Study on risk factors of abnormal pulmonary function among dust-exposed workers and prediction model / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To explore the influencing factors of abnormal pulmonary function in dust-exposed workers and establish the risk prediction model of abnormal pulmonary function. Methods: In April 2021, a total of 4255 dust exposed workers from 47 enterprises in 2020 were included in the study. logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of abnormal pulmonary function in dust-exposed workers, and the corresponding nomogram prediction model was established. The model was evaluated by ROC curve, Calibrationpolt and decision analysis curve. Results: logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=1.03, 95%CI=1.02~1.05, P<0.001) , physical examination type (OR=4.52, 95%CI=1.69~12.10, P=0.003) , dust type (Comparison with coal dust, Cement dust, OR=3.45, 95%CI=1.45~8.18, P=0.005, Silica dust (OR=2.25, 95%CI=1.01~5.03, P=0.049) , blood pressure (OR=1.63, 95%CI=1.22~2.18, P=0.001) , creatinine (OR=0.08, 95%CI=0.05~0.12, P<0.001) , daily exposure time (OR=1.06, 95%CI=1.10~1.12, P=0.034) and total dust concentration (OR=1.29, 95%CI=1.08~1.54, P=0.005) were the influencing factors of abnormal pulmonary function. The area under the ROC curve of risk prediction nomogram model was 0.764. The results of decision analysis curve showed that the nomogram model had reference value in the prevention and intervention of abnormal pulmonary function when the threshold probability exceeded 0.05. Conclusion: The accuracy ofthe nomogram model constructed by logistic regression werewell in predicting the risk of abnormal lung function of dust-exposed workers.

A single-center retrospective analysis of surgical strategy and clinical outcome of pulmonary nodules using pulmonary subsegments as anatomical unit / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To analyze the results and rationality of the lesion-focused strategy with subsegment as the pulmonary anatomical unit for pulmonary nodules with a diameter of ≤2 cm which require surgery. Methods    Clinical data of 246 patients with pulmonary nodules who underwent surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 76 males and 170 females, with an average age of 53.30±11.82 years. The patients were divided into four groups, a single segmentectomy group, a segmentectomy combined with adjacent subsegmentectomy group, a single subsegmentectomy group and a combined subsegmentectomy group, according to the different surgical approaches, to compare preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative related data. Results    There was no perioperative death. Among the four groups, there was no statistical difference in gender (P=0.163), age (P=0.691), diameter of the nodule (P=0.743), longitudinal position of the nodule (depth ratio, P=0.831), postoperative pulmonary leakage (P=0.752), intraoperative blood loss (P=0.135), pathological type (P=0.951) or TNM stage (P=0.995); there were statistical differences in transverse position of the nodule (P<0.001) and number of subsegments involved (P<0.001). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with combined subsegmentectomy, the odds ratio (OR) of the lung nodule in segmentectomy combined with adjacent subsegmentectomy as intersegment nodules was 5.759 (95%CI 1.162 to 28.539, P=0.032). Conclusion     The surgical strategy of lesion  focused and subsegment as anatomical unit is safe and feasible for surgical treatment of pulmonary nodules with diameter ≤2 cm. The transverse position of the nodules is an important factor affecting the choice of surgical method for the middle and lateral nodules with a diameter of ≤2 cm, and the longitudinal location of the nodule is not an influencing factor. For nodules in inner zone, the diameter also is one of the factors influencing the choice of surgical method.

