血清IgE水平与冠心病的相关性分析

目的:探讨血清IgE水平与冠心病的相关性。方法:将我院收治的135例患者根据冠脉造影结果分为冠心病组(CHD)和非冠心病组(non-CHD),冠心病组根据临床症状分为稳定型心绞痛组(SAP)、不稳定型心绞痛组(UAP)和急性心肌梗死组(AMI),动脉堵塞程度用Gensini评分量化,采用SIMENS BNII全自动免疫散射比浊仪测定总IgE水平。比较CHD和non-CHD组患者及SAP、UAP和AMI组患者血清IgE水平的差异,并进一步分析血清IgE等级与冠心病Gensini积分的相关性。结果:non-CHD患者血清IgE水平(32.3(13.5,61)KU/L)明显低于CHD患者(69(26.4,169)KU/L)(P=0.001),UAP和AMI患者血清IgE水平(78.6(37.0,191.0)KU/L、118.5(75.3,148.1)KU/L)均显著高于SAP组(36.7(20.7,96.7)KU/L)(P=0.034和P=0.001),且多支血病变组患者血清IgE水平(67.2(30.9,249.0)KU/L)显著高于单支血管病变患者(34.6(18.1,59.0)KU/L)(P=0.039)。IgE水平根据四分位间距分为四个等级,随着IgE分级水平增加冠心病Gensini积分增加。结论:冠心病患者血清IgE水平升高,且与冠心病类型和血管堵塞程度都存在显著相关性,可能辅助冠心病的诊断及病情监测。     

布地奈德福莫特罗治疗支气管哮喘患者的临床疗效及对患者血清炎性因子水平的影响

目的:探讨布地奈德福莫特罗吸入治疗对慢性支气管哮喘患者的临床疗效及其对患者血清炎性因子水平、肺功能和生活质量的影响。方法:选择2014年2月至2016年2月于我院呼吸内科就诊并确诊为慢性支气管哮喘患者123例,根据随机数字表法分为观察组65例和对照组58例。比较两组患者治疗前后血清白介素17(IL-17)、白介素33(IL-33)、基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)、肺功能、生活质量评分的变化、临床疗效有效率及不良反应的发生情况。结果:观察组的总有效率为92.3%(60/65),显著高于对照组(81.03%,P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者的血清IL-17、IL-33水平与治疗前相比均显著降低(P0.05),且观察组显著低于对照组(P0.05);两组血清MMP-9水平与治疗前相比差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);观察组患者的第一秒用力呼吸容积(FEV1)、峰值呼气流速(PEF)与第一秒用力呼气容积与用力肺活量比值(FEV1/FVC)水平均明显增加,且观察组上述指标明显高于对照组(P0.05);圣.乔治呼吸问卷(SGRQ)评分结果显示观察组患者的生活质量显著高于对照组患者。结论:布地奈德福莫特罗吸入治疗对慢性支气管哮喘临床效果显著,可显著控制炎症反应,改善肺功能,显著提升患者生活质量。     

甲状腺功能减退症患者心理健康状况及影响因素分析

目的:研究甲状腺功能减退症患者的心理健康状况及其影响因素,为预防、改善甲减患者心理健康状况提供参考依据。方法:选取2014年1月-2016年1月来我院治疗的226例甲减患者作为甲减组,另从杨浦区多个社区随机抽取同期254例健康者作为健康组,采用SCL-90症状自评量表、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)及一般情况调查问卷对两组研究对象进行调查,采用Logistic回归分析甲减患者的影响因素。结果:两组性别、年龄及职业之间的差异无统计学意义(P0.05),而文化程度、经济收入的差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);甲减组患者强迫症状、抑郁、焦虑、精神病性评分及总分均高于健康组(P0.05);甲减组患者中焦虑、抑郁、人际关系敏感所占比重较高,分别为30.97%,26.11%,26.11%;与健康组相比,甲减组患者SSRS评分中主观支持、客观支持、支持利用度评分及总分均明显降低(P0.05);多因素Logistic回归分析显示社会支持、文化程度为小学、经济收入30000元/年是甲减患者心理健康的影响因素(P0.05)。结论:甲减患者心理状况较差,存在较严重的焦虑和抑郁情况,在治疗同时应注意健康教育和心理关怀,尤其是对收入低、文化程度低或社会支持程度低的患者,应给予及时的心理治疗,可提高患者的生活质量。     

