PCT、IL-6、CRP、NLR在ICU细菌性血流感染患者革兰氏阳性菌和阴性菌中的鉴别作用及对死亡风险的预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨降钙素原（PCT）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值（NLR）在重症加强护理病房（ICU）细菌性血流感染（BSI）患者革兰氏阳性菌（G⁺菌）和阴性菌（G^-菌）中的鉴别作用及对死亡风险的预测价值。方法：选取2019年2月～2021年12月我院收治的99例细菌性BSI患者,根据细菌革兰氏染色培养鉴定结果分为G^-菌感染组和G⁺菌感染组,检测并比较两组PCT、IL-6、CRP、NLR水平,并以受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析上述指标对G⁺菌和G^-菌感染的鉴别价值。比较G⁺菌、G^-菌不同病原菌类型的PCT、IL-6、CRP、NLR水平差异。此外,将所有患者根据28 d预后差异分为死亡组和存活组,比较两组PCT、IL-6、CRP、NLR水平,以ROC曲线分析上述指标对ICU细菌性BSI患者死亡的预测价值。结果：（1）99例细菌性BSI患者中,病原菌类型为G^-菌的70例（70.71%）,G⁺菌29例（29.29%）。（2）G^-菌感染组PCT、NLR水平均高于G⁺菌感染组（P＜0.05）,而两组IL-6及CRP水平对比差异不明显（P＞0.05）。联合检测PCT、NLR水平鉴别G⁺菌和G^-菌的ROC-AUC（0.95CI）为0.855（0.770～0.912）,鉴别效能较好。（3）肺炎克雷伯菌PCT、IL-6、CRP水平均高于大肠埃希菌、鲍曼不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌以及其他G^-菌,NLR水平则低于大肠埃希菌、鲍曼不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌以及其他G^-菌（P＜0.05）。链球菌属PCT、IL-6、CRP、NLR水平均高于凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌以及肠球菌属（P＜0.05）。（4）死亡组患者的PCT、IL-6、NLR水平均高于存活组（P＜0.05）,而两组CRP水平对比差异不明显（P＞0.05）。联合检测PCT、IL-6、NLR水平预测ICU细菌性BSI患者死亡的ROC-AUC（0.95CI）为0.871（0.787～0.937）,预测效能较好。结论：联合检测PCT、NLR在鉴别ICU细菌性BSI患者G^-菌和G⁺菌方面具有一定价值,而联合检测PCT、IL-6、NLR对患者死亡风险具有一定预测价值。     

血培养阳性报警时间联合降钙素原、中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值对大肠埃希菌血流感染患者死亡风险的预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨血培养阳性报警时间（TTP）联合降钙素原（PCT）、中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值（NLR）对大肠埃希菌血流感染（BSI）患者死亡风险的预测价值。方法：选取2020年1月～2022年6月我院收治的223例大肠埃希菌BSI患者,根据入院后28 d内是否死亡分为死亡组和存活组。收集患者临床资料和血培养TTP,检测PCT、NLR。采用多因素Logistic回归分析大肠埃希菌BSI患者死亡的影响因素。采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析TTP、PCT、NLR对大肠埃希菌BSI患者死亡风险的预测价值。结果：223例大肠埃希菌BSI患者入院后28 d内死亡率为30.04％（67/223）。死亡组TTP短于存活组,PCT、NLR高于存活组（P均＜0.001）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄增加、入住重症监护病房（ICU）、气管插管/切开、PCT升高、NLR升高为大肠埃希菌BSI患者死亡的独立危险因素,TTP延长为独立保护因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,TTP、PCT、NLR联合预测大肠埃希菌BSI患者死亡的曲线下面积大于各指标单独预测。结论：TTP缩短和PCT、NLR升高与大肠埃希菌BSI患者死亡风险增加相关,TTP、PCT、NLR联合预测大肠埃希菌BSI患者死亡风险的价值较高。     

NLR、25-（OH）D3、IL-6、PCT与重症肺炎支原体肺炎患儿免疫功能和预后不良的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值（NLR）、25-羟维生素D3 [25-（OH）D3]、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、降钙素原（PCT）与重症肺炎支原体肺炎（MMP）患儿免疫功能和预后不良的关系。方法：选取2019年2月至2021年12月我院收治的106例重症MMP患儿作为重症组,同期收治的101例轻症MMP患儿（轻症组）作为对照。检测外周血中性粒细胞计数、淋巴细胞计数、T淋巴细胞亚群以及血清25-（OH）D3、IL-6、PCT水平,计算NLR。分析NLR、25-（OH）D3、IL-6、PCT与T淋巴细胞亚群的相关性。重症MMP患儿治疗后随访半年,根据重症MMP患儿的预后情况分为预后良好组（75例）和预后不良组（31例）,多因素Logistic回归分析影响重症MMP患儿预后的因素。结果：重症组NLR、IL-6、PCT水平,CD8⁺高于轻症组（P＜0.05）,25-（OH）D3水平、CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺低于轻症组（P＜0.05）。NLR、IL-6、PCT水平与CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺呈负相关（P＜0.05）,与CD8⁺呈正相关（P＜0.05）;25-（OH）D3与CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与CD8⁺呈负相关（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示：肺大片实变影、NLR（较高）、IL-6（较高）、PCT（较高）是重症MPP患儿预后不良的危险因素（P＜0.05）,25-（OH）D3（较高）是保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论：重症MMP患儿NLR、IL-6、PCT水平升高,25-（OH）D3水平降低,且与细胞免疫功能低下以及预后不良有关,检测NLR、IL-6、PCT、25-（OH）D3有助于评估重症MMP患儿的预后。     

2017-2019年某某医院ICU患者痰液病原菌分布及耐药性分析

摘要 目的：探究医院ICU患者痰液病原菌分布,并就其耐药性进行分析,以期为临床经验性选择抗生素治疗提供必要的细菌学依据。方法：选择2017年1月至2019年12月于北京中医医院顺义医院入住ICU的84例患者为研究对象,采集其痰液标本,并实施细菌学培养和药敏学试验。结果：（1）84例患者合计提取菌株91种,其中G^-杆菌45种,占比49.45 %,G⁺菌36种,占比39.56 %,真菌10种,占比10.99 %;（2）分析显示亚胺培南对G^-杆菌的敏感性较好,万古霉素对G⁺菌的敏感性较好,尚未发现耐万古霉素的肠球菌和葡萄球菌出现。结论：ICU患者痰液病原菌类型较多,其中以G^-杆菌为主,病原菌呈现多重耐药性,亚胺培南对G^-杆菌敏感性较好,万古霉素对G⁺菌敏感性较好。     

狼疮性肾炎患者血清NETs、TWEAK、外周血CD4+T/CD8+T比例与疾病活动度及肾脏预后的关系

摘要 目的：探讨狼疮性肾炎（LN）患者血清中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网（NETs）、肿瘤坏死因子样凋亡微弱诱导剂（TWEAK）、外周血分化簇（CD）4⁺T/CD8⁺T比例与疾病活动度及肾脏预后的关系。方法：选取2021年8月～2022年8月川北医学院附属医院肾内科收治的LN患者137例（LN组）,根据系统性红斑狼疮疾病活动指数（SLEDAI）-2000评分分为轻度活动组（52例）、中度活动组（45例）、重度活动组（40例）。随访1年,根据肾脏相关终点事件发生情况分为预后不良组（43例）和预后良好组（94例）,另选取同期76名体检健康志愿者（对照组）。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清NETs、TWEAK水平,流式细胞术检测外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T比例。Spearman相关性分析LN患者血清NETs、TWEAK和外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T与SLEDAI-2000评分的相关性,多因素Logistic回归分析LN患者预后不良的因素,受试者工作特征曲线分析血清NETs、TWEAK和外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T对LN患者预后不良的预测价值。结果：与对照组比较,LN组血清NETs、TWEAK水平升高,外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T降低（P＜0.05）。轻度活动组、中度活动组、重度活动组血清NETs、TWEAK依次升高,外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T依次降低（P＜0.05）。LN患者SLEDAI-2000评分与血清NETs、TWEAK呈正相关,与外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T呈负相关（P＜0.05）。慢性肾脏病分期4期、SLEDAI-2000评分升高、NETs升高、TWEAK升高为LN患者预后不良的独立危险因素,估算肾小球滤过率升高、CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T升高为独立保护因素（P＜0.05）。血清NETs、TWEAK和外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T联合预测LN患者预后不良的曲线下面积为0.943,大于血清NETs、TWEAK和外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T单独预测的0.790、0.788、0.799（P＜0.05）。结论：LN患者血清NETs、TWEAK水平升高,外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T降低,与疾病活动度及肾脏预后不良密切相关,血清NETs、TWEAK联合外周血CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T预测LN患者肾脏预后的价值较高。     

脓毒症患者血清TNF-α与T淋巴细胞亚群、凝血功能及预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨脓毒症患者血清肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）与T淋巴细胞亚群、凝血功能及预后的关系。方法：选取2017年4月~2019年4月期间我院收治的脓毒症患者93例作为脓毒症组,另选取同期来我院行健康体检的志愿者90例作为对照组,比较脓毒症组、对照组的TNF-α、T淋巴细胞亚群、凝血功能,根据28d后转归情况分为死亡组和存活组,比较死亡组和存活组TNF-α、T淋巴细胞亚群水平、凝血功能,采用Pearson相关分析分析TNF-α与T淋巴细胞亚群、凝血功能的相关性。结果：脓毒症组TNF-α高于对照组,凝血酶原时间（PT）、活化部分凝血活酶时间（APTT）长于对照组,而CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺均低于对照组（P<0.05）;脓毒症组、对照组CD8⁺比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。死亡组TNF-α高于存活组,PT、APTT长于存活组,而CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺均低于存活组（P<0.05）;死亡组、存活组CD8⁺比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。Pearson相关分析结果显示,脓毒症患者血清TNF-α与PT、APTT呈正相关,与CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺呈负相关（P<0.05）;TNF-α与CD8⁺无明显相关性（P>0.05）。结论：脓毒症患者血清TNF-α、T淋巴细胞亚群、凝血功能均存在异常变化,TNF-α与患者的T淋巴细胞亚群、凝血功能和预后有关,检测TNF-α有助于评估脓毒症患者的病情和预后。     

2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者PCT、HMGB1、CD4+/CD8+比值与继发肺部感染的关系

摘要 目的：探讨2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者降钙素原（PCT）、高迁移率族蛋白1（HMGB1）、CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值与继发肺部感染的关系。方法：选择2019年1月至2022年6月四川大学华西医院呼吸与危重症医学科收治的97例2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者,根据入院治疗时是否继发肺部感染分为肺部感染组（53例）及非肺部感染组（44例）。检测两组血清PCT、HMGB1水平以及外周血CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值。单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者继发肺部感染的因素。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析PCT、HMGB1和CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值预测2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者继发肺部感染的价值。结果：肺部感染组血清PCT、HMGB1水平高于非肺部感染组（P＜0.05）,外周血CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值低于非肺部感染组（P＜0.05）。糖化血红蛋白及血清PCT、HMGB1水平升高是2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者继发肺部感染的危险因素（P＜0.05）,高CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值是保护因素（P＜0.05）。PCT、HMGB1、CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值预测2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者继发肺部感染的曲线下面积为0.719、0.761、0.738,联合PCT、HMGB1和CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值预测的曲线下面积为0.878,高于各指标单独预测。结论：2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者血清PCT、HMGB1水平增高,外周血CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值降低,均与继发肺部感染有关,PCT、HMGB1联合CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值可辅助预测2型糖尿病并发肺结核患者继发肺部感染的风险。     

血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值与脓毒症患者APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分的相关性及其联合检测对预后的预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨血清可溶性血栓调节蛋白（sTM）、降钙素原（PCT）、C-反应蛋白与前白蛋白（CRP/PAB）比值与脓毒症患者急性生理和慢性健康评估Ⅱ（APACHEⅡ）评分、序贯器官衰竭评估（SOFA）评分的相关性及其联合检测对预后的预测价值。方法：选取2020年3月～2020年12月我院重症医学科收治的97例脓毒症患者,根据Sepsis-3.0诊断标准分为普通脓毒症组44例、脓毒性休克组53例,根据入院后30 d内预后情况分为死亡组35例和存活组62例。收集患者基线资料和APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分,并检测血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值。采用Spearman相关性分析脓毒症患者血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值与APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分的相关性,多因素Logistic回归分析脓毒症患者预后不良的影响因素,受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值对脓毒症患者预后不良的预测价值。结果：脓毒性休克组血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值和APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分高于普通脓毒症组（P均＜0.05）。Spearman相关性分析显示,脓毒症患者血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值与APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分呈正相关（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,收缩压升高为脓毒症患者预后不良的独立保护因素（P＜0.05）,脓毒性休克、合并器官损伤≥3个、机械通气时间延长、APACHEⅡ评分增加、SOFA评分增加、sTM升高、PCT升高、CRP/PAB比值升高为独立危险因素（P均＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值联合预测脓毒症患者预后不良的曲线下面积大于各指标单独预测。结论：脓毒症患者血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值升高与APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分增加密切相关,血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值联合检测对脓毒症患者预后不良的预测价值较高。     

