Effectiveness of Xiaoyao capsule on sleep disorders and mood disturbance in patients in recovery from coronavirus disease 2019: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of Xiaoyao capsule in improving the clinical symptoms of sleep and mood disorders during recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: The study cohort comprised 200 patients with sleep and mood disorders during recovery from COVID-19. Patients were randomized into the control group and the experimental group in a 1:1 ratio by blocked randomization. The patients received either Xiaoyao capsule (experimental group) or a placebo Xiaoyao capsule (control group) for 2 weeks. The improvements in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome scales, total effective rates, and disappearance rates of irritability, anxiety, and poor sleep were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The TCM syndrome pattern scales, total effective rates, and disappearance rates of irritability, anxiety, and poor sleep did not significantly differ between the experimental group versus the control group in the full analysis set and the per protocol set after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment ( > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Xiaoyao capsule do not significantly improve the clinical symptoms of sleep and mood disorders in patients in recovery from COVID-19.

Value of hepatitis E virus nucleic acid, antigen, and antibodies in the diagnosis of hepatitis E virus infection / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of hepatitis E virus nucleic acid (HEV RNA), hepatitis E virus antigen (HEV Ag), hepatitis E virus antibodies (HEV IgM antibody and HEV IgG antibody) in the clinical diagnosis of hepatitis E virus infection. MethodsA total of 13 992 specimens, for which the detection of HEV IgM antibody and HEV IgG antibody were performed in Peking University People’s Hospital, were collected, among which 1924 had positive HEV IgM antibody or HEV IgG antibody. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine HEV RNA and HEV genotype, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect HEV Ag, HEV IgM antibody, and HEV IgG antibody and measure the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), and direct bilirubin (DBil). The non-parametric rank sum Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups. ResultsAmong the 1924 specimens with positive HEV IgM antibody or HEV IgG antibody, 152(7.9%) had positive HEV IgM antibody, 1897(986%) had positive HEV IgG antibody, 62(3.2%) had positive HEV RNA, and 55(2.9%) had positive HEV Ag. Among the 152 specimens with positive HEV IgM antibody, 62(40.8%) had positive HEV RNA, and 55(36.2%) had positive HEV Ag, and among the 62 specimens with positive HEV RNA, 55(88.7%) had positive HEV Ag. The HEV RNA-positive group with 62 specimens had significantly higher levels of ALT, AST, TBil, and DBil than the HEV RNA-negative group with 90 specimens (Z=-7.609, -6.942, -5.815, and -6.130, all P＜0.001), and the HEV Ag-positive group with 55 specimens had significantly higher levels of ALT, AST, TBil, and DBil than the HEV Ag-negative group with 97 specimens (Z=-6.413, -5.786, -5.199, and -5.545, all P＜0.001). Nested PCR amplification and sequencing showed that in the HEV RNA-positive group with 62 specimens, 58 had positive HEV RNA and 4 had negative HEV RNA. The high level of positive HEV IgG antibody significantly reduced the S/CO value of HEV Ag detection and even yielded a negative result. ConclusionCompared with HEV antibodies, HEV Ag can improve the diagnostic level of hepatitis E and has certain clinical significance. High levels of aminotransferases or bilirubin can help with the diagnosis of hepatitis E. The high level of HEV IgG antibody may reduce the detection value of HEV Ag, and attention should be paid to HEV IgG antibody value when HEV Ag is negative.

Study on the risk factors of the occurrence of hepato renal syndrome for patients with acute on chronic hepatitis B liver failure / 中国医师杂志

Objective To investigate and analyze the risk factors of the occurrence of hepato renal syndrome (Hepatorenal syndrome,HRS) for patients with acute on chronic hepatitis B liver failure.Methods Sixty cases of patients with acute on chronic hepatitis B liver failure from January 2009 to December 2013 in our hospital were selected as the research objects.The single factor and multi-factor regression analyses were in patients with the basic clinical data,and the complications and the baseline clinical testing index of patients.The independent risk factors of the occurrence of HRS for patients with acute on chronic hepatitis B liver failure were screened.Results The cases of the occurrence of HRS for patients with acute on chronic hepatitis B liver failure was 17 among 60 cases with a incidence of 28.3 ％ ; The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that serum albumin,serum sodium,liver function grade (Child-Pugh score),model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) index,primary bacterial peritonitis,upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage,ascites,and hepatic encephalopathy were the risk factors of the occurrence of HRS for patients with acute on chronic hepatitis B liver failure (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The occurrence of HRS for patients with acute on chronic hepatitis B liver failure is higher.The various sensitive indicators should be monitored dynanically,and the relevant prevention and treatment measures should be taken in time.It has a significantly scientific merit to improve the prognosis of patients.

