Acute Disease ; Adult ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Gastritis ; etiology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olea ; chemistry ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the plague epidemical trend of nearly a 10 years data in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures. Method The regional distribution and time distribution of animal and human plague, monitoring and plague foci of survey data in Qinghai from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed with Excel software 2003. Results In Qinghai province, a total of 167 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from infected animals and insects in 10 years. Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan,Delinha, Geermu, and Tianjun, along the Qinghai-Xizang railway. Human plague was occurred every year from 2001 to 2010 except 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In the 10 years, there were 37 plague cases and 16 of these cases died, the mortality was 43.24％. The plague cases were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo,Zhiduo, Xinghai, Tongde, Tianjun, Wulan and Qilian. And these cases were found mostly in the period from May to October, especially in the period from August to October. Major clinical type of the plague cases was lung-type (62.16％,23/37). Conclusions The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe, animal plague occurred year after year, and human plague outbreaks occasionally. Monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened, and the comprehensive measures of plague prevention and control should be carried out to reduce the incidence and prevalence of plague.

OBJECTIVETo found new interface of human hepatocyte/poly propylene with good cytocompatibility for made polypropylene hollow fibers bioreactor of bioartificial liver in future.

METHODSUsing the macromolecular hydroperoxide groups on the polypropylene membrane surface as initiators, acrylamides were polymerized on the polypropylene membranes, under induction by both UV irradiation and Fe2+ reduction. Growth characteristics of human hepatocyte L-02 were detected when it was cultured on polystyrene, polypropylene and modified polypropylene membrane surface.

RESULTSWater contact angle measurement of the polypropylene and the modified polypropylene membranes decreased from (72 +/- 5) degrees to (30 +/- 4) degrees , which indicated that the hydrophilicity of the membrane was improved obviously after the grafting modification. Human hepatocyte L-02 could not adhere and spread on modified polypropylene membrane surface, and grown in spheroidal aggregate with higher density and higher proliferation ratio measured by MTT method.

CONCLUSIONSAcrylamide polymerized on the polypropylene membranes is a good method which not only improved human hepatocytes cytocompatibility but also found a new simple culture method with spheroidal aggregate culture of human hepatocyte.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver, Artificial ; Membranes, Artificial ; Polypropylenes ; chemistry ; Surface Properties ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the protective efficacy of plague subunit vaccine, BALB/c mice, guinea pigs and rabbits were used in this study.

METHODSGroups of mice (10 per group), guinea pigs (14 per group) and rabbits (6 per group) were immunized with F1 + rV270 vaccine, EV76 vaccine and alum adjuvant by intramuscular route, respectively. Serum antibody titres of mice, guinea pigs and rabbits were determined by ELISA and the immunized animals were challenged with 10(6) CFU of Y. pestis strain 141 at the 8th week after the primary immunization.

RESULTSThe immunized mice, guinea pigs or rabbits with subunit vaccine developed anti-F1 IgG titre of 41 587.3 +/- 2.1, 11 543.7 +/- 2.1 or 522.4 +/- 22.4 and elicited statistical anti-F1 IgG titre difference among them (F = 17.58, P < 0.01). The immunized mice, guinea pigs or rabbits with subunit vaccine had anti-rV270 IgG titre of 15 748.7 +/- 1.6, 12.6 +/- 1.4 or 1648.0 +/- 5.0 and induced statistical anti-rV270 IgG titre difference among them (F value was 16.34, P < 0.01). There was significant anti-F1 IgG titre difference among mice, guinea pigs and rabbits immunized with EV76 vaccine that developed anti-F1 IgG titre of 913.4 +/- 4.5, 937.0 +/- 2.0 or 342.0 +/- 12.0 (F = 23.67, P < 0.01), whereas the immunized mice, guinea pigs and rabbits with EV76 vaccine developed anti-rV270 IgG titre of 12.0 +/- 1.0, 447.0 +/- 10.0, 40.0 +/- 11.0 and there was no anti-rV270 IgG titre difference between them (F = 2.20, P = 0.1314). The immunized mice with subunit vaccine developed significantly higher anti-F1 IgG titres than immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q value was 30.57 and 19.04, respectively, P < 0.01), and there were no anti-F1 IgG titre differences between the immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q = 0.04, P = 0.8485). The immunized mice with subunit vaccine developed significantly higher anti-rV270 IgG titres than immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q value was 27.10 and 19.49, respectively, P < 0.01), and there were no anti-rV270 IgG titre differences between the immunized guinea pigs and rabbits with the subunit vaccine (q = 0.25, P = 0.6187). The immunized mice with EV76 elicited higher anti-F1 IgG titres than immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q value was 40.67 and 29.10, respectively, P < 0.01), whereas there was no difference of F1 IgG titer between immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q = 0.06, P = 0.8098). The immunized mice, guinea pigs and rabbits with subunit vaccine provided 100% (10/10), 86% (12/14) and 100% (5/5) protection against 10(6) CFU Y. pestis of challenge, respectively. The immunized mice, guinea pigs and rabbits with EV76 vaccine gave 100% (6/6), 93% (13/14) and 100% (6/6) protection against 10(6) CFU Y. pestis of challenge respectively.

