Objective:To investigate the clinical value of left ventricular shape index (SI) and eccentricity index (EI) in evaluating left ventricular remodeling.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 324 patients (264 males, 60 females, age (62.5±11.8) years) diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI) and 113 healthy controls (HC; 47 males, 66 females, age (57.8±10.7) years) who received gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) in First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to September 2020. SI (end-diastolic SI (EDSI), end-systolic SI (ESSI)), EI and left ventricular function parameters (end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), summed motion score (SMS), summed thickening score (STS), peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR)) were obtained by quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) software. Propensity score (PS) inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance the intergroup covariates. The differences and correlations of EDSI, ESSI, EI and left ventricular function parameters between patients in MI group and HC group were analyzed. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the values of EDV, EDSI, ESSI and EI alone and in combination in the assessment of left ventricular systolic function impairment. Data were analyzed by independent-sample t test, Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analyses, and Delong test. Results:After IPTW, EDSI and ESSI in MI group ( n=319) were higher than those in HC group ( n=133; EDSI: 0.66±0.09 vs 0.60±0.06; ESSI: 0.59±0.11 vs 0.47±0.07; t values: 8.05, 14.67, both P<0.001), and EI was lower than that in HC group (0.81±0.06 vs 0.85±0.03; t=-8.93, P<0.001). In both groups, there were significant correlations between EDSI and ESSI ( r values: 0.928, 0.873), between EDSI, ESSI and EI ( r values: from -0.831 to -0.641), between EDSI, ESSI and LVEF ( r values: from -0.627 to -0.201), between ESSI and EDV, ESV and SMS ( rs values: 0.336-0.584), between ESSI and -PER, PFR ( rs values: from -0.406 to -0.402, r values: from -0.352 to -0.325) (all P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that EDV (AUC: 0.895) and ESSI (AUC: 0.839) had the highest efficacy in evaluating left ventricular systolic function impairment in MI group and HC group, respectively. EDV-EDSI-ESSI-(1-EI) had higher efficacy in the assessment of impaired left ventricular systolic function in MI group (AUC: 0.956), which was higher than that of EDV or EDV-EDSI or EDV-ESSI or EDV-(1-EI) ( z values: from -2.64 to -2.18, P values: 0.008-0.029); EDV-EDSI-ESSI-(1-EI) also had high efficacy in HC group (AUC: 0.911), which was higher than that of EDV or EDV-EDSI or EDV-(1-EI) ( z values: from -2.60 to -2.43, P values: 0.009-0.015). Conclusions:In MI patients, the increase of SI and the decrease of EI indicate the increase of left ventricular sphericity and the aggravation of left ventricular remodeling. SI and EI have certain clinical application values in evaluating left ventricular morphology, predicting left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular systolic function impairment.

By applying "homeostasis" to the study of the meridian and collateral system， the concept of meridian and collateral homeostasis has been proposed which refers to a balanced and stable state of meridian and collateral system， and plays an important role in maintaining body health and can provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Phenomics realizes the cross-scale correlation from micro-phenotypic data， such as genome， proteome， and metabolome， to macro-phenotypic data， such as physiological state， behavioral activities， and external manifestations. From the perspective of phenomics， this paper proposes a meridian and collateral homeostasis dynamic mapping model of "macroscopic signs and microscopic expression". This model combines macro signs such as the four examinations of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， biophysical indicators of acupoints， and micro expression information such as genes， proteins， and metabolism， and systematically investigates the relationship between meridian and collateral homeostasis and health and disease， thereby providing ideas and references for the identification of pre-disease states as well as precise diagnosis and treatment in TCM.

