[Treatment of Facial Acne Vulgaris by Chinese Medicine Combined Western Medicine].

Objective To comparatively observe clinical efficacies of Fusidic Acid Cream (FAC) , Longzhu Ointment (LO) , and their combination of minocycline hydrochloride for treating facial acne vulgaris. Methods Totally 186 patients with acne vulgaris were randomly assigned to the FAC group (103 cases) and the LO group (83 cases). Each group was further divided into two subgroups ac- cording to the severity of acne: single treatment group and united treatment group. Patients with mild ac- ne vulgaris in the FAC group received FAC alone (39 cases) , and those with severe acne vulgaris in the FAC group received FAC and minocycline hydrochloride (64 cases). Patients with mild acne vulgaris in the LO group received LO alone (27 cases) , and those with severe acne vulgaris in the LO group received LO and minocycline hydrochloride. The therapeutic course for all was 4 weeks, with one return vis- it once per week. Grading of skin lesions was assessed by global acne grading system (GAGS). Clinical improvement was evaluated. Skin spots, red areas, and other data were statistically analyzed by VISIA skin analyzer. Results GAGS score was statistically different between before and after treatment in the FAC group and the LO group (P <0. 05). The total effective rate was 64. 1% (25)39) in single treatment group of the FAC group and 66. 7% (18/27) in single treatment group of the LO group, but with no statisti- cal difference between the two groups (Χ² =0. 09, P >0. 05). The total effective rate was 70. 3% (45/64) in united treatment group of the FAC group and 62. 5% (35/56) in united treatment group of the LO group, but with no statistical difference between the two groups (Χ² =0. 04, P >0. 05). Results of VISIA showed, compared with before treatment, statistical difference existed in red area of single treatment group of the FAC group and the LO group (P <0. 05). Statistical difference existed in ultraviolet rays, red area, sclererythrin of united treatment group of the FAC group and the LO group (P <0. 05). Conclusions FAC and LO could effectively control the inflammation of acne. LO had a rapid onset. Combined with minocy- cline hydrochloride, FAC could significantly reduce the secretion of fats, and LO could defense against ultraviolet more significantly.

Draft genome of Roscoea Debilis, the first genome in the alpine ginger Roscoea (Zingiberaceae).

OBJECTIVES: Roscoea is a Sino-Himalayan alpine genus in pantropical family Zingiberaeae. As traditional Tibetan medicinal plants, many species of this genus are threatened by digging, logging, land clearance, grazing and climate change. Roscoea debilis is an endemic species in the Hengduan Mountains with a narrow distribution range. In this study, the assembled and annotated genome of Roscoea was presented in order to furnish significant resources for comparative and functional genomic investigations. The first complete reference genome of Roscoea is expected to shed light on research on conservation and evolutionary biology. DATA DESCRIPTION: A chromosome-level genome of 1601.04 Mb was obtained for R. debilis by combining Illumina short reads (107.28 Gb) and PacBio Hi-Fi reads (64.08 Gb), achieving high-quality sequencing coverage of roughly 67 × and 40 ×. The assembly was additionally assisted by 271.65 Gb Hi-C data (169 ×), which resulted in a contig N50 of 136.17 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 90.48 Mb. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) assessment results revealed that most of the core embryophyta genes (98.7%) in the BUSCO dataset (embryophyta_odb10) were successfully identified. Additionally, 96.44% of the genomic sequences were accurately mapped onto twelve pseudochromosomes.

