Indirubin alleviates retinal neurodegeneration through the regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling

Retinal neurodegenerative disease is a leading cause of blindness among the elderly in developed countries,including glaucoma,diabetic retinopathy,traumatic optic neuropathy and optic neuritis,etc.The current clinical treatment is not very effective.We investigated indirubin,one of the main bioactive components of the traditional Chinese medicine Danggui Longhui Pill,in the present study for its role in retinal neurodegeneration.Indirubin exhibited no detectable tissue toxicity in vivo or cytotoxicity in vitro.Moreover,indirubin improved visual function and ameliorated retinal neurodegeneration in mice after optic nerve crush injury in vivo.Furthermore,indirubin reduced the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells induced by oxidative stress in vitro.In addition,indirubin significantly suppressed the increased production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the decreased activity of superoxide dismutase induced by oxidative stress.Mechanically,indirubin played a neuroprotective role by regulating the PI3K/AKT/BAD/BCL-2 signaling.In conclusion,indirubin protected retinal ganglion cells from oxidative damage and alleviated retinal neurodegeneration induced by optic nerve crush injury.The present study provides a potential therapeutic medicine for retinal neurodegenerative diseases.

Rationalizing the impact of oxygen vacancy on polysulfide conversion kinetics for highly efficient lithium-sulfur batteries

The“shuttle effect”of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)is a huge challenge for practical use of high-energydensity lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries,and one of the main reasons is the sluggish kinetics of sulfur conversion.Metal oxides are able to expedite the sulfur electrochemistry,and the structural defects enhance the adsorption-conversion ability of metal oxides for polysulfides.However,a significant research gap still remains regarding the relationship between the oxygen vacancy concentration and the adsorptivecatalytic performance of metal oxides.Herein,we establish a correlation between oxygen vacancy concentration and adsorptive-catalytic properties by using tungsten oxide(WO_(x))as model catalysts.It is revealed that high-concentration oxygen vacancy is beneficial for enhancing the binding between tungsten oxide and LiPSs,reducing the energy barrier of Li_(2)S decomposition,and promoting polysulfide conversion kinetics.Consequently,the Li-S batteries using the tungsten oxide with high-concentration oxygen vacancies deliver high initial discharge capacity of 1169 mA h g^(-1)at 0.2 C and 865 mA h g^(-1)at 2 C,low attenuation rate of 0.064%per cycle over 1100 cycles at 2 C.With a high sulfur area loading of 5.34 mg cm^(-2),the Li-S batteries still exhibit high initial gravimetric capacity of 982 mA h g^(-1)at 0.1 C and areal capacity of 5.92 mA h cm^(-2).This work promotes the feasibility of defect engineering on metal oxides as an effective mean to enhance the practicality of Li-S batteries.

An antifouling polydopamine-based fluorescent aptasensor for determination of arginine kinase

Simple yet efficient detection methods for food allergens are in urgent need to help people avoid the risks imposed by allergenic food.In this work,a polydopamine(PDA)-based fluorescent aptasensor was developed to detect arginine kinase(AK),one of the major allergens in shellfish.The aptamer towards AK was firstly selected via systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment method and labeled with fluorescein amidite(FAM)to build a fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET)system with PDA particles.Polyethylene glycol(PEG)was employed to construct an antifouling surface for the aptasensor to eliminate food matrix interferences.With the presence of AK,the PDA-based aptasensor exhibited elevated fluorescent signals as the FAM-labeled aptamer bound to AK and detached from the PDA particles.The aptasensor showed great stability and resistance to nonspecific interference of background proteins and had a limit of detection(LOD)of 0.298μg/mL.The proposed aptasensor was further proved to be feasible for quantitative analysis of AK in nine species of shrimps and five commercial processed products,which indicated its high potential in tracing the presence of AK in complex aquatic products.

A novel AgNPs/MOF substrate-based SERS sensor for high-sensitive on-site detection of wheat gluten

Gluten,known as the major allergen in wheat,has gained increasing concerns in industrialized countries,resulting in an urgent need for accurate,high-sensitive,and on-site detection of wheat gluten in complex food systems.Herein,we proposed a silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)/metal-organic framework(MOF)substrate-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS)sensor for the high-sensitive on-site detection of wheat gluten.The detection occurred on the newly in-situ synthesized AgNPs/MOF-modified SERS substrate,providing an enhancement factor(EF)of 1.89×10^(5).Benefitting from the signal amplification function of AgNPs/MOF and the superiority of SERS,this sensor represented high sensitivity performance and a wide detection range from 1×10^(-15)mol/L to 2×10^(-6)mol/L with a detection limit of 1.16×10^(-16)mol/L,which allowed monitoring the trace of wheat gluten in complex food system without matrix interference.This reliable sandwich SERS sensor may provide a promising platform for high-sensitive,accurate,and on-site detection of allergens in the field of food safety.

毛泽东体育辩证法思想研究综述

关于毛泽东体育辩证法思想的研究一直是理论界与学术界的关注重点。近半个世纪以来,涌现出一大批关于毛泽东体育辩证法思想的研究成果,研究热点主要集中在以下几个方面:毛泽东体育辩证法思想形成与发展的历史渊源、毛泽东体育辩证法的基本特征、《体育之研究》的辩证法思想、毛泽东体育辩证法思想的当代价值。新时代拓展和深化毛泽东体育辩证法思想研究可以从三个维度推进:从文献学维度强化“碎片化”或“个体化”研究;从实践论维度进一步以时代语境的视角拓展毛泽东体育辩证法思想的实践研究;从认识论维度深化毛泽东体育辩证法思想与毛泽东辩证法思想关系的认识。

Immunological disturbance effect of exogenous histamine towards key immune cells

Histamine in food has attracted widespread attention due to the potential toxicity and associated health risk.However,its influences on immunological components,especially the function of key immune cells,are still poorly known.In this work,we explored the effects of exogenous histamine on the function of key immune cells such as intestinal epithelial cells,dendritic cells,and T cells.The results showed that histamine could affect the expression of allergy-related genes in CMT93 cells at a high dose of histamine.Moreover,it’s found that histamine could cause an imbalance in the levels of relevant immune factors secreted by dendritic cells and T cells,especially those related to allergy.At the same time,the proportion of MHC class IIpositive dendritic cells and the proportion of T helper 2(Th2)cells in CD4^(+)T cells increased after histamine stimulation.We concluded that the presence of a certain level of histamine in food may affect the expression of allergy-related cytokines,disrupt the balance of the immune homeostasis,and potentially lead to adverse immune reactions.This work demonstrated the importance of including the estimation of histamine’s immune safety in aquatic products rather than merely considering the potential risk of food poisoning.

How does Helicobacter pylori cause gastric cancer through connexins: An opinion review

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a Gram-negative bacterium with a number of virulence factors, such as cytotoxin-associated gene A, vacuolating cytotoxin A, its pathogenicity island, and lipopolysaccharide, which cause gastrointestinal diseases. Connexins function in gap junctional homeostasis, and their downregulation is closely related to gastric carcinogenesis. Investigations into H. pylori infection and the fine-tuning of connexins in cells or tissues have been reported in previous studies. Therefore, in this review, the potential mechanisms of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer through connexins are summarized in detail.

Nerve autografts and tissue-engineered materials for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries: a 5-year bibliometric analysis

With advances in biomedical methods, tissue-engineered materials have developed rapidly as an alternative to nerve autografts for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries. However, the materials selected for use in the repair of peripheral nerve injuries, in particular multiple injuries and largegap defects, must be chosen carefully. Various methods and materials for protecting the healthy tissue and repairing peripheral nerve injuries have been described, and each method or material has advantages and disadvantages. Recently, a large amount of research has been focused on tissue-engineered materials for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries. Using the keywords ＂peripheral nerve injury＂, ＂autotransplant＂, ＂nerve graft＂, and ＂biomaterial＂, we retrieved publications using tissue-engineered materials for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries appearing in the Web of Science from 2010 to 2014. The country with the most total publications was the USA. The institutions that were the most productive in this field include Hannover Medical School （Germany）, Washington University （USA）, and Nantong University （China）. The total number of publications using tissue-engineered materials for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries grad- ually increased over time, as did the number of Chinese publications, suggesting that China has made many scientific contributions to this field of research.

