This study aims to investigate the effects of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) on learning and memory abilities and antioxidant capacity of D-galactose-induced aging mice. Kunming mice (37.1 +/- 0.62) g were randomly divided into normal control group, model group and FGF-21 high, medium and low dose groups (n = 8). Each group was injected in cervical part subcutaneously with D-galactose 180 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) once a day for 8 weeks. At the same time, FGF-21-treated mice were administered with FGF-21 by giving subcutaneous injection in cervical part at the daily doses of 5, 2 and 1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). The normal control group was given with normal saline by subcutaneous injection in cervical part. At seventh week of the experiment, the learning and memory abilities of mice were determined by water maze and jumping stand tests. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed and the cells damage of hippocampus was observed by HE staining in each group. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the brain of mice were determined. The results showed that different doses of FGF-21 could reduce the time reaching the end (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) and the number of touching blind side (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the water maze comparing with the model group. It could also prolong the latency time (P < 0.05) and decrease the number of errors (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the step down test. The result of HE staining showed that FGF-21 could significantly reduce brain cell damage in the hippocampus. The ROS and MDA levels of three different doses FGF-21 treatment group reduced significantly than that of the model group [(5.58 +/- 1.07), (7.78 +/- 1.92), (9.03 +/- 1.77) vs (12.75 +/- 2.02) pmol (DCF) x min(-1) x mg(-1), P < 0.01 or P < 0.05], [(2.92 +/- 0.71), (4.21 +/- 0.81), (4.41 +/- 0.97) vs (5.62 +/- 0.63) nmol x mg(-1) (protein), P < 0.01]. Comparing with the model group, the activities of SOD, GPx, CAT and T-AOC of the three different doses FGF-21 treatment groups were also improved in a dose-dependent manner. This study demonstrates that FGF-21 can ameliorate learning and memory abilities of D-galactose induced aging mice, improve the antioxidant abilities in brain tissue and delay brain aging. This finding provides a theoretical support for clinical application of FGF-21 as a novel therapeutics for preventing aging.
Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Brain ; drug effects ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Galactose ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAs the third most frequent cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of VTE and steps for its prevention in acutely ill hospitalized elderly Chinese patients.

METHODSA prospective multi-center study was conducted from June 2006 to November 2007. A total of 607 patients from 40 research centers in China were enrolled. Data of the patients' baseline characteristics, VTE events and prophylaxis/therapy methods were collected.

RESULTSFifty-nine patients (9.7%) had an objectively confirmed VTE during the 90-day follow-up, of which, 59.3% occurred during the first week and 75% within 14 days. Forty-one patients died (6.6%) during the follow-up, 36.6% died within three weeks. We also found that medical disorders including respiratory failure (16.4%), acute brain infarction (15.6%), acute infectious diseases (14.3%), acute coronary artery syndrome (8.7%) and heart failure (7.6%) play a role in provoking VTE. Only 13.0% of the elderly patients with high risk of VTE used low dose unfractionated heparin, 7.1% used low molecular weight heparin, 5.4% used warfarin, 0.3% used graduated compression stockings and none of them used intermittent pneumatic compression.

CONCLUSIONSOur study showed similar results between our study and western countries in the VTE incidence by day 90 in elderly hospitalized patients with acute medical illness. Great caution must be applied in the care of acutely ill elderly hospitalized patients to deal with the complications of VTE. Application of safe and effective prophylaxes against embolism remains a critical challenge.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Hospitalization ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Venous Thromboembolism ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo identify the risk factors for otitis media with effusion (OME) in some kindergarten children in Wuhan City of China and analyze the results with reference to the review of the literature.

METHODSThe study subjects were 3 to 6 years old children drawn from a school screening program for OME in Wuhan. All subjects were assessed with routine otorhinolaryngologic examination, otoscopic examination and tympanometry. During the test, parents were interviewed to provide information with regard to the children's birth history, neonatal history, feeding history, family smoke history, otological history, rhinorrhea, sneeze, nasal obstruction, snoring, tonsillitis episodes history, et al. These data formed the basis in the estimation of potential risk factors for OME.

