Relationships between rumination and different types of rapid eye movement sleep in patients with chronic insomnia disorder

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Rumination, a common factor of chronic insomnia disorder (CID) caused by cognitive-emotional arousal, is associated with an increased amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, the specific subtypes, such as phasic REM and tonic REM, that contribute to the increased REM sleep have not been reported. This study aimed to determine the association between rumination and different REM sleep subtypes in patients with CID.

METHODS

This study enrolled 35 patients with CID and 27 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The Immersion-Rumination Questionnaire evaluated participants' rumination, and the Insomnia Severity Index was used to assess insomnia severity. Finally, polysomnography was used to monitor objective sleep quality and quantification of different types of REM.

RESULTS

The CID patients had higher rumination scores than the healthy controls. They had a shorter REM sleep duration, less phasic REM, a lower percentage of phasic REM time, and a higher percentage of tonic REM time. Spectral analysis revealed that the patients affected by insomnia had higher β power during REM sleep, higher β and σ power during phasic REM sleep, and higher β, and γ power during tonic REM sleep. Partial correlation analysis showed that rumination in the CID patients correlated negatively with the duration of phasic REM sleep. Additionally, rumination correlated negatively with δ power in REM sleep and positively with β power in REM sleep, tonic REM sleep, phasic REM sleep, N3and N2 sleep in the patients with CID.

CONCLUSION

The CID patients had stronger rumination, reduced total and phasic REM sleep, and the stronger rumination was, the shorter phasic REM was and the higher fast (β) wave power in REM sleep.

Proteomic Analysis of Pediatric Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: a Comparative Study with Healthy Controls, Sepsis, Critical Ill, and Active Epstein-Barr virus Infection to Identify Altered Pathways and Candidate Biomarkers

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome characterized by excessive activation of the immune system, along with uncontrolled proliferation of activated macrophages and lymphocytes. The clinical features of HLH often overlap with the clinical features of other severe inflammatory conditions such as sepsis, hindering accurate and timely diagnosis. In this study, we performed a data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry-based plasma proteomic analysis of 33 pediatric patients with HLH compared with four control groups: 39 healthy children, 43 children with sepsis, 39 children hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit without confirmed infections, and 21 children with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection. Proteomic comparisons between the HLH group and each of the control groups showed that HLH was characterized by alterations in complement and coagulation cascades, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and platelet activation pathways. We identified eight differentially expressed proteins in patients with HLH, including plastin-2 (LCP1), vascular cell adhesion protein 1, fibrinogen beta chain, fibrinogen gamma chain, serum amyloid A-4 protein, extracellular matrix protein 1, apolipoprotein A-I, and albumin. LCP1 emerged as a candidate diagnostic marker for HLH with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.97 in the original cohort and an AUC of 0.90 (sensitivity = 0.83 and specificity = 1.0) in the validation cohort. Complement C1q subcomponent subunit B was associated with disease severity in patients with HLH. Based on comparisons with multiple control groups, this study provides a proteomic profile and candidate biomarkers of HLH, offering researchers novel information to improve the understanding of this condition.

A Three-Step Screening Procedure for Early Identification of Children at High Risk of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

PURPOSE

The first step in diagnosing hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is to suspect its presence and then order the appropriate diagnostic tests. The development of screening procedures for HLH could facilitate early diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated the utility of fever, splenomegaly, and cytopenias as screening criteria for identifying pediatric HLH at an early stage, built a screening model using commonly measured laboratory parameters, and developed a step-wise screening procedure for pediatric HLH.

METHODS

The medical records of 83,965 pediatric inpatients, including 160 patients with HLH, were collected retrospectively. The utility of fever, splenomegaly, hemoglobin level, and platelet and neutrophil counts at hospital admission as screening criteria for HLH was evaluated. For HLH patients who might be missed by screening based on the presence of fever, splenomegaly, and cytopenias, a screening model using common laboratory parameters was developed. Following that, a three-step screening procedure was then developed.

RESULTS

The criteria of cytopenias affecting two or more lineages plus fever or splenomegaly had a sensitivity of 51.9% and a specificity of 98.4% for identifying HLH in pediatric inpatients. Our screening score model comprises six parameters: splenomegaly, platelet count, neutrophil count, albumin level, total bile acid level, and lactate dehydrogenase level. The use of the validation set had a sensitivity of 87.0% and a specificity of 90.6%. A three-step screening procedure has been developed: Step 1: Is fever or splenomegaly present? (Yes: risk for HLH should be considered, go to Step 2; No: less likely HLH); Step 2: Are cytopenias affecting at least two lineages? (Yes: consider HLH; No: go to Step 3); Step 3: Calculate the screening score. Is the sum of the score greater than 37? (Yes: consider HLH; No: less likely HLH). The overall sensitivity and specificity of the three-step screening procedure were 91.9% and 94.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of pediatric HLH patients present at the hospital without having all three symptoms: fever, splenomegaly, and cytopenias. Our three-step screening procedure, utilizing commonly available clinical and laboratory parameters, can effectively identify pediatric patients who may be at high risk for HLH.

Decreased NK cells in cases of severe adenovirus pneumonia with liver dysfunction in pediatric intensive care unit: Evidence from 330 patients

BACKGROUND

Although the human adenovirus infection is common, adenovirus infection with liver dysfunction is rare.

METHODS

To retrospectively analyze and compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients diagnosed with severe adenovirus pneumonia with and without liver dysfunction, who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of Hunan Children's Hospital (South China University) between January 2018 and June 2022.

RESULTS

Of the 330 severe adenovirus pneumonia cases analyzed (mean age, 19.88 ± 18.26 months), 102 were girls and 228 were boys. They were divided into two groups: those with liver dysfunction (n = 54) and without liver dysfunction (n = 276). Comparison analysis showed no significant between-group differences in body mass index and levels of white blood cells, neutrophils, platelets, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, creatine kinase, procalcitonin, creatinine, and urea nitrogen. However, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (175.99 U/L vs 30.55 U/L) and aspartate transaminase (215.96 U/L vs 74.30 U/L) were significantly higher in patients with liver dysfunction compared to those without liver dysfunction. Further analysis showed that pediatric patients with liver dysfunction had a significantly lower percentage of natural killer (NK) cells (6.93% vs 8.71%) and higher mortality rate (22% vs 9%) than those without liver dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

A decrease in serum NK cell levels in pediatric patients with severe adenovirus pneumonia could serve as a marker for monitoring the onset or progression of hepatic damage.

Development of a screening score for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis among pediatric patients with acute infection of Epstein-Barr virus

Background and aims

Deciding when to suspect hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and perform diagnostic tests in patients with acute infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is challenging, given the high prevalence of EBV infection, the life-threatening risk of EBV-HLH, the relatively low incidence of EBV-HLH, and the wide spectrum of disease presentations. The aim of this study was to develop an EBV-HLH screening model for pediatric patients diagnosed with acute infection of EBV.

Methods

An inpatient cohort with 3183 pediatric patients who were diagnosed with active infection of EBV was used to construct and validate the EBV-HLH screening score model. The model parameters were selected from common laboratory parameters using the method of Akaike Information Criterion-optimal selection through cross-validation under logistic regression. Performance of the score was evaluated and compared with the performance of screening methods using the number of cytopenias lineages.

Results

The EBV-HLH screening score has five parameters, including hemoglobin, platelet, neutrophil, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase. Using a cut-of value of 29, the scoring model had a sensitivity of 89.2% and a specificity of 89.5% in the validation set. The false negative rate, false positive rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in the validation set was 10.8%, 10.5%, 26.8%, and 99.5%, respectively, similar to that of the training set.

Conclusions

With five common laboratory parameters, the EBV-HLH score provides a simple tool to assist the identification of EBV patients who require further evaluation of HLH. Further studies are needed to evaluate the generalizability of the score and optimize the diagnose process for EBV-HLH.

Fulfillment status of hypertriglyceridemia and hypofibrinogenemia in children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and risks of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and early mortality

Background

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening disorder. How to stratify high risk patients is one of the current challenges for the treatment of HLH. HLH patients usually fulfill multiple but not all eight diagnostic criteria. Different combinations of the fulfilled criteria may naturally cluster into previously undescribed subsets or phenotypes that may have different pathophysiology and demonstrate different risks for a poor outcome. The objectives of this study were to identify HLH subgroups according to the fulfillment of diagnostic criteria and evaluate the risk of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and 30-day mortality for subgroups. We retrospectively collect medical records of patients with discharge diagnosis of HLH between June 2015 and October 2018 from a tertiary children’s hospital in China. Latent class analysis was used to identify class defining variables from HLH diagnostic items, and subgroups were defined according to different combinations of the class defining variables.

Results

Triglyceride and fibrinogen were identified as the class defining variables. When evaluated in combinations, patients with hypertriglyceridemia and normal fibrinogen levels during hospitalization had the lowest risks for MODS (27.8%, OR = 1) and 30-day mortality (18.8%, OR = 1), and patients with normal triglyceride and hypofibrinogenemia had the highest risks for MODS (86.2%, OR = 16.24, P = 0.0002) and 30-day mortality (57.1%, OR = 5.78, P = 0.0187). The fulfillment status of hypertriglyceridemia and hypofibrinogenemia within 72 h of hospital admission was also associated with the risk of adverse outcomes.

Conclusions

The fulfillment status of hypertriglyceridemia and hypofibrinogenemia were associated with the risks of MODS and 30-day mortality among pediatric HLH patients. Further studies are needed to validate this association and investigate its clinical utility in the severity evaluation for HLH.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13023-022-02315-8.

Determination of the ^{27}Al Neutron Distribution Radius from a Parity-Violating Electron Scattering Measurement

We report the first measurement of the parity-violating elastic electron scattering asymmetry on ^{27}Al. The ^{27}Al elastic asymmetry is A_{PV}=2.16±0.11(stat)±0.16(syst)  ppm, and was measured at ⟨Q^{2}⟩=0.02357±0.00010  GeV^{2}, ⟨θ_{lab}⟩=7.61°±0.02°, and ⟨E_{lab}⟩=1.157  GeV with the Q_{weak} apparatus at Jefferson Lab. Predictions using a simple Born approximation as well as more sophisticated distorted-wave calculations are in good agreement with this result. From this asymmetry the ^{27}Al neutron radius R_{n}=2.89±0.12  fm was determined using a many-models correlation technique. The corresponding neutron skin thickness R_{n}-R_{p}=-0.04±0.12  fm is small, as expected for a light nucleus with a neutron excess of only 1. This result thus serves as a successful benchmark for electroweak determinations of neutron radii on heavier nuclei. A tree-level approach was used to extract the ^{27}Al weak radius R_{w}=3.00±0.15  fm, and the weak skin thickness R_{wk}-R_{ch}=-0.04±0.15  fm. The weak form factor at this Q^{2} is F_{wk}=0.39±0.04.

Associations between gut microbiota and thyroidal function status in Chinese patients with Graves' disease

OBJECTIVE

The imbalance of gut microbiota has been linked to manifold endocrine diseases, but the association with Graves' disease (GD) is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between human gut microbiota and clinical characteristics and thyroidal functional status of GD.

METHODS

14 healthy volunteers (CG) and 15 patients with primary GD (HG) were recruited as subjects. 16SrDNA high-throughput sequencing was performed on IlluminaMiSeq platform to analyze the characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with GD. Among them, the thyroid function of 13 patients basically recovered after treatment with anti-thyroid drugs (oral administration of Methimazole for 3-5 months). The fecal samples of patients after treatment (TG) were sequenced again, to further explore and investigate the potential relationship between dysbacteriosis and GD.

RESULTS

In terms of alpha diversity index, the observed OTUs, Simpson and Shannon indices of gut microbiota in patients with GD were significantly lower than those in healthy volunteers (P < 0.05).The difference of bacteria species was mainly reflected in the genus level, in which the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Veillonella and Streptococcus increased significantly in GD. After the improvement of thyroid function, a significant reduction at the genus level were Blautia, Corynebacter, Ruminococcus and Streptococcus, while Phascolarctobacterium increased significantly (P < 0.05). According to Spearman correlation analysis, the correlation between the level of thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Ruminococcus was positive, while Synergistetes and Phascolarctobacterium showed a negative correlation with TRAb. Besides, there were highly significant negative correlation between Synergistetes and clinical variables of TRAb, TPOAb and TGAb (P < 0.05, R <  - 0.6).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that functional status and TRAb level in GD were associated with composition and biological function in the gut microbiota, with Synergistetes and Phascolarctobacterium protecting the thyroid probably, while Ruminococcus and Lactobacillus may be novel biomarkers of GD.

Expanding the genotypes and phenotypes for 19 rare diseases by exome sequencing performed in pediatric intensive care unit

Phenotypes of some rare genetic diseases are atypical and it is a challenge for pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) to diagnose and manage such patients in an emergency. In this study, we investigated 58 PICU patients (39 deceased and 19 surviving) in critical ill status or died shortly without a clear etiology. Whole exome sequencing was performed of 103 DNA samples from their families. Disease-causing single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) were identified to do genotype-phenotypes analysis. In total, 27 (46.6%) patients received a genetic diagnosis. We identified 34 pathogenic or likely pathogenic SNVs from 26 genes, which are related to at least 19 rare diseases. Each rare disease involved an isolated patient except two patients caused by the same gene ACAT1. The genotypic spectrum was expanded by 23 novel SNVs from gene MARS1, PRRT2, TBCK, TOR1A, ECE1, ARX, ZEB2, ACAT1, CPS1, VWF, NBAS, COG4, and INVS. We also identified two novel pathogenic CNVs. Phenotypes associated with respiratory, multiple congenital anomalies, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders were the most common. Twenty patients (74.1%) accompanied severe infection, 19 patients (70.1%) died. In summary, our findings expanded the genotypes and phenotypes of 19 rare diseases from PICU with complex characteristics.

Diagnostic Time Lag of Pediatric Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Patient Characteristics: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The difficulties and challenges of applying the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria to early identification and diagnosis of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis have been fully addressed in previous studies. However, the distribution of the diagnostic time lag of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and related patient characteristics remain unclear. This study investigated the time lags between symptom onset and diagnosis and between hospital admission and diagnosis among pediatric patients with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and identified factors that associated with a shorter or longer diagnostic time lag. The cohort of patients with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was drawn from a tertiary children's hospital and consisted of 122 pediatric patients. The distributions of symptom-to-diagnosis and admission-to-diagnosis time lags were assessed. Clinical characteristics within 48 h of admission and the fulfillment of HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria were compared among admission-to-diagnosis time lag categories. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with an admission-to-diagnosis time lag >3 days. The median interval from first symptom onset to HLH diagnosis was 12 days (range 4-71 days) and the median interval from hospital admission to HLH diagnosis was 2 days (range 0-23 days). The following factors were negatively associated with admission-to-diagnosis > 3 days: Epstein-Barr virus infection; admission through pediatric intensive care unit; diagnosis established without NK-cell activity and soluble CD25 tests; the performance of all readily available diagnostic tests for HLH (within 48 and 72 h); concurrent fever, splenomegaly, and cytopenias within 48 h; hemophagocytosis, hypertriglyceridemia and/or hypofibrinogenemia within 48 h; and elevated ferritin, total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, and prothrombin time within 48 h. Our findings suggest that performance of adequate diagnostic tests for HLH is essential for early diagnosis of HLH. Once suspected, immediate and adequate diagnostic tests for HLH should be arranged for PICU patients. Improvements in diagnostic procedures and monitoring plans are needed to promote early diagnosis of HLH.

Precision Measurement of the Beam-Normal Single-Spin Asymmetry in Forward-Angle Elastic Electron-Proton Scattering

A beam-normal single-spin asymmetry generated in the scattering of transversely polarized electrons from unpolarized nucleons is an observable related to the imaginary part of the two-photon exchange process. We report a 2% precision measurement of the beam-normal single-spin asymmetry in elastic electron-proton scattering with a mean scattering angle of θ_{lab}=7.9° and a mean energy of 1.149 GeV. The asymmetry result is B_{n}=-5.194±0.067(stat)±0.082 (syst) ppm. This is the most precise measurement of this quantity available to date and therefore provides a stringent test of two-photon exchange models at far-forward scattering angles (θ_{lab}→0) where they should be most reliable.

Clinical profiles and risk factors of 7-day and 30-day mortality among 160 pediatric patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

BACKGROUND

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a relatively rare and life-threatening disorder. Early mortality remains significantly high among patients with HLH. Our aim was to investigate clinical features and risk factors associated with 7-day and 30-day mortality among pediatric HLH patients. We retrospectively collected medical records of patients with discharge diagnosis of HLH between August 2014 and October 2018 from a tertiary children's hospital in China. The main outcome measures were the 7-day and 30-day outcome after hospital admission. The associations between symptoms, concomitant diagnoses, laboratory test results, and the risk of 7-day and 30-day mortality were examined.

RESULTS

Among 160 pediatric HLH patients, 18 (11.3%) patients were deceased within 7 days after admission, and 46 (28.8%) patients were deceased within 30 days. The identified strong risk factors (OR > 10 and p < 0.05) for 30-day mortality were myocardial damage, severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, coagulopathy, gastrointestinal disorder, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Factors strongly associated with 7-day mortality were sepsis, myocardial damage, shock, and respiratory failure. All patients deceased within 7 days developed hepatic dysfunction, coagulopathy, and MODS.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified risk factors could help to stratify patients with high risk of early death, and need to be considered in the development of treatment protocols. As early mortality of HLH remains high, studies are needed to investigate how to initiate adequate HLH-directed treatment strategies for patients at higher risk of early death.

AB0152 LENABASUM, A CB2 AGONIST, INHIBITS INFLAMMASOME ACTIVATION

Background:

Upregulation of the innate immune response via the activity of Toll-like receptors and the NLRP3 inflammasome have been suggested as initiating events that can drive fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) (Pharmacol Ther. 2018;192:163). Lenabasum, a cannabinoid receptor type 2 agonist, is known to activate the resolution phase of acute human innate immune responses triggered through Toll-like receptor activation, favoring production of pro-resolving lipid mediators, reducing inflammatory infiltrates, and increasing bacterial clearance (Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018;104:675). Given the potential importance of inflammasome activation in the pathogenesis of SSc, the question remained whether lenabasum inhibits inflammasome activation.

Objectives:

Assess effects of lenabasum on IL-1β and IL-18 production induced by inflammasome activation.

Methods:

Primary human macrophages were derived from monocytes, stimulated with LPS and ATP to active inflammasomes and cultured with lenabasum. Levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were measured in cell supernatants by ELISA. Separately, human PBMC were activated with 0.1 µg/ml LPS ± 10 µM lenabasum for 24 hours, and effects of lenabasum on the levels of IL-1β and other pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured.

Results:

Lenabasum significantly inhibited IL-1β and IL-18 secretion by monocyte-derived macrophages, with IC50= 66.73 ± 3.92 nM and 349.23 ± 21.27 nM, respectively. A control inflammasome activation inhibitor, MCC950, which showed IC50= 18.33 ± 1.22 nM for IL-1 β inhibition and IC50= 21.43 ± 0.81 nM for IL-8 inhibition.

Conclusion:

Lenabasum inhibits inflammasome activation, which could contribute to potential therapeutic efficacy in SSc and other autoimmune diseases.

References:

[1]Henderson, J., S. Bhattacharyya, J. Varga, and S. O’Reilly. 2018. ‘Targeting TLRs and the inflammasome in systemic sclerosis’, Pharmacol Ther, 192: 163-69.

[2]Motwani, M. P., F. Bennett, P. C. Norris, A. A. Maini, M. J. George, J. Newson, A. Henderson, A. J. Hobbs, M. Tepper, B. White, C. N. Serhan, R. MacAllister, and D. W. Gilroy. 2018. ‘Potent Anti-Inflammatory and Pro-Resolving Effects of Anabasum in a Human Model of Self-Resolving Acute Inflammation’, Clin Pharmacol Ther, 104: 675-86.

Disclosure of Interests:

Subba Chintalacharuvu Shareholder of: Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Employee of: Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ping Zang Employee of: Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Barbara White Shareholder of: Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Employee of: Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sergei Atamas Shareholder of: Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Employee of: Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Elevated serum myoglobin levels at hospital admission and the risk of early death among patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: evidence from 155 pediatric patients

Patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) have high risk of early mortality. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the elevated level of serum myoglobin among patients with HLH is associated with disease severity and increased risk of mortality. We retrospectively investigated the serum myoglobin levels from 155 pediatric patients diagnosed with HLH in the Hunan Children's Hospital, China. The levels of myoglobin and creatine kinase at hospital admission among non-survivors and survivors were compared. The myoglobin level was dichotomized for the estimation of hazard ratio (HR) for mortality. Patients who died within 7 and 30 days of hospitalization had significantly higher myoglobin levels than did survivors (p < 0.05). The myoglobin level was negatively associated with the days of survival among non-survivors (Spearman correlation coefficient = - 0.29, p = 0.04). An elevated myoglobin level (> 90 ng/mL) was significantly associated with increased mortality (unadjusted HR = 2.66, 95%CI: 1.41, 5.00, p = 0.0024) and persisted after adjusting for age, Epstein-Barr virus infection, admission department, acute kidney injury, myocardial damage, and shock. In conclusion, an elevated serum myoglobin level was associated with increased risk of early death among pediatric patients with HLH, suggesting the potential of myoglobin to be used as a reference indicator for monitoring and managing of HLH.

[Correlation between serum bilirubin and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes]

Objective: To investigate the correlation between serum bilirubin and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: A total of 369 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital from April 2017 to October 2018 were enrolled, including 226 males and 143 females, with an average age of (54.6±12.1) years. According to cardiovascular reflex tests (CARTs), all the patients were divided into Non CAN group(149 patients without CAN) and CAN group (220 patients complicated with CAN). The difference of serum bilirubin levels between the two groups was compared. The differences of CARTs and the incidence of CAN were compared by tertiles of serum bilirubin levels. The binary logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. Results: The serum total bilirubin [(9.28±2.74) μmol/L vs (11.08±2.98) μmol/L, P<0.001], direct bilirubin [(3.17±1.20) μmol/L vs (3.71±1.24) μmol/L, P<0.001] and indirect bilirubin levels [(6.11±1.89) μmol/L vs (7.37±2.10) μmol/L, P<0.001] in CAN group were significantly lower than that in Non CAN group. With the increase of serum bilirubin, the incidence of CAN decreased (P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that serum total bilirubin (OR=0.819, 95%CI: 0.744-0.901, P<0.001), direct bilirubin (OR=0.739, 95%CI: 0.601-0.908, P=0.004) and indirect bilirubin (OR=0.749, 95%CI: 0.653-0.860, P<0.001) were inversely correlated with the incidence of CAN. Conclusions: Within the physiological range, lower level of serum bilirubin is inversely correlated with the incidence of CAN. It is noteworthy to screen diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had a lower serum bilirubin level.

[Clinical effect of feeding with calorie-enriched formula in children with ventricular septal defect and severe pneumonia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of different energy feeding patterns on the nutritional status, clinical course, and outcome of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and severe pneumonia.

METHODS

A total of 43 malnourished infants, aged <6 months, who were diagnosed with ventricular septal defect and severe pneumonia and underwent surgical operation from January 1 to December 30, 2017 were enrolled. They were randomly divided into an observation group with 21 infants and a control group with 22 infants. The infants in the observation group were given calorie-enriched formula milk powder (100 kcal/100 mL) after surgery, and those in the control group were given formula milk powder with normal calories (67 kcal/100 mL). The two groups were observed for 3 months to record physical measurements, laboratory markers and nutritional risk screening results. Nutritional status was evaluated for all infants. The two groups were compared in terms of prognosis and adverse events.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two groups in physical measurements, laboratory markers, nutritional assessment and nutritional risk screening results on admission (P>0.05). At discharge and 1 and 3 months after surgery, the control group had significantly higher degree of malnutrition and level of nutritional risk than the observation group (P<0.05). The analysis of variance with repeated measures showed significant differences in body weight, upper arm circumference, weight-for-age Z-score, height-for-age Z-score, weight-for-height Z-score, and albumin level at different time points and between different groups, and there was an interaction between group factors and time factors (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had a significantly lower average daily intake of fluid, a significantly higher average daily intake of energy, and a significantly lower incidence rate of insufficient feeding during hospitalization (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly shorter length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and duration of postoperative pyrexia, as well as significantly lower hospital costs (P<0.05). No significant adverse reactions were observed in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

An appropriate increase in postoperative energy supply for children with CHD can improve the status of malnutrition and clinical outcome.

[Clinical effect of feeding with calorie-enriched formula in children with ventricular septal defect and severe pneumonia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of different energy feeding patterns on the nutritional status, clinical course, and outcome of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and severe pneumonia.

METHODS

A total of 43 malnourished infants, aged <6 months, who were diagnosed with ventricular septal defect and severe pneumonia and underwent surgical operation from January 1 to December 30, 2017 were enrolled. They were randomly divided into an observation group with 21 infants and a control group with 22 infants. The infants in the observation group were given calorie-enriched formula milk powder (100 kcal/100 mL) after surgery, and those in the control group were given formula milk powder with normal calories (67 kcal/100 mL). The two groups were observed for 3 months to record physical measurements, laboratory markers and nutritional risk screening results. Nutritional status was evaluated for all infants. The two groups were compared in terms of prognosis and adverse events.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two groups in physical measurements, laboratory markers, nutritional assessment and nutritional risk screening results on admission (P>0.05). At discharge and 1 and 3 months after surgery, the control group had significantly higher degree of malnutrition and level of nutritional risk than the observation group (P<0.05). The analysis of variance with repeated measures showed significant differences in body weight, upper arm circumference, weight-for-age Z-score, height-for-age Z-score, weight-for-height Z-score, and albumin level at different time points and between different groups, and there was an interaction between group factors and time factors (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had a significantly lower average daily intake of fluid, a significantly higher average daily intake of energy, and a significantly lower incidence rate of insufficient feeding during hospitalization (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly shorter length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and duration of postoperative pyrexia, as well as significantly lower hospital costs (P<0.05). No significant adverse reactions were observed in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

An appropriate increase in postoperative energy supply for children with CHD can improve the status of malnutrition and clinical outcome.

Targeting druggable enzymome by exploiting natural medicines: An in silico-in vitro integrated approach to combating multidrug resistance in bacterial infection

CONTEXT

Antibiotic resistance is a major clinical and public health problem. Development of new therapeutic approaches to prevent bacterial multidrug resistance during antimicrobial chemotherapy has thus been becoming a primary consideration in the medicinal chemistry community.

OBJECTIVE

We described a new strategy that combats multidrug resistance by using natural medicines to target the druggable enzymome (i.e., enzymatic proteome) of Staphylococcus aureus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A pipeline of integrating in silico analysis and in vitro assay was purposed to identify antibacterial agents from a large library of natural products with diverse structures, high drug-likeness, and relatively low flexibility, with which a systematic interactome of 826 natural product candidates with 125 functionally essential S. aureus enzymes was constructed via a high-throughput cross-docking approach. The obtained docking score matrix was then converted into an array of synthetic scores; each corresponds to a natural product candidate. By systematically examining the docking results, a number of highly promising candidates with potent antibacterial activity were suggested.

RESULTS

Three natural products, i.e., radicicol, jorumycin, and amygdalin, have been determined to possess strong broad-spectrum potency combating both the drug-resistant and drug-sensitive strains (MIC value <10 μg/ml). In addition, some natural products such as tetrandrine, bilobalide, and arbutin exhibited selective inhibition on different strains.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics analysis revealed diverse non-bonded interactions across the complex interfaces of newly identified antibacterial agents with their putative targets GyrB ATPase and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase.

Renal protective effects of induction of haem oxygenase-1 combined with increased adiponectin on the glomerular vascular endothelial growth factor-nitric oxide axis in obese rats

What is the central question of this study? This study aimed to investigate whether induction of haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) can protect the kidneys of obese rats by regulating the glomerular vascular endothelial growth factor-nitric oxide (VEGF-NO) axis by increasing the adiponectin concentrations. What is the main finding and its importance? Induction of HO-1 reduces the degree of microalbuminuria and has renal protective effects by improving endothelial function and regulating the uncoupled glomerular VEGF-NO axis in diet-induced obese rats. The mechanism may be related to increased activation of the HO-1-adiponectin axis. The glomerular vascular endothelial growth factor-nitric oxide (VEGF-NO) axis plays a critical role in maintenance of normal kidney function in obesity. Induction of haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) may result in a parallel increase in adiponectin secretion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether induction of HO-1 could protect the kidneys of obese rats by regulating the glomerular VEGF-NO axis by increasing adiponectin levels. Rats received high-fat diets and were injected with either cobalt protoporphyrin to induce HO-1 or stannous protoporphyrin to inhibit HO-1. Blood and urine samples were collected. Endothelial function was determined by measuring the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of the aorta. Renal tissues were collected for CD34 immunohistochemistry. The glomerular VEGF-NO axis and the AMP kinase-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway were measured. Induction of HO-1 by cobalt protoporphyrin decreased microalbuminuria, plasma free fatty acids, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and malondialdehyde levels and increased serum adiponectin levels compared with the untreated obese rats. Severe impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was observed in the obese rats, which was improved to some extent by HO-1 induction. Induction of HO-1 reduced glomerular CD34 expression and production of reactive oxygen species in obese rats. Obese rats showed increased glomerular VEGF expression and reduced NO levels. This uncoupling of the glomerular VEGF-NO axis was improved to some extent by induction of HO-1, with enhancement of p-AMP kinase, p-Akt and phospho-endothelial nitric oxide synthase in obese rats. These results indicate that induction of HO-1 with cobalt protoporphyrin reduces the degree of microalbuminuria and has renal protective effects by improving endothelial dysfunction and regulating the glomerular VEGF-NO axis in diet-induced obese rats by increasing adiponectin levels.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate regulates the expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 through myocyte enhancer factor 2A

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant and free ion scavenger found in green tea, exhibits inhibitory effects on different stages of tumorigenesis. Within gastric cancer cells, the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is downregulated, and it is possible that EGCG exerts its anti-tumorigenic function through modulation of KLF4 expression. In order to examine the effects of EGCG on KLF4 in a gastric tumor model, we treated the gastric cancer cell line NCI-N87 with EGCG. We found that EGCG treatment results in increased expression of KLF4 and alters expression of the KLF4 target genes p21, CDK4, and cyclin D1. EGCG inhibits the growth of NCI-N87 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner through arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining revealed that EGCG is able to promote apoptosis of NCI-N87 cells. The suppressive effects of EGCG on cell growth and cell cycle protein expression are eliminated by decreasing KLF4 mRNA using siRNA and are magnified by overexpressing KLF4. Using KLF4 reporter constructs, we verified that the elevated expression induced by EGCG was mediated by increasing levels of activated MEF2A, which bound to the promoter region of KLF4. Taken together, this is the first time that EGCG is reported to increase the expression of KLF4, suggesting a novel mechanisms in gastric cancer treatment.

(1)H NMR metabolomics identification of markers of hypoxia-induced metabolic shifts in a breast cancer model system

Hypoxia can promote invasive behavior in cancer cells and alters the response to therapeutic intervention as a result of changes in the expression many genes, including genes involved in intermediary metabolism. Although metabolomics technologies are capable of simultaneously measuring a wide range of metabolites in an untargeted manner, these methods have been relatively under utilized in the study of cancer cell responses to hypoxia. Thus, (1)H NMR metabolomics was used to examine the effects of hypoxia in the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line, both in vitro and in vivo. Cell cultures were compared with respect to their metabolic responses during growth under either hypoxic (1% O(2)) or normoxic conditions. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to identify a set of metabolites that were responsive to hypoxia. Via intracardiac administration, MDA-MB-231 cells were also used to generate widespread metastatic disease in immuno-compromised mice. Serum metabolite analysis was conducted to compare animals with and without a large tumor burden. Intriguingly, using a cross-plot of the OPLS loadings, both the in vitro and in vivo samples yielded a subset of metabolites that were significantly altered by hypoxia. These included primarily energy metabolites and amino acids, indicative of known alterations in energy metabolism, and possibly protein synthesis or catabolism. The results suggest that the metabolite pattern identified might prove useful as a marker for intra-tumoral hypoxia.

Astrocytic Adrenoceptors: A Major Drug Target in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders?

Considerable attention has recently been paid to astrocyte functions, which are briefly summarized. A large amount of data is available about adrenoceptor expression and function in astrocytes, some of it dating back to the 1970's and some of it very recent. This material is reviewed in the present paper. The brain is innervated by noradrenergic fibers extending from locus coeruleus in the brain stem, which in turn is connected to a network of adrenergic and noradrenergic nuclei in the medulla and pons, contributing to the control of (nor)adrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic and cholinergic function, both in the central nervous system (CNS) and in the periphery. In the CNS astrocytes constitute a major target for noradrenergic innervation, which regulates morphological plasticity, energy metabolism, membrane transport, gap junction permeability and immunological responses in these cells. Noradrenergic effects on astrocytes are essential during consolidation of episodic, long-term memory, which is reinforced by beta-adrenergic activation. Glycogenolysis and synthesis of glutamate and glutamine from glucose, both of which are metabolic processes restricted to astrocytes, occur at several time-specific stages during the consolidation. Astrocytic abnormalities are almost certainly important in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and in all probability contribute essentially to inflammation and malfunction in Alzheimer's disease and to mood disturbances in affective disorders. Noradrenergic function in astrocytes is severely disturbed by chronic exposure to cocaine, which also changes astrocyte morphology. Development of drugs modifying noradrenergic receptor activity and/or down-stream signaling is advocated for treatment of several neurological/psychiatric disorders and for neuroprotection. Astrocytic preparations are suggested for study of mechanism(s) of action of antidepressant drugs and pathophysiology of mood disorders.

[Determination and significance of catecholamines in aqueous humor, plasma and 24 hour urine of patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma]

OBJECTIVE

To study the functional state of ocular and systemic sympathetic nervous system and the effects of its related neurohumoral factor, catecholamines (CA), on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG).

METHODS

The levels of CA in the aqueous humor, plasma and the total amount of CA in 24 hour urine of cases with AACG during attack stage were determined with fluorometry, and the results were compared to that of patients with senile cataract and normal adults.

RESULTS

The CA levels within aqueous humor and plasma and in 24 hour urine of the patients with AACG during attack stage were elevated obviously as compared with that of the control subjects (P < 0.001), and positively correlated with the level of IOP.

CONCLUSION

During attack stage of AACG, the ocular sympathetic nervous system is highly excited and a large amount of CA is released into the aqueous humor, in the meantime the systemic sympathetic nervous system is also excited and CA is released into the blood circulation, which may play a certain role in the regulation of IOP. Possibly, CA is an important supplemental factor within the attack stage of AACG.