Objective To evaluate the effect of LifePort combined with polymyxin B in preventing donor-derived infections caused by preservation solution contamination. Methods Clinical data of 110 kidney transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. According to the decontamination status of preservation solution, the recipients were divided into the decontamination group (n=62) and the non-decontamination group (n=48). The general data of the two groups were compared, and the preventive effect of polymyxin B on possible donor-derived infections (p-DDI) was analyzed, especially infections associated with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR GNB). Results There were no statistically significant differences in baseline data (gender, age, preservation solution contamination status, etc.) between the decontamination group and the non-decontamination group (all P > 0.05). The overall contamination rate of preservation solution was 80.0%, and 68 contaminated samples were with single microorganism and 20 with multiple microorganisms. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common microorganisms in the positive samples. Fifteen cases of preservation solution were contaminated by MDR GNB, including 10 cases in the non-decontamination group and 5 cases in the decontamination group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.053). Postoperative infection-related events occurred in 69 recipients, including 39 cases in the non-decontamination group and 30 cases in the decontamination group, with the incidence rate in the non-decontamination group significantly higher than that in the decontamination group (P < 0.001). Only 10 cases of infections were identified as p-DDI, all of which were positive for preservation solution culture, including 8 cases in the non-decontamination group and 2 cases in the decontamination group (P < 0.05). There were 5 cases of p-DDI related to MDR GNB in the non-decontamination group, while no such cases occurred in the decontamination group (P < 0.05). No adverse reactions related to polymyxin B were observed, and no recipient death or renal allograft dysfunction occurred in either group. Conclusions Adding polymyxin B to the preservation fluid during hypothermic machine perfusion with LifePort before renal transplantation may reduce p-DDI and its potential adverse consequences.

Background::At present, a large number of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are undiagnosed in China. Thus, this study aimed to develop a simple prediction model as a screening tool to identify patients at risk for COPD.Methods::The study was based on the data of 22,943 subjects aged 30 to 79 years and enrolled in the second resurvey of China Kadoorie Biobank during 2012 and 2013 in China. We stepwisely selected the predictors using logistic regression model. Then we tested the model validity through P-P graph, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), ten-fold cross validation and an external validation in a sample of 3492 individuals from the Enjoying Breathing Program in China.Results::The final prediction model involved 14 independent variables, including age, sex, location (urban/rural), region, educational background, smoking status, smoking amount (pack-years), years of exposure to air pollution by cooking fuel, family history of COPD, history of tuberculosis, body mass index, shortness of breath, sputum and wheeze. The model showed an area under curve (AUC) of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72-0.73) for detecting undiagnosed COPD patients, with the cutoff of predicted probability of COPD=0.22, presenting a sensitivity of 70.13% and a specificity of 62.25%. The AUROC value for screening undiagnosed patients with clinically significant COPD was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.66-0.69). Moreover, the ten-fold cross validation reported an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI: 0.71-0.73), and the external validation presented an AUC of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.68-0.71).Conclusion::This prediction model can serve as a first-stage screening tool for undiagnosed COPD patients in primary care settings.

Objective:To explore the effects of Changtong Recipe on levels of intestinal neurotransmitters and inflammatory cytokines in the elderly with functional constipation (FC).Methods:A total of 90 elderly patients with FC meeting the inclusion criteria in the hospital were enrolled between June 2020 and October 2021. According to the principle of random allocation, they were divided into control group (45 cases, treated with oral polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder) and treatment group (45 cases, Changtong Recipe). All were treated for 3 months and followed up for 30 d. Before and after treatment, TCM symptoms were scored. The levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) were detected by radioimmunoassay. The levels of IL-17A and IL-18 were detected by ELISA. The constipation severity and quality of life were evaluated by clinical constipation scale (CCS) and Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life scale (PAC-QOL). The adverse events during treatment and recurrence during follow-up were recorded. The clinical responsive effect was evaluated.Results:After treatment, there were 44 cases in treatment group and 43 cases in control group included into the statistics. The differences in total response rate between treatment group and control group were statistically significant [97.7% (43/44) vs. 81.4% (35/43); χ2=6.25, P=0.012]. After treatment, scores of TCM symptoms (mental fatigue, shortness of breath and abdominal distension, foreign body sensation in the throat, palpitation, cold extremities) and total score in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=3.71, 10.25, 2.87, 2.87, 5.68, 26.94, all Ps<0.01), and scores of CCS and PAC-QOL were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=11.71, 18.84, all Ps<0.001). After treatment, levels of serum VIP [(41.86±1.16) ng/L vs. (35.71±1.97) ng/L, t=17.79] and SP [(42.15±1.90) ng/L vs. (39.53±2.13) ng/L, t=6.06] in treatment group were higher than those in the control group ( P<0.01), while levels of IL-17A [(35.71±5.97 ) pg/L vs. (41.86±5.16) pg/L, t=5.14] and IL-18 [(22.15±3.90) pg/L vs. (26.53±4.13) pg/L, t=5.09] in treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). During treatment, difference in incidence of adverse events between treatment group and control group was not statistically significant [9.1% (4/44) vs. 14.0% (6/43); χ2=0.13, P=0.716]. During the 30d of follow-up, differences in recurrence rate between treatment group and control group were statistically significant [2.3% (1/44) vs. 16.3% (7/43); χ2=5.11, P=0.024]. Conclusion:The Changtong Recipe can improve levels of intestinal neurotransmitters (VIP, SP) and quality of life in elderly patients with FC, reduce levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A, IL-18) and improve clinical curative effect safely.

Objective: To investigate the role of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in the regulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) and its possible mechanism. Methods: Human LEC lines (SRA01/04) were divided into MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and small interferening RNA-MeCP2 (si-MeCP2) group, and MeCP2 analog plasmid, blank plasmid and MeCP2 si-RNA plasmid was used respectively to transfect the cells.The expression of MeCP2 mRNA in the cells was detected by using real-time PCR 24 hours after transfection.At 48 hours after transfection, the migration rate of the cells was evaluated by scratching test, and the expression of Wnt3a protein in the cells was detected by immunofluorescence stainning.The relative expressions of β-catenin, E-cadherin, Vimentin, matrix metallo proteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-7 and secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) proteins in the cells were detected by Western blot. Results: After 24 hours of transfection, the relative expression of MeCP2 mRNA in the cells was significantly different among the MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group (F=4 773.00, P<0.00 1). The migrating rate of the cells in the MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was (57.45±5.20)%, (32.71±10.02)% and (17.77±9.22)%, respectively, showing a significant difference among the three groups (F=124.00, P<0.001), and the migrating rate of the cells in the si-MeCP2 group was significantly lower than that of the MeCP2-mimic group or MeCP2-NC group (both at P<0.001). The relative expressing intensity (absorbance) of Wnt3a in the cells of the MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was 75.92±6.10, 52.03±5.22 and 28.75±3.39, respectively, with a significant difference among three the groups (F=221.30, P<0.001), and the relative expressing intensity (absorbance) of Wnt3a in the cells was significantly lower in the si-MeCP2-mimic group than that of the MeCP2-NC group and MeCP2-mimic