On the urban resource and environment carrying capacity in China: A sustainable development paradigm.

As urbanization progresses, the number of resource and environmental problems that impede sustainable growth in cities is increasing. The urban resource and environment carrying capacity (URECC) serves as a crucial indicator for understanding the interaction between human activities and urban resource and environmental systems, guiding the practice of sustainable urban development. Thus, accurately comprehending and analyzing the URECC and coordinating the balanced growth of the economy and the URECC is essential to ensure cities' sustainable development. In this research, we combine DMSP/OLS and NPP/VIIRS night-time light data to assess the economic growth of Chinese cities using panel data for 282 prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2019. The findings reveal the following outcomes: (1) Economic growth significantly contributes to the enhancement of the URECC, and the economic expansion of neighboring areas also promotes the URECC within the region. Economic growth can indirectly improve the URECC by fostering internet development, industrial upgrading, technological progress, opening up opportunities, and educational advancements. (2) The results from the threshold regression analysis suggest that as the level of internet development improves, the influence of economic growth on the URECC is initially constrained and then facilitated. Similarly, as financial development improves, the effect of economic growth on the URECC is initially constrained and subsequently promoted, with the promotion effect gradually increasing. (3) The relationship between economic expansion and the URECC varies across regions with different geographic locations, administrative levels, scales, and resource endowments.

Potential Anti-Depressive Effects and Mechanisms of Zhi-Zi Hou-Po Decoction Using Behavioral Despair Tests Combined With in Vitro Approaches.

Zhi-Zi Hou-Po Decoction (ZHD) has been widely used in the treatment of depression for centuries. This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of the water extract of ZHD (ZHD-WE) and ethanol extract of ZHD (ZHD-EE) using behavioral despair tests in mice, and to further explore the neuroprotective effects in a PC12 cell injury model induced by corticosterone (CORT). Mice were divided into a control group (normal saline), ZHD-WE groups (4, 8, and 16 g kg-1), ZHD-EE groups (4, 8, and 16 g kg-1) and the fluoxetine group (20 mg kg-1). The forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to screen the antidepressant effects of ZHD-WE and ZHD-EE after oral administration for seven consecutive days. The level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus was determined by ELISA. The MTT, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and flow cytometry analysis were performed to elucidate the neuroprotective effect of ZHD-EE on a PC12 cell injury model. Additionally, the mRNA and proteins expression of apoptotic molecules Bax, Bcl-2 and BDNF were detected by RT-PCR and western blot assay. It showed that ZHD-EE at concentrations of 8 and 16 g kg-1 significantly decreased the immobility time in the TST and FST, and increased the BDNF levels in the hippocampus. While ZHD-WE at concentrations of 4, 8, and 16 g kg-1 had no significant effect on the immobility time in the TST, and only the 16 g kg-1 of extract group significantly decreased the immobility time in the FST. In vitro, the obtained results showed that PC12 cells pre-incubated with ZHD-EE at concentrations of 100 and 400 µg ml-1 improved cell viability, decreased LDH release, and reduced apoptosis rate of PC12 cells. Moreover, ZHD-EE significantly increased the mRNA and proteins expression of Bcl-2 and BDNF, while decreased the mRNA and protein expression of Bax. ZHD-EE significantly improved despair-like behavior in mice, and its mechanism may be related to BDNF upregulation in the hippocampus. This study also showed that ZHD-EE had a protective effect on CORT-induced injury in PC12 cells by upregulating the expression of BDNF and restoring Bcl-2/Bax balance.

Unexplained elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in a patient recovering from COVID-19: A case report.

BACKGROUND: A disease caused by a novel coronavirus virus, named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), broke out in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and spread around the word. As of March 4, 2020, 93090 confirmed cases and 2984 deaths have been reported in more than 80 countries and territories. It has triggered global public health security. However, the features and prognosis of COVID-19 are incompletely understood. CASE SUMMARY: We here report that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) increased in a confirmed COVID patient. The high level of ESR sustained for a long time even after the patient recovered from COVID-19, while all results related to tumor, tuberculosis, rheumatic diseases, anemia, etc. cannot explain the abnormal elevation of ESR presented in this case. CONCLUSION: Although the increased ESR cannot be explained by all existing evidence, it possibly links the abnormal pathologic change in some COVID-19 patients and negative prognosis, and provides the clue to dissect the mechanism of illness progressing in COVID-19 and its prognosis.

Effects of ulinastatin on intestinal mucosal barrier function in sepsis rats and its effect on wnt signal transduction pathway / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the intestinal mucosal barrier function protective effect of ulinastatin in sepsis rats and its effect on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods One hundred SD rats were randomly divided into control group, sepsis group, ulinastatin group, XAV939+ulinastatin group and lithium chloride( LiCl) +ulinastatin group. The classical cecal ligation was used to duplicate sepsis model, and the jejunal mucosal injury was evaluated. The levels of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were detected by ELISA, and the expressions of β-catenin and cyclin D1 were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting. We also observed the effect of the Wnt signal pathway blockage by XAV939 or Wnt signal pathway activator by LiCl on ulinastatin protection of intestinal mucosa and proteins related to the Wnt signal pathway. Results The levels of IL-6, TNF-α and intestinal mucosal injury in the sepsis group were significantly higher than those in the ulinastatin group. The mRNA and protein expression levels of β- catenin and cyclin D1 in the sepsis group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), After ulinastatin treatment, the expression levels of β-catenin and cyclin D1 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). Compared with the ulinastatin group, combined treatment with XAV939 promoted the protective effect of ulinastatin on the intestinal mucosa of rats, and the protein expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 was reduced (P<0.05). Combined treatment with LiCl weakened the protective effect of ulinastatin on the intestinal mucosa of rats, and the protein expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 was increased (P<0.05). Conclusion Ulinastatin may inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway by down-regulating the expression of β-catenin, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α, thereby promote repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier function damage.

Comparison of primary coronary percutaneous coronary intervention between Diabetic Men and Women with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the short-term efficacy and safety of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in female diabetic patients complicated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: A total of 169 diabetic patients with AMI who underwent primary PCI were selected and divided into group A (52 females) and group B (117 males). The clinical data, characteristics of coronary artery lesions, lengths of hospital stay, and incidences of complications were then compared between two groups. RESULTS: The average age, history of hyperlipidemia, double branch lesions, triple branch lesions, and left main lesions were significantly higher in group A than in group B (P < 0.05). Smoking history, PCI history, and pre-infarction angina were distinctly lower in group A than in group B (P < 0.05). Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 3 (TIMI3) flow and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 3 (TMPG3) after PCI were markedly lower in group A than in group B (P < 0.001). Group A had a higher incidence of complications, such as severe arrhythmia, cardiac function Killip III/IV, cardiogenic shock, major, moderate and mild bleed event, as well as a 30-day mortality rate, compared with group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In summary, our study demonstrated that female diabetic patients with AMI had lower TIMI3 flow and TMPG3 following PCI than male patients, while there was higher incidence of complications and 30-day mortality rate. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the therapy of diabetic women with acute myocardial infarction as well as the control of risk factors.

[Prevention Effect of Thymosin-alpha1 Aganist Early Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Patients with Mechanical Ventilation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effects of thymosin-alpha1 against early ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the patients with mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Fifty two patients with expectancy of mechanical ventilation over 48 h were divided into routine therapy group (n=26) and thymosin therapy group (n= 26) in random. The patients in routine therapy group were given intensive care unit (ICU) conventional treatment, and the patients in thymosin therapy group were given thymosin treatment additionally (1.6 mg subcutaneous injection, qd X 7 d). The incidence and occurrence time of VAP were observed, and the time of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay were recorded. The levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD4+ /CD8+ T lymphocyte, CD14+ mononuclear cell human leukocyte antigens-DR (CD14+ HLA-DR) and procalcitonin (PCT) were detected before mechanical ventilation and at the 3d and 7th d after mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: The base line including the level of immunologic function had no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of VAP in thymosin therapy group was lower than that in routine therapy group, but it was not significant difference (P>0.05). The durations of machine ventilation and ICU stay in thymosin therapy group were shorter than those in routine therapy group (P<0.05). The occurrence time of VAP in thymosin therapy group was significantly later than that in routine therapy group (P<0.05). At the 3rd and 7th d after mechanical ventilation, thymosin therapy group achived higher levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD4+ /CD8+ T lymphocyte and CD14+ HLA-DR than routine therapy group did (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thymosinal may be able to improve immunologic function and prevent the incidence of early VAP in the patients with mechanical ventilation.

Effects of Coronary Arterial Injection of Tirofiban on Diabetes Mellitus Complicated with Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Elderly.

OBJECTIVE: This work aims to explore the short-term efficacy and safety of coronary arterial injection of tirofiban in elderly diabetic patients complicated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Ninety-seven elderly diabetic patients complicated with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent emergency PCI were selected and randomized into control (group A, 49 cases) and tirofiban (group B, 48 cases) groups. Another 129 nonelderly diabetic patients (group C) complicated with STEMI who underwent emergency PCI and tirofiban treatment in the corresponding period were also involved for comparison. RESULTS: Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 3 (TIMI3) flow was significantly higher in groups B and C than in group A after PCI (p < 0.01). TIMI myocardial perfusion grades (TMPG) 0 to 1 and 2 were distinctly lower (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) and TMPG3 was obviously higher (p < 0.01) in groups B and C than in group A. The average length of hospital stay, post-infarction angina pectoris, severe arrhythmia, and cardiac function Killip III to IV were markedly lower in groups B and C than in group A (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, mucocutaneous hemorrhage was significantly higher in groups B and C than in group A (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Tirofiban effectively improved TIMI flow and TMPG perfusion in elderly diabetic patients complicated with AMI and reduced the incidence of serious complications without increasing the occurrence of severe hemorrhage. KEY WORDS: Acute myocardial infarction; Diabetes mellitus; Emergency percutaneous coronary intervention; Tirofiban.

[A discussion about the tactics of mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory distress occurring in the first case of influenza A (H5N1) in Guizhou Province].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the tactics of mechanical ventilation in a human severe case of influenza A (H5N1) complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: The data of the patient infected by the influenza A (H5N1) admitted to People's Hospital of Guizhou Province on January 15, 2009, were analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: The patient, a 29-year-old man, had been healthy in the past, but had exposed to the environment of bird flu before illness. The initial symptom was unremitting high fever, and then the clinical situation deteriorated progressively with occurrence of dyspnea. Pulmonary infiltrates were evident in the left lower lobe on January 19, and rapidly progressed to involve bilateral lungs presenting ARDS-like changes. Mechanical ventilation became the most important treatment among others. The ventilation mode was synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV)+ pressure support (PS) + positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), following lung protective ventilatory strategies, with low tidal volume. The patient's condition improved day by day without developing multiple organ dysfunction. The patient fully recovered and was discharged on February 6. CONCLUSION: Early detection, early diagnosis, and finely effective intervention are to improve oxygenation by mechanical ventilation with low tidal volume and adequate PEEP are critical to reducing the mortality.