Objective To study the occurring regulation of antibody of Urbani sever acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus after onset of illness in patients with SARS and investigate the co-infection status of Chlamydiae pneumoniae (Chlamydiae P.) , Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mycoplasma P.), Adenovirus, Respiratory Syncytia virus (RSV). Methods Serum Antibody IgM and IgG of Urbani SARS-associated coronavirus of 43 patients with SARS and 10 patients with other diseases except SARS at the two different phases of illnesses were detected with immune fluorescent technique. Antibody IgM and IgG of Chlamydiae P., Mycoplasma P., Adenovirus and RSV in the above samples were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results 40 cases' infection of were Urbani SARS-associated coronavirus were determined (93.02%) and 3 cases were negative (6.98%). 10 patients with other diseases except SARS have negative serum Antibody IgM and IgG of Urbani SARS-associated coronavirus. Recent infection rates of Chlamydiae P., Mycoplasma P., Adenovirus and RSV were 25.58%, 16.28%, 6.98% and 4.65% , respectively, and former infection rates of these pathogens were 39.53%, 34.88%, 27.91% and 0, respectively. Antibody IgM of Urbani SARS-associated coronavirus occurred at the same time of onset of fever. Positive rates of IgM were respectively 69.57% and 62.96% in 8～14 days and 15～33 days after onset of fever, and there were no remarkable difference between them, but they were re-markably higher than that in 1～7 days after onset of fever (16.67%). Antibody IgG of Urbani SARS-as-sociated coronavirus occurred at the 6th day after onset of fever. Positive rates of IgG were respectively 19.44%, 65.22% and 92.59% in 1～7 days, 8～14 days and 15～33 days after onset of fever, and there were remarkable difference among them. Conclusions Antibody IgM and IgG of Urbani SARS-associated coronavirus may occur at the early stage of illness in patientswith SARS, which positive cases may increase remarkably 2 weeks later after onset of fever. There may be recent infection and/or former infection of Chlamydiae P., Mycoplasma P., Adenovirus and RSV in some patients with infectious atypical pneumonia. Detection of Antibody IgM and IgG of Urbani SARS-associated coronavirus in sera with immune fluorescent technique can be used on the early diagnosis of SARS.

Objective To investigate the serum level of free fatty acid (FFA) and explore its relationship with cytokines and atherosclerosis (AS) in chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods The serum level of FFA was determined with enzymatic colorimetry.IL-1 β, IL-6 and TNFα were determined with ELISA.High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured with immunoturbidimetry.Prevalence of atherosclerosis was detected with carotid ultrasonography.We evaluated the relationship between serum levels of FFA and IL-1β,IL-6, TNFα, hsCRP as well as the renal function in 130 adult patients with CKD, stratified according to the GFR ( based on the National Kidney Foundation/Kidney Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiatives) and in 58 hemodialytic (HD) patients.The relationship between FFA level and cardiac geometry incidence in CKD patients was analyzed with logistic regression model.Results The serum level of FFA was significantly higher in CKD patients as compared with that in the healthy controls [(492.63 ± 143.59)vs (302.65 ± 142.18) μ mol/L, P ＜ 0.01], even in the early stage of CKD.The level of FFA increased with the progression of renal dysfunction.In the non-dialytic CKD group, the level of FFA was negatively related to GFR and positively related to the proteinuria (P ＜ 0.05), while in the HD group, it was positively correlated with dialysis duration ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The serum levels of FFA were higher in CKD patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis than those in patients without ( P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ).However, in both groups with impairment of renal function, the levels of FFA were positively correlated with hsCRP, IL-1 β, IL-6,TNFα and TG( all P ＜ 0.05 ).A positive correlation between the level of FFA and the clinical manifestations such as carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) and AS was also found.A negative correlation was found between the level of FFA and the serum level of albumin and GFR( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of FFA are significantly higher either in non-dialytic CKD or in HD patients and it is related with hsCRP, IL-1 β, IL-6, TNFα as well as carotid artery atherosclerosis, indicating that FFA is an independent risk factor of AS in CKD.