QTL Mapping of Trichome Traits and Analysis of Candidate Genes in Leaves of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Trichome plays an important role in heat dissipation, cold resistance, water absorption, protection of leaves from mechanical damage, and direct exposure to ultraviolet rays. It also plays an important role in the photosynthesis, transpiration, and respiration of plants. However, the genetic basis of trichome traits is not fully understood in wheat. In this study, wheat DH population (Hanxuan 10 × Lumai 14) was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for trichome traits in different parts of flag leaf at 10 days after anther with growing in Zhao County, Hebei Province, and Taigu County, Shanxi Province, respectively. The results showed that trichome density (TD) was leaf center > leaf tip > leaf base and near vein > middle > edge, respectively, in both environments. The trichome length (TL) was leaf tip > leaf center > leaf base and edge > middle > near vein. Significant phenotypic positive correlations were observed between the trichome-related traits of different parts. A total of 83 QTLs for trichome-related traits were mapped onto 18 chromosomes, and each one accounted for 2.41 to 27.99% of the phenotypic variations. Two QTL hotspots were detected in two marker intervals: AX-95232910~AX-95658735 on 3A and AX-94850949~AX-109507404 on 7D. Six possible candidate genes (TraesCS3A02G406000, TraesCS3A02G414900, TraesCS3A02G440900, TraesCS7D02G145200, TraesCS7D02G149200, and TraesCS7D02G152400) for trichome-related traits of wheat leaves were screened out according to their predicted expression levels in wheat leaves. The expression of these genes may be induced by a variety of abiotic stresses. The results provide the basis for further validation and functional characterization of the candidate genes.

Magnet-targeted delivery of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells improves therapeutic efficacy following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Stem cell transplantation may represent a feasible therapeutic option for the recovery of neurological function in children with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury; however, the therapeutic efficacy of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells largely depends on the number of cells that are successfully transferred to the target. Magnet-targeted drug delivery systems can use a specific magnetic field to attract the drug to the target site, increasing the drug concentration. In this study, we found that the double-labeling using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle and poly-L-lysine (SPIO-PLL) of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells had no effect on cell survival but decreased cell proliferation 48 hours after labeling. Rat models of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury were established by ligating the left common carotid artery. One day after modeling, intraventricular and caudal vein injections of 1 × 105 SPIO-PLL-labeled bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were performed. Twenty-four hours after the intraventricular injection, magnets were fixed to the left side of the rats' heads for 2 hours. Intravoxel incoherent motion magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the perfusion fraction and the diffusion coefficient of rat brain tissue were significantly increased in rats treated with SPIO-PLL-labeled cells through intraventricular injection combined with magnetic guidance, compared with those treated with SPIO-PLL-labeled cells through intraventricular or tail vein injections without magnetic guidance. Hematoxylin-eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining revealed that in rats treated with SPIO-PLL-labeled cells through intraventricular injection under magnetic guidance, cerebral edema was alleviated, and apoptosis was decreased. These findings suggest that targeted magnetic guidance can be used to improve the therapeutic efficacy of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. This study was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, China (approval No. 2016-060) on March 2, 2016.

Exploration of CT manifestations of different clinical types of novel coronavirus pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: To explore computed tomography (CT) characteristics of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia and explore variations among the different clinical types. METHODS: Clinical and CT imaging data of 43 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in our hospital and the cooperative hospital between January 15-30, 2020 were collected (27 male and 16 female). Patients were classified as common type (26 cases, 60%), severe type (14 cases, 33%) or critical type (three cases, 7%) according to the new coronavirus pneumonia treatment scheme (sixth edition). Patient clinical data and CT images were analyzed and evaluated. RESULTS: Fever was the main symptom in common type COVID-19 cases (23/26, 88.46%). Both severe and critical type COVID-19 patients had fever and cough symptoms, and dyspnea was observed in all three critical COVID-19 patients. CT manifestations in the common type COVID-19 cohort were bilateral involvement (20/26, 71%), multiple lesions (14/26, 54%), ground-glass density shadow (17/26, 65%), and some cases were accompanied by local consolidation (9/26, 35%), which is consistent with early stage COVID-19 CT performance. CT manifestations in the severe and critical types involved both lungs. Severe COVID-19 cases predominantly consisted of multiple mixed-density lesions (10/14, 71%), and a few patients showed diffuse lung glass density shadows in both lungs (4/14, 29%), which is consistent with the progression stage COVID-19 CT performance. Critical COVID-19 cases exhibited mixed-density lesions, and two cases displayed "white lung", which is the CT manifestation at the severe COVID-19 stage. Only one critical COVID-19 patient had pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: The CT manifestations of COVID-19 are specific and there are variations between different clinical types. Thus, CT is an important clinical tool for early diagnosis and assessment of the severity of COVID-19.