连续性血浆滤过吸附对严重感染合并MODS患者炎症因子水平的影响

目的:探讨连续性血浆滤过吸附对严重感染合并多脏器功能障碍综合征(MODS)患者炎症因子水平的影响。方法:研究对象选取我院2013年3月-2016年3月收治严重感染合并MODS患者共160例,以随机数字表法分为对照组(80例)和观察组(80例),患者均先给予高容量血液滤过(HVHF)治疗,观察组加用连续性血浆滤过吸附辅助治疗,比较两组患者治疗前后平均动脉压(MAP)、心率(HR)、血氧饱和度(SpO_2)、碳酸氢根(HCO_3~-)、肌酐(Scr)、总胆红素(TBi L)、急性生理与慢性健康II(APACHE Ⅱ)评分、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)及白介素6(IL-6)水平。结果:两组治疗后MAP、Scr、TBi L、TNF-α、IL-6、hs-CRP及APACHE Ⅱ评分均有所降低,而HR、SpO_2、HCO_3~-水平均上升,且观察组以上各指标改善更明显,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:连续性血浆滤过吸附辅助治疗严重感染合并MODS可有效稳定生命体征,改善生化指标,延缓病情进展,并有助于降低机体炎症反应水平。     

On-farm assessment of laying hen welfare: a comparison of one environment-based and two animal-based methods

Methods available to assess animal welfare at farm level are based on a range of welfare parameters, which can be divided into two categories, environment-based and animal-based parameters. The first category describes features of the environment and management, which can be considered prerequisites for welfare. The second category records animals’ responses to that particular environment and management more directly. Objective of this study was to validate a mainly environment-based method, the animal needs index (ANI), with animal-based methods: behavioural observations and feather condition scores (FCS). The study was conducted on 20 commercial laying hen farms, 10 farms with battery cages and 10 farms with deep litter systems. During a 1-day visit on each farm, ANI was assessed, FCS was scored, and behavioural observations were performed. Instantaneous scan sampling and continuous focal sampling were used to assess the time spent on different behaviours and the occurrence of event behaviours. Data from behavioural observations and FCS were reduced with principal factor analysis. This resulted in two factors for each method. Significant positive correlations were found between ANI, on the one hand, and ‘movement’ and ‘comfort’, two factors from behavioural observations, on the other hand. A significant negative correlation was found between ANI and ‘wing damage’ (from FCS). The results of this study show that ANI is valid and sensitive enough to show differences in animal welfare between housing systems, whereas differences in welfare within housing systems cannot be shown. In conclusion, ANI is an appropriate method for assessment of laying hen welfare on a large number of farms with different housing systems.     

Scoring ligand similarity in structure‐based virtual screening

Scoring to identify high‐affinity compounds remains a challenge in virtual screening. On one hand, protein–ligand scoring focuses on weighting favorable and unfavorable interactions between the two molecules. Ligand‐based scoring, on the other hand, focuses on how well the shape and chemistry of each ligand candidate overlay on a three‐dimensional reference ligand. Our hypothesis is that a hybrid approach, using ligand‐based scoring to rank dockings selected by protein–ligand scoring, can ensure that high‐ranking molecules mimic the shape and chemistry of a known ligand while also complementing the binding site. Results from applying this approach to screen nearly 70 000 National Cancer Institute (NCI) compounds for thrombin inhibitors tend to support the hypothesis. EON ligand‐based ranking of docked molecules yielded the majority (4/5) of newly discovered, low to mid‐micromolar inhibitors from a panel of 27 assayed compounds, whereas ranking docked compounds by protein–ligand scoring alone resulted in one new inhibitor. Since the results depend on the choice of scoring function, an analysis of properties was performed on the top‐scoring docked compounds according to five different protein–ligand scoring functions, plus EON scoring using three different reference compounds. The results indicate that the choice of scoring function, even among scoring functions measuring the same types of interactions, can have an unexpectedly large effect on which compounds are chosen from screening. Furthermore, there was almost no overlap between the top‐scoring compounds from protein–ligand versus ligand‐based scoring, indicating the two approaches provide complementary information. Matchprint analysis, a new addition to the SLIDE (Screening Ligands by Induced‐fit Docking, Efficiently) screening toolset, facilitated comparison of docked molecules' interactions with those of known inhibitors. The majority of interactions conserved among top‐scoring compounds for a given scoring function, and from the different scoring functions, proved to be conserved interactions in known inhibitors. This was particularly true in the S1 pocket, which was occupied by all the docked compounds. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Apgar scoring system for routine assessment of newborn puppy viability and short-term survival prognosis

