Objective: The relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and glycemic indices, including plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload glucose (2h-PG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), remains inconclusive. We aimed to explore the associations between glycemic indices and SUA levels in the general Chinese population. Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional analysis using the first follow-up survey data from The China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort Study. A total of 105,922 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 40 years underwent the oral glucose tolerance test and uric acid assessment. The nonlinear relationships between glycemic indices and SUA levels were explored using generalized additive models. Results: A total of 30,941 men and 62,361 women were eligible for the current analysis. Generalized additive models verified the inverted U-shaped association between glycemic indices and SUA levels, but with different inflection points in men and women. The thresholds for FPG, 2h-PG, and HbA1c for men and women were 6.5/8.0 mmol/L, 11.0/14.0 mmol/L, and 6.1/6.5, respectively (SUA levels increased with increasing glycemic indices before the inflection points and then eventually decreased with further increases in the glycemic indices). Conclusion An inverted U-shaped association was observed between major glycemic indices and uric acid levels in both sexes, while the inflection points were reached earlier in men than in women.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Glucose/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus/blood* ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glycated Hemoglobin A/analysis* ; Glycemic Index ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid/blood*

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

BackgroundNanotechnology is emerging as a promising tool to perform noninvasive therapy and optical imaging. However, nanomedicine may pose a potential risk of toxicity during in vivo applications. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of rare-earth nanoparticles (RENPs) using mice as models.

MethodsWe synthesized RENPs through a typical co-precipitation method. Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were randomly divided into seven groups including a control group and six experimental groups (10 mice per group). ICR mice were intravenously injected with bare RENPs at a daily dose of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg for 7 days. To evaluate the toxicity of these nanoparticles in mice, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to assess their uptake in mice. In addition, hematological and biochemical analyses were conducted to evaluate any impairment in the organ functions of ICR mice. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a one-way ANOVA test was used in this study. A repeated measures' analysis was used to determine any significant differences in white blood cell (WBC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine (CREA) levels at different evaluation times in each group.

ResultsWe demonstrated the successful synthesis of two different sizes (10 nm and 100 nm) of RENPs. Their physical properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and a 980 nm laser diode. Results of MRI study revealed the distribution and circulation of the RENPs in the liver. In addition, the hematological analysis found an increase of WBCs to (8.69 ± 0.85) × 10/L at the 28 day, which is indicative of inflammation in the mouse treated with 1.5 mg/kg NaYbF:Er nanoparticles. Furthermore, the biochemical analysis indicated increased levels of ALT ([64.20 ± 15.50] U/L) and CREA ([27.80 ± 3.56] μmol/L) at the 28 day, particularly those injected with 1.5 mg/kg NaYbF:Er nanoparticles. These results suggested the physiological and pathological damage caused by these nanoparticles to the organs and tissues of mice, especially to liver and kidney.

ConclusionThe use of bare RENPs may cause possible hepatotoxicity and nephritictoxicity in mice.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of the tiotropium bromide powder inhalation combined with theophylline sustained-release tablets in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in stable phase.Methods Forty patients of COPD in stable phase were randomly divided into control group and treatment group with 20 cases per group.Control group was given theophylline sustained-release tablets 0.2 g,bid,oral.Treatment group was given tiotropium bromide powder inhalation 18 μg,qd,Inhalation therapy.The clinical efficacy,mean blood oxygen saturation at nigh (MSaO2),lowest blood oxygen saturation (LSaO2),the ratio on the blood oxygen saturation ＜ 90％ of the total amount of sleep time (T90) and adverse drug reactions were compared between two groups.Results After treatment,the total effective rates in the treatment and control groups were 95.00％ (19 cases/20 cases)and 65.00％ (13 cases/20 cases) with statistically significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the main indexes in the treatment and control groups were compared:MSaO2 were (93.72 ± 3.44) ％ and (86.42 ± 4.11) ％,LSaO2 were (92.53 ±5.64)％ and(86.94 ±6.23)％,T90 were(28.14 ±6.31)％ and(31.22 ±7.81)％,the differences were statistically significant(all P ＜0.05).The adverse drug reactions in treatment group were based on dry mouth,which in control group were based on mild stomach discomfort.The incidences of adverse drug reaction in the treatment and control groups were 10.00％ and 5.00％ without significant difference(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Tiotropium bromide powder inhalation combined with theophylline sustained-release tablet has a definitive clinical efficacy and safety in the treatment of COPD in stable phase,which can improve the respiratory function.

