As a species of acute respiratory tract pathogen in mankind, Chlamydia pneumoniae can cause upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, it may also play an important role in bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, sarcoid, lung cancer.

Objective Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is an antagonist of the Wnt signaling pathway of bone formation and it is the target gene of TNF.When DKK-1 is inhibited,osteoprotegerin (OPG) would increase,OPG can antagonize bone erosion caused by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL).Detection the levelsof serum DKK-1,OPG,RANKL and TNF-α of patients with AS before and after applying TNF-α antagonist,the effects of anti-TNF-α treatment on signaling pathway of bone formation was explored.Methods Medical records and serum samples of 43 AS patients receiving TNF-α receptor-Ⅱ IgG Fc fusion protein for 12 weeks were collected and the levels of serum DKK-1,OPG,RANKL and TNF-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Paired t-test and Person's correlation analysis were used for data analysis.Results Disease activity indexes in AS patients with anti-TNF-α treatment,including VAS score,time of morning stiffness,BASDAI,BASFI,ESR and CRP,which were [(2.7±2.0) cm,(7±4) min,1.1±1.1,0.8±1.2,(10±9) mm/1 h and (16±26) mg/L] respectively,were reduced when compared with those before treatment,[(7.6±1.9) cm,(46±33) min,6.0±1.3,4.4±2.0,(39±29) mm/1 h and (76±43) mg/L] respectively,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Serum levels of DKK-1,(3.3±1.5) μg/L vs (3.2±1.3) μg/L,OPG,(144±71) pg/ml vs (136±62) pg/ml,and RANKL,(71±37) pg/ml vs (68±30) pg/ml,were not changed (t=14.043,8.031,20.166,13.521,7.679,9.563,all P＞0.05).The levels of TNF-α increased from (1.9±1.3) pg/ml to (55.0±50.6) pg/ml (t=6.951,P＜0.05).There were no relations between DKK-1 and TNF-α,RANKUOPG,patient VAS,duration of morning stiffness,BASDAI,BASFI,ESR and CRP,allP＞0.05.Conclusion Clinical indicators are improved significantly by anti-TNF-α therapy; however,it should not be withdrawal suddenly.There is no relationship between serum levels of DKK-1 and level of inflammation in AS patients.

Objective To discuss the relation between influenza peak, temperature and relative humidity. Methods Statistical analysis on the data of influenza consultation rates, temperature and relative humidity from 1998 to 2002 in Hong Kong area was carried out to propose some relation between influenza peak, temperature and relative humidity. Results It was slightly possible to cause influenza peak when the week-averaged temperature was less than 20 ℃ and largely possible to cause influenza peak when the week-averaged temperature was less than 15 ℃. It was also largely possible to cause influenza peak when the week-averaged temperature was very low and the relative humidity was higher which resulted the lower body-sense temperature compared with the forecasting temperature. Conclusion The prevalence of influenza occurs during four seasons in one year in Hong Kong, but the prevalence peak of influenza mainly appears under the condition of lower temperature(

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious disease caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which has led to serious worldwide economic burden. Due to the continuous emergence of variants, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies are only partial effective against infections caused by distinct strains of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is still of great importance to call for the development of broad-spectrum and effective small molecule drugs to combat both current and future outbreaks triggered by SARS-CoV-2. Cathepsin L (CatL) cleaves the spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2, playing an indispensable role in enhancing virus entry into host cells. Therefore CatL is one of the ideal targets for the development of pan-coronavirus inhibitor-based drugs. In this study, a CatL enzyme inhibitor screening model was established based on fluorescein labeled substrate. Two CatL inhibitors IMB 6290 and IMB 8014 with low cytotoxicity were obtained through high-throughput screening, the half inhibition concentrations (IC₅₀) of which were 11.53 ± 0.68 and 1.56 ± 1.10 μmol·L^-1, respectively. SDS-PAGE and cell-cell fusion experiments confirmed that the compounds inhibited the hydrolysis of S protein by CatL in a concentration-dependent manner. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection showed that both compounds exhibited moderate binding affinity with CatL. Molecular docking revealed the binding mode between the compound and the CatL active pocket. The pseudovirus experiment further confirmed the inhibitory effects of IMB 8014 on the S protein mediated entry process. In vitro pharmacokinetic evaluation indicated that the compounds had relatively good drug-likeness properties. Our research suggested that these two compounds have the potential to be further developed as antiviral drugs for COVID-19 treatment.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dendritic Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; pathology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; pathology

Background Fibrin glue has been utilized to adhere the graft during the pterygium excision with conjunctival autografts.Several relevant clinical randomized controlled trial(RCT) and retrospective studies have been published abroad,but the samples for its effectiveness and safety issue of fibrin glue and suture are still underinvestigation.Objective Current study was to quantificationally assess the efficacy and safety of fibrin glue versus sutures in the application of pterygium excision with conjunctival autografts.Methods Based on established search strategy,a computerized literature search was conducted to identify all citations concerning the RCT for effectiveness and safety evaluation of fibrin glue and suture for the graft fixation during the pterygium excision with conjunctival autografts from MEDLINE ( from 2000 to October,2010 ),EMbase ( from 2000 to October,2010 ),Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials ( Issue 4,2010 ),CBMdisc ( 2000 to October 2010 ),CNKI ( 2000 to October 2010 ),and the relevant conference proceedings and references searched by hand was performed as supplement.The included literature was scored with Jadad table.The Cochrane Collaboration' s RevMan 5.0 software was used for the test of heterogeneity or test for overall effect.The effective indexes,such as operative duration,recurrence rate and complication,were evaluated by Meta analysis.Results Six RCTs involving 401 eyes of 377 participants were identified.These literatures were published with English in 2004-2010 from China,New Zealand,Sweden,Israel,Turkey and Malasia and the Jadad scores were 4-5.The quantitatively analysis revealed that fibrin glue appeared to short the operative time compared with suturing method (MD =14.23 ;95％ CI:- 16.18- 12.29;P=0.00) and drop the rate of recurrence ( RR =0.49,95％ CI:0.26 -0.95 ; P =0.03 ).No significant differences were found in the rate of postoperative graft dehiscence or absence (RR =3.41,95 ％ CI:0.85-13.68;P =0.08 ).Conclusions Fibrin glue shows the good effectiveness and easy application during the pterygium excision with conjunctival autografts.Long-term follow-up of multi-central RCTs with a larger number of cases are still needed to support this conclusion.