Practice of diagnosis and management of acute respiratory distress syndrome in mainland China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Although acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been recognized for more than 50 years, limited information exists about the incidence and management of ARDS in mainland China. To evaluate the potential for improvement in management of patients with ARDS, this study was designed to describe the incidence and management of ARDS in mainland China. METHODS: National prospective multicenter observational study over one month (August 31st to September 30th, 2012) of all patients who fulfilled the Berlin or American European Consensus Conference (AECC) definition of ARDS in 20 intensive care units, with data collection related to the management of ARDS, patient characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 1,814 patients admitted during the enrollment period, 149 (8.2%) and 147 (8.1%) patients were diagnosed by AECC and Berlin definition, respectively. Lung protective strategy with low tidal volume (Vt) (≤8 mL/kg) and limitation of the plateau pressure (Pplat) (≤30 cmH2O) was performed in 75.2% patients. And, 36%, 21.1% and 4.1% patients with severe, moderate and mild ARDS had the driving pressure more than 14 cmH2O (P<0.05). Pplat and driving pressure increased significantly in patients with a higher degree of ARDS severity (P=0.002 and P<0.001, respectively), but Vt were comparable in the three groups (P>0.05). In severe ARDS, patient median positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) was 10.0 (8.0-11.3) cmH2O and median FiO2 was 90%. A recruitment maneuver was performed in 35.5% of the patients, and 8.7% of patients with severe ARDS received prone position. Overall hospital mortality was 34.0%. Hospital mortality was 21.8% for mild, 31.1% for moderate, and 60.0% for patients with severe ARDS (P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Despite general acceptance of low Vt and limited Pplat, high driving pressure, low PEEP and low use of adjunctive measures may still be a concern in mainland China, especially in patients with severe ARDS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01666834; date of registration release: August 14th 2012.

Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency after multiple traumas: a multicenter, prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Given that the observed prevalence and time course of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) remain inconsistent in trauma patients, the present study was designed to investigate the prevalence, time course, and effect of CIRCI on the outcome of critically ill patients with multiple injuries. METHODS: In this multicenter, prospective cohort study, patients with multiple injuries in seven intensive care units in China were enrolled. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests were performed by administering intravenously 250 µg of synthetic ACTH on Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 after traumatic injury. CIRCI was defined as baseline cortisol level of less than 10 µg/dL or a Δcortisol (difference baseline and highest cortisol level at 30 or 60 minutes after ACTH stimulation) less than 9 µg/dL. The incidence and time course of CIRCI and 28-day mortality were recorded. RESULTS: CIRCI occurred in 54.3% (38 of 70) of the patients with multiple injuries, including 10 patients with total cortisol level of less than 10 µg/dL and 28 patients with Δcortisol of less than 9 µg/dL. Most (94.7%) diagnosis of CIRCI was made in the first 48 hours after traumatic injury. The CIRCI patients had significantly more severe illness on the day of admission. At each time point, the baseline cortisol level was comparable between the CIRCI and non-CIRCI patients, while Δcortisol in the CIRCI group was significantly lower compared with the non-CIRCI group. The CIRCI patients with a Δcortisol of less than 9 µg/dL had a significantly higher 28-day mortality (39.3%) compared with those with a baseline cortisol level of less than 10 µg/dL (10.0%) and non-CIRCI patients (6.3%). Only Δcortisol of less than 9 µg/dL but not baseline cortisol level of less than 10 µg/dL seemed to be an independent risk factor for death (odds ratio, 1.19; p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: CIRCI is common in critically ill trauma population and usually occurs in the early stages. Only the results of the ACTH stimulation test but not baseline cortisol level was associated with poor prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level II.