Rapid and Accurate Identification of Cell Phenotypes of Different Drug Mechanisms by Using Single-Cell Fluorescence Images Via Deep Learning.

Identification of a drug mechanism is vital for drug development. However, it often resorts to the expensive and cumbersome omics methods along with complex data analysis. Herein, we developed a methodology to analyze organelle staining images of single cells using a deep learning algorithm (TL-ResNet50) for rapid and accurate identification of different drug mechanisms. Based on the organelle-related cell morphological changes caused by drug action, the constructed deep learning model can fast predict the drug mechanism with a high accuracy of 92%. Further analysis reveals that drug combination at different ratios can enhance a certain mechanism or generate a new mechanism. This work would highly facilitate clinical medication and drug screening.

Epithelium-derived cystatin SN inhibits house dust mite protease activity in allergic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Allergen source-derived proteases are a critical factor in the formation and development of asthma. The cysteine protease activity of house dust mite (HDM) disrupts the epithelial barrier function. The expression of cystatin SN (CST1) is elevated in asthma epithelium. CST1 inhibits the cysteine protease activity. We aimed to elucidate the role of epithelium-derived CST1 in the development of asthma caused by HDM. METHODS: CST1 protein levels in sputum supernatants and serum of patients with asthma and healthy volunteers were measured by ELISA. The ability of CST1 protein to suppress HDM-induced bronchial epithelial barrier function was examined in vitro. The effects of exogenous CST1 protein on abrogating HDM-induced epithelial barrier function and inflammation were examined in mice in vivo. RESULTS: CST1 protein levels were higher in sputum supernatants (142.4 ± 8.95 vs 38.87 ± 6.85 ng/mL, P < 0.0001) and serum (1129 ± 73.82 vs 703.1 ± 57.02 pg/mL, P = 0.0035) in patients with asthma than in healthy subjects. The levels were significantly higher in patients with not well- and very poorly controlled asthma than those with well-controlled asthma. Sputum and serum CST1 protein levels were negatively correlated with lung function in asthma. CST1 protein levels were significantly lower in the serum of HDM-specific IgE (sIgE)-positive asthmatics than in sIgE-negative asthmatics. The HDM-induced epithelial barrier function disruption was suppressed by recombinant human CST1 protein (rhCST1) in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our data indicated that human CST1 protein suppresses asthma symptoms by protecting the asthmatic bronchial epithelial barrier through inhibiting allergenic protease activity. CST1 protein may serve as a potential biomarker for asthma control.

DEL-1, as an anti-neutrophil transepithelial migration molecule, inhibits airway neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil migration into the airways is a key process in neutrophilic asthma. Developmental endothelial locus-1 (DEL-1), an extracellular matrix protein, is a neutrophil adhesion inhibitor that attenuates neutrophilic inflammation. METHODS: Levels of DEL-1 were measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and serum in asthma patients by ELISA. DEL-1 modulation of neutrophil adhesion and transepithelial migration was examined in a co-culture model in vitro. The effects of DEL-1-adenoviral vector-mediated overexpression on ovalbumin/lipopolysaccharide (OVA/LPS)-induced neutrophilic asthma were studied in mice in vivo. RESULTS: DEL-1 was primarily expressed in human bronchial epithelial cells and was decreased in asthma patients. Serum DEL-1 concentrations were reduced in patients with severe asthma compared with normal subjects (567.1 ± 75.3 vs. 276.8 ± 29.36 pg/mL, p < .001) and were negatively correlated to blood neutrophils (r = -0.2881, p = .0384) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (r = -0.5469, p < .0001). DEL-1 concentrations in the EBC of severe asthmatic patients (113.2 ± 8.09 pg/mL) were also lower than normal subjects (193.0 ± 7.61 pg/mL, p < .001) and were positively correlated with the asthma control test (ACT) score (r = 0.3678, p = .0035) and negatively related to EBC IL-17 (r = -0.3756, p = .0131), myeloperoxidase (MPO) (r = -0.5967, p = .0055), and neutrophil elastase (NE) (r = -0.5488, p = .0009) expression in asthma patients. Neutrophil adhesion and transepithelial migration in asthma patients were associated with LFA-1 binding to ICAM-1 and inhibited by DEL-1. DEL-1 mRNA and protein expression in human bronchial epithelial cells were regulated by IL-17. Exogenous DEL-1 inhibited IL-17-enhanced neutrophil adhesion and migration. DEL-1 expression was decreased while neutrophil infiltration was increased in the airway of a murine model of neutrophilic asthma. This was prevented by DEL-1 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: DEL-1 down-regulation leads to increased neutrophil migration across bronchial epithelial cells and is associated with neutrophilic airway inflammation in asthma.

Update on the genetic diversity and population structure of Echinococcus granulosus in Gansu Province, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Western China, inferred from mitochondrial cox1, nad1, and nad5 sequences.

The identification of additional Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) complex species/genotypes in recent years raises the possibility that there might be more variation among this species in China than is currently understood. The aim of this study was to explore intra- and inter-species variation and population structure of Echinococcus species isolated from sheep in three areas of Western China. Of the isolates, 317, 322, and 326 were successfully amplified and sequenced for cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes, respectively. BLAST analysis revealed that the majority of the isolates were E. granulosus s.s., and using the cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes, respectively, 17, 14, and 11 isolates corresponded to Elodea canadensis (genotype G6/G7). In the three study areas, G1 genotypes were the most prevalent. There were 233 mutation sites along with 129 parsimony informative sites. A transition/transversion ratio of 7.5, 8, and 3.25, respectively, for cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes was obtained. Every mitochondrial gene had intraspecific variations, which were represented in a star-like network with a major haplotype with observable mutations from other distant and minor haplotypes. The Tajima's D value was significantly negative in all populations, indicating a substantial divergence from neutrality and supporting the demographic expansion of E. granulosus s.s. in the study areas. The phylogeny inferred by the maximum likelihood (ML) method using nucleotide sequences of cox1-nad1-nad5 further confirmed their identity. The nodes assigned to the G1, G3, and G6 clades as well as the reference sequences utilized had maximal posterior probability values (1.00). In conclusion, our study confirms the existence of a significant major haplotype of E. granulosus s.s. where G1 is the predominant genotype causing of CE in both livestock and humans in China.

A simple enzyme-assisted cascade amplification strategy for ultrasensitive and label-free detection of DNA.

A simple fluorescence biosensor is developed based on the enzyme-assisted cascade amplification strategy. The amplification system consists of a hairpin-structure DNA (H-DNA) and exonuclease III. The target DNA can hybridize with the H-DNA and initiate exonuclease III-assisted target recycling amplification to generate abundant G-rich DNA (G-DNA). One region of G-DNA is designed to possess the same sequence as target DNA. Thus, the G-DNA can also hybridize with H-DNA and initiate the digestion of H-DNA. The cascade strategy in this amplification system causes the concentration of G-DNA to grow exponentially. The fluorescence intensity of N-methylmesoporphyrin IX (NMM) is highly enhanced due to the formation of G-quadruplex configuration. Under optimal conditions, the cascade system could achieve an admirable sensitivity with a detection limit of 52 fM for HIV DNA, and guarantees a satisfactory specificity. Moreover, the cascade system could be implemented for other target DNA detections by substituting the recognition region of the H-DNA. In this way, a detection limit of 65 fM for HBV DNA could be achieved by the cascade system. The target DNA analysis in a real serum sample further indicates that this biosensor has potential for future application in clinical diagnosis. Graphical abstract A simple and label-free cascade amplification strategy is developed by exploiting hairpin DNA and EXO III for sensitive DNA detection.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection in yaks (Bos grunniens) in northwest China.

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), a member of the Pestivirus genus, is an important pathogen of cattle worldwide, causing reproductive disorders in adult cattle and mucosal disease in calves. However, limited information about BVDV infection in yaks (Bos grunniens) in China is available, especially in white yaks which is a unique yak breed that only lives in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County (TTAC), Gansu Province, northwest China. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with BVDV infection in 1584 yaks in Gansu province, northwest China, between April 2013 and March 2014 using an indirect ELISA test. The overall seroprevalence of BVDV in yaks was 37.56 % (595/1584), with 45.08 % (275/610) in black yaks and 32.85 % (320/974) in white yaks. Moreover, positive yaks were found in all four regions, varied from 33.22 to 40.31 %. Male yaks had a similar seroprevalence (37.84 %) with that of the female yaks (37.11 %). Season, species and geographical origins of yaks were considered as risk factors analyzed by logistic regression model. To our knowledge, this is the first report of seroprevalence and risk factors associated with BVDV infection in white yaks in China.

Bioavailability enhancement of paclitaxel via a novel oral drug delivery system: paclitaxel-loaded glycyrrhizic acid micelles.

Paclitaxel (PTX, taxol), a classical antitumor drug against a wide range of tumors, shows poor oral bioavailability. In order to improve the oral bioavailability of PTX, glycyrrhizic acid (GA) was used as the carrier in this study. This was the first report on the preparation, characterization and the pharmacokinetic study in rats of PTX-loaded GA micelles The PTX-loaded micelles, prepared with ultrasonic dispersion method, displayed small particle sizes and spherical shapes. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermograms indicated that PTX was entrapped in the GA micelles and existed as an amorphous state. The encapsulation efficiency was about 90%, and the drug loading rate could reach up to 7.90%. PTX-loaded GA micelles displayed a delayed drug release compared to Taxol in the in vitro release experiment. In pharmacokinetic study via oral administration, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0→24 h) of PTX-loaded GA micelles was about six times higher than that of Taxol (p < 0.05). The significant oral absorption enhancement of PTX from PTX-loaded GA micelles could be largely due to the increased absorption in jejunum and colon intestine. All these results suggested that GA would be a promising carrier for the oral delivery of PTX.

Clinical observation of docetaxel or gemcitabine combined with cisplatin in the chemotherapy after surgery for stage II-III non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel combined with cisplatin (DP) and gemcitabine combined with cisplatin (GP) in postoperative chemotherapy after surgery of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 92 patients diagnosed with NSCLC after surgery were enrolled, and they were treated with DP (DP group) and GP (GP group). The efficacy and toxicity of the medications were then compared. RESULTS: Approximately 92.4% (85 out of 92) of the patients received chemotherapy for more than three weeks. In the DP and GP groups, the incidence rates of grade III-IV thrombocytopenia were 24.4% and 6.38%, respectively, whereas the incidence rates of alopecia were 88.9% and 25.5%, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Disease-free survival rates in DP group in one and two years were 76.5% and 50.47%, respectively, whereas in the GP group they were 77.8% and 49.52%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed similar disease-free survival rates of DP and GP therapies in one and two years after surgery for NSCLC. However, the DP group exhibited higher incidence rates of grade III-IV thrombocytopenia and alopecia than the GP group. Therefore, we should select a specific treatment for each patient according to individual differences.

Polymer-grafted nanoparticles prepared by surface-initiated polymerization: the characterization of polymer chain conformation, grafting density and polydispersity correlated to the grafting surface curvature.

The polymer-grafted nanoparticles prepared by the surface-initiated polymerization induced from the spherical surface is studied by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations combined with the stochastic reaction model. The coupling effect of the initiator density and the grafting surface curvature is mainly investigated. The confinement degree greatly changes with the grafting surface curvature, thus the initiation efficiency, the grafted chain polydispersity, as well as the chain mass distribution show great dependence on the surface curvature. The results reveal that preparing the nanoparticle with desired size (i.e., grafting surface curvature) is crucial for control of the grafted chain polydispersity and even its dispersion in the polymer matrix. Our studies shed light on better design of grafted nanoparticles and better control of dispersion in polymer matrices for improving the performance of polymer nanocomposite materials.

A strategy for nitrogen conversion in aquaculture water based on poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis.

Ammonia and nitrite are nitrogenous pollutants in aquaculture effluents, which pose a major threat to the health of aquatic animals. In this study, we developed a nitrogen conversion strategy based on synthesis of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) by Bacillus subtilis NX-2. The nitrogen removal efficiency of NX-2 was closely related to synthesizing γ-PGA, and was positively correlated with the inoculum level. The degradation rates of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite at 104 CFU/mL were 84.42 % and 62.56 %, respectively. Through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) experiment, we obtained a strain named ALE 5 M with ammonia degradation rate of 98.03 % and nitrite of 93.62 % at the inoculum level of 104 CFU/mL. Transcriptome analysis showed that the strain was more likely to produce γ-PGA after ALE. By enzyme activity and qPCR analysis, we confirmed that ALE 5 M degraded ammonia nitrogen through γ-PGA synthesis, which provided a new way for nitrogen removal in aquaculture water.

[Potential Source Identification and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil of Heze Oil Peony Planting Area Based on PMF-PCA/APCS and PERI].

To study the sources and potential risks of heavy metals in soils of characteristic agricultural product producing areas is of great significance for the scientific management and safe utilization of soil and crop resources. The contents of heavy metals As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the 254 surface soil samples collected from the Heze oil peony planting area were determined. The content characteristics and correlation of heavy metals were analyzed using multivariate statistical methods. The sources of heavy metals in topsoil were analyzed using Igeo, PMF, and PCA/APCS. The ecological risks of the eight heavy metals were assessed through the potential ecological risk index (PERI). The results showed that the average contents of seven heavy metals in the soil were basically consistent with the background values of soil elements in Heze City, except that the average value of Cd was 1.44 times higher than the background value in Heze City. Correlation analysis and cluster analysis revealed that Pb, Hg, and Cd elements in the soil were greatly affected by human activities in the later period. The sources of eight heavy metals in the study area were natural sources, agricultural fertilizer sources, industrial coal sources, and domestic transportation sources, with the contribution rates of 81.31%, 15.45%, 2.74%, and 0.50%, respectively; 84.25% of the sites in the study area were at slight ecological risk, whereas the moderate risk and strong risk sites accounted for 14.96% and 0.79%, respectively. Among them, Cd and Hg were the dominant elements of ecological risk in the study area.

Discursive construction of corporate identity through websites: An intercultural perspective on the commercial banks of the United States and China.

With the assistance of the corpus analysis tool Wmatrix 4.0, this paper analyzes the semantic categories of the top 10 commercial banks of China and the United States to figure out their social-cultural behavior in the Internet business context. It is discovered that both common and distinctive identities were constructed: the common identities include the professional financial service provider, responsible corporation for employees, and relevant communities with environmental and social consciousness, while the distinctive identities are manifested in the communication strategy, style, and persuasion mode: (1) The Chinese Commercial Banks adopted the proactive strategy for corporate identity construction, are prone to take hierarchical and impersonal communication style, and more focused on the "credibility appeal" and "rational appeal" in persuasion mode; (2) the commercial banks of the United States are more reactive in the communication strategy, position themselves in short distance with the putative audience in communication style, and conform to the typical "affective appeal" regarding the persuasion mode. From the intercultural perspective, the distinctions are the representation of the peculiar high-context culture and low-context culture based on Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory. Chinese banks should try to shorten the cultural gap by adopting communication strategy in conformity with the local cultural when going global rather than sticking to the domestic communication strategy.

Microstructure Evolution and Deformation Mechanism of Tantalum-Tungsten Alloy Liner under Ultra-High Strain Rate by Explosive Detonation.

The microstructure evolution and plastic deformation mechanism of a Ta-2.5W liner under the ultra-high-strain-rate conditions generated by the explosive detonation were investigated in this study. For this purpose, a modular soft-recovery apparatus was designed to non-destructively recover the Ta-2.5W explosively formed projectile (EFP) in the ballistic endpoint. The electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) method was employed to examine the microstructure of the Ta-2.5W liner before and after deformation. The microstructure of the recovered EFP exhibited significant grain refinement with preferred fiber texture. The theoretical computation results showed that the temperature of the EFP was in the range of 0.27-0.65 Tm. The deformation mechanism of the Ta-2.5W liner forming EFP driven by the detonation is the continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) induced by high strain deformation, rather than the conventional dynamic recrystallization of nucleation and growth. The new grain structures evolve when the low-angle grain boundaries are transformed into the high-angle grain boundaries, and the specific grain refinement mechanism is the progressive rotation of subgrains near pre-existing grain boundaries.

In situ remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated groundwater by ZVI-PRB and the corresponding indigenous microbial community responses: a field-scale study.

The performance of a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) for the in situ remediation of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] contaminated groundwater, and the resulted responses in the indigenous microbial community, were investigated in a field-scale study. The PRB consisted of a mixture of zero-valent iron (ZVI), gravel and sand. The results showed that the PRB segment with 20% active reaction medium (ZVI) was able to successfully reduce Cr(VI) via chemical reduction from 27.29-242.65 mg/L to below the clean-up goal of 0.1 mg/L, and can be scaled-up under field conditions. It was found that the ZVI induced significant changes in the indigenous microbial community structure and compositions in the area of the PRB and those areas downgradient. The competitive growth among Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria (the reduced abundance of Hydrogenophaga, Pseudomonas, Exiguobacterium and Rhodobacter, along with the enrichment of Rivibacter and Candidatus_Desulforudis) were observed in PRB. In addition, Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria (Hydrogenophaga, Pseudomonas, Exiguobacterium and Rhodobacter) were enriched in the downgradient of PRB, indicating that Cr(VI) can be further bio-reduced to Cr(III). The Cr(VI) bio-reduction could serve as a secondary mechanism for further removal of Cr(VI) from contaminated groundwater, suggesting that the actual lifetime of a PRB can be prolonged, which is important for the design and economic assessment of a PRB. Further analysis revealed that pH, dissolved oxygen, Cr(VI) level, the oxidation-reduction potential, and temperature were the main environmental factors influencing the subsurface microbial community compositions.

Liraglutide Attenuates Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Modulating Macrophage Polarization.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common complication associated with liver surgery, and macrophages play an important role in hepatic IRI. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, regulates intracellular calcium homeostasis and protects the cardiomyocytes from injury; however, its role in hepatic IRI is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to investigate whether liraglutide can protect the liver from IRI and determine the possible underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that liraglutide pretreatment significantly alleviated the liver damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), as evidenced by H&E staining, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and TUNEL staining. Furthermore, the levels of inflammatory cytokines elicited by I/R were distinctly suppressed by liraglutide pretreatment, accompanied by significant reduction in TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels. Furthermore, pretreatment with liraglutide markedly inhibited macrophage type I (M1) polarization during hepatic IRI, as revealed by the significant reduction in CD68+ levels in Kupffer cells (KCs) detected via flow cytometry. However, the protective effects of liraglutide on hepatic IRI were partly diminished in GLP-1 receptor-knockout (GLP-1R-/-) mice. Furthermore, in an in vitro study, we assessed the role of liraglutide in macrophage polarization by examining the expression profiles of M1 in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from GLP-1R-/- and C57BL/6J mice. Consistent with the results of the in vivo study, liraglutide treatment attenuated the LPS-induced M1 polarization and reduced the expression of M1 markers. However, the inhibitory effect of liraglutide on LPS-induced M1 polarization was largely abolished in BMDMs from GLP-1R-/- mice. Collectively, our study indicates that liraglutide can ameliorate hepatic IRI by inhibiting macrophage polarization towards an inflammatory phenotype via GLP-1R. Its protective effect against liver IRI suggests that liraglutide may serve as a potential drug for the clinical treatment of liver IRI.