视频脑电图联合PEWS评分、NSE、CD4+/CD8+比值对病毒性脑炎患儿病情评估及预后预测的临床价值

摘要 目的：探讨视频脑电图（VEEG）联合儿童早期预警评分（PEWS）、神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）、CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值对病毒性脑炎患儿病情评估及预后预测的价值。方法：选择2020年3月至2022年3月南京医科大学附属儿童医院收治的152例病毒性脑炎患儿，根据病情严重程度将患儿分为重症组（67例）和轻症组（85例），另选择72例无神经系统损伤住院患儿为对照组。治疗2周后，根据儿童格拉斯哥预后量表（CGOS）将其分为预后良好组（4~5级，89例）与预后不良组（1~3级，63例）。所有研究对象均接受PEWS测评和VEEG检查，检测血清NSE水平，计算CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值。采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析影响病毒性脑炎患儿预后的因素。采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析PEWS、VEEG 及血清NSE、CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值预测病毒性脑炎患儿预后的价值。结果：重症组PEWS、VEEG重度异常比例及血清NSE水平高于轻症组和对照组，CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值低于轻症组和对照组（P＜0.05）；轻症组PEWS、VEEG重度异常比例及血清NSE水平高于对照组，CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值低于对照组（P＜0.05）。预后不良组PEWS、VEEG重度异常比例、血清NSE水平高于预后良好组，CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值低于预后良好组（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，持续惊厥、高PEWS、VEEG重度异常、血清NSE水平升高是病毒性脑炎患儿预后不良的危险因素，CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值升高是保护因素（P＜0.05）。联合PEWS、VEEG 及血清NSE、CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值预测病毒性脑炎患儿预后曲线下面积为0.859，高于各指标单独预测。结论：病毒性脑炎患儿高PEWS、VEEG重度异常、血清NSE水平升高、CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值降低，与病情加重和预后不良有关，联合以上四项指标辅助预测病毒性脑炎患儿预后的价值较高。     

脓毒症患者血清降钙素原、C-反应蛋白与凝血功能、病情评分的关系及预后的影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨脓毒症患者血清降钙素原（PCT）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）与凝血功能、病情评分的关系及预后的影响因素。方法：选择2017年8月至2019年10月我院诊治的150例脓毒症患者作为研究对象,根据脓毒症组患者的生存状况将其分为存活组（n=118）和死亡组（n=32）。检测两组患者血清PCT、CRP水平,凝血酶原时间（PT）和部分凝血活酶时间（APTT）。采用急性生理功能和慢性健康状况评分系统Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)和序贯器官衰竭估计(SOFA)对两组患者病情进行评估。比较两组患者临床资料。相关性分析采用Pearson检验。患者预后的影响因素采用多因素Logistic回归分析。结果：与存活组相比,死亡组血清PCT、CRP,PT、APTT,APACHE II和SOFA评分均明显升高（P<0.05）。血清PCT>7.32 ng/mL、CRP>86.73 ng/mL、PT>15.48s、APTT>36.74s、APACHE Ⅱ评分>15.88分和SOFA评分>6.48分均是脓毒症患者死亡的危险因素（OR=2.099、1.747、2.333、1.596、1.916、2.208,P<0.05）。血清PCT和CRP均与APACHE Ⅱ评分、SOFA评分、PT和APTT呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论：血清PCT和CRP水平升高与脓毒症患者死亡相关,两者与脓毒症患者APACHE Ⅱ评分、SOFA评分、PT和APTT存在正相关,并且是患者不良预后的影响因素,在脓毒症患者预后的评估中具有一定临床价值。     

Biological monitoring of bisphenol A with HLPC/FLD and LC/MS/MS assays

Biological monitoring is a necessary process for risk assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), particularly, bisphenol A (BPA), in breast milk, because its human risks are not clear yet, and infants, who feed on breast milk, are highly susceptible for EDCs. Concerning biological monitoring of BPA, the HPLC/FLD has been widely used before the LC/MS/MS. However, there was no report, which simultaneously evaluated the two methods in real analyses. Therefore, we analyzed BPA with LC/MS/MS and HPLC/FLD in human breast milk and conducted comparison of two methods in analyzed BPA levels. After establishing optimal condition, e.g. linearity, recovery, reproducibility and free BPA system, we analyzed BPA levels in human breast milk samples (N = 100). The LOQs were similar in the two methods, i.e. 1.8 and 1.3 ng/mL for the HPLC/FLD and LC/MS/MS assays, respectively. There were strong associations between total BPA levels with the two methods (R² = 0.40, p < 0.01), however, only 11% of them were analyzed as similar levels with 15% CVs. In addition, the detection range of BPA was broader in the HPLC method than the LC/MS/MS method. However, the BPA levels in the HPLC/FLD analysis were lower than those in the LC/MS/MS analysis (p < 0.01). Thus, the differences in BPA levels between the two methods may come from mainly over-estimation with the LC/MS/MS method in low BPA samples and some of poor resolution with the HPLC/FLD in high BPA samples.     

