[Economic evaluation of plasma exchange combined with dual plasma adsorption therapy for early, mid and late stage liver failure].

Objective: To compare the economic characteristics of the four artificial liver models [plasma exchange, half-dose plasma exchange combined with double plasma adsorption (DPMAS), pre-equal amount of plasma exchange followed by DPMAS, and pre-DPMAS followed by equal amount of plasma exchange] in the treatment of liver failure. Methods: A decision tree model was established with the Treeage pro 2011 software. The cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-effectiveness value of four different treatment modalities were calculated and compared in patients with liver failure at early, mid and late stages, respectively. The sensitivity analysis of the model was performed using data from the preliminary research results of these groups. Results: The cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-effectiveness value of patients treated with artificial liver therapy with half-dose plasma exchange combined with DPAMS plan in early stage liver failure were 89 547.79 and 34 665.34, which was lower than per capita GDP, so the increased cost had cost-effective advantages. In the middle and late stage of liver failure, the cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-effectiveness value of pre-DPMAS followed by equal plasma exchange plan was 122 865.5 and 284 334.97, and 70 744.55 and 75 299.48, respectively, which was less than three times of per capita GDP. The increased cost was acceptable and had economic advantages. The sensitivity analysis results showed that the basic analysis results were reliable. Conclusion: Half-dose plasma exchange combined with DPAMS plan is the most cost-effective treatment for early liver failure, while pre-DPMAS followed by equal plasma exchange plan is the most economical treatment for mid and late stage liver failure.

CircPSMC3 inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by downregulating ROCK1.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, the importance of circular RNAs in malignant tumors has attracted much attention. However, the role of circPSMC3 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of circPSMC3 in the proliferation and apoptosis of NPC and to explore its possible underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to determine the level of circPSMC3 in NPC tissues and cell lines. The association between circPSMC3 expression and patients' prognosis was analyzed. CircPSMC3 lentivirus was constructed and transfected into NPC cells. Cell growth ability and apoptosis were detected through Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot was performed to analyze the target protein of circPSMC3. Furthermore, the function of circPSMC3 was explored in nude mice. RESULTS: CircPSMC3 was lowly expressed in NPC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Low circPSMC3 expression was associated with poor prognosis of NPC patients. Meanwhile, the expression of circPSMC3 was significantly down-regulated in NPC cell lines as well. The growth ability of NPC cells was markedly inhibited after circPSMC3 was overexpressed. Overexpression of circPSMC3 significantly promoted the apoptosis of NPC cells in vitro. ROCK1 expression decreased markedly via overexpression of circPSMC3. Furthermore, tumor formation was inhibited after the up-regulation of circPSMC3 in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: CircPSMC3 could suppress cell growth and promote cell apoptosis in NPC by downregulating ROCK1.

CircPSMC3 inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by downregulating ROCK1.

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "CircPSMC3 inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by downregulating ROCK1, by D.-Q. Guo, F. Liu, L. Zhang, N.-N. Bian, L.-Y. Liu, L.-X. Kong, Z.-G. Wang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (3): 1219-1225-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202002_20174-PMID: 32096151" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/20174.

Management of cardiovascular diseases with micro systems and nanotechnology.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and morbidity in industrialized nations and are becoming an urgent health problem for all nations due to the unstoppable trend of an ageing and obese population. Due to the rapid development of micro total analysis systems (microTAS) and nanotechnology in recent years, they will play an important role in the diagnosis, management, and therapy of cardiovascular diseases. It is envisaged that the micro and nanotechnologies developed for treating other diseases shall be explored for cardiovascular applications to reduce the research effort required for commercializing the devices and drugs to meet the increasing demand of the cardiovascular patients.

Characteristics of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (Xinjiang strain) in China.

Virus strains isolated from blood of patients during a hemorrhagic fever outbreak in 1968 in southern Xinjiang, China, from Hyalomma asiaticum and from sheep, were found to be identical or closely related to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (C-CHF) virus by complement fixation and indirect immunofluorescence tests with convalescent sera of patients and with C-CHF reference antibody. The virus was inactivated by ether and acid. Viral synthesis was not suppressed by 5-iododeoxyuridine suggesting an RNA-containing genome. The buoyant density in sucrose was 1.16-1.18 g/cm3. The particle weight was estimated at 3.26 +/- 0.46 X 10(8). The diameter of the virus particles was 85-105 nm.

[Clinical analysis of steroid glaucoma].

During 1970-1990, the authors accumulated 15 cases (26 eyes) of steroid glaucoma due to topical administration of dexamethasone or prednisolone. The patients comprised 10 men and 5 women, averaging 28 years of age. The clinical course was like chronic open angle glaucoma in 25 eyes, and 1 eye simulated an acute glaucoma attack. On presentation, the IOP was over 6.7 kPa in 9 eyes despite of antiglaucoma medication. The C/D ratio was > 0.6 in 9 cases (16 eyes), and the values were inconsistent between both eyes in 55% of the patients. Treatment was immediate discontinuation of the steroids, with antiglaucoma medication if necessary. 3 eyes were done filtering operations and 2 eyes had the subconjunctival residual steroid injection removed. Normal IOP was restored in months up to a year.

Rapid multi sample DNA amplification using rotary-linear polymerase chain reaction device (PCRDisc).

Multiple sample DNA amplification was done by using a novel rotary-linear motion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device. A simple compact disc was used to create the stationary sample chambers which are individually temperature controlled. The PCR was performed by shuttling the samples to different temperature zones by using a combined rotary-linear movement of the disc. The device was successfully used to amplify up to 12 samples in less than 30 min with a sample volume of 5 µl. A simple spring loaded heater mechanism was introduced to enable good thermal contact between the samples and the heaters. Each of the heater temperatures are controlled by using a simple proportional-integral-derivative pulse width modulation control system. The results show a good improvement in the amplification rate and duration of the samples. The reagent volume used was reduced to nearly 25% of that used in conventional method.

Amplification of SPPS150 and Salmonella typhi DNA with a high throughput oscillating flow polymerase chain reaction device.

In this paper, a novel oscillating flow polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device was designed and fabricated to amplify SPPS150 and salmonella typhi. In this new design, the samples are shuttled (oscillating flow) inside a microfluidic chip to three different temperature zones required for DNA amplification. The amplification cycle time has markedly been reduced as the reagent volume used was only about 25% of that used in conventional PCRs. Bubble formation and adsorption issues commonly associated to chip based PCR were also eliminated. Based on the performance evaluated, it is demonstrated that this oscillating flow PCR has the advantages of both the stationary chamber and continuous flow PCR devices.