The breeding biology of Red-Whiskered Bulbul(Pycnonotus jocosus) in Xishuangbanna, southwest China

To fill the gap in breeding biology information about the Red-Whiskered Bulbul （Pycnonotus jocosus）, in 2013, we studied the breeding biology of this species in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. The breeding began from February and continued until early August. The breeding strategy of P. jocosus was more flexible and their nests were only built in cultivated landscapes, whereas, no nest building in native tropical rain forest was found. Small open cup nests were built on 50 different plant species, and at heights ranging from 2.1±0.6 m above the ground （n=102）. The mean clutch size was 2.53±0.51 eggs （n=40） and the mean egg mass was 2.81±0.25 g （n=60）. The average incubation period was 11.1±0.5 days （n=14）, and the average nestling period was 11.0±0.8 days （n=31）. The overall nest success was 34.22%.The hatching and fledging showed either asynchrony or synchrony. Invertebrate food decreased with nestling age, whereas, plant food increased with nestling age. Moreover, distinct parental roles of the parents in nestling period were found. Compared with other passerine species, P. jocosus spent less time in incubating （58%）. The clutch size, incubation and nestling period of the P. jocosus in southwest China were different from those of the R jocosus in India.

Late Paleozoic–Mesozoic subduction and accretion of the Paleo-Pacific Plate: Insights from ophiolitic rocks in the Wandashan accretionary complex, NE China

The Wandashan accretionary complex(AC),consisting of the Raohe and Yuejinshan complexes,is located on the continental margin of Northeast Asia and represents an excellent source of information about Paleo-Pacific subduction and accretion.However,the protolith nature and tectonic evolution of the Wandashan AC are under debate.This contribution reports new geochronological,geochemical,and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic data for ophiolitic rocks from the Wandashan AC.The 169–166 Ma plagioclasites and homogeneous gabbros from the Raohe complex are OIBs while 228–214 Ma homogeneous gabbros are continental VABs.Cumulate gabbros from the Yuejinshan complex formed at 280–278 Ma and~220 Ma and have similar characteristics with E-MORB and N-MORB,respectively.They are BABBs and their primary magma was derived from a source region between EMI and EMII that was affected by continental crustal contamination as well as subduction-zone metasomatism.Combined with previous studies,we suggest that the onset of subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate was in the Early Permian.Subsequently,a back-arc basin,whose present suture is on the eastern margin of the Jiamusi Massif,formed and widened during 280–232 Ma,after which the basin closed and BABBs were emplaced to form the Yuejinshan complex during 210–180 Ma.The formation of VABs of the Raohe complex is coincident with the closure of the back-arc basin,and together with the 169–166 Ma OIBs,they constitute a major part of the Raohe complex.The accretionary process was completed during 133–131 Ma.Taken together,the ophiolitic rocks indicating multistage magmatism in the Paleo-Wandashan region recorded the formation-closure process of back-arc basin and the accretionary process of the Wandashan AC,during the westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate.The back-arc basin identified in our study sheds new lights on geodynamic evolution model of subduction and accretion of the Paleo-Pacific Plate on the continental margin of NE Asia.

