Background: The inflammatory response plays a critical role in coronavirus disease 2019 , and inflammatory cytokine storm increases the severity of COVID-19. Objective: To investigate the ability of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) to predict mild and severe cases of COVID-19. Study design: This retrospective cohort study included 140 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from January 18, 2020, to March 12, 2020. The study population was divided into two groups according to disease severity: a mild group (MG) (n = 107) and a severe group (SG) (n = 33). Data on demographic characteristics, baseline clinical characteristics, and the levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT on admission were collected. Results: Among the 140 patients, the levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT increased in 95 (67.9 %), 91 (65.0 %), and 8 (5.7 %) patients on admission, respectively. The proportion of patients with increased IL-6, CRP, and PCT levels was significantly higher in the SG than in the MG. Cox proportional hazard model showed that IL-6 and CRP could be used as independent factors to predict the severity of COVID-19. Furthermore, patients with IL-6 > 32.1 pg/mL or CRP > 41.8 mg/L were more likely to have severe complications. Conclusion:The serum levels of IL-6 and CRP can effectively assess disease severity and predict outcome in patients with COVID-19. BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly infectious and contagious. The first COVID-19 epidemic occurred in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 [1,2]. The epidemic was declared to be a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization on January 30, 2020. The clinical manifestations change rapidly, and severe cases can lead to hypoxia, multiple organ dysfunction, and death. However, no reliable indicators are yet available to predict disease severity and progression. The objective of this study is to identify specific serological indicators that can be used for diagnosis and guidance of treatment decisions. ObjectiveTo investigate the ability of IL-6, CRP, and PCT to predict mild and severe cases of COVID-19. Study design Methods and definitionsThe General Hospital of Central Theater Command of People's Liberation Army was designated to treat COVID-19 patients. This single-center, retrospective observational study was approved by the institutional Research Ethics Committee (Process No. 2020-008-1). A total of 141 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in this hospital between January 18, 2020, and March 12, 2020. All patients were confirmed positively by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid RT-PCR (Ct value≤38.0, BGI, Shenzhen, China) using specimens derived from oropharyngeal swabs or sputum, prior to or during the hospitalization. All patients were monitored via the electronic health information system, and clinical data were collected until March 12, 2020, the last follow-up date. Patients with severe disease were categorized based on the seventh edition of the Chinese National Health Commission [3] and should meet any of the following c...

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BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a recurrent mental illness worldwide. The glutamatergic neurotransmission system is now a target for antidepressant therapy because it takes part in synaptic plasticity and cognition in physical condition and has a potential excitatory neurotoxicity in pathological conditions. Glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 performs 90% of Glu neurotransmission. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on depressive behaviors and EAAT2 in CUMS.Material/MethodsWe randomly divided 56 male SD rats into a normal group, a model group, an acupuncture group, and a riluzole group. Rats in the model group, acupuncture group, and riluzole group underwent chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) exposure for 21 days. The acupuncture group received electro-acupuncture stimulation on LI4 and LR3 for 5 continuous days per week for 4 weeks, and rats in the riluzole group received 4 mg/kg of riluzole orally (Sanofi, J20140092) for 4 weeks after undergoing CUMS stimulation.ResultsRats showed significantly increased sucrose consumption in the sucrose preference test paradigm, and showed elevated food intake and shortened latency in the novelty-suppressed feeding test paradigm after undergoing acupuncture therapy and riluzole treatment. The amelioration of depressive behavioral actions was consistent with increasing number of positive cells, protein, and mRNA expression of glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 in the hippocampus and PFC.ConclusionsThe results suggest that acupuncture and riluzole are both effective in improving sucrose consumption, latency, and food intake in CUMS rats. However, acupuncture appears to achieve an antidepressant effect later than riluzole does because it might need accumulated stimulation by enhancing EAAT2 expression. Enhance glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 in the hippocampus and PFC is a mechanism underlying the antidepressant effect of acupuncture.

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Soil and water loss in karst areas seriously restricts the sustainable development of karst ecosystems, the economy and society in southwest China, which has been a concern of, and studied by, many scholars in China and abroad. Soil and water loss has a great influence on the evolution of rocky desertification, groundwater quality, drought and flood disasters in karst regions. This paper aimed to provide a review of studies of slope hydrological processes in soil and water loss. In this paper, 322 related articles retrieved from the Web of Science database and CNKI database were systematically reviewed. Firstly, a quantitative study was conducted to analyze the annual number, countries and research progress of the published literature. Secondly, the main progress and achievements of slope hydrology and soil erosion control technology were classified and summarized according to theoretical research, mechanism research, technology research and technical demonstration. Finally, the key problems and future research prospects are put forward, starting with the existing technology, in order to find more suitable soil and water loss control measures in karst regions and achieve economic and ecological benefits.