Molecular Mechanism of Adenovirus Late Protein L4-100K Chaperones the Trimerization of Hexon.

Assembly of the adenovirus capsid protein hexon depends on the assistance of the molecular chaperone L4-100K. However, the chaperone mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found that L4-100K was involved in the hexon translation process and could prevent hexon degradation by the proteasome in cotransfected human cells. Two nonadjacent domains, 84-133 and 656-697, at the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of human adenovirus type 5 L4-100K, respectively, were found to be crucial and cooperatively responsible for hexon trimer expression and assembly. These two chaperone-related domains were conserved in the sequence of L4-100K and in the function of hexon assembly across different adenovirus serotypes. Different degrees of cross-activity of hexon trimerization with different serotypes were detected in subgroups B, C, and D, which were proven to be controlled by the interaction between the C-terminal chaperone-related domain of L4-100K and hypervariable regions (HVR) of hexon. Additionally, HVR-chimeric hexon mutants were successfully assembled with the assistance of the 1-697 mutant. Structural analysis of 656-697 by nuclear magnetic resonance and structural prediction of L4-100K using Robetta showed that the two conserved domains are mainly composed of α-helices and are located on the surface of the highly folded core region. Our research provides a more complete understanding of hexon assembly and guidance for the development of hexon-chimeric adenovirus vectors that will be safer, smarter, and more efficient. IMPORTANCE Adenovirus vectors have been widely used in clinical trials of vaccines and gene therapy, although some deficiencies remain. Chimeric modification of the hexon was expected to improve the potency of preexisting immune evasion and targeting, but in many cases, viral packaging is prevented by the inability of the chimeric hexon to assemble correctly. So far, few studies have examined the mechanisms of hexon trimer assembly. Here, we show how the chaperone protein L4-100K contributes to the assembly of the adenovirus capsid protein hexon, and these data will provide a guide for novel adenovirus vector design and development, as we desired.

Effects of Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients with Stroke: a Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The cerebellum is involved in regulating motor, affective, and cognitive processes. It is a promising target for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) intervention in stroke. OBJECTIVES: To review the current evidence for cerebellar tDCS (ctDCS) in stroke, its problems, and its future directions. METHODS: We searched the Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases. Eligible studies were identified after a systematic literature review of the effects of ctDCS in stroke patients. The changes in assessment scale scores and objective indicators after stimulation were reviewed. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included in the systematic review, comprising 169 stroke patients. Current evidence suggests that anode tDCS on the right cerebellar hemisphere does not appear to enhance language processing in stroke patients. Compared with the sham group, stroke patients showed a significant improvement in the verb generation task after cathodal ctDCS stimulation. However, with regard to naming, two studies came to the opposite conclusion. The contralesional anodal ctDCS is expected to improve standing balance but not motor learning in stroke patients. The bipolar bilateral ctDCS protocol to target dentate nuclei (PO10h and PO9h) had a positive effect on standing balance, goal-directed weight shifting, and postural control in stroke patients. CONCLUSIONS: ctDCS appears to improve poststroke language and motor dysfunction (particularly gait). However, the evidence for these results was insufficient, and the quality of the relevant studies was low. ctDCS stimulation parameters and individual factors of participants may affect the therapeutic effect of ctDCS. Researchers need to take a more regulated approach in the future to conduct studies with large sample sizes. Overall, ctDCS remains a promising stroke intervention technique that could be used in the future.

Bispecific antibody targeting both B7-H3 and PD-L1 exhibits superior antitumor activities.