Study of pollutant accumulation characteristics and microbial community impact at three bioretention facilities.

In this paper, three bioretention facilities (BT, RG1-A, and RG1-B) were selected for on-site testing and experimental analysis. Of which, BT is a roadside bioretention tank with layered filler, while RG1-A and RG1-B are rain gardens with conventional filler (Bioretention soil media, BSM) and modified filler (BSM+10% Water treatment residuals,WTR), respectively. The effect of pollutant accumulation on the soil microbial community structure in the facilities, and the risk of heavy metal contamination over several years of bioretention facility operation were studied. Results showed that the water quality pollutant load reduction in BT was fluctuating. This is related  to the poor water quality of road stormwater flowing into BT and the facility filler. Because RG1-B uses modified filler, RG1-B was more effective than RG1-A in regulating water quality and quantity; the changes in soil physical and chemical properties in BT, RG1-A, and RG1-B were influenced by external factors. Next, BT was at high risk of heavy metal contamination than other facilities. The microbial community structure of the facility had the following characteristics: at the phylum level, Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in the bioretention facility, accounting for 29-45%; and at the genus level, Blastocatella was the dominant phylum, and the relative abundance in situ was higher than that in the bioretention facility. The results of the correlation analysis combining filler environmental factors and microbial community structure indicated that SMC was a highly influential factor among the three facilities.

Enhanced biostimulation coupled with a dynamic groundwater recirculation system for Cr(VI) removal from groundwater: A field-scale study.

A large gap exists between laboratory findings and successful implementation of bioremediation technologies for the treatment of chromium (Cr)-contaminated sites. This work conducted the enhanced bioremediation of Cr(VI) in situ via the addition of organic carbon (ethanol) coupled with a dynamic groundwater recirculation (DGR)-based system in a field-scale study. The DGR system was applied to successfully (1) remove Cr(VI) from groundwater via enhanced flushing by the recirculation system and (2) deliver the biostimulant to the heterogeneous subsurface environment, including a sand/cobble aquifer and a fractured bedrock aquifer. The results showed that the combined extraction and bioreduction of Cr(VI) were able to reduce Cr(VI) concentrations from 1000 to 2000 mg/L to below the clean-up goal of 0.1 mg/L within the operation period of 52 days. The effectiveness of Cr(VI) bioremediation and the relationship between microbial communities and geochemical parameters were evaluated. Multiple-line of evidence demonstrated that the introduction of ethanol significantly stimulated a variety of bacteria, including those responsible for denitrification, sulfate reduction and reduction of Cr(VI), which contributed to the establishment of reducing conditions in both aquifers. Cr(VI) was removed from groundwater via combined mechanisms of physical removal through the DGR system and the bioreduction of Cr(VI) followed by precipitation. In particular, it was found competitive growth among Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria (such as the enrichment of Geobacter, along with the reduced relative abundance of Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas) was induced by ethanol injection. Furthermore, Cr(VI), total organic carbon, NO2-, and SO42- played important roles in shaping the composition of the microbial community and its functions.

