Objective: To identify the characteristics including clinical features and pulmonary computed tomography (CT) features of heart failure and COVID-19. Methods: This study was a retrospective study. A total of 7 patients with heart failure and 12 patients with COVID-19 in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between December 1, 2019 and February 15, 2020 were enrolled. The baseline clinical and imaging features of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups(both P>0.05), but the incidence of epidemiological contact history, fever or respiratory symptoms in the COVID-19 group was significantly higher than that in the heart failure group (12/12 vs. 0, P<0.001; 12/12 vs. 4/7, P=0.013). While the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and impaired cardiac function was significantly less than that of the heart failure group(2/12 vs.7/7, P<0.001；0 vs.7/7, P<0.001). For imaging features, both groups had ground-glass opacity and thickening of interlobular septum, but the ratio of central and gradient distribution was higher in patients with heart failure than that in patients with COVID-19 (4/7 vs. 1/12, P=0.04). In heart failure group, the ratio of the expansion of pulmonary veins was also higher (3/7 vs. 0，P=0.013), and the lung lesions can be significantly improved after effective anti-heart failure treatment. Besides, there were more cases with rounded morphology in COVID-19 group（9/12 vs. 2/7, P=0.048）. Conclusions: More patients with COVID-19 have epidemiological history and fever or respiratory symptoms. There are significant differences in chest CT features, such as enlargement of pulmonary veins, lesions distribution and morphology between heart failure and COVID-19.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/diagnostic imaging* ; Heart Failure/etiology* ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/diagnostic imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The paper aims to study and compare the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis leaves (SLE) and Scutellaria baicalensis tea (STE) water extracts on the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster, and explore their anti-aging mechanism through metabolomics. Lifespan, food intake and fertility were measured after administering different doses of SLE and STE to a Drosophila natural aging model, and the metabolic profile of Drosophila was analyzed by metabolomics and multivariate statistical methods. The results showed that SLE and STE (1, 3 g·L^-1) could significantly prolong the average lifespan, median life and maximum lifespan of male Drosophila, improve the fertility of Drosophila, and had no effect on the food intake. Through metabolomics technology, 14 differential metabolites related to aging were found, involving a total of five metabolic pathways. All differential metabolites were reversed after STE intervention, while 13 differential metabolites were reversed after SLE intervention. The results suggest that SLE and STE can delay aging of Drosophila, and the anti-aging mechanism is related to energy metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Extra-corporeal video telescope operating monitor system provides a necessary instrument to perform high-precision neurosurgical procedures that could substitute or supplement the traditional surgical microscope. The present study was designed to evaluate a compact high-definition two-dimensional exoscope system for assisting in surgical removal of large vestibular schwannoma (VS), as an alternative to a binocular surgical microscope. METHODS: Patients with Koos grade 3 and grade 4 VS undergoing surgery were enrolled in this prospective cohort study between January 2013 and June 2018. The demographics and tumor characteristics (size, Koos grade, composition [cystic or solid mass]) were matched between the two groups of patients. The following outcome measurements were compared between the two groups: duration of surgery, volume of blood loss, extent of tumor resection, number of operating field adjustments, pre- and post-operative facial and cochlear nerve function evaluated at 3 months post-surgery, complications and surgeons' comfortability. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients received tumor resection through the retrosigmoid approach under either an exoscope (cases, n = 39) or a surgical microscope (control, n = 42). Patients in the two groups had comparable tumor location (P = 0.439), Koos grading (P = 0.867), and composition (P = 0.891). While no significant differences in the duration of surgery (P = 0.172), extent of tumor resection (P = 0.858), facial function (P = 0.838), and hearing ability (P = 1.000), patients operated on under an exoscope had less blood loss (P = 0.036) and a fewer field adjustments (P < 0.001). Both primary and assistant surgeons reported a high level of comfort operating under the exoscope (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The compact high-definition two-dimensional exoscope system provides a safe and efficient means to assist in removing large VSs, as compared to a surgical microscope. After the acquaintance with a visual perception through a dynamic hint and stereoscopically viewing corresponding to the motion parallax, the exoscope system provided a comfortable, high-resolution visualization without compromising operational efficiency and patient safety.

The effects of alcohol extracts from roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi (SBG) on endogenous metabolism in D-gal-induced aging-model rats were investigated by ¹H NMR metabolomics. Results showed that 32 endogenous metabolites were identified in the urine. Combined with the VIP value and t-test, 14 different metabolites were found by multivariate statistical analysis of the spectrum. Compared with the control group, the content of α-ketoglutaric acid, hippuric acid and 3-hydroxybutyrate in the urine of rats in the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and the content of trimethylamine oxide, glycine, alanine, lactic acid, dimethylglycine, acetate, pyruvate, taurine, allantoin, betaine, N-acetylated glycoprotein was significantly increased (P<0.05). The metabolites were mainly derived from taurine and hypo-taurine metabolism; glycine, serine and threonine metabolism; pyruvate metabolism; glycolysis/gluconeogenesis; glyoxylic acid and dicarboxylic acid metabolism; and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The content of differential metabolites in urine samples was altered by the alcohol extracts from the different parts of SBG. Leaves extracts of SBG had the greatest effect on urine metabolites, and mainly affected taurine and hypo-taurine metabolism; glycine, serine and threonine metabolism; and pyruvate metabolism. This study provides a reliable experimental basis for the future development of SBG. This animal experiment was approved by the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of Shanxi University (SXULL2016036).

Phytochemical investigation on Ilex asprella stems by using various chromatographic techniques led to the isolation of 18 phenolic constituents. Based on spectroscopic data analyses and/or comparison of the spectroscopic data with those in literature, these constituents were identified, including two lignans (1, 2), five phenylpropanes (3-7), six chlorogenic analogues (8-13), and five benzoic analogues (14-18). Among them, compounds 3-7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, and 18 were isolated from genus Ilex for the first time, and 2, 8, 10, 15, and 16 were isolated from this species for the first time. The in vitro anti-inflammatory assay results showed that compounds 8, 9, 11, 13, and 15 possessed moderate inhibition on the NO production in RAW264.7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 51.1-85.8 μmol·L⁻¹. The present study brought preliminary reference for the clarification of therapeutic ingredients of I. asprella with anti-inflammatory efficacy and its quality evaluation.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ilex ; chemistry ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phenols ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; RAW 264.7 Cells

Phytochemical investigation on the stems of Ilex asprella by using various chromatographic techniques led to the isolation of 13 compounds. By spectroscopic analyses and comparisons the spectral data with those in literatures, these compounds were identified as salicifoneoliganol(1), rel-(7R,8S)-3,3',5-trimethoxy-4',7-epoxy-8,5'-neolignan-4,9,9'-triol 9-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),(+)-cycloolivil(3),(+)-syringaresinol-4'-O-β-D-monoglucoside(4), liriodendrin(5), caffeic acid (6), 3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde(7), benzene-1,2,4-triol(8), 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-1-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl(1″→6')-glucopyranoside(9), aeculetin(10), cryptochlorogenic acid ethyl ester(11), chlorogenic acid ethyl ester(12), and rel-5-(3S,8S-dihydroxy-1R,5S-dimethyl-7-oxa-6-oxobicyclo [3,2,1]oct-8-yl)-3-methyl-2Z,4E-pentadienoic acid(13). Among them, compounds 7, 8, 11, and 13 were isolated from genus Ilex for the first time, and 1-3, 9, 10, and 12 were isolated from this speciesfor the first time. The anti-inflammatory assay results of these compounds showed that compounds 1 and 9 showed moderate inhibitory effect against NO production in RAW 267. 4 cells with IC₅₀ values of 35.7 and 50.6 μmol•L⁻¹, in vitro respectively, whereas compound 10 showed weak inhibition(IC₅₀ value 98.7 μmol•L⁻¹).

The binding mechanism between pterostilbene ( PTE) and human serum albumin ( HSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectrometry and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) under simulated physiological conditions. The experiment result showed that the effect between PTE and HSA was a static fluorescence quenching with F?rsterˊ s non-radioactive energy transformation, and PTE could bind HSA strongly with a 1: 1 molar ratio. The binding distances between PTE and HSA was 1. 495 nm, and the binding constants (KA) between PTE and HSA were 1. 12 × 104 (298 K), 4. 07 × 104 (304 K) and 2. 45 × 105 L/ mol (310 K). SERS revealed that PTE combined with HAS by methoxy group. Thermodynamic data indicated that the interaction between PTE and HSA was mainly hydrophobic interaction. Marker competition experiments pointed out that the primary binding site for PTE was located at site Ⅲ in HSA. Three-dimensional, synchronous fluorescence spectrum and SERS showed that the conformation of HSA changed apparently with the addition of PTE, resulting in the tryptophan residue of HSA exposing to a less hydrophobic micro-environment. However, the conformation of PTE did not change apparently with the addition of HSA.

BACKGROUNDTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a heterogeneous condition that can lead to critical LLLness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) causing a high mortality and morbidity. Glucocorticoids were widely used in the clinical management of TBI, but their benefit has been challenged in some studies and their efficacy, especially for treating CIRCI in TBI patients, remains unclear.

METHODSWe conducted a meta-analysis of published data to determine if the controversy is related to clinical dosing and timing of glucocorticoids (GCs) application. We analyzed published reports in four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and CBMdisc). The published data were stratified into not only low- and high-dose GCs group but also short- and long-term GCs group to compare their effectiveness in improving TBI outcomes.

RESULTSWe totally identified 16 reports. For low-dose patients, the pooled relative risks (RRs) for two clinical outcomes of death or a combination of death and severe disability were 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80 to 1.13) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.83 to 1.09), respectively. The risks for infection and gastrointestinal bleeding were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.50 to 1.45) and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.15 to 2.70), respectively. For high-dose group, the pooled RR of death is 1.14 (95% CI: 1.06 to 1.21). The pooled RRs for infection and gastrointestinal bleeding for the high-dose patients were 1.04 (95% CI: 0.93 to 1.15) and 1.26 (95% CI: 0.92 to 1.75), respectively. For long-term use group, the pooled RRs for two clinical outcomes of death or a combination of death and severe disability were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.87 to 1.12) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.90 to 1.11), respectively. The risks for infection and gastrointestinal bleeding were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.71 to 1.11) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.35 to 2.66), respectively. For short-term use group, the pooled RR of death is 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.23), and importantly the effects on infections were beneficial in terms of TBI patients suffering from CIRCI.

CONCLUSIONSThis meta-analysis suggests an increased risk of death for TBI patients on a high dose and short term of glucocorticoids compared with those on a low dose and long term, for whom a trend towards clinical improvement is evident. In addition, stress-does of GCs further decrease the pneumonia incidence in TBI patients suffering from CIRCI. A large-scale multicenter randomized controlled trial is warranted for testing (1) the efficacy of stress-dose GCs treatment in the sub-acute phase of TBI (4-21 days after initial trauma), when CIRCI is most likely to occur; (2) the hypothesis that stress-dose GCs could boost patients' stress function and ensure survival.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; deficiency ; Brain Injuries ; drug therapy ; mortality ; physiopathology ; Critical Illness ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; physiopathology ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; physiopathology ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDDepression related cognitive deficits are frequently considered as simple epiphenomena of the disorder. However, whether or not the depression might directly bring about cognitive deficits is still under investigation. This study was to investigate the distinct pattern of cognitive deficits in patients with depression by comparing the cognitive function before and after anti-depressive drug therapy.

METHODSSixty cases of patients, first-time diagnosed with depression, were assessed by 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD17scale). The memory ability was tested by quantitatively clinical memory scale, while the attention ability by modified Ruff 2&7 Selective Attention Test. Forty-two healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. The depressive patients were treated with Venlafaxine (75 - 300 mg/d), Fluoxetine (20 - 40 mg/d), Paroxetine (20 - 40 mg/d), and Sertraline (50 - 150 mg/d). After 12 weeks treatment, patients were tested again by HAMD17scale, quantitatively clinical memory scale, and modified Ruff 2&7 selective attention test to assess the effect of anti-depressive drugs on cognitive deficits.

RESULTSThe memory quotient (MQ) was significantly lowered in depressive patients. The selection speed was also significantly decreased and the number of missing and error hits increased in the depression group as compared to control. However, there was no significant difference in clinical memory scale and Ruff 2&7 selective attention test between mild-to-moderate and severe depression group. Importantly, after anti-depressive drug therapy, the HAMD17 scale scores in depressive patients were significantly decreased, but the MQ, directional memory (DM), free recall (FR), associative learning (AL), and face recognition were comparable with those before the treatment. Furthermore, the selection speed and the number of missing and error hits were also not significantly different after anti-depressive drugs treatment.

CONCLUSIONSDepressive patients suffer from short-term memory deficits, and attention extent, stability and rearrangement deficiency. Even though anti-depressive drugs sufficiently relieve the cardinal presentation of depression, they could not successfully alleviate the accompanying cognitive deficits. This might indicate a distinct pattern of cognitive deficits in patients with depression.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cognition Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Depression ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Young Adult

Objective To study mechanical properties of the medical water-jet scalpel when cutting parenchyma such as liver and verify its tissue-selective cutting characteristic. Methods The tension mechanical properties of porcine liver parenchyma and its vessels with different sizes were determined. Porcine and Wistar rat liver tissues were cut with arteriovenous vessels well reserved, and pathological section of the rats were analyzed by HE staining to explain the experimental phenomena. Results When the working pressure was set at 3 MPa, the incising and separating on the right lobe of porcine liver by medical water-jet scalpel in this experiment were done with minimal vessels of 0.8 mm in diameter left. Pathological sections from ordinary scalpel and medical water-jet scalpel showed that the medical water-jet scalpel caused smaller tissue damage. Conclusions The medical water-jet scalpel could cut heterogeneity soft tissue with highly-selective characteristics, which may effectively avoid the existing “one size fits all” phenomenon caused by ordinary scalpel.