Bilirubin is a potent antioxidant and higher serum bilirubin levels have been associated with improved COPD outcomes. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the association between serum bilirubin levels and lung function (FEV

), prevalence/incidence of COPD, acute exacerbations of COPD, respiratory health status, and mortality.

MEDLINE® and Embase were searched using Ovid® (search updated October 1st, 2019). We included studies that measured serum bilirubin levels and outcomes of interest in adults with or without underlying lung disease. We excluded studies of those with liver disease or drug-induced elevations in bilirubin. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assess individual study risk of bias (ROB) and the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-Evidence Based Practice tool to assess overall strength of evidence (SOE). Two authors independently determined eligibility, performed data abstraction, assessed ROB, and determined SOE.

Thirteen studies (5 low risk of bias, 3 moderate and 5 high risk) were included. We found low strength of evidence for the association between higher bilirubin levels and lower risk of acute exacerbations of COPD (2 studies), mortality (3 studies), COPD diagnosis (4 studies), and lung function (FEV

) (8 studies). We found insufficient evidence on the relationship between serum bilirubin and respiratory health status/exercise capacity (1 study) and airflow obstruction (FEV

/FVC ratio) (4 studies).

Higher bilirubin levels may be associated with lower mortality and improved COPD outcomes. Randomized trials are needed to evaluate the effect of medications that raise serum bilirubin on COPD outcomes. PROSPERO registration CRD42019145747.

Higher bilirubin levels may be associated with lower mortality and improved COPD outcomes. Randomized trials are needed to evaluate the effect of medications that raise serum bilirubin on COPD outcomes. PROSPERO registration CRD42019145747.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) induce osteogenesis in various environments. However, when BMPs are used alone in the bone marrow environment, the maintenance of new bone formation is difficult owing to vigorous bone resorption. This is because BMPs stimulate the differentiation of not only osteoblast precursor cells but also osteoclast precursor cells. The present study aimed to induce and maintain new bone formation using the topical co-administration of recombinant human BMP-2 (rh-BMP-2) and zoledronate (ZOL) on beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) composite.

β-TCP columns were impregnated with both rh-BMP-2 (30 µg) and ZOL (5 µg), rh-BMP-2 alone, or ZOL alone, and implanted into the left femur canal of New Zealand white rabbits (n = 56). The implanted β-TCP columns were harvested and evaluated at 3 and 6 weeks after implantation. These harvested β-TCP columns were evaluated radiologically using plane radiograph, and histologically using haematoxylin/eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome (MT) staining. In addition, micro-computed tomography (CT) was performed for qualitative analysis of bone formation in each group (n = 7).

Tissue sections stained with H&E and MT dyes revealed that new bone formation inside the β-TCP composite was significantly greater in those impregnated with both rh-BMP-2 and ZOL than in those from the other experimental groups at 3 and 6 weeks after implantations (p < 0.05). Micro-CT data also demonstrated that the bone volume and the bone mineral density inside the β-TCP columns were significantly greater in those impregnated with both rh-BMP-2 and ZOL than in those from the other experimental groups at 3 and 6 weeks after implantations (p < 0.05).

The topical co-administration of both rh-BMP-2 and ZOL on β-TCP composite promoted and maintained newly formed bone structure in the bone marrow environment.

The topical co-administration of both rh-BMP-2 and ZOL on β-TCP composite promoted and maintained newly formed bone structure in the bone marrow environment.

There are limited data on Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in solid organ transplant patients, especially in heart transplant recipients, with only a few case reports and case series described so far. Heart transplant recipients may be at particular high risk due to their comorbidities and immunosuppressed state.

This report describes the clinical course and the challenging management of early COVID-19 infection in two heart transplant recipients who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the perioperative period of the transplant procedure. Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor The two patients developed a severe form of the disease and ultimately died despite the initiation of an antiviral monotherapy with hydroxychloroquine coupled with the interruption of mycophenolate mofetil.

These two cases illustrate the severity and poor prognosis of COVID-19 in the perioperative period of a heart transplant. Thorough screening of donors and recipients is mandatory, and the issue of asymptomatic carriers needs to be addressed.

These two cases illustrate the severity and poor prognosis of COVID-19 in the perioperative period of a heart transplant. Thorough screening of donors and recipients is mandatory, and the issue of asymptomatic carriers needs to be addressed.

Non-invasive diagnosis of IDH1 mutation for gliomas has great clinical significance, and PET has natural advantage to detect metabolism, as IDH mutated gliomas share lower glucose consumption.

Clinical data of patients with gliomas and

F-FDG PET were retrospectively reviewed. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was conducted, and standard uptake value (SUV) was estimated in combination with grades or IDH1 mutation. The glucose consumption was investigated with U251 cells expressing wild-type or mutated IDH1 by glucose assay. Quantification of glucose was determined by HPLC in clinical tissues. Meanwhile, bioinformatics and western blot were applied to analyze the expression level of metabolic enzymes (e.g. HK1, PKM2, PC) in gliomas.

Seventy-one glioma cases were enrolled, including 30 carrying IDH1 mutation. The sensitivity and specificity dependent on SUV

(3.85) predicting IDH1 mutation reached 73.2 and 86.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of differentiating grades by SUVmax (3.