不同预后脓毒症患者血清降钙素原、C反应蛋白与凝血功能指标和APACHE Ⅱ评分的关系分析

目的:探讨不同预后脓毒症患者血清降钙素原(PCT)、C反应蛋白(CRP)与凝血功能指标和急性生理和慢性健康状况评分系统Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)评分的关系。方法:回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年1月期间深圳市第二人民医院重症医学科收治的160例脓毒症患者(脓毒症组)与在深圳市第二人民医院接受住院治疗的160例非脓毒症患者(非脓毒症组)的临床资料,根据脓毒症组患者住院28d后的预后情况分为存活组118例和死亡组42例,比较脓毒症组和非脓毒症组以及死亡组和存活组患者血清PCT和CRP水平、APACHE II评分以及凝血功能指标,采用Pearson相关性回归分析脓毒症患者血清降钙素原和CRP水平与APACHEⅡ评分以及凝血功能指标相关性。结果:与非脓毒症组相比,脓毒症组的血清PCT和CRP水平以及APACHEⅡ评分明显升高,凝血酶原时间(PT)和部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)明显延长(均P<0.05)。与存活组相比,死亡组的血清PCT和CRP水平以及APACHEⅡ评分明显升高,而PT和APTT均明显延长(均P<0.05)。Pearson相关性回归分析结果显示,血清PCT和CRP水平与APACHEⅡ评分、PT及APTT均呈正相关(均P<0.05)。结论:脓毒症患者血清PCT和CRP水平异常升高,APACHEⅡ评分及凝血功能指标均与血清PCT和CRP水平呈正相关,检测血清PCT和CRP水平有助于评估脓毒症患者的预后。     

老年肺炎患者血清Apelin-13水平与疾病严重程度和预后的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨与研究老年肺炎患者血清Apelin-13水平与疾病严重程度和预后的相关性。方法：采用回顾性研究方法,2018年3月到2021年2月选择在延安大学咸阳医院住院诊治的老年肺炎患者78例作为研究对象,检测血清Apelin-13水平,使用急性生理学及慢性健康状况评分系统（APACHEⅡ）、CT严重程度指数（CTSI）、序贯性器官功能衰竭评分（SOFA）评定患者的疾病严重程度,随访患者的预后并进行相关性分析。结果：所有患者随访到2021年7月1日,平均随访时间为18.47±2.82个月,死亡18例（死亡组）,占比23.1 %。死亡组的性别、年龄、生活行为、体重指数、病程、合并疾病等与非死亡组对比无差异（P>0.05）,但血清Apelin-13表达水平具有差异,且死亡组较非死亡组低（P<0.05）。死亡组的APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分、CTSI评分高于非死亡组（P<0.05）。在78例患者中,Pearson分析显示血清Apelin-13水平与APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分、CTSI评分存在负相关性（P<0.05）。多因素logistic回归分析显示：血清Apelin-13水平（OR=3.770）、APACHEⅡ评分（OR=3.624）、SOFA评分（OR=2.422）、CTSI评分（OR=1.842）都为影响患者预后死亡的重要因素（P<0.05）。结论：老年肺炎患者血清Apelin-13水平呈现低表达状况,与患者的APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分、CTSI评分等疾病严重程度指标存在相关性,也是影响患者预后死亡的重要因素。     

四川省甘孜州水土保持牧草资源现状及应用分析

通过查阅文献、走访与路线踏勘,并结合植物群落样方调查等方法对甘孜州水土保持牧草种类组成与分布状况进行研究,探讨其区系特征及应用方式。结果表明,甘孜州水土保持牧草有11科28属120种,其中双子叶植物7科10属62种,单子叶植物3科17属57种,多年生植物占主导(96种)。有禾本科(Gramineae)、蓼科(Polygonaceae)、菊科(Compositae)、豆科(Leguminosae)4个优势科,蓼属(Polygonum)、蒿属(Artemisia)、羊茅属(Festuca)3个优势属。植物区系上,以温带与泛热带区系分布为主(占总属数的71.43%),且温带成分所占比例最大(46.43%),其次为泛热带成分(25.00%)。空间分布不均,种类在垂直方向以2000～3500 m最丰富,水平方向以东西部高山峡谷区最多。     

