Hematological and serum biochemical reference intervals of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss cultured in Himalayan aquaculture: Morphology,morphometrics and quantification of peripheral blood cells

De novo reference intervals (RIs) for a total of thirty two hematological and serum biochemical attributes were established for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cultured in Himalayan aquaculture system. For this purpose, long term assessment of hemato-biochemical parameters was carried over a period of one year from March 2019 to February 2020 and a total of 444 blood samples were analysed. Blood examination results were recorded systematically and reference intervals were established, notably for erythrocyte parameters: hematocrit (Hct) 29–40%, hemoglobin 8.32–12.28 g/dL, red blood cell (RBC) count 1.01–2.04 (×10⁶/mm3); leukocyte parameters (x 10³/mm3): total leukocytes 31.32–90.60, neutrophils 4.21–18.85, total lymphocytes 20.55–63.63, small lymphocytes 14.86–46.50, large lymphocytes 6.35–22.34 and monocytes 1.22–7.56; thrombocyte count 23.00–68.00 (×10⁶/mm3). RIs were also established for red blood cell indices, vital serum constituents involved in carbohydrate, protein, lipid and nitrogen metabolism including the less known, diagnostically important, serum enzymes and electrolyte concentrations. Principal component analysis revealed that certain serum components were more efficient at distinguishing between the life stages (juvenile, adult) of fish by explaining about 92.7% of variation in the whole dataset compared to the principal hematological components which explained only about 80% of the variation. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were noted for RBC count, total leukocyte count (TLC), total protein, total cholesterol and uric acid with respect to the sex of fish. Moreover, clearly differentiable morphometric and morphological attributes were also noticed among erythrocytes, leukocytes (lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes) and thrombocytes. To our knowledge, the present study is the first of its kind that elucidates blood chemistry of cultured rainbow trout, O. mykiss in accordance to the guidelines framed by the American society of veterinary clinical pathologists (ASVCP). RIs reported here can help monitor the fish health status by improving the use of non-lethal diagnostics in piscine medicine.     

益肾活血解毒汤治疗肾虚血瘀型颈动脉粥样硬化患者的疗效观察

摘要 目的：观察益肾活血解毒汤治疗肾虚血瘀型颈动脉粥样硬化（CAS）效果。方法：选取我院2021年8月~2023年4月收治的肾虚血瘀型CAS患者80例,随机分为观察组和对照组,各40例。两组均予以常规西医治疗,观察组加服益肾活血解毒汤,治疗周期为四周。观察两组的临床疗效、血脂等指标变化,并进行统计学比较。结果：两组治疗前中医证候积分无差异（P＞0.05）,而治疗后,观察组中医证候积分明显低于对照组（P<0.05）;观察组总有效率（97.50%）虽在数值上高于对照组（92.50%）,但并无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;相较于治疗前,两组治疗后血脂指标（CHOL、TG、LDL-C）和炎性因子（NLRP3、Caspase-1、IL-1β、IL-18）水平显著下降（P<0.05）,而观察组下降幅度更大,与对照组差异显著（P<0.05）;服药期间,两组均无明显不良反应发生。结论：常规调脂抗动脉粥样硬化联合益肾活血解毒汤治疗肾虚血瘀型CAS疗效肯定,可有效改善临床症状,调节血脂水平,控制炎症反应,且安全性良好。     

B超测下腔静脉变异度指导液体复苏对创伤失血性休克患者血乳酸水平、促炎性因子及免疫功能的影响

摘要 目的：探讨B超测下腔静脉变异度指导液体复苏对创伤失血性休克患者血乳酸水平、促炎性因子及免疫功能的影响。方法：选取我院2020年4月~2023年2月期间攀枝花学院附属医院收治的108例创伤失血性休克患者,按照液体复苏方式的不同将患者分为对照组和观察组,各为54例。对照组接受传统限制性液体复苏治疗,观察组接受B超测下腔静脉变异度指导液体复苏治疗。对比两组临床指标、血乳酸水平、促炎性因子、免疫功能和多器官功能障碍综合征（MODS）、急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）以及病死率等情况。结果：观察组的输液量、总输血量少于对照组,重症监护室（ICU）住院时间短于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组血乳酸水平下降,且观察组低于对照组同期（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α,白细胞介素（IL）- 1β、白细胞介素（IL）-6水平下降,且观察组低于对照组同期（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺升高,CD8⁺下降,且观察组的改善幅度大于对照组同期（P<0.05）。两组MODS、ARDS、病死率组间对比未见明显差异（P>0.05）。结论：创伤失血性休克患者在B超测下腔静脉变异度指导液体复苏,其促炎性因子、血乳酸水平及免疫功能可得到显著改善,有助于促进患者康复。     

