Effect of programmed cell death factor 4 on the severity of coronary heart disease and coronary artery disease with blood stasis and toxin

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of PDCD4 on the degree of arterial stenosis in"blood stasis"coronary heart disease.Methods:Select 80 patients with coronary heart disease in the Second Cardiovascular Zone of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in April 2020,and divide them into the"phlegm toxin"group(n=40)and the"phlegm stasis"group(n=40)based on the dialectics of traditional Chinese medicine.).Record the gender,age,smoking,and alcohol consumption of the subjects between the two groups,and detect their white blood cell count,neutrophil count,platelet count,platelet volume,platelet distribution width,blood creatinine,uric acid,cystatin,and fibrin The expression levels of original,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,D-dimer,total cholesterol,triglycerides,high-density lipoprotein,low-density lipoprotein,apolipoprotein a,apolipoprotein b,and PDCD4.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen out the risk factors that affect coronary plaque formation,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of each index was established to evaluate the severity of coronary stenosis in patients with stasis coronary heart disease by each index and combined index Diagnostic efficiency.Results:The two groups of patients were tested in terms of gender,age,smoking,drinking,triglycerides,cholesterol,high-density lipoprotein,low-density lipoprotein,apolipoprotein-a,apolipoprotein-b,white blood cell count,neutrophil The cell count,platelet count,platelet volume width and platelet distribution width were not statistically significant(P>0.05);the expression levels of hypersensitivity-C-reactive protein,serum creatinine,cystatin,uric acid and PDCD4 were statistically significant between the two groups Difference(P<0.05),and the corresponding hypersensitivity-C-reactive protein,creatinine,cystatin,uric acid and PDCD4 expression levels in the blood stasis group were higher than those in the phlegm blood stasis group.After multivariate logistic regression analysis,the level of PDCD4 in peripheral blood[OR=31.088,95%CI(2.498,3.869)]was an independent influencing factor of the"stagnation"type of coronary heart disease,and PDCD4 was diagnosed as the"stagnation"type of coronary heart disease The area under the ROC curve(AUC)is 88.6%,95%CI(1.894,2.532)(P=0.29);the level of PDCD4 in peripheral blood is positively correlated with the number and severity of coronary artery disease,the number of coronary artery disease and stenosis The greater the degree,the higher the detection value of PDCD4,(P<0.05).Conclusion:The expression level of PDCD4 in peripheral blood is closely related to the subtype of"stasis toxin"and the severity of coronary vascular stenosis.It can be used as a quantitative diagnostic index for the diagnosis of"stasis toxin"coronary heart disease and the severity of coronary vascular stenosis.

Risk Factors for COVID-19 Related Death during the First Three Waves of the Pandemic in an Epidemic Treatment Center at Dakar, Senegal

Introduction-Objective: COVID-19 is a highly transmissible but often mild viral infection. However, some patients can present severe COVID-19 and subsequently die. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk factors for COVID-19 related death during the first three waves of the disease at the Epidemic Treatment Center (ETC) of Dakar Principal Hospital (DPH). Method: We conducted a descriptive and analytical perspective survival study from April 4, 2020 to September 25, 2021, including adult patients with COVID-19, hospitalized at the ETC of DPH. Log Rank test and multivariate Cox model were performed to identify risk factors for death. Results: We included 556 COVID-19 patients with mean age of 57 ± 17 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.26. The number of deaths during one month of follow-up was 41, representing a cumulative risk of 7.4%. The log Rank test showed that being from the third wave (p = 0.0056), advanced age (p = 0.00098), presence of at least one comorbidity (p = 0.034), High blood pressure (p = 0.024), d-dimer level ≥ 1000 IU/L (p Conclusion: Our study showed that elderly and third-wave of COVID-19 patients were more at risk to die. Knowledge of risk factors for COVID-19 related death could improve the prognosis of these patients.

Epidemiology of Maternal Deaths from 2017 to 2022 in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the University Hospital of Tengandogo, Burkina Faso

Background: Although maternal mortality is declining in most countries, it remains a significant public health problem worldwide, with high rates, particularly in developing and insecure countries like ours. Objective: To study the epidemiological factors and factors associated with the occurrence of maternal death in the Gynecology-Obstetrics Department of University Hospital of Tengandogo. Method: It was a retrospective case-control study with a descriptive and analytical purpose over a period of 6 years from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2022. Cases were women with maternal deaths during the study period. Data processing and analysis were performed using Stata version 13 software. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with Stata version 13 software, and logistic regression modeling was used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR), their 95% confidence intervals (CI), and the threshold for statistical significance was set at a p value < 0.05. Results: A total of 372 patients were included in the study, including 146 cases of maternal death. The in-hospital maternal mortality rate was 1933 deaths per 100,000 live births. The average age was 28.5 years. 58.9% of patients lived in rural areas. Married patients accounted for 88.7% of cases. The average parity was 3. Direct obstetrical causes were the main causes of death, accounting for 72.6%. They were dominated by post-partum hemorrhage (24.2%), puerperal infection (18.6%), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (16.1%) and retroplacental hematoma (8.9%). Chronic anemia (12.9%) was the main indirect obstetric cause. Risk factors associated with maternal death were primiparity (OR for paucigravida and multigravida at 0.05;P = 0.001);ambulance transport (OR for patients referred and brought in by personal vehicle = 0.3, p < 0.001) and vaginal delivery (OR for cesarean deliveries = 0.4, p < 0.001). Conclusion: To reduce maternal mortality in Burkina Faso, strategies such as educating women about danger signs during pregnancy and promoting women’s education can be adopted.

The Impact of Finerenone on Changes in Pulse Wave Velocity, Arterial Pressure and Heart Related Deaths in Hemodialysis Patients—Study Perspective

The description in the abstract lacks clear logic and a comprehensive summary of this study, so please revise and improve it according to the design theme and main content of this study, and describe it in the order of (research background), purpose/aim, method, results and conclusions. The introduction of the abstract and preface is rather lengthy, but the summary of the whole study and the presentation of the research background are not perfect (mainly because the logic of the context is not clear and orderly), so it will appear a bit messy. Hope to be able to modify (this has been mentioned in the preliminary opinion). Cardiovascular events (CVE) pose a significant threat to individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), yet these patients are often excluded from cardiovascular clinical trials, leaving prognostic factors associated with CVE in ESRD patients largely unexplored. Recent human studies have demonstrated elevated circulating aldosterone levels in ESRD patients, correlating with left ventricular hypertrophy. Additionally, animal models have shown improvements in uremic cardiomyopathy with spironolactone therapy, prompting interest in assessing the efficacy of spironolactone or eplerenone in reducing mortality and improving cardiovascular function in dialysis patients. Clinicians have historically been cautious about prescribing mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) to congestive heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to hyperkalemia risk. However, the emergence of finerenone, a novel MR antagonist with a favorable safety profile and lower hyperkalemia risk, has renewed interest in MRA therapy in this population. Heart disease, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and left ventricular failure, is alarmingly prevalent in dialysis patients, contributing significantly to elevated mortality rates compared to the general population. Arterial stiffness, as indicated by pulse wave velocity (PWV), progressively worsens with advancing CKD stages, peaking in severity among ESRD patients undergoing dialysis. High PWV serves as a crucial risk stratification tool in ESRD. Elevated NT-proBNP and BNP levels in ESRD patients are well-documented, with significant associations observed between baseline peptide concentrations and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. By incorporating finerenone into our study, we aim to investigate its potential benefits in reducing arterial stiffness, lowering blood pressure, and ultimately mitigating heart-related mortality among hemodialysis patients. This study holds substantial implications for hypertension and cardiovascular risk management in this vulnerable patient population. Eligible participants must have been on chronic hemodialysis for at least three months, with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers included in their therapy at maximum tolerable doses. Serum potassium levels 5.7 mmol/L, left ventricular ejection fraction 50%, and PWV higher than age-estimated values are also prerequisites for study entry. Randomized allocation will be conducted using a permuted block design, stratified by center, with allocation communicated via signed study forms during initial examinations. All steps of this research will be conducted in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration.

Transcription factor networks involved in cell death in the dorsal root ganglia following peripheral nerve injury

The peripheral nervous system has the potential to regenerate after nerve injury owing to the intrinsic regrowth ability of neurons and the permissive microenvironment.The regenerative process involves numerous gene expression changes,in which transcription factors play a critical role.Previously,we profiled dysregulated genes in dorsal root ganglion neurons at different time points（0,3 and 9 hours,and 1,4 and 7 days） after sciatic nerve injury in rats by RNA sequencing.In the present study,we investigated differentially expressed transcription factors following nerve injury,and we identified enriched molecular and cellular functions of these transcription factors by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.This analysis revealed the dynamic changes in the expression of transcription factors involved in cell death at different time points following sciatic nerve injury.In addition,we constructed regulatory networks of the differentially expressed transcription factors in cell death and identified some key transcription factors（such as STAT1,JUN,MYC and IRF7）.We confirmed the changes in expression of some key transcription factors（STAT1 and IRF7） by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Collectively,our analyses provide a global overview of transcription factor changes in dorsal root ganglia after sciatic nerve injury and offer insight into the regulatory transcription factor networks involved in cell death.

Risk factors of intrapartal fetal death in a low-resource setting

Objective: To identify the risk factors of intrapartal fetal death in a tertiary hospital in Yaoundé. Methods: It was a case-control study comparing 53 women who delivered with intrapartal fetal death to 106 women who delivered without intrapartal fetal death, carried out at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon. Results: The risk factors of intrapartal fetal death identified at bivariate analysis were: maternal age <20 years (OR = 3.1;CI = 1.1 - 8.3), absence of regular income (OR = 2.4;CI = 1.2 - 4.7), single motherhood (OR = 2.9;CI = 1.5 - 5.7), illiteracy and primary level of education (OR = 4.7;CI = 1.9 - 11.5), referral (OR = 5.0;CI = 2.5 - 9.9), parity 0 and 1 (OR = 2.3;CI = 1.1 - 4.5), no antenatal care (OR = 9.2;CI = 2.4 - 35.6), number of antenatal visits <4 (OR = 4.2;CI = 2.1 - 8.6), antenatal care in a health center (OR = 3.8;CI = 1.9 - 7.5), antenatal care by a midwife (OR = 2.5;CI = 1.3 - 4.9) or a nurse (OR = 5.2;CI = 1.4 - 18.7), absence of malaria prophylaxis (OR = 10.6;CI = 2.9 - 39.5), absence of obstetrical ultrasound (OR = 4.7;CI = 1.9 - 10.9), prematurity (OR = 3.4;CI = 1.5 - 7.3), abnormal presentation (OR = 2.6;CI = 1.1 - 5.9), ruptured membranes at admission (OR = 2.7;CI = 1.3 - 5.4), ruptured membranes >12 hours at admission (OR = 5.1;CI = 2.5 - 10.3), stained amniotic fluid (OR = 4.8;CI = 2.4 - 9.7), labor lasting more than 12 hours (OR = 18.1;CI = 8.0 - 41.0), presence of maternal complications (OR = 4.7;CI = 2.2 - 10.3), and presence of fetal complications (OR = 48.6;CI = 18.3 - 129), particularly acute fetal distress (OR = 52.3;CI = (14.6 - 186), cord prolapse (OR = 12.1;CI = 3.3 - 43.4), and birth weight <2500 g (OR = 2.8;CI = 1.2 - 6.6). Conclusion: Close attention should be offered to pregnant women, so as to identify these risk factors and promptly provide an appropriate management.

Risk Factors for SARS-Related Deaths in 2003, Beijing

Objective To study the potential risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndromes （SARS）-related deaths in Beijing. Methods Epidemiological data were collected among the confirmed SARS patients officially reported by Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention （BCDC）, and information was also supplemented by a follow-up case survey, Chi-square test and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis were performed. Results Old age （over 60 years） was found to be significantly associated with SARS-related deaths in the univariate analysis. Also, history of contacting SARS patients within 2 weeks prior to the onset of illness, health occupation, and inferior hospital ranking as well as longer interval of clinic consulting （longer than 1 day） were the risk factors for SARS-related deaths. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis found four risk factors for SARS-related deaths. Conclusion Old age （over 60 years） is the major risk factor for SARS-related deaths. Moreover, hospital health workers, the designated hospitals for SARS clinical services and the interval of consulting doctors （less than 1 day） are protective factors for surviving from SARS.

