Carbohydrate energy metabolism in Fasciola gigantica (trematoda)

Umezurike G. M. and Anya A. O. 1980. Carbohydrate energy metabolism in Fasciola gigantica (Trematoda). International Journal for Parasitology10: 175–180. Adult Fasciola gigantica contained 4.49 ± 0.06 % (mean ± S.D.) wet weight glycogen. Tissue homogenates contained high levels of malate dehydrogenase (MDH), NAD-linked malic enzyme (ME), Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). MDH, PEPCK and ME activities appeared to be localized in both cytosolic and mitoehondrial fractions, fumarase activity appeared to be predominantly mitochondrial whereas LDH and pyruvate kinase activities were cytosolic in distribution. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the predominance of LDH-1, LDH-2 and LDH-3 but only traces of LDH-4 and LDH-5 isoenzymes in the crude cytosolic fraction. LDH activity in the crude sample was inhibited by excess substrate (pyruvate). The mitoehondrial system showed NADH -cytochrome c oxidoreductase, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, NADH oxidase and some cytochrome c-oxygen oxidoreductase activities. Under anaerobic conditions, NADH-fumarate oxidoreductase and succinate-NAD + oxidoreductase activities of mitoehondrial preparations were stimulated in the presence of ADP and ATP respectively. Isolated mitochondria contained rhodoquinone and no ubiquinone, and isolated rhodoquinone was readily reduced by succinate in the presence of submitochondrial particles. Hydrogen peroxide was produced by submitochondrial particles in the presence or absence of KCN or in the presence of fumarate.     

Trypanosoma theileri: In vitro cultivation in tsetse fly and vertebrate cell culture systems

Epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma theileri were grown at 25°C in insect cell culture media and in Glossina tissue cultures for more than 6 months. Doubling times of 10–14 h during exponential growth were observed. In cell cultures which had been derived from pupal tsetse flies growth rates were higher than in cell free media; in a larval cell line, however, growth of T. theileri was inhibited. Ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone I reduced multiplication of T. theileri in cell free media. When T. theileri was incubated in different sera only fetal calf serum (FCS) supported growth. Epimastigote forms transformed into trypomastigote bloodforms when cultured at 37°C in FCS, vertebrate cell cultures, and Eagle's medium, but not in insect media or Glossina cell cultures. Oxygen uptake of epimastigotes could be inhibited by rotenone antimycin A and cyanide; trypomastigotes were not affected by these inhibitors.     

Discriminant analysis on cells from developing squamous cancer of the respiratory tract

Cytologic preparations made from the tracheobronchial tree taken by the Schreiber catheter have been scanned by three color microphotometry. The digitized cell images were processed by the analytical cytodiagnostic programs of the TICAS system. Cells were sorted into two control groups and five groups of increasing atypia ranging from normal epithelium to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Standard statistical tests, including Wilk's Lambda, Rao's V, and the Kruskal-Wallis tests are performed on these subsets of cell image features. This study demonstrates that discriminant analyses permit differentiation between normal cells and those from marked atypia or carcinoma and that the classification achieves a high degree of agreement with visual assignment.     

Reversible inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory control by tetrabutylammonium bromide.

Influences of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phosphorylation inhibitor and as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria were reversed by washing the organelles. Uncoupling by 2,4-dinitrophenol was also reversible whereas gramicidin and the detergents, sodium dodecylsulfate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, were tightly bound uncouplers and they were not substantially removed by simple washing.     

Properties of liver mitochondria from iron-loaded rats.

The increased iron content in livers from iron-loaded rats is almost exclusively confined to the mitochondria. The ten- to twenty-fold higher level of nonheme iron in such mitochondria decreases the respiratory control with pyruvate-malate, but not with 3-hydroxybutyrate or succinate as substrates, and has no effect on the capacity for phosphorylation and substrate oxidation. Iron-loaded mitochondria have a malondialdehyde level which is about three times higher than that of control mitochondria, even after repeated washings with bovine serum albumin and EDTA. This is suggestive of an on-going process of lipid oxidation presumably catalyzed by the accumulated iron. Differences between the present in vivo data and in vitro results obtained by others are discussed.     

Respiratory muscle dysfunction in mechanically-ventilated patients

The interaction between a patient and a ventilator is the major determinant of the amount of respiratory muscle rest achieved by the machine. We are beginning to acquire a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie this complex interaction, but this information has yet to be integrated into the routine clinical management of ventilator-supported patients. To achieve that goal, we need better techniques of detecting and monitoring patient-ventilation asynchrony, and the development of simple algorithms that can minimize its occurence. Finally, research is needed to determine the occurrence and importance of respiratory muscle fatigue during failed weaning attempts so as to better guide the timing and pace of the weaning process in problematic patients.     

