Meplazumab treats COVID-19 pneumonia: an open-labelled, concurrent controlled add-on clinical trial

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 is a novel human coronavirus, there is no specific antiviral drugs. It has been proved that host-cell-expressed CD147 could bind spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and involve in host cell invasion. Antibody against CD147 could block the infection of SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of meplazumab, a humanized anti-CD147 antibody, as add-on therapy in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. MethodsAll patients received recommended strategy from Diagnosis and Treatment for 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diseases released by National Health Commission of China. Eligible patients were add-on administered 10 mg meplazumab intravenously at days 1, 2, and 5. Patients hospitalized in the same period were observed as concurrent control. The endpoints include virological clearance rate, case severity, chest radiographic, and laboratory test. This trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Institution at the Tangdu hospital, and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 04275245. Findings17 patients were enrolled and assigned to meplazumab group between Feb 3, 2020 and Feb 10, 2020. 11 hospitalized patients served as concurrent control. Baseline characteristics were generally balanced across two groups. Compared to control group, meplazumab treatment significantly improved the discharged (p=0.006) and case severity (p=0.021) in critical and severe patients. The time to virus negative in meplazumab group was reduced than that in control group (median 3, 95%CI[1.5-4.5] vs. 13, [6.5-19.5]; p=0.014, HR=0.37, 95%CI[0.155-0.833]). The percentages of patients recovered to the normal lymphocyte count and CRP concentration were also increased remarkably and rapidly in meplazumab group. No adverse effect was found in meplazumab-treated patients. InterpretationMeplazumab efficiently improved the recovery of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia with a favorable safety profile. Our results support to carry out a large-scale investigation of meplazumab as a treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia. FundingNational Science and Technology Major Project.

Simultaneous rapid detection of ten stilbenes in serum of mice by UPLC-MS/MS / 中国中药杂志

Stilbenes is a class of natural polyphenols with 1,2-diphenylethylene as the skeleton structure which have structural and active diversity. However, there are fewer studies on their metabolic process, which limits the in-depth research and development of such components. An UPLC-MS/MS method simultaneously determining contents of ten stilbenes was firstly established in this study and applied to study the ten stilbenes of peony seed coats in the serum of C57 mice.Piceatannol was the internal standard, and methanol was used for protein precipitation, UPLC-MS/MS with negative ion mode was used for analysis, and the method was validated.The serum samples were collected and detected after mice being oral administered with 800 mg·kg~(-1) peony seed coat extracts for 8 weeks. The results showed that suffruticosol A, suffruticosol B, suffruticosol C, trans-ε-viniferin, cis-gnetin H, trans-suffruticosol D and trans-gnetin H were detected in serum samples, and the highest is suffruticosol A. The method is simple and quick with high specificity and sensitivity, and it is suitable for quantitative determination of ten stilbenes in the serum of mice.

Morphological, microscopic, multiple-component assay and fingerprinting based systematic research on quality evaluation of Moutan Cortex(Paeonia suffruticosa) / 中国中药杂志

The purpose of this study was to combine morphological, microscopic, UHPLC multiple-component assay and fingerprinting studies in order to evaluate the quality of Moutan Cortex (MC) systematically. The root system of Paeonia suffruticosa was measured to compare the morphological variation and the chemical composition of different grades of MC was discussed according to previous studies. The difference between the main microscopic features of MC powder and the xylem powder is dramatic, the MC powder contains great amount of starch granules and clusters of calcium oxalate, while the xylem powder displays considerable vessels. Interestingly, the growth rings of P. suffruticosa was first reported in the xylem of the root transection, this can help to determine the growth years of the plant. Moreover, through the assay of 16 component, MC produced in Tongling and Bozhou in Anhui province were compared, content of PGG in MC produced in Bozhou was significantly higher than MC produced in Tongling (<0.01). MC with different growth years, MC with xylem and unprocessed MC and MC decoction pieces were compared respectively by combining the results of 16 compounds assay and fingerprinting. It is proposed that the quality evaluation standard include the assay of paeoniflorin. Above all, the holistic quality difference can be evaluated more comprehensively by combining multiple analytical methods.

Study on Mobile Terminal of 3D Virtual Intelligent Hospital Guiding System / 医学信息学杂志

The paper introduces the study contents,meaning and status quo of the 3D virtual intelligent hospital guiding system.It establishes 3D hospital buildings and departments layout with 3D max and Unity3D tools,adopting A * routing algorithm in indoor path planning,expatiating on specific technical realization,providing instruction for the optimization of hospital visiting process and helping patients locate the required medical services quickly by displaying immersive hospital environment to guide them rapidly and accurately.

Separation of polysaccharides from industrialization waste in Mailuoning Injection by ultrafiltration membrane technology and screening for active indicators / 中草药

Objective: In this study, ultrafiltration membrane process is employed first to separate the polysaccharides from industrialization waste in Mailuoning Injection and to promote the resources utilization of the waste. Methods: The waste ethanol sediments in the production of Mailuoning Injection mainly include dendrobium polysaccharides, Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABPS), and honeysuckle polysaccharides, and the active components of polysaccharide with high content were selected through the immune activity. Six different relative molecular weight cut-off membranes ( 3 × 105) made of polyether sulfone (PES) were used. Six fractions were obtained and named as MFP1, MFP2, MFP3, MFP4, MFP5, and MFP6. Meanwhile, polysaccharides and protein content were determined by phenol-sulfuric acid colorimetry and Coomassie brilliant blue G-250 staining method; Polysaccharides species was analyzed by ELSD-HPLC; Immunocompetence of different fractions were investigated in vitro, including mouse spleen lymphocytes proliferation, transformation, and production of nitric oxide after acting on the macrophage RAW264.7. Results: The results showed MFP4 (3 × 104-1 × 105) have the highest content and immunocompetent, MFP5 (1 × 105-3 × 105) immunocompetent followed, compared to others, purity, and recovery of MFP4 are 76.80% and 10.81%, purity and recovery of MFP5 are 73.23% and 14.73%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings reveal MFP4 and MFP5 serves as our object of exploitation in the future; Moreover, separation of polysaccharides from "Mailuoning Injection" by the membrane is feasible with high recovery and low cost in the realization of circular economy.

In vivo imaging of blood flow using two-photon laser scanning fluorescent microscopy / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the three-dimensional distribution of vessels, and to establish a new method for measurement of blood flow velocity in mice cerebral cortex using two-photon laser scanning microscopy and fluorescence probe labeling technique.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mouse was made cranial window surgery and injected Texas-Red through tail vein after anesthetized. The three-dimensional imaging of vessel was obtained through z-stack scanning, and blood flow velocity was quantified through line scanning.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We could detect vascular distribution for more than 500 µm depth using two-photon microscopy. The velocity of blood flow was (0.59 ± 0.12) mm/s in capillary.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method for observing the brain blood flow by two-photon microscopy was established, which could achieve quantification of single vascular blood flow velocity and provide experimental evidence for basic research and medical applications.</p>

Analysis of therapeutic effects of rural patients with hypertension by combination administration of low dosage of hydrochlorothiazide and nitrendipine / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic effects of combination administration of hydrochlorothiazide and nitrendipine at low dosage in the treatment of rural hypertension patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By the method of cluster random sampling, 5292 primary hypertension patients from Fuxin, Liaoning Province were divided into health education group (control group) and drug intervention group in June 2006. The drug intervention group were treated with hydrochlorothiazide, nitrendipine and captopril by stepwise approach and we observe the antihypertensive effect of drug and the effect on the onset of stroke.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average follow-up time was 15 months. At last, 308 patients were lost to follow-up (the lost follow-up rate was 5.8 percent). The 4984 in cohort, including 2530 of intervention group and 2454 of control group, had examination of all indicators. Through health education and drug intervention, the average blood pressure in drug intervention group decreased by 16.1/9.4 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) while the average blood pressure in control group decreased by 6.7/3.5 mm Hg. The control rate of blood pressure in drug intervention group was higher than control group (33.1% vs. 15.1%, P < 0.001). Through drug intervention, the morbidity risk of nonfatal stroke in drug intervention group decreased by 57.3% compared to control group, the total morbidity risk of stroke decreased by 59.4%. The results had significant statistical difference. And, the morbidity of severe hypopotassaemia (K(+) < 3.0 mmol/L) and diabetes mellitus had no significant statistical difference between two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The low-cost antihypertensive program based on thiazide had good antihypertensive effect, high safety and good cost-effect ratio. The program could be used in rural areas of China.</p>

Correlation between body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure in rural residents from west part of Liaoning Province / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study observed the association between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure level in rural residents from west Liaoning province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This epidemiological study using stratified cluster random sampling was conducted from 2004 to 2006 in Fuxin County, Liaoning Province, 43,692 rural residents (21,680 males) aged 35-74 years old [(49. 8 +/-10.2) years] were surveyed. Database was established with the help of Epidata 3.1 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In total 43,692 persons were surveyed, including 21,680 male (49.6%) and 22,012 female (50.4%). The average BMI and WC was (23.31 +/- 3.08) kg/m2 and (80.87 +/- 9.0) cm, respectively. No matter male or female, SBP started from 20 kg/m2, increased with the increase of BMI; DBP increased gradually with the increase of BMI; the prevalence of hypertension were significant differences among different BMI groups (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression show that in male, using the group with BMI, <18 kg/m2 as control, 28-30 kg/m2 group OR and 95% CI was 6.285 (4.612-8.566); in female, when BMI >22 kg/ m2 OR increased with the increasing of BMI. In male and female, both SBP and DBP, also the prevalence rate of hypertension increased gradually with the increase of WC (P < 0.001). No matter in male or female, when BMI <24 kg/m2, and WC male <85 cm, female WC <80 cm, the average blood pressure levels and prevalence of hypertension are the lowest; after adjusting for age and other risk factors, the prevalence rate of overweight and obesity for male with hypertension OR are 1.704 (1.592-1.825) and 3.710 (3.148 -4.371) , respectively, for female is 1.527 (1.428-1.632) and 3.014 (2.668-3.405), respectively. When the WC is higher than the standard, male and female hypertension risk OR and 95% CI are 1.231 (1.153-1.314) and 1.353 (1.269-1.442), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both BMI and WC are risk factors of hypertension.</p>

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among rural population with hypertension in Fuxin of Liaoning Province / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Through cluster multistage sampling,a resident group of 6 412 subjects with hypertension in the rural area of Liaoning province were recruited.According to IDF and NCEP-ATPm criteria the age-standardized prevalences of metabolic syndrome were 36.2%and 25.9%respectively.The prevalence of metabolic syndrome decreased with advancing age,but increased with rising of blood pressure.