[Efficacy of alcohol septal ablation in mildly symptomatic or severely symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy]

Objective: To compare the prognosis of mildly or severely symptomatic patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM) who underwent alcohol septal ablation (ASA). Methods: This retrospective study cohort consisted of patients with OHCM who received ASA treatment in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2001 to August 2021. These patients were divided into mildly and severely symptomatic groups according to the severity of clinical symptoms. Long-term follow-up was conducted, and the following data were collected: duration of follow-up, postoperatire treatment, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, arrhythmia events and pacemaker implantation, echocardiographic parameters, and cause of death. Overall survival and survival free from OHCM-related death were observed, and the improvement of clinical symptoms and resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) and the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation were evaluated. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to determine and compare the cumulative survival rates of the different groups. Cox regression analysis models were used to determine predictors of clinical events. Results: A total of 189 OHCM patients were included in this study, including 68 in the mildly symptomatic group and 121 in the severely symptomatic group. The median follow-up of the study was 6.0 (2.7, 10.6) years. There was no statistical difference in overall survival between the mildly symptomatic group (5-year and 10-year overall survival were 97.0% and 94.4%, respectively) and the severely symptomatic group (5-year and 10-year overall survival were 94.2% and 83.9%, respectively, P=0.405); there was also no statistical difference in survival free from OHCM-related death between the mildly symptomatic group (5-year and 10-year survival free from HCM-related death were 97.0% and 94.4%, respectively) and the severely symptomatic group (5-year and 10-year survival free from HCM-related death were 95.2% and 92.6%, respectively, P=0.846). In the mildly symptomatic group, NYHA classification was improved after ASA (P<0.001), among which 37 patients (54.4%) were in NYHA class Ⅰ, and the resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) decreased from 67.6 (42.7, 90.1) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to 24.4 (11.7, 35.6) mmHg (P<0.001). In severely symptomatic group, NYHA classification was also improved post ASA (P<0.001), among which 96 patients (79.3%) improved by at least one NYHA classification, and the resting LVOTG decreased from 69.6 (38.4, 96.1) mmHg to 19.0 (10.6, 39.8) mmHg (P<0.001). The incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation was similar between the mildly and severely symptomatic groups (10.2% vs. 13.3%, P=0.565). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that age was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in OHCM patients post ASA (HR=1.068, 95%CI 1.002-1.139, P=0.042). Conclusions: Among patients with OHCM treated with ASA, overall survival and survival free from HCM-related death were similar between mildly symptomatic group and severely symptomatic group. ASA therapy can effectively relieve resting LVOTG and improve clinical symptoms in mildly or severely symptomatic patients with OHCM. Age was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in OHCM patients post ASA.

Impact of College Students’ Learning Adaptation on Learning Conformity Behavior in Hengyang: Moderating Role of Peer Attachment

This study explored the relationships among learning adaptation, peer attachment, and learning conformity behavior among college students in Hengyang, Hunan Province, China. A total of 704 questionnaires were collected from three universities in Hengyang through purposive sampling, and 650 valid questionnaires were obtained. Structural equation models were used to test the direct and moderating effects among the variables. The research indicated that good learning adaptation in Hengyang college students had a positive impact on learning conformity behavior and that college students’ peer attachments had a positive effect on their learning conformity behavior. Compared with students with low peer attachment, students with high peer attachment were better at learning and adapting; they engaged in learning conformity behavior more frequently. College students’ peer attachment positively moderated the relationship between learning adaptation and learning conformity behavior.

Psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Wuhan's high school students

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the protective mechanisms of resilience and positive emotion regulation against psychological trauma among Wuhan's high school students during the COVID-19 outbreak.

METHOD

We obtained 286 valid samples from four high schools in Wuhan, China. To construct a measurement model and a structural model, structural equation models using four measurement scales with valid items were adopted, including a scale of psychological trauma, a scale of resilience, a scale of positive emotional regulation, and a scale of mental health. Participants reported their answers to items on a 5-point Likert-like scale.

RESULTS

The results revealed that psychological trauma was a negative predictor of mental health, and resilience and positive emotion regulation mediated the relationship between psychological trauma and mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

Accordingly, we concluded that resilience and positive emotion regulation interrupted the direct impact of psychological trauma on mental health, thereby greatly protecting the mental health of Wuhan's high school students during the COVID-19 outbreak.