Objective To study the respiratory function tests reference values of healthy children in China with impulse oscillometry(IOS).Methods The respiratory function tests reference values of 102 children were measured by using masterscreen IOS and analysed it.Results Impedance and airway resistance reference values decreased as age and body height increased step by step,at the same time capacitance decreased.The difference was significant while the predicted values compared to the measured data.Conclusion We shall use respiratory function tests reference values which are established by us,and the difference is significant compared with the foreign predicted(values.)

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-like apoptosis weak inducer (TWEAK) level in body fluids of lupus nephritis (LN) patients..Methods Levels of NGAL,MCP-1 and TWEAK in the serum and urine of 51 patients with SLE,including 27 LN cases and 24 non-LN cases,were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and the clinical data were collected.Student's t test,Mann-Whitney U test,Pearson's correlations and Spearman's rank correlations were used for statistical analysis.Results (①) The level of serum NGAL in the LN group (122±70) ng/ml was higher than that in the non-LN group (56 ± 34) ng/ml (P＜0.01).There was a positive correlation (r=0.408,0.431,0.339,0.403 and 0.585,P＜0.05) between the serum NGAL and general SLEDAI score,extra-renal SLEDAI score,renal SLEDAI score,the levels of 24-hour urine protein and serum creatinine.There was a negative correlation (r=-0.396,P＜0.01) between the serum NGAL and serum C3 level.There was a positive correlation (r=0.719,P＜0.01) between urinary NGAL levels and chronic index (CI).② The level of serum MCP-1 in the LN group (284 ± 113) pg/ml was higher than that in the non-LN group (173± 69) pg/ml,(P＜0.01).The level of urinary MCP-1 in the LN group (M=1154,P75 41 178,P25 341) pg/mg creatinine was higher than that in the non-LN group (M=456,P75 714,P~ 114) pg/mg creatinine (P＜0.01).There was a positive correlation (r=0.340,0.416,0.385,0.574 and 0.654,P＜0.05) between the serum MCP-1 level and the overall SLEDAI score,extra-renal SLEDAI score,renal SLEDAI score,24-hour urinary protein excretion level and serum creatinine levels.There was a negative correlation (r=-0.458,P＜0.01) between the serum MCP-1 level and serum C3 levels.There was a positive correlation (rs=0.448,0.429,0.459,0.412,0.375 and 0.419,P＜0.05) between urinary MCP-1 level and total SLEDAI score,extra-renal SLEDAI score,renal SLEDAI score,serum ds-DNA antibodies,24-hour urinary protein excretion level and serum creatinine levels.There was a significant positive correlation (r=0.689,P＜0.01) between urinary MCP-1 levels and CI.(③) TWEAK was detected in the urine of 6 cases of LN.Conclusion The urinary NGAL and MCP-1 levels are elevated in patients with chronic damage,which suggestes chronic renal injury.It can be used to monitor the LN disease activity.The blood levels of NGAL and urine MCP-1 are significantly higher in LN.The clinical significance of TWEAK needs further study.

Bridged-Ring Compounds ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Rodenticides ; poisoning

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of tacalcitol combined with monochromatic excimer light (MEL) 308 nm vs MEL 308 nm monotherapy in treating vitiligo.Methods Thirty-eight pa- tients with vitiligo were enrolled in the single-blind clinical trial,using plabebo-treated lesions in the same patient as controls.Contralateral or nearby lesions were randomly selected to be treated by either tacalcitol or placebo.All lesions were treated weekly with MEL 308 nm,for a total of 12 sessions.Patients were ex- amined at monthly intervals.The mean number of sessions and the cumulative dosage for initial and excel- lent repigrnentation were calculated.Results Thirty-five patients were evaluated.The mean?SEM cumu- lative dose and number of MEL exposures for initial repigmentation,respectively,were 4.27?3.59 J/cm~2 and 4.89?3.16 on tacalcitol-treated site,5.36?4.12 J/cm~2 and 5.69?3.29 on placebo-treated site,re- spectively (both P＜0.05).For excellent repigrnentation,the cumulative dose and number of exposures were 7.72?5.64 J/cm~2 and 7.79?4.70 respectively on tacalcitol-treated site,and 8.18?4.87 J/cm~2 and 8.4?3.92 respectively on placebo-treated site (both P＞0.05).Treatment with tacalcitol resulted in a sig- nificantly higher percentage (71.4% vs 54.3%) of repigmentation than that with placebo.Conclusions Our results show that MEL 308 nm is safe and effective for the treatment of vitiligo.Additionally,concur- rent topical tacalcitol potentiates the efficacy of MEL 308 nm in the treatment of vitiligo;this combination achieves more rapid pigmentation with a lower total MEL dosage.