Integrated U-Pb,Lu-Hf and(U-Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China

Low-temperature Sb(Au-Hg) deposits in South China account for more than 50% of the world’s Sb reserves,however,their genesis remains controversial.Here we report the first study that integrates U-Pb and Lu-Hf analysis by LA-(MC)-ICPMS and conventional(U-Th)/He analysis,all applied to single zircon crystals,in an attempt to constrain the origin and timing of world-class Sb(Au-Hg) deposits in Banxi(South China).Zircon separated from a quartz-stibnite ore and an altered country rock samples revealed similar U-Pb age spectra defining two major populations-Paleoproterozoic(~1900-2500 Ma) and Neoproterozoic(~770 Ma),which are characterized by variable εHf(t) values(-10.7 to 9.1 and-16.5 to 11.2,respectively) and Hf crustal model ages(TDMC)(2.48 to 3.24 Ga and 0.97 to 2.71 Ga,respectively).The U-Pb age and Hf isotopic features of the zircons are consistent with the Banxi Group in the region,indicating that the zircons involved in the low-temperature hydrothermal system were originally from the Banxi Group country rocks.Thirty-three mineralization-related zircon crystals yielded a mean(U-Th)/He age of 123.8±3.8 Ma,which is interpreted to represent the timing of the latest low-temperature mineralization stage of the Banxi Sb deposit.The combined U-Pb,Lu-Hf and(U-Th)/He data suggest that Precambrian basement rocks were the major contributors to the low-temperature mineralization,and that Early Cretaceous(130-120 Ma) could be the most important ore-forming epoch for the Sb deposits in South China.This study also demonstrates the analytical feasibility of integrated U-Pb-Lu-Hf-(U-Th)/He "triple-dating",all applied to single zircon crystals.This approach reveals the full evolution of zircon,from its origin of the magmatic source,through its crystallization and low-temperature cooling.Although this study demonstrates the usefulness of this integrated approach in dating low-temperature mineralization,it has great potential for zircon provenance and other studies that may benefit from the large amount of information that can be extracted from single zircon crystals.

All-solid-state flexible asymmetric supercapacitors with high energy and power densities based on NiCo_2S_4@MnS and active carbon

Electrode material based on a novel core–shell structure consisting of NiCoS（NCS） solid fiber core and Mn S（MS） sheet shell（NCS@MS） in situ grown on carbon cloth（CC） has been successfully prepared by a simple sulfurization-assisted hydrothermal method for high performance supercapacitor. The synthesized NiCoS@Mn S/CC electrode shows high capacitance of 1908.3 F gat a current density of 0.5 A gwhich is higher than those of NiCoSand Mn S at the same current density. A flexible all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor（ASC） is constructed by using NiCoS@Mn S/CC as positive electrode, active carbon/CC as negative electrode and KOH/poly（vinyl alcohol）(PVA) as electrolyte. The optimized ASC shows a maximum energy density of 23.3 Wh kgat 1 A g, a maximum power density of about7.5 kw kgat 10 A gand remarkable cycling stability. After 9000 cycles, the ASC still exhibited67.8% retention rate and largely unchanged charge/discharge curves. The excellent electrochemical properties are resulted from the novel core–shell structure of the NiCoS@Mn S/CC electrode, which possesses both high surface area for Faraday redox reaction and superior kinetics of charge transport. The NiCoS@Mn S/CC electrode shows a promising potential for energy storage applications in the future.

Functionalized metal-organic frameworks with strong acidity and hydrophobicity as an efficient catalyst for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

In the dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural(HMF),in situ produced water weakens the acid strength of the catalyst and causes the rehydration of HMF,causing unsatisfactory catalytic activity and selectivity.In this work,a class of benzenesulfonic acid-grafted metal-organic frameworks with strong acidity and hydrophobicity is obtained by the direct sulfonation method using 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid as sulfonating agent.The resultant MOFs have a specific surface area of greater than 250 m^(2)·g^(-1),acid density above 1.0 mmol·g^(-1),and water contact angle up to 129°.The hydrophobic MOF-PhSO_(3)H exhibits both higher catalytic activity and selectivity than MOF-SO_(3)H in the HMF synthesis due to its better hydrophobicity and olephilicity.Moreover,the catalyst has a high recycled stability.At last,fructose is completely converted,and 98.0%yield of HMF is obtained under 120℃ in a DMSO solvent system.The successful preparation of the hydrophobic acidic MOF provides a novel hydrophobic catalyst for the synthesis of HMF.

