[Analysis of clinical characteristics and risk factors of cytomegalovirus reactivation in immunocompetent patients in respiratory intensive care unit].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in immunocompetent patients in respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Methods: Clinical data of immunocompetent patients whose serum CMV-DNA was monitored during hospitalization in the RICU of Peking University First Hospital from July 2014 to July 2018 were collected and reviewed in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into the CMV reactivation group and non reactivation group. Demographics, clinical features, and outcomes of patients in the two groups were analyzed. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors for CMV reactivation. Results: Of the 81 patients, 11 (13.6%) were in the reactivation group and 70 (86.4%) were in the non reactivation group. Length of RICU stay were longer in the group with CMV reactivation compared to patients without CMV reactivation [54(50, 68) vs 32(17, 43) d, P=0.012]. Baseline demographic and disease characteristics, rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia, duration of mechanical ventilation and mortality were similar in the two groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that blood transfusion (OR=11.481, 95%CI: 1.154-114.201; P=0.037) and corticosteroids use (OR=13.952, 95%CI: 2.301-84.609; P=0.004) were independent risk factors for CMV reactivation. Conclusions: CMV reactivation is associated with a longer stay in the RICU in immunocompetent patients, blood transfusion and corticosteroids use constitute risk factors.

[Short-term effects of fine particulate matter exposure on pulmonary function in healthy young adults: a time series study].

Objective: To explore the short-term effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure on pulmonary function of healthy young adults in Beijing. Methods: In this time series study, twenty-four healthy young adults who living around Guanyuan area were investigated in Beijing. The follow-up study was lasted for 12 days in total from Nov. 28, 2016 to Dec. 9, 2016, and pulmonary spirometry and inpulse oscillometry parameters were measured daily. Air pollution data (including PM2.5, etc.) and meteorological data (temperature, humidity, etc.) were monitored based on Guanyuan monitoring site. The short-term effects of PM2.5 on pulmonary ventilation function and airway resistance of healthy young adults were analyzed by using generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results: In our study period, average daily concentration of PM2.5 were 100.7 µg/m(3). The single pollutant model showed that there were negative dose-response associations between PM2.5 concentration and forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)); and there were negatively correlated with daily mean level of PM2.5 lagged 0-1 days, and the strongest negative effect was in lag0. At lag0 day, each 10 µg/m(3) increase in PM2.5 concentration was associated with a significant decrease in FVC of 12.186 (95% CI: -15.573, -8.799) ml and in FEV(1) of 9.449 (95% CI: -13.265, -5.634) ml. Moreover, there were positive dose-response associations between PM2.5 concentration at lag0 to lag2 and peripheral resistance (Rp) , resonance frequency (Fres) and the fall in resistance between resistance at 5 Hz (R5) and resistance at 20 Hz (R20) (R(5-20)). And the strongest negative effect was in lag0. Each 10 µg/m(3) increase in PM2.5 concentration was associated with a significant increase in Rp of 2.444 (95% CI: 0.889, 3.999) Pa·L(-1)·s(-1) , Fres of 0.125 (95% CI: 0.082, 0.168) Hz and R(5-20) of 1.074 (95% CI: 0.444, 1.703) Pa·L(-1)·s(-1) at lag0 day. Conclusion: Short-term PM2.5 exposure has a negative and lagged effect on pulmonary function in healthy young adults.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of mediastinal fibrosis].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of mediastinal fibrosis. Methods: Twelve patients with mediastinal fibrosis diagnosed between 2008 and 2015 in our hospital were studied retrospectively. Clinical manifestations, radiological characteristics, endoscopic features, treatment and prognosis were analyzed. Results: There were 3 males and 9 females, with a mean age of 68.8 years.Six patients had previous tuberculosis infection. The most common clinical symptoms were dyspnea on exertion (11 cases), cough (7 cases), and wheezing (6 cases). Chest CT scans revealed an infiltrative mediastinal process, with a discrete mass, enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes, mediastinal lymph node calcification (9 case). Twelve patients had bronchial and pulmonary artery compression at lobar or segmental levels, 7 cases had localized pulmonary edema, and 6 cases had pulmonary atelectasis. The principal findings of bronchoscopy were distortion of bronchus with stenosis, multiple pigmentation of bronchial mucosa, and bronchial mucosal edema. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was the main severe complication. One patients suffered from sudden death after bronchoscopy. Eleven patients were followed for 3 month to 7 years, and 5 patients got progression. Anti-tuberculosis therapy with or without corticosteroid was not beneficial. Conclusion: Tuberculosis was the leading cause of mediastinal fibrosis in our study, which was characterized with diffuse bronchial and pulmonary artery compression at lobar or segmental levels, and multiple pigmentation of bronchial mucosa.Anti-tuberculosis therapy with or without corticosteroids was not beneficial.

