A Multicenter Retrospective Review of Prone Position Ventilation (PPV) in Treatment of Severe Human H7N9 Avian Flu

Background

Patients with H7N9 avian flu concurrent with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) usually have a poor clinical outcome. Prone position ventilation (PPV) has been shown to improve the prognosis of patients with severe ARDS. This study explored the effects of PPV on the respiratory and circulatory mechanics of H7N9-infected patients with severe ARDS.

Methods

Individuals admitted to four hospitals designated for H7N9 patients in Guangdong province were treated with PPV, and their clinical data were recorded before and after receiving PPV.

Results

Six of 20 critically ill patients in the ICU received PPV. After treatment with 35 PPV sessions, the oxygenation index (OI) values of the six patients when measured post-PPV and post-supine position ventilation (SPV) were significantly higher than those measured pre-PPV (P < 0.05).The six patients showed no significant differences in their values for respiratory rate (RR), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), tidal volume (TV) or arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) when compared pre-PPV, post-PPV, and post-SPV. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the mean values for arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), central venous pressure (CVP), heart rate (HR), lactic acid (LAC) levels or the doses of norepinephrine (NE) administered when compared pre-PPV, post-PPV, and post-SPV.

Conclusion

PPV provided improved oxygenation that was sustained after returning to a supine position, and resulted in decreased carbon dioxide retention. PPV can thus serve as an alternative lung protective ventilation strategy for use in patients with H7N9 avian flu concurrent with severe ARDS.     

A single‐nucleotide polymorphism of miR‐146a and psoriasis: an association and functional study

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is overexpressed in psoriatic lesions, has been proven to contribute to the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in psoriasis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved in miRNAs that can regulate the expression of EGFR could potentially influence the development of psoriasis. The present study investigated the association between a functional SNP of rs2910164 in miR‐146a and the risk of psoriasis in the Chinese Han population. A total of 521 Han Chinese patients with psoriasis and 582 healthy controls were recruited in this study. The miR‐146a rs2910164 SNP was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism. Overall, a significantly increased risk of psoriasis was associated with the rs2910164 miR‐146a CG and GG genotypes (adjusted OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.06–1.80). Furthermore, the rs2910164G allele in miR‐146a attenuated its inhibitory regulation on the expression of EGFR as well as the proliferation of human keratinocytes, and lowered the level of miR‐146a in the psoriatic lesions. These findings indicate that the rs2910164G allele in miR‐146a weakens its suppression on the proliferation of keratinocytes probably through the decreased inhibition of the target gene, EGFR, which may account for the increased risk of psoriasis in this study population.     

Enhanced production of l-phenylalanine in Corynebacterium glutamicum due to the introduction of Escherichia coli wild-type gene aroH

Metabolic engineering is a powerful tool which has been widely used for producing valuable products. For improving l-phenylalanine (l-Phe) accumulation in Corynebacterium glutamicum, we have investigated the target genes involved in the biosynthetic pathways. The genes involved in the biosynthesis of l-Phe were found to be strictly regulated genes by feedback inhibition. As a result, overexpression of the native wild-type genes aroF, aroG or pheA resulted in a slight increase of l-Phe. In contrast, overexpression of aroF ^wt or pheA ^fbr from E. coli significantly increased l-Phe production. Co-overexpression of aroF ^wt and pheA ^fbr improved the titer of l-Phe to 4.46 ± 0.06 g l^?1. To further analyze the target enzymes in the aromatic amino acid synthesis pathway between C. glutamicum and E. coli, the wild-type gene aroH from E. coli was overexpressed and evaluated in C. glutamicum. As predicted, upregulation of the wild-type gene aroH resulted in a remarkable increase of l-Phe production. Co-overexpression of the mutated pheA ^fbr and the wild-type gene aroH resulted in the production of l-Phe up to 4.64 ± 0.09 g l^?1. Based on these results we conclude that the wild-type gene aroH from E. coli is an appropriate target gene for pathway engineering in C. glutamicum for the production of aromatic amino acids.     

Phase separation of Axin organizes the β-catenin destruction complex

In Wnt/β-catenin signaling, the β-catenin protein level is deliberately controlled by the assembly of the multiprotein β-catenin destruction complex composed of Axin, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), casein kinase 1α (CK1α), and others. Here we provide compelling evidence that formation of the destruction complex is driven by protein liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Axin. An intrinsically disordered region in Axin plays an important role in driving its LLPS. Phase-separated Axin provides a scaffold for recruiting GSK3β, CK1α, and β-catenin. APC also undergoes LLPS in vitro and enhances the size and dynamics of Axin phase droplets. The LLPS-driven assembly of the destruction complex facilitates β-catenin phosphorylation by GSK3β and is critical for the regulation of β-catenin protein stability and thus Wnt/β-catenin signaling.     