Relationship between EGFR, ALK Gene Mutation and Imaging and Pathological Features in Invasive Lung Adenocarcinoma / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#At present, the research progress of targeted therapy for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene mutations in lung adenocarcinoma is very rapid, which brings new hope for the treatment of advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients. However, the specific imaging and pathological features of EGFR and ALK gene mutations in adenocarcinoma are still controversial. This study will further explore the correlation between EGFR, ALK gene mutations and imaging and pathological features in invasive lung adenocarcinoma.@*METHODS@#A total of 525 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery in our center from January 2018 to December 2019 were included. According to the results of postoperative gene detection, the patients were divided into EGFR gene mutation group, ALK gene mutation group and wild group, and the EGFR gene mutation group was divided into exon 19 and exon 21 subtypes. The pathological features of the mutation group and wild group, such as histological subtype, lymph node metastasis, visceral pleural invasion (VPI) and imaging features such as tumor diameter, consolidation tumor ratio (CTR), lobulation sign, spiculation sign, pleural retraction sign, air bronchus sign and vacuole sign were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis to explore whether the gene mutation group had specific manifestations.@*RESULTS@#EGFR gene mutation group was common in women (OR=2.041, P=0.001), with more pleural traction sign (OR=1.506, P=0.042), and had little correlation with lymph node metastasis and VPI (P>0.05). Among them, exon 21 subtype was more common in older (OR=1.022, P=0.036), women (OR=2.010, P=0.007), and was associated with larger tumor diameter (OR=1.360, P=0.039) and pleural traction sign (OR=1.754, P=0.029). Exon 19 subtype was common in women (OR=2.230, P=0.009), with a high proportion of solid components (OR=1.589, P=0.047) and more lobulation sign (OR=2.762, P=0.026). ALK gene mutations were likely to occur in younger patients (OR=2.950, P=0.045), with somking history (OR=1.070, P=0.002), and there were more micropapillary components (OR=4.184, P=0.019) and VPI (OR=2.986, P=0.034) in pathology.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The EGFR and ALK genes mutated adenocarcinomas have specific imaging and clinicopathological features, and the mutations in exon 19 or exon 21 subtype have different imaging features, which is of great significance in guiding the clinical diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules.

Research Progress in 3D-reconstruction Based Imaging Analysis in Partial Solid Pulmonary Nodule / 中国肺癌杂志

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer rank first among all malignant tumors in China. With the popularization of high resolution computed tomography (CT) in clinic, chest CT has become an important means of clinical screening for early lung cancer and reducing the mortality of lung cancer. Imaging findings of early lung adenocarcinoma often show partial solid nodules with ground glass components. With the development of imaging, the relationship between the imaging features of some solid nodules and their prognosis has attracted more and more attention. At the same time, with the development of 3D-reconstruction technology, clinicians can improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment of such nodules.This article focuses on the traditional imaging analysis of partial solid nodules and the imaging analysis based on 3D reconstruction, and systematically expounds the advantages and disadvantages of both.
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Separating the intersegmental plane by different energy devices in segmentectomy: results from ex vivo animal / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:Comparing the different effects between using electrotome and ultrasonic scalpel in segmentectomy for separating intersegmental plane.Methods:The ex vivo porcine lungs were chosen for experiments, the a segment of the cranial lobe of the right lung(RS1a) was removed by using electrotome(coagulation mode) or ultrasonic scalpel, the values of minimum air leak pressure among them were compared, and also the hematoxylin and eosin staining for evaluating the injury degree of incision edge.Results:The mean values of minimum air leak pressures for the intersegmental plane after segmentectomy were(17.3±1.0)cmH 2O by electrotome, (16.4±2.9) cmH 2O by ultrasonic scalpel, the differences did not reach significance between electrotome and ultrasonic scalpel( P=0.17). When focused on heat injury degree of incision edge, electrotome caused a heavier damage than ultrasonic scalpel[(819.70±158.00)μm vs.(354.35±98.81)μm, respectively, P<0.01]. Conclusion:Electrotome and ultrasonic scalpel presented different merits and defects, and we should opt energy devices rationally for separating inter-segmental plane.

