Objective To investigate the value of the volume percentage of solid component in differential diagnosis of stage Ⅰ lung adenocarcinoma subtypes,and to predict the optimal critical CT value of solid component.Methods A total of 962 nodules with sur-gical pathological findings confirmed as adenocarcinoma in situ(AIS)or pulmonary adenocarcinoma and manifested as subsolid nod-ules on thin-section CT were analyzed retrospectively,and divided the lesions into:(1)AIS(n=350)or pulmonary adenocarcinoma(n=612)groups;and(2)minimally invasive adenocarcinoma(MIA)(n=213)or invasive adenocarcinoma(IAC)(n=399)groups based on pathological findings.The volume percentage of solid components within pulmonary nodules was measured via CT density histogram analysis at different thresholds,the diagnostic efficacy of different thresholds was analyzed and the optimal critical CT val-ues of solid component was found.Results In the AIS versus pulmonary adenocarcinoma groups,age,mass,and volume percentage of solid component were statistically significant(P＜0.001);the CT threshold of-350 HU had the highest diagnostic efficacy[area under the curve(AUC)0.859,accuracy 81.69％,sensitivity 85.60％,and specificity 74.86％,respetively],and the critical value of volume percentage of solid component determined under this threshold was 8.3％.In the MIA versus IAC groups,age(P=0.017),mass(P＜0.001),and volume percentage of solid component(P＜0.001)were statistically significant;the CT threshold of-350 HU had the highest diagnostic efficacy(AUC 0.857,accuracy 78.27％,sensitivity 82.91％,and specificity 69.48％,respectively),and the critical value of volume percentage of solid component determined under this threshold was 16.9％.Conclusion The volume percentage of solid component measured based on CT density histogram analysis may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of early stage lung ade-nocarcinoma subtypes.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR),an important ionic glutamate receptor and a ligand and voltage-gated ion channel characterized by complex composition and functions and wide distribution,plays a key role in the pathological and physiological process of diseases or stress states.NMDAR can mediate apoptosis through different pathways such as mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum damage,production of reactive oxygen species and peroxynitrite,and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and calpain.This paper reviews the structure,distribution,and biological characteristics of NMDAR and the mechanisms of NMDAR-mediated apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ionizing radiation on chromosome aberration of peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with vascular interventional procedure.Methods:The chromosome aberration of peripheral blood lymphocytes was analyzed before and after vascular interventional procedure to assess the effect of low-dose ionizing radiation on chromosomes. Peripheral blood (PB) was collected using heparin as an anticoagulant from 26 patients before and after (within 10 minutes) vascular interventional surgery. Informed consent was obtained from the patients′ parents.Results:Dicentric + centric ring (dic+ r) formation increased significantly ( U=647, P<0.01) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of children after interventional operation. No correlation was observed between the rate of dic+ r and the cumulative dose (CD), dose area product (DAP), age, body weight, gender and the estimated effective dose E ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in dic+ r rate of children between different genders, ages and lesion sites ( P>0.05). The dic+ r rate after interventional operation exceeded 40×10 -3 in 4 of 26 cases with the highest of 95.83×10 -3. Conclusions:The ionizing radiation during children′s vascular interventional procedure might lead to the increase of chromosome aberration of peripheral blood lymphocytes and some children are abnormally sensitive. Great attention should be paid to the justification and radiation protection during interventional procedure for children.

Objective To investigate the lethal effect of melittin on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 and its possible mechanism. Methods MTT assay was used to investigate the killing effect of different concentrations melittin on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC-7721. Meanwhile, the inhibitory effect of specific programmed necrosis inhibitors necrostain-1(Nec-1) on melittin killing SMMC-7721 cells was detected. Programmed cell necrosis observed by Hoechst 33342 and PI double staining. The necrotosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Ultrastructural changes of cell was detected by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of receptor interacting protein 1(RIP1) was detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the control group, the proliferation activity of SMMC-7721 cells was significantly decreased after treatment with different concentrations of melittin for 24 hours (P < 0. 05) . Cells stained in dark blue and red. Cell membrane integrity was destroyed, organelle swelling, organelle membrane was destroy, that demonstrates cell was necrosis. Westen blotting result showed an increased proportion of RIP1 expression in SMMC-7721 cells. Compared with the melittin group, cell proliferation activity was significantly increased, cell necrotosis rate was decreased, and intracellular RIP1 expression was down-regulated in the Nec-1 pretreatment group. Conclusion Melittin induces cell death in SMMC-7721 cells through the RIP1-mediated programmed necrosis pathway.