402例烟雾病抗核抗体谱检测结果分析

目的:探讨烟雾病的发生与自身免疫性疾病是否存在一定的联系。方法:对402例烟雾病抗核抗体谱检测结果进行回顾性分析。结果:402例烟雾病确诊病例中,有112位患者抗核抗体谱检测结果中存在阳性结果,阳性率为27.86%。其中,抗dsDNA、抗CB、抗Sm、抗SS-A、抗SS-B、抗Jo-1、抗RO-52、抗ScL-70、抗RIB、抗PM-sd、抗nRNP、抗PCNA、抗Nuc、抗HI、抗M2抗体在阳性病例中所占百分比分别为16.07%、1.79%、5.36%、17.86%、7.14%、5.36%、13.39%、5.36%、7.14%、4.46%、2.68%、11.61%、6.25%、8.93%和8.04%。结论:烟雾病患者中抗核抗体阳性率较高,自身免疫性疾病可能是烟雾病发生的重要诱因之一。     

柳珊瑚共附生放线菌Streptomyces sp. SCSGAA0009中生物碱类化合物及其抗菌和抗附着活性

【目的】从南海柳珊瑚共附生放线菌的次生代谢产物中寻找具有抗菌和抗附着活性的先导化合物。【方法】应用化学与生物活性相结合的筛选方法,从柳珊瑚共附生微生物中筛选获得代谢产物丰富且具有生物活性的目标菌株并通过大发酵提取浸膏,利用硅胶柱色谱、凝胶柱色谱和高效液相色谱等方法对发酵产物进行分离、纯化,运用波谱解析鉴定化合物的结构。【结果】从采自海南三亚的柳珊瑚(Muricella flexuosa)样品中分离到一株放线菌SCSGAA0009,鉴定为链霉属Streptomycessp.,从其改良ISP2发酵液中分离到新化合物N-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)propionamide(1)和已知化合物phenazine-1-carboxylic acid(2),其中化合物2对大肠杆菌和海洋细菌假单胞菌(Pseudoaltermonas piscida)具有较好抗菌活性,且有强抗草苔虫(Bugulaneritina)幼虫附着活性。【结论】首次从柳珊瑚共附生放线菌的次生代谢产物中获得新的生物碱化合物1,首次报道化合物2的抗海洋细菌活性和抗附着活性;从南海柳珊瑚共附生微生物的次生代谢产物中可以得到新化合物和活性化合物,这一来源的微生物资源值得深入研究。     

Genetic Variation of Taenia Pisiformis Collected from Sichuan,China, Based on the Mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene

Taenia pisiformis is one of the most important parasites of canines and rabbits. T. pisiformis cysticercus (the larval stage) causes severe damage to rabbit breeding, which results in huge economic losses. In this study, the genetic variation of T. pisiformis was determined in Sichuan Province, China. Fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) (922 bp) gene were amplified in 53 isolates from 8 regions of T. pisiformis. Overall, 12 haplotypes were found in these 53 cytb sequences. Molecular genetic variations showed 98.4% genetic variation derived from intra-region. F_ST and Nm values suggested that 53 isolates were not genetically differentiated and had low levels of genetic diversity. Neutrality indices of the cytb sequences showed the evolution of T. pisiformis followed a neutral mode. Phylogenetic analysis revealed no correlation between phylogeny and geographic distribution. These findings indicate that 53 isolates of T. pisiformis keep a low genetic variation, which provide useful knowledge for monitoring changes in parasite populations for future control strategies.     

Evaluation of predation abilities of Blattisocius dolichus (Acari: Blattisociidae) on a plant-parasitic nematode, Radopholus similis (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae)

Predation and predatory behavior of Blattisocius dolichus on Radopholus similis were tested both in experimental arenas and on potted plants. Predation occurred in all active stages of B. dolichus. Blattisocius dolichus preferred live R. similis when offered together with Caneorhabditis elegans and dead R. similis in a choice test. Consumption rate was affected by temperature, prey density and duration of starvation. Maximum consumption rates were observed at 25 °C, for both adult males and females after being starved for 96 and 72 h, respectively. Consumption rate increased with increasing prey density until satiation was reached, when the predator–prey ratio was 1:250 for both male and female predators. Anthurium andraeanum seedlings, artificially infested with R. similis (1,000 per pot), were used to evaluate the biological control efficiency of B. dolichus. The nematode density decreased by 66 % 10 days after a release of 500 mites per pot.     

The high-efficient production of phelligridin LA by Inonotus baumii with an integrated fermentation-separation process

The phelligridin LA was one of the valuable metabolites synthesized by the medicinal fungus Sanghuang in liquid fermentation. In the improvement of PLA productivity by fermentation, we investigated the optimal conditions for the efficient separation of PLA from the fermentation broth with a chromatographic column packed with the macroporous resin ADS-17. Based on the findings, we further developed an integrated bioreactor system that coupled the fermentation and separation of PLA. Fermentation experiments with the bioreactor system testified the performance of our design in fortification of the PLA production: an improvement of PLA production by 2.14 folds was successfully achieved due to the prompt removal of the PLA, while the formation of hyphae biomass was not affected. Also, the integrated system could afford a simultaneous purification of PLA to a purity of 92.95% with a recovery of 84.3%, which was comparable to that of the PLA purified with an additional process (97.53%), at a reasonable recovery. This study provided a feasible approach for the improved production of PLA by fermentation. Besides, the design of the integrated bioreactor system offered a useful reference for the fermentation process development of fungi for the production of diverse valuable metabolites.