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizae and heavy metals under sand culture experiment.

A sand culture experiment was established to determine interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizae and heavy metals. Mycorrhizal infection rates, spore densities, maize root and shoot weights, and heavy metal contents in maize were as indexes of responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Acaulospora laevis, Glomus caledonium and Glomus manihotis) to heavy metals (Cu and Cd). The mycorrhizal infection rates of G. caledonium were the highest among these three mycorrhizal fungi, but the sporulating ability of G. caledonium was the poorest in the heavy metal treatments. The shoot and root weights of non-mycorrhizal plants were usually greater than those of mycorrhizal plants when the Cu concentrations in solutions are less than 3 mg l(-1) or Cd concentrations less than 1 mg l(-1). When Cd concentrations were 0.5 and 1 mg(-1), the root and shoot weights of plants inoculated with A. laevis were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of other treatments. Copper concentrations in shoots of mycorrhizal plants were higher than those of non-mycorrhizal ones at all Cu concentrations in solution, especially at low Cu concentrations. As to A. laevis, Cu concentrations in roots and shoots of the host were higher than those of non-mycorrhizal plants in these treatments. Thus A. laevis was sensitive to Cu and Cd, especially Cd, and G. caledonium was more tolerant to these two heavy metals. It is suggested that G. caledonium might be a promising mycorrhizal fungus for bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil.

Fluorescence spectral study of interaction of water-soluble metal complexes of Schiff-base and DNA.

The fluorescence spectral characteristics and the interaction of several water-soluble metal complexes of Schiff-base with DNA are described. Among the complexes tested, Mn-Schiff-base bound to DNA showed a marked decrease in the fluorescence intensity with a blue shift of the excitation and emission peaks. Some hypochromism in the UV absorption spectra was also observed. KI quenching and competitive binding to DNA between Mn-Schiff-base and ethidium bromide (EB) were studied in connection with other experimental observations to show that the interactive model between Mn-Schiff-base and DNA is an intercalative one. The pH and salt effect on the fluorescence properties was also investigated. The linear relationship between F/F0 and the concentration of calf thymus DNA covers 3.0 x 10(-6)-2 x 10(-4) mol L-1, which can be utilized for determining traces of calf thymus DNA with a detection limit of 8.0 x 10(-7) mol L-1 in base pairs.

Effect of heat shock on ultrastructure and calcium distribution in Lavandula pinnata L. glandular trichomes.

The effects of heat shock (HS) on the ultrastructure and calcium distribution of Lavandula pinnata secretory trichomes are examined using transmission electron microscopy and potassium antimonate precipitation. After 48-h HS at 40°C, plastids become distorted and lack stroma and osmiophilic deposits, the cristae of the mitochondria become indistinct, the endoplasmic reticulum acquires a chain-like appearance with ribosomes prominently attached to the lamellae, and the plasma and organelle membranes become distorted. Heat shock is associated with a decrease in calcium precipitates in the trichomes, while the number of precipitates increases in the mesophyll cells. Prolonged exposure to elevated calcium levels may be toxic to the mesophyll cells, while the lack of calcium in the glands cell may deprive them of the normal protective advantages of elevated calcium levels. The inequality in calcium distribution may result not only from uptake from the transpiration stream, but also from redistribution of calcium from the trichomes to the mesophyll cells.