Humans ; Incidence ; Longitudinal Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Thymus Neoplasms

Humans ; Electronic Health Records ; Phenotype ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/epidemiology* ; Databases, Factual ; Algorithms

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of dihydroartemisinin(DHA)on lipo-polysaccharide(LPS)-induced acute lung injury(ALI)in mice using whole-genome sequencing.METHODS An ALI mouse model was established via intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg·kg-1 lipopolysaccharide.The mice were divided into normal control group(n=10),model group(n=10)and model+DHA group(n=10).The mice in the model+DHA group were injected intraperitoneally with 20 mg·kg-1 DHA,while those in the normal control group and LPS group were injected intraperitoneally with solvent of DHA,saline containing 1%Tween 80 and 10%Macrogol 400.The mice were executed 24 h after drug administration.The wet and dry weight ratio(W/D)of lung tissue was calculated.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe histopathological damage in the lung.Classified counts of inflamma-tory cells in alveolar lavage fluid were performed.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in alveolar lavage fluid.Real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)was used to detect mRNA levels of placenta-specific 8(Plac8),Toll-like receptor 7(TLR7),IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-αin lung tissue.The whole gene transcriptome was sequenced by RNA transcriptome sequencing(RNA-seq)using the Illumina HiSeq high-throughput sequencing platform before the function and signal pathway of differentially expressed gene mRNA between the groups were enriched and analyzed using GO and KEGG enrichment analysis methods.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the lung W/D values of mice,the pathological damage,inflammatory cells in alveolar lavage fluid,expression levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in alveolar lavage fluid(P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.01),and the mRNA expression levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced in lung tissues in the model+DHA group(P<0.01,P<0.05,P<0.05).Whole gene transcriptome sequencing revealed that immune-related Plac8 and TLR7 genes were significantly upregu-lated(P<0.01)in mouse lung tissue of the model group but significantly downregulated(P<0.05)in mouse lung tissue of the model+DHA group.The results of RT-qPCR of Plac8 and TLR7 verified the results of whole gene transcriptome sequencing.GO and KEGG analysis showed that Plac8 and TLR7 were mainly related to the regulation of cytokine production,T/B cell activation and signal transduction,chemo-kine signal transduction and NF-κB signal transduction.CONCLUSION DHA might reduce LPS-induced lung damage and ameliorate the inflammatory condition in lungs of ALI mice.The mechanism of action may be that DHA negatively regulates the signaling pathways involved in TLR7 and Plac8 by decreasing the expressions of TLR7 and Plac8 mRNA before regulating a series of immune responses such as secretion of inflammation-related cytokines and activation of immune cells,thereby reducing inflam-matory damage in lungs.