Objective To investigate the effects of levocarnitine combined with urimetazidine on left ventricular remodeling in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients.Methods All of 86 MHD patients and 40 healthy volunteers(health control group)were involved in the study.all of 86 MHD patients were randomly divided into two groups,disease treatment group(46 cases)and disease control group(40 cases),who had undergone hemodialysis for at least 3 months before the study and were in a stable clinical status without signs of infection or disease activity.In disease treatment group,1.0 g of levocarnitine was infused at the end of each dialysis treatment and 20 mg of trimetazidine was taken orally 3 times each day for 6 months,while the parameters for free fatty acid(FFA),free carnitine(FC),inflammation and oxidative stress were studied before and after the treatmenL In disease control group these two drugs were not used.The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVDd),left ventricuhr end-systolic diameter(LVDs),left atrial diameter (LAD),left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT),interventricular septal thickness(IVST)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)were detected by ultrasonic cardiography.Results Before treatment,the serum levels of FFA,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),intedeukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αand malondialdehyde(MDA)were higher in disease treatment group and disease control group than those in health control group(P<0.05 or<0.01),while the serum levels of FC,glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were lower in disease treatment group and disease control group than those in health control group(P<0.05 or<0.01).Compared with those before treatment,the serum levels of FFA,hs-CRP,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,MDA were decreased(P<0.05 or<0.01),FC,GSHPx,SOD were increased(P<0.05 or<0101),the scores of LVDd,LAD,IVST,LVPWT,LVMI were also decreased significantly(P<0.05),while LVEF increased markedly after treatmem in disease treatment group(P<0.05).There were significant differences in all indexes between disease treatment group and disease control group(P<0.05 or<0.01).Conclusion Supplements of levocarnitine combined with trimetazidine in MHD patients appear to be associated with an improvement of left ventricular remodeling.

Objective To investigate the effect of L-carnitine on pathological changes of myocardium and the underlying mechanism in chronic renal failure rats (CRF). Methods A total of 55 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=10),model group (n=15),low dose (300 mg/kg),medium dose (600 mg/kg) and high dose (900 mg/kg) L-carnitine group(n=10,each).5/6 subtotal nephrectomy was performed in these rats without sham group.One week after the operation,normal saline or corresponding dose L-carnitine were intragastrically administrated to sham and model group or L-carnitine groups for 17 weeks.Transthoracic echocardiography,mean arterial pressure (MAP),heart rate (HR) and heart weight/body weight were assessed.Moreover,24h urine protein,renal function,SOD,MDA,IL-6,ATP,ADP were measured at the end of the study.Additionally,pathological changes in myocardium were detected by light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Results (1) ATP (μmol/g·wt)in L-carnitine groups (2.35±0.24,3.59±0.28,3.78±0.25) was significantly higher than that in model group (1.61±0.12) (all P＜0.01).(2) Thickness of posterior wall of left ventricle (mm) in high dose L-carnitine group was thinner than that in model group (3.74±0.23 vs 4.18±0.48,P＜0.05). (3) The ratios of heart weight to body weight in both medium dose and high dose L-carnitine groups (3.92±0.27,3.65±0.2) were significantly lower compared to model group (3.99±0.27) (all P＜0.01). (4) Under light microscopy,disarrangement and hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes,increased myocardial fibrosis were observed in model group, while these changes and the pathological scores were significantly improved in both medium dose and high dose L-carnitine groups (7.14±1.07,6.13±0.99),as compared with model group (9.88±1.13) (all P＜0.01).Under electron microscopy,typical changes in cardiac hypertrophy were observed,including dissolution of myocardial fibers,increasing and swelling of mitochondria,membrane rupture as well as matrix increase in model group,while these changes were ameliorated by L-carnitine in a dose-dependent manner. (5) Seventeen weeks after the treatment,both IL-6 and MDA were decreased in all L-carnitine-treated groups than those in model group [IL-6 (ng/L):261.86±13.18,240.12±18.7,233.34±36.88 vs 596.64±81.41; MDA (nmol/L):15.23±2.01,12.41±0.6.10.97±1.9 vs 21.84±2.71).Whereas,SOD (U/ml) were increased in L-carnitine-treated groups (51.2±6.11,58.51±5.52,60.63±6.94) than that in model group(32.01 ±5.69 )(all P＜0.05).(6) No significant differences of systolic,diastolic blood pressure or MAP were found among groups. Conclusion L-carnitine can improve energy metabolism,micro-inflammation and oxidative stress in myocardium of CRF rats,which may be associated with the amelioration of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.

Objective To observe the effect of ligustrazine injection combined with chemotherapy on common immunological parameters in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Eighty cases diagnosed with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma from January 2013 to January 2015 in the hospital were randomly divided into observation group and control group, 40 patients in each group.The control group received only conventional treatment of chemotherapy and observation group received ligustrazine injection on the basis of control group.The levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-4 and transforming growth factor beta ( TGF-β) wwere compared based on the record between two groups pre-and post-treatment.Results There were no significant differences between two groups in IL-1,IL-4 and TGF-βlevels pre-treatment.After treatment, the IL-1, IL-4 and TGF-βlevels in observation group were lower than those in control group [(41.4 ±11.8)vs (76.0 ±12.2)ng/L,(118.5 ±39.9)vs(223.0 ±47.3)ng/L,(6.7 ±3.2)vs(11.7 ± 2.6)ng/mL, respectively, all P<0.05].Conclusion Ligustrazine injection combined with chemotherapy has an exact effect on improving the immunological parameters associated with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma without significantly increasing side effects, it is worthy of further research and application.