Small nucleolar RNA 42 acts as an oncogene in lung tumorigenesis.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer death, reflecting the need for better understanding the oncogenesis, and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the malignancy. Emerging evidence suggests that small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) have malfunctioning roles in tumorigenesis. Our recent study demonstrated that small nucleolar RNA 42 (SNORA42) was overexpressed in lung tumors. Here, we investigate the role of SNORA42 in tumorigenesis of NSCLC. We simultaneously assess genomic dosages and expression levels of SNORA42 and its host gene, KIAA0907, in 10 NSCLC cell lines and a human bronchial epithelial cell line. We then determine in vitro functional significance of SNORA42 in lung cancer cell lines through gain- and loss-of-function analyses. We also inoculate cancer cells with SNORA42-siRNA into mice through either tail vein or subcutaneous injection. We finally evaluate expression level of SNORA42 on frozen surgically resected lung tumor tissues of 64 patients with stage I NSCLC by using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR assay. Genomic amplification and associated high expression of SNORA42 rather than KIAA0907 are frequently observed in lung cancer cells, suggesting that SNORA42 overexpression is activated by its genomic amplification. SNORA42 knockdown in NSCLC cells inhibits in vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity, whereas enforced SNORA42 expression in bronchial epitheliums increases cell growth and colony formation. Such pleiotropy of SNORA42 suppression could be achieved at least partially through increased apoptosis of NSCLC cells in a p53-dependent manner. SNORA42 expression in lung tumor tissue specimens is inversely correlated with survival of NSCLC patients. Therefore, SNORA42 activation could have an oncogenic role in lung tumorigenesis and provide potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the malignancy.

Isolation of egg cells and zygotes of Torenia fournieri L. and determination of their surface charge.

Egg cells of Torenia fournieri were isolated from embryo sacs 1 day after anthesis using enzymatic digestion or mechanical dissection. About 5% of the egg cells and zygotes (2-3 from 50 ovules) could be mechanically dissected within 2 h. When 0.1% cellulase and 0.1% pectinase were added to the mannitol isolation solution, about 18% of the egg cells (8-10 from 50 ovules) could be isolated within 2 h. The egg cells isolated by mechanical dissection could be used for in vitro fertilization studies without any of the potentially deleterious effects of the enzymes on the plasma membrane of egg cell. The egg cells isolated using enzymatic digestion could be used in the study of the molecular biology of female gamete because more egg cells could be isolated with this technique. Using enzymatic digestion, over 10 zygotes from 50 ovules (over 20%) were isolated from the pollinated ovules. Coupled with our successful isolation of mature sperm cells, the isolation of egg cells of T. fournieri will make in vitro fertilization possible in a dicotyledon plant.

Temporal effects of cytokines on neonatal cardiac myocyte Ca2+ transients and adenylate cyclase activity.

This study investigates the hypothesis that inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1alpha IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), influence cardiac function by affecting calcium homeostasis and that this effect is mediated by the beta-adrenergic-adenylate cyclase system. After 4 days in culture, neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were treated with cytokines (10 ng/ml) for short (2 h) or longer (18 h) times. Myocyte calcium, contractility, and adenylate cyclase were measured under each condition. Anticipated stepwise increases in adenylate cyclase and intracellular calcium were found in controls (non-cytokine-treated) with 10(-7) M isoproterenol, 10(-7) M isoproterenol + 0.1 mM guanosine triphosphate, and 10(-9) M forskolin. Cells in the presence of cytokine for 2 h show increased basal calcium levels but no changes in adenylate cyclase activities, and isoproterenol fails to elevate adenylate cyclase levels or affect contractile shortening. After long-term treatment with IL-1beta or TNF, but not IL-1alpha, the significantly elevated levels of basal systolic calcium remain, and isoproterenol increases adenylate cyclase activity, unlike after short exposure. Forskolin maximally activates adenylate cyclase following both short- and long-term incubation, but the stepwise increase in activity is blunted following prolonged exposure. Thus short-term cytokine treatment blocks the adrenergic receptor-mediated increases in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, dissociating adenylate cyclase activation from cytokine-mediated increases in cell calcium, whereas longer treatment apparently produces direct affects on adenylate cyclase. Time-dependent differences in contractile response were found with IL-1alpha at 2 h and TNF at 18 h, implying that myofibrillar responsiveness to increased cytoplasmic calcium is dependent on both cytokine species and exposure time.