Synthesis of novel,peptidic kinase inhibitors with cytostatic/cytotoxic activity

The utility of a novel, chemoenzymatic procedure for the stereocontrolled synthesis of small peptides is presented in the preparation and structure optimisation of dipeptides with cytostatic/cytotoxic activity. The method uses Passerini multicomponent reaction for the preparation of racemic scaffold which is then enantioselectively hydrolysed by hydrolytic enzymes. Products of these transformations are further functionalised towards title compounds. Both activity and selectivity towards tumor cells is optimised. Final compound is shown to be an inhibitor of the protein kinase signaling pathway.     

Association of upregulated Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling with autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction, verbal communication and repetitive behaviors. BTBR mouse is currently used as a model for understanding mechanisms that may be responsible for the pathogenesis of autism. Growing evidence suggests that Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling plays death-promoting apoptotic roles in neural cells. Recent studies showed a possible association between neural cell death and autism. In addition, two studies reported that a deletion of a locus on chromosome 16, which includes the MAPK3 gene that encodes ERK1, is associated with autism. We thus hypothesized that Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling could be abnormally regulated in the brain of BTBR mice that models autism. In this study, we show that expression of Ras protein was significantly elevated in frontal cortex and cerebellum of BTBR mice as compared with B6 mice. The phosphorylations of A-Raf, B-Raf and C-Raf were all significantly increased in frontal cortex of BTBR mice. However, only C-Raf phosphorylation was increased in the cerebellum of BTBR mice. In addition, we further detected that the activities of both MEK1/2 and ERK1/2, which are the downstream kinases of Ras/Raf signaling, were significantly enhanced in the frontal cortex. We also detected that ERK1/2 is significantly over-expressed in frontal cortex of autistic subjects. Our results indicate that Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling is upregulated in the frontal cortex of BTBR mice that model autism. These findings, together with the enhanced ERK1/2 expression in autistic frontal cortex, imply that Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling activities could be increased in autistic brain and involved in the pathogenesis of autism.     

Buspirone attenuated methotrexate-induced hippocampal toxicity in rats by regulating Nrf2/HO-1, PPAR-γ, NF-κB/nNOS,and ROS/NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathways

Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat a variety of tumors. Nonetheless, MTX-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity is a well-defined dose-limiting adverse effect that limits clinical utility. Proinflammatory cytokine production and oxidative stress are possible mechanisms for MTX-induced neurotoxicity. Buspirone (BSP), a partial agonist of the 5-HT1a receptor (5-HT1aR), has emerged as an anxiolytic drug. BSP has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The current study investigated BSP's potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in attenuating MTX-induced hippocampal toxicity. Rats received either BSP (1.5 mg/kg) orally for 10 days and MTX (20 mg/kg) i.p. on Day 5. BSP administration markedly protected hippocampal neurons from drastic degenerated neuronal changes induced by MTX. BSP significantly attenuated oxidative injury by downregulating Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 expression while potently elevating hippocampal Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor expression. BSP dampened inflammation by reducing NO₂⁻, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and interleukin 1 beta levels mediated by downregulating NF-κB and neuronal nitric oxides synthase expression. Moreover, BSP potently counteracted hippocampal pyroptosis by downregulating NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved-caspase-1 proteins. Therefore, BSP may represent a promising approach to attenuate neurotoxicity in patients receiving MTX.     