[Effects of clopidogrel resistence and CYP2C19 genotype on the clinical prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention]

Objective: To investigate the effects of clopidogrel resistence and CYP2C19 genotype on the clinical prognosis of acute coronary syndrome(ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI). Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study. ACS patients who underwent PCI in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from October 2015 to January 2017 were recruited. The inhibition rate of adenosine diphosphate(ADP) was monitored by thromboelastography. All of these patients were divided into clopidogrel resistance and non-resistance group according to the monitoring results. CYP2C19 genotype was detected by TaqMan probe-based real-time quantitative PCR. Patients were divided into slow, medium and fast metabolic group, according to the CYP2C19 genotype. After 12 months of follow-up, the end points included all-cause death, cardiac death, angina, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, ischemic stroke and hemorrhage were collected. Combined thrombotic events were defined as a composite of angina, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis and ischemic stroke. The differences of the incidence of clinical events between groups were compared. Cox regression was used to analyze the effects of clopidogrel resistance and CYP2C19 genotype on the combined thrombotic events, cardiac death and hemorrhage. Results: A total of 1 696 patients were included, and the age was (59.4±9.6) years, with 1 280(75.5%) males. There were 471 cases(27.8%) in clopidogrel resistance group, and 1 225 cases(72.2%) in clopidogrel non-resistance group. There were 218 patients(12.9%) were in slow metabolic group, 668(39.4%) in medium metabolic group, and 810 (47.8%) in fast metabolic group. The median follow-up time was 13.3 months, and 131 cases were lost to follow-up, with a loss follow-up rate of 7.7%. Compared with the clopidogrel non-resistance group, the clopidogrel resistance group had a higher incidence of myocardial infarction(7.6%(36/471) vs. 5.1%(62/1 225), P=0.041), a lower incidence of hemorrhage (13.2%(62/471) vs. 17.9%(219/1 225), P=0.020) and minor hemorrhage(11.5%(54/471) vs. 15.8% (194/1 225), P=0.022). There were no statistically significant difference in all-cause death, cardiac death, angina, stent thrombosis, ischemic stroke and severe bleeding between clopidogrel resistance and non-resistance group(all P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of endpoint events among different CYP2C19 genotypes (all P>0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that clopidogrel resistance was an independent factor of combined thrombotic events (OR=2.334, 95%CI 1.215-4.443, P=0.016) and bleeding events (OR=0.481, 95%CI 0.174-0.901, P=0.023). While CYP2C19 genotype was not independent factor for combined thrombotic events, cardiac death and hemorrhage (all P>0.05). Conclusion: For ACS patients after PCI, clopidogrel resistance can increase the risk of combined thrombotic events, but also reduce the risk of bleeding; while CYP2C19 genotype is not an independent factor for clinical prognosis.

The effect of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic on college students in Wuhan

OBJECTIVE

This study explored a multiple mediation model in Wuhan's college students. Positive thinking and resilience were identified as mediators between 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) victimization experiences and mental health.

METHOD

The sample included 384 from 4 universities in Wuhan, China. Four structured instruments were applied to the college students, including scale of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus victimization experience, scale of the positive thinking, scale of the resilience, and scale of the mental health. The responses were scored using a 5-point Likert scale. Structural equation models were used to construct measurement and structural models.

RESULTS

The findings confirmed that the 2019-nCoV victimization experience was a negative predictor of mental health; positive thinking and resilience were strong mediators between 2019-nCoV victimization experience and mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that a complete model was significant because positive thinking compensated for resilience. Notably, these 2 strong mediators will vastly resist the negative influences of 2019-nCoV victimization experience on mental health in Wuhan's college students until the end of the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

[Value of ceramide in the diagnosis and risk prediction of coronary artery disease]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical values of 4 types of ceramides (Cer1, Cer2, Cer3, Cer4) in the coronary artery stenosis, clinical diagnosis and risk prediction. Methods: A total of 890 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital between March 2018 and August 2018 were enrolled. The relationships between different degrees of coronary artery stenosis and ceramide levels was investigated. Diagnostic value of ceramides on acute myocardial infarction was analyzed. Meanwhile, Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in 1 year after discharging were collected to evaluate the predictive value of ceramides on risk of CHD and stroke. Results: This study showed that there were no significant differences of ceramide levels in CHD patients with different degrees of coronary artery stenosis (P>0.05), and the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction patients was 0.725. Conclusions: Ceramide is proved to be helpful in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and MACCE prediction. The relationships between ceramide and degrees of coronary artery stenosis as well as the prognosis of CHD need further elucidation.

