Objectives
To assess the prevalence of complicated appendicitis (including gangrene, abscess and perforation) after the outbreak of the 2019-nCoV epidemic and to identify the risk factors associated with complicated appendicitis.
Methods
Two groups were established in the study consisting of: one group for cases of acute appendicitis before the 2019-nCoV epidemic (before January 1, 2020; pre-epidemic group) and another group for those after the epidemic outbreak (after January 1, 2020; epidemic group). These two groups were compared in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics, prevalence of complicated appendicitis, and treatment intention. A multivariate analysis model using binary logistic regression was constructed.
Results
A total of 163 patients were included in this study, with 105 in the pre-epidemic group and 58 in the epidemic group. In the epidemic group, the interval from the onset of symptoms to admission was 65.0 h, which is significantly longer than the 17.3 h interval noted in the pre-epidemic group (
P
< 0.001). The prevalence of complicated appendicitis after the epidemic outbreak was significantly higher than before the outbreak (51.7% vs. 12.4%,
P
< 0.001). In addition, the epidemic group had a lower score of patient’s intention to seek treatment than the pre-epidemic group (9.5 ± 2.7 vs. 3.4 ± 2.6,
P
< 0.001). Based on the multivariate analysis, the risk factors for complicated appendicitis included the time from symptoms onset to admission (OR = 1.075) and the patients’ intention to receive treatment (OR = 0.541).
Conclusion
Complicated appendicitis was more common in patients with acute appendicitis after the outbreak of the 2019-nCoV epidemic.
Polyamidoamine dendrimer (PAMAM) is a new nanometer material, which can transfer the target genes to cells with high efficiency and lower toxicity. This study aims to evaluate antitumor effects of survivin antisense oligonucleotide (survivin-asODN) (carried by polyamidoamine dendrimer liposome) on hepatic cancer in nude mice. Hepatic cancer model was established by injecting SMMC-7721 cells subcutaneously into flanks of nude mice. Polyamidoamine dendrimer and liposome were mixed with survivin-asODN, respectively. The shape and size of complex were observed by transmission electron microscope, and zeta potential was measured by an analytical tool. Encapsulation efficiency and DNA loading level were determined by an ultraviolet spectrophotometer in centrifuging method. Expression of survivin in transplant tumor was measured by Western blotting. No significant difference appeared for diameter and envelopment ratio between PAMAM liposome-survivin-asODN and PAMAM-survivin-asODN (P > 0.05). Both zeta potential and transfection efficiency in PAMAM liposome-survivin-asODN were higher than that in PAMAM-survivin-asODN complex (P < 0.05). Expression of survivin protein and weight of tumors in transplanted tumors in PAMAM liposome-survivin-asODN group was less than that in PAMAM-survivin-asODN group (P < 0.05). Cell apoptosis rate in PAMAM liposome-survivin-asODN group was higher than that of PAMAM-survivin-asODN group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, polyamidoamine dendrimer liposome can deliver survivin-asODN into hepatic transplanted tumor cells effectively. Ployamidoamine dendrimer liposome-mediated survivin-asODN can inhibit hepatic cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.