Efficacy of Bushen Huoxue Decoction for Patients with Intra Uterine Adhesions After Trans Cervical Resection Adhesions Operation and Effect on Fibrotic Factors / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To discuss the efficacy of Bushen Huoxue decoction for recovery in patients with intra uterine adhesions （IUA） after trans cervical resection adhesions （TCRA） operation， and to investigate its effect on fibrosis factor. Method:The 110 patients were randomly divided into two groups by random number table （55 cases for control group and 55 cases for observation group）. The patients in both groups got TCRA， and after the operation， they got estradiol valerate tablets+progesterone capsules. The patients in control group additionally got Jinfengwan before meals， 10 g/time， 2 times/day. Patients in observation additionally got syndrome differentiation and treatment by Bushen Huoxuetang， 1 dose/day. The treatment course was 3 months in both groups， and 6 months' follow-up was recorded. Before and after treatment， menstrual volume， period and cycle were recorded. During the follow-up， pregnancy， ectopic pregnancy and abortion were also recorded. Endoscopy and vagina color Doppler ultrasound were conducted to detect endometrial thickness， uterine volume， resistance index （RI）， pulsation index （PI） and blood flow index （FI）. Scores of IUA and syndrome of kidney deficiency and blood stasis were graded. At the 6^th months after treatment， rate of intrauterine re-adhesion was recorded. Levels of transforming growth factor-<italic>β</italic>₁（TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁）， connective tissue growth factor （CTGF）， matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-1 （TIMP-1）， platelet-derived growth factor （PDGF）， insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1） and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） were detected， and safety was evaluated. Result:Total effective rate of clinical efficacy was 96.36% （53/55） in observation group， higher than 83.64% （46/55） in control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.959， <italic>P</italic><0.05）. Recovery rate of menstrual volume， period and cycle were 92.73% （51/55）， 90.91% （50/55）， and 94.55% （52/55） in observation group， higher than 72.73% （40/55）， 76.36% （42/55）， and 76.36% （42/55） in control group（<italic>χ</italic>²=7.698，<italic>χ</italic>²=4.245，<italic>χ</italic>²=7.313，<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. During the follow-up， rate of intrauterine re-adhesions was 23.64% （13/55） in observation group， lower than 43.64% （24/55） in control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.927，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Pregnancy rate was 45.45% （25/55）， higher than 25.45% （14/55） in control group（<italic>χ</italic>²=4.807，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Score of syndrome of kidney deficiency and blood stasis and IUA scores in observation group were lower than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Endometrial thickness， uterine volume， and FI were higher than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Levels of RI， PI， TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁， CTGF， PDGF， IGF-1 and TIMP-1 were lower than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while level of MMP-9 was higher than that in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. No adverse reactions related to traditional Chinese medicine were found. Conclusion:Bushen Huoxue decoction can promote the recovery of menstruation， increase the thickness of endometrium， improve the blood circulation of uterus， regulate the expression of fibrogenic factors<italic> in vivo</italic>， prevent and treat intrauterine adhesions， reduce the rate of intrauterine re-adhesions， and improve the rate of pregnancy， with a good comprehensive effect and high safety for clinical use.

Development of a Lateral Flow Strip-Based Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay for the Detection of Haemonchus contortus in Goat Feces

Haemonchosis remains a significant problem in small ruminants. In this study, the assay of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with the lateral flow strip (LFS-RPA) was established for the rapid detection of Haemonchus contortus in goat feces. The assay used primers and a probe targeting a specific sequence in the ITS-2 gene. We compared the performance of the LFS-RPA assay to a PCR assay. The LFS-RPA had a detection limit of 10 fg DNA, which was 10 times less compared to the lowest detection limit obtained by PCR. Out of 24 goat fecal samples, LFS-RPA assay detected H. contortus DNA with 95.8% sensitivity, compared to PCR, 79.1% sensitivity. LFS-RPA assay did not detect DNA from other related helminth species and demonstrated an adequate tolerance to inhibitors present in the goat feces. Taken together, our results suggest that LFS-RPA assay had a high diagnostic accuracy for the rapid detection of H. contortus and merits further evaluation.

A Study on the Authenticity of Preoperative Pulmonary Bronchial Angiography by DeepInsight Software / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Precise segmentectomy has become the first choice of surgical treatment for pulmonary nodules and early lung cancer, and the key and difficult point of the surgery lies in the precise location and resection of the lesion. DeepInsight is an auxiliary software for precise lung surgery jointly developed by our center and Neusoft Company, which can determine the precise anatomy of the lung and locate the location of lung lesions before operation. This study is to verify the authenticity and reliability of DeepInsight lung bronchial angiography assisted surgery.@*METHODS@#In this study, 1,020 patients with pulmonary nodules <2.0 cm in diameter were included in the Department of Thoracic Surgery Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital from August 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) was performed on all the included patients before surgery. The DeepInsight software was used to perform preoperative bronchial angiography on the operative side of the lung to identify the affected pulmonary segments, pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins. Two thoracic surgeons independently assessed the visibility of the affected pulmonary vