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Objective To explore the biological exposure limit of blood system damage caused by long-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in non-occupational population by using the benchmark dose method, and to provide relevant reference for further improving the assessment of PAHs-induced health damage effects. Methods Adult residents living in downwind direction of a coke-oven plant in Shanxi Province were selected as the research subjects, and the information collected from baseline was used as the control. The metabolites of PAHs in urine were used as exposure biomarker, and the abnormal rate of red blood cell index was used as response biomarker. The relationship between urinary OH-PAHs and the erythrocyte damage rate was analyzed, and the benchmark dose (BMD) and the lower confidence limitation for the benchmark dose (BMDL) were calculated using Bayesian dose-optimizing software. Results The urinary PAH metabolites were mainly naphthalene and fluorene. The detection concentrations of 2-OHFlu and 1-OHPhe in the final year were higher than those in the baseline (P<0.05). With the increase of exposure years, the abnormal rate of red blood cells in the final year was higher than that in the baseline (P<0.05). In addition, the abnormal rate of red blood cells increased with the increase of the concentrations of five metabolites of PAHs in urine, and the chi-square trend test was significant (P<0.05). The benchmark dose (BMD) of OH-PAHs was 0.67 μmol/mol Cr, 0.82 μmol/mol Cr, 1.40 μmol/mol Cr and 0.78 μmol/mol Cr, respectively. The BMD of 2-OHNap in people with barbecue diet habits was 0.23 μmol/mol Cr. The BMD of 2-OHNap in people without barbecue diet habits was 1.44 μmol/mol Cr. Conclusion There is a dose-response relationship between the concentration of PAHs metabolites in urine and the damage of red blood cells. Long-term exposure to PAHs can lead to hematological damage. It is suggested that targeted public health interventions should be formulated to reduce the exposure of the general population to PAHs.
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OBJECTIVES@#The metabolomics technique of LC-MS/MS combined with data analysis was used to detect changes and differences in metabolic profiles in the vitreous humor of early rat carcasses found in water, and to explore the feasibility of its use for early postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) estimation and the cause of death determination.@*METHODS@#The experimental model was established in natural lake water with 100 SD rats were randomly divided into a drowning group (n=50) and a postmortem (CO2 suffocation) immediately submersion group (n=50). Vitreous humor was extracted from 10 rats in each group at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h postmortem for metabolomics analyses, of which 8 were used as the training set to build the model, and 2 were used as test set. PCA and PLS multivariate statistical analysis were performed to explore the differences in metabolic profiles among PMSI and causes of death in the training set samples. Then random forest (RF) algorithm was used to screen several biomarkers to establish a model.@*RESULTS@#PCA and PLS analysis showed that the metabolic profiles had time regularity, but no differences were found among different causes of death. Thirteen small molecule biomarkers with good temporal correlation were selected by RF algorithm. A simple PMSI estimation model was constructed based on this indicator set, and the data of the test samples showed the mean absolute error (MAE) of the model was 0.847 h.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The 13 metabolic markers screened in the vitreous humor of rat corpses in water had good correlations with the early PMSI. The simplified PMSI estimation model constructed by RF can be used to estimate the PMSI. Additionally, the metabolic profiles of vitreous humor cannot be used for early identification of cause of death in water carcasses.
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Animals , Rats , Biomarkers/metabolism , Cadaver , Chromatography, Liquid , Immersion , Postmortem Changes , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Tandem Mass Spectrometry , Vitreous Body/metabolism , Water/metabolismABSTRACT
@#BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effects of sepsis on brain integrity, memory, and executive function. METHODS: Twenty sepsis patients who were not diagnosed with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) but had abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs) were included. The control group included twenty healthy persons. A neuropsychological test of memory and executive function and a brain magnetic resonance imaging scan were performed. The volumes of cortex and subcortex were measured using the FreeSurfer software. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was used to determine the disease severity. RESULTS: In the sepsis group, the levels of immediate free recall, immediate cued recall, and delayed cued recall in the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II) were significantly lower; the explicit memory (recollection process) in the process dissociation procedure test was lower; and the volumes of the left and right hippocampi were significantly lower compared with the control group. The volume of the presubiculum in the hippocampus of sepsis patients showed statistically significant decrease. In the sepsis group, the volumes of the left and right hippocampi were negatively correlated with the APACHE II score and positively with immediate free recall, immediate cued recall, and delayed cued recall in the CVLT-II; moreover, the hippocampal volume was significantly correlated with recollection but not with familiarity. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with abnormal EEGs during hospitalization but with no SAE still have reduced hippocampal volume and memory deficits. This finding indicates that sepsis leads to damage to specific parts of the hippocampus.