Clinical application of PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is hindered by their relatively low response rates and the occurrence of drug resistance. Co-expression of B7-H3 with PD-L1 has been found in various solid tumors, and combination therapies that target both PD-1/PD-L1 and B7-H3 pathways may provide  additional therapeutic benefits. Up to today, however, no bispecific antibodies targeting both PD-1 and B7-H3 have reached the clinical development stage. In this study, we generated a stable B7-H3×PD-L1 bispecific antibody (BsAb) in IgG1-VHH format by coupling a humanized IgG1 mAb against PD-L1 with a humanized camelus variable domain of the heavy-chain of heavy-chain antibody (VHH) against human B7-H3. The BsAb exhibited favorable thermostability, efficient T cell activation, IFN-γ production, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). In a PBMC humanized A375 xenogeneic tumor model, treatment with BsAb (10 mg/kg, i.p., twice a week for 6 weeks) showed enhanced antitumor activities compared to monotherapies and, to some degree, combination therapies. Our results suggest that targeting both PD-1 and B7-H3 with BsAbs increases their specificities to B7-H3 and PD-L1 double-positive tumors and induces a synergetic effect. We conclude that B7-H3×PD-L1 BsAb is favored over mAbs and possibly combination therapies in treating B7-H3 and PD-L1 double-positive tumors.

NGF monoclonal antibody DS002 alleviates chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the pervasive side effects of chemotherapy, leading to poor quality of life in cancer patients. Discovery of powerful analgesics for CIPN is an urgent and substantial clinical need. Nerve growth factor (NGF), a classic neurotrophic factor, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for pain. In this study, we generated a humanized NGF monoclonal antibody (DS002) that most effectively blocked the interaction between NGF and tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA). We showed that DS002 blocked NGF binding to TrkA in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 6.6 nM; DS002 dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of TF-1 cells by blocking the TrkA-mediated downstream signaling pathway. Furthermore, DS002 did not display noticeable species differences in its binding and blocking abilities. In three chemotherapy-induced rat models of CIPN, subcutaneous injection of DS002 produced a significant prophylactic effect against paclitaxel-, cisplatin- and vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that an NGF inhibitor effectively alleviates pain in animal models of CIPN. DS002 has the potential to treat CIPN pain in the clinic.

[Clinical efficacy of Longjintonglin Capsules on chronic prostatitis with damp-heat stasis syndrome Re-evaluation based on multicenter real-world study].

OBJECTIVE: To re-evaluate the clinical efficacy of Longjintonglin Capsules (LJTL) in the treatment of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat stasis syndrome. METHODS: This multicenter real-world study included 1 352 cases of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat and stagnation syndrome treated with LJTL (3 capsules once, tid, 30 minutes after meals, for 2 four-week courses) in addition to routine treatment. Before and after treatment, we analyzed the NIH-CPSI scores, the scores of Chinese medicine symptom quantitative classification and changes in individual symptom scores, and observed adverse reactions to medication. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate of LJTL was 93.64%. Compared with the baseline, the NIH-CPSI scores were significantly decreased after treatment (ï¼»24.27 ± 6.04ï¼½ vs ï¼»8.17 ± 4.21ï¼½, P < 0.05), and so were the scores on the pain symptoms (ï¼»9.63 ± 3.65ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.02 ± 2.23ï¼½, P < 0.05), voiding symptoms (ï¼»5.65 ± 2.15ï¼½ vs ï¼»1.62 ± 1.36) and quality of life (ï¼»8.96 ± 2.32ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.16 ± 1.89ï¼½, P < 0.05). The effectiveness rate of LJTL was 95.9% on the Chinese medicine symptom frequent urination, 90.4% on painful urination, and 91.4% scanty dark urine, with a total effectiveness rate of 82.4% － 95.9%, all with statistically significant difference in comparison with the baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Longjintonglin Capsules combined with routine treatment can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat stasis syndrome, especially effective on the symptoms of frequent urination, painful urination and scanty dark urine. Besides, it recommendable for its antidepressant and antianxiety effects, and the effect of improving the quality of life of the chronic prostatitis patients with damp-heat stasis.

