Abstract To explore characteristics of patients with pneumonia infected by 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2019 outside Hubei Province, China. 40 patients with pneumonia infected by COVID-19 which were confirmed by COVID-19 nucleic acid test were included. Procalcitonin (PCT), serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and computed tomography (CT) manifestations were analyzed. 40% of patients had clear contact history with Wuhan or other areas of Hubei Province. 60% of patients were clustered diseases and 40% were imported cases. 75% of patients had initial fever, 7.5% had cough, 5% had sore throat at first. 45% had decreased lymphocyte count, 72.5% and 55% patients had increased levels of SAA and CRP. 72.5% of the patients showed multiple ground glass lesions in one or two lungs on chest CT. 90% of the patients with pneumonia are of the common type, and α-interferon atomization inhalation combined with Lopinavir/Ritonavir tablets were given to patients during treatment. 62.5% of the patients were treated with antibiotics, and 15% with hormone. All patients improved after treatment, and 14 patients were cured and discharged. Family cluster infection and asymptomatic infection may be the main way of spreading of COVID-19 pneumonia outside Hubei Province in China.

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the effect of ergosterol combined with risedronate on fracture healing. Methods Sixty male Sprague Dawley fracture model rats were assigned into group A (n=20), group B (n=20), and group C (n=20) at random. All rats were fed by gavage until their sacrifice as it follows: group A with ergosteroside and risedronate, group B with risedronate, and group C with saline solution. At weeks 2 and 4, 10 rats of each group were sacrificed. Healing effect and bone tissue changes in the fractures site were assessed by using hematoxylin and eosin stain histology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression of serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNA, osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA and core-binding factor subunit-?1 (CBF-?1) mRNA. Results In terms of serum BMP-2, BMP-7, and VEGF expression at weeks 2 and 4 after gavage, group A < group B < group C (P<0.05). At week 4 after gavage, serum VEGF expression in the three groups harbored positive relationship with serum BMP-2 and BMP-7 expression (P<0.05). Regarding serum OPG, OCN and CBF-?1 mRNA expression at weeks 2 and 4 after gavage, group A <group B <group C (P<0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin staining results showed that the recovery effect of trabecular bone and callus in the cases of group A was better than the other two groups after intragastric administration. Conclusion Ergosteroside combined risedronate can patently ameliorate the healing effect of fracture in rats.

Stereotactic biopsies for lesions in the brainstem and deep brain are rare. This study aimed to summarize our 6-year experience in the accurate diagnosis of lesions in the brain stem and deep brain and to discuss the technical note and strategies. From December 2011 to January 2018, 72 cases of intracranial lesions in the brainstem or deep in the lobes undergoing stereotactic biopsy were retrospectively reviewed. An individualized puncture path was designed based on the lesion's location and the image characteristics. The most common biopsy targets were deep in the lobes (43 cases, 59.7%), including frontal lobe (33 cases, 45.8%), temporal lobe (4 cases, 5.6%), parietal lobe (3 cases, 4.2%), and occipital lobe (3 cases, 4.2 %). There were 12 cases (16.7%) of the brainstem, including 8 cases (11.1%) of midbrain, and 4 cases (5.6%) of pons or brachium pontis. Other targets included internal capsule (2 cases, 2.8%), thalamus (3 cases, 4.2%), and basal ganglion (12 cases, 16.7%). As for complications, one patient developed acute intracerebral hemorrhage in the biopsy area at 2 h post-operation, and one patient had delayed intracerebral hemorrhage at 7 days post-operation. The remaining patients recovered well after surgery. There was no surgery-related death. The CT-MRI-guided stereotactic biopsy of lesions in the brainstem or deep in the brain has the advantages of high safety, accurate diagnosis, and low incidence of complications. It plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of atypical, microscopic, diffuse, multiple, and refractory lesions.

ABSTRACT We evaluated the difference between rumen bacteria in Tan sheep fed either by grazing or in a feedlot. The aim was to provide a theoretical basis for ruminant nutrition and meat quality based on rumen fermentation. Twenty-four three-month-old Tan sheep were randomly and equally divided into two groups, the grazing group and ration group. Five sheep of each group were selected for slaughter at six months of age. Ruminal contents were collected and assessed to identify rumen bacteria, based on 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. A total of 17 phyla were identified, among which Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were dominant in both groups. The abundance of Firmicutes was higher in grazing group than in the ration group, while that of Proteobacteria was opposite. Besides the dominant phyla differences, the abundance of Fibrobacteres, Tenericutes, Elusimicrobia, and Cyanobacteria was significantly higher in the grazing group compared with the ration group. At genus level, a total of 174 genera were identified. The abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Dialister, Lachnospiraceae_NA, Catonella, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, and Fibrobacter in the grazing group was higher than in the ration group. However, the abundance of Succinivibrionaceae_NA was lower in the grazing group, and Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-001 showed a decreasing trend in the grazing group. The two feeding methods may influence the rumen bacterial composition, including the abundance of dominant bacteria, as well as the cellulolytic- and carbohydrate-degrading bacteria in the rumen of Tan sheep.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effect of alprostadil on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Methods: Rats were subjected to myocardial ischemia for 30 min followed by 24h reperfusion. Alprostadil (4 or 8 μg/kg) was intravenously administered at the time of reperfusion and myocardial infarct size, levels of troponin T, and the activity of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum were measured. Antioxidative parameters, nitric oxide (NO) content and phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase 3 (p-eNOS) expression in the left ventricles were also measured. Histopathological examinations of the left ventricles were also performed. Results: Alprostadil treatment significantly reduced myocardial infarct size, serum troponin T levels, and CK-MB and LDH activity (P<0.05). Furthermore, treatment with alprostadil significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content (P<0.05) and markedly reduced myonecrosis, edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (P<0.05), NO level (P<0.01) and p-eNOS (P<0.05) were significantly increased in rats treated with alprostadil compared with control rats. Conclusion: These results indicate that alprostadil protects against myocardial I/R injury and that these protective effects are achieved, at least in part, via the promotion of antioxidant activity and activation of eNOS.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVO: A pré-eclâmpsia é uma síndrome da disfunção de múltiplos órgãos (SDMO) devido a suas manifestações típicas e atípicas que incluem hipertensão, proteinúria, síndrome HELLP, encefalopatia hipertensiva e coagulopatia. O manejo ideal desses pacientes requer uma avaliação do balanço entre os benefícios e riscos das estratégias terapêuticas, anestésicas e obstétricas. RELATO DE CASO: Paciente grávida de 35 anos, com uma gravidez anterior sem complicações, deu entrada em nosso instituto médico em caráter de emergência às 29 semanas de gravidez. A paciente apresentava-se com tontura, angústia no peito, palpitação, visão embaçada e sangramento vaginal. Após exame físico e laboratorial, a paciente foi diagnosticada com pré-eclâmpsia grave, síndrome HELLP, descolamento prematuro da placenta e SDMO. A paciente também apresentava deformidade da coluna vertebral e pélvica, fixação da articulação mandibular e deslocamento traqueal por causa de um acidente de trânsito ocorrido havia 11 anos. Portanto, uma cesariana de urgência foi feita sob anestesia geral com intubação nasotraqueal usando fio-guia. A paciente recebeu alta diretamente da unidade de terapia intensiva obstétrica no sétimo dia pós-operatório, com pressão arterial normal e recuperação completa das funções orgânicas. CONCLUSÕES: Este caso merece uma discussão mais detalhada sobre as considerações anestésicas no momento de se tomar uma decisão clínica para o tratamento de tal paciente. O bloqueio do neuroeixo é a primeira escolha para pacientes com pré-eclâmpsia submetidas à cesariana quando existe uma trombocitopenia moderada, mas não progressiva. Quando se opta pela anestesia geral, sedação e analgesia adequadas são necessárias para o bom controle da resposta do estresse à intubação, especialmente em pacientes com sinais neurológicos, e para evitar complicações cerebrais sérias.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) for its typical and atypical manifestations including hypertension, proteinuria, HELLP syndrome, hypertensive encephalopathy and coagulopathy. Optimal management for such patients is determined from an assessment of the balance between benefits and risks of anesthetic and obstetric therapeutic strategies. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old pregnant woman, with one past uncomplicated pregnancy presented at 29 weeks to our medical institute as an emergency with dizziness, chest distress, palpitation, blurred vision and vaginal bleeding. After physical examination and laboratory tests, the patient was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, placental abruption, and MODS. The patient also presented spinal and pelvic deformity, fixation of articulus mandibularis, and tracheal displacement because of a traffic accident 11 years ago. Therefore, urgent cesarean section was performed under general anesthesia with nasal tracheal intubation using a guide wire. The patient was discharged directly home from the obstetric intensive care unit on the 7th postoperative day with normal blood pressure and full recovery of organic function. CONCLUSIONS: This case merits further discussion on the anesthesia considerations concerning how to make a clinical decision when treating such a patient. Neuraxial block is the first choice for preeclampsia patients undergoing cesarean section when a moderate but not progressive thrombocytopenia exists. When general anesthesia is decided, adequate sedation and analgesia is needed to better control the stress response to intubation especially in patients with neurological signs, and to prevent major cerebral complications.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: La preclampsia es un síndrome de la disfunción de múltiples órganos (SDMO) debido a sus manifestaciones típicas y atípicas que incluyen hipertensión, proteinuria, síndrome HELLP, encefalopatía hipertensiva y coagulopatía. El manejo ideal de esos pacientes necesita una evaluación del balance entre los beneficios y riesgos de las estrategias terapéuticas, anestésicas y obstétricas. RELATO DE CASO: Paciente embarazada de 35 años, con un embarazo anterior sin complicaciones, llegó a nuestro instituto médico en carácter de urgencia a las 29 semanas de embarazo. La paciente estaba con mareos, molestias en el pecho, cardiopalmia, visión nublada y sangramiento vaginal. Posteriormente al examen físico y laboratorial, la paciente fue diagnosticada con preclampsia grave, síndrome HELLP, desplazamiento prematuro de la placenta y SDMO. La paciente también presentaba una deformidad de la columna vertebral y pélvica, fijación de la articulación mandibular y desplazamiento traqueal debido a un accidente de tránsito ocurrido hacía 11 años. Por tanto, se realizó una cesárea de urgencia con anestesia general con intubación nasotraqueal usando un cable guía. La paciente recibió alta directamente de la unidad de cuidados intensivos obstétrica (UCI-OB) al séptimo día del postoperatorio, con una presión arterial normal y la recuperación completa de las funciones orgánicas. CONCLUSIONES: Este caso merece una discusión más detallada sobre las consideraciones anestésicas al momento de tomar una decisión clínica para el tratamiento de tal paciente. El bloqueo del neuro eje es la primera elección para pacientes con preclampsia sometidas a la cesárea cuando existe una trombocitopenia moderada, pero no progresiva. Cuando se opta por la anestesia general, una sedación y una analgesia adecuadas se hacen necesarias para el buen control de la respuesta del estrés a la intubación, especialmente en los pacientes con signos neurológicos, y para evitar las complicaciones cerebrales serias.

The PPARγ2 gene is a key regulator of both proliferation and preadipocyte differentiation in mammals. Herein its genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed using PCR-SSCP in eight pig breeds (N = 416). Two kinds of polymorphisms of the PPARγ2 gene were detected, including a previously reported shift SNP A177G (Met59Val) in exon 1 and a novel silent mutation G876A in exon 5. The results revealed that European pig breeds carry a higher allele A frequency at the A177G locus and a fixed GG genotype at the G876A locus. Allele A at the G876A locus was only found in Jinhua pigs. The association between haplotype (A177G/G876A) and carcass and meat quality traits was analyzed in a Pietrain x Jinhua F2 population (N = 248). The PPARγ2 gene was found to be significantly associated with backfat thickness at the shoulder (p < 0.05), 6-7th ribs (p < 0.01), last rib (p < 0.01), gluteus medius (p <0.05) and ham weight (p < 0.01). Significant effects of different haplotypes on ham weight and backfat thickness at the 6-7th ribs, last rib, and gluteus medius were also observed.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Os anestésicos locais são amplamente utilizados na prevenção ou na reversão de dor aguda e no tratamento de dor crônica. A reação de cardiotoxicidade induzida pelos anestésicos locais é um evento acidental sem terapia farmacológica, exceto a infusão de intralípides relatados recentemente cujo mecanismo de ação ainda não é bem compreendido. CONTEÚDO: A cardiolipina, um fosfolipídio aniônico, desempenha papel relevante na determinação de reação respiratória mitocondrial, metabolismo de ácidos graxos e apoptose celular. A disfunção do metabolismo energético mitocondrial é sugerida em associação com a cardiotoxicidade dos anestésicos locais, a partir de um estudo in vitro de que ela talvez se deva a fortes ligações eletrostáticas entre os anestésicos locais e a cardiolipina na membrana mitocondrial. Não há, contudo, evidência experimental. Portanto, levantamos a hipótese de que as interações anestésico-cardiolipina sejam o principal determinante associado à reação de cardiotoxicidade, o que pode ser estabelecido com a adoção de métodos teóricos e biológicos estruturais. Esse modelo de interação nos daria uma pista sobre o mecanismo da cardiotoxicidade dos anestésicos locais, visando a futuras pesquisas na área de desenvolvimento de fármacos de prevenção a esse evento na prática clínica. CONCLUSÕES: A interação entre a cardiolipina mitocondrial e os anestésicos locais pode ser a principal fonte de sua cardiotoxicidade, em função de seus efeitos sobre o metabolismo energético e o estado eletrostático.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Local anesthetics are used broadly to prevent or reverse acute pain and treat symptoms of chronic pain. Local anesthetic-induced cardiotoxic reaction has been considered the accidental event without currently effective therapeutic drugs except for recently reported intralipid infusion whose possible mechanism of action is not well known. CONTENTS: Cardiolipin, an anionic phospholipid, plays a key role in determining mitochondrial respiratory reaction, fatty acid metabolism and cellular apoptosis. Mitochondrial energy metabolism dysfunction is suggested as associated with local anesthetic cardiotoxicity, from an in vitro study report that the local anesthetic cardiotoxicity may be due to the strong electrostatic interaction of local anesthetics and cardiolipin in the mitochondria membrane, although there is a lack for experimental evidence. Herein we hypothesized that local anesthetic-cardiolipin interactions were the major determinant of local anesthetic-associated cardiotoxic reaction, established by means of theoretic and structural biological methods. This interacting model would give an insight on the underlying mechanism of local anesthetic cardiotoxicity and provide clues for further in depth research on designing preventive drugs for such inadvertent accidence in routine clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: The interaction between local anesthetic and mitochondrial cardiolipin may be the underlying mechanism for cardiotoxicity affecting its energy metabolism and electrostatic status.