Comparative analysis of surface electrostatic potentials of carbon, boron/nitrogen and carbon/boron/nitrogen model nanotubes

We have extended an earlier study, in which we characterized in detail the electrostatic potentials on the inner and outer surfaces of a group of carbon and B_xN_x model nanotubes, to include several additional ones with smaller diameters plus a new category, C_2xB_xN_x. The statistical features of the surface potentials are presented and analyzed for a total of 19 tubes as well as fullerene and a small model graphene. The potentials on the surfaces of the carbon systems are relatively weak and rather bland; they are much stronger and more variable for the B_xN_x and C_2xB_xN_x. A qualitative correlation with free energies of solvation indicates that the latter two categories should have considerably greater water solubilities. The inner surfaces are generally more positive than the corresponding outer ones, while both positive and negative potentials are strengthened by increasing curvature. The outsides of B_xN_x tubes have characteristic patterns of alternating positive and negative regions, while the insides are strongly positive. In the closed C_2xB_xN_x systems, half of the C–C bonds are double-bond-like and have negative potentials above them; the adjacent rows of boron and nitrogens show the usual B_xN_x pattern. When the C_2xB_xN_x tubes are open, with hydrogens at the ends, the surface potentials are dominated by the B⁺–H^– and N^––H⁺ linkages.Figure Calculated electrostatic potential on the molecular surface of closed (6,0) B₄₈N₄₈; a is an outside view, while b shows the interior. Color ranges, in kcal mol^–1: red, greater than 20; yellow, between 20 and 0; green, between 0 and –10; blue, between –10 and –20; purple, more negative than –20     

Cell proliferation, survival, and death in the Drosophila eye

The Drosophila retina has a precise repeating structure based on the unit eye, or ommatidium. This review summarizes studies of the cell proliferation and survival episodes that affect the number of cells available to make each ommatidium. Late in larval development, as differentiation and patterning begin, the retinal epithelium exhibits striking regulation of the cell cycle including a transient G1 arrest of all cells, followed by a ‘Second Mitotic Wave’ cell cycle that is regulated at the G2/M transition by local intercellular signals. Reiterated episodes of cell death also contribute to precise regulation of retinal cell number. The EGF receptor homolog has multiple roles in retinal proliferation and survival.     

蛋白激酶B(PKB/Akt)的结构、调控与功能

原癌基因编码的蛋白质丝/苏氨酸激酶PKB/Akt在细胞代谢、细胞存活、细胞周期调控、转录调控等多种生物学过程中发挥着重要作用。该文综述了PKB/Akt的结构、调控机制及功能。     

A/California/7/2009与A/California/4/2009病毒感染力比较

目的甲型H1N1流感病毒A/California/7/2009与A/California/4/2009病毒序列比较同源性在99%以上,本实验旨在比较两株病毒感染BALB/c小鼠研究感染力强弱。方法分别将A/California/7/2009（CA7）与A/California/4/2009（CA4）两株病毒分别连续10倍稀释后,对4~6周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠经乙醚麻醉后进行滴鼻攻毒,每个稀释度接种10只实验小鼠,测定CA7 MLD50为101.24/0.05 mL,检测小鼠感染、致病的多项指标,观察期为14 d。结果相同TCID50的CA7和CA4病毒感染小鼠,CA4感染小鼠后14 d内死亡率为20%,而CA7感染小鼠后8 d内死亡率为100%。CA7 106TCID50感染的小鼠病理表现为重度弥漫性间质性肺炎,CA4 106TCID50感染的小鼠病理表现为中度-重度间质性肺炎。结论在相同条件下,CA7感染力明显强于CA4。     

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical dose–response trial of an extract of Baptisia, Echinacea and Thuja for the treatment of patients with common cold

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy and safety of an herbal medication containing an extract of a mixture of Baptisiae tinctoriae radix, Echinaceae pallidae/purpureae radix and Thujae occidentalis herba (SB-TOX) in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs), and to test whether SB-TOX's clinical efficacy is dose dependent. A total of 91 adults (mean age 42.1±13.0 years) were randomised to receive 19.2 mg of SB-TOX (n=31), 9.6 mg SB-TOX (n=29) or placebo (n=31) three times daily for 3–12 days. Since a “running nose” is the main symptom of a common cold, the total number of facial tissues used throughout the clinical duration of their cold was the primary efficacy parameter. In the intention-to-treat analysis, this total number of tissues decreased with increasing extract dose. The slope across groups according to the Jonckheere test was significant (p=0.0259). In the high-dose group, the standardised effect size Δ/SD was 0.46 compared with placebo. Time to relevant improvement in cold symptoms (measured as the time until less than 30 tissues per day were used) was 1.1 days (95% CI 0.52; 1.67), 0.76 days (95% CI 0.28; 1.24) and 0.52 days (95% CI 0.22; 0.82) in the placebo, low-dose and high-dose groups, respectively (p_LogRank=0.0175). No adverse events were reported. This study demonstrates the efficacy and safety of SB-TOX in the treatment of URIs, and that its efficacy is dose dependent.