RESULTSIn the univariate analysis of 144 cases and 288 controls, significantly elevated odds ratios (OR) for OME were detected on the symptoms of nasal obstruction (OR = 2.60, P = 0.002), rhinorrhoea (OR = 1.442, P = 0.003), high hard palate (OR = 4.411, P < 0.0001), and previous history of acute otitis media (OR = 1.77, P = 0.025). However, four factors were found to be significant in the multivariate logistic regression model, including feeding history (OR = 0.746, P = 0.047), nasal obstruction (OR = 2.56, P = 0.003) and previous acute otitis media episodes (OR = 1.735, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONSPrevious acute otitis media episodes and nasal obstruction were risk factors, which was accordant with literature. In addition, breastfeeding was a protective factor for OME, but acute tonsillitis was not a factor for OME. A child who had previous acute otitis media episode and often had nasal obstruction is suggested to have otorhinolaryngologic regulatory examination.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) which was isolated from Meishan porcine and induced with concanavaline A (ConA), then the porcine interferon gamma gene (PoIFNgamma, 501bp) was amplified by RT-PCR. The result of sequencing demonstrated that the amplified PoIFNgamma had 100% nucleotide homology with the other porcine IFNgamma sequence published on GenBank. The objective gene (PoIFNgamma) was inserted into adenoviral shuttle vector, pShuttle-CMV, to construct recombinant plasmid pSh-PoIFNgamma. And it was co-electrotransformated with adenoviral skeletal vector pAdEasy-1 into competent cells of BJ5183. The transforms were cultured at 37 degrees C for 24h on kanamycin resistance plate and selected for smaller colonies. Then, the extracted recombinant plasmid was named pAd-Sh-PoIFNgamma, which was confirmed by Pac I digestion, and transformed into XL10-Glod(r) for copious preparation. pAd-Sh-PoIFNgamma linearized with Pac I was co-transfected with liposome into 293 package cell-line. After 7d-10d, the typical cytopathic effect indicated that recombinant adenoviral genome (deleted with E1 and E3 genes) carrying PoIFNgamma was successfully packaged into intact virion. The recombinant virion was successively seeded to the 10th generation and the viral genome was extracted from each generation by PCR. The antiviral activity of PoIFNgamma was tested by CPE50 method. The results showed that the PoIFNgamma expressed by adenovirus had high antiviral activity, which was 1.3 x 10(6) U/mL against VSV in MDBK cells. The results demonstrated that the recombinant adenovirus carrying PoIFNgamma could be stably passaged.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; pharmacology ; Swine

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of excessive inflammation in the lung of C3H/HeN(C3H) mice following Chlamydia muridarum(Cm) airway infection.Methods:Chlamydial pneumonitis was induced in C3H and C57BL/6(C57) mice by intranasal inoculation with 1×103IFU (inclusion forming unites) of Cm strains.The expression of TLR2,TLR4 and MyD88 mRNA in the lung at different time point post-infection was measured by RT-PCR.Results:Cm infection induced Toll-like receptors expression in two strains of mice.The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA,especially TLR2 mRNA(P<0.001 or P<0.05),were significantly higher in highly susceptible C3H mice on day 7 and day 14 d post-infection compared with C57 mice.Further studies showed that the expression of MyD88 mRNA was also significantly higher in C3H mice on day 7 post-infection,and maintained high expression untill the day 14.Conclusion:Cm lung infection induced high level of TLR2,TLR4 and MyD88 mRNA expression in C3H mice,which may associate with excessive inflammation in C3H mice.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the new left ventricular circulation assist device iVAC 2L in high-risk percutaneous coronaryintervention(HR-PCI)in Chinese patients.Methods We reported 6 PCIs in 5 patients supported by iVAC 2L,a new left ventricular circulation assist device,performed in Macao from September 2022 to March 2023.All patients were assessed by heart team and categorize to be high-risk for procedure.Clinical and intra-procedural data were analyzed.iVAC 2L-related complications and 30-day results were also documented.Results Insertion and removement of iVAC 2L successfully performed in all the 5 patients.Three of them underwent complete revascularization in the index procedure;one failed for the first time due to intolerance of the prolonged procedure,but succeeded for the reattempt of complete revascularization a month later,with the support of iVAC 2L.PCI was abandoned due to poor vessel condition.iVAC 2L,the new left ventricular circulation assist device,supported effectively during the 6 procedures.The patients were stable during the procedure.The success rate of hemodynamic support was 100％.No iVAC 2L-related complications and 30-day major adverse cardiac and cerebral events occurred,the 30-day survival was 100％.Conclusions Initial experience suggested that the new left ventricular circulation assist device iVAC 2L could provide effective and safe support in high-risk PCI.

