COVID-19 and bone health.

A few patients who have recovered from COVID-19 develop persistent or new symptoms that last for weeks or months; this is called "long COVID" or "post-COVID-19 syndrome." Over time, awareness of the short- and long-term consequences of COVID-19 has increased. The pulmonary consequences are now fairly well established, but little is known about the extrapulmonary system of COVID-19, particularly its effects on bones. Current evidence and reports indicate a direct relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and bone health, with SARS-CoV-2 having a significant negative effect on bone health. In this review, we analyzed the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on bone health and assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

[Determinants of pregnancy rate in the donor oocyte model: a multivariate analysis of frozen-thawed embryo transfers].

Objective: To determine independent factors of pregnancy in the recipient after frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FTET). Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 431 patients who had undergone embryo transfer after oocyte donation (OD), in vitro fertilization and embryo cryopreservation between April 2009 and December 2018 at our Reproductive Center. Comparison of general data between clinical pregnant group and non-pregnant group; Logistic regression were used to identify independent factors of pregnancy. The ability of independent factors of pregnancy was assessed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC). Results: ①Pregnancy rates were significantly higher in women with more embryos, more high-quality embryos, more transferred embryos and higher basalfollicular stimulation hormone(FSH) (P<0.05). Pregnancy rate of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) (75.00%) was higher than advanced age (55.83%,P=0.005) and chromosome abnormality (56.86%,P=0.021). ②Using logistic regression analysis, the POI (OR=2.065, 95%CI=1.026-4.156), basal FSH(OR=1.499, 95%CI=1.072-1.959), high-quality embryos (OR=1.449, 95%CI=1.072-1.959) and transferred embryos (OR=2.583, 95%CI=1.519-4.391)were independent predictors of pregnancy (P<0.05). ③The ROC curves revealed the cut-off points of basal FSH was 19.28U/L for pregnancy, the areas under the curve of basal FSH was 0.627, 95%CI=0.572-0.680. According basal FSH and age, all patients were further divided into four groups, pregnancy rates were significantly higher in ≤40 years and FSH>19U/L group (P<0.05). We contain pregnancy rates and multiple pregnancy rates of two transferred embryos were higher than one (P<0.01). Conclusions: This study supports that pregnancy rates of POI was higher than other infertility diagnosis needed OD. Pregnancy rates of two transferred embryos were higher than one, but multiple pregnancy rates was also higher than one.

The genetic diversity of cultivated soybean grown in China.

Cultivated soybean ( Glycine max) is an economically important crop that is grown for its oil and protein products. A better knowledge of its genetic diversity will be valuable for the utilization, conservation, and management of germplasm collections. Using the database of the National Germplasm Evaluation Program of China (NGEPC), we studied the geographical distribution of accessions, the genetic diversity of 15 qualitative and quantitative characters, and the genetic diversity centers of cultivated soybean in China using variation in these 15 traits and genetic diversity indexes (Shannon index). Cultivated soybean is widely distributed throughout China. As an indication of its distribution, a line can be roughly drawn from the Daxinganling mountains in northeastern China to the Qingzang plateaus in southwestern China based on the abundance of accessions and locations of the collections. Of the 22,637 known accessions in China, the 20,570 collected over a vast area between latitudes 18 degrees and 53 degrees N and longitudes 80 degrees and 136 degrees E were used in this study. The Shannon indexes of various morphological traits were calculated. Cultivated soybean accessions were found to exhibit a higher genetic diversity in the area between 34 degrees -41 degrees N and 110 degrees -115 degrees E. On the basis of the geographical distribution of a number of accessions, and their genetic diversity, one genetic diversity center-downstream of the Yellow River Valley-is proposed. Based on these results and on Vavilov's theory on crop origins, one possible diversity center was proposed.

Pretreatment with ramiprilat induces cardioprotection against free radical injury in guinea-pig isolated heart: involvement of bradykinin, protein kinase C and prostaglandins.

