and MPO at one hour of reperfusion and extent of muscle infarction at 6 hour of reperfusion was lower than group IR (P ＜ 0.05).In the Ipost group,MDA,MPO and extent of muscle infarction was similar to group IPC + Ipost; In the Ipost group,MDA and MPO was lower than group IPC,extent of muscle infarction was similar to group IPC.Conclusion Ischemic postconditioning at the beginning of reperfusion can protect skeletal muscle against ischemic reperfusion injury.Preconditioning also protect skeletal muscle against ischemic reperfusion injury,but preconditioning combined with postconditioning don't offer additional benefit over preconditioning or postconditioning alone.

BACKGROUND:In 2004, a new biomarker sCD14-subtypes (presepsin) was found and its value was shown in the diagnosis and evaluation of sepsis. This article is a brief overview of the new biomarker. DATA SOURCES:A literature search using multiple databases was performed for articles, especially meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials. RESULTS:Compared with other markers, presepsin seems to have a better sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of sepsis. Presepsin as a biom1arker is not only suitable for the early diagnosis of sepsis, but also for the assessment of its severity and prognosis. CONCLUSIONS:Presepsin has a higher sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of sepsis as a new biomarker, and is a predictor for the prognosis of sepsis. More importantly, preseptin seems to play a crucial role as a supplemental method in the early diagnosis of sepsis. Since there is no multicenter study on the relationship between presepsin and sepsis, further studies on the clinical values of presepsin are needed.