Search

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with high morbidity, disability, and fatality rate, significantly increasing the global burden of public health. The failure in drug discovery over the past decades has stressed the urgency and importance of seeking new perspectives. Recently, gut microbiome (GM), with the ability to communicate with the brain bidirectionally through the microbiome–gut–brain axis, has attracted much attention in AD-related studies, owing to their strong associations with amyloids, systematic and focal inflammation, impairment of vascular homeostasis and gut barrier, mitochondrial dysfunction, etc., making the regulation of GM, specifically supplementation of probiotics a promising candidate for AD treatment. This article aims to review the leading-edge knowledge concerning potential roles of GM in AD pathogenesis and of probiotics in its treatment and prevention.

C28H22CuN2O4, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 17.2971(3) Å, b = 14.4409(3) Å, c = 9.5617(2) Å, β = 90.580(2)°, V = 2388.25(8) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0536, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1406, T = 293 K.

C14H20CdCl2N4O4, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 8.261(3) Å, b = 16.390(5) Å, c = 13.967(4) Å, β = 95.850(4)°, V = 1881.3(10) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0342, wRref(F2) = 0.0873, T = 296 K.

C11H16Br2N4O2Zn, monoclinic, Cc (no. 9), a = 15.534(7) Å, b = 7.956(4) Å, c = 14.589(7) Å, β = 119.094(8)°, V = 1575.5(13) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0296, wRref(F2) = 0.0703, T = 296 K.

Aiming at the problem that there is a large deviation of the spin-stabilized satellite using infrared benchmark for attitude controlling, the control theory of isoclinic angle is described firstly, the difference between the solar reference and infrared benchmark on attitude controlling is analyzed，the main cause leading to the large deviation using infrared benchmark is also explained. A method of execution angle compensation and correction is put forward finally. Verified by simulation, the control precision is improved effectively after execution angle correction.

The development of homemade computer system of measurement and controlling becomes quickly, but the research of software time on Kylin is still on an underway phase. This paper puts forward the software time project, and tests the performance. The test result shows that the performance of the software time accords with the technology criterion, and the software time project supports the technology instructor of system manufacture.

C14H20CdCl2N4O4, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 8.261(3) Å, b = 16.390(5) Å, c = 13.967(4) Å, β = 95.850(4)°, V = 1881.3(10) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0342, wRref(F2) = 0.0873, T = 296 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C11H16Br2N4O2Zn, monoclinic, Cc (no. 9), a = 15.534(7) Å, b = 7.956(4) Å, c = 14.589(7) Å, β = 119.094(8)°, V = 1575.5(13) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0296, wRref(F2) = 0.0703, T = 296 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of miRNA-145 and miRNA-218 in serum of patients with laryngeal cancer and the relationship between them and the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were investigated. The clinical medical records of 132 patients with laryngeal cancer, who were admitted to Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital from February 2009 to March 2014, were retrospectively analyzed and comprised the study group. The data of physical examinations of 56 healthy volunteers who took physical examinations in the same hospital comprised the control group. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of miRNA-145 and miRNA-218 in serum of the patients in the two groups. According to the relative expression levels of miRNA-145 and miRNA-218 in serum of the patients in the study group on the day when they left hospital, the study group was divided into the high expression group (n=73 patients) and the low expression group (n=59 patients). The patients received a 48-month follow-up visit and their survival condition was recorded and the Kaplan-Meier was used to carry out the survival analysis. The expression levels of miRNA-145 and miRNA-218 in serum of the patients in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The median survival time of the patients in the high expression group was 30 months while the median survival time of the patients in the low expression group was 26 months. The expression levels of miRNA-145 and miRNA-218 in serum of patients with laryngeal cancer decreased, the higher the expression levels of miRNA-145 and miRNA-218 in serum of patients with laryngeal cancer were, the better the prognosis was. miRNA-145 and miRNA-218 were used as indicators of assessing the prognosis of patients with laryngeal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of paeonol derivatives containing the 1,4-benzoxazinone and 1,2,3-triazole moieties were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity in vitro against human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H1299 cells and human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Among them, compared with that of paeonol, compounds 8-acetyl-4-{[(1-(5-chloro-2-nitrophenyl)-1 H -1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]methyl}-5-methoxy-2 H -1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one, 8-acetyl-4-[(1-mesityl-1 H -1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl]-5-methoxy-2 H -1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one, and 8-acetyl-5-methoxy-4-{[(1-(naphthalen-1-yl)-1 H -1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]methyl}-2 H -1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one exhibited significant inhibitory activity toward the human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H1299 cells (IC50 = 13.36 ± 0.003, 19.75 ± 0.3, 15.79 ± 0.05 μg mL−1). The last compound also exhibited significant inhibitory activity toward the human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells (IC50 = 19.73 ± 1.0 μg mL−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the requirement of quick response ability for air defense command system decision, this paper provides an architecture and function description, and proposes a general method of information fusion suitable for aerial information fusion. The proposed method and model algorithm formulize and digitize the complex process of air defense command system information fusion. Simulation results prove that the model is correct and effective. The model has already been applied in engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymmetric binuclear copper(I) complex [Cu 2 (dppm) 2 (C 7 H 7 N)(μ-NO 3 )](NO 3 ) (dppm = Ph 2 PCH 2 PPh 2 , C 7 H 7 N = 4-vinylpyridine) has been prepared and characterized. The complex is photoluminescent at room temperature. Crystals are triclinic space group , with cell parameters a = 11.638(2), b = 12.621(3), c = 18.516(4) Å, α = 89.20(3), β = 83.11(3), γ = 76.04(3)°, V = 2619.5(9) Å 3 , D c = 1.426 g cm -3 , Z = 2, μ = 0.988 mm -1 , R = 0.0497 for 6574 independently observed reflections with I > 2σ( I ). The structure consists of [Cu 2 (dppm) 2 (C 7 H 7 N)(μ-NO 3 )] + cations and nitrate anions. Copper atoms show different coordination modes; Cu(2) has a distorted trigonal and Cu(1) a tetrahedral geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the synthesis and crystal structure of the title compound diaqua-(2,4-dihydroxybenzoato-κ2O,O')-(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2N,N') nickel(II) 2,4-dihydroxybenzoate (C28H26N2NiO10). Topics discussed include source of material, experimental data, and the use of 2,9-dimethyl-phenanthroline in coordination chemistry. Also provided is a table which shows information on data collection.

