[Blood Group Distribution Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients in Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and summarize ABO and Rh(D) blood group distribution and related indicators of COVID-19 patients, and understand the relationship between blood group and disease course of COVID-19 patients in Xinjiang. METHODS: A total of 831 patients with confirmed or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection treated in People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from July 2020 to August 2020 were enrolled as study group, and 2 778 healthy people in a third Grade A hospital in the region during the same period were selected as control group. ABO and Rh(D) blood group antigens were identified, and relevant medical data were collected for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The proportion of O-type population and Rh(D) positive population in the study group was 24.79% and 96.27%, which were lower than those in the normal control group (29.73% and 97.73%) (P<0.05). The proportion of AB type and Rh(D) negative population was 14.20% and 3.73%, which was higher than that in control group (10.62% and 2.27%) (P<0.05). The proportion of female patients in Type O group was lower than that in control group. The proportion of female patients in AB group was higher than that in control group (P<0.01), while the proportion of type O patients in the age group less than or equal to 45 years old and greater than 60 years old was lower. Different blood groups of Uygur population showed their own characteristics in different sex, but there was no statistical significance due to the limited sample (P>0.05). Moreover, the course of disease and clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 patients were different among different blood groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that the blood type distribution of COVID-19 patients in Xinjiang has its own characteristics, and the blood type is related to the course and clinical diagnosis of COVID-19. In the future, the data can be widely included in people from different ethnic groups and different regions to improve relevant studies.

Clustering of Non-communicable Diseases Risk Factors in Healthy Adults Aged 35 Years and Older in Shenzhen, China.

We assessed the prevalence of non- communicable diseases (NCDs) risk factors with a focus on their clustering among healthy adults in Shenzhen, China. Data from the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey, comprising a regionally representative sample of 806 healthy adults aged 35 years or older, were obtained to determine the prevalence of five risk factors for NCDs. The prevalence of current smoking, central obesity, impaired fasting glucose, borderline hypertension, and borderline high total cholesterol was 19.97%, 28.29%, 4.47%, 10.55%, and 36.10%, respectively. A total 63.77% of participants had at least one risk factor. Upon examination of risk factor clustering, we observed that 7.57% of participants had at least three risk factors. Using this threshold as a cutoff, clustering of risk factors was associated with sex [odds ratio (OR) = 3.336, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.782 to 6.246], physical activity (OR = 1.913, 95% CI: 1.009 to 3.628), and BMI (OR = 7.376, 95% CI: 3.812 to 14.270). The prevalence of risk factors for NCDs is fairly high among healthy adults in Shenzhen, with a clustering tendency.

The development and validation of Huaxi emotional-distress index (HEI): A Chinese questionnaire for screening depression and anxiety in non-psychiatric clinical settings.

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety among general hospital patients are common and under-recognized in China. This study aimed toward developing a short questionnaire for screening depression and anxiety in non-psychiatric clinical settings, and to test its reliability and validity. METHODS: The item pool which included 35 questions about emotional distress was drafted through a comprehensive literature review. An expert panel review and the first clinical test with 288 general hospital patients were conducted for the primary item selection. The second clinical test was performed to select the final item in 637 non-psychiatric patients. The reliability and validity of the final questionnaire were tested in 763 non-psychiatric patients, in which 211 subjects were interviewed by psychiatrists using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Multiple data analysis methods including principal components analysis (PCA), item response theory (IRT), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to select items and validate the final questionnaire. RESULTS: The series selection of items resulted in a 9-item questionnaire, namely Huaxi Emotional-distress Index (HEI). The Cronbach's α coefficient of HEI was 0.90. The PCA results showed a unidimensional construct. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.88 when compared with MINI interview. Using the optimal cut-off score of HEI (≥11), the sensitivity and specificity were 0.880 and 0.766, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The HEI is considered as a reliable and valid instrument for screening depression and anxiety, which may have substantial clinical value to detect patients' emotional disturbances especially in the busy non-psychiatric clinical settings in China.

Serum lipids and associated factors of dyslipidemia in the adult population in Shenzhen.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is one of the most important independent modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for dyslipidemia in Shenzhen, a special economic zone and large metropolitan area neighboring Hong Kong. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 1,995 adults with a mean age of 46.56 years was conducted between February and July 2011 using a multistage stratified cluster random sampling. All the subjects were administered questionnaires regarding socio-demographic characteristics and other possible factors associated with the prevalence of dyslipidemia. Fasting venous blood samples were collected to assess the lipid profile. Weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. RESULTS: The mean concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were 5.11 ± 1.15 mmol/L, 1.59 ± 1.47 mmol/L, 1.42 ± 0.33 mmol/L, and 3.22 ± 0.84 mmol/L, respectively. High values of TC, TG, low HDL-C, and high LDL-C were obtained in 14.49%, 16.14%, 8.82%, and 12.13 % of the 1,995 participants, respectively. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 34.64%, among which 25.04% of subjects were aware. Presence of dyslipidemia was significantly associated with increasing age, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of dyslipidemia with relative low awareness in Shenzhen was found. A comprehensive strategy is required for the prevention, screening, treatment, and control of dyslipidemia in Shenzhen.

Study on the inclusion behavior of p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene with propranolol by spectrofluorometry.

The inclusion interaction between propranolol (PPL) and p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene (SCX6) was investigated by fluorescence and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Influences of pH, temperature, ionic strength and the concentration of SCX6 were examined in detail. In phosphate buffer solution with pH 7.5, the fluorescence of PPL dramatically quenched upon addition of SCX6 revealing the formation of inclusion complexes between PPL and SCX6. The stoichiometric ratio was verified to be 1:1 by the continuous variation method. The inclusion constant of PPL-SCX6 complexes was calculated as 2.2×10(4)L/mol by the nonlinear curve fitting method. (1)H NMR titration spectra testified that the aliphatic chain of PPL may be partially penetrated into the hydrophobic cavity of SCX6. This was confirmed by molecular dynamics calculations.

Effects of immunosuppressants after penetrating keratoplasty: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of immunosuppressants in the prophylaxis of corneal allograft rejection after high-risk keratoplasty and normal-risk keratoplasty. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP and reference lists of articles. Date of most recent search: 18 June, 2011. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the use of immunosupressants in the prevention of graft rejection, irrespective of publication language. Two authors assessed trial quality and extracted data independently. Only dichotomous outcomes (clear graft survival, ratio of immune reactions and side effects) were available and were expressed as relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Seven studies were included in this review. In the comparing of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with placebo, the results showed MMF could significantly reduce immune reactions compared with placebo (RR 1.08 95% Cl 0.95 to 1.21), but no effect on clear graft survival (RR 1.11 95% Cl 0.90 to 1.35). In clear graft survival and immune reactions, MMF and cyclosporine A (CsA) showed similar effect (RR 1.11 95% Cl 0.90 to 1.35, and RR 1.48, 95% Cl 0.56 to 3.93, respectively). Tacrolimus (FK506) and steroid showed similar effects on clear graft survival and immune reactions (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.02 to 6.21, and RR 1.00, 95%CI 0.88 to 1.14, respectively). No drug relative side effect has been found. CONCLUSION: MMF may reduce immune reactions in both normal-risk and high-risk rejection of penetrating keratoplasty. CsA and FK506 showed similar effects as MMF. However, due to the lack of large clinical trials, the evidence remain weak, the quality of evidences were rated as very low to moderate. Large, properly randomised, placebo-controlled, double masked trials are needed to evaluate the effect of immunosuppressants.

Assemblies of brilliant cresyl violet to DNA in the presence of gamma-cyclodextrin.