LIFE IN ZERO MAGNETIC FIELD. III. ACTIVITY OF ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE AND ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE DURING IN VITRO AGING OF HUMAN BLOOD

We investigated the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the serum of human blood during in vitro aging in normal and zero magnetic field (ZMF) for up to 72 hr at room temperature. We found a 24–31% apparent decrease of the enzymes' activities in ZMF conditions compared to controls aging in the normal geomagnetic field. The presence of these enzymes in the serum is mainly due to hemolysis. However, hemolysis is stronger in ZMF conditions. Therefore, the amount of enzymes released into the serum is correspondingly higher in these conditions. This leads to the conclusion that AST and ALT activities diminished by ZMF to a much greater extent than the apparent effect. For example, a 72-hr aging leads to a minimum five times reduction in the enzymatic activity in the blood serum. The loss of activity could be explained by denaturation and degradation processes, which proceeded more rapidly in ZMF conditions.     

Heparin as a Therapy for Atherosclerosis: Preliminary Observations on the Intrapulmonary Administration of Low-Dose Heparin in the Morning Versus Evening Gauged by Its Effect on Blood Variables

Reports on clinical trials with subcutaneous and intrapulmonary administration of low-dose heparin suggest that it may be an attractive therapeutic modality for the treatment of coronary artery disease because of unprecedented reduction in mortality of treated subjects. As a preliminary to a clinical trial with low-dose intrapulmonary heparin, a pilot study was conducted on three subjects. It compares overall circadian responses of 37 blood variables following intrapulmonary administration of heparin (10,500-18,800 U) in the morning (0800 h) and in the evening (2000 h). After each of these times, blood samples, mostly at 3 h intervals for the ensuing 27 h, were analyzed for heparin, APTT, TT, functional fibrinogen, CBC, enzymes, lipids, electrolytes, and hormones. Each time series was analyzed for circadian rhythm by the least-squares fit of a 24 h cosine and circadian mesors were compared by the Bingham test of rhythm parameters. Following heparin in the evening, but not in the morning, a statistically significant increase in circulating heparin levels, as well as directional increases in APTT and TT and decreases in fibrinogen, were observed in all three subjects. Same direction changes in several other variables were also observed. It is concluded that inhalation of heparin in low-dose levels results in variable circadian effects on blood parameters measured, ranging from no changes in their levels to minimal within normal range changes, and that these effects are dependent upon the timing of dose administration. It is suggested that the timed self-administration of low-dose heparin by inhalation be seriously considered for long-term clinical trials in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis.     

Onshore–offshore gradient in metacommunity turnover emerges only over macroevolutionary time-scales

Invertebrate lineages tend to originate and become extinct at a higher rate in onshore than in offshore habitats over long temporal durations (more than 10 Myr), but it remains unclear whether this pattern scales down to durations of stages (less than 5 Myr) or even sequences (less than 0.5 Myr). We assess whether onshore–offshore gradients in long-term turnover between the tropical Eocene and the warm-temperate Plio-Pleistocene can be extrapolated from gradients in short-term turnover, using abundances of molluscan species from bulk samples in the northeast Atlantic Province. We find that temporal turnover of metacommunities does not significantly decline with depth over short durations (less than 5 Myr), but significantly declines with depth between the Eocene and Plio-Pleistocene (approx. 50 Myr). This decline is determined by a higher onshore extinction of Eocene genera and families, by a higher onshore variability in abundances of genera and families, and by an onshore expansion of genera and families that were frequent offshore in the Eocene. Onshore–offshore decline in turnover thus emerges only over long temporal durations. We suggest that this emergence is triggered by abrupt and spatially extensive climatic or oceanographic perturbations that occurred between the Eocene and Plio-Pleistocene. Plio-Pleistocene metacommunities show a high proportion of bathymetric generalists, in contrast to Eocene metacommunities. Accordingly, the net cooling and weaker thermal gradients may have allowed offshore specialists to expand into onshore habitats and maintain their presence in offshore habitats.     