Factors Associated with Death among Tuberculosis Patients in Dakar

Introduction-Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide. The predictors of mortality due to TB are rarely evaluated in Senegal. The aim of our study was to identify factors associated with related TB death in two treatment centers in Dakar, Senegal. Method: We conducted a prospective descriptive-analytical study dealing with TB patients followed in the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at FANN Teaching Hospital and Dakar Principal Hospital and in the Department of Pulmonology at Dakar Principal Hospital from March 1st, 2019 to February 29th, 2020. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify the associated factors of death. Results: Two hundred eighty-two patients in the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at FANN teaching hospital (57%), in the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at Dakar Principal Hospital (31%), and in the Department of Pulmonology at Dakar Principal Hospital (12%) were included in the study. The mean age was 39 ± 16 years and the male to female ratio was 2.2. Isolated pulmonary TB, isolated extrapulmonary TB, and both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB were present in 33.3%, 30.5% and 36.2% of cases, respectively. Twenty-two patients died, corresponding to a mortality rate of 7.8%. Factors independently associated with death were age ≥ 60 years (26.2 [3.6 - 191.2]) compared to 16 - 40 years’ age group, HIV infection (7.2 [1.4 - 36.9]), neurological localization of TB (13.19 [3.2 - 54.3]), and hemoglobin level < 10 g/dl (5.5 [1.3 - 23.9]). Conclusion: Tuberculosis remains a fatal disease despite therapeutic advances. Better knowledge of associated factors of death from TB may help to reduce its mortality.

Pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor as a target for protecting against apoptotic neuronal death and mitochondrial damage in ischemia

Focal ischemic stroke（FIS）results from the lack of blood flow in a particular region of the brain and accounts for about 80%of all human strokes.Although tremendous efforts have been made in translational research,the treatment strategies are still limited.Tissue plasminogen activator is the only FDA-approved drug currently available for acute stroke treatment,

Significance of 125I radioactive seed implantation on growth differentiation factor and programmed death receptor-1 during treatment of oral cancer

BACKGROUND Oral cancer(OC)is the most common malignant tumor in the oral cavity,and is mainly seen in middle-aged and elderly men.At present,OC is mainly treated clinically by surgery or combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy;but recently,more and more studies have shown that the stress trauma caused by surgery and the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy seriously affect the prognosis of patients.AIM To determine the significance of 125I radioactive seed implantation on growth differentiation factor 11(GDF11)and programmed death receptor-1(PD-1)during treatment of OC.METHODS A total of 184 OC patients admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University from May 2015 to May 2017 were selected as the research subjects for prospective analysis.Of these patients,89 who received 125I radioactive seed implantation therapy were regarded as the research group(RG)and 95 patients who received surgical treatment were regarded as the control group(CG).The clinical efficacy,incidence of adverse reactions and changes in GDF11 and PD-1 before treatment(T0),2 wk after treatment(T1),4 wk after treatment(T2)and 6 wk after treatment(T3)were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The efficacy and recurrence rate in the RG were better than those in the CG(P<0.05),while the incidence of adverse reactions and survival rate were not different.There was no difference in GDF11 and PD-1 between the two groups at T0 and T1,but these factors were lower in the RG than in the CG at T2 and T3(P<0.05).Using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis,GDF11 and PD-1 had good predictive value for efficacy and recurrence(P<0.001).CONCLUSION 125I radioactive seed implantation has clinical efficacy and can reduce the recurrence rate in patients with OC.This therapy has marked potential in clinical application.The detection of GDF11 and PD-1 in patients during treatment showed good predictive value for treatment efficacy and recurrence in OC patients,and may be potential targets for future OC treatment.

ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND DEATH RELATED FACTORS OF SEVERE MECONIUM ASPIRATION SYNDROME

Objective To investigate the factors in relation with the case fatality in severe meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Methods Eighty-one severe MAS cases intervened by the mechanical ventilation from 9 childrens hospitals were retrospectively analyzed for the risk factors of fatality with SAS software for non-parametric rank sum test and chi-square test. Results In the 81 cases, 49 were survived (death rate 39%). The gestational age (GA), Apgars score at 1min and other complications with MAS were significantly related to the death (P <0.05). There was no difference of death rate between the patients with or without receiving endotracheal intubation and airway suctioning (P>0.05). Conclusion A higher death rate (close to 40%) of severe MAS in the middle of 1990s in major cities of China suggests that it is important to detect the intrauterine hypoxemia as it may indicated by meconium staining amniotic fluid which should be intervened early by adequate termination of pregnancy before 42 weeks. The effects of delivery room suction and conventional ventilation also need to be reevaluated.

What factors are associated with premature death among professional baseball players in Japan?

The aim of this study is to clarify factors related to premature death among Japanese professional baseball players by a case-control analysis. The subjects are two matching groups of 622 Japan Professional Baseball (JPB) league players, those deceased and those surviving. Cases and controls are matched by birth year. All players debuted on the first string between 1934 and 2003, and are listed in The Official Baseball Encyclopedia of Japan. To compare means and frequencies of characteristics between deceased and surviving groups, t-tests and chi-square tests were used. A logistic regression analysis was assessed contributions of each independent variable on death. Significant differences between deceased and surviving players were observed in this study;deceased players had higher body mass indexes and longer careers. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis confirmed that body mass index and career length were statistically significant determinants of death for baseball players. This is the first report to examine factors of death for professional baseball players except employing data attained from Major League Baseball.

Descriptive and Analytical Study of Factors Associated with Mortality in Severe Malaria among Children in Dakar Emergency Departments from July to December 2022

Background: Malaria is the most widespread parasitic disease and remains a public health priority worldwide. The severe form is fatal if not treated early and appropriately. The aim was to carry out a descriptive and analytical study of the factors associated with mortality during severe malaria in children attending emergency departments in Dakar, Senegal. Methods: This is a prospective, observational and analytical study conducted over a 6-month period (July 1 to December 31, 2022), focusing on children hospitalized for severe malaria according to WHO severity criteria. Results: A total of 403 patients were hospitalized, including 78 cases of severe malaria (19.35%). Males predominated (60.26%) (sex ratio 1.51). The average age was 6.56 years [8 months - 14 years], with the [5 - 10 years] age group the most represented (40.26%). The average consultation time was 5.33 days (1 - 19 days). The main reasons for consultation were fever (70.51%), vomiting (24.35%) and convulsions (14.10%). Biological signs of severity were severe anemia (17.95%), renal failure (6.4%) and hypoglycemia (3.85%). Thrombocytopenia was noted in 52.56% of patients, including 32.05% of severe cases (sis in 61.41% of cases. Hyponatremia was noted in 39.74% of cases and hyperkalemia in 2 patients. Artesunate was the main drug used (93.59% of cases). Mortality was estimated at 1.5%. Factors leading to death were coma (P < 0.01), respiratory distress (P Conclusion: Malaria is still a public health problem, with a high mortality rate in emergency departments. Reducing this mortality rate requires effective management of the factors associated with death.

苍附导痰汤对肥胖型PCOS大鼠内分泌激素及miRNA-16和PDCD-4表达的影响

目的:探讨苍附导痰汤对肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)大鼠内分泌激素及微小RNA(miRNA)-16和程序性细胞死亡因子4(PDCD-4)表达的影响。方法:将50只SPF级雌性SD大鼠随机分为5组,每组10只。阳性对照组大鼠灌胃格华止(0.43 g/kg),低剂量组大鼠灌胃低剂量苍附导痰汤(1.42 g/kg),高剂量组大鼠灌胃高剂量苍附导痰汤(5.68 g/kg),模型组和正常组大鼠灌胃等量生理盐水,各组均持续给药14 d。比较各组大鼠体质量,内分泌激素水平,miRNA-16和PDCD-4 mRNA表达,以及PDCD-4蛋白表达。结果:模型组、阳性对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组大鼠体质量均高于正常组(P<0.05);阳性对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组大鼠体质量均低于模型组(P<0.05),且呈剂量依赖性。模型组、阳性对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组大鼠血清E_(2)均水平低于正常组,而血清T、FSH和LH水平均高于正常组(P<0.05);阳性对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组大鼠血清E_(2)水平均高于模型组,而血清T、FSH和LH水平均低于模型组(P<0.05),且呈剂量依赖性。模型组、阳性对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组大鼠卵巢miRNA-16表达均低于正常组,而PDCD-4 mRNA表达高于正常组(P<0.05);阳性对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组大鼠卵巢miRNA-16表达均高于模型组,而PDCD-4 mRNA表达低于模型组(P<0.05),且呈剂量依赖性。模型组、阳性对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组大鼠卵巢PDCD-4蛋白相对表达量均高于正常组(P<0.05);阳性对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组大鼠卵巢PDCD-4蛋白相对表达量均低于模型组(P<0.05),且呈剂量依赖性。结论:苍附导痰汤可调节肥胖型PCOS大鼠内分泌激素水平,其机制可能与上调miRNA-16表达及下调PDCD-4表达有关。

Characteristics of Deaths of Children in the Pediatrics Department of Hôpital Spécialisé Mère-Enfant Blanche Gomes (Republic of the Congo) from 2019 to 2021

Introduction: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to decrease the global maternal mortality ratio to below 70 per 100,000 live births and eliminate preventable deaths of newborns and children under the age of five in all countries by 2030. The pediatric department at Spécialisé Mère-Enfant Blanche Gomes Hospital (HSMEBG) is divided into two sectors, one catering to children aged one month to four years and the other dedicated to children aged five to 17 years. According to department records, over the past three years, there has been an average of 1050 hospitalizations per year, with an average duration of five days. Objectives: This study aims to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of children who died while in the pediatrics department of the HSMEBG and analyze the factors associated with their deaths. Methodology: A retrospective analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, collecting data over a three-year period, covering the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. Data were collected from medical records of deceased children using Excel software version 2016, and statistical calculations and logistic regression were performed using Epi info software version 7.2.5.0. Results: During the three years of operation, the pediatric department at HSMEBG recorded 3060 new admissions, of which 271 resulted in death, representing an overall frequency of 8.8%. December and January had the highest mortality rates, accounting for 15.5% and 12.5%, respectively. Out of the 271 recorded deaths, 143 (52.77%) occurred in children under the age of one, and 230 (84.87%) occurred in children under the age of five. The average age at death was 2.4 years, ranging from one month to 17 years. The sex ratio was 1. More than half of the deaths (51.66%) occurred during the night, and 165 (60.89%) sought medical help more than three days after the onset of symptoms. Weekend deaths accounted for nearly half (45.7%) of the cases. Upon admission, slightly over half of the children (55.72%) had impaired consciousness, 219 (80.81%) presented with respiratory distress, and 194 (71.59%) had a fever. The average time from admission to administering the first medication was 72 minutes. Respiratory infections were the leading cause of death, accounting for 83 (30.26%) cases, followed by severe forms of malaria (anemic and neurological) at 23.25%. Among the 271 recorded deaths, 33 (12.18%) received no treatment before their demise, and 136 (50.18%) died within the first 24 hours of hospitalization. The average duration of hospitalization for patients who spent less than 24 hours was 15 hours, while those who died after the 24th hour had an average hospital stay of five days, ranging from one to 41 days. Children under the age of five who were admitted with impaired consciousness had roughly double the risk of dying compared to those without this condition (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The overall mortality rate in the pediatric department at HSMEBG is 8.8%. Acute respiratory infections are the primary cause of death. Improving this rate necessitates reducing consultation and treatment durations.

PDCD4和miR-107在阴茎癌组织中的表达及与患者预后的关系

目的:探究程序性细胞死亡因子4(PDCD4)及微小RNA-107(miR-107)在阴茎癌组织中的表达水平及与患者预后的关系。方法:选取2018年01月至2020年06月经本院确诊阴茎癌并行手术治疗患者32例,术中分别取患者阴茎癌组织(研究组)及癌旁正常阴茎组织(对照组)各32对,应用实时定量PCR(quantitative reverse transcription-PCR)检测两组PDCD4和miR-107的表达水平并分析其与临床病理参数及预后的关系,并采用Kaplan-Meier进行生存曲线分析及Logistic回归分析影响阴茎癌患者预后的因素。结果:研究组PDCD4表达量明显低于对照组,miR-107表达量明显高于对照组(P均<0.05);PDCD4和miR-107的表达与阴茎癌患者淋巴结转移、组织分级相关(P均<0.05),与年龄、吸烟史、饮酒史、肿瘤部位无关(P均>0.05);应用Kaplan-Meier法对生存率进行分析,miR-107低表达组生存率显著高于miR-107高表达组,PDCD4低表达组生存率低于PDCD4高表达组(P均<0.05)。多因素分析结果显示,TNM分期高、淋巴结转移、PDCD4低表达和miR-107高表达均是影响阴茎癌患者预后的独立危险因素(均P<0.05)。结论:阴茎癌患者miR-107呈异常高表达,PDCD4呈低表达,二者均是影响阴茎癌的独立危险因素且有望作为预测阴茎癌患者预后的重要指标。

自然杀伤细胞2组成员A、程序性死亡因子配体1表达检测对PD-L1阻断免疫治疗肌层浸润性膀胱癌反应性的预测价值

目的:探究自然杀伤细胞2组成员A(NKG2A)及程序性死亡因子配体1(PD-L1)表达检测对PD-L1阻断免疫治疗肌层浸润性膀胱癌反应性的预测价值。方法:选取100例肌层浸润性膀胱癌患者作为研究对象,对其行PD-L1阻断免疫治疗后,根据治疗反应性将其分为缓解组和未缓解组;对缓解组患者随访3个月,将其分为复发组和未复发组。比较两组患者NKG2A和PD-L1在CD4^(+)和CD8^(+)上的表达水平,采用ROC曲线分析NKG2A和PD-L1预测膀胱癌患者治疗反应性的价值。结果:100例研究对象中,缓解组患者72例(72.00%),未缓解组患者28例(28.00%),两组性别、年龄比较无统计学差异(均P>0.05),但缓解组患者肿瘤直径小于未缓解组,NKG2A、PD-L1/CD4^(+)和PD-L1/CD8^(+)表达水平均低于未缓解组(均P<0.05)。膀胱癌患者NKG2A、PD-L1/CD4^(+)和PD-L1/CD8^(+)表达预测免疫治疗后缓解的AUC值分别为0.771、0.724、0.710;联合诊断的AUC为0.836。72例缓解患者中,出现复发29例(40.28%),未出现复发43例(59.72%),两组性别、年龄以及肿瘤直径比较无统计学差异(均P>0.05),但复发组NKG2A、PD-L1/CD4^(+)和PD-L1/CD8^(+)表达水平均高于未复发组(均P<0.05)。NKG2A、PD-L1/CD4^(+)和PD-L1/CD8^(+)表达预测膀胱癌患者缓解后复发的AUC值分别为0.775、0.740、0.728;联合诊断的AUC为0.874。结论:NKG2A、PD-L1/CD4^(+)和PD-L1/CD8^(+)在不同治疗反应性肌层浸润性膀胱癌患者外周血中表达水平不同,三者对于膀胱癌患者PD-L1阻断免疫治疗反应性均有一定的预测价值,且三者联合预测效能最佳。

血清OPN、sPD-L1、miR-370在急性髓系白血病中的表达及与危险分层的关系

目的:分析血清骨桥蛋白(OPN)、可溶性程序性死亡因子配体-1(sPD-L1)、微小RNA-370(miR-370)在急性髓系白血病(AML)中的表达及与危险分层的关系。方法:选取2021年11月—2023年2月本院诊治的79例AML患者作为研究对象,根据相关标准分为低危组(n=26)、中危组(n=39)及高危组(n=14)。比较3组治疗前后血清OPN、sPD-L1、miR-370、白细胞计数(WBC)、血红蛋白(Hb)水平,采用Pearson分析血清OPN、sPD-L1、miR-370水平与WBC、Hb水平相关性,采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析治疗前血清OPN、sPD-L1、miR-370水平联合检测对AML患者危险分层情况的诊断价值。结果:3组治疗前后血清OPN、sPD-L1、miR-370、WBC水平比较:低危组<中危组<高危组(P<0.05);血清Hb水平比较:低危组>中危组>高危组(P<0.05);治疗前后血清OPN、sPD-L1、miR-370水平与WBC水平呈正相关(治疗前:r=0.637、0.629、0.661,治疗后:r=0.432、0.422、0.544,P<0.05),与Hb水平呈负相关(治疗前:r=-0.655、-0.648、-0.646,治疗后:r=-0.519、-0.507、-0.438,P<0.05);治疗前血清OPN、sPD-L1、miR-370联合检测诊断AUC为0.942,高于单一检测(P<0.05)。结论:血清OPN、sPD-L1、miR-370水平与AML患者病情程度、分层情况密切相关,可为临床诊疗提供参考。

