The effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy of Huanglian Jiedu decoction in treating acute ischemic stroke(AIS)and its effects on inflammatory factors and oxidative stress.Method:A total of 53 patients with AIS were recruited as the study subjects and randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group using a random number table method.The control group consisted of 26 patients and the treatment group consisted of 27 patients.The control group received conventional Western medicine treatment.The control group received routine Western medicine treatment,while the treatment group received Huanglian Jiedu decoction based on the control group,with 14 days as a course of treatment.The effects of Huanglian Jiedu decoction on neurological function and activities of daily living were evaluated using the National Institute of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)and activities of daily living(ADL)scores.The effects of Huanglian Jiedu decoction on inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress were evaluated by detecting interleukin-4(IL-4),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),transforming growth factorβ(TGF-β),total antioxidative capacity(T-AOC),malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and catalase(CAT)levels.Results:After treatment with Huanglian Jiedu Decoction,the ALD scores of AIS patients in both groups increased,while the NISHH scores decreased,suggesting that Huanglian Jiedu Decoction has therapeutic effects on AIS patients.It also reduces the levels of serum IL-6,TNF-α,MDA in AIS patients and increases the levels of IL-4,TGF-β,CAT,SOD,T-AOC,suggesting that Huanglian Jiedu decoction can improve the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities of AIS patients.Conclusion:Huanglian Jiedu decoction can help AIS patients recover their neurological function,increase their capacity for self-care in daily life,and strengthen the body’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant defenses.

Stress granules inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis during hypoxia-induced injury in acute liver failure

BACKGROUND Stress granules(SGs)could be formed under different stimulation to inhibit cell injury.AIM To investigate whether SGs could protect hepatocytes from hypoxia-induced damage during acute liver failure(ALF)by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)mediated apoptosis.METHODS The agonist of SGs,arsenite(Ars)was used to intervene hypoxia-induced hepatocyte injury cellular model and ALF mice models.Further,the siRNA of activating transcription factor 4(ATF4)and SGs inhibitor anisomycin was then used to intervene in cell models.RESULTS With the increase of hypoxia time from 4 h to 12 h,the levels of HIF-1α,ERS and apoptosis gradually increased,and the expression of SGs marker G3BP1 and TIA-1 was increased and then decreased.Compared with the hypoxia cell model group and ALF mice model,the levels of HIF-1α,apoptosis and ERS were increased in the Ars intervention group.After siRNA-ATF4 intervention,the level of SGs in cells increased,and the levels of HIF-1α,ERS and apoptosis decreased.Compared with the siRNA-ATF4 group,the levels of G3BP1 in the siRNAATF4+anisomycin group were decreased,and the levels of HIF-1α,ERS and apoptosis were increased.Moreover,compared with the ALF group,the degree of liver injury and liver function,the levels of HIF-1α,ERS and apoptosis in the Ars intervention group were decreased,the level of SGs was increased.CONCLUSION SGs could protect hepatocytes from hypoxia-induced damage during ALF by reducing ERSmediated apoptosis.

Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder following acute coronary syndrome and clinical characteristics of patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation

BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated that patients who have experienced acute coronary syndrome(ACS)have an increased risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD)and experiencing worse survival outcomes than those who do not develop PTSD.Nevertheless,the prevalence rates of PTSD following ACS vary widely across studies,and it is noteworthy that in most cases,the diagnosis of PTSD was based on self-report symptom questionnaires,rather than being established by psychiatrists.Additionally,the individual characteristics of patients who develop PTSD after ACS can differ widely,making it difficult to identify any consistent patterns or predictors of the disorder.AIM To investigate the prevalence of PTSD among a large sample of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation(CR)after ACS,as well as their characteristics in comparison to a control group.METHODS The participants of this study are patients who have experienced ACS with or without undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and are enrolled in a 3-wk CR program at the largest CR center in Croatia,the Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice.Patient recruitment for the study took place over the course of one year,from January 1,2022,to December 31,2022,with a total of 504 participants.The expected average follow-up period for patients included in the study is about 18 mo,and currently ongoing.Using self-assessment questionnaire for PTSD criteria and clinical psychiatric interview,a group of patients with a PTSD diagnosis was identified.From the participants who do not have a PTSD diagnosis,patients who would match those with a PTSD diagnosis in terms of relevant clinical and medical stratification variables and during the same rehabilitation period were selected to enable comparability of the two groups.RESULTS A total of 507 patients who were enrolled in the CR program were approached to participate in the study.Three patients declined to participate in the study.The screening PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version questionnaire was completed by 504 patients.Out of the total sample of 504 patients,74.2%were men(n=374)and 25.8%were women(n=130).The mean age of all participants was 56.7 years(55.8 for men and 59.1 for women).Among the 504 participants who completed the screening questionnaire,80 met the cutoff criteria for the PTSD and qualified for further evaluation(15.9%).All 80 patients agreed to a psychiatric interview.Among them,51 patients(10.1%)were diagnosed with clinical PTSD by a psychiatrist according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria.Among the variables analyzed,there was a noticeable difference in the percentage of theoretical maximum achieved on exercise testing between the PTSD and non-PTSD groups.Non-PTSD group achieved a significantly higher percentage of their maximum compared to the PTSD group(P=0.035).CONCLUSION The preliminary results of the study indicate that a significant proportion of patients with PTSD induced by ACS are not receiving adequate treatment.Furthermore,the data suggest that these patients may exhibit reduced physical activity levels,which could be one of the possible underlying mechanisms in observed poor cardiovascular outcomes in this population.Identifying cardiac biomarkers is crucial for identifying patients at risk of developing PTSD and may derive benefits from personalized interventions based on the principles of precision medicine in multidisciplinary CR programs.

Influence of standardized nursing intervention combined with mindfulness stress reduction training on the curative effect in patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a common inflammatory disease of the pancreas with high mortality rates.It is of great significance to take scientific intervention measures for patients with AP in time.AIM To explore the effect of standardized nursing combined with mindfulness stress reduction training on the curative effect,negative emotion,and quality of life in patients with acute pancreatitis.METHODS A total of 80 patients with acute pancreatitis admitted to The First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District Hospital from May 2021 to May 2023 were randomly divided into control group and observation group(n=40).Patients in control group were given the standardized nursing intervention,and the observation group were given standardized nursing plus mindfulness stress reduction training intervention.The time of clinical symptom disappeared or improved,complication occurrence rate,emotional state,and quality of life score of the two groups were observed and compared.RESULTS In comparison with the control group,the bowel sound recovery time,ventosity and abdominal pain improvement time,and venting and cacation time in observation group were shorter,and the total incidence rate of complications was reduced,showing statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The scores of anxiety and depression in observation group were lower than those in control group(P<0.05).Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha,interleukin(IL)-6,IL-1βand IL-8 in observation group were lower than those in control group(P<0.05).The scores of life quality in physiology,psychology,environment and social relations in observation group were higher than those in control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The application of standardized nursing intervention combined with mindfulness stress reduction training in patients with acute pancreatitis has a definite effect,which can help to ameliorate the clinical symptoms,anxiety and depression of patients,reduce the incidence rate of complications,and improve the prognosis of patients.