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii infection in bats in southern China

Toxoplasma gondii can infect a wide variety of warm-blooded animals, including bats. Limited information on T. gondii infection in bats is available in China. The objective of the present study was to determine prevalence and genetic diversity of T. gondii infection in bats in southern China. A total of 608 bats representing 12 species, including 120 Aselliscus stoliczkanus, 59 Myotis chinensis, 11 Miniopterus schreibersii, 53 Rhinolophus affinis, 32 Rhinolophus pusillus, 81 Hipposideros armiger, 28 Hipposideros fulvus, 32 Cynopterus brachyotis, 14 Cynopterus sphinx, 45 Eonycteris spelaea, 109 Hipposideros larvatus, and 24 Taphozous melanopogon, were collected from Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, southern China. They were examined for the presence of T. gondii DNA by amplification of the B1 gene using a nested PCR, and the positive samples were genotyped at 11 genetic loci (SAG1, 5'- and 3'-SAG2, alternative SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) using multilocus polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology. Fifty-nine (9.7%) of these bats were detected positive by PCR but only five of these positive DNA samples were completely typed at all loci; of which 4 samples, 2 from A. stoliczkanus, and 2 from H. larvatus, belonged to ToxoDB Genotype #10, and the other one from H. larvatus was identified as ToxoDB Genotype #9 (http://toxodb.org/toxo/). To our knowledge, this is the first report of molecular detection and genetic characterization of T. gondii infection in bats in China. The results show that these bats are potential reservoirs for T. gondii transmission, which may pose a threat to human health.

Purification and characterization of a cysteine protease produced by pathogenic luminous Vibrio harveyi

The purification and characterization of an extracellular protease produced by pathogenic luminous Vibrio harveyi strain 820514, originally isolated from diseased tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), was presented in this paper. The purification steps included ammonium sulfate precipitation, with columns of hydrophobic interaction chromatography and anion exchange on fast protein liquid chromatography. The protease is an alkaline cysteine protease, heat labile, inhibited by iodoacetamide, iodoacetic acid, N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and p-chloromercuribenzene-sulfonic acid, and showed maximal activities at pH 8 and 50 degrees C, having a molecular mass of 38 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration column. In addition, the protease was also completely inhibited by CuCl2 and HgCl2, but not or only partially inhibited by other inhibitors tested. Furthermore, 2-mercaptoethanol was the most effective reducing agent in the activation of the enzyme. The present protease is the first cysteine protease found in Vibrio species.

Clinical application of coralline hydroxyapatite ocular implants in the eviscerated eyes

BACKGROUND

During the past several years, coralline hydroxyapatite ocular implant has gained increasingly wide acceptance among ophthalmologists. This ocular implant is used in eviscerated eyes to restore volume loss. Its advantages and complications are presented.

METHODS

Seventy-three patients received a coralline hydroxyapatite sphere as a buried integrated ocular implant after evisceration surgery between August 1991 and May 1994. The follow-up period was from 4 to 33 months, with mean of 13.5 months.

RESULTS

There have been no recognizable cases of orbital infection, implant extrusion, or implant migration. Complications have been minimal and easily managed. Motility of the socket and fornices has been excellent, and most patients have cosmetically satisfactory motility of the prosthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The hydroxyapatite implant appears to offer excellent cosmetic reconstruction without the unacceptable infection and extrusion rates seen with other implants.

Physicochemical properties of alkaline serine proteases in alcohol

The alkaline proteases subtilisin Carlsberg and alcalase possess substantial enzymatic activity even when dissolved in ethanol. The crude enzymes were purified by gel filtration and the main fractions suspended in ethanol to give a translucent suspension. Both the supernatant and the resuspended precipitate after high-speed centrifugation were found to have enzymatic activities. The solubility of subtilisin Carlsberg in anhydrous ethanol was found to be 45.1 micrograms/ml and that of alcalase was 48.1 micrograms/ml by Coomassie blue dye-binding method using bovine serum albumin as a standard. In the presence of water, the solubility of both enzymes increased with water content. The stability of enzymes incubated in ethanol was assayed by their amidase and transesterase activities using Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA as substrate in phosphate buffer (pH8.2) and Moz-Leu-OBzl as substrate in anhydrous ethanol, respectively. The soluble enzymes have a half-life of about 36 hr and that of suspended enzymes about 50 hr in the amidase activity assay, whereas the same soluble enzymes have a half-life of about several hours and that of suspended enzymes 1 h by the transesterase activity assay. The stability of both enzymes decreased as water concentration increased. The diastereoselectivity of the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of diastereo pairs of tetrapeptide esters, L-Ala-L-Ala-(D- or L-)Pro-L-Phe-OMe and L-Ala-L-Ala-(D- or L-)Ala-L-Phe-OMe, in phosphate is as high as that of the transesterification of these substrates in ethanol. It is concluded that active sites and selectivity of alkaline serine proteases in anhydrous alcohol are probably very similar to those in aqueous solution in spite of the fact that a lower reactivity is usually associated with the enzymes in nonaqueous solvents.

Investigating the s-2 subsite selectivity of alkaline proteases in hydrolysis of diastereo-peptide esters and molecular-modeling interpretation

Diastereomeric peptide-esters (Ala-Ala-AA2-Phe-OMe, AA2 = Gly, D- or L-Ala, Pro, Phe, Lys, and Glu) have been used as substrates, and the kinetic constants (Kcat and Km) of the three alkaline proteases, subtilisin Carlsberg, alcalase, and Nagarse (subtilisin BPN') catalyzed ester-hydrolysis, were measured to investigate the selectivity of the enzyme-catalyzed peptide esterhydrolysis. All three proteases preferred the substrate which had a small side-chain at the s-2 site. Thus, the substrates with a bulky side-chain at the p-2 site such as Phe, Pro, Glu, and Lys, hydrolyzed with a rate of about one-tenth that of Ala at the p-2 site, and the Kcat decreased as the size of the p-2 amino acid residue increased. The diastereoselectivity of the alkaline protease-catalyzed hydrolysis of each diastereomeric pair depended on the size of the amino acid residue at the p-2 position of the substrate. The substrates with a bulky side-chain at the p-2 site hydrolyzed with higher diastereoselectivity than did the substrates with a small side-chain at the p-2 site. Molecular modeling of the enzyme-substrate complex show that: for the enzyme complexed with a substrate which has L-L-L-L configuration, each residue of the L-L-L-L tetrapeptide filled in and was completely enclosed by the cleft of the four subsites of the enzyme. The side-chains of the residues were identically positioned within the pocket of the binding-site. For the complex of enzyme with substrate of L-L-D-L, the side-chain of the D-amino acid residue was far away from the s-2 subsite of the enzyme, and had close contact with the side-chains of Leu-126 and Ile-107 of the enzyme.

Interaction of Meloidogyne javanica and Macrophomina phaseoli in Kenaf Root Rot

Incidence and severity of root-rot caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseoli was increased in screenhouse-grown kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seedlings simultaneously infected by the nematode Meloidogyne javanica. In seedlings inoculated at 5, 10 and 15 days of age, root rot lesions increased 70.3, 44.1 and 21.8%, and nematode penetration increased 49.0, 36.7, and 12.3% when both fungus and nematode were present.

Regulation of autotrophic and heterotrophic carbon dioxide fixation in Hydrogenomonas facilis

After growth on various carbon sources, sonic extracts of Hydrogenomonas facilis contained ribulosediphosphate (RuDP) carboxylase and phosphoribulokinase (Ru5-P kinase). After very short sonic treatment, a reductive adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent incorporation of (14)CO(2) was also detectable. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH(2)) served as reductant 30-fold more effectively than reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH(2)). Adenosine 5'-phosphate (AMP) and adenosine 5'-pyrophosphate (ADP) inhibited Ru5-P kinase and NADH(2)-, ATP-dependent CO(2) fixation. The levels and duration of CO(2) fixation suggested that it is a cyclic process. The requirement of reduced pyridine nucleotide and ATP and the sensitivity of fixation to AMP and ADP support the conjecture that it occurs via the Calvin cycle. After thorough study of variables affecting catalysis, specific activities (millimicromoles of substrate disappearing per milligram of protein) at 30 C were determined for RuDP carboxylase (C), Ru5-P kinase (K) and ATP-, NADH(2)- dependent CO(2) fixation (CO(2) F) after growth autotrophically on fructose, glucose, ribose, glutamate, lactate, succinate, and acetate. Values for these growth modes were, respectively-for C: 67.3, 51.1, 51.4, 24.6, 2.05, 10.2, 2.25, 1.4; for K: 24.7, 24.0, 23.2, 14.2, 12.8, 12.9, 13.4, 2.8; and for CO(2) F: 4.54, 4.83, 3.10, 2.87, 0.85, 1.51, 0.24, 0.41. The qualitative parallel between values for RuDP carboxylase and CO(2) fixation suggests that one major control point in fixation is the step catalyzed by RuDP carboxylase.