Objective:To summarize clinical characteristics of and treatment experience with patients with critical illnesses in a dermatological ward.Methods:All patients with serious or life-threatening conditions, who were hospitalized at the dermatological ward of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from July 9, 2011 to December 31, 2020, were collected, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, disease types and proportions, main complications, causes of serious or life-threatening conditions, important treatment measures and outcomes were summarized, and causes of death were also analyzed and discussed.Results:A total of 1 057 patients with critical illnesses were collected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶1.11, and 64.81% of them aged 18 to 65 years. The types of diseases mainly included drug eruptions (332 cases) , connective tissue diseases (226 cases) , bullous skin diseases (104 cases) , psoriasis (57 cases) , erythroderma (45 cases) , infectious skin diseases (67 cases) , etc. Among them, psoriasis (39 cases) and erythroderma (32 cases) mostly occurred in males, and connective tissue diseases (168 cases) mostly occurred in females. Common complications mainly involved infections, important organ damage or dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, and fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. A total of 94 patients were diagnosed with life-threatening conditions, which were found to be mainly caused by primary skin diseases, hematologic abnormalities, respiratory failure, nervous system abnormalities, renal failure, sepsis, fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, etc. During the management of critical illnesses, 43 patients were treated with high-dose glucocorticoid pulse therapy, 264 were treated with gamma-globulin pulse therapy, 355 were transfused with other blood products, and 34 received special therapies such as hemoperfusion/immunoadsorption therapy, plasma exchange, dialysis, artificial liver support therapy; 42 patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) , 12 were transferred to the department of surgery for operations, and 12 were transferred to the department of obstetrics and gynecology for delivery or induction of labor. After treatment, 989 patients (93.57%) achieved improvement and were discharged. A total of 14 patients (1.32%) died, of whom 7 died of secondary sepsis, 2 died of severe pulmonary infections, 2 died of asphyxia caused by respiratory mucosa shedding-induced airway obstruction, the other 3 died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively.Conclusions:Critical cases in the dermatological ward mainly suffered from serious skin diseases such as severe drug eruptions, connective tissue diseases and bullous skin diseases, as well as complications such as severe underlying diseases, severe organ dysfunction, sepsis or severe fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. In terms of treatment, it is of critical significance to make a clear diagnosis and assess the severity of disease as early as possible, monitor and prevent possible complications, and to consult with specialists in relevant disciplines in time.

Transparency Ecosystem for Research and Journals in Medicine (TERM) working group summarized the essential recommendations that should be considered to review and publish a high-quality guideline. These recommendations from editors and reviewers included 10 components of essential requirements: systematic review of existing relevant guidelines, guideline registration, guideline protocol, stakeholders, conflicts of interest, clinical questions, systematic reviews, recommendation consensus, guideline reporting and external review. TERM working group abbreviates them as PAGE (essential requirements for Publishing clinical prActice GuidelinEs), and recommends guideline authors, editors, and peer reviewers to use them for high-quality guidelines.
Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic