Using IL-2R/lymphocytes for predicting the clinical progression of patients with COVID-19

Effective laboratory markers for the estimation of disease severity and predicting the clinical progression of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is urgently needed. Laboratory tests, including blood routine, cytokine profiles and infection markers, were collected from 389 confirmed COVID-19 patients. The included patients were classified into mild (n = 168), severe (n = 169) and critical groups (n = 52). The leukocytes, neutrophils, infection biomarkers [such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and ferritin] and the concentrations of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2R, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] were significantly increased, while lymphocytes were significantly decreased with increased severity of illness. The amount of IL-2R was positively correlated with the other cytokines and negatively correlated with lymphocyte number. The ratio of IL-2R to lymphocytes was found to be remarkably increased in severe and critical patients. IL-2R/lymphocytes were superior compared with other markers for the identification of COVID-19 with critical illness, not only from mild but also from severe illness. Moreover, the cytokine profiles and IL-2R/lymphocytes were significantly decreased in recovered patients, but further increased in disease-deteriorated patients, which might be correlated with the outcome of COVID-19. Lymphopenia and increased levels of cytokines were closely associated with disease severity. The IL-2R/lymphocyte was a prominent biomarker for early identification of severe COVID-19 and predicting the clinical progression of the disease.

Quality assessment and variety classification of seed-used pumpkin by-products: Potential values to deep processing

Seed-used pumpkin (SUP) is known as a traditional popular crop, which is mainly processed for seeds. However, the by-products (49 times the amount of seeds) were disposed directly into the field as waste. In this study, potential values of seed-used pumpkins' by-products (SUPBs, peel and pulp) as food resource were investigated. Physico-chemical, nutritional, and aroma profile of ten varieties of SUPBs were characterized, and variety differences were also distinguished. Peel "a*" value, water, fructose, crude fat, sucrose, and Ca contents were the 6 characteristic indicators of SUPBs which screened through correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and PCA-X model. Comprehensive evaluation of physico-chemical, nutritional, and aroma profile, four varieties by-products (Jf8#, Nf8#, Rbf#, and Rf9#) were always characterized into Cluster Ⅰ. Other varieties were classified into Cluster Ⅱ based on aroma profile. However, two varieties by-products (Db1# and Xn1#) presented significant differences from others (Db2#, Db3#, Db4#, and Myxc2#) in physico-chemical and nutritional indices, they were classified as Cluster III and IV, respectively. Db1# had the highest nutritional value of soluble solid (11.78 ºBx), pectin (1,166.15 mg/ 100 g), total carotenoid (19.57 mg/ 100 g), and total sugar (13.69 g/ 100 g). Among all the SUPBs, Db1# had a relatively higher nutritional value, which was suitable as food resource for deep processing.

miR-33a expression sensitizes Lgr5+ HCC-CSCs to doxorubicin via ABCA1

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for the unrestrained cell growth and chemo-resistance of malignant tumors. Reports about miR-33a in different type of cancer are limited, and it remains elusive whether there is a link between miR-33a and chemo-resistance of CSCs. Here we report that Lgr5+ hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells from primary tissues and cell lines behave similarly to CSCs and are chemo-resistant to doxorubicin. Significantly, reduced miR-33a expression is associated with the chemo-resistance of Lgr5+ HCC-CSCs, accompanied by an overexpression of ABCA1 which is identified as target of miR-33a by mainly using miRNA luciferase assay and western-blotting. We demonstrate that down-regulation of miR-33a expression directly contributes to chemo-resistance of Lgr5+ HCC-CSCs, and restoring miR-33a expression sensitizes them to doxorubicin via apoptosis by mainly using TUNEL assay, soft agar colony formation assay and xenograft assay. Additionally, reduced miR-33a expression in HCC tissues is associated with chemo-response and poor patient survival, which suggests the therapeutic potential of miR-33a. In conclusion, our work indicates that ectopic miR-33a expression sensitizes Lgr5+ HCC-CSCs to doxorubicin via direct targeting ABCA1, which sheds new light on understanding the mechanism of chemo-resistance in HCC-CSCs and contributes to development of potential therapeutics against HCC.

[Treatment of four cases of Fanconi anemia by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with low intensity conditional regimen]

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of low intensity conditional regimen for children with Fanconi anemia (FA) receiving allogenic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods: Four patients diagnosed as Fanconi anemia were enrolled in this study. One patient received HLA-identical sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, two patients underwent unrelated donor matched (UD) HSCT, and one patient received unrelated cord blood transplantation. The conditional regimen consisted of Busulfan with low dose of cyclophosphamide. Results: All 4 cases succeeded in allo-HSCT. The median time for neutrophils engraftment was 11(9-15) day, median time to platelets (PLT) engraftment was 12 (8-28) day. One case occurred with grade I of aGVHD, 1 case with hemorrhagic cystitis. No patient happened with hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Conclusion: Low intensity of conditional regimen is efficient and safe which should be recommended for FA patients with HSCT.

Analysis of outcomes of fertility restoration surgery in women with infertility secondary to tubal pregnancy: a series of 77 cases

PURPOSE

To assess pregnancy outcomes after minimally-invasive fertility restoration surgery in women with infertility secondary to tubal pregnancy treated with salpingectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 77 women diagnosed with infertility after salpingectomy for tubal pregnancy between December 2008 and October 2010 for intraoperative assessment and treatment of tubal and pelvic adhesions. The mean age of the patients was 31.12 ± 3.58 years and their duration of infertility was 3.91 ± 2.80 years. Chi-square test, Student's t-test, rank-sum test, and Kaplan-Meier test was used. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Tubal function was restored in 68.8% of women, 33.77% experienced intrauterine conception, 32.47% had a live birth, 5.19% had an ectopic pregnancy, and 1.30% had a spontaneous abortion within the three-year follow up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally-invasive fertility restoration surgery after tubal pregnancy treated with salpingectomy restored tubal function in the contralateral fallopian tube in the majority of women.

Skeletal Muscle Oxygenation Measured by EPR Oximetry Using a Highly Sensitive Polymer-Encapsulated Paramagnetic Sensor

We have incorporated LiNc-BuO, an oxygen-sensing paramagnetic material, in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is an oxygen-permeable, biocompatible, and stable polymer. We fabricated implantable and retrievable oxygen-sensing chips (40 % LiNc-BuO in PDMS) using a 20-G Teflon tubing to mold the chips into variable shapes and sizes for in vivo studies in rats. In vitro EPR measurements were used to test the chip's oxygen response. Oxygen induced linear and reproducible line broadening with increasing partial pressure (pO2). The oxygen response was similar to that of bare (unencapsulated) crystals and did not change significantly on sterilization by autoclaving. The chips were implanted in rat femoris muscle and EPR oximetry was performed repeatedly (weekly) for 12 weeks post-implantation. The measurements showed good reliability and reproducibility over the period of testing. These results demonstrated that the new formulation of OxyChip with 40 % LiNc-BuO will enable the applicability of EPR oximetry for long-term measurement of oxygen concentration in tissues and has the potential for clinical applications.

Design and implementation of a new autonomous sensor fish to support advanced hydropower development

Acceleration in development of additional conventional hydropower requires tools and methods to perform laboratory and in-field validation of turbine performance and fish passage claims. The new-generation Sensor Fish has been developed with more capabilities to accommodate a wider range of users over a broader range of turbine designs and operating environments. It provides in situ measurements of three-dimensional (3D) linear accelerations, 3D rotational velocities, 3D orientation, pressure, and temperature at a sampling frequency of 2048 Hz. It also has an automatic floatation system and built-in radio-frequency transmitter for recovery. The relative errors of the pressure, acceleration, and rotational velocity were within ±2%, ±5%, and ±5%, respectively. The accuracy of orientation was within ±4° and accuracy of temperature was ±2 °C. The new-generation Sensor Fish is becoming a major technology and being deployed for evaluating the conditions for fish passage of turbines or other hydraulic structures in both the United States and several other countries.

Migration and leaching risk of extraneous antimony in three representative soils of China: lysimeter and batch experiments

Antimony (Sb) distribution, solubility and mobility onto natural soils of China were studied in lysimeter and batch experiments as a function of physicochemical properties of the soil. An outdoor lysimeter experiment investigated the leaching and migration of Sb in the soils with Sb-polluted topsoil and unpolluted subsoil over a 5month period. Soil solutions were collected by suction cups installed at different depth of lysimeters, and leachates were regularly collected and analyzed for Sb concentrations. The majority of the added Sb was retained in the topsoil layers, but small portions were moved to the sub-layers. Sb concentrations in the soil solutions and leachates ranged from 0-755.5 (6.38±54 on average) μg l(-1) and 0-0.45 (smaller than the detection limit) μg l(-1) respectively, indicating the low solubility of Sb in the soils. Batch experiments were performed in order to determine the sorption capacity and the partition coefficient (Kd). Freundlich isotherm described properly the equilibrium experimental data and results show that the Kd values for Primosol, Isohumosol, Ferrosol equal to 22.5, 87.8, 704 L kg(-1), respectively. These results showed the strong capacity of the soils to retain Sb, and prevent it being leached down the profile. The mobilizable Sb was in the order: Primosol>Isohumosol>Ferrosol. Sb migration in the soils was mainly associated with the exchangeable, carbonate-bound, and metal-organic complex-bound fractions. Health risk assessment indicates that Sb leaching from Ferrosol will not harm to human health through groundwater under the test conditions, while it has certain health risks from the Isohumosol and Primosol.