Search

Using multiple-scale mobile gravity data in the Sichuan-Yunnan area, we systematically analyzed the relationships between spatial-temporal gravity changes and the 2014 Ludian, Yunnan Province Ms6.5 earthquake and the 2014 Kangding Ms6.3, 2013 Lushan Ms7.0, and 2008 Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquakes in Sichuan Province. Our main results are as follows. (1) Before the occurrence of large earthquakes, gravity anomalies occur in a large area around the epicenters. The directions of gravity change gradient belts usually agree roughly with the directions of the main fault zones of the study area. Such gravity changes might reflect the increase of crustal stress, as well as the significant active tectonic movements and surface deformations along fault zones, during the period of gestation of great earthquakes. (2) Continuous significant changes of the multiple-scale gravity fields, as well as greater gravity changes with larger time scales, can be regarded as medium-range precursors of large earthquakes. The subsequent large earthquakes always occur in the area where the gravity changes greatly. (3) The spatial-temporal gravity changes are very useful in determining the epicenter of coming large earthquakes. The large gravity networks are useful to determine the general areas of coming large earthquakes. However, the local gravity networks with high spatial-temporal resolution are suitable for determining the location of epicenters. Therefore, denser gravity observation networks are necessary for better forecasts of the epicenters of large earthquakes. (4) Using gravity changes from mobile observation data, we made medium-range forecasts of the Kangding, Ludian, Lushan, and Wenchuan earthquakes, with especially successful forecasts of the location of their epicenters. Based on the above discussions, we emphasize that medium-/long-term potential for large earthquakes might exist nowadays in some areas with significant gravity anomalies in the study region. Thus, the monitoring should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether the combination of neoadjuvant hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (NHIPEC) plus intravenous neoadjuvant chemotherapy (IV NACT) has superior efficacy to IV NACT alone. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Two tertiary referral university hospitals. Population Patients with ovarian cancer who received NACT‐interval debulking surgery (IDS) between 2012 and 2020. Methods: The tumour response to NACT was evaluated with the chemotherapy response score (CRS) system. Survival outcomes were compared. Main outcome measures: CRS 3, progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: In total, 127 patients were included, and 46 received NHIPEC plus IV NACT. The addition of NHIPEC was independently associated with an increased likelihood of CRS 3 (p = 0.033). Patients who received NHIPEC + IV NACT had significantly improved PFS compared with those who received IV NACT alone (median PFS: 22 versus 16 months, p < 0.001). The use of NHIPEC was identified as an independent predictor of PFS (p < 0.0001). OS did not differ significantly between treatment groups (p = 0.062), although a trend favouring NHIPEC was noted. Incidence of grade 3–4 adverse events and the surgical complexity score of IDS were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: Compared with IV NACT alone, the combination of NHIPEC and IV NACT resulted in improved tumour response and longer PFS. The addition of NHIPEC did not increase the risk of adverse effects or affect the complexity of IDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objectives In the winter of 2013, people were facing the risk of human-to-human transmission of the re-emerging influenza A(H7N9) virus. We report herein information on the clinical features of two patients from the same family infected with this virus, the genomic sequences of the viruses harbored, and antiviral drug sensitivity. Methods Clinical and epidemiological data of two patients from the same family were collected and analyzed. Sequencing was done for the viruses isolated from these two patients and one epidemiologically related chicken, and the sequences of the eight gene segments of the viruses were analyzed phylogenetically. The sensitivity of the viruses to antiviral drug treatment was determined by neuraminidase inhibitor susceptibility test. Results The two patients from one family cluster shared the same symptoms but had different outcomes, and had a strong epidemiological link. Three strains, two from these two patients and one from the chicken, were isolated. Genome sequencing and analyses of phylogenetic trees demonstrated that the two viruses were almost identical. We noted the presence of the PB2 E627K amino acid substitution that was not present in isolates from the first wave, as well as two new mutations in the NA gene and six in the PB2 gene. Drug sensitivity testing showed that the new isolates were resistant to oseltamivir but sensitive to peramivir. Conclusions The two patients from one family cluster were probable human-to-human transmission cases. The new isolates were sensitive to peramivir but showed reduced sensitivity to oseltamivir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deregulation of Bcl2L12 expression in cancer has been recognized, but the causative factors are unknown. Histone acetyltransferases (HAT) play critical roles in the regulation gene transcription. This study tests a hypothesis that the aberrant activities of HAT induce deregulation of Bcl2L12 in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). In this study, human NPC tissues were collected from the clinic. The expression of Bcl2L12 and HATs in NPC cells was analyzed by real time RT-PCR and Western blotting. NPC cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that by screening the subtypes of HAT, the levels of HAT1 were uniquely higher in NPC as compared with non-cancer nasopharyngeal tissue. The levels of Bcl2L12 in NPC cells were positively correlated with HAT1. HAT1 involved in the STAT5 binding to the Bcl2L12 promoter. HAT1 increased the expression of Bcl2L12. Bcl2L12 mediated the effects of HAT1 on suppressing NPC cell apoptosis. Absorption of the HAT1 shRNA plasmid-carrying liposomes induced NPC cell apoptosis. In conclusion, inhibition of HAT1 can induce NPC cell apoptosis via increasing Bcl2L12 expression, which can be a potential therapy for NPC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurogenic pulmonary edema caused by severe brainstem encephalitis is the leading cause of death in young children infected by Enterovirus 71 (EV71). However, no pulmonary lesions have been found in EV71-infected transgenic or non-transgenic mouse models. Development of a suitable animal model is important for studying EV71 pathogenesis and assessing effect of therapeutic approaches. We had found neurological disorders in EV71-induced young gerbils previously. Here, we report severe pulmonary lesions characterized with pulmonary congestion and hemorrhage in a gerbil model for EV71 infection. In the EV71-infected gerbils, six 21-day-old or younger gerbils presented with a sudden onset of symptoms and rapid illness progression after inoculation with 1×105.5 TCID50 of EV71 via intraperitoneal (IP) or intramuscular (IM) route. Respiratory symptoms were observed along with interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary congestion and extensive lung hemorrhage could be detected in the lung tissues by histopathological examination. EV71 viral titer was found to be peak at late stages of infection. EV71-induced pulmonary lesions, together with severe neurological disorders were also observed in gerbils, accurately mimicking the disease process in EV71-infected patients. Passive transfer with immune sera from EV71 infected adult gerbils with a neutralizing antibody (GMT=89) prevented severe pulmonary lesion formation after lethal EV71 challenge. These results establish this gerbil model as a useful platform for studying the pathogenesis of EV71-induced pulmonary lesions, immunotherapy and antiviral drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent reports have characterized virological and clinical features of the novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus. However, cardiovascular involvement during H7N9 infection is still unclear. In this study, we evaluate cardiac injury among H7N9-infected patients. Materials and Methods A total of 40 patients who were laboratory-confirmed with H7N9 infection were retrospectively included and grouped by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II ( APACHE II) score into four subgroups I(0-10), II(11-20), III(21-30) and IV(31-71). Cardiovascular complications and markers of cardiac injury including creatinine kinase ( CK), CK iso-enzyme ( CK- MB), cardiac troponin I ( cTNI) and brain natriuretic peptide ( BNP) were assessed. Electrocardiogram ( ECG) and echocardiography ( ECHO) were also performed. Results Half of patients manifested with cardiovascular complications, with hypotension (47·5%) and heart failure (40·0%) the most prevalent. CK, CK- MB and cTNI showed marked increase with H7N9 virus infection but significantly decreased after H7N9 viral tests turned negative. More than half of patients presented with an abnormal ECG, but most of them are benign changes. ECHO examination showed different degree of impairment of cardiac function. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure was increased in all groups. Cardiac damage was more evident in patients with higher APACHE II score. Conclusions H7N9 virus exerts a transient impairment on the cardiovascular system. Patients with a higher APACHE II score are more susceptible to cardiac damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Appropriate antimicrobial dosing for patients receiving continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) is complex. Pharmacist participation in antimicrobial dosing adjustment for patients receiving CVVH may be advantageous. Methods A comparative study was performed in a China hospital intensive care unit (ICU).Patients receiving CVVH in the intervention group received antimicrobial dosing adjustment service by pharmacists from January 2012 to June 2012, whereas patients in the control group received routine medical care between July 2012 and December 2012. The primary outcomes including patients’ length of ICU stay, mortality in ICU, ICU hospitalization costs, and the occurrence of adverse drug events (ADEs) were then compared. Results 87 and 93 patients were included in the control and intervention groups. During the intervention period, pharmacists made 256 antimicrobial dosing adjustment recommendations for 93 enrolled patients receiving CVVH, of which 224 (87.5%) recommendations were accepted by physicians. Changing in CVVH-related variables (175, 68.4%) were the most common risk factors for dosing errors, whereas β-lactams (131, 51.2%) were the most frequency of antimicrobials associated with dosing errors. Compared with the control group, pharmacist dosing adjustment resulted in £1637.7 cost savings per patient, and 2.36 times reduction of antimicrobial-related adverse drug events (ADEs) (11 vs 26, P = 0.002), while length of ICU stay and mortality in ICU showed no significant difference ( P > 0.05). Conclusions The involvement of pharmacist to participate in the ICU team rounds for patients receiving CVVH is associated with cost savings and reduction of ADEs. Hospital may consider employing ICU pharmacists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]