Abstract: Objective （ ） To compare the measured results of arsenic in urine by atomic fluorescence spectrometry AFS and - （ - ）， Methods inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy ICP MS and analyze the reasons of the difference. The samples WS/T 474-2015 Determination of Arsenic in Urine by Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence were pretreated according to Spectrometry， （ ∶ ∶ ∶∶ ，V/V/V） and digested with mixed acid nitric acid sulfuric acid perchloric acid=3 1 1 and then determined by - - AFS and ICP MS. The samples were diluted with 0.50% nitric acid and determined by ICP MS. The samples included urine ， ， （ arsenic quality control samples inorganic arsenic supplemented samples and organic arsenic arsenic choline and arsenic ） - betaine supplemented samples. Standard curve method was used to compare the results of AFS method and ICP MS method. Results （ ） （ ） The results of quality control samples by AFS method digestion and ICP-MS method without digestion were ， - within the range of reference values but the values obtained by AFS method were lower than those obtained by ICP MS method. - - - ， The recovery of AFS and ICP MS was 97.79% 100.82% and 99.55% 99.98% respectively. In the middle and high ， - （ P ） concentration groups the measured values of inorganic arsenic by AFS were lower than that by ICP MS all <0.01 . The （ ） - recovery of arsenic betaine and arsenic choline by AFS method digestion was only 2.17% 2.63%. The values of arsenic betaine （ ） - （ and arsenic choline measured by AFS method digestion were lower than those measured by ICP MS method without ） - （ ）（ P ）Conclusion digestion and ICP MS method digestion all <0.01 . The result of urine arsenic measured by AFS method - ， was lower than that measured by ICP MS method which may be related to the mixed acid digestion of AFS method. Keywords: ； - ； ； ； ； ；

BACKGROUND: Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans. METHODS: We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed. RESULTS: Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown β-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8% to 99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6% to 87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor. CONCLUSION A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.
Adult ; Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; virology ; Tomography, X-Ray ; Treatment Outcome