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Objective To detect the expression of miR-26a/b in the aorta and serum of mice so as to explore the role of miR-26a/b in vascular remodeling of hypertension.Methods C576L/BJ male mice were randomly divided into AngⅡ group and control group.Mini-osmotic pump was implanted subcutaneously into the back of mice, and the model of blood vessel remodeling in mice was established by continuous infusion of AngⅡ(2.0mg/kg·d).The mice in control group were injected with saline.Blood pressure was taken before the intervention and at 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days after the intervention.After 2 weeks, the mice were killed, the serum and aorta tissues were collected, and the expression of miR-26a/b was determined by RT-PCR.HE staining, Masson staining and immunohistochemistry were performed to observe changes in vascular morphology, fibrosis and protein expression.Results After the intervention, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in AngⅡ group than in control group (P<0.05).HE staining showed that the vessel wall of AngⅡ group was thicker than that of control group.Masson staining showed more blue collagen deposition in the middle of aorta in AngⅡ group but no obvious collagen deposition in control group.RT-PCR showed that the expression of miRNA-26a/b in the serum and aorta of AngⅡ group was significantly lower than in control group (P<0.05).Immunohistochemistry indicated that the expressions of CTGF, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ all increased after AngⅡ infusion (P<0.05).Conclusion MiR-26a/b, CTGF, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ may be involved in AngⅡ-induced vascular remodeling in hypertension.MiR-26a/b may be a new therapeutic target of vascular remodeling in hypertension.
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Objective To retrospectively summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience of acute renal failure caused by urinary calculi obstruction in infants under the age of 6 months in order to improve the level of treat-ment. Methods Between January 2010 and December 2014,15 infants under the age of 6 months with bilateral urinary tract calculi obstruction leading to acute renal failure were treated in West China Hospital,Sichuan University. All cases were Tibetan(10 males,5 females). The ages ranged from 1 month 15 days to 5 months 24 days. The weights ranged from 3. 5 to 7. 0 kg. The clinical characteristics,treatment and clinical outcome were analyzed. Results A total of 9 infants(5 males,4 females)were assessed to be able to tolerate general anesthesia surgery and received positive conservative treatment before operation,and obstruction relief within 6 hours of admission. Six infants (5 males, 1 female)with serious internal milieu disorder,pneumonia,and shock,were assessed as critical cases,who could not tolerate general anesthesia surgery temporarily. Under the emergency blood purification support,they received anti -infection,spasmolysis,rehydration,to correct the internal milieu disorder and obstruction relief within 12 hours of admis-sion. Serum potassium,creatinine returned to normal 12 - 48 hours after obstruction relief. Stone specimens were obtained from 5 cases,and the stone compositions were calcium oxalate stone in 3 cases,calcium oxalate and carbonate apatite mixed stone in 2 cases. A total of 13 cases need further urolithiasis treatment. Conclusions The infants under the age of 6 months with bilateral urinary tract calculi obstruction are more severe with more complications. The emergency treatment principle is to save lives,then relieve the obstruction;surgery should be as brief as possible,since removing the stones is not the primary purpose. If the infants are in critical,life - threatening circumstances,and cannot tolerate general anesthesia surgery,the blood purification will be helpful to gain time and create conditions for treatment.
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The importance of physician professionalism has been recognized by the medical profession .Resident training is a critical period for the formation of physician professionalism .In the standardized training phase of resident physicians can not only focus on medical knowledge and clinical skills , professionalism training and assessment is equally important .Europe and the United States developed countries to core competence-oriented resident standardized training trainees assessment system is very stressed the assess-ment of professionalism , and in China's assessment is still in its embryonic stage .According to the inadequacy of position evaluation sys-tem in standardized residency training , this paper developed an evaluation system on the basis of the P-MEX evaluation method after extensive literature reviews on the exprience and practice of other countries .Combined with the actual conditions in our country , this e-valuation system consists of five items of primary index including 'doctor-patient communication skills','management and teamwork a-bility','lifelong learning and research ability','professional attitude'and'practical ability in medical law and ethics'and forty items of secondary index as the main content of the evaluation system .
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The importance of physician professionalism has been recognized by the medical profession .Resident training is a critical period for the formation of physician professionalism .In the standardized training phase of resident physicians can not only focus on medical knowledge and clinical skills , professionalism training and assessment is equally important .Europe and the United States developed countries to core competence-oriented resident standardized training trainees assessment system is very stressed the assess-ment of professionalism , and in China's assessment is still in its embryonic stage .According to the inadequacy of position evaluation sys-tem in standardized residency training , this paper developed an evaluation system on the basis of the P-MEX evaluation method after extensive literature reviews on the exprience and practice of other countries .Combined with the actual conditions in our country , this e-valuation system consists of five items of primary index including 'doctor-patient communication skills','management and teamwork a-bility','lifelong learning and research ability','professional attitude'and'practical ability in medical law and ethics'and forty items of secondary index as the main content of the evaluation system .
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OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of thoracoscopic surgery for treating late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernias and summarize the experience. METHODS: Between October 2012 and February 2015, 21 children with late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernias underwent thoracoscopic surgery. Of the 21 cases, 12 were girls and 9 were boys with a median age of 1 year and 3 months (range, 2 months to 8 years). Eight patients had obvious symptom in the initial stage:shortness of breath and dyspnea; 13 cases were found occasionally through chest radiography. Of 21 cases, 17 had left diaphragmatic hernias and 4 had right diaphragmatic hernias. The emergency surgery was performed in 5 cases because oppressed obviously and selective operation in 16 cases. Hernial sac existed in 5 cases; there were 19 cases of Bochdalek's hernia and 2 cases of Morgagni's hernia. The size of diaphragmatic defect ranged from 3 cm×2 cm to 5 cm×5 cm. RESULTS: The operation time was 35-80 minutes (mean, 50 minutes), and intraoperative blood loss was 3-5 mL (mean, 3.8 mL). Primary healing of incision was obtained. Postoperative abdominal distension and pneumothorax occurred in 12 and 2 cases respectively. The follow-up time was 1-3 years (mean, 20 months). All the cases had a good recovery and satisfactory appearance of the thoracic incision. The symptoms and signs of shortness of breath and dyspnea disappeared. There was no recurrence and chest infection. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of mastering operative indications strictly, thoracoscopic repair for late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia is safe and feasible. It can facilitate the procedure and decrease the recurrence rate relying on intraoperative application of hernia repair needle, knot pusher-assistant, and reasonable processing defect periphery.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between a diverse of clinical factors and bone metastases of prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 80 patients with prostate cancer were collected and analyzed. The correlations of age, alkaline phosphotase (ALP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Gleason score, and expressions of androgen receptor (AR) and Ki-67 with bone metastases were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Logistic regression analysis. The cutoff value, sensitivity and specificity of the independent correlation factors were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Forty-five of the 80 patients (56%) were found to have bone metastasis, who had significantly older age and higher levels of ALP, PSA, ESR, Gleason score, and expressions of AR and Ki-67 than those without bone metastasis (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified PSA, Gleason score and AR expression as independent factors correlated with bone metastasis with OR (95% CI) of 1.005 (1.001, 1.009) (P=0.008), 5.356 (1.431, 20.039) (P=0.013), and 18.594 (2.460, 140.524) (P=0.005), respectively. The cutoff values of PSA, Gleason Score and AR were 67.1 ng/ml, 7.5, and 2.5, respectively; their sensitivities were 55.6%, 75.6%, and 84.0% for predicting bone metastasis with specificities of 97.1%, 82.9%, and 91.4%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Of the factors analyzed, PSA, Gleason score and AR expression, but not age, ALP, PSA, ESR, or Ki-67 expression, are the predictive factors of bone metastasis of prostate cancer.</p>
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Humans , Male , Alkaline Phosphatase , Metabolism , Bone Neoplasms , Diagnosis , Neoplasm Grading , Predictive Value of Tests , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Blood , Prostatic Neoplasms , Pathology , Receptors, Androgen , Metabolism , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Objective To study the relationship between hospital attributes and hospital social responsibility (HSR)behaviors,and measures to improve HSR performance.Methods 79 TCM hospitals in Jiangsu Province was surveyed with questionnaires for their HSR performance in 201 1 and 2012,with the data analyzed by independent two-sample t-test.Results In terms of HSR contribution,different levels of hospitals have statistical significance in bad debt,accomplishment of government mandatory missions,environmental protection,education and research,and social welfare activities.Hospitals in different regions have statistical significance in education and research,low-profit medical services and cheap drugs provision.Teaching hospitals make statistical significance in accomplishment of government mandatory missions,environmental protection,education and research,and social welfare activities.In terms of HSR willingness,different levels of hospitals have statistical significance in accomplishment of government mandatory missions,price discount,and education and research.Hospitals in different regions have statistical significance in health services with positive social effects,education and research,and social welfare activities.Teaching hospitals make statistical significance in education and research. Conclusions Secondary hospitals need to invest more resources on HSR.Hospitals in underdeveloped areas must pay more attention to environmental protection,education and research.Non-teaching hospitals need to strengthen quality of care,accomplishment of governmental mandatory missions and environmental protection.
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To identify the factors that affect the hospital social responsibility(HSR)level based on theoretical analysis.79 TCM hospitals in Jiangsu Province were surveyed with questionnaires,with the data analyzed by the multiple linear regression model.The research results show the following: 1. Hospital’s financial performance,hospital size,and the congress of medical workers are positive factors to the HSR level.2.Pressure from HSR performance of neighboring hospitals has a significant negative impact.3.Hospital’s financial performance and hospital size have a significant positive impact on its intention to fulfill HSR.4.Hospital location has a significant negative impact on its intention to fulfill HSR.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Our previous studies have indicated that the beneficial effects of grafting neural stem cells (NSCs) overexpressing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in rats after stroke. However, the underlying mechanisms are highly debatable. In this study, we investigated whether neurogenesis, Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) signaling were involved in this process.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Transient ischemic stroke were induced by occluding middle cerebral artery for 2 hours and reperfusion. At 3 days after reperfusion, GDNF/NSCs, NSCs, and vehicle were administered. Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate neurogenesis by nestin antibody; phosphorylation of Akt and Erk1/2 was investigated by Western blotting analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Transplantation of GDNF/NSCs and NSCs significantly increased nestin-positive cells compared to control group (vehicle) from 1 to 7 weeks after reperfusion, and GDNF/NSCs showed stronger effect than NSCs at 2 and 3 weeks after reperfusion. Meanwhile, enhanced phosphorylation level of Erk1/2 was observed in the GDNF/NSCs and NSCs groups compared with control group, and phosphorylation level of Erk1/2 in GDNF/NSCs group was remarkably higher than that of NSCs group at any given time. In contrast, expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), known as inhibitor of Erk1/2 signaling, was significantly decreased in the GDNF/NSCs and NSCs groups compared with the control group. Moreover, much enhanced and prolonged phosphorylation level of Akt of GDNF/NSCs group was detected compared with control and NSCs group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Grafting GDNF/NSCs enhances neurogenesis and activates Akt and Erk1/2 signaling, that may provide the potential for GDNF/NSCs in stroke treatment.</p>
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Animals , Male , Rats , Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor , Metabolism , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 , Metabolism , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 , Metabolism , Neural Stem Cells , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Neurogenesis , Physiology , Phosphorylation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt , Metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Stem Cell Transplantation , Stroke , Metabolism , TherapeuticsABSTRACT
In the paper, iridology and computer-aided iridiagnosis technologies are briefly introduced and the extraction method of the collarette contour is then investigated. The iris map can be overlapped on the original iris image based on collarette contour extraction. The research on collarette contour extraction and iris map overlap is of great importance to computer-aided iridiagnosis technologies.