Characterization of genomic alterations in Chinese colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: The exploration of genomic alterations in Chinese colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is limited, and corresponding genetic biomarkers for patient's perioperative management are still lacking. This study aims to understand genome diversification and complexity that developed in CRLM. METHODS: A custom-designed IDT capture panel including 620 genes was performed in the Chinese CRLM cohort, which included 396 tumor samples from metastatic liver lesions together with 133 available paired primary tumors. RESULTS: In this Chinese CRLM cohort, the top-ranked recurrent mutated genes were TP53 (324/396, 82%), APC (302/396, 76%), KRAS (166/396, 42%), SMAD4 (54/396, 14%), FLG (52/396, 13%) and FBXW7 (43/396, 11%). A comparison of CRLM samples derived from left- and right-sided primary lesions confirmed that the difference in survival for patients with different primary tumor sites could be driven by variations in the transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and RAS signaling pathways. Certain genes had a higher variant rate in samples with metachronous CRLM than in samples with simultaneous metastasis. Overall, the metastasis and primary tumor samples displayed highly consistent genomic alterations, but there were some differences between individually paired metastases and primary tumors, which were mainly caused by copy number variations. CONCLUSION: We provide a comprehensive depiction of the genomic alterations in Chinese patients with CRLM, providing a fundamental basis for further personalized therapy applications.

Differential metabolism-associated gene expression of duck pancreatic cells in response to two strains of duck hepatitis A virus type 1.

Several outbreaks of duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1), which were characterized by yellow coloration and hemorrhage in pancreatic tissues, have occurred in China. The causative agent is called pancreatitis-associated DHAV-1. The mechanisms involved in pancreatitis-associated DHAV-1 infection are still unclear. Transcriptome analysis of duck pancreas infected with classical-type DHAV-1 and pancreatitis-associated DHAV-1 was carried out. Deep sequencing with Illumina-Solexa resulted in a total of 53.9 Gb of clean data from the cDNA library of the pancreas, and a total of 29,597 unigenes with an average length of 993.43 bp were generated by de novo sequence assembly. The expression levels of D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, phosphoserine aminotransferase, and phosphoserine phosphatase, which are involved in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism pathways, were significantly downregulated in ducks infected with pancreatitis-associated DHAV-1 compared with those infected with classical-type DHAV-1. These findings provide information regarding differences in expression levels of metabolism-associated genes between ducks infected with pancreatitis-associated DHAV-1 and those infected with classical-type DHAV-1, indicating that intensive metabolism disorders may contribute to the different phenotypes of DHAV-1-infection.

Melatonin promotes secondary hair follicle development of early postnatal cashmere goat and improves cashmere quantity and quality by enhancing antioxidant capacity and suppressing apoptosis.

Development of secondary hair follicles in early postnatal cashmere goats may be adversely affected by reactive oxygen species which cause oxidative stress. Because melatonin is a potent antioxidant and scavenger of free radicals, this study explored the effects of melatonin on secondary hair follicle development and subsequent cashmere production. It was found that the initiation of new secondary follicles in early postnatal Inner Mongolian cashmere goats of both melatonin-treated and control goats occurred in the first 10 weeks of age. Melatonin promoted the initiation and maturation of secondary follicles and increased their population. Importantly, the beneficial effect of melatonin on secondary follicle population remained throughout life. As a result, melatonin increased cashmere production and improved its quality in terms of reduced fiber diameter. The mechanisms underlying the role of melatonin on secondary follicle development included the enhancement of activities of antioxidant enzymes, for example, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), elevated total antioxidant capacity, and upregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and downregulated expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax and caspase-3. These results reveal that melatonin serves to promote secondary hair follicle development in early postnatal cashmere goats and expands our understanding of melatonin application in cashmere production. Melatonin treatment led to an increase in both the quantity and quality of cashmere fiber. This increased the textile value of the fibers and provided economic benefit.