The interactions of brilliant cresyl violet (BCV) with herring sperm DNA in gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) supramolecular system were studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Both UV-vis absorption and CV data show that the interaction of BCV with DNA depends on the concentration ratio of BCV to DNA (R), the initial concentration of BCV and gamma-CD. The binding constants of BCV monomer, (BCV)(2) dimer and (BCV)(2)-gamma-CD inclusion complex with DNA are 1.64x10(5), 2.56x10(4) and 2.32x10(3) M(-1), respectively. It was observed that gamma-CD can affect the interactive mode of BCV with DNA. If R is larger than 0.5, the (BCV)(2)-gamma-CD inclusion complex will retain intact and bind to DNA via the electrostatic attraction forces. By contrast, when R is smaller than 0.5, the inclusion complex will be partially dissociated and the free BCV monomer is intercalated into the double-helix structure of DNA attributing to the more favorable microenvironment of DNA for the BCV monomer. Our work postulates the importance of the initial concentration of dye and host molecule on the interaction of dye with DNA in living bodies.

[Effects of 2450 MHz microwave on long-term potentiation of hippocampus and lipofuscin contents in rat brain].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of the effects of microwave on learning and memory. METHOD: Long-term potentiation (LTP) of hippocampus induced potential and lipofuscin content in rat brain were studied. After irradiated by a 2450 MHz microwave, rats hippocampus induced potential in vivo was recorded and lipofuscin content in the brain was measured by fluorospectrophotometry. RESULT: Continuous microwave with 10-25 mW/cm2 intensity could inhibit the amplitude of the population spike (PS) of weak and strong stimuli induced LTP with an intensity-effect relationship. At 25 mW/cm2, lipofuscin content was significantly higher than control and 10 mW/cm2 group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Continuous microwave with 10-25 mW/cm2 intensity impairs learning and memory by restraining hippocampus LTP and brain lipofuscin content.

[Effects of microwave irradiation on ATPase activity and voltage dependent ion channel of rat hippocampus cell membrane].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of microwave irradiation on hippocampus cell. METHOD: Changes of ATPase activity and voltage dependent ion channel of hippocampus cell membrane were observed in mice exposed to 2 450 MHz microwave irradiation of 10 mW/cm2 from a physical therapy machine. Histochemical method and patch clamp method were used to determine the activity of Na+, K(+)-ATPase, Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase and voltage dependent Na+, K+, Ca2+ channels respectively. RESULT: 1) Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity of microwave irradiated mice showed no significant change as compared with the control, but the activity of Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase decreased significantly (P< 0.05); 2) In microwave irradiated mice, Na+, K+, Ca2+, current inducement rate in hippocampus neuron decreased significantly, the membrane voltage of Na+ current peak shifted to depolarization, and the attenuation rate of Na+ current and current A inducement rate decreased significantly as compared with control mice. CONCLUSION: Irradiation of 2 450 MHz microwave at a doze of 10 mW/cm2 was not fatal to mice hippocampus cell. But Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase activity of hippocampal cell membrane and voltage dependent Na+, K+, Ca2+ ion channel of hippocampal nervous were affected which would affect study and memory.

[Effects of clinorotation-induced weightlessness on growth factor and ERK signal transduction in cultured cardiac fibroblasts].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of expression and secretion of some growth factors and ERK1/2 activation in cardiac fibroblasts under clinorotation conditions. METHOD: Primary cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were clinorotated to simulate weightlessness. The bFGF and TGF(beta)1 expressions in the cells and Ang II concentration in the medium were detected by western blotting and radioimmunoassay respectively. The expression and phosphorylated level of ERK1/2 were analyzed by western blotting. RESULT: Compared to the control group, bFGF expression and Ang II concentration increased in clinorotation group, but there was no evident change in TGF(beta)1 expression. At the same time, the expression of ERK1/2 increased but their phosphorylated level decreased. CONCLUSION: Different growth factors responds to clinorotation by different ways. As one of the most important reactions of growth factor signal downstream pathways, ERK1/2 activation is inhibited in clinorotation.