Expression of CD133 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and its clinical significance / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective To investigate the expression of CD133 protein in primary lesions of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical significance.Methods The expression of CD133 protein in 190 patients with HCC was detected by immunohistochemical staining ABC method.The correlation of CD133 protein expression with the clinicopathologic parameters and features after operation was analyzed.Results The expression positive rate of CD133 protein in cancer tissues was 22.1％ (42/190).There was significant correlation between the expression of CD133 protein and tumor differentiation (P ＜ 0.001),micro vessel invasion (P =0.016) and hepatitis B virus infection (P =0.024).Univariate analysis of factors demonstrated that differentiation level,lymph node,macro vessel invasion,micro vessel invasion,TNM stage and CD133 expression were correlated with disease-free survival after surgery (all P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate analysis of factors demonstrated that both CD133 expression and micro vessel invasion were independent prognostic factors of disease-free survival after surgery.Prognostic analysis demonstrated that the disease-free survival of CD133 positive group was significantly lower than that of CD133 negative group.Conclusion The CD133 protein expression in HCC tissues is related with development,metastasis and prognosis of HCC.

The relationship of plasma Aß levels to dementia in aging individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

Amyloid ß(Aß) peptides are important components of plaques in Alzheimer's disease(AD). A decrease in the CSF concentration of Aß40 and Aß42 is a potential biomarker for incident AD. In contrast, studies on plasma Aß40 and Aß42 concentrations have yielded contradictory results. To explore the relationship between plasma Aß40 and Aß42 concentrations and AD in aging individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), evaluate the sensitivity and the specificity of plasma Aß and their ratio as a marker for progression to AD. We measured baseline concentrations of Aß40 and Aß42, and their ratio in plasma of patients carefully categorized clinically and neurochemically as having AD or other dementias from a cohort of patients with MCI (n=588) after 4-6 years of follow-up time. Plasma concentrations of Aß40, Aß42 were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology. The association between plasma Aß concentrations and the risk of dementia was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. Optimal sensitivity and specificity of Aß measurements were determined by ROC curve analysis. Plasma Aß42 concentration and the Aß42/Aß40 ratio at baseline were significantly decreased in the MCI patients who developed AD as compared to cognitively stable MCI patients. The baseline concentrations of Aß40 were similar in all MCI groups. The Aß42/Aß40 ratio was superior to Aß42 concentration with regard to identify incipient AD in MCI. The ratio of Aß42 to Aß40 rather than absolute levels of the peptides can aid in the identification of incipient AD among MCI patients. A potential role of plasma Aß concentrations as a marker of incipient dementia warrants further investigation.

Correlation between genotype and HCV RNA in chronic hepatitis C patients / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To determine the distribution of HCV genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C,study the distribution of genotype in different gender and the relationship between genotypes and serum HCV-RNA levels.Methods Two hundred and six cases of HCV RNA positive patients(all with relevant clinical data) receiving pegylated interferon therapy were collected from May to December 2010.HCV RNA was detected in 206 hepatitis C patients from 40 hospitals in China by Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test,and genotype was determined by Abbott RealTime HCV G enotype Ⅱ .The distribution of genotypes in the gender was analyzed by chi-square test analysis.The relationship between genotypes and serum HCV RNA levels was detected by single factor analysis and two independent sample t test analysis.Results There were seven different subtypes of HCV in 206 samples,including genotype 1,7 cases(3.4% ,7/206); genotype 1a,2 cases(1.0%,2/206); genotype 1b,123 cases (59.7 %,123/206); genotype 2,32 cases(15.5 %,32/206); genotype 3,27 cases(13.1%,27/206); genotype 6,6 cases(2.9% ,6/206) ;genotype 1/6,5 cases(2.4% ,5/206) ;genotype 2/4,1 cases(0.5%,1/206).There was no significant difference between HCV genotype and gender in 132 cases with genotype 1 and 65 cases with non-genotype 1(genotype 2,3,6) (x2 = 0.000,P ＞ 0.05).There was significant association between quantity of HCV RNA and genotype in 188 patients with HCV(F = 3.371,P＜ 0.01).The 197 patients with HCV single genotype were divided into five groups in terms of region(East,South,West,North and Center).There was no significant difference between HCV genotype 1 and non-genotype 1 in the five groups(x2 = 5.840,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions It is suggested that HCV 1 b is the most prevalent type in China,followed by HCV 2.There is no significant difference between HCV genotype and gender.The levels of HCV RNA with genotype 1b are significantly higher than those with genotype 3.The levels of HCV RNA with genotype 2 are significantly higher than those with genotype 3.The levels of HCV RNA with genotype 6 are significantly higher than those with genotype 3.

Comparison of two HBV DNA detection kits / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To evaluate clinical significance of two real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR kits for quantitative detection of HBV DNA and detection performance at different viral load levels.Methods A series of calibrators with different concentrations(1×106,5×105,1×105,5×104,1×104,5×103,1×103,5×102,1×102,1×101 kIU/L) were prepared with AB-type sera using the second generation WHO international standard (NIBSC code:97/750). HBV viral load in the sera of 78 patients,30 healthy blood donors and 10 calibrators were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR HBV DNA test kit from PIJI Bio-Technical Development Company Ltd (PG kit) and Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test kit. The correlation of the two methods was evaluated, and the performance of the two kits different viral load levels was evaluated. The false negative rate was analyzed. Negative control, low positive control and high positive control were included in every batch. Results Both two kits showed the correct results for the 10 specimens from the WHO international standards. The lowest detection limit of HBV DNA for Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test and PG kit were 2.00 (kIU/L, lg) and 3.00 (kIU/L,lg) ,respectively. There was linear correlation between the results from Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test and PG kit ( R2=0.938 7, P 5.00 and≤7.00) kIU/L,Ig,R2=0. 779 7, P 7.00 ands≤9.00) kIU/L,lg,R2=0.603 7, P 3.00 and≤5.00) kIU/L, lg, R2=0. 417 3, P 3.00 and≤4.00) kIU/L,lg,the false negative rate was 33.3% (5/15). When HBV DNA ( > 1.08and≤3.00) kIU/L,lg,none of positive samples was detected with PG kit. Conclusions PG kit is not as good as Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test . The linear correlation between the results from the two kits is good. The correlation between the results detected with PG kit and Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test is higher in the high viral load groups than in the low viral load group. It is suggested that PG kit had a narrower linear range.

The tracability and uniform unit of hepatitis C virus RNA quantification by domestic made real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To determine the conversion equation for X(copies/ml, lg) quantity values of domestic HCV RNA quantitative fluorescence amplification assays approved by SFDA and Y( IU/ml, lg)reference values of standard substance. Methods The second generation WHO International Standard (NIBSC code:96/798) was mixed with human AB blood type serum to create 7 different dilutions which included 100 000, 50 000, 25 000, 10 000, 5 000, 2 500 and 1 000 IU/ml. Two different batches of each three domestic hepatitis C virus RNA real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assays and 2 different batches of each assay were employed to detect the 7 different concentration samples with real-time PCR. Each test was performed 4 times repeatedly. Results The correlations between X( copies/ml,lg) values of domestic HCV RNA assays and Y(IU/ml,lg) reference values of standard substance were as follow,Assay A:Y =0. 902 0 X+0.284 9,R2 =0.953 3,P＜0. 01,n =56;Assay B: Y=0. 875 7 X +0.562 4,R2 =0.956 5,P＜0.01,n =56; Assay C: Y = 0. 843 8 X + 0. 560 5, R2 = 0. 945 8, P ＜ 0. 01, n = 56. Conclusions All the conversion equations are different among the quantity value of three assays and the reference values of standard substance, that suggests it is necessary to perform more stringent traceability analysis for the quantity values of 3 assays. Through standardizing the quantity values preliminarily, the conversion equation can enhance the comparability between the quantity values of different assays, and provide a standard of HCV RNA virus load detection for clinical diagnosis and treatment monitoring of HCV infection.

Multichannel piezoelectric genesensor for the detection of human papilloma virus / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for rapid detection and sub-typing of human papilloma virus (HPV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We utilized the piezoelectric genosensor (PG) technique, which is a combination of the piezoelectric biosensor and gene chips for HPV identification in 22 recurrent biopsy specimens and 22 corresponding original biopsy specimens. The control samples came from normal tissue of healthy persons. A combined reaction took place on the sensor surface between the target genes and probes. The frequency of the piezoelectric sensor will decrease when such reactions occur, and the frequency decrease depends on the concentration of the target gene. Specimens were also analyzed with conventional PCR and dot blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 22 recurrent specimens, 15 contained HPV6 DNA, 2 HPV11 DNA, and 4 HPV16 DNA. Only one specimen was negative. All the 22 original specimens were positive: 17 harbored HPV6 DNA, 3 sequence homologous HPV11 DNA, and 2 HPV16 DNA. No HPV18 DNA was detected in any specimen. When compared with PCR and dot blot analysis, the results were essentially the same except for one specimen, which was shown to contain other sub-types of HPV.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results show that the piezoelectric genosensor technique is a rapid and specific method to analyze HPV.</p>

HSV1-TK-medicated apoptosis and cell killing effect on human epidermoid carcinoma MEC-1 cells / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective:To estimate the effect of HSV1-TK/GCV suicide gene therapy on human salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cell line MEC-1. Methods: Expression vector G 1NAtK containing HSV-TK cDNA was transfected into MEC-1 cells.After transfection, the cells were selected by G418 for two weeks. The integrated gene and mRNA were detected with PCR and RT-PCR. The cytotoxicity and bystander effect were estimated by MTT and typan blue exclusion assay. The morphological changes after GCV treatment were observed with HE and 33258 stain and in situ cell apoptosis detection kit. Results: The 404 bp DNA fragment was amplified through PCR and RT-PCR in the transfected cells respectively. TK positive clone was named MEC-1/TK. The sensitivity of MEC-1/TK to GCV was 1 000 times more than that of parent MEC-1 cells.More than 90% of MEC-1 cells were killed by 10 ?g/ml of GCV when only 10% of MEC-/TK cells were present. The morphological changes included shrinking,detaching and floating of the cells. Some of the cells showed nucleus condensation and breakage of nucleus. A lot of cells showed nucleus positive in in situ apoptosis detection. Conclusion: HSV1-TK/GCV can confer MEC-1/TK cell killing efficiently. MEC-1/TK also has strong bystander effects. HSV1-TK/GCV system confers its effect, in part, by inducing apoptosis in TK positive cells.