Polymerase chain reaction-based tests for detecting Helicobacter pylori clarithromycin resistance in stool samples: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is closely associated with the etiology of a variety of gastric diseases.The effective eradication of H.pylori infection has been shown to reduce the incidence of gastric carcinoma.However,the rate of H.pylori eradication has significantly declined due to its increasing resistance to antibiotics,especially to clarithromycin.Therefore,the detection of clarithromycin resistance is necessary prior to the treatment of H.pylori.Although many studies have been conducted on the use of polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-based tests to detect clarithromycin resistance in stool samples,no accurate data on the feasibility of these tests are available.Here,we performed a meta-analysis to assess the feasibility of these noninvasive tests.AIM To evaluate the reliability of PCR-based tests for detecting H.pylori clarithromycin resistance in stool samples.METHODS We searched PubMed,Medline,Embase,and other databases for articles that evaluated the value of the PCR analysis of stool samples for detecting the resistance of H.pylori to clarithromycin.We collected cross-sectional studies that met the inclusion criteria.Diagnostic accuracy measures were pooled using a random-effects model.The risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool.Subgroup analysis was also conducted according to PCR type,purification technique,reference standard,mutation site,sample weight,number of patients,and age group,and the clinical utility of diagnostic tests was evaluated using the Likelihood Ratio Scatter Graph.RESULTS Out of the 1818 identified studies,only 11 met the eligibility criteria,with a total of 592 patients assessed.A meta-analysis of the random-effect model showed that PCR-based analysis of stool samples had high diagnostic accuracy for detecting clarithromycin resistance in patients infected with H.pylori.The combined sensitivity was 0.91[95%confidence interval(CI):0.83-0.95],Q=30.34,and I2=67.04,and the combined specificity was 0.97(95%CI:0.62-1.00),Q=279.54,and I2=96.42.The likelihood ratio for a positive test was 33.25(95%CI:1.69-652.77),and that for a negative test was 0.10(95%CI:0.05-0.18),with an area under the curve of 0.94.The diagnostic odds ratio was 347.68(95%CI:17.29-6991.26).There was significant statistical heterogeneity,and the sub-analyses showed significant differences in the number of patients,sample weight,purification methods,PCR types,mutation points,and reference standards.The included studies showed no risk of publication bias.CONCLUSION PCR-based tests on stool samples have high diagnostic accuracy for detecting H.pylori clarithromycin resistance.

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of Late Triassic granitoids in the Alananshan,East Kunlun belt:evidence from geochemistry,geochronology,and zircon Hf isotopic compositions

The Qimantag in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt has widespread Triassic magmatic rocks that have received scant attention,with an unresolved issue relating to its petrogenesis and geodynamics.In this paper,we used zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes and whole-rock geochemistry to trace the petrogenesis and tectonic settings of the moyite and monzogranite from the Qimantag Alananshan,East Kunlun.The moyite and monzogranite are silicic(SiO_(2-)~69.9-76.41%),highly alkali(Na_(2)O+K_(2)O~7.29 to8.96 wt.%),with Mg^(#)about 10.4-30.34,indicative of a high-K calc-alkaline rock series.The rare earth element patterns diagram is right-leaning,with a negative Eu anomaly(δEu=0.31-0.68).They are enriched in Rb,K,and light rare earth elements but depleted in Nb,Ta,and Ti,with abundant amphibole,typical of I-type granites.U-Pb on zircon constrained the emplacement of the moyite at 223.9±2.6 Ma and monzogranite at 226.9±2.9 Ma.TheεHf(t)values range from-2.8 to+0.1 except for one outlier value of-7.0,corresponding two-stage model age of 1249-1437 Ma.Our combined geochemical and isotopic results indicate that the moyite and monzogranite were derived from partial melting of the lower thicken crust with the contribution from the older basement materials.These rocks formed in a post-collision setting that is transitional between compressive collision and extension orogeny.

