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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread to the world. Whether there is an association between lifestyle behaviors and the acquisition of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: In this case-control study, we recruited 105 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection as a case group from the Wuhan Tongji Hospital (Wuhan, China). For each case two control subjects were recruited. Participants were randomly selected from communities in Wuhan and matched for sex, age (± 2yrs), and pre-existing comorbidities (hypertension and diabetes). Results: A total of 105 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and 210 controls were included. Compared with control group, the case group had higher proportions of lack of sleep (30.5% vs. 14.8%, P = 0.001) and increased physical activities (56.2% vs. 32.9%, P < 0.001). And patients in the case group were more likely to have alopecia (28.6% vs. 10.0%, P < 0.001) than people from the control group. Overall, we found that lack of sleep [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–2.39)], physical activities (≥ 5 times a week) (adjusted OR 2.05, 95%CI 1.39–3.02) and alopecia (adjusted OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.13–2.66) were independent risk factors for COVID-19 infection. Conversely, low-dose alcohol intake (<100g alcohol per week), hand hygiene, and fruits intake (daily) were significantly associated with a decrease in morbidity. Conclusions: Individual lifestyle behaviors and health status can affect the occurrence of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study examines the clinical utility of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an indicator of myocardial dysfunction and mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock. Methods We designed a prospective cohort study in an intensive care unit, and 53 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were included. Data were used to determine a relationship between NGAL and the development of myocardial dysfunction and mortality. These associations were determined by the Mann–Whitney test, multiple logistic regression, plotting the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Kaplan–Meier curves and Spearman test. Results The High NGAL group had higher need for inotropic/vasopressor support (92% vs. 52%, p = 0.0186), higher incidence of regional wall motion abnormalities (46% vs. 13%, p = 0.0093), higher B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (p = 0.0197), higher cardiac troponin I (cTnI) level (p = 0.0016), lower ejection fraction (EF) (p < 0.0001) and higher mortality (p = 0.0262) compared to the Low NGAL group. Patients with High NGAL were more likely to manifest electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities (p = 0.042) and demonstrate clinical myocardial dysfunction (p = 0.0186) as evidenced by clinical or radiological evidence of pulmonary edema as compared to those with Low NGAL group. NGAL, BNP, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, cTnI, and PaO 2 /FIO 2 ratio were independent predictor of death by multiple logistic regression analysis. The area under the ROC curve showed that plasma NGAL as a predictor of death in septic shock was significant. Conclusions High plasma NGAL correlates with high mortality and myocardial dysfunction in severe sepsis and septic shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is extensively involved in multiple myeloma (MM) pathophysiology. In the present study, we reported a novel small molecule SC06 that induced MM cell apoptosis and delayed MM xenograft growth in vivo. Oral administration of SC06 to mice bearing human MM xenografts resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth at doses that were well tolerated. Mechanistic studies revealed that SC06 selectively inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway but had no effects on other associated kinases, such as AKT, ERK, p38, c-Src and JNK. Further studies showed that SC06-decreased mTOR activation was associated with the downregulation of Raptor, a key component of the mTORC1 complex. SC06 also suppressed the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and P70S6K, two typical substrates in the mTORC1 signaling pathway. Notably, expression of Raptor, phosphorylation of mTOR and phosphorylated 4E-BP1 was also decreased in the tumor tissues from SC06-treated mice, which was consistent with the cellular studies. Therefore, given the potency and low toxicity, SC06 could be developed as a potential anti-MM drug candidate by disrupting the mTOR signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]