The article discusses the synthesis and crystal structure of the title compound diaqua-(2,4-dihydroxybenzoato-κ2O,O')-(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2N,N') nickel(II) 2,4-dihydroxybenzoate (C28H26N2NiO10). Topics discussed include source of material, experimental data, and the use of 2,9-dimethyl-phenanthroline in coordination chemistry. Also provided is a table which shows information on data collection.

C16H17N, orthorhombic, Pbca (no. 61), a = 10.3706(10) Å, b = 8.3879(7) Å, c = 29.555(3) Å, V = 2,570.9(4) Å3, Z = 8, R gt (F) = 0.0579, wR ref (F2) = 0.1327, T = 293(2) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C14H20CdCl2N4O4, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 8.261(3) Å, b = 16.390(5) Å, c = 13.967(4) Å, β = 95.850(4)°, V = 1881.3(10) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0342, wRref(F2) = 0.0873, T = 296 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Homocysteine (HCY) and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were suggested to be involved in post-stroke depression (PSD), which is a frequent mood disorder after stroke. However, the combined effect of HCY and hs-CRP on PSD remains unclear. Methods A total of 598 acute ischemic stroke patients from 7 of 26 centers participating in the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke with HCY or hs-CRP measurements were included in this analysis. PSD status was evaluated by 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at 3 months after stroke. Results Two hundred and forty-one (40.30%) participants were considered as PSD. HCY and hs-CRP levels were not significantly different between PSD and non-PSD patients. Interesting, in a maximally adjusted model, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of PSD was 1.90 (1.18–3.06) for coexistence of HCY ≥ 14.65 μmol/l and hs-CRP ≥ 1.90 mg/l compared with the other levels (HCY < 14.65 μmol/l and/or hs-CRP < 1.90 mg/l). Adding combination of HCY and hs-CRP to a model containing conventional risk factors could significantly improve risk reclassification for PSD. Conclusions Coexistence of both higher HCY and higher hs-CRP in the acute phase of ischemic stroke were associated with subsequent PSD, independently of established conventional risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of alkylphenols to environment cannot be ignored, as they are common product from chemical industries and potential threat to human health. Some alkylphenols are listed as persistent toxic substances (PTS) by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In this study, the optimized magnetic reduced graphene oxide (MrGO) was synthesized by a facile solvothermal method, and investigated for adsorption of three typical alkylphenols. In neutral condition, MrGO showed extremely high adsorption capacity of three typical alkylphenols, 4-heptylphenol (4-HP), 4- tert -octylphenol (4-OP), and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), which could reach 938.9 mg g−1 (40 °C), 987.8 mg g−1 (40 °C), and 989.7 mg g−1 (20 °C), respectively. This study revealed that the adsorption process was a heterogeneous multi-layer physical adsorption, and the adsorption rates were related to the number of unoccupied vacancies on the adsorbent surface. From batch experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the main adsorption interactions between MrGO and alkylphenols were deduced to be π–π, hydrogen-bond, and hydrophobic interactions. What's more, the different affinities of MrGO towards different targets were further distinguished and explained in detail. The wonderful stability and recyclability of MrGO made it a promising cost-effective remediation candidate. • Magnetic reduced graphene oxide exhibits excellent adsorption for target phenols. • Adsorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich adsorption isotherm. • The strong adsorption was due to hydrogen-bond, π-π interaction and hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess voice changes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using subjective and objective assessment tools and to make inferences regarding the underlying pathological causes for different phases of radiotherapy (RT)., Methods: A total of 187 (123 males and 64 females) patients with post-RT NPC with no recurrence of malignancy or other voice diseases and 17 (11 males and 6 females) healthy individuals were included in this study. The patients were equally divided into 11 groups according to the number of years after RT. The acoustic analyses, GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain) scales, and Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10 scores were collected and analyzed., Results: The fundamental frequency (F0) parameters in years 1 and 2 and year 11 were significantly lower in patients with NPC than in healthy individuals. The maximum phonation times in years 1 and 11 were significantly shorter than those in healthy individuals. The jitter parameters were significantly different between year 1 and from years 8 to 11 and the healthy individuals. The shimmer parameters were significantly different between years 1, from years 9 to 11, and healthy individuals. Hoarseness was the most prominent problem compared to other items of the GRBAS. The VHI-10 scores were significantly different between years 1 and 2 and year 11 after RT in patients with NPC., Conclusions: Voice quality was worse in the first 2 years and from years 8 to 11 but remained relatively normal from years 3 to 7 after RT. Patient-reported voice handicaps began during year 3 after RT. The most prominent problem was perceived hoarseness, which was evident in the first 2 years and from years 9 to 11 after RT. The radiation-induced mucous edema, laryngeal intrinsic muscle fibrosis, nerve injuries, upper respiratory tract changes, and decreased lung capacity might be the pathological reasons for voice changes in post-RT patients with NPC., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have declared that no competing financial or non-financial interests existed at the time of publication., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study explored electrophysiological changes in the laryngeal motor neuropathway and determined whether lesions in the laryngeal motor cortex (LMC) and its descending tract contribute to voice deterioration and peripheral nerve palsy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) postradiotherapy (RT)., Study Designs: Prospective cohort study., Methods: Twenty-two patients with NPC at 2 to 4years post-RT (8 female and 14 male), 22 patients with NPC at 8 to 10years post-RT (8 female and 14 male), and 22 healthy individuals (9 female and 13 male) were selected to test their magnetic evoked potentials (MEP), motor nerve conduction, and voice quality using transcranial magnetic stimulation, laryngeal electromyography, and the XION DiVAS acoustic analysis software. Three groups were matched according to approximate age. Multiple comparisons were performed among the three groups., Results: The voice quality of post-RT patients with NPC deteriorated compared to that of healthy individuals. Bilateral LMC and their corticonuclear tracts to the bilateral ambiguous nuclei of post-RT patients with NPC were impaired according to multigroup comparisons of MEP amplitudes, latencies, and resting motor thresholds. The vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN) of post-RT patients with NPC were impaired according to multigroup comparisons of the amplitude and latencies of the compound muscle action potential and latencies of f-waves., Conclusions: The voice quality of patients with NPC deteriorated after RT. The pathogenesis of post-RT voice deterioration may involve radiation-induced injuries to the vagus, RLN, and bilateral LMC. Furthermore, radiation-induced injuries to the bilateral LMC may contribute to vagus and RLN palsies. These findings support the use of transcranial approaches to treating voice disorders and peripheral nerve palsies in post-RT patients with NPC., Trial Registration: ChiCTR2100054425; Electrophysiological Study of Vocal-Fold Mobility Disorders After Radiotherapy for NPC Patients via Magnetic Evoked Potential and Their Correlation with Voice Quality Assessment; https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=144429., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have declared that no competing financial or non-financial interests existed at the time of publication., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The impact of serum matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) on cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between serum MMP-9 in the short-term acute phase of ischemic stroke and cognitive impairment at 3 months., Methods and Results: Our study was based on a subsample from the CATIS (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke); a total of 558 patients with serum MMP-9 levels from 7 of 26 participating sites of the trial were included in this analysis. Cognitive impairment severity was categorized as severe, mild, or none (Mini-Mental State Examination score, <23, 23-26, or ≥27, respectively; Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, <20, 20-24, or ≥25, respectively). Cognitive impairment was defined as a score of <27 for Mini-Mental State Examination or <25 for Montreal Cognitive Assessment. According to Mini-Mental State Examination score, 143 participants (25.6%) had mild cognitive impairment and 153 (27.4%) had severe cognitive impairment at 3 months. After adjustment for age, National Institutes of Health stroke score, education, and other covariates, the odds ratio for the highest quartile of serum MMP-9 compared with the lowest quartile was 3.20 (95% confidence interval, 1.87-5.49) for cognitive impairment. Multiple-adjusted spline regression model showed a linear association between MMP-9 levels and cognitive impairment ( P <0.001 for linearity). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses further confirmed these results. Similar significant findings were observed when cognitive impairment was defined by Montreal Cognitive Assessment score., Conclusions: Increased serum MMP-9 levels in the short-term phase of ischemic stroke were associated with 3-month cognitive impairment, independently of established risk factors., (© 2018 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.)

Objective: The optimal time to initiate antihypertensive therapy among patients with acute ischemic stroke remains uncertain. We tested the effects of blood pressure reduction among patients with acute ischemic stroke according to time from onset to initiation of antihypertensive treatment., Methods: We randomly assigned 4071 acute ischemic stroke patients with elevated SBP to receive antihypertensive treatment or to discontinue all antihypertensive medications during hospitalization. The primary outcome was a combination of death and major disability, and secondary outcomes included the modified Rankin score, recurrent stroke, vascular disease events, and all-cause mortality., Results: At 24 h after randomization, the differences in SBP reductions were 8.7, 9.5, and 9.6 mmHg between the antihypertensive treatment and control groups among patients receiving treatment within less than 12, 12-23, and 24-48 h after stroke onset, respectively (P < 0.001 in all subgroups). At day 14 or hospital discharge, the primary and secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the treatment and control groups in all subgroups. At the 3-month follow-up, death or major disability [odds ratio (OR) 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-0.96; P = 0.03], recurrent stroke (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.08-0.74; P = 0.01), and vascular events (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.18-0.95; P = 0.04) were significantly reduced in the antihypertensive treatment group only among participants who received treatment between 24 and 48 h., Conclusion: Blood pressure reduction might reduce 3-month death and major disability and recurrent stroke among patients with acute ischemic stroke who receive antihypertensive treatment between 24 and 48 h after stroke onset., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01840072.

Background: The effect of early blood pressure reduction on cognitive function in patients with acute ischemic stroke remains unknown., Aim: We tested whether antihypertensive treatment would reduce cognitive impairment in patients with acute ischemic stroke., Methods: In the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, patients with elevated blood pressure were randomly assigned to receive antihypertensive treatment or to discontinue all hypertensive medications within 48 h of onset. Cognitive function was measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment at 3 months after randomization in a subsample of 638 participants., Results: Mean systolic blood pressure was reduced by 21.5 mmHg in the antihypertensive treatment group and 13.9 mmHg in the control group within 24 h after randomization (P < 0.001). Mean systolic blood pressure was 134.9 mmHg in the antihypertensive treatment group and 141.6 mmHg in the control group at day 14 after randomization (P < 0.001). Median Mini-Mental State Examination score was 26 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment score was 22 in both the antihypertensive treatment and control groups at 3 months. An Mini-Mental State Examination < 24 was present in 30.9% of patients in the antihypertensive treatment group compared with 29.7% in the control group (odds ratio = 1.06; 95% confidence interval 0.75-1.48; P = 0.75). Likewise, proportions of patients with Montreal Cognitive Assessment < 26 were similar between the antihypertensive treatment (70.6%) and control (70.7%) groups (odds ratio = 0.99; 95% confidence interval 0.70-1.40; P = 0.96)., Conclusions: These data indicated that early blood pressure reduction with antihypertensive medication in patients with acute ischemic stroke had no effect on cognitive impairment at 3 months., (© 2016 World Stroke Organization.)

Objective: To investigate the value of serum cholinesterase (S-ChE) levels in judgment of severity and prognosis in patients with severe pneumonia., Methods: The clinical data of patients with severe pneumonia, who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, or the Department of Neurology in the Third People's Hospital of Foshan from May 2011 to May 2015, whose hospital time was longer than 24 hours, were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into survival group and death group according to the final outcome. Lab data, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) score, the improved pneumonia score of British Thoracic Society (confusion, uremia, respiratory, blood pressure, age 65 years, CURB-65), and S-ChE levels of all patients were collected after they were hospitalized into the intensive care unit (ICU) within 24 hours. Independent risk factors for prognosis were analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted. Best truncation point analysis was used to compare their estimated value for prognosis of patients with severe pneumonia., Results: Eighty-six patients with severe pneumonia were studied. Among them 46 patients survived, and 40 patients died. By the single factor analysis, the following lab data in the death group were found significantly lower than those in the survival group: S-ChE levels (kU/L: 2.748±0.826 vs. 4.489±1.360, t' = 7.274, P = 0.000), arterial partial pressure of oxygen [PaO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 52.55±18.29 vs. 60.83±16.65, t = 2.196, P = 0.031], oxygenation index (mmHg: 114.20±48.01 vs. 167.10±69.68, t' = 4.229, P = 0.000), and carbon dioxide combining power [CO2-CP (mmol/L): 22.85±5.44 vs. 26.00±7.63, t' = 2.225, P = 0.029]. The following clinical data were significantly higher in the death group than those in the survival group, namely body temperature (centigrade: 38.67±1.18 vs. 37.74±1.18, t = -3.627, P = 0.000), pulse (bpm: 130.65±15.72 vs. 107.26±19.61, t' = -6.133, P = 0.000), the ratio of concomitant chronic lung disease [45.0% (18/40) vs. 13.0% (6/46), χ(2) = 10.860, P = 0.001], fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO2: 0.495 (0.410, 0.600) vs. 0.380 (0.290, 0.500), Z = -3.265, P = 0.001], APACHE II score (25.80±5.07 vs. 16.39±5.12, t =-8.540, P = 0.000), CURB-65 score [3 (3, 4) vs. 2 (1, 2), Z = -5.562, P = 0.000], MODS score (8.15±2.49 vs. 4.35±2.01, t = -7.832, P = 0.000), international normalized ratio [INR: 1.22 (1.08, 1.31) vs. 1.07 (1.00, 1.10), Z = -4.231, P = 0.000], and activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT (s): 33.80 (32.13, 38.75) vs. 28.50 (25.70, 36.00), Z = -3.482, P = 0.000]. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that, S-ChE levels, APACHE II score and MODS score were found to be the independent risk factors for prognosis in the patients with severe pneumonia, respectively [S-ChE: odds ratio (OR) = 0.084, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.017-0.424, P = 0.003; APACHE II score: OR = 1.675, 95%CI = 1.098-2.556, P = 0.017; MODS score: OR = 2.189, 95%CI = 1.262-3.800, P = 0.005]. The area under ROC (AUC) for S-ChE levels, APACHE II score and MODS score were 0.874±0.036, 0.889±0.033 and 0.884±0.035, respectively (all P > 0.05 as compared between any two means). At the best truncation points of S-ChE levels, APACHE II score and MODS score were 3.372 kU/L, 19.5 score, and 6.5 score respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in predicting death risk in patients with severe pneumonia were (80.0%, 78.0%, 76.19% and 81.82%), (95.0%, 70.0%, 73.08% and 94.12%) and (70.0%, 91.0%, 87.50%, 77.78%), respectively. If S-ChE levels was combined with APACHE II score or combined with MODS score, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value [S-ChE levels combined APACHE II score: 100%, 92.0%, 93.75% and 100%; S-ChE levels combined MODS score: all 100%] were higher than single power of S-ChE levels, APACHE II score or MODS score., Conclusions: S-ChE levels can be considered as an effective and practical index to estimate the severity and prognosis in patients with severe pneumonia. The combined application of S-ChE levels and APACHE II score or MODS score can obviously improve the prognostic power in patients with severe pneumonia.