[Huanshao Capsules for erectile dysfunction with spleen and kidney deficiency: A multicentered clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Huanshao Capsules (HSC) in the treatment of ED with spleen and kidney deficiency. METHODS: This randomized open multicentered positive drug controlled clinical trial included 248 cases of ED with spleen and kidney deficiency, which were assigned to a trial and a control group of equal number to be treated with HSC at the dose of 3 capsules tid and Wuziyanzong Pills at 6 g bid, respectively, both for 4 weeks. We recorded and compared the IIEF-5 scores, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores, and hepatic and renal functions between the two groups of patients before and at 2 and 4 weeks after medication. RESULTS: The clinical observation was completed in 240 of the patients. Based on the IIEF-5 scores of the patients, the total effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the trial than in the control group (76.6% vs 67.8%, P < 0.05). The TCM symptom scores were decreased by ≥95% in 14 cases (11.7%), ≥70% in 97 cases (80.8%) and ≥30% in 9 cases (7.5%) in the trial group as compared with ≥95% in 7 cases (5.8%), ≥70% in 84 cases (70.0%) and ≥30% in 29 cases (24.2%) in the control, with remarkably better improvement in the former than in the latter group (P < 0.05). Before and at 2 and 4 weeks after medication, the IIEF-5 scores were 13.04 ± 4.02, 15.95 ± 3.22 and 20.06 ± 2.17, and the TCM symptom scores were 16.64 ± 5.26, 10.08 ± 4.89 and 3.05 ± 2.18 respectively in the trial group, both significantly improved at 4 weeks in comparison with those in the control (P < 0.05). No abnormality was observed in urine and blood tests or hepatic and renal functions before and after treatment, nor obvious adverse events were found in the two groups of patients during the medication. CONCLUSIONS: Huanshao Capsules can safely and effectively improve the IIEF-5 scores and clinical symptoms of ED patients with spleen and kidney deficiency, and therefore deserve a wide clinical application.

[Huanshao Capsules combined with levocarnitine for the treatment of asthenospermia, oligospermia and teratozoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects of Huanshao Capsules (HSC) combined with levocarnitine (LC) on asthenospermia, oligospermia, teratozoospermia, and the semen parameters of the patients. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical study included 186 infertility patients with spleen and kidney asthenia. We randomly divided them into three groups of equal number and treated them orally with HSC at the dose of 3 capsules tid, LC at 10 ml tid, and HSC+LC, respectively, all for 12 weeks. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment, we obtained the semen parameters from the patients and compared them among the three groups. RESULTS: Totally, 180 of the patients completed the study, 61 in the HSC, 59 in the LC and 60 in the HSC+LC group. After 12 weeks of medication, the patients of the HSC+LC group showed an increase of 42.77% in the semen volume, 142.37% in sperm concentration, 28.61% in sperm motility, and 24.39% in the percentage of grade a+b sperm and a decrease of 6.27% in the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm as compared with the baseline (P <0.05). The patients treated with HSC+LC showed significantly more improvement in all the above parameters than those treated with LC alone (P <0.05) as well as in sperm motility and the percentage of progressively motile sperm than those treated with HSC alone (P <0.05). The HSC group exhibited remarkable improvement in the above parameters after treatment as compared with the baseline (P <0.05) and higher semen volume and sperm concentration than the LC group (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Huanshao Capsulescombined with levocarnitinedeserves a wide clinical application as a safe and efficacious therapy forasthenospermia, oligospermia,and teratozoospermia.

Prohibitin as a novel autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis.

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY: The aim of this study was to verify whether prohibitin is a novel autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: First, recombinant human prohibitin (rhPHB) protein was cloned, expressed, and purified. Then the anti-prohibitin autoantibodies were detected by western blotting by using rhPHB protein to incubate sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Next, immunoprecipitation was employed to further illustrate whether anti-prohibitin antibodies exist in RA patients. And finally, autoantibodies against the rhPHB protein were investigated using a homemade ELISA kit through the assessment of 258 real clinical samples. RESULTS: It was revealed that anti-prohibitin antibodies existed in the sera of patients with RA. Reactivity of serum IgG against rhPHB was detected in 26 of 86 RA patients (30.3%), 7 of 86 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (8.1%), and 1 of 86 apparently healthy donors (HC) (1.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Prohibitin was proved to be a novel autoantigen and the corresponding anti-prohibitin autoantibodies were present in the RA patients' blood circulation.