Objective To determine the effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) on pathology and energy metabolism of myocardium in chronic renal failure(CRF) rats.Methods CRF models were built in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy, and animals were randomyly divided into sham group, control group and three groups treated with different doses of TMZ (3 mg/kg,6 mg/kg or 9 mg/kg).TMZ was intragastrically administrated to CRF rats for 17 weeks, while physiologicalsalinewasusedascontrol. Transthoracicechocardiographywasperformedand myocardial morphosis was observed.Left ventricular weight/body weight(LVW/BW) and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) were measured, and heart rate, and mean arterial pressure (MAP)were detected at the end of the study, while several parameters were detected, including urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine(Scr), triphosaden(ATP), adenosine diphosphate(ADP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α).Results (l)Left ventricle end-systolic dimensions, anterior wall end-diastolic and end-systolic thicknesses, and posterior wall end-diastolic thickness were significantly lower in rats treated with either medium dose or high dose of TMZ, as compared with control group(P＜0.05).(2)LVW/BW and HW/BW in rats treated with either medium dose or high dose of TMZ were significantly lower than those in control group(P＜0.05). (3)Various pathological changes were observed in control group, such as irregular arrangement and hypertrophy of the cardiomyocytes, myocardial fibrosis,mitochondrial swelling, focal muscle fiber dissolution, etc.However, all these pathological changes were apparently ameliorated in TMZ-treated groups, while the beneficial effects of TMZ therapy were dose-dependent. (4)No difference was observed in heart rate among all the groups.Although no difference existed in all the CRF rats, concerning on the systolic/diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (P＞0.05), these parameters were elevated in CRF rats, as compared with sham-operated group(P＜0.01). (5)ATP and ADP in TMZ-treated rats were significantly higher as compared with control(P＜0.05), moreover, medium dose and high dose of TMZ were superior to low dose (P＜0.05).(6)SOD was significantly increased in TMZ-treated rats (P＜0.05), while IL-6,TNF-α and MDA were significantly decreased in medium dose and high dose of TMZ, as compared with control(P＜0.05).Conclusion TMZ may prevent myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular hypertrophy in chronic renal failure via ameliorating myocardial energy metabolism and alleviating inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress.

Objective To identify the sequence of hepatitis B virus S gene"a"determinant in patients with positive HBsAg and anti-HBs.Methods Nested-PCR Was used to amplify the HBV S gene in 4 patients with positive HBsAg and anti-HBs,and the PCR products were sequenced directly or after cloning.The sequences of"a" determinants were then analyzed by sequence alignment.Results Direct sequencing of PCR products showed that there was one amino acid (aa)residue in"a"determinant less conserved region emerging polymorphism in all 4 patients.Clone sequencing showed that aa residue at 126 of "a"determinant in patient 1 miSht be Thr,Ile and Set,at 134 might be Phe and Set;the aa at 126 in patient 2 misht be Ala and Thr.and in patient 3 might be Ile and Asn;aa polymorphism was not found in patient 4.Conclusion The polymorphism of"a"determinant in HBV S gene might be associated with positivity of both HBsAg and anti-HBs in hepatitis B patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in aplastic anemia (AA)patients with iron overload.

METHODSA single arm, multi- center, prospective, open- label study was conducted to evaluate absolute change in serum ferritin (SF)from baseline to 12 months of deferasirox administration, initially at a dose of 20 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), and the safety in 64 AA patients with iron overload.

RESULTSAll patients started their deferasirox treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg · kg(-1) ·d(-1). The mean actual dose was (18.6±3.60) mg · kg(-1)·d(-1). The median SF decreased from 4 924 (2 718- 6 765)μg/L at baseline (n=64) to 3 036 (1 474- 5 551)μg/L at 12 months (n=23) with the percentage change from baseline as 38%. A median SF decrease of 651 (126-2 125)μg/L was observed at the end of study in 23 patients who completed 12 months' treatment, the median SF level decreased by 1 167(580-4 806)μg/L [5 271(3 420-8 278)μg/L at baseline; 3 036(1 474-5 551)μg/L after 12 months' treatment; the percentage change from baseline as 42% ] after 12 months of deferasirox treatment. The most common adverse events (AEs) were increased serum creatinine levels (40.98%), gastrointestinal discomfort (40.98%), elevated liver transaminase (ALT: 21.31%; AST: 13.11%)and proteinuria (24.59%). The increased serum creatinine levels were reversible and non-progressive. Of 38 patients with concomitant cyclosporine use, 12(31.8%)patients had two consecutive values >ULN, 10(26.3%)patients had two consecutive values >1.33 baseline values, but only 1(2.6%)patient's serum creatinine increased more than 1.33 baseline values and exceeded ULN. For both AST and ALT, no patients experienced two post- baseline values >5 ×ULN or >10 × ULN during the whole study. In AA patients with low baseline PLT count (less than 50 × 10(9)/L), there was no decrease for median PLT level during 12 months' treatment period.

