Background The emerging infectious disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses a serious threat in China and worldwide. Challenged by this serious situation, China has taken many measures to contain its transmission. This study aims to systematically review and record these special and effective practices, in hope of benefiting for fighting against the ongoing worldwide pandemic. Methods The measures taken by the governments was tracked and sorted on a daily basis from the websites of governmental authorities (e.g. National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China). And the measures were reviewed and summarized by categorizations, figures and tables, showing an ever-changing process of combating with an emerging infectious disease. The population shift levels, daily local new diagnosed cases, daily mortality and daily local new cured cases were used for measuring the effect of the measures. Results The practices could be categorized into active case surveillance, rapid case diagnosis and management, strict follow-up and quarantine of persons with close contacts, and issuance of guidance to help the public understand and adhere to control measures, plus prompt and effective high-level policy decision, complete activation of the public health system, and full involvement of the society. Along with the measures, the population shift levels, daily local new diagnosed cases, and mortality were decreased, and the daily local new cured cases were increased in China. Conclusions China’s practices are effective in controlling transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Considering newly occurred situations (e.g. imported cases, work resumption), the control measures may be adjusted.

BackgroundThe quality of life in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis is compromised despite of the substantial achievements in treatments. Quality of life in hemodialysis patients have been shown to be associated with decreased survival and increased hospitalization. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate the managements of symptoms and patient self-perceived well-being as measurements of effective treatments for these patients.MethodsA survey of symptom distress, quality of sleep and quality of life was performed in 301 maintenance hemodialysis patients using Dialysis Symptom Index, Short Form-36, and Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index table. Patients were recruited from five hospitals in Guangdong area of China by convenience sampling.ResultsThe prevalence of various symptoms in maintenance hemodialysis patients was between 23.3 and 80.4 %. These patients had compromised sleep and poor quality of life. Moreover, poor quality of sleep and impaired quality of life were associated with high symptom burden of these patients.ConclusionThe patients receiving chronic hemodialysis generally have heavy symptom distress, which could contribute to the disturbed sleep and impaired quality of life of these patients. Measurements of clinical outcomes for hemodialysis patients should include the management of symptoms and morbidity. The ultimate goal of treatments is to improve patient self-perceived quality of life.

No abstract

Micro RNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression via either translational inhibition or mRNA degredation. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)-mediated hypertrophic signaling is a major regulatory response to hypertrophic stimuli. In this study, we constructed AAC rat models and PE-induced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. We demonstrated that miR-214 relative levels were upregulated, whereas EZH2 was downregulated in both vivo and vitro models. Further, one conserved base-pairing site in the EZH2 3'-untranslated region (UTR) was verified. Mutation of the site in the EZH2 3'-UTR completely blocked the negative effect of miR-214 on EZH2, suggesting that EZH2 is a direct target for miR-214 regulation. Using a gain-of-function approach, incorporating the lentivirus constructed miR-214 and its sponge, we demonstrated that miR-214 significantly regulated endogenous levels of EZH2 gene expression; whereas, changes in the expression of the Sine oculis homeobox homolog gene were induced by an adrenergic receptor agonist in the AAC rat model. Having made this study it is possible to conclude that the negative regulation of EZH2 expression contributed to miR-214-mediated cardiac hypertrophy.

No abstract