Consecutively hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China were retrospectively enrolled from January 2020 to March 2020 to investigate the association between the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RAS-I) and the outcome of this disease. Associations between the use of RAS-I (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)), ACEI, and ARB and in-hospital mortality were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models in overall and subgroup of hypertension status. A total of 2771 patients with COVID-19 were included, with moderate and severe cases accounting for 45.0% and 36.5%, respectively. A total of 195 (7.0%) patients died. RAS-I (hazard ratio (HR)= 0.499, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.325-0.767) and ARB (HR = 0.410, 95% CI 0.240-0.700) use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19. For patients with hypertension, RAS-I and ARB applications were also associated with a reduced risk of mortality with HR of 0.352 (95% CI 0.162-0.764) and 0.279 (95% CI 0.115-0.677), respectively. RAS-I exhibited protective effects on the survival outcome of COVID-19. ARB use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of pine pollen on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced learning and memory impairments in mice and the underlying mechanism.Methods:Sixty mice were randomly divided into four groups ( n = 15/group): normal control, model, low-dose pine pollen (500 mg/kg) and high-dose pine pollen (1 000 mg/kg). Mouse models of learning and memory impairment were established by lateral ventricle injection of LPS. The learning and memory abilities of mice were determined by the Morris water maze test. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the hippocampus of mice were measured. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) levels in the hippocampus were also determined. Results:The latency in the passive avoidance test in the model group was significantly shorter than that in the normal control group [(134.80 ± 33.89) s vs. (282.20 ± 17.43) s, t = 4.23, P < 0.01]. The number of errors in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group [(4.00 ± 1.58) vs. (1.20 ± 1.30) times, t = 2.85, P < 0.01]. The latency in the passive avoidance test in the low-dose pine pollen (500 mg/kg) and high-dose pine pollen (1000 mg/kg) groups was significantly longer than that in the normal control group [(189.40 ± 27.21) s or (213.40 ± 21.26) s vs. (134.80 ± 33.89) s, t = 3.21, 4.38, all P < 0.05]. The number of errors in the low-dose pine pollen (500 mg/kg) and high-dose pine pollen (1 000 mg/kg) groups was significantly lower than that in the normal control group [(1.60 ± 1.44) times or (1.40 ± 1.44) times vs. (4.00 ± 1.58) times, t = 5.12, 6.42, both P < 0.05]. SOD activity and GSH, DA and NE levels in the hippocampus in the model group were significantly decreased compared with the normal control group [SOD: (7.59 ± 1.77) kU/g vs. (39.90 ± 6.37) kU/g; GSH: (3.49 ± 0.13) mmol/g vs. (6.37 ± 0.14) mmol/g; DA: (418.42 ± 2.57) ng/L vs. (586.37 ± 3.64) ng/L; NE: (187.20 ± 5.41) ng/L vs. (298.42 ± 2.32) ng/L, t = 3.67, 8.23, 2.23, 3.65, all P < 0.05]. MDA, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the hippocampus in the normal control group were significantly higher than those in the model group [MDA: (8.79 ± 0.82) mmol/g vs. (2.62 ± 0.16) mmol/g, IL-6: (48.07 ± 5.56) ng/L vs. (18.76 ± 1.42) ng/L, TNF-α: (87.20 ± 4.31) ng/L vs. (22.42 ± 3.39) ng/L, t = 7.45, 2.67, 4.35, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. SOD activity, GSH, DA and NE levels in the hippocampus in the low-dose pine pollen (500 mg/kg) and high-dose pine pollen (1 000 mg/kg) groups were significantly higher than those in the model group [SOD: (18.80 ± 2.39) kU/g, (28.70 ± 2.36) kU/g vs. (7.59 ± 1.77) kU/g, GSH: (5.04 ± 0.36) mmol/g, (5.45 ± 0.17) mmol/g vs. (3.49 ± 0.13) mmol/g, DA: (488.37 ± 3.46) ng/L, (506.29 ± 5.72) ng/L vs. (418.42 ± 2.57) ng/L, NE: (225.65 ± 3.72) ng/L, (239.76 ± 5.58) ng/L vs. (187.20 ± 5.41) ng/L, t = 4.56 or 6.71, t = 4.65 or 5.32, t = 4.73 or 6.72, t = 3.84 or 5.63, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. MDA, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the hippocampus in the low-dose pine pollen (500 mg/kg) and high-dose pine pollen (1 000 mg/kg) groups were significantly lower than those in the model group [MDA: (5.72 ± 0.47) mmol/g, (3.77 ± 0.23) mmol /g vs. (8.79 ± 0.82) mmol/g, IL-6: (28.42 ± 3.54) ng/L, (23.43 ± 5.62) ng/L vs. (48.07 ± 5.56) ng/L, TNF-α: (48.87 ± 4.82) ng/L, (39.65 ± 6.69) ng/L vs. (87.20 ± 4.31) ng/L, t = 6.31 or 7.28, t = 3.46 or 6.31, t = 4.28 or 3.57, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. Conclusion:Pine pollen can improve LPS-induced learning and memory impairments possibly through up-regulating the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters DA and NE and inhibiting the levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction in the hippocampus of mice.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of clinical practice guidelines for kidney diseases in China and provide reference for selecting suitable high-quality guidelines for primary care and developing standardized guidelines. Methods: The China Guideline Clearinghouse, China Biology Medicine disc, VIP Database, Wanfang Database and CNKI, and other resources were searched from January 2013 to July 2018. In accordance with the criteria for inclusion and exclusion, the published guidelines for kidney diseases were screened. The Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation-China (AGREE-China) was used to systematically assess the current status of domestic guidelines for kidney diseases. Results: A total of 18 guidelines for kidney diseases were included, covering different types of kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, end-stage renal disease and other diseases. The overall score ranged from 30 to 68, with an average score of 47.3. The average scores of these guidelines were 20.1, 12.8, 0.5, 9.9 and 3.9 in five review fields including scientificity/rigorism, effectiveness/safety, economy, availability/feasibility, and conflicts of interest, respectively. Of these 18 guidelines, 8(44.4%) guidelines were strongly recommended, and 10(55.6%) guidelines were weakly recommended. Conclusions There are still deficiencies in scientificity/rigorism and economy in current guidelines for kidney diseases in China. The AGREE-China can be used as an evaluation tool for guidelines for kidney diseases in accordance with China's situation, while its practicability and feasibility still need further verification and improvement.

