[Respiratory drive in acute respiratory distress syndrome: evaluation and control].

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common critical disease, which often leads to poor prognosis in critically ill patients. The excessive respiratory drive in ARDS is related to lung injury. Control of excessive respiratory drive is helpful to reduce lung injury and mortality of ARDS. The mechanisms of abnormal increase in respiratory drive in ARDS include hypoxemia, hypercapnia, stretch reflex caused by alveolar collapse and inflammatory stimulation. Respiratory drive should be evaluated by clinical manifestations, physiological parameters and respiratory mechanics indexes. It is particularly important to make individual therapy strategies according to the evaluation of respiratory drive. Analgesia and sedation combined with muscle relaxation, high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and prone position can be used to control excess respiratory drive. This article reviews the evaluation and management of excess respiratory drive in ARDS patients.

Cloning and functional characterization of the HbSYR1 gene encoding a syntaxin-related protein in Tibetan hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum HK. f.).

Tibetan barley is a staple food for the natives of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Drought causes a reduction in barley production. In this study, the full-length cDNA of a gene encoding a syntaxin-associated protein was cloned from the leaves of a drought-resistant variety of barley, "Himalaya 10"; its expression was evaluated during drought stress and rehydration via real-time PCR. The cloned HbSYR1 cDNA sequence was 1300 bp in length, and included an 840-bp open reading frame that encoded 279 amino acids. Sequence analysis predicted the molecular weight of the encoded protein to be 42.08 kDa, with an isoelectric point of 4.98. ScanProsite analysis showed that the HbSYR1 protein contained a SNARE family characteristic motif, five casein kinase II phosphorylation sites, two N-glycosylation sites, four protein kinase C phosphorylation sites, and two N-myristoylation sites. The TMHMM prediction program indicated that the protein does not contain a transmembrane transfer ribbon. According to the SignalP 3.0 server, this protein does not contain a signal peptide, and is not a secretory protein. Instead, this protein was suggested to be localized in the cytoplasm, as predicted by the protein subcellular localization prediction tool (PSORT). Our results indicated that HbSYR was induced by drought stress and rehydration, and was determined to be a key gene for drought resistance and water retention in barley.

NJ cluster analysis of the SnRK2, PYR/PYL/RCAR, and ABF genes in Tibetan hulless barley.

The abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway is known as one of the most important signaling pathways in plants and is mediated by multiple regulators. The genes SnRK2, PYR/PYL/RCAR, and ABF are relevant to both ABA-dependent and -independent signaling pathways. To elucidate the profile of these genes from Tibetan hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f.), we collected available sequences from RNA-Seq data, together with NCBI data from five other model plant species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza sativa, Populus trichocarpa, and Sorghum bicolor). Gene trees of SnRK2, PYR/PYL/RCAR, and ABF were constructed using a neighbor joining (NJ) method. For all genes, we identified a dominant group in which all six species were represented. Three, four, and five groups were found in the NJ trees of SnRK2, PYR/PYL/RCAR, and ABF, respectively. For each gene, Tibetan hulless barley was divided into three groups. Our analyses indicated that Tibetan hulless barley was associated with B. distachyon. The NJ cluster analysis also suggested that Tibetan hulless barley was affiliated with S. bicolor (SnRK2), A. thaliana (PYR/PYL/RCAR), and O. sativa (ABF). These results illustrate a diverse expression of genes SnRK2, PYR/PYL/RCAR, and ABF, and suggest a relationship among the six species studied. Collectively, our characterization of the three components of the ABA signaling pathway may contribute to improve stress tolerance in Tibetan hulless barley.

Cloning and characterization of up-regulated HbSINA4 gene induced by drought stress in Tibetan hulless barley.

Hulless barley is an important crop cereal in Tibetan, China. Drought is a major abiotic stress in barley production. In this study, we cloned the drought-related HbSINA4 gene from the variety 'Himalaya 10' and analyzed its expression patterns under different drought and rehydration conditions. The cDNA of HbSINA4 was 1052 bp long, including an open reading frame of 771 bp that encoded a protein of 256 amino acids. The molecular weight of HbSINA4 protein was predicted to be 29.53 kDa and the theoretical pI was 8.32. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the HbSINA4 gene contained a protein kinase domain profile family signature motif, with high similarity to that of Oryza sativa and Brachypodium distachyon. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays revealed that gene expression declined rapidly with increasing drought stress; in contrast, its expression increased after rehydration treatment. Therefore, the HbSINA4 gene responds to the drought stress and plays an important role in barely drought resistance. Furthermore, our results provide information which may be useful in other temperate crop studies and in aiding resistance to drought.

[The role of time-series propagation map and activity path of confirmed cases in the analysis and determination of COVID-19 epidemic].

Objective: The time sequence transmission map and the cases travel track were used to explain the chain of transmission, describe the characteristics of transmission and analyze the mode of epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia, so as to provide evidence for the relevant government departments to carry out epidemic prevention and control. Methods: The time sequence transmission map and the cases travel track table were drawn, according to the time of incidence, age, sex, number of close contacts and their interrelations. Results: At the end of February 10, 2020, 63 COVID-19 cases were reported in the research area. Among them, 57 cases were confirmed (1 deaths) and 6 cases were asymptomatic, 57 cases were imported cases (90.48%), 36 cases were reported by cluster epidemic (57.14%) among friends and relatives. Cases have been spread to the fourth generation. Conclusion: The time sequence transmission map and the cases travel track showed that, in the research area, the epidemic situation of COVID-19 was mainly caused by imported case, and the clustering transmission was the major spread model. The time sequence transmission map and the cases travel track are worth popularizing in the prevention and control of major infectious diseases.

[Morphological classification of mandible posterior region based on cone beam CT images].

Objective: To classify the morphology of mandible posterior region and provide reference for the planning of dental implantation. Methods: Cone beam CT data of 208 patients were collected. The CT data were imported into CS 3D imaging V3 software and then the morphology of mandible posterior region were analyzed. The types of premolar and molar mandible cross-section morphology were recorded, classified and analyzed. Results: The results showed that type A (vertical type) (79%-96%) was the most common in the premolars, whereas type B (inclined type) (36%-37%) and type C (lingual inverted concave) (30%-54%) were the most common types in the molars, followed type D (absorption severe type) (2%-5%). There was a statistically significant differences in tooth positions (P<0.001), tooth deficiency aspect (P<0.001) and different side (P=0.013), different age (P<0.001), and different gender (P=0.007). Conclusions: Using cone beam CT to determine the morphology of mandible may be a reference for the planning of dental implantation.

Effects of commercial glucose-based peritoneal dialysates on peripheral blood phagocytes apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Variable glucose-lactate-based peritoneal dialysates have negative effects on peritoneal macrophages and peripheral blood leukocytes, reducing the capacity of leukocytes for chemotaxis, bacterial killing. But few reports exist on cell apoptosis. To investigate the effects of glucose-lactate-based peritoneal dialysates on cultured phagocytes (monocytes and neutrophils), we focused on studying phagocyte apoptosis after brief exposure to commercial peritoneal dialysates. METHODS: Cell apoptosis is measured by flow cytometry (FCM) to detect phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on early apoptotic cells using fluorescein-labeled annexin V. To mimic the composition of dialysate in vivo, where the freshly instilled solution mixes with the residual dialysate from the previous cycle, we performed the experiments using a mixture of fresh and spent dialysate (9:1). In our transient exposure experiments, monocytes and neutrophils were separately incubated in each of the test solutions (1.5% glucose and 4.25% glucose dialysates) for 10 minutes or 30 minutes and afterward separated and resuspended in RPMI 1640 medium and cultured over the indicated time. RESULTS: After exposure to 1.5% glucose dialysates for 10 minutes, monocytes and neutrophils exhibited normally spontaneous apoptosis. After exposure to 4.25% glucose dialysate, monocytes underwent apoptosis increasingly, 21%+/-5.0% versus 9.8%+/-3.6% (p < 0.05) at 24 hours and 47%+/-6.2% versus 16%+/-4.0% (p < 0.01) at 72 hours compared with controls. For neutrophils, the results were discouraging: hypertonic dialysate not only increased apoptosis [65.36%+/-2.6% versus 34.17% +/-8.52% (p < 0.01) at 72 hours], but also induced cell necrosis. When Incubation time was prolonged for 30 minutes, 1.5% dialysate acted like 4.25% dialysate, with the rate of apoptosis increasing rapidly [40%+/-4.0% versus 16%+/-4.0% (p < 0.01) at 72 hours for monocytes, and 66.90%+/-5.6% versus 34.17%+/-8.52% (p < 0.01) at 72 hours for neutrophils]. CONCLUSION: Glucose-lactate-based peritoneal dialysates can induce peripheral blood phagocyte apoptosis in vitro, which indicates that glucose plays an important role in triggering cell apoptosis. Therefore, looking for new, physiologic peritoneal dialysis fluids to replace conventional fluids is reasonable.

[Reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential constitutes an early event of peripheral blood monocytes apoptosis in hemodialysis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between monocyte apoptosis and mitochondria function in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: Fluorescein labeled Annexin-V was used to detect the phosphatidyserine (PS) of apoptosis cells, and mitochondrial transmembrane potential was studied by 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide, Di0C6(3), and analyzed by flow cytometry. Swelling of mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) was recorded by spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Spontaneous apoptosis of cultured monocytes increased at 24, 72 hours in HD patients (41.4 +/- 12.2)%, (22.0 +/- 3.0)% as compared with controls (20.6 +/- 8.8)%, (9.8 +/- 2.1)%. Freshly isolated monocytes in HD patients had little apoptosis, but mitochondrial transmembrane potential was reduced to half of disruption (43 +/- 9)%. As to swelling of PT, those freshly isolated monocytes mitochondria in HD patients experienced overwhelming opening of PT, (80 +/- 5.6)%. CONCLUSION: Swelling of PT and breakdown of mitochondrial transmembrane potential constitute the early events of monocytes apoptosis in HD patients, which could contribute to the impaired monocytes function.