The Apgar scoring system is an easy and reliable method for evaluating both human and animal neonates. However, its use is not widespread in veterinary medicine. The current study assessed a modified Apgar scoring system for routine evaluation of newborn puppies. Heart rate, respiratory effort, reflex irritability, motility, and mucus color have been evaluated in the score. Specifically, we used 5 min after birth Apgar score to assess newborn viability and short-term survival prognosis, as well as related characteristics, in 193 puppies from 42 litters, 65 born by spontaneous delivery, 66 by assisted delivery, and 62 by cesarean section. The percentage of puppies that were dead 2 h after birth was higher in the 4 to 6 Apgar score group versus that in the 7 to 10 score group (P < 0.01) and in the 0 to 3 score group versus that in the 7 to 10 score group (P < 0.0001). Delivery method did not affect survival. There was a marked reduction in the number of puppies searching for the mammary gland in the 0 to 3 and 4 to 6 Apgar score groups compared with that in the 7 to 10 score group (P < 0.0001); there was a difference between the 0 to 3 and the 4 to 6 score groups as well (P < 0.05). Suckling/swallowing reflexes were present in fewer puppies in the 0 to 3 and 4 to 6 score groups compared with that in the 7 to 10 group (P < 0.0001), with no significant differences between the 0 to 3 and the 4 to 6 score groups.     

An Ion-channel Modulator from the Saliva of the Brown Ear Tick has a Highly Modified Kunitz/BPTI Structure

Ra-KLP, a 75 amino acid protein secreted by the salivary gland of the brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus has a sequence resembling those of Kunitz/BPTI proteins. We report the detection, purification and characterization of the function of Ra-KLP. In addition, determination of the three-dimensional crystal structure of Ra-KLP at 1.6 Å resolution using sulphur single-wavelength anomalous dispersion reveals that much of the loop structure of classical Kunitz domains, including the protruding protease-binding loop, has been replaced by β-strands. Even more unusually, the N-terminal portion of the polypeptide chain is pinned to the ”Kunitz head” by two disulphide bridges not found in classical Kunitz/BPTI proteins. The disulphide bond pattern has been further altered by the loss of the bridge that normally stabilizes the protease-binding loop. Consistent with the conversion of this loop into a β-strand, Ra-KLP shows no significant anti-protease activity; however, it activates maxiK channels in an in vitro system, suggesting a potential mechanism for regulating host blood supply during feeding.     

Cliques in mitotic spindle network bring kinetochore‐associated complexes to form dependence pathway

The mitotic spindle is an essential molecular machine for chromosome segregation during mitosis. Achieving a better understanding of its organization at the topological level remains a daunting task. To determine the functional connections among 137 mitotic spindle proteins, a protein–protein interaction network among queries was constructed. Many hub proteins, which connect more than one query and serve as highly plausible candidates for expanding the mitotic spindle proteome, are ranked by conventional degree centrality and a new subnetwork specificity score. Evaluation of the ranking results by literature reviews and empirical verification of SEPT6, a novel top‐ranked hub, suggests that the subnetwork specificity score could enrich for putative spindle‐related proteins. Topological analysis of this expanded network shows the presence of 30 3‐cliques and six 4‐cliques (fully connected subgraphs) that, respectively, reside in eight kinetochore‐associated complexes, of which seven are evolution conserved. Notably, these complexes strikingly form dependence pathways for the assembly of the kinetochore complex. These analyses indicate the feasibility of using network topology, i.e. cliques, to uncover novel pathways to accelerate our understanding of potential biological processes.