Objective To evaluate the value in the diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia( FNH) by combining micro-flow imaging ( MFI) and color Doppler flow imaging ( CDFI) . Methods A total of 32 patients with 32 FNH lesions were enrolled in this study . Each patient underwent CDFI ,MFI ,and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography ( CEUS ) examinations . The differences in the grade and characteristic distribution of blood flow in FNH were compared between CDFI and MFI . The results were further compared with CEUS . Results There was a significant difference between MFI and CDFI in detecting the blood flow in FNH . Twenty-six cases (81 .3％ ) were detected with blood flow of grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ by MFI , however , 18 cases ( 56 .3％ ) were detected of grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ by CDFI ( P = 0 .000) . A total of 12 (37 .5％ ) lesions were correctly showed spoke-wheel arterial flow peculiar by CDFI ,whereas the number increased to 23(71 .9％ ) in combination with MFI( P = 0 .013) . Conclusions In combination with MFI , CDFI can reveal more blood flow and detect more sensitively in FNH ,which helps to diagnose FNH . To a certain degree ,it can be applied to reduce the use of CEUS .

Objective To investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics of the Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from blood and sputum samples of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in ICU.Methods The patients were analyzed in two groups:Group A,A.baumannii was isolated from both blood and sputum,and Group B,A.baumannii was isolated only from sputum.Clinical data of the patients were collected,including the results of antimicrobial susceptibility test.Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were performed for the strains.Results During the study period from June 2015 to December 2105,28 nonduplicate A.baumannii strains were collected from 14 patients in group A and 28 nonduplicate strains from 28 patients in group B.The 56 A.baumannii strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR).More than 80％ of the strains were resistant to carbapenem,third-generation cephalosporins or aminoglycoside,but highly sensitive to tigecycline.No significant difference was found for the resistance rates between group A and group B.The nonduplicate A.baumannii isolates from blood and sputum samples of the same patient in group A were all homologous strains confirmed by PFGE.Six pulsotypes were identified from the 28 strains in Group A and 9 pulsotypes in Group B.Five pulsotypes were shared between the two groups.MLST analysis showed that there were 9 ST types (ST195,ST208,ST229,ST369,ST373,ST457,ST836 and two new phenotypes ST N2,ST N5) in Group A and 8 ST types (ST195,ST208,ST381 and 5 new phenotypes ST N1,ST N2,ST N3,ST N4,ST N5) strains in group B.There was no significant difference in the proportion of the main ST types between the two groups.eBURST analysis indicated that ST195,ST208,ST457,ST369,ST N1,ST N2,ST N51 belonged to CC92 prevalent strain.Conclusions The antimicrobial susceptibility profile and genotype of A.baumannii isolates from blood and sputum samples are similar.There was CC92 prevalent strain in the ward.There is no direct relation between the risk factors for bloodstream infection in VAP patients and the genotype of A.baumannii strain.It is particularly important to reinforce infection control for prevention and treatment ofA.baumannii bloodstream infections.