Drug clinical comprehensive evaluation of tetrandrine in the treatment of pneumoconiosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To analyze the safety, effectiveness, economics, innovation, suitability and accessibility of tetrandrine in the treatment of pneumoconiosis, and provide evidence-based basis for health policy decision-making and clinical practice. Methods: In July 2022, the system searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed databases (the retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to June 30, 2022), screened the documents that meet the standards, extracted and evaluated the data, and used the "HTA checklist" developed by the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) to evaluate the HTA report. AMSTAR-2 Scale was used to evaluate the quality of systematic evaluation/Meta analysis. CHEERS Scale was used to evaluate the quality of pharmacoeconomics research. The included cohort study or case-control study was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The included randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies were evaluated using the Cochrane Risk Bias Assessment Tool (Cochrane RCT) quality evaluation criteria. Comprehensive comparison and analysis based on the characteristics of the data included in the study. Results: A total of 882 related literatures were detected from the initial screening. According to relevant standards, 8 RCT studies were finally selected for analysis. Statistical results showed that basic treatment with tetrandrine could better improve FEV(1) (MD=0.13, 95%CI: 0.06-0.20, P<0.001), FEV(1)/FVC (MD=4.48, 95%CI: 0.61-8.35, P=0.02) and clinical treatment efficiency. Tetrandrine had a low incidence of adverse reactions. The affordability coefficient of tetrandrine tablets was 0.295-0.492. Conclusion: Tetrandrine can improve the clinical symptoms and pulmonary ventilation function of pneumoconiosis patients, most of the adverse reactions are mild, and the clinical application is safe.

Thyroid Hormone Reference Intervals among Healthy Individuals In Lanzhou, China

Background@#The common reference intervals (RIs) for thyroid hormones currently used in China are provided by equipment manufacturers. This study aimed to establish thyroid hormone RIs in the population of Lanzhou, a city in the subplateau region of northwest China, and compare them with previous reports and manufacturer-provided values. @*Methods@#In total, 3,123 individuals (1,680 men, 1,443 women) from Lanzhou, an iodine-adequate area of China, perceived as healthy were selected. The Abbott Architect analyzer was used to determine the serum concentration of thyroid hormones. The 95% RI was estimated using the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles as the lower and upper reference limits, respectively. @*Results@#The serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3), antithyroglobulin (ATG) antibody, and antithyroid peroxidase (ATPO) antibody levels were significantly correlated with sex (P0.05). The established RIs of TSH, ATG, and ATPO in this study differed between sexes (P<0.05). The thyroid hormone RIs established herein were inconsistent with the manufacturer-provided values. @*Conclusion@#The RIs of thyroid hormones in the healthy population of Lanzhou were inconsistent with those in the manufacturer’s manual. Validated sex-specific values are required for diagnosing thyroid diseases.

Total saponins of Panax japonicus improve cancer cachexia in mice through inhibiting inflammatory response mediated by NF-κB / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effect of total saponins of Panax japonicus(SPJ)on cancer cach-exia in mice with colon adenocarcinoma. Methods BALB/c mice were subcutaneously inoculated with mu-rine colon adenocarcinoma CT26 cells to induce ca-chexia. The model animals were randomly divided into three groups: model group, SPJ low dose group and high dose group. Gavage started on the 4th day after inoculation, and the dosage regimen was as follows:the normal and model groups were given 10 mL·kg-1 saline, qd ×27; the low dose and high dose groups were treated with 20 and 60 mg·kg-1SPJ respective-ly, qd ×27. After treatment, the effects of SPJ on body weight, tibialis anterior muscle, gastrocnemius muscle,spleen and epididymal fat changes of cachexia mice were observed. HE and Western blot were used to measure the changes of cross section of gastrocnemius muscle fibers and the expression of NF-κB,PAX7 and MuRF1 protein level in the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle. Results Compared with model group, the administration of SPJ could effectively re-duce the weight loss (P <0.05), increase muscle mass (P<0.05) and decrease muscle tissue degrada-tion in cachexia mice. Meanwhile,SPJ significantly re-duced the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in serum (P <0.05) and decreased the expression of NF-κB. Con-clusion SPJ can improve cancer cachexia in mice in a dose-dependent manner. The potential mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of NF-κB mediated in-flammatory factor expression.

Potential effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its receptor II gene polymorphisms on the pathogenesis of coal worker's pneumoconiosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To approach the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and tumor necrosis factor receptor II (TNFRII) gene polymorphisms on genetic susceptibility of coal worker's pneumoconiosis and their relationship with pulmonary fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and thirty-four cases of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) and four hundred and forty coal mine workers (controls) were selected, and the cases of CWP were divided into three subgroups based on the various stages of I, II and III. 3 ml peripheral vein blood was drawn from every subject. Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) techniques, TNF-alpha and TNFRII gene polymorphisms were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In both group matching and 1:1 paired matching, there was no significant difference between CWP workers and controls in distribution frequencies of G/A + A/A (TNF-alpha -308) and T/G + G/G (TNFRII 196) genotypes. The distribution frequency of G/A + A/A genotype in CWP with stage III (20.00%) was higher than those in control (10.91%), and CWP cases with stage I (10.34%) and II (7.50%) respectively. The risk of CWP with stage III in those with G/A + A/A genotype was 2-fold higher than with G/G genotype (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 0.35 approximately 25.84) for 1:1 paired matching.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TNF-alpha and TNFRII gene polymorphisms does not play an important role in susceptibility to CWP of Han race. TNF-alpha gene promoter polymorphisms might be related with the degree of severe pulmonary fibrosis in CWP.</p>

Potential effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and tumor necrosis factor receptor II gene polymorphisms on the pathogenesis of silicosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To approach the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and tumor necrosis factor receptor II (TNFR II) gene polymorphisms in genetic susceptibility to silicosis and their interaction with silica-dust exposure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and fifty-nine cases of silicosis and three hundred and forty-one silica-dust exposure workers (control) were selected, and the cases of silicosis were divided into three subgroups based on the various stages of I, II and III. Exposure history, pneumoconiosis history and past history of each subject were obtained by questionnaire. 3 ml peripheral venous blood was drawn from each subject. Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) techniques, TNF-alpha and TNFRII gene polymorphisms were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In both group matching and 1:1 paired matching, there was no significant difference between cases of silicosis and workers in control in distribution frequencies of G/A + A/A (TNF-alpha-308) and T/G + G/G (TNFRII 196) genotypes. The risk of silicosis in those with G/A + A/A genotype was 6.74-fold higher than G/G genotype (OR = 6.74, 95% CI: 1.01 approximately 44.99) in subjects whose exposure time was less than 15 years.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TNF-alpha and TNFR II gene polymorphisms did not play an important role in susceptibility to silicosis of Han race. There was interaction between polymorphism of TNF-alpha gene promoter and exposure time in the occurrence of silicosis. The risk of silicosis in those with G/A + A/A genotype was significantly higher than G/G genotype in low accumulative exposure.</p>

A study on the variation in classifying chest radiographs for pneumoconiosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the interobserver variation and its sources in classifying chest radiographs of pneumoconiosis for improving diagnostic quality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A set of 240 high-voltage chest radiographs including different stages of pneumoconiosis was developed and 5 sets of copies were made in the same condition. It was read by 7 experienced readers independently in eligible situation. Results of reading were recorded in unified reading sheets. The profusion of small opacities and the stage of pneumoconiosis were recorded as corresponding numerical value for analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The coefficients of variation of 7 readers in total profusion of small opacities, average profusion of small opacities and stage of pneumoconiosis were 15.17%, 15.91%, 12.06%, respectively. The judgement of the presence or absence of small opacities, large opacities and coalescence of small opacities were closer, and the rates of consistency were 91.09%, 91.93% and 76.41% respectively. Technical quality of the radiographs in this study could not make a considerable impact on the reading results. If the shape of small opacities were recorded consistently by most readers as small rounded opacities or small irregular opacities, the judgement of total profusion of small opacities and stage of pneumoconiosis were more consistent; if the shape of small opacities were recorded inconsistently, the difference of judgement was higher.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Interobserver variation exists actually among different readers and the main sources of the variation come from uncertain judgement of the shape of small opacities.</p>