Objective Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ)-induced vascular damage is a major risk of hypertension. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of AngⅡ-induced vascular damage is still unclear. In this study, we explored the novel mechanism associated with Ang II-induced hypertension. Methods We treated 8- to 12-week-old C57BL/6J male mice with saline and Ang Ⅱ(0.72 mg/kg·d) for 28 days, respectively. Then the RNA of the media from the collected mice aortas was extracted for transcriptome sequencing. Principal component analysis was applied to show a clear separation of different samples and the distribution of differentially expressed genes was manifested by Volcano plot. Functional annotations including Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were performed to reveal the molecular mechanism of Ang Ⅱ-induced hypertension. Finally, the differentially expressed genes were validated by using quantitative real-time PCR. Results The result revealed that a total of 773 genes, including 599 up-regulated genes and 174 down-regulated genes, were differentially expressed in the aorta of Ang Ⅱ-induced hypertension mice model. Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes manifested that various cellular processes may be involved in the Ang Ⅱ-induced hypertension, including some pathways associated with hypertension such as extracellular matrix, inflammation and immune response. Interestingly, we also found that the differentially expressed genes were enriched in vascular aging pathway, and further validated that the expression levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and adiponectin were significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion We identify that vascular aging is involved in Ang Ⅱ-induced hypertension, and insulin-like growth factor 1 and adiponectin may be important candidate genes leading to vascular aging.
Aging ; Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Aorta/physiopathology* ; Blood Pressure/genetics* ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods* ; Gene Ontology ; Hypertension/genetics* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

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

Objective:To study the appearance description,TLC examination and content determination was carried out, in order to improve the quality standard of processed slices of Paridis Rhizoma in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Method:Based on the literature review and observation on the samples,the appearance description was described. TLC examination was used for the qualitative analysis. HPLC was used for the determination of polyphyllin Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅵ and Ⅶ in the commercial and processed samples. UPLC was employed for the determination of 10 steroidal saponins,namely pseudoprotodioscin,polyphyllin Ⅶ,17-hydroxygracillin,polyphyllin H,polyphyllin Ⅵ,polyphyllin Ⅱ,dioscin,gracilin,polyphyllin Ⅰ and polyphyllin Ⅴ. Result:For the appearance description,color and luster,texture,odor and taste as well as the diameter of 1.0-4.5 cm were recorded. polyphyllin Ⅵ was not detected in the thin layer chromatograms of most of the tested samples derived from high-quality species but obviously detected in those of Trillium Rhizoma. Five of 13 commercial samples met the requirements that the total amounts of polyphyllin Ⅶ,Ⅵ,Ⅱ,and Ⅰ should be no less than 0.6%according to the current Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Because softening and drying had the obvious influence on the contents of steroidal saponins in the samples,soaking and sun-drying were preferred. Conclusion:Appearance description should be supplemented. Polyphyllin Ⅵ is not considered as one of quality markers for the TLC identification and HPLC determination of Paridis Rhizoma. Polyphyllin H was considered as a new marker for the quality control. It is recommended that the total amounts of polyphyllin Ⅶ,H,Ⅱ,and Ⅰ should be no less than 1.0%.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of relapsed demyeli-nating disease (RDD) associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG abs) children in southern China. Methods: Children with RDD associated with MOG abs at Department of Neurology in Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from January 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The annualized relapse rates (ARRs) and expand disability status scale (EDSS) were used to assess the recurrence frequency and neurological dysfunction respectively. Results: Ten children were included with the age of (6.4±3.6) years old, and male to female ratio was 4∶6.(1)Clinical phenotype: all children had 24 episodes during follow-up, with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)(7/10 cases) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD)(3/10 cases) on the first episode.Among 14 recurrent episodes, ADEM (9/14 times) was the most common, followed by optic neuritis(ON)(3/14 times)and brainstem encephalitis (2/14 times). By the final follow-up, the final diagnosis was multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis(MDEM)(6/10 cases), NMOSD(3/10 cases), ADEM-ON(1/10 case), respectively.(2)Laboratory examination: all the children had positive serum MOG abs in the acute stage.The serum MOG abs titer high group(≥1∶640)(6 cases)on the first episode complicated ON (3 cases) and long segment myelitis (3 cases) more common than those of low group(1∶320)(4 cases). (3)Imaging changes: 25 times of bain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in the acute stage, MRI changes mostly involved the cortex and subcortical white matter.Four cases had abnormal spinal cord MRI.(4)Treatment and prognosis: intravenous methylprednone (IVMP) combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) were administrated in acute stage.Rituximab (2/10 cases), mycophenolate mofetil (4/10 cases), IVIG (2/10 cases) monthly and low dose prednisone orally (2/10 cases) were given respectively in maintains stage.ARRs decreased from 1.4 to 0 and EDSS score improved significantly after these treatments above.Seven cases had residual neurological dysfunction with 3 cases of NMOSD, 3 cases of MDEM and 1 case of ADEM-ON, including motor dysfunction, learning disability and inattention, symptomatic epilepsy and visual impairment. Conclusions ADEM is the most common form of RDD associated with MOG abs in children.Those with high serum MOG abs titer on the first episode are prone to have ON or long segment myelitis.Immunomodification therapy is effective in the relapsed patients, residual neurological sequelae were related to the type of repeated demyelination.

Five pairs of optically pure meroterpenoid enantiomers (1a/1b-5a/5b) and two known compounds (6 and 7) were isolated from Rhododendron fastigiatum. Compounds 1a/1b-5a/5b were resolved from naturally scalemic mixtures by chiral HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallographic experiments, and ECD analyses. Compounds 1a/1b, 2a/2b, 3b, 4a/4b, and 5a/5b were new meroterpenoids with different polycyclic systems. Two enantiomeric pairs (2a/2b and 3a/3b), 6, and 7 exhibited inhibitory effects on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in vitro.