母亲、新生儿和收集相关因素对高质量脐血的影响

目的:探讨母亲、新生儿和收集相关因素对高质量脐血(high-quality cord blood units,HQCBUs)的影响。方法:用logistical回归模型回顾性分析广州脐血库(Guangzhou Cord Blood Bank,GZCBB)库存的4613例脐血的母亲、新生儿和收集相关因素,所有脐血均严格按照操作规程进行供者选择、采集、运送、处理、检测和冻存。结果:影响HQCBUs的因素包括分娩时顺产、孕周大于37周、新生儿为女性、较重的体重(3500 g)、脐血体积大(80 m L)、运送耗时短(12 hr)。α-地贫携带者对处理后细胞数(postprocessing total nucleated cell count,p-TNCC)1.25×109和CD34+细胞数6.01×106有影响,而羊水粪染和母亲分娩年龄小于25岁分别对p-TNCC1.25×109和细胞集落形成单位(colony forming units,CFUs)23.24×105有影响。结论:我们鉴定出影响HQCBUs的因素,为GZCBB更新脐血采集标准、优化处理程序提供参考依据,有助于提高HQCBUs的数量和比例及有效利用脐血库的资源。     

A geometry-based model for non-invasive estimation of pressure gradients over iliac artery stenoses

The aim of this study was to develop and verify a model that provides an accurate estimation of the trans-lesion hyperemic pressure gradient in iliac artery stenoses in seconds by only using patient-specific geometric properties obtained from 3-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA).Twenty-one patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD), iliac artery stenoses and an ultrasound based peak systolic velocity ratio between 2.5 and 5.0 underwent 3DRA and intra-arterial pressure measurements under hyperemic conditions. For each lesion, geometric properties were extracted from the 3DRA images using quantitative vascular analysis software. Hyperemic blood flow was estimated based on stenosis geometry using an empirical relation. The geometrical properties and hyperemic flow were used to estimate the pressure gradient by means of the geometry-based model. The predicted pressure gradients were compared with in vivo measured intra-arterial pressure measurements performed under hyperemic conditions.The developed geometry-based model showed good agreement with the measured hyperemic pressure gradients resulting in a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.86. The mean bias ± 2SD between the geometry-based model and in vivo measurements was comparable to results found by evaluating the actual computational fluid dynamics model (−1.0 ± 14.7 mmHg vs −0.9 ± 12.7 mmHg).The developed model estimates the trans-lesional pressure gradient in seconds without the need for an additional computational fluid dynamics software package. The results justify further study to assess the potential use of a geometry-based model approach to estimate pressure gradient on non-invasive CTA or MRA, thereby reducing the need for diagnostic angiography in patients suffering from PAD.     

Effects of labour and medication on major lymphocyte subsets in cord

It is envisaged that flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subsets in cord blood may be used as a biomarker for effects on the immune system of exposure to environmental factors. In order to investigate the possible application of this parameter, we first studied the effects of other factors that may influence the outcome of subset analysis in cord blood. FACS analysis was performed in 112 pairs of umbilical cord blood and of peripheral maternal blood sampled at labour. Whereas in maternal blood no statistically significant effects of medication during labour on T lymphocyte numbers and NK cells were found, in oxytocin and in oxytocin and prostaglandin treated mothers B cell numbers showed a statistically significant increase. In cord blood, the course of labour and or medication during labour were identified as the most important factors determining distribution of major lymphocyte subsets. In cord blood after deliveries without medication or after neuroplegic analgesia NPA, the mean percentage of cord blood T lymphocytes CD3 was highest 59 and that of NK lymphocytes CD3- CD16 56 lowest 20 . The mean percentage of T lymphocytes was significantly lower 52 and that of NK lymphocytes higher 28 in cord blood where deliveries were done under NPA in combination with infusion of oxytocin. The combination of NPA with oxytocin and induction of labour by prostaglandin E2 led to a further reduction of T lymphocytes and an increase of NK cells 39 and 38 respectively. The changes in ratio of T and NK lymphocytes were due both to decreasing absolute counts of T lymphocytes and increasing counts of NK lymphocytes. Thus, the effects of labour and or medication during labour must be taken into account when this parameter is applied as a potential biomarker of effects of environmental factors on the immune system.     

Effects of Amlodipine on Orcadian Rhythms in Blood Pressure,Heart Rate,and Motility: A Telemetric Study in Rats

In male Wistar rats [light (L): 07:00–19:00 h, dark (D): 19:00–07:00 h], the effects of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (1, 3, 10 mg/kg i.p.) on blood pressure, heart rate, and motor activity were studied by telemetric monitoring. Amlodipine was injected either at 07:00 h or at 19:00 h. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were dose-dependently decreased with more pronounced effects in the dark span, ED₅₀ values in D were about seven times lower than in L. In contrast, the dose-dependent increase in heart rate was more pronounced in L than in D. No significant effects of amlodipine were found on motor activity. The study gives evidence for a circadian phase-dependency in the cardiovascular effects amlodipine in rats.