Acetaminophen overdose-induced acute liver injury can be alleviated by static magnetic field

Acetaminophen(APAP),the most frequently used mild analgesic and antipyretic drug worldwide,is implicated in causing 46%of all acute liver failures in the USA and between 40%and 70%in Europe.The predominant pharmacological intervention approved for mitigating such overdose is the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine(NAC);however,its efficacy is limited in cases of advanced liver injury or when administered at a late stage.In the current study,we discovered that treatment with a moderate intensity static magnetic field(SMF)notably reduced the mortality rate in mice subjected to high-dose APAP from 40%to 0%,proving effective at both the initial liver injury stage and the subsequent recovery stage.During the early phase of liver injury,SMF markedly reduced APAPinduced oxidative stress,free radicals,and liver damage,resulting in a reduction in multiple oxidative stress markers and an increase in the antioxidant glutathione(GSH).During the later stage of liver recovery,application of vertically downward SMF increased DNA synthesis and hepatocyte proliferation.Moreover,the combination of NAC and SMF significantly mitigated liver damage induced by high-dose APAP and increased liver recovery,even 24 h post overdose,when the effectiveness of NAC alone substantially declines.Overall,this study provides a noninvasive non-pharmaceutical tool that offers dual benefits in the injury and repair stages following APAP overdose.Of note,this tool can work as an alternative to or in combination with NAC to prevent or minimize liver damage induced by APAP,and potentially other toxic overdoses.

Non-coding RNAs in acute ischemic stroke:from brain to periphery

Acute ischemic stroke is a clinical emergency and a condition with high morbidity,mortality,and disability.Accurate predictive,diagnostic,and prognostic biomarkers and effective therapeutic targets for acute ischemic stroke remain undetermined.With innovations in high-throughput gene sequencing analysis,many aberrantly expressed non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs)in the brain and peripheral blood after acute ischemic stroke have been found in clinical samples and experimental models.Differentially expressed ncRNAs in the post-stroke brain were demonstrated to play vital roles in pathological processes,leading to neuroprotection or deterioration,thus ncRNAs can serve as therapeutic targets in acute ischemic stroke.Moreover,distinctly expressed ncRNAs in the peripheral blood can be used as biomarkers for acute ischemic stroke prediction,diagnosis,and prognosis.In particular,ncRNAs in peripheral immune cells were recently shown to be involved in the peripheral and brain immune response after acute ischemic stroke.In this review,we consolidate the latest progress of research into the roles of ncRNAs(microRNAs,long ncRNAs,and circular RNAs)in the pathological processes of acute ischemic stroke–induced brain damage,as well as the potential of these ncRNAs to act as biomarkers for acute ischemic stroke prediction,diagnosis,and prognosis.Findings from this review will provide novel ideas for the clinical application of ncRNAs in acute ischemic stroke.

Irisin attenuates intestinal injury,oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress in mice with L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis(AP)is often associated with intestinal injury,which in turn exaggerates the progression of AP.Our recent study has shown that a low level of serum irisin,a novel exercise-induced hormone,is associated with poor outcomes in patients with AP and irisin administration protects against experimental AP.However,the role of irisin in intestinal injury in AP has not been evaluated.AIM To investigate the effect of irisin administration on intestinal injury in experimental AP.METHODS AP was induced in male adult mice by two hourly intraperitoneal injections of Larginine.At 2 h after the last injection of L-arginine,irisin(50 or 250μg/kg body weight)or 1 mL normal saline(vehicle)was administered through intraperitoneal injection.The animals were sacrificed at 72 h after the induction of AP.Intestinal injury,apoptosis,oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress were evaluated.RESULTS Administration of irisin significantly mitigated intestinal damage,reduced apoptosis,and attenuated oxidative and ER stress in AP mice.In addition,irisin treatment also effectively downregulated serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 levels and alleviated injury in the pancreas,liver and lung of AP mice.CONCLUSION Irisin-mediated multiple physiological events attenuate intestinal injury following an episode of AP.Irisin has a great potential to be further developed as an effective treatment for patients with AP.

Acute pancreatitis:The stress factor

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas that may cause life-threatening complications.Etiologies of pancreatitis vary,with gallstones accounting for the majority of all cases,followed by alcohol.Other causes of pancreatitis include trauma,ischemia,mechanical obstruction,infections,autoimmune,hereditary,and drugs.The main events occurring in the pancreatic acinar cell that initiate and propagate acute pancreatitis include inhibition of secretion,intracellular activation of proteases,and generation of inflammatory mediators.Small cytokines known as chemokines are released from damaged pancreatic cells and attract inflammatory cells,whose systemic action ultimately determined the severity of the disease.Indeed,severe forms of pancreatitis may result in systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome,characterized by a progressive physiologic failure of several interdependent organ systems.Stress occurs when homeostasis is threatened,and stressors can include physical or mental forces,or combinations of both.Depending on the timing and duration,stress can result in beneficial or harmful consequences.While it is well established that a previous acute-short-term stress decreases the severity of experimentally-induced pancreatitis,the worsening effects of chronic stress on the exocrine pancreas have received relatively little attention.This review will focus on the influence of both prior acute-short-term and chronic stress in acute pancreatitis.

Relationship between acute stress and sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel:Mediating effect of social support

Background: To explore the relationship between acute stress, social support and sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel, and construct the relational model through structural equation modeling. Methods: A total of 2,411 grass-root military personnel were randomly selected by cluster sampling, and administered the Chinese Military Personnel Sleep Disorder Scale, Military Acute Stress Scale and Social Support Rating Scale.Results: The total score of acute stress scale was positively correlated with the total score and factor scores of sleep disorder scale(r=0.209~0.465, P<0.01); The total score of social support scale was positively correlated with the total score of acute stress scale and the total score and factor scores of sleep disorder scale(r=0.356~0.537, P<0.01). The analysis of mediating effects showed that lack of social support partially mediated between acute stress and the factors of sleep disorder. The analysis of structural equation model showed that acute stress not only had a direct effect on sleep disorder(the path coefficient was 0.29, P=0.000), but also on lack of social support(the path coefficient was 0.39, P=0.000); lack of social support had a direct effect on sleep disorder(the path coefficient was 0.48, P=0.000).Conclusions: Acute stress and lack of social support are two significant factors of sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel. Well-established social support could alleviate sleep disorder induced by acute stress. Lack of social support was a partial mediator between acute stress and sleep disorder.

The effects of large doses of vitamin C and vitamin E on nerve injury, neurotrophic and oxidative stress in patients with acute craniocerebral injury

Objective:To study the effects of large doses of vitamin C and vitamin E on nerve injury,neurotrophic and oxidative stress in patients with acute craniocercbral injury.Methods:Patients with acute cranioccrebral trauma who were admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Zigong from April 2014 to December 2016 were selected as the subjects and were randomly divided into two groups.The control group received conventional treatment,and the intervention group received large doses of vitamin C and vitamin E combined with conventional treatment.On the yh day and 7th day after treatment,peripheral blood was collected and serum was isolated,then the contents of nerve injury index NSE,S 100B,NGB,UCH-L1,Tf,Ft and neurotrophic indexes NTF-α,BDNE NGF and IGF-I were determined by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit,and the contents of SOD,GPx,CAT,OH-,O2,MDA and AOPP were measured by radioactive immunoprecipitation kit.Results:3th day and 7th day after treatment,the contents of NSE,S100B,NGB,UCH-L1,Tf,Ft,NTF-α,BDNF,NGF,IGF-Ⅰ,OH-,O2-,MDA and AOPP in the intervention group were all significantly lower than those in the control group.The content of SOD,GPx and CAT in serum in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group.Conclusions:High-dose vitamin C and vitamin E treatment can alleviate nerve injury,oxidative stress response,and improve neurotrophic state in patients with acute craniocerebral injury.

Regulatory effects of hydrogen sulfide on alveolar epithelial cell endoplasmic reticulum stress in rats with acute lung injury

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to examine the regulatory effect of hydrogen sulfide(H2S) on endoplasmic reticulum stress in alveolar epithelial cells of rats with acute lung injury(ALI) induced by oleic acid(OA).METHODS: Seventy-two male Sprague Dawley(SD) rats were divided into control group, oleic acid-induced ALI group(OA group), oleic acid-induced ALI with sodium hydrosulfide(Na HS) pretreatment group(OA+Na HS group), and sodium hydrosulfide treatment group(Na HS group). Rats of each group were further subdivided into 3 subgroups. Index of quantitative assessment of histological lung injury(IQA), wet/dry weight ratio(W/D) and H2 S level of lung tissues were measured. The expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers including glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78) and α-subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2(el F2α) in lung tissues were measured by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.RESULTS: The IQA score and W/D ratio of lung tissues at the three time points significantly increased in rats injected with OA, but significantly decreased in other rats injected with OA and Na HS. The level of H2 S in lung tissue at the three time points significantly decreased in rats injected with OA, but significantly increased in other rats injected with both OA and Na HS. GRP78 and el F2α decreased in rats injected with OA, but increased in other rats injected with both OA and Na HS, especially at 4-hour and 6-hour time points.CONCLUSION: The results suggested that H2 S could promote alveolar epithelial cell endoplasmic reticulum stress in rats with ALI.

Specific responses of monoamine neurotransmitters to various acute stressors

This study determined the composition of histamine,serotonin and dopamine using high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection,and compared the changes in monoamine levels in plasma,the cortex and midbrain of mice exposed to acute stressors,such as blood-drawing stimulation or restraint.Results demonstrated that plasma histamine levels were markedly increased when mice were exposed to blood-drawing stimulation and restraint stress.However,serotonin levels decreased in plasma of mice treated with restraint stress,and dopamine levels in plasma had no significant response to the two acute stressors.The three monoamines （histamine,serotonin and dopamine） increased at different degrees in restraint mice,but not in brain regions of blood-drawing stressed mice.Results indicated that histaminergic,serotonergic or dopaminergic systems have their own specific response to different acute stressors.

The Analysis of Wall Shear Stress Modulated by Acute Exercise in the Human Common Carotid Artery with an Elastic Tube Model

Assessment of the magnitude and pattern of wall shear stress(WSS)in vivo is the prerequisite for studying the quantitative relationship between exercise-induced WSS and arterial endothelial function.In the previous studies,the calculation of the WSS modulated by exercise training was primarily based upon the rigid tube model,which did not take non-linear effects of vessel elastic deformation into consideration.In this study,with an elastic tube model,we estimated the effect of a bout of 30-minute acute cycling exercise on the WSS and the flow rate in the common carotid artery according to the measured inner diameter,center-line blood flow velocity,heart rates and the brachial blood pressures before and after exercise training.Furthermore,the roles of exerciseinduced arterial diameter and blood flow rate in the change of WSS were also determined.The numerical results demonstrate that acute exercise significantly increases the magnitudes of blood flow rate and WSS.Moreover,the vessel elastic deformation is a non-negligible factor in the calculation of the WSS induced by exercise,which generates greater effects on the minimum WSS than the maximum WSS.Additionally,the contributions of exercise-induced variations in blood flow rate and diameter are almost identical in the change of the mean WSS.

Homocysteine and oxidative stress in acute stroke

Homocysteine is a sulfhydryl-containing amino acid derived from the essential amino acid methionine. Total Hcy plasma level varies in the range of 5-15 μmol/L in the normal population. Our aim in this study was to investigate the possible correlations among homocysteine plasma levels, oxidative stress parameters and clinical evolution of stroke. Fifty patients with large-vessel ischemic stroke were studied. Biochemical determinations were performed at entry (T0) and then repeated one month after stroke (T1). Homocysteine levels were significantly increased at T0 with respect to T1 and showed a significant positive correlation with the expression of oxidative stress markers and a negative correlation with indicators of protective anti stress activity. A significant increase of antioxidant activity occurred from T0 to T1 and changes were associated with the severity of clinical conditions. In particular, the extent of homocysteine and of oxidative stress markers plasmatic levels re- duction and of the contemporary increase in anti stress biochemical activities were associated with a reduction of NIHSS scores. These findings, besides confirming an involvement of oxidative stress in in- fluencing the evolution of stroke, suggest a role for homocysteine as a potentially modifiable biochemical alteration able to modulate some mechanisms in- volved in the production of ischemic damage.

Effect of sub-acute exposure to TiO_2 nanoparticles on oxidative stress and histopathological changes in Juvenile Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Increasing application of nanotechnology highlights the need to clarify and understand nanotoxicity. Mammalian and in vitro studies have raised concerns about the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles （TiO2-NPs）, but there are limited data on ecotoxicity to aquatic organisms. In this work, the sub-acute toxicity of TiO2-NPs to carp （Cyprinus carpio） was assessed. Superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POD） activities and lipid peroxidation （LPO） levels in liver, gill and brain tissues of carps varied with concentration of TiO2-NPs suspensions and exposure time （up to 8 d）. As a result, 100 and 200 mg/L TiO2-NPs caused statistically significant decrease in SOD, CAT and POD activities and significant increase in LPO levels in tissues （P 〈 0.05）, suggesting that the fish exposed to these two concentrations of TiO2-NPs suffered from the oxidative stress. The extent of depletion of antioxidant enzymes activities and the elevation of LPO in the liver was the greatest, indicating that the liver might be the most susceptible organ to TiO2-NPs exposure. In addition, carps had gill pathologies including edema and thickening of gill lamellae as well as gill filaments, and liver pathologies including necrotic and apoptosis hepatocytes after exposed to 100 and 200 mg/L TiO2-NPs for 20 d. These results indicated a potential risk from TiO2-NPs released into the aqueous environment.

Protective effect of fermented papaya preparation on stress-induced acute gastric mucosal lesion

Stress ulceration is single or multiple mucosal defects with/without bleeding from the gastric mucosa during the physiologic stress. Oxidative stress (OS) is a key pathogenic factor in psychogenic stress-induced acute gastric mucosal lesion (AGML). Fermented papaya preparation (FPP) is reported to have oxygen radical scavenging activity and is effective in OS-related diseases. Here, we investigated the protective effects and the mechanism of action of FPP on stress-induced AGML in rats, induced by water immersion restraint stress (WIRS). Exposure of rats to 6-hour WIRS resulted in the appearance of splinter hemorrhages and mucosal lesions in the stomach. WIRS induced significant increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in superoxide dismutase-like activity in both the plasma and gastric mucosa. WIRS also significantly increased myeloperoxidase activity together with Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) activation in gastric mucosa. FPP reduced all the above changes. The results suggest that oral administration of FPP provides protection against WIRS-induced acute gastric mucosal lesions through its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Acute kidney injury and electrolyte disorders in COVID-19

Acute kidney injury(AKI)and electrolyte disorders are important complications of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients.AKI is thought to occur due to multiple pathophysiological mechanisms,such as multiple organ dysfunction(mainly cardiac and respiratory),direct viral entry in the renal tubules,and cytokine release syndrome.AKI is present in approximately one in every ten hospitalized COVID-19 patients.The incidence rates of AKI increase in patients who are admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU),with levels higher than 50%.Additionally,renal replacement therapy(RRT)is used in 7%of all AKI cases,but in nearly 20%of patients admitted to an ICU.COVID-19 patients with AKI are considered moderate-to-severe cases and are managed with multiple interdisciplinary conducts.AKI acts as a risk factor for mortality in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection,especially when RRT is needed.Electrolyte disorders are also common manifestations in hospitalized COVID-19 patients,mainly hyponatremia,hypokalemia,and hypocalcemia.Hyponatremia occurs due to a combination of syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone and gastrointestinal fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea.When it comes to hypokalemia,its mechanism is not fully understood but may derive from hyperaldosteronism due to renin angiotensin aldosterone system overstimulation and gastrointestinal fluid loss as well.The clinical features of hypokalemia in COVID-19 are similar to those in other conditions.Hypocalcemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in COVID-19 and seems to occur because of vitamin D deficiency and parathyroid imbalance.It is also highly associated with longer hospital and ICU stay.