[Clinical Analysis of 269 Ph Chromosome-Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Patients Stratified by Age].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of clinical characteristics between young patients(age≤40 years old) and middle-older patients(age>40 years old) with the myeloproliferative neoplasms（MPN）. METHODS: The clinical data (gene mutations， peripheral blood routine examinations， imaging examination and past history) of 269 MPN patients was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: In essential thrombocythemia (ET) group, the proportion of triple-negative type in young patients was higher than that in middle-older group, while the peripheral white blood cell（WBC） and platelets（PLT） counts in the first visit were lower. In polycythemia vera (PV) group, the total detection rate of JAK2V617F (80.65%) was lower than that of other research reports. Young patients with PV showed the lower JAK2V617F rate and lower WBC count, compared with the middle-older aged patients. Both CALR and MPL mutations were not found in PV patients. There was only 1 primary myelofibrosis (PMF) patient aged <40 years old. 91.67% of the patients merged splenomegaly and this rate was higher than that of ET or PV patients. It was found that there were a diagnosed familial MPN family and an undiagnosed family， and the youngest patient was only 8 years old. The second-generation gene sequencing detection for them was not carried out. CONCLUSION: Age is an important reference index in the assessment of risks. The MPN patients with different age and types show much difference in gene mutations, peripheral blood cell counts, thrombotic events and sizes of spleen. The onset ages of patients with familial MPN trends to be generational younger.

Clinical characteristics of re-positive COVID-19 patients in Huangshi, China: A retrospective cohort study.

A cluster of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) underwent repeated positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA tests after they were discharged from the hospital. We referred to them as re-positive (RP) patients in this study. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of these patients in a retrospective cohort study. After being treated for COVID-19, the patients underwent 14 days of quarantine following their discharge from the Huangshi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Huangshi Hospital of Youse. Two additional sequential SARS-CoV-2 RNA tests were performed at the end of quarantine. The median age of the 368 patients was 51 years, and 184 (50%) patients were female. A total of 23 RP patients were observed at follow-up. Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, risk factors associated with RP included a higher ratio of lymphocyte/white blood cell on admission (adjusted HR 7.038; 95% CI, 1.911-25.932; P = 0.0034), lower peak temperature during hospitalization (adjusted HR, 0.203; 95% CI, 0.093-0.443; P<0.0001), and the presence of comorbidities, particularly hypertension or chronic diseases in the respiratory system (adjusted HR, 3.883; 95% CI, 1.468-10.273; P = 0.0063). Antivirus treatment with arbidol was associated with a lower likelihood of re-positive outcomes (adjusted HR, 0.178; 95% CI, 0.045-0.709; P = 0.0144).

Enhanced distribution of humic acid-modified nanoscale magnesia for in situ reactive zone removal of Cd from simulated groundwater.

Efficient injection and distribution of nanoparticles in porous media are considered a formidable technical hurdle for injection-based in situ remediation. One approach to enhance the mobility of nanoparticles in an aquifer is to use surface modifiers. In this study, nanoscale magnesia (NMgOs), an innovative and effective remedial material for cadmium (Cd) removal from groundwater, was modified with the negatively charged and eco-friendly humic acid to enhance its mobility in aquifers. A two-dimensional reactor (60 × 50 × 10 cm), with 2 injection wells and 30 monitoring wells was designed, constructed, and sand-packed in the laboratory to simulate a saturated aquifer. The simulated aquifer was pre-contaminated with Cd to simulate a plume in groundwater. The distribution of injected unmodified NMgOs and humic acid-modified NMgOs slurry were evaluated in the reactor. The radius of influence (ROI) of humic acid-modified NMgOs was estimated to be approximately 5 cm based on visual observation, while no ROI was apparent for the unmodified NMgOs because of their aggregation at the bottom of the injection wells. The concentrations of Cd and magnesium (Mg) were monitored in all 30 monitoring wells at different time intervals to evaluate the effectiveness of Cd removal. The breakthrough curve analysis revealed that humic acid enhances the transport of NMgOs in the saturated porous media. Furthermore, the results of scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray (SEM-EDX) characterization of silica sand before and after injection of NMgOs verified the presence of 5.78% of Mg from humic acid-modified NMgOs and 0.19% from unmodified NMgOs at 35 cm downgradient of the injection wells, which are consistent with the conclusion drawn from the breakthrough curves.