1. Pretreatment with ramiprilat, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, induced cardioprotection and its possible mechanism of action was investigated in guinea-pig Langendorff perfused heart. 2. Superoxide anion (*O2-), produced by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase, and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical were used for triggering free radical injury in cardiac tissue. 3. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl and *O2- significantly reduced left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), +/-dP/dt(max), heart rate and coronary flow. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was elevated and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation were significantly increased. 4. Pretreatment with ramiprilat induced cardioprotection against DPPH and *O2- free radical injury. Cardiac functions (LVDP, LVEDP and +/-dP/dt(max)) were significantly improved. Both LDH and TBARS were reduced. 5. HOE 140 (a selective bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist), calphostin C (a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor) and indomethacin (a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor) all abolished the cardiac protective effect of ramiprilat. However, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, had no effect. 6. In conclusion, ramiprilat pretreatment induces cardioprotection against either DPPH or *O2- free radical injury. The protective effect depends on activation of B2 receptors and PKC. Prostaglandin synthesis is also involved.

Ramipril-induced delayed myocardial protection against free radical injury involves bradykinin B2 receptor-NO pathway and protein synthesis.

1. The aim of the present study was to examine whether ramipril induces delayed myocardial protection against free radical injuries ex vivo and to determine the possible role of the bradykinin B2-nitric oxide (NO) pathway, prostaglandins(PGs) and protein synthesis in this delayed adaptive response. 2. Rats were pretreated with ramipril (10 or 50 microg kg(-1), i.v.) and hearts were isolated after 24, 48 and 72 h. Langendorff hearts were subjected to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-induced injury. 3. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and its maximal increase velocity (+ dP/dtmax), coronary flow (CF), heart rate (HR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in coronary effluent and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the myocardium were measured. 4. The results showed that in the DPPH control group, 20 min after free radical-induced injury, LVDP, +dP/dtmax, CF, HR declined, whereas TBARS and LDH increased significantly. The above cardiac function parameters were significantly improved in RAM-pretreated rats after 24 and 48 h. 5. Pretreatment with HOE 140, the selective bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, NG-nitro-L-arginine, the NO synthase inhibitor, and actinomycin D, the RNA transcription inhibitor, prior to ramipril injection abolished the beneficial effects of ramipril at 24 h while indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, pretreatment had no effect on ramipril-induced delayed protection. 6. In conclusion, ramipril induces delayed myocardial protection against free radical injury in the rat heart. This delayed protection was sustained for 48 h, is associated with the bradykinin B2 receptor-NO pathway and depends on protein but not prostaglandin synthesis.

Bradykinin mediates myocardial ischaemic preconditioning against free radical injury in guinea-pig isolated heart.

1. Myocardial ischaemic preconditioning (IP) against free radical injury and its possible mediator(s) was investigated in a Langendorff-perfused guinea-pig heart. 2. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) was used for triggering free radical injury in cardiac tissue. It reduced left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), +/- dp/dtmax, heart rate (HR) and coronary flow (CF) and increased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in cardiac tissue. 3. Ischaemic preconditioning (5 min global ischaemia and 5 min reperfusion) exerted cardioprotection against DPPH-induced functional impairment, with significant improvement in LVDP, +/- dp/dtmax, HR and CF. The formation of TBARS in cardiac tissue was reduced. Blockade of bradykinin (BK) B2 receptors with icatibant (HOE 140) abolished the cardio-protective effects of IP. 4. Bradykinin (10(-7) mol/L) perfusion for 10 min protected the heart against free radical injury. The cardioprotection induced by BK was reversed by HOE 140. 5. Pretreatment with IP and BK results in cardiac protection against free radical injury through the activation of B2 receptors. Endogenously generated BK may mediate IP in the guinea-pig heart.

A simple reproducible model of free radical-injured isolated heart induced by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH).

1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picryl-Hydrazyl (DPPH), a stable free radical, has been used for detecting antioxidant activity in chemical analysis. However, it is still unknown if DPPH triggers free radical injury in cardiac tissue. In order to establish a simple free radical-injured isolated heart model, we investigated the action of DPPH on isolated guinea pig heart by Langendorff perfusion and compared it with cardiac effect of superoxide anion (O2.-), generated by the hypoxanthine (HX)-xanthine oxidase (XO) system. Free radical scavengers, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and L-cysteine, were also used to analyze the characteristic of the DPPH free radical-derived cardiac dysfunction. In isolated guinea pig hearts, DPPH 100 nM and 250 nM in Krebs-Henseleit solution significantly decreased the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and maximum velocity changes of left ventricular pressure (+/-LVdP/dtmax), elevated the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation in cardiac tissue. The cardiac dysfunction induced by DPPH 250 nM was more intense than 100 nM. L-Cysteine improved the DPPH-impaired cardiac function, while DMSO and SOD had no beneficial effect on this injury. The cardiac membrane fluidity was decreased by DPPH. Free radical signals, detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) in the DPPH-injured heart, were reduced by L-cysteine-treatment. These results suggest that DPPH free radical-induced cardiac dysfunction is attributed to neither the superoxide anion nor the hydroxyl radical. In conclusion, our data indicate that DPPH-induced isolated heart dysfunction serves as a simple and reproducible free radical-injured heart model.

Survival of IVF-derived bovine embryos frozen in glycerol or ethylene glycol.

Survival of IVF-derived bovine embryos of different ages and stages of development, produced in 2 different co-culture systems and frozen in 2 different cryoprotectants, was investigated. In vitro-derived bovine embryos (n = 5,525) were utilized to study survival following exposure to cryoprotectants and after freezing. Survival of the frozen embryos was based on blastocyst re-expansion 24 h and hatching 72 h after thawing. There was no difference in survival when embryos were exposed to either glycerol (Gly) or ethylene glycol (EG) for 10 or 40 min with the cryoprotectant diluted with or without freezing. In 2 of 3 experiments in which a comparison was possible, more blastocysts frozen in 1.4 M glycerol than in 1.5 M ethylene glycol survived. Addition of 0.25 M sucrose to 1.5 M ethylene glycol in the freezing solution did not improve embryo survival. More blastocysts frozen on Day 7 of in vitro culture survived than those frozen on Day 6 or Day 8. On Days 6, 7 and 8, embryos in the most advanced stage of development survived better than those at less advanced stages. Post-thaw survival did not differ for embryos produced in co-culture with Buffalo Rat Liver (BRL) cells with either Menezo B2 Medium or Tissue Culture Medium 199 and frozen in 1.4 M glycerol.

The action of ginsenoside Re on inotropy and chronotropy of isolated atria prepared from guinea pigs.

The effects of ginsenoside Re on atria properties of guinea pigs were studied in vitro. Re decreased dose-dependently the contractile force and frequency of isolated guinea pig atria. The correlation of dose-effects of Re on autorhythmicity and contractility of atria was significant. 4.7 x 10(-8) M Re prolonged the effective refractory period (ERP) of the left atria. Re noncompetitively antagonized the positive chronotropic action of isoprenaline in isolated right atria, PD'2 = 6.37. Re and verapamil non-competitively antagonized the positive inotropic action of CaCl2; the PD'2 value of Re is 6.55; of the PD'2 value of Ver is 5.60.

[Effects of ginsenoside B on isolated atrium of guinea pigs].

It was found that Ginsenoside B (GSB) could reduce the myocardial systolic power and frequency of the isolated atrium of guinea pigs in a concentration-dependent way, and obviously prolong the functional refractory period of the left atrium. GSB could competitively antagonize the positive inotropic action of Iso, and non-competitively antagonize the positive inotropic action of CaCl2 on the isolated right atrium of guinea pigs.

[Treatment of maxillofacial hemangioma with Pingyanmycin :A clinical analysis of 27 cases.].

24 cases of maxillofacial cavernous hemangioma with local injections of Pingyanmycin were reported.The hemangiomas were located in the floor of the mouth,soft palate and parotid glands with an average surface area of 2.5cmx3.5cm,The strawberry hemangioma were with an average surface area of 5cmx6cm,All the cavernous hemogioma were cured with an average of 8.0 injections,using an average total dose of 58mg,After clinical observation from 10 to 30 months,there were no recurrence found and normal maxillofacial appearance and function were maintained,strawberry hemangioma of 3 cases were treated with an average of 5 injections using an average total dose of 34mg,there were no effects.This paper also has studied the mechanism of action of local injection with Pingyanmycin.

[Non-operative management of bleeding central hemangioma in jaw-bone].

Based on the experience of sclerosing therapy for hemangioma, the author puts forward a new method which merges the rescuing, diagnosis and treatment into an organic whole. By injecting 5% sodium morrhuate with iodized oil into the tumor body through diagnostic puncture needle, coagulation, then gradual granulation, fibrosing and mineralization could be expected. Five cases have been followed up for 5-12 years with good results.