Multiple correlations of mRNA expression and protein abundance in human cytokine profile.

With the development of genomic study, researchers found that it is insufficient to predict protein expression from quantitative mRNA data in large scale, which is contrary to the traditional opinion that mRNA expression correlates with protein abundance at the single gene level. To try to solve the apparent conflicting views, here we set up a series of research models and chose soluble cytokines as targets. First, human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from one health donor was treated with 16 continuously changing conditions, the protein and mRNA profile were analyzed by multiplex Luminex and genomic microarray, respectively. Among the tested genes, around half mRNA correlated well with their corresponding proteins (ρ > 0.8), however if we put all the genes together, the correlation coefficient for the 16 conditions varied from 0.29 to 0.71. Second, PBMC from 14 healthy donors were stimulated with the same condition and it was found that the correlation coefficient went down (ρ < 0.6). Third, 28 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were tested for their response to the same external stimuli and it turned out different individual displayed different protein expression pattern as expect. Lastly, autoimmune disease cohorts (8 diseases including RA, 103 patients in total) were assayed on the whole view. It was observed that there was still some similarity in the protein profile among patients from the single disease type although completely different patterns were displayed across different disease categories. This study built a good bridge between single gene analysis and the whole genome study and may give a reasonable explanation for the two conflicting views in current biological science.

[Clinical features and risk factors of co-morbid tic disorder in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features and risk factors of co-morbid tic disorder (TD) in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: A total of 312 children with ADHD were involved in this study. Subtypes of co-morbid TD, incidences of TD in different subtypes of ADHD (ADHD-I, ADHD-HI and ADHD-C) were observed. Thirteen potential factors influencing the comorbidity rate of TD in ADHD were evaluated by univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Forty-two of 312 children with ADHD suffered from co-morbid TD (13.5%). Comorbidity rate of TD in children with ADHD-C (24.1%) was significantly higher than in those with ADHD-HI (10.9%) and ADHD-I (8.8%) (P<0.05). There were 21 cases (50.0%) of transient TD, 12 cases (28.6%) of chronic TD, and 9 cases (21.4%) of Tourette syndrome. The univariate analysis revealed 6 factors associated with comorbidity: addiction to mobile phone or computer games, poor eating habits, infection, improper family education, poor relationship between parents and poor relationship with schoolmates. Multiple logistic analysis revealed two independent risk factors for comorbidity: improper family education (OR=7.000, P<0.05) and infection (OR=2.564, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of co-morbid TD in children with ADHD is influenced by many factors, and early interventions should be performed based on the main risk factors.

Measurement of Complex Permittivity for Rapid Detection of Liquid Concentration Using a Reusable Octagon-Shaped Resonator Sensor.

Substrate-integrated waveguides (SIWs) are widely used in microwave systems owing to their low cost and ease of integration. In this study, an SIW-based resonator that reacts to the complex permittivity variation of solutions with dimensions of 79.2 mm × 59.8 mm is introduced. This octagon-shaped sensor can be installed on a preliminary monitoring system to test water quality by observing the parameter variations caused by external factors. The resonant structure was used to test different concentrations of ethanol-water and acetone-water mixtures for verification. The resonant frequency and quality factor (Q-factor) were found to vary with the relative complex permittivity of the liquid in the S-band, and the electric field distribution varied when liquid droplets were placed in the center of the substrate. The designed sensor operates at 2.45 GHz in the air, and the observed minimum resonant frequency shift with liquid was 15 MHz. The measurement error was approximately 3.1%, and the results reveal a relationship between the resonant frequency and temperature as well. Considering the observed sources of error, the measured relative permittivity is consistent with the actual values. The proposed sensor is economically convenient and suitable for various test environments.

Intranasal delivery of replicating mRNA encoding hACE2-targeting antibody against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in the hamster.