Enhanced chemical trapping and catalytic conversion of polysulfides by diatomite/MXene hybrid interlayer for stable Li-S batteries

Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high theoretical energy density are promising energy storage systems in the next decades, while the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) shuttling caused by the sluggish sulfur redox reaction severely lowers the practical performance. The use of interlayer between the cathode and separator has been widely investigated to physically or chemically block the LiPSs, while the introduction of catalytic materials is a more effective strategy to accelerate the conversion of LiPSs. MXene with rich surface chemistry has shown its potential for facilitating the catalytic conversion, however, the aggregation of MXene sheets usually leads to the loss of the catalytic active sites. Herein, we report a diatomite/MXene (DE/MX) hybrid material as the bifunctional interlayer for improving the adsorption/conversion of LiPSs in Li-S batteries. The diatomite with porous structure and rich silica-hydroxyl functional groups could trap LiPSs effectively, while prevent the aggregation of MXene. The DE/MX based interlayer showed bifunctions of enhancing the chemical adsorption and promoting the conversion of LiPSs. The Li-S batteries with the DE/MX interlayer delivered an improved cycling stability with a low capacity decay of 0.059% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 1.0 C. Moreover, stable 200 cycles can be realized with a high sulfur loading electrode up to 6.0 mg cm^(−2). This work provides an effective strategy to construct bifunctional interlayers for hindering the shuttling of LiPSs and boosting the practical application of Li-S batteries.

Comparison of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community in Roots and Rhizosphere of Invasive Cenchrus incertus and Native Plant in Inner Mongolia,China

Plant invasions could significantly alter arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungal communities, but the effect may vary with plant species and local environments. Identifying changes in the AM fungal community due to plant invasion could improve our understanding of the invasion processes. Here, we examined the AM fungal community composition both in roots and rhizosphere soils of the invasive plant Cenchrus incertus and the dominant native plant Setaria viridis in a typical steppe in Inner Mongolia by using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses(T-RFLP). The results showed that AM fungal abundance in the rhizosphere soils of C. incertus was significantly lower than that of S. viridis. The AM fungal community composition in the rhizosphere soils of the two plant species also largely differed. In general, AM fungal community structures in roots corresponded very well to that in rhizosphere soils for both plant species. The dominant AM fungal type both in invasive and native plants was T-RFLP 524 bp, which represents Glomus sp.(Virtual taxa 109 and 287). Three specific T-RF types(280,190 and 141bp) were significantly more abundant in C. incertus, representing three clusters in Glomus which also named as VT(virtual taxa) 287, 64 and 214, Rhizophagus intraradices(VT 113) and Diversispora sp.(VT 60). While the specific T-RF types,189 and 279 bp, for S. viridis, only existed in Glomus cluster 1(VT 156), were significantly less abundant in C. incertus. These results indicated that AM fungi might play an important role in the invasion process of C. incertus, which still remains to be further investigated.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 65 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Liaoning, China

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has spread rapidly to multiple countries through its infectious agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.The severity,atypical clinical presentation,and lack of specific anti-viral treatments have posed a challenge for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.Understanding the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases in different geographical areas is essential to improve the prognosis of COVID-19 patients and slow the spread of the disease.AIM To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and main therapeutic strategy for confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Liaoning Province,China.METHODS Adult patients(n=65)with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in this retrospective study from January 20 to February 29,2020 in Liaoning Province,China.Pharyngeal swabs and sputum specimens were collected from the patients for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 nucleic acid.Patient demographic information and clinical data were collected from the medical records.Based on the severity of COVID-19,the patients were divided into nonsevere and severe groups. All patients were followed until March 20,2020.RESULTSThe mean age of 65 COVID-19 patients was 45.5 ± 14.4 years, 56.9% were men,and 24.6% were severe cases. During the 14 d before symptom onset, 25 (38.5%)patients lived or stayed in Wuhan, whereas 8 (12.3%) had no clear history ofexposure. Twenty-nine (44.6%) patients had at least one comorbidity;hypertension and diabetes were the most common comorbidities. Compared withnonsevere patients, severe patients had significantly lower lymphocyte counts[median value 1.3 × 10^(9)/L (interquartile range 0.9-1.95) vs 0.82 × 10^(9)/L (0.44-1.08),P < 0.001], elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase [450 U/L (386-476) vs 707 U/L(592-980), P < 0.001] and C-reactive protein [6.1 mg/L (1.5-7.2) vs 52 mg/L (12.7-100.8), P < 0.001], and a prolonged median duration of viral shedding [19.5 d (16-21) vs 23.5 d (19.6-30.3), P = 0.001]. The overall median viral shedding time was19.5 d, and the longest was 53 d. Severe patients were more frequently treatedwith lopinavir/ritonavir, antibiotics, glucocorticoid therapy, immunoglobulin,thymosin, and oxygen support. All patients were discharged following treatmentin quarantine.CONCLUSIONOur findings may facilitate the identification of severe cases and inform clinicaltreatment and quarantine decisions regarding COVID-19.

Inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell sarcoma:Literature review of 67 cases

Inflammatory pseudotumor(IPT)-like follicular dendritic cell(FDC)sarcoma is rare.The 2017 World Health Organization classification of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues noted that data on its clinical outcome are limited,but that the tumor appears to be indolent.The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical characteristics,treatment outcomes,and prognostic factors for IPT-like FDC sarcoma.A literature review was conducted on retrospective analyses of clinical data and prognostic information on IPT-like FDC sarcoma reported between 2001 and 2020.A total of 67 cases of IPT-like FDC sarcoma were retrieved from the literature,documenting that it occurs predominantly in middle-aged adults,with a marked female predilection.Six patients had a separate malignancy and five had an autoimmune disease.Typically involving the spleen and/or liver,it may also selectively involve the abdomen,gastrointestinal tract,pancreas,retroperitoneum,and mesentery.Necrosis,hemorrhage,noncaseating epithelioid granulomas,and fibrinoid deposits in blood vessel walls are often present.The neoplastic cells are predominantly positive for follicular dendritic cell markers such as cluster of differentiation 21(CD21),CD23,CD35 and CNA.42 and are consistently Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)-positive.Mitoses were very rare in most cases.Most patients were treated by surgery alone.Disease status at the time of last follow-up was known for 57 patients with follow-up time ranging from 2 to 144 mo.Local and/or distant recurrence after initial treatment was seen in 15.8%of the patients.The 1-and 5-year progression-free survival for the entire group was 91.5%and 56.1%,respectively.Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analyses showed that age,sex,tumor size,and pathological features were not risk factors for disease progression.IPT-like FDC sarcoma appears to be mildly aggressive and requires annual surveillance.Surgery is the most effective treatment modality,and the role of adjuvant chemotherapy for postoperative management is unclear.EBV is likely to play an important role in the etiology of IPT-like FDC sarcoma.

Pathological clavicular fracture as first presentation of renal cell carcinoma: a case report and literature review

Renal cell carcinoma(RCC) accounts for approximately 3% of all cancer cases. RCCs usually metastasize to the lungs, bones, liver, or brain. Only <1% of patients with bone metastases manifested clavicular RCC metastases. Thus, clavicular metastasis as the initial presentation of RCC is extremely rare. We report a patient with RCC metastasis to the left clavicle, which was first presented with pain caused by a pathological fracture. Magnetic resonance image revealed a renal tumor, and technetium-99m–methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy showed multiple osseous metastases. The patient eventually underwent surgery to remove the lateral end of the left clavicle and right kidney. Histopathology revealed renal tumor and clear cell carcinoma in the clavicle. Finally, we review 17 cases of clavicular metastases originating from different malignancies.