Effects of Heat Shock Factor AtHsfA1a on Programmed Cell Death in Arabidopsis thaliana under Cold Stress

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effects of heat shock factor AtHsfAla on programmed cell death in Arabidopsis thaliana under cold stress. [ Method] AtHsfAla-silenced transgenic （NT） and wild-type （WT） A. thaliana seedlings were used as experimental materials to induce the formation of callus; the callus were cultured to single cells by suspension culture, subjected to cold stress, stained with DAPI, prepared into cell smears and observed under a fluorescence microscope. [ Result] Under cold stress, cell nucleus of wild-type A. thaliana displayed morphological changes, but no apoptotic bodies were found; apoptotic bodies were observed in AtHsfAla-silenced transgenic A. thaliana cells, and the cytoplasm was remarkably concentrated. [ Conclusion] Under cold stress, heat shock factor AtHsfAla exerted inhibitory effects on programmed cell death in A. thaliana, which was of great significance for clarifying the mechanism of stress responses in plants.

Risk Factors for Severity and Mortality of Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 during the 3rd Wave of the Epidemic-Sao Tome and Principe

Rationale: In the literature, some risk factors for severity and mortality from COVID-19 have been indicated. However, these factors can change, depending on the characteristics of the population and health services. In this sense, longitudinal studies can be useful for understanding local realities and subsidizing health actions based on these realities. Objective: To analyze the risk factors for severity and death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized from August 1 to October 16, 2021 (3rd wave of the pandemic), notified by the Department of Epidemiological Surveillance of Sao Tome and Principe. We employed measures of strength of associations for the analysis of exposure risk factors. Results: We analyzed 110 hospitalized patients (31.8% severe-critical and 68.2% non-severe). The risk factors for severe forms of COVID-19 were: being aged ≥60 years (RR = 3.3), being male (RR = 2), having comorbidities (RR = 2) and the risk increases to 10-fold for multicomorbidities, with emphasis on obesity, neoplasia, skin-muscle-surgical infection, dementia and to some degree CVD. 62.9% of patients with severe forms of the disease were not vaccinated. Risk factors for death among hospitalized and severe/critical cases, respectively, were having comorbidities (RR = 8 and 2.4) multicomorbidities (RR = 10 and 2.8 for those with 2 comorbidities and RR = 33.3 and 4 for those with 3 or 4 comorbidities), especially diabetes, dementia, neoplasia, cutaneous-muscular infection, and obesity. Although CVD was not associated with risk factors for death, these were the most frequently found among the severely hospitalized and deaths. In addition, important risk factors associated with death were not using corticoids (RR = 3.3, 230-fold risk) and not using anticoagulants-heparin (RR = 1.3, 30% risk) more compared to the severe cases that did use them. Most of the patients who died (63.2%) were not vaccinated. Moreover, having only 1 dose of the vaccine was a risk factor 1.9 times more for death among all hospitalized patients, but in the severe cases, there was no association between the variable vaccination and death. Among those hospitalized with 2 doses, it was a 0.5-fold protective factor among those hospitalized. The Delta variant of Sarscov-2 was the one found among severe cases and deaths investigated by genetic sequencing, with more exuberant clinical features compared to the other 2 previous vaccinations. Conclusion: Being elderly, male and presenting comorbidities, mainly multicomorbidities were the main characteristics associated with severity of COVID-19. On the other hand, comorbidities, and even worse, multicomorbidities, hospitalization for respiratory failure, lowered level of consciousness, no use of corticoid and no use of anticoagulation in critically ill patients, and not having at least 2 doses of vaccine for covid-19, were characteristics associated with death by COVID-19. These results will help inform healthcare providers so that the best interventions can be implemented to improve outcomes for patients with COVID-19. Public health interventions must be carefully tailored and implemented in these susceptible groups to reduce the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19 and then the risk of major complications. Intensive and regular follow-up is needed to detect early occurrences of clinical conditions.