Differential expression of 114 oxidative stress-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of acute cerebral infarction patients A gene microarray experiment

Previous studies have focused on the analysis of single or several function-related genes in oxidative stress; however, little information is available regarding altered expression of oxidative stress-related genes in the process of ischemia-reperfusion injury from microarray experiments. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in cell oxidative stress- and toxicity-related gene expression utilizing microarray screening in patients with acute cerebral infarction during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Of the included 114 genes, expression was significantly upregulated in eight genes, including three heat shock protein-related genes, one oxidative and metabolic stress-related gene, one cell growth arrest/senescence related gene, two apoptosis signal-related genes, and one DNA damage and repair related gene. Expression was significantly downregulated in four genes, including one cell proliferation/cancer related gene, two oxidative and metabolic stress-related genes and one DNA damage and repair related gene. The results demonstrated that cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients with acute cerebral infarction was affected by many genes including oxidative stress-, heat shock-, DNA damage and repair-, and apoptosis signal-related genes. Therefore, it could be suggested that cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury may be subjected to complex genetic regulation mechanisms.

Acute Stress Symptoms in Families of Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit during the First 24 Hours Following Admission in Japan

Families of patients in the intensive care unit often experience sever stress. Understanding their experience is important for providing family-centered care during this difficult period. Little is known about the experience of families of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with acute stress symptoms among families of patients admitted to the ICU, we carried out a cross-sectional study at a teaching and advanced treatment hospital. The mean total Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) score differed significantly between planned and unplanned ICU admissions (t = 4.03, p < 0.05), indicating a main effect of admission type (F = 18.5, p < 0.05). There was no significant main effect of relationship (F = 0.05, p = 0.82) or interaction effect of admission type and relationship (F = 0.54, p = 0.47). Multiple regression analysis indicated that admission type was significantly associated with acute stress symptoms (B = 18.09, β = 0.47, p < 0.01), and explained 22% of the variance in total IES-R score. Whether a patient had a planned or unplanned admission to the ICU influenced symptoms associated with acute stress symptoms of family members more than did getting support from nurses, being the patient’s spouse, or the severity of illness of the patient.

Rapid Decrease and Subsequent Increase in the Serum Triglycerides Accompanied by CD36 Transcript Increase in an Acute Stress Mice Model

In this article, we report the changes in serum triglyceride (TG) levels that occurred during repeated tail blood sampling using a mouse restrainer. We used three groups of mice, namely, “PBS-restrained” “PBS-unrestrained” and “mock-restrained”. The mice in the PBS-restrained and PBS-unrestrained groups were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with 100 mL PBS and tail blood sampling was performed at 1, 5, 8, 24, and 48 h after i.p. injection. For the mock-restrained group, no i.p. injection was performed whereas the subsequent tail blood sampling was similarly performed. During the tail blood sampling, the mice of the two “restrained” groups were placed inside the restrainer designed from an open-ended 50 mL conical tube. The blood from the mice in the PBS-unrestrained group mice was sampled from the tail held by the operator’s hands while being allowed to move on a stage. Strikingly, in all of the three groups, the serum TG level initially decreased to remarkably low levels (approximately 30 mg/dL) after several blood samplings were performed over 8 h. This decrease was followed by a 2 - 3-fold increase in the levels relative to that in the control mice in the subsequent 24 - 48 h time period. We concluded that the acute stress associated with blood sampling caused alterations in TG levels. Serum levels of free fatty acid showed only modest changes. Changes in TG levels were not associated with serum corticosterone levels but with a dramatic increase in CD36 transcript levels in the liver. The relevance of this finding to the previously reported release of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) from white fatty tissue into the plasma during acute stress is also discussed.