CONCLUSIONSAA patients with iron overload could achieve satisfactory efficacy of iron chelation by deferasirox treatment. The drug was well tolerated with a clinically manageable safety profile and no major adverse events.

Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; Benzoates ; therapeutic use ; Blood Transfusion ; China ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Iron Chelating Agents ; therapeutic use ; Iron Overload ; drug therapy ; Liver ; Prospective Studies ; Triazoles ; therapeutic use

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of scalp moxibustion combined with treadmill training on the learning and memory function, and oxidative stress in rats with vascular dementia (VaD). MethodsA total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n = 10), model group (n = 10), acupuncture-rehabilitation group (n = 10) and moxibustion-rehabilitation group (n = 10). The latter three groups were induced VaD with 2 vessels occlusion. Eight rats with obvious cognitive impairment were selected from the model groups six weeks after modeling, according to the results of Morris Water Maze; and random eight rats in the sham group were selected. The acupuncture-rehabilitation group accepted scalp acupuncture combined with treadmill training, while the moxibustion-rehabilitation group accepted scalp moxibustion combined with treadmill training. All the rats were tested with Morris Water Maze after four weeks of intervention, and measured the levels of maleic dialdehyde (MDA), superoxide orgotein dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase reductase (GSH-Px) of hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the sham group, escape latency increased in the model group, and the number of crossing platforms and the stay time in the target quadrant decreased (P < 0.001); while the levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px decreased, and the level of MDA increased (P < 0.001). Compared with the model group, escape latency decreased in the acupuncture- and moxibustion-rehabilitation groups (P < 0.001), the number of crossing platforms and the stay time in the target quadrant increased (P < 0.001) from the third day; while the levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px increased, and the level of MDA decreased (P < 0.001); all the indexes imporved more in the moxibustion-rehabilitation group than in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P < 0.001). ConclusionScalp moxibustion combined with treadmill training can further relieve the oxidative stress in the hippocampus of VaD rats, to improve the learning and memory function compared with the acupuncture-rehabilitation.

ObjectiveTo establish a noninvasive diagnostic model for liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B （CHB） patients with normal alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and an age of ≤30 years by selecting specific indicators from the commonly used noninvasive indicators such as clinical， biochemical， and imaging indicators， to avoid invasive liver biopsy in such patients to some extent， and to guide the timing of antiviral therapy. MethodsA total of 251 CHB patients with normal ALT and an age of ≤30 years who underwent liver biopsy in Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital and The First Hospital of Changsha from January 2019 to January 2022 were enrolled， with 175 patients in the model group and 76 patients in the validation group， and commonly used clinical indicators were obtained based on clinical experience and related articles. The two-independent-samples t test or the two-independent-samples Mann-Whitney U rank sum test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups， and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between each indicator and liver fibrosis and identify the indicators with correlation （P<0.01， r>0.200）； a Logistic regression analysis was used to establish a noninvasive diagnostic model， and the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was used to evaluate its performance and perform validation of the model； this model was then compared with the widely used models of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index （APRI） and fibrosis-4 （FIB-4）. The Kappa consistency test was used to investigate the consistency of pathological results. ResultsA total of 17 commonly used clinical indicators were obtained， among which 9 indicators （ALT， aspartate aminotransferase ［AST］， gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase ［GGT］， ferritin ［FERR］， platelet count ［PLT］， procollagen type Ⅲ amino-terminal peptide ［PⅢP］， collagen Ⅳ ［CⅣ］， HBV DNA， and spleen thickness） were correlated with liver fibrosis （P<0.01， r>0.232）. Based on the above indicators， the predictive model was established as P=1/（1+e^-γ）， γ=-1.902+0.106×AST－0.011×PLT－0.265×HBV DNA+0.059×PⅢP， in which P was the probability for predicting ≥S2 liver fibrosis and γ was the predictive index. The comparison between each indicator and the model showed that the model had the largest area under the ROC curve of 0.852， with a sensitivity of 92.7% and a specificity of 76.9%. The model was validated in 76 patients and showed an accuracy of 77.600%. The model was compared with APRI and FIB-4， and the results showed that the model has good accuracy. ConclusionCompared with the models of APRI and FIB-4 commonly used in the world， this model can more accurately judge the degree of liver fibrosis in such patients， thereby replacing liver biopsy to some extent and guiding the timing of antiviral therapy.