Column chromatographies over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, reverse phase C18, and MCI, and semi-preparative HPLC were used for separation and purification of constituents from Inula cappa. The 22 compounds were obtained and their strutures were determined by NMR and MS spectra data as nine flavonoids: luteolin (1), apigenin (2), chrysoeriol (3), artemetin (4), 2', 5-di- hydroxy-3, 6, 7, 4', 5'-pentamethoxyflavone (5), chrysosplenol C (6), apigenin-5-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), luteolin-3-methyl, luteolin-3-methylether-4'-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), luteolin-4'-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (9); four triterpenes: darma-20, 24-dien- 3β-0-acetate (10), darma-20, 24-dien-3β-ol (11), epirfiedelanol (12), friedelin (13); three coumarins: scopoletin (14) , isosco- poletin (15) , scopolin(16) , and other types of compounds stigmasta-5, 22-dien-3β-0-7-one (17), stigmasterol (18), palmitic acid (19), linoleic acid (20), linoleic acid methyl ester (21), (E) -9, 12, 13-trihydroxyoetadee-10-enoie acid (22). Compound 5 is a new natural product. Compounds 3-9, 15, 17, 21, and 22 were isolated from this genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Inula ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

At present, the objective of cutting and pruning Cistanche deserticola is to harvest in successive years and enhance the harvesting yield and quality of C. deserticola in the process of the artificial cultivating C. deserticola. An experiment was conducted focusing on cutting and pruning C. deserticola in artificial forests of Haloxylon ammodendron drip-irrigated with saline water at the hinter-land of the Taklimakan desert, according to different growth stages and lengths. The results were following: (1) The effect of cutting on C. deserticola was similar to that of pruning, which resulted in three kinds of morphological types, not related to the bloom and size of C. deserticola. (2) The growth forms were diversified after pruning. Among them, there had sprouting new body, died or maintaining life with no sprouting, mildewed on its surface layer, etc. However, some of new bodies were sprouting from the lower part of the old body. The death rate of bloomed C. deserticola was higher than that of the underground, and the death rate of the 40 cm in stubble height for C. deserticola was higher than those with the stubble height of 20 cm and 5 cm. (3) Most of the diameter of living C. deserticola after pruning was increasing, but some of them changed little. (4) The mildew and rot of C. deserticola and the broken of the roots of the H. ammodendron and the fallen of the point of the inoculated when it was dug, which would cause the death of the C. deserticola. On the other, the yield-increasing effect and the economic benefit of the techniques of the pruning of Cistanche would need further research and evaluate. Therefore, the application of this technique needs to be cautious.
Amaranthaceae ; growth & development ; Cistanche ; growth & development ; Forests ; Fruit ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; growth & development

Objective To report the clinical result of repairing complex tissue defect in limb caused by traffic accident using both tissue flap transplantation and external fixer. Methods The vascular tissue flap including bone flap and muscular flap to repair the complex tissue defection ( soft tissue, bones, joints) in forearm, hand, leg, ankle and foot were applied in 36 cases. At the same time in surgery, injured bones and joints were fixed by external fixator for stabilizing and accelerating cure. Results All 36 cases were applied successfully with transplanted tissue combined with external fixator. The external fixator were moved away about 10～16 weeks post - operation in upper extremity or 6～8 months post - operation in lower extremity and all the cases recovered satisfactorily. Conclusions It is a reliable method for repairing the complex tissue defection in the limb caused by traffic accident by external fixator with traumatology and microsurgery technique. And it is also characterized as a minor injury method on transplanted bones, enables early exercise for joints, convenient observation of flap circulation and easy nursing.

To explore the relationship between the genetic diversity and biological functional site of human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 gp120 and the pathogenesis of AIDS dementia complex (ADC), the full length sequences of gp120 gene was amplified with PCR from genomic DNA which was extracted from lymphoid and different brain department (periaortic lymphoid, temporal gray/white matter junction, periventricular tissue, choroids plexus, occipital white matter and occipital gray/white matter junction.) of a patient who died of ADC. PCR products were cloned into the pGEM-T vector and positive clones were sequenced. The analysis of neighbor-joining tree, N-glycosylation sites, values of ds/dn, and loop were then all performed. The samples were all identified as HIV-1 B and genetic variation existed in HIV-1 gp120 isolated from different tissues. Compared with standard HIV-1B gp120, biological functional sites of HIV-1 gp120 isolated from the patient changed to some extent. In addition, there were differences in some biological functional sites of HIV-1 gp120 between lymphoid and brain. Therefore, genetic diversity and alterations of some biological functional sites of HIV-1 gp120 might be associated with the pathogenesis of ADC.
AIDS Dementia Complex ; virology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Objective To study the value of the reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) in laryngopharyngeal reflux disease(LPRD). Methods Twenty-five patients with RSI scores > 13 or RFS scores > 7 and sixteen patients with RSI scores > 13 and RFS scores > 7 were suspected as LPRD. Forty one patients with the RSI scores > 13 and/or RFS scores > 7 were suspected as LPRD, 15 patients with the RSI scores ≤ 13 and RFS scores ≤ 7 were regarded as control group. All the patients had 24-hour dual probe pH monitoring. Twenty-five patients with positive pH monitoring hand received anti-reflux treatment with omeprazole for 3 months, and then the RSI and RFS was estimated gain. Results The RSI and RFS scoring had high consistent with the results of pH monitoring (Kappa=0.43, u=3.48, P < 0.01),especially if RSI scores > 13 and RFS scores >7 (Kappa=0.55, u=3.06, P<0.01). There was a significant decreasing in RSI and RFS scoring in patients after anti-acid treatment for 3 months (tRSl=8.838, PRSl=0.000;tRFS=5.695, PRFS=0.000). Conclusions The RSI and RFS can be used as screening tool for laryngopharyngeal reflux diseases and as a simple method for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment.

OBJECTIVEDry powder inhalers (DPIs) are increasingly being used to deliver drugs for the treatment of asthma. It is known that DPIs require a crucial minimal inspiratory flow. Previous studies have demonstrated that the peak inspiratory flow (PIF, L/min) through a DPI is dependent on the type of device, the age of the patient, and the level of bronchial obstruction. However, the peak inspiratory flow of healthy preschool children in China remains scant in the literature. The present study aimed to analyze the ability of inspiring flow through the resistance state of ordinary use inhaler in Shenzhen healthy preschool children by measuring the peak inspiratory flow through the different analogue dry powder inhalers and go further into the relationship between it and the age, weight and forced expiratory volume of the children.

METHODA survey in 370 healthy preschool children aged 3 to 6 years (75 children aged 3 years, 104 children aged 4 years, 100 children aged 5 years and 91 children aged 6 years) was carried out in Shenzhen. Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) was measured without and with resistances, which mimicked the internal resistances of several inhalers, Diskus, Turbuhaler, Autohaler, Surehaler by PIF meter (In-check DIAL) and then data PIF-N, PIF-D, PIF-T, PIF-A and PIF-S were obtained. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured by PEF meter (MicroPeak, USA). These two measurements were made in a well-controlled setting, and at least three attempts were recorded to establish maximum achievement. Six spirometry parameters forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 0.5 second (FEV 0.5), forced expiratory volume at 0.75 second (FEV 0.75), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1), maximal mid expiratory flow rate (FEF 25 - 75, PEF were measured by using COSMED spirometry of Italy and the FVC measurements should be around the quality control for spirometry in preschool children which we suggested and published in 2005. All data were expressed as mean +/- SD and analyzed with the statistical software SPSS 12.0 for Windows. Pearson's test was used for calculation of the significances of the correlation coefficients. Variance analysis was used for analysing the variability of inspiratory flows through the inhalers.

RESULTSResults were obtained from 295 children aged 3 - 6 years who successfully finished the tests. The PIF-N, PIF-D, PIF-T, PIF-A and PIF-S were significantly different among the groups aged 3 yrs, 4 yrs, 5 yrs and 6 yrs. The peak inspiratory flow significantly increased with age. The PIF-N, PIF-D, PIF-T, PIF-A and PIF-S in the children of 110 cm height and above were significantly higher than those in the children below 110 cm height, so were the parameters between the children of 120 cm height and above and the children below 120 cm. PIF correlated significantly with age, height and weight and the Pearson coefficient was 0.3 - 0.5. The PIFs in different inhalers varied because of the different inner resistances. The minimum and optimum PIFs in resistances of Diskus, Autohaler and Surehaler could be achieved in almost all subjects, but those in resistances of Turbuhaler could be achieved in only 87.5% subjects, most of whom aged 3 yrs or below 100 cm height. There were good correlations between the PIFs in different resistances and main parameters of ventilation function (FVC, FEV 0.5, FEV 0.75, FEV1, FEF 25 - 75, PEF), PEF was the best among them (Pearson correlative coefficient was 0.6).

CONCLUSIONThe inspiratory ability of the children can be predicted and assessed by using routine measurement of lung function of normal pre-school children. As to the pre-school children of varying ages, the variety of inspiratory ability should be considered completely in the selection of inhaler used during the treatment. The best inhaler suitable for them should be selected properly in order to obtain the best efficacy of treatment individually.