Niche partitioning of avian predators in northern grasslands amended by biosolids

Many food webs are affected by bottom‐up nutrient addition, as additional biomass or productivity at a given trophic level can support more consumers. In turn, when prey are abundant, predators may converge on the same diets rather than partitioning food resources. Here, we examine the diets and habitat use of predatory and omnivorous birds in response to biosolids amendment of northern grasslands used as grazing range for cattle in British Columbia, Canada. From an ecosystem management perspective, we test whether dietary convergence occurred and whether birds preferentially used the pastures with biosolids. Biosolids treatments increased Orthoptera densities and our work occurred during a vole (Microtus spp.) population peak, so both types of prey were abundant. American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) consumed both small mammals and Orthoptera. Short‐eared Owls (Asio flammeus) and Long‐eared owls (Asio otus) primarily ate voles (>97% of biomass consumed) as did Northern Harriers (Circus hudsonius, 88% vole biomass). Despite high dietary overlap, these species had minimal spatial overlap, and Short‐eared Owls strongly preferred pastures amended with biosolids. Common Ravens (Corvus corax), Black‐billed Magpies (Pica hudsonia), and American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) consumed Orthoptera, Coleoptera, vegetation, and only a few small mammals; crows avoided pastures with biosolids. Thus, when both insect and mammalian prey were abundant, corvids maintained omnivorous diets, whereas owls and Harriers specialized on voles. Spatial patterns were more complex, as birds were likely responding to prey abundance, vegetation structure, and other birds in this consumer guild.     

Undergraduate Music Program Alumni's Career Path,Retrospective Institutional Satisfaction,and Financial Status

The purpose of this study was to examine undergraduate music education and performance alumni's career path, retrospective institutional satisfaction, and financial status. Data for this study were drawn from respondents from the 2010 administration of the nationwide, multi-institutional survey conducted by the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP). Regarding career path, nearly half of the music performance degree graduates reported performing as their current job, and slightly more than half of the music education degree graduates reported working in K–12 schools. Participants were generally satisfied with their institutional experiences, although relatively low levels of satisfaction were reported for networking and career advising services. The respondents reported being most satisfied with aspects of their current jobs that reflected the intrinsic benefits of contributing to a greater good, satisfying personal interests and values, and opportunities to be creative. The majority of the sample reported accruing student loan debt ranging between $10,000 and $30,000; however, no significant differences were found between groups, and 40 percent of the participants reported having accrued no debt at all. The reported annual income of the participants varied significantly, with music educators reporting higher earnings than performers.     

Redox biology of the intestine

Abstract

The intestinal tract, known for its capability for self-renew, represents the first barrier of defence between the organism and its luminal environment. The thiol/disulfide redox systems comprising the glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG), cysteine/cystine (Cys/CySS) and reduced and oxidized thioredoxin (Trx/TrxSS) redox couples play important roles in preserving tissue redox homeostasis, metabolic functions, and cellular integrity. Control of the thiol-disulfide status at the luminal surface is essential for maintaining mucus fluidity and absorption of nutrients, and protection against chemical-induced oxidant injury. Within intestinal cells, these redox couples preserve an environment that supports physiological processes and orchestrates networks of enzymatic reactions against oxidative stress. In this review, we focus on the intestinal redox and antioxidant systems, their subcellular compartmentation, redox signalling and epithelial turnover, and contribution of luminal microbiota, key aspects that are relevant to understanding redox-dependent processes in gut biology with implications for degenerative digestive disorders, such as inflammation and cancer.     

La Stazione Bio-Fenologica al Cavallino (Venezia)

Abstract

From March 1988 to April 1989 a survey was carried out on the phytoplankton of Lake Bidighinzu, a hypertrophic reservoir in Northern Sardinia. The purpose of this work was to assess the general limnological conditions of the reservoir after a diversion of the urban and industrial wastes. The dynamics of chlorophyll a, and the structure and composition of the phytoplankton density and of its biomass in the study period were determined. Moreover the found trends for trasparency, temperature, conductivity, alkalinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, reactive and total phosphorus, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium nitrogen, and reactive silica are reported. The effect of water aeration on the dynamics of the other parameters is discussed.     

Silencing of cytosolic NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase by small interfering RNA enhances the sensitivity of HeLa cells toward staurosporine

Staurosporine induces the production of reactive oxygen species, which play an important causative role in apoptotic cell death. Recently, it was demonstrated that the control of cellular redox balance and the defense against oxidative damage is one of the primary functions of cytosolic NADP⁺-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDPc) by supplying NADPH for antioxidant systems. The present report shows that silencing of IDPc expression in HeLa cells greatly enhances apoptosis induced by staurosporine. Transfection of HeLa cells with an IDPc small interfering RNA (siRNA) markedly decreased activity of IDPc, enhancing the susceptibility of staurosporine-induced apoptosis reflected by DNA fragmentation, cellular redox status and the modulation of apoptotic marker proteins. These results indicate that IDPc may play an important role in regulating the apoptosis induced by staurosporine and the sensitizing effect of IDPc siRNA on the apoptotic cell death of HeLa cells offers the possibility of developing a modifier of cancer chemotherapy.     

Special issue on “AGEs and ALEs: chemistry,physiopathology and molecular strategies for their inhibition”

Methamphetamine (METH)-induced neurotoxicity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced oxidative stress. The aims of the present study conducted in the mouse brain repetitively treated with METH were to (1) examine the redox status using the redox-sensitive imaging probe 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (MCP) and (2) non-invasively visualize the brain redox status with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging. The rate of reduction of MCP was measured from a series of temporal EPR images of mouse heads, and this rate was used to construct a two-dimensional map of rate constants called a “redox map.” The obtained redox map clearly illustrated the change in redox balance in the METH-treated mouse brain that is a known result of oxidative damage. Biochemical assays also showed that the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, an index of lipid peroxidation, was increased in mouse brains by METH. The enhanced reduction in MCP observed in mouse brains was remarkably suppressed by treatment with the dopamine synthase inhibitor, α-methyl-p-tyrosine, suggesting that enhancement of the reduction reaction of MCP resulted from enzymatic reduction in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of METH-treated mice using a blood–brain barrier (BBB)-impermeable paramagnetic contrast agent revealed BBB dysfunction after treatment with METH for 7 days. MRI also indicated that the impaired BBB recovered after withdrawal of METH. EPR imaging and MRI are useful tools not only for following changes in the redox status and BBB dysfunction in mouse brains repeatedly administered METH, but also for tracing the drug effect after withdrawal of METH.     

Melatonin Prevents Oxidative Stress and Hepatocyte Cell Death Induced by Experimental Cholestasis

The induction of oxidative stress precedes liver injury during experimental obstructive jaundice (OJ). In this sense, different evidences suggest that melatonin (MEL), as antioxidant, may be useful in the protection against apoptosis and necrosis during experimental cholestasis. In addition, we will also assess if MEL-dependent protection is related to a recovery of antioxidant status disturbances induced by OJ. Cholestasis was achieved by double ligature and sectioning of the principal bile duct. MEL was injected intraperitoneally (500?μg/kg/day). Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver. Different parameters related to antioxidant status, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in liver. Liver injury was assessed by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum, histological examination, DNA fragmentation and TUNEL assay. The activation of perisinusoidal stellate cells was evaluated by immunohistochemical measurement of α-smooth muscle actin in liver sections. The induction of OJ increased all the parameters related to apoptosis and necrosis in liver. The induction of liver injury was associated with stellate cell activation, as well as an increase in MDA (p<0.0001) and a reduction in GSH, GPx, catalase and SOD content (p<0.0001) in liver. MEL reduced hepatic apoptosis and necrosis (p<0.004) with a significant improvement in all oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, our results showed that MEL recovered the antioxidant status and reduced apoptosis and necrosis induced by experimental cholestasis.