group (both at P<0.001). The relative expressing level of E-cadherin protein was significantly elevated and the expressions of β-catenin, Vimentin, MMP-9 and MMP-7 were significantly reduced in the si-MeCP2 group compared with the MeCP2-mimnic group and MeCP2-NC group (all at P<0.01). The relative expressing level of SFRP5 protein in the MeCP2-mimic group, MeCP2-NC group and si-MeCP2 group was 27.19±0.03, 47.54±0.05 and 74.93±0.05, respectively, showing a statistical difference among the three groups (F=183.49, P<0.001), and the relative expressing level of SFRP5 in the si-MeCP2 group was significantly higher than that in the MeCP2-mimic group and MeCP2-NC group (both at P<0.001). Conclusions MeCP2C can promote EMT of human LECs by down-regulating the expression of SFRP5 and therefore activating the Wnt3a/β-catenin signal pathway.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect and safety of long-acting pegylated interferon-α-2b (Peg-IFN-α-2b) (Y shape, 40 kD) injection (180 μg/week) in the treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, with standard-dose Peg-IFN-α-2a as positive control. Methods: This study was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, and positive-controlled phase III clinical trial. Eligible HBeAg-positive CHB patients were screened out and randomized to Peg-IFN-α-2b (Y shape, 40 kD) trial group and Peg-IFN-α-2a control group at a ratio of 2:1. The course of treatment was 48 weeks and the patients were followed up for 24 weeks after drug withdrawal. Plasma samples were collected at screening, baseline, and 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 weeks for centralized detection. COBAS® Ampliprep/COBAS® TaqMan® HBV Test was used to measure HBV DNA level by quantitative real-time PCR. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay with Elecsys kit was used to measure HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe). Adverse events were recorded in detail. The primary outcome measure was HBeAg seroconversion rate after the 24-week follow-up, and non-inferiority was also tested. The difference in HBeAg seroconversion rate after treatment between the trial group and the control group and two-sided confidence interval (CI) were calculated, and non-inferiority was demonstrated if the lower limit of 95% CI was > -10%. The t-test, chi-square test, or rank sum test was used according to the types and features of data. Results: A total of 855 HBeAg-positive CHB patients were enrolled and 820 of them received treatment (538 in the trial group and 282 in the control group). The data of the full analysis set showed that HBeAg seroconversion rate at week 72 was 27.32% in the trial group and 22.70% in the control group with a rate difference of 4.63% (95% CI -1.54% to 10.80%, P = 0.1493). The data of the per-protocol set showed that HBeAg seroconversion rate at week 72 was 30.75% in the trial group and 27.14% in the control group with a rate difference of 3.61% (95% CI -3.87% to 11.09%, P = 0.3436). 95% CI met the non-inferiority criteria, and the trial group was non-inferior to the control group. The two groups had similar incidence rates of adverse events, serious adverse events, and common adverse events. Conclusion In Peg-IFN-α regimen for HBeAg-positive CHB patients, the new drug Peg-IFN-α-2b (Y shape, 40 kD) has comparable effect and safety to the control drug Peg-IFN-α-2a.

Objective To describe the circadian profiles of interdialytic blood pressure in maintenance hemodialysis patients and to investigate its related factors. Methods Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)was conducted in forty-four patients on regular hemodialysis during interdialytic days.Three groups were identified with their ambulatory blood pressure:non-hypertension group,controlled hypertension group and uncontrolled hypeaension group.Hemoglobin,creatinine,Kt/V,serum total calcium,serum phosphate,immunoreactive parathyroid hormone(iPTH),interdialytic weight gain and Morisky self-report scale etc.were assessed. Results (1)No significant difference was found in ABPM index ranged from decline in nocturnal systolic and diastolic blood pressure,AASI to dipper percentage in three groups.Nevertheless,24-h average pulse pressure in uncontrolled hypertension group was higher than the other groups[(80.06+13.41)vs(53.00±7.73),(57.85±21.97)mm Hg,all P＜0.01].(2)All the three groups showed the blood pressure profile of double-peak and trough.In the uncontrolled hypertension group,however,the nocturnal blood pressure decrease was not notable.(3)Nocturnal systolic blood pressure decline Was negatively correlated to iPTH(r=-0.039,P＜0.05).(4)In ten dippers out of all 44 patients,AASI was negatively correlated with nocturnal diastolic blood pressure decline (r=-0.748,P＜0.05). Conclusion Nocturnal blood pressure decline is correlated to iPTH and arterial selerosis.