The Omicron variant is sweeping the world, which displays striking immune escape potential through mutations at key antigenic sites on the spike protein, making broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 prevention or therapeutical strategies urgently needed. Previously, we have reported a hACE2-targeting neutralizing antibody 3E8, which could efficiently block both prototype SARS-CoV-2 and Delta variant infections in prophylactic mouse models, having the potential of broad-spectrum to prevent SARS-CoV-2. However, preparation of monoclonal neutralizing antibodies is severely limited by the time-consuming process and the relative high cost. Here, we utilized a modified VEEV replicon with two subgenomic (sg) promoters engineered to express the light and heavy chains of the 3E8 mAb. The feasibility and protective efficacy of replicating mRNA encoding 3E8 against Omicron infection in the hamster were demonstrated through the lung targeting delivery with the help of VEEV-VRP. Overall, we developed a safe and cost-effective platform of broad-spectrum to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Ultrasonic communication in frogs.

Among vertebrates, only microchiropteran bats, cetaceans and some rodents are known to produce and detect ultrasounds (frequencies greater than 20 kHz) for the purpose of communication and/or echolocation, suggesting that this capacity might be restricted to mammals. Amphibians, reptiles and most birds generally have limited hearing capacity, with the ability to detect and produce sounds below approximately 12 kHz. Here we report evidence of ultrasonic communication in an amphibian, the concave-eared torrent frog (Amolops tormotus) from Huangshan Hot Springs, China. Males of A. tormotus produce diverse bird-like melodic calls with pronounced frequency modulations that often contain spectral energy in the ultrasonic range. To determine whether A. tormotus communicates using ultrasound to avoid masking by the wideband background noise of local fast-flowing streams, or whether the ultrasound is simply a by-product of the sound-production mechanism, we conducted acoustic playback experiments in the frogs' natural habitat. We found that the audible as well as the ultrasonic components of an A. tormotus call can evoke male vocal responses. Electrophysiological recordings from the auditory midbrain confirmed the ultrasonic hearing capacity of these frogs and that of a sympatric species facing similar environmental constraints. This extraordinary upward extension into the ultrasonic range of both the harmonic content of the advertisement calls and the frog's hearing sensitivity is likely to have co-evolved in response to the intense, predominantly low-frequency ambient noise from local streams. Because amphibians are a distinct evolutionary lineage from microchiropterans and cetaceans (which have evolved ultrasonic hearing to minimize congestion in the frequency bands used for sound communication and to increase hunting efficacy in darkness), ultrasonic perception in these animals represents a new example of independent evolution.

Complete genomic sequence of the virulent bacteriophage RAP44 of Riemerella anatipestifer.

A virulent Riemerella anatipestifer bacteriophage, RAP44, belonging to the Siphoviridae family of tailed phages, was previously isolated from feces of healthy Muscovy ducks in China. A complete genomic sequence analysis indicates that the phage's genome consists of a linear, double-stranded DNA molecule of 49,329 nucleotides. Eighty open reading frames (ORF) were identified. Putative functions could be assigned to 24 of the ORFs. The location of these genes was consistent with organization of the genome in a modular format which includes modules for host cell lysis, tail morphogenesis, head morphogenesis, and DNA replication and modification modules. Until now, no R. anatipestifer phage genome sequence has been reported in the literature. Therefore, this study represents the first complete genomic and molecular description of the R. anatipestifer phage.