Odoriferous Therapy: A Review Identifying Essential Oils against Pathogens of the Respiratory Tract

This review explores the body of scientific information available on the antimicrobial properties of essential oils against pathogens responsible for respiratory infections and critically compares this to what is recommended in the Layman's aroma‐therapeutic literature. Essential oils are predominantly indicated for the treatment of respiratory infections caused by bacteria or viruses (total 79.0 %), the efficacy of which has not been confirmed through clinical trials. When used in combination, they are often blended for presumed holistic synergistic effects. Of the essential oils recommended, all show some degree of antioxidant activity, 50.0 % demonstrate anti‐inflammatory effects and 83.3 % of the essential oils showed antihistaminic activity. Of the essential oils reviewed, 43.8 % are considered non‐toxic while the remaining essential oils are considered slightly to moderately toxic (43.7 %) or the toxicity is unknown (12.5 %). Recommendations are made for further research into essential oil combinations.     

严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型 IgM / IgG、病毒核酸和白细胞介素6的联合检测在2019冠状病毒病诊断和治疗中的价值

探讨严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)免疫球蛋白M(Immunoglobulin M,IgM)/免疫球蛋白G(Immunoglobulin G,IgG)、病毒核酸和白细胞介素6(interleukin 6, IL-6)的联合检测在2019冠状病毒病(coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19)诊断和治疗中的临床价值。本研究按照《新型冠状病毒肺炎诊疗方案(试行第七版)》的标准收集了93例确诊病例(51例危重型、18例重型,15例轻型和9例普通型)和20例疑似病例(核酸检测阴性但临床症状和CT检测结果均符合标准)。选取110例儿科、妇科、肿瘤、血液和消化等疾病患者并排除COVID-19作为对照组。采用全自动化学发光免疫分析技术和电化学发光技术检测所有研究对象血清中SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG和IL-6。用实时荧光定量反转录聚合酶链反应对病例组和对照组的咽拭子进行SARS-CoV-2核酸检测。结果发现,血清IgM、IgG和IL-6在疑似病例中的阳性率分别为85%、75%和0%,在确诊病例中的阳性率分别为98.9%、95.7%和75.2%(其中危重型分别为100%、100%和100%,重型分别为94.4%、100%和97.9%,轻型分别为100%、93.3%和5%、普通型分别为100%、66.7%和0%)。IL-6和 SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG表达水平的改变与患者疾病的严重程度存在一定的关联性,差异有统计学意义(χ²＝273.51,χ²＝149.37;P＜0.05)。血清IL-6和SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG的联合检测可作为诊断和治疗COVID-19的监测指标,也可作为SARS-CoV-2核酸检测假阴性的有效互补。     

合并慢性气道疾病的ARDS临床特征及预后影响因素研究

目的:探讨急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)合并慢性气道疾病患者的临床特征及影响预后的因素。方法:167例ARDS患者根据并发症发生情况分为对照组(单纯性ARDS组,A组,n=39)及观察组(ARDS合并慢性气道疾,B组,n=49,C组,n=41,D组,n=38),比较各组患者一般情况、临床特征、生化指标、治疗方式及预后状况,通过logistic回归分析ARDS合并慢性气道疾病患者预后的影响因素。结果:观察组(B、C、D组)年龄、中性粒细胞、IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α、白蛋白、pro-BNP、乳酸、氧合指数、住院时间、住院费用与对照组(A组)比较差异有统计学意义,P0.05;128例ARDS合并慢性气道疾病患者中死亡76例,好转52例,病死率59.38%;单因素分析结果显示,观察组(B、C、D组)患者中临床结局好转患者与死亡患者比较,白细胞、淋巴细胞、CRP、TNF-α、IL-8、降钙素、肌酐、pro-BNP、氧合指数、住院费用、机械通气时间、抗生素数量差异有统计学意义,P0.05;通过多因素logistic回归分析发现肌酐是影响ARDS合并慢性气道疾病的潜在危险因素,氧合指数为保护因素,P0.05。结论:ARDS合并慢性气道疾病的能量代谢紊乱程度可能较单纯ARDS加重,且两者炎性特征不同。肌酐、氧合指数是影响ARDS合并慢性气道疾病的重要影响因素。     

A Prognostic Model to Predict Recovery of COVID-19 Patients Based on Longitudinal Laboratory Findings

Virologica Sinica - The temporal change patterns of laboratory data may provide insightful clues into the whole course of COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal change patterns of key...