Since December 2019, COVID-19, an acute infectious disease, has gradually become a global threat. We report a case of thoracolumbar fractures (T and L) and incomplete lower limb paralysis in a patient with COVID-19. After a series of conservative treatment which did not work at all, posterior open reduction and pedicle screw internal fixation of the thoracolumbar fracture were performed in Wuhan Union Hospital. Three weeks later, the patient could stand up and the pneumonia is almost cured. We successfully performed a surgery in a COVID-19 patient, and to our knowledge it is the first operation for a COVID-19 patient ever reported.
Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Paralysis ; surgery ; Pedicle Screws ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Background: Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans. Methods: We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Jin Yin-tan Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results: Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown β-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8–99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6–87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor. Conclusion: A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of exercises with different durations and intensities on mitochondrial autophagy and FUNDC1 in rat skeletal muscles. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2- and 4-week control groups (Con), moderate-intensity exercise groups (M-ex groups, treadmill exercise, 16 m/min, 1 h/d, 6 d/week), and high-intensity exercise groups (Hi-ex groups, treadmill exercise, 35 m/min, 20 min/d, 6 d/week). The bilateral soleus muscles were separated after the intervention, and paraffin sections were prepared for transmission electron microscopy. ELISA method was used to detect the content of citrate synthase (CS). The co-localizations of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)/cytochrome c oxidase IV (COX-IV), FUNDC1/COX-IV and LC3/FUNDC1 were observed by immunofluorescent staining in frozen sections. The skeletal muscle mitochondria were extracted, and the expression of autophagy-related proteins, including AMPKα, p-AMPKα, Unc-51 like kinase 1 (ULK1), FUNDC1, LC3 and p62, were detected by Western blot. The results showed that exercise increased mitochondrial function, i.e. peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator-1α (PGC-1α), COX-I protein expression levels and CS content. There was no difference of mitochondrial function parameters between 2-week M-ex and 2-week Hi-ex groups, while mitochondrial function of 4-weeks Hi-ex group was significantly lower than that of 4-week M-ex group. Under the same exercise intensity, mitochondrial autophagy activation in skeletal muscle of 4-week exercise was higher than that in 2-week exercise group; Under the same duration of exercise, mitochondrial autophagy activation of Hi-ex group was higher than that in M-ex group. Both 2- and 4-week exercise intervention increased LC3/COX-IV, COX-IV/FUNDC1, and FUNDC1/LC3 co-localizations. Exercise increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, down-regulated p62 protein expression level, up-regulated FUNDC1, ULK1 protein expression levels and AMPKα phosphorylation, and the changes of these proteins in 4-week Hi-ex group were significantly greater than those in 4-week M-ex group. These results suggest exercise induces mitochondrial autophagy in skeletal muscles, and the activity of autophagy is related to the duration and intensity of exercise. The induction mechanism of exercise may involve the mediation of FUNDC1 expression through AMPK-ULK1 pathway.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/physiology* ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Proteins/physiology* ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Background:Recent studies show that microRNA-145 (miRNA-145) might be an attractive tumor biomarker of considerable prognostic value,but little is known about their relationship with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).This study investigated the correlation between the level ofmiR-145 and AMI.Methods:One-hundred patients were divided into three groups:no coronary artery disease (CAD) group,non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction group,and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction group.The plasma levels of miR-145 were quantified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Logarithmic transformation of miRNA-145 levels (Ln_miRNA-145) was used for statistical analysis due to the skewed data distribution.Results:Plasma levels of miR-145 were significantly lower in patients with AMI compared to patients in the non-CAD group (-6.38 ± 0.11 vs.-4.47 ± 0.17,P ＜ 0.0001).Compared to those without heart failure,the levels of miR-145 were significantly lower in patients with heart failure (-6.91 ± 0.20 vs.-5.35 ± 0.13,P ＜ 0.0001).We also found that the lower plasma levels of miRNA-145 significantly correlated with increased serum levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (Spearman p =-0.60,P ＜ 0.0001),troponin T (Spearman p =-0.62,P ＜ 0.0001),and decreased ejection fraction (Spearman p =0.65,P ＜ 0.0001).In a multivariable linear regression analysis,AMI and heart failure were independently associated with lower Ln_miRNA-145 (estimate-0.99,standard error [SE] 0.28;P =0.001 and estimate-0.62,SE 0.21;P=0.004).Conclusions:Our results suggest that decreased plasma levels of miR-145 are associated with AMI.Circulating miR-145 may be useful in prognosticating cardiac function and the risk of developing heart failure.

The study aims to develop a rapid, specific and sensitive method for quantitative analysis of trace impurities in levofloxacin formulation using LC-MS/MS. The quality of the different formulations from 19 plants was evaluated in the contents of the impurities. The results indicated that there were 5 impurities in the samples, and the content was different in the products with same formulation by different plants. The products of 3 plants were in good quality with impurities level under 0.01%. Levofloxacin N_4'-methyl quaternary impurity was first reported as the formulation impurity. The impurities were tightly correlated to the reservation of drug, process control of formulation and storage during transportation. The results suggest that our method is sensitive and specific to detect the trace impurities in formulation, and can be used to monitor the quality of commercial drug product.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo Recipe (WYHZTLR) on the proportion of T helper 17 cells (Thl7)/regulatory T cells (Treg), and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in peripheral blood of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with yang qi insufficiency and turbidity induced collaterals blockage syndrome (YQITICBS).

METHODSTotally 82 SSc patients were randomly assigned to the Western medicine group (as the control group) and the integrated Chinese and Western medicine group (as the treatment group), 41 cases in each group. All patients took methotrexate (MTX) tablet and prednisone tablet. Patients in the treatment group additionally took WYHZTLR. The treatment course for all was six consecutive months. Besides, another 70 healthy volunteers were recruited as a healthy control group (as the healthy group). Percentages of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IL-17, IL-10, von Willebrand factor (vWF), aminoterminal propeptide of type l procollagen (PIIINP), and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen ( I CTP) were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The correlations between Th17/Treg and levels of vWF, PIIINP, I CTP, skin score, and disease activity index were observed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of Th17 in peripheral blood, ratios of Th17/Treg, and the serum level of IL-17 were significantly higher, but the percentage of Treg and the serum level of IL-10 were significantly lower in SSc patients, when compared with those of the healthy group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the same group before treatment, the percentage of Thl7, ratios of Thl7/Treg, and levels of IL-17, vWF, and PIIINP all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P <0.05, P <0.01), but the percentage of Treg and the IL-10 level increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Meanwhile,the level of I CTP was higher in the treatment group after treatment (P <0. 05). The improvement of all indices except the percentage of Th17 was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). The ratio of Th17/Treg was positively correlated with levels of vWF, PIIINP, skin score, and disease activity index before and after treatment respectively (P <0. 01), but with no obvious correlation with the level of I CTP (P >0. 05).

CONCLUSIONWYHZTLR could achieve its therapeutic effect on SSc patients by regulating Th17/Treg imbalance, lowering levels of vWF and PIIINP, and elevating the level of I CTP.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17 ; Methotrexate ; Peptide Fragments ; Procollagen ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; drug therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features of bronchiectasis.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 136 patients who had been admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2010 to December 2012 due to bronchiectasis, which was confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography.

RESULTSThe average age of these 136 patients (61 men and 75 women) was (57.7±16.3) years. The average clinical history was (17.2±15.8) years. The exact etiology was unidentified in 77.2% (105/136) of the patients. The most commonly identified cause was previous infections (14.7%, 20/136), particularly tuberculosis. The main symptoms of bronchiectasis were cough and sputum production. The types of bronchiectasis were cylindrical in 37.7% (37/98), varicose in 40.8% (40/98), cystic in 21.4% (21/98) of these patients. Multilober involvement was most common (77.2%, 105/136). The most commonly involved lobes were left lower lobe (76.5%, 104/136). Of 77 patients who had undergone pulmonary function test, 47 (61.0%) showed obstructive. For each bronchiectasis type, the values (percentages of predicted) of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (P=0.918), forced vital capacity (FVC) (P=0.982), and FEV1/FVC (P=0.211) showed no statistical significance. The most commonly identified pathogen in sputum culture was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was sensitive to most broad-spectrum antibiotics. Current infections were most common in patients with cystic bronchiectasis, among whom rales were frequently heard.

CONCLUSIONSMost bronchiectasis patients are old women. The main etiology is previous infection, especially tuberculosis. The main symptom of bronchiectasis is productive cough. Many patients can have obstructive pulmonary function. The distribution of lesions is diffuse, and the lesions are often seen in both lungs, particularly in the left lower lobe. Cystic bronchiectasis may be a more severe type, and should be carefully managed once identified by radiology.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bronchiectasis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the changes in the airway inflammation-related cytokine/chemokine profiles after exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) and smoking cessation (SC).

METHODSA total of 18 male C57BL/6 mice were equally divided into three groups: CS group, SC group, and normal control group. The airway resistance, lung morphology, and collagen deposition around airways were determined. HE staining and Masson trichrome staining were used for histopathological analysis. The inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assessed. The inflammation-associated cytokines were determined using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Expressions of CXCR3 ligands including the CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11 and other cytokines in lung tissue and BALF were also analyzed.

RESULTSThe airway resistance significantly increased in both CS group and SC group when compared with the normal control group. Lung pathological scores in both CS group and SC group were also higher than that in the normal control group, while there was no significant difference between the CS group and SC group. Inflammatory cells including the neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes also increased in both the CS group and SC group at both mRNA and protein levels. The mRNA levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, MMP9, and MMP12 were significantly higher in CS group and SC group than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). The protein expression levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, MMP2, MMP9, MMP12, and TGF-Β1 were significantly higher in CS group and SC group than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group,the concentrations of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, IL-8, and TGF-Β1 in the BALF supernatants of the CS group and SC group significantly increased (P<0.05); in addition, the IL-6 and TNF-Α concentrations also increased in the CS group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCS exposure triggers inflammatory cell flux and accumulation in the lung parenchyma and BALF. As a consequence, the inflammatory cytokines increase dramatically. After CS, the cytokines/chemokines can decrease, but is still higher than in non-smokers.

Animals ; Chemokines ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution