Intermediate occupation numbers for 5f electrons in a Pu and U mixed oxide.

In order to reveal the correlation effect on the electronic properties in particular 5f electron occupation numbers of Pu/U ions in a (Pu,U) mixed oxide-PuUO4, a first principles calculation is performed by using density functional theory (DFT) plus a dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) scheme with the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and on-site Coulomb repulsion for correlation effect due to localized Pu/U 5f orbitals. Results demonstrate that Pu/U 5f electron occupation numbers in the ground state of PuUO4 are mainly composed of 5f4/5f5 and 5f2/5f3 configurations, and exhibiting the intermediate occupation (IO) numbers with average 5f occupation numbers of about nf = 4.879 and 2.423 for Pu and U ions, respectively, irrespective of different Pu and U lattice sites in PuUO4. Pu 5f j = 5/2 and j = 7/2 components are in moderately and weakly correlated states, respectively, while U 5f j = 5/2 and j = 7/2 manifolds are both in weakly correlated states. jj and LS coupling schemes are feasible for Pu and U 5f electrons, respectively. In order to directly compare with the experimental angle-resolved photoemission spectrum (ARPES), we also estimate the momentum-resolved electronic spectrum function for this system.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in situs inversus dextrocardia: Challenge, improved procedure, outcomes, and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF-CA) in patients with situs inversus dextrocardia (SID) can be challenging because of the contrary anatomy and associated anomalies. Cases and literature regarding AF-CA in SID are rare and provide little information. Our study aims to present an improved procedure, ablation strategies, and evaluate the safety and outcomes of AF-CA in patients with AF and SID. METHODS: A total of 10 patients with AF-SID (mean age, 60.4 ± 15.7 years; six paroxysmal AF, four persistent atrial fibrillation [PeAF]) were enrolled. For the improved procedure, images obtained by preacquired computed tomography and three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping, integrating intracardiac echocardiography, and x-ray imaging data are necessary to optimize the transseptal puncture and ablation procedure. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent 13 AF-CA procedures without complications, including three patients received repeat procedures. However, two PeAF patients presented sick sinus syndrome (SSS) after the AF-CA procedure, and one underwent permanent pacemaker implantation therapy during hospitalization. During the follow-up period (6-72 months), the outcomes were not favorable: three patients (30%) maintained sinus rhythm (SR) after the initial procedure; after repeated procedures, the overall SR rate was 40% (four patients). CONCLUSION: With the improved strategy, AF-CA can be safely and effectively performed with low radiation exposure in patients with SID. However, the long-term outcomes were not favorable, even when managed at a tertiary center by a team of specialists. Moreover, patients with PeAF might also have masked SSS, which should be carefully considered.

[Distribution and major influencing factors of annual systolic blood pressure variability: results from a large cohort study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution and major influencing factors of annual systolic blood pressure variability from a large population cohort. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, data from Kailuan Group employees who attended all 4 physical examinations ( taken in June 2006 to October 2007, June 2008 to October 2009, June 2010 to October 2011, June 2012 to October 2013, respectively) were analyzed (32 959 males and 10 401 females, mean age: (48.2 ± 11.5) years old). Systolic blood pressure variability was defined as the standard deviation (SSD) and the coefficient of variation (SCV) of systolic blood pressure of 4 physical examinations. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine the related influencing factors of SSD and SCV. RESULTS: (1) The mean of SSD and SCV for this cohort was 10.91 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) and 8.34%, respectively. SSD and SCV increased in male and female with increasing age (both P < 0.001). (2) Multiple linear regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure (ß = 0.225, P < 0.001), age (ß = 0.163, P < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (ß = 0.038, P < 0.001), the use of anti-hypertensive drugs (ß = 0.038, P < 0.001), sex (ß = 0.038, P < 0.001), smoking (ß = 0.025, P < 0.001), alcohol drinking (P = -0.022, P < 0.001), physical exercise (ß = -0.018, P = 0.001), high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (ß = 0.016, P = 0.001) body mass index (ß = -0.011, P = 0.018) were related to SSD. Age (ß = 0.139, P < 0.001), sex (ß = 0.055, P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (ß = 0.047, P < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (P = 0.033, P < 0.001), drinking (ß = -0.030, P < 0.001), body mass index (ß = -0.026, P < 0.001), the use of anti- hypertensive drugs (ß = 0.026, P < 0.001), smoking (ß = 0.024, P < 0.001), physical exercise (ß = -0.015, P = 0. 001), high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (ß = 0. 014, P = 0. 001) were related to SCV. CONCLUSIONS: SSD and SCV increase with increasing age. Systolic blood pressure, age, fasting blood glucose, the use of anti-hypertensive drugs, sex, smoking, drinking, physical exercise, high-sensitivity c-reactive protein, body mass index are major influencing factors for SSD. Age, sex, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, alcohol drinking, body mass index, the use of anti-hypertensive drugs, smoking, physical exercise, high-sensitivity c-reactive protein are major influencing factors for SCV.

[Impact of CHA2DS2 VASc score on substrate for persistent atrial fibrillation and outcome post catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore if CHA2DS2 VASc score can predict substrate for persistent atrial fibrillation ( AF) and outcome post catheter ablation of AF. METHODS: From January 2011 to December 2012,116 patients underwent catheter ablation of persistent AF in our department and were enrolled in this study. CHA2DS2VASc score was calculated as follows: two points were assigned for a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack and age ≥ 75 and 1 point each was assigned for age ≥ 65, a history of hypertension, diabetes,recent cardiac failure, vessel disease, female. Left atrial geometry ( LA) was reconstructed with a 3.5 mm tip ablation catheter with fill-in threshold 10 in CARTO system. The mapping catheter was stabled at each endocardial location for at least 3 seconds for recording. The electrogram recordings at each endocardial location were analyzed with a custom software embedded in the CARTO mapping system. Interval confidence level (ICL) was used to characterize complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) . As the default setting of the software, ICL more than or equal to 7 was considered sites with a highly repetitive CFAEs complex. CFAEs index was defined as the fraction of area of ICL more than or equal to 7 to the left atrial surface. The CFAEs index and outcome of catheter ablation among different CHA2DS2VASc groups were compared. RESULTS: Of the 116 patients, CHA2DS2VASc was 0 in 33 patients, 1 in 31 patients and ≥ 2 in 52 patients. Left atrial surface ((121.2 ± 18.9) cm2, (133.6 ± 23.8) cm2, (133.9 ± 16.1) cm2, P = 0.008), left atrial volume ((103.6 ± 24.8) ml, (118.3 ± 27.8) ml, (120.9 ± 20.9) ml, P = 0.005) and CFAEs index (44.6% ± 22.4%, 54.2% ± 22.2%, 58.7% ± 23.1%, P = 0.023) increased in proportion with increasing CHA2DS2VASc. ICLmax, ICLmin and CFAEs spatial distribution were similar among the three groups. During the mean follow-up of (13 ± 8) months, the recurrence rate were 36.4%, 35.5%, 55.8% among the three groups (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: A high CHA2DS2VASc score is associated with extensive AF substrate and higher recurrence rate post catheter ablation of persistent AF.

Heart failure care in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure places a significant burden on patients and health systems in high-income countries. However, information about its burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is scant. We thus set out to review both published and unpublished information on the presentation, causes, management, and outcomes of heart failure in LMICs. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Medline, Embase, Global Health Database, and World Health Organization regional databases were searched for studies from LMICs published between 1 January 1995 and 30 March 2014. Additional unpublished data were requested from investigators and international heart failure experts. We identified 42 studies that provided relevant information on acute hospital care (25 LMICs; 232,550 patients) and 11 studies on the management of chronic heart failure in primary care or outpatient settings (14 LMICs; 5,358 patients). The mean age of patients studied ranged from 42 y in Cameroon and Ghana to 75 y in Argentina, and mean age in studies largely correlated with the human development index of the country in which they were conducted (r = 0.71, p<0.001). Overall, ischaemic heart disease was the main reported cause of heart failure in all regions except Africa and the Americas, where hypertension was predominant. Taking both those managed acutely in hospital and those in non-acute outpatient or community settings together, 57% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 49%-64%) of patients were treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, 34% (95% CI: 28%-41%) with beta-blockers, and 32% (95% CI: 25%-39%) with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. Mean inpatient stay was 10 d, ranging from 3 d in India to 23 d in China. Acute heart failure accounted for 2.2% (range: 0.3%-7.7%) of total hospital admissions, and mean in-hospital mortality was 8% (95% CI: 6%-10%). There was substantial variation between studies (p<0.001 across all variables), and most data were from urban tertiary referral centres. Only one population-based study assessing incidence and/or prevalence of heart failure was identified. CONCLUSIONS: The presentation, underlying causes, management, and outcomes of heart failure vary substantially across LMICs. On average, the use of evidence-based medications tends to be suboptimal. Better strategies for heart failure surveillance and management in LMICs are needed. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on tuberculosis control in China.

BACKGROUND: In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, China implemented a series of interventions that impacted tuberculosis (TB) control in the country. METHODS: Based on routine surveillance data and questionnaires, the study analyzed TB notification, follow-up examinations, and treatment outcomes. The data were split into three phases in relation to outbreak, lockdown and reopen when the nationwide COVID-19 response started in 2020: control (11 weeks prior), intensive (11 weeks during and immediately after), and regular (4 additional weeks). Data from 2017-2019 were used as baseline. FINDINGS: The notified number of TB patients decreased sharply in the 1st week of the intensive period but took significantly longer to rebound in 2020 compared with baseline. The percentages of TB patients undergoing sputum examination within one week after 2 months treatment and full treatment course in the intensive period were most affected and decreased by 8% in comparison with control period. 75•2% (221/294) of counties reallocated CDC and primary health care workers to fight the COVID-19 epidemic, 26•9% (725/2694) of TB patients had postponed or missed their follow-up examinations due to travel restrictions and fear of contracting COVID-19. INTERPRETATION: In the short term, the COVID-19 epidemic mostly affected TB notification and follow-up examinations in China, which may lead to a surge of demand for TB services in the near future. To cope with this future challenge, an emergency response mechanism for TB should be established. FUNDING: National Health Commission of China-Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation TB Collaboration project (OPP1137180).

Percutaneous treatment with drug-eluting stent vs bypass surgery in patients suffering from chronic stable angina with multivessel disease involving significant proximal stenosis in left anterior descending artery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of drug-eluting stents (DES) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients suffering from chronic stable angina with multivessel disease, involving significant proximal stenosis in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients suffering from chronic stable angina with multivessel disease involving significant proximal LAD stenosis underwent DES implantation (n=600) or CABG (n=709) at our institution. At 2 years, the unadjusted mortality was significantly lower in the DES group than in the CABG group (2.2% vs 5.2%, P=0.004), but the adjusted risk of death was similar (odds ratio (OR) 0.74, 95%CI 0.28-1.97, P=0.555). Furthermore, both the adjusted rate of nonfatal myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular events was also comparable. However, the unadjusted and adjusted risk of major adverse cardiac cerebrovascular events in the DES was significantly higher than in the CABG (13.3% vs 9.6%, OR 2.71, 95%CI 1.56-4.74, P<0.001), which is probably attributed to the higher subsequent revascularization rate after DES implantation. CONCLUSIONS: DES showed comparable long-term mortality for the treatment of multivessel disease involving significant proximal stenosis in LAD in comparison with CABG.

Discussion on the theoretical thinking of fire-needling treatment of patients with stroke flaccid paralysis based on Tongjing Roujin therapy / 国际中医中药杂志

Stroke flaccid paralysis is stroke patients with abnormal physical movement function and muscle tone decline as the main performance and is a kind of common pathological state after apoplectic stroke. The longer the flaccid paralysis is, the worse the prognosis. The theory of TCM holds that stroke is mainly due to "deficiency, wind, fire, phlegm, stasis, qi", and when the pathogenic factor accumulate and block the meridians, which would cause blood stagnation, muscle and tendon damage and flaccidity, resulting in stroke paralysis. Therefore, it is necessary to set up the "Tongjing Roujin" (stimulating the muscle and nourishing the tendon) as its main treatment. Fire-needling has the effect of stimulating muscle, warming yang, nourishing tendon, and relieving pain in the treatment of stroke flaccid paralysis. It can warm yang and dissipate cold, replenish and nourish meridian qi, release muscle nodules, promote the circulation of qi and blood, and nourish all limbs and bones. Fire-needling therapy can promote the recovery of neural pathway, strengthen local metabolism, improve local muscle tension, and thus restore limb function. The high-quality clinical research, acupoint selection rules, and standardized operating techniques of fire-needling treatment for stroke flaccid paralysis need to be further deepened.

Analysis of the efficacy of glucocorticoid treatment in advanced thymoma / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of moderate-dose glucocorticoid treatment in patients with advanced thymoma.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 56 patients with thymoma who received glucocorticoid treatment at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 2018 to March 2023. Among them, there were 33 males and 23 females; aged from 28 to 72 years old, with a median age of(43.8±11.2)years old. There were 16 cases of type B1 thymoma, 23 cases of type B2, and 17 cases of type B3. There were 17 cases with myasthenia gravis and 1 case with pure red blood cell aplasia. All patients had received radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Patients received moderate-dose glucocorticoid treatment(50 mg/day), and tumor response was evaluated by CT scan after 2 weeks of treatment. The tumor treatment effect and adverse reactions were recorded.Results:Among the patients, 22 cases achieved partial remission, and 3 cases achieved complete remission, resulting in an overall objective response rate (ORR) of 44.6%. Among them, 23 patients had type B2 thymoma, with 17 achieving partial remission and 3 achieving complete remission, resulting in an ORR of 87.0%. Among the 16 patients with type B1 thymoma, 5 achieved partial remission. No efficacy was observed in 17 patients with type B3 thymoma. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 26 months, and 2 patients experienced thymoma recurrence.Conclusion:Moderate-dose glucocorticoid treatment demonstrates effective and safe outcomes in advanced or invasive thymoma, particularly for the treatment of type B2 thymoma.

Cases analysis and etiology discussion of thymoma with alopecia areata / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:Analyzed the clinicopathological features of thymoma with alopecia areata, and discussed the pathogenesis and treatment methods.Methods:The clinicopathologic data of patients with thymoma who underwent surgery from August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2020 in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University were reviewed. Transversally analyzed the patients of thymoma with alopecia areata and longitudinally compared with the patients of thymoma without alopecia areata after 1﹕10 matched by propensity score matching.Results:A total of 252 patients of thymoma were enrolled, including 6 patients with alopecia areata, accounting for 2.38%. The anti-AchR antibody, CD4 + /CD8 + T inversion in serum and myasthenia gravis were present in the all 6 thymoma patients with alopecia areata, which were significantly higher than those in the group of thymoma without alopecia areata. Besides myasthenia gravis, the proportion of complicated with other autoimmune diseases in thymoma patients with alopecia areata was significantly higher than that of thymoma patients without alopecia areata[83.33%(5/6) vs. 20.00%(12/60), P=0.003]. After operation, 5 patients’ alopecia areata were improved in 6 thymoma patients with alopecia areata(83.33%, 5/6). Conclusion:The thymoma patients with alopecia areata always complicated with myasthenia gravis and other autoimmune diseases. The pathogenesis may be associated with autoimmune CD8 + T lymphocytes produced by thymoma. At present, surgery is still the most effective way to improve thymoma-associated alopecia areata.

Study on mechanism of berberine inhibiting tumor stem cells proliferation and its in vivo safety evaluation / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro inhibitory mechanism of berberine on the proliferation of tumor stem cells and evaluate its in vivo safety. METHODS Flow cytometry was used to select tumor stem cells from mouse skin melanoma B16F10 cells； CD44， CD133， Nanog homologous box protein （NANOG） and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 （OCT4） were used as indicators to characterize tumor stem cells. Tumor stem cells were divided into control group， all-trans retinoic acid （ATRA） group， and berberine group， and the CCK-8 method was used to detect the effects of berberine on the viability of tumor stem cells； flow cytometry was adopted to detect cell apoptotic rate， the proportion of CD44+/CD133+ and the positive cell rate of sex determining region Y box protein 2 （SOX2）； the morphological changes of tumor balls were recorded after treatment with berberine； the morphology of cell pyroptosis in each group was recorded， and the release rate of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） was detected； Western blot assay was adopted to detect the expressions of pyroptosis-related protein gasdermin E （GSDME）， GSDME- N， caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3. Preliminary evaluation of in vivo safety of berberine was conducted by using zebrafish embryo toxicity experiments. RESULTS Compared with B16F10 cells， the proportion of CD44+/CD133+ cells in tumor stem cells and the fluorescence intensity of NANOG and OCT4 were significantly increased （P＜0.000 1）. The half-inhibitory concentration of berberine to tumor stem cells was 50.98 μmol/L. Compared with the control group， the apoptotic rate of cells in the berberine group was significantly increased， while the proportion of CD44+/CD133+ cells and the rate of SOX2 positive cells were reduced significantly （P＜0.000 1）； tumor stem cell spheroids were atrophied， with partial cell death. After treatment with berberine， tumor stem cells exhibited swelling in their outermost layer， the release rate of LDH of cells was significantly increased and the release rate of LDH increased with increasing dose； the protein expressions of GSDME-N and cleaved-caspase-3 of cells in berberine 20， 40 μmol/L groups were significantly increased， and the protein expressions of GSDME and caspase-3 were significantly reduced （except for berberine 20 μmol/L group， P＜0.05）. The embryonic development of zebrafish treated with berberine was almost unaffected， and the survival rate of embryo reached 100%， with no obvious abnormalities observed. CONCLUSIONS Berberine has good activity against the proliferation of tumor stem cells， and its mechanism of action may be related to activating GSDME and promoting cell pyroptosis； berberine has good in vivo safety.

Analysis of clinical maintenance effect of 76 organ donors / 中国现代医生

@#Objective By analyzing the means of donor maintenance from the perspective of intensive care medicine,the difference of clinical indicators before and after donor treatment is obtained,summarizing the treatment experience and effect of clinical maintenance of donor donors,and providing more clinical evidence for the maintenance and treatment of organ donation donors.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 76 organ donors collected from the Department of Intensive Care Medicine,Army Medical Center,Chinese People's Liberation Army from January 2014 to December 2021,collected donor maintenance treatment,including mechanical ventilation,continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)treatment,enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition,enteral and parenteral nutrition,plasma exchange,at the same time,the paired t test was used to compare the organ function before and after treatment.Results The lung,liver and kidney of 76 donors were evaluated before and after treatment to determine the number of eligible donors.The difference between the number of eligible donors of kidney and liver before and after treatment was statistically significant(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in lung evaluation(P>0.05).Conclusion Timely and effective organ support therapy for organ transplantation donors is beneficial to the recovery of organ function and improve the utilization rate of organ.

Development and application of regulatory T cells in corneal transplant rejection / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Corneal transplantation is an effective treatment for corneal blindness, and it is the only hope for patients with corneal blindness. Cornea has no blood vessels and no lymphatic vessels, which is called immune privilege organ, so the success rate of corneal transplantation is significantly higher than that of other organ transplantation, but the rejection reaction after corneal transplantation is still the main reason for the failure of corneal transplantation. The directional movement of immune cells to lymphoid tissue and inflammatory sites is the mainly immune response after organ transplantation. And the regulatory T cells(Treg)play a key role in immune regulation, which can induce immune tolerance by regulating and inhibiting the activation of effector T cells and reduce the rejection reaction after corneal transplantation. In addition, this review also discussed the effectiveness of applying cordyceps sinensis extract FTY720 to enhance the function of Treg. Based on this, we briefly reviewed the sources, mechanism of action and treatment of Treg after corneal transplantation, so as to provide some reference for the subsequent clinical application transformation and basic research.

Oral anti-coagulants use in Chinese hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Oral anti-coagulants (OAC) are the intervention for the prevention of stroke, which consistently improve clinical outcomes and survival among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The main purpose of this study is to identify problems in OAC utilization among hospitalized patients with AF in China.@*METHODS@#Using data from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation (CCC-AF) registry, guideline-recommended OAC use in eligible patients was assessed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 52,530 patients with non-valvular AF were enrolled from February 2015 to December 2019, of whom 38,203 were at a high risk of stroke, 9717 were at a moderate risk, and 4610 were at a low risk. On admission, only 20.0% (6075/30,420) of patients with a diagnosed AF and a high risk of stroke were taking OAC. The use of pre-hospital OAC on admission was associated with a lower risk of new-onset ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack among the diagnosed AF population (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.68; P  <0.001). At discharge, the prescription rate of OAC was 45.2% (16,757/37,087) in eligible patients with high stroke risk and 60.7% (2778/4578) in eligible patients with low stroke risk. OAC utilization in patients with high stroke risk on admission or at discharge both increased largely over time (all P  <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that OAC utilization at discharge was positively associated with in-hospital rhythm control strategies, including catheter ablation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 11.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.04-13.47; P <0.001), electronic cardioversion (adjusted OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.65-3.51; P <0.001), and anti-arrhythmic drug use (adjusted OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.38-1.53; P <0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#In hospitals participated in the CCC-AF project, >70% of AF patients were at a high risk of stroke. Although poor performance on guideline-recommended OAC use was found in this study, over time the CCC-AF project has made progress in stroke prevention in the Chinese AF population.Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02309398.

Expression, refolding, and purification of a truncated human Delta-like1, a ligand of Notch receptors.

The Notch signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in proliferation, apoptosis, and cell fate specification in both embryonic and postnatal development, and is a potential therapeutic target for human diseases such as cancer. To express in Escherichia coli and purify soluble fragment of human Delta-like1 (hDll1), we cloned two extracellular fragments of hDll1 [hDll1 (127-225) and hDll1 (26-225)]. The hDll1 (127-225) fragment was successfully expressed in E. coli as a GST fusion protein (GST-hDll1). The GST-hDll1 protein, which was expressed as inclusion bodies after induction by IPTG, was refolded and purified simultaneously using affinity chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. The purified GST-hDll1 was of more than 95% purity, and had a molecular weight of 39kDa. Reporter assay showed that GST-hDll1 could activate a reporter gene that is dependent on Notch activation. Therefore, using the E. coli expression system and different chromatography systems, we successfully expressed, refolded, and purified a biologically active GST-hDll1, which might be potentially useful for therapy and studying the Notch pathway.

[DSC and FTIR study of adsorbed lysozyme on hydrophobic surface].

During a process of hen egg white lysozyme adsorption and folding on a moderately hydrophobic surface (PEG-600), the effects of salt((NH4)2SO4) concentrations, surface coverage and denaturant (guanidine hydrochloride, GuHCl) concentrations on thermal stability and the changes in the molecular conformation of adsorbed native and denatured lysozyme without aqueous solution were studied with a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed that temperature due to endothermic peaks was reduced and the disturbance increased at higher temperature with the increase in salt concentration and surface coverage of adsorbed protein. beta-Sheet and beta-Turn stucture increased while alpha-Helix structure decreased after the adsorption. The peaks corresponding to both C-C stretching frequency in 1400-1425 cm(-1) and amide I band frequency in 1650-1670 cm(-1) of adsorbed denatured lysozyme can be detected in FTIR spectra while that due to amide I band frequency of adsorbed native lysozyme almost can't be observed. Adsorption resulted in structural loss of adsorbed native lysozyme, whose performance was less stable.

Progress of venetoclax in treatment of hematologic malignancies / 白血病·淋巴瘤

The anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2, a key regulator of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, is frequently overexpressed in cells of hematologic malignancies, and the small molecule inhibitor venetoclax that targets this apoptotic pathway has shown promising efficacy in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma. The survival and prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia who are of advanced age or who are unsuitable for strong induction chemotherapy because of comorbidities also have significantly improved, but some patients develop progressive drug resistance during the course of venetoclax treatment, which affects the efficacy of medical therapy. This article reviews the action mechanism, therapeutic progress and resistance mechanism of venetoclax in hematologic malignancies.

Effects of Jin's three needles combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on electromyography, muscle strength, and lower limb motor function in patients with hemiplegia after stroke / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the effects of Jin's three needles combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on electromyography (EMG), muscle strength, and lower limb motor function in patients with hemiplegia after stroke.Methods:A total of 102 patients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke who received treatment in Dongyang People's Hospital from July 2021 to August 2022 were included in this randomized controlled study. They were divided into a treatment group and a control group ( n = 51 per group) using a random number table method. The treatment group was given Jin's three needles combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and the control group was given neuromuscular electrical stimulation alone. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the degree of neurological impairment. The modified Barthel Index (MBI) score was used to assess a patient's self-care ability. EMG was performed to record myoelectric signals. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale was used to evaluate a patient's lower limb motor function. Manual Muscle Testing was performed to measure a patient's muscle strength. The degree of nerve defect, self-care ability, lower limb motor function, hip flexion muscle strength, knee extensor muscle strength, and ankle dorsalis extensor muscle strength were compared before treatment and after 2 weeks of treatment. Results:After treatment, the NIHSS score in the treatment and control groups significantly decreased compared with those before treatment [(10.14 ± 3.45) points vs. (3.80 ± 1.92) points, (10.10 ± 3.17) points vs. (6.18 ± 2.15) points, t = 17.31, 19.08, both P < 0.05]. After treatment, the NIHSS score in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group ( t = -5.87, P < 0.001). After treatment, the integral EMG values of the tibialis anterior muscle, gastrocnemius muscle, and quadriceps femoris in the treatment and control groups were increased compared with those before treatment [(20.43 ± 5.26) points vs. (48.14 ± 10.41) points, (16.20 ± 2.62) points vs. (24.69 ± 4.07) points, (32.62 ± 3.42) points vs. (43.40 ± 4.69) points; (20.40 ± 5.19) points vs. (35.45 ± 7.41) points, (16.32 ± 2.51) points vs. (20.91 ± 3.45) points, (32.59 ± 3.37) points vs. (37.39 ± 4.06) points, t = -23.79, -16.11, -19.89; -21.92, -10.86, -8.71, all P < 0.05]. After treatment, the integral EMG values of the tibialis anterior muscle, gastrocnemius muscle, and quadriceps femoris in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t = 7.09, 5.05, 6.92, all P < 0.001). After treatment, The Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale score in the treatment and control groups were significantly increased compared with that before treatment [(17.61 ± 8.93) points vs. (27.16 ± 5.84) points, (17.53 ± 7.59) points vs. (22.22 ± 6.66) points, t = -14.64, -10.72, both P < 0.05). After treatment, The Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale score in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( t = 3.98, P < 0.001). After treatment, hip flexion muscle strength, knee extensor muscle strength, and ankle dorsalis extensor muscle strength in the treatment and control groups increased compared with those before treatment. After treatment, hip flexion muscle strength, knee extensor muscle strength, and ankle dorsalis extensor muscle strength in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(3.75 ± 0.63) grades vs. (3.31 ± 0.65) grades, (3.51 ± 0.67) grades vs. (3.08 ± 0.87) grades, (2.98 ± 0.81) grades vs.(2.35 ± 1.06) grades, t = 3.41, 2.80, and 3.36, all P < 0.05]. Conclusion:Jin's three needles combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation can improve EMG findings, increase muscle strength, and lower limb motor function in patients with hemiplegia after stroke