The role of brain natriuretic peptide and serum triiodothyronine in the diagnosis and prognosis of chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and serum triiodothyronine (T3) in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: 156 cases of CHF patients and 75 cases of cardiac function I patients hospitalized over the same period were utilized in this study. On admission, the patient's BNP and T3 plasma concentrations were measured. The correlation analysis of plasma BNP and T3 in CHF patients with cardiac function classification was conducted. RESULTS: According to the NYHA grading systems, the plasma BNP levels in patients with II, III, and IV grade CHF were significantly higher than those with cardiac function I (P < 0.05); BNP levels and NYHA grading of cardiac function correlated positively. The BNP concentrations increased with CHF progression (P < 0.01). The T3 level and NYHA grading of cardiac function correlated negatively.TheT3 level decreased as the degree of heart failure increased. Using CHF in combination with BNP to predict the occurrence of CHF had a sensitivity value of 90.8% with 95.5% specificity, 86.3% accuracy, and a negative predictive value of 87.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma BNP was more sensitive than T3 in the diagnosis of CHF. The T3 was more meaningful than the BNP in the prognosis of CHF. The BNP and T3 combination detection was more valuable in determining the severity of CHF and prognosis.

[An epidemiological survey of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in school-age children in Shenzhen].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and behavior problems among school-age children in Shenzhen City of Guangdong. METHODS: A total of 10553 students in Grades 1-6 from different primary schools in Shenzhen City were assessed by Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ) and Conners Teacher Rating Scale (TRS). Children showing abnormalities according to PSQ or TRS were further assessed according to the diagnostic standard for ADHD as laid out in the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders- 4th edition (DSM-Ⅳ). RESULTS: A total of 8193 PSQ and TRS assessments were completed. The children were aged from 7 to 13 years. The total prevalence rate was 7.60% by PSQ and 5.59 % by TRS. Four hundred and forty-two children were diagnosed having ADHD by DSM-Ⅳ, with a prevalence rate of 5.39%. There were significant differences in the prevalence rate of ADHD among children aged 7 to 13 years (χ2=21.613, P<0.05). In children aged 7 to 9 years, the prevalence rate was higher (above 6%). The prevalence rate of ADHD in boys was significantly higher than in girls (6.65% vs 3.12%; P<0.05). Impulsion and hyperactivity (79.6%), learning (60.6%) and conduct disorders (52.0%) were the main behavioral problems in children with ADHD. The prevalence of learning disorders was higher in girls than in boys. Conclusions The prevalence rate of ADHD in children from primary schools in Shenzhen City is 5.39%, and it is higher in children aged 7 to 9 years. Boys have a higher prevalence rates of ADHD than girls. Impulsion and hyperactivity, learning and conduct disorders are common problems in children with ADHD.

An Exploration of the Safety of "Pneumonia Prevention No. 1" in Healthy Populations.

Background: "Pneumonia Prevention No.1" belongs to 'traditional Chinese medicine prescription for prevention of viral pneumonia and influenza' was urgently formulated by Notice on Printing the Novel Coronavirus Diagnosis and Treatment Scheme for COVID-19 (Trial Version 3) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment Scheme for COVID-19 in Hubei Province (Trial). Because the prescription drug has the bidirectional regulation function of human immune function, moderate improvement of immune function can effectively resist virus invasion, while excessive immune function will produce immune overresponse. Excessive immune response will aggravate the condition of patients with COVID-19, resulting in the death of severe patients. Methods: Twenty medical workers aged 20-60 years old, who had no immune disease, no current disease and healthy physical examination, were selected as participants. The participants took Hubei "Pneumonia Prevention No.1" decoction, one dosage each day, twice a day, for 7 consecutive days. With the before-after control method, blood samples were collected from the median cubital veins before and after medication. Immunoglobulin IgA, IgG and IgM were measured by immunoturbidimetry, and T lymphocyte subsets CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 were measured by flow cytometry. The changes of indexes before and after medication were compared with SPPS 13.0 statistical software. The data were expressed by (mean ± standard deviation). T-test was adopted, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant (P < 0.05). Results: The results of this study show that in healthy participants, the immunoglobulin and T lymphocyte subsets did not differ significantly before and after drug administration (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Under normal drug administration circumstances, "Pneumonia Prevention No. 1" had no significant regulating effect on the immune system in a healthy population and did not increase the immune system capacity beyond a reasonable range. It is safe to be used as a prophylactic measure in healthy populations.