CONCLUSIONBALB/c mice is the best small animal model for valuation of protective efficacy of plague subunit vaccine. The guinea pigs showed a high individual variation for this purpose. The rabbits can be used as an alternative model for evaluating plague subunit vaccine.

Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Models, Animal ; Plague ; prevention & control ; Plague Vaccine ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Vaccines, Subunit ; immunology

Objective To study the features of Yersinia pestis(Y.pestis)in areas along Qinghai-Tibet Railroad in Qinghai Province.Methods To identify the biologic types and the molecular biological feathers of Y.pestis isolated from areas along Qinghai-Tibet Railroad in Qinghai from 2001-2006.Results All the tested Y.pestis was biologically of classical type and ecologically of Qinghai-Tibet plateau type.The Y.pestis had high virulence.The Y.pestis of 65×106 plasmids was distributed in the Tanggula area,the Y.pestis of 52×106plasmids,in Tianjun and Delingha areas.The Y.pestis srains carried 52 × 106 plasmids.except the two containing 65 X 106 plasmids in Wulan County.The genetic type of Y.pestis in Tanggula was type 5 and that in Zongwulong of Delingha,Saishike,Keke,Tongpu of Wulan was type 8 except 2 strains of Y.pestis isolated from woodchuck and the patients in Dananwan of Tongpu,Wulan County were type 15.Conclusion The Y.pestis in the area along Qinghai-Tibet Railroad in Qinghai belongs to Qinghai-Tibet plateau type with high virulence.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism and re-ablation strategy of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) following circumferential ablation of pulmonary veins (PV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSFifteen patients with recurrent ATA following first AF ablation procedure were included in this study. Under CARTO guidance, PVs were remapped and ablated subsequently for relapse of left atrium to PV conduction. The whole atrium was then remapped and individualized ablation was made to eliminate inducible ATA.

RESULTSLeft atrium to PV conduction relapses were evidenced in 14 patients. After re-ablation, there were no inducible ATA in 9 patients, inducible left atrial macro-reentry tachycardia in 3 patients and all were terminated by further linear ablation on the roof and left atrial isthmus, inducible atrial focal tachycardia from left atrial isthmus in 1 patient and was eliminated after additional focal ablation, inducible right atrial macro-reentry tachycardia in 2 patients and were eliminated by right isthmus linear ablation. During 1 - 16 (5.5 +/- 4.4) months follow-up, ATA was disappeared in 13 patients and reduced in another 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONSRelapse of left atrium to PV conduction is one of the main mechanisms for postablation ATA in patients with AF. Atrial macro-reentry tachycardia and focal atrial tachycardia were less common mechanisms for postablation ATA. Re-ablation focused on closing the PV gaps and additional individualized focal and lineal ablation strategies were helpful for treating postablation ATA in AF patients.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Heart Atria ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; etiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo identify the active material of anti-hepatic fibrosis from Amydae Carapax.

METHODSMembrane separation technology was adopted to screen active fraction in Amydae Carapax, and the active components were isolated from the active fraction using gel chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The purified active components in Amydae Carapax were further analyzed using 4700 series time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

RESULTSProteins and peptides of Amydae Carapax with molecular weight less than 6000 were proved to have biological activity. 8 components (Bj1-Bj8) were isolated from the active fraction. Bj4, Bj6 and Bj7 were screened as active components. Bj7 was further purified, resulting in 7 components (Bj701-Bj707). Bj704 and Bj707 showed significant biological activity. Mass spectrometry showed three molecular ion peaks with highest abundance, i.e. m/e 526, 542 and 572, i.e. m/e 526, 542 and 572, in Bj707 -A The amino acid sequences of above three peptide compounds were NDDY (Asn-Asp-Asp-Tyr), NPNPT (Asn-Pro-Asn-Pro-Thr), and HGRFG (His-Gly-Arg-Phe-Gly), respectively. And M572 was the most abandunt components.

CONCLUSIONThree active peptide compounds of anti-hepatic fibrosis of Amydae Carapax were identified.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Tissue Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of intracoronary adenovirus vector encoding hepatocyte growth factor gene (Ad(5)-HGF) on hematopoietic stem cells mobilization in patients with extensive coronary heart disease.

METHODSPatients with extensive coronary heart disease were treated with intracoronary infusion of adenovirus vector encoding hepatocyte growth factor (Ad(5)-HGF 5 x 10(9) pfu) gene plus stent implantation (n = 9) or equal physiological saline plus stent implantation (n = 9). Angioplasty and stent implantation was performed according to standard clinical practice by the femoral approach and blood samples were drawn from each patient at baseline before PCI, 6 to 24 hours and 6 days post procedure. The number of CD34(+), CD38(+) and CD117(+) cells in peripheral blood was analyzed by flow cytometer.

RESULTSThe number of circulating CD34(+) cells in Ad(5)-HGF gene treatment group 6 hours after procedure and the number of circulating CD117(+) cells 6 days post procedure were significantly higher in Ad(5)-HGF gene treatment group than those in the control group (0.104 +/- 0.082 vs. 0.022 +/- 0.012, P = 0.021) and (0.058 +/- 0.058 vs. 0.012 +/- 0.009, P = 0.034), respectively.

CONCLUSIONIntracoronary administration of Ad(5)-HGF could mobilize hematopoietic stem cells into peripheral blood and the consequent role of this observation on myocardial regeneration warrants further detailed studies.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Aged ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors for acute myocardial injury in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a COVID-19 cohort, in which 149 confirmed COVID-19 patients enrolled were divided into the group of myocardial injury (19 cases) and the group of non-myocardial injury (130 cases). Myocardial injury was defined according to Fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction released by European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in 2018, that cardiac troponin (cTn) was above 99th percentile of the reference level. Clinical information and results of laboratory tests of the eligible patients were collected. Factors associated with myocardial injury in COVID-19 patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the group of non-injury, the patients in the group of injury were older and had a larger proportion of severe or critical cases (P < 0.05), higher respiratory rate and lower percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO₂) without oxygen therapy on admission (P < 0.05). All inflammatory indexes except for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) showed significant elevation in the patients of the group of injury (P < 0.05). Analyzed by Spearman correlation test, we showed that the levels of circulatory cTnI were in positive correlation with the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), ferritin, receptor of interleukin-2 (IL-2R), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) (ρ > 0, P < 0.05). Lower SpO₂ without oxygen therapy on admission (OR: 0.860, 95%CI: 0.779-0.949, P=0.003) and higher plasma IL-6 levels (OR: 1.068, 95%CI: 1.019-1.120, P=0.006) were independent risk factors for acute myocardial injury in the patients with COVID-19 by multivariate Logistic regression analyses. CONCLUSION Hypoxic state and inflammation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial injury in COVID-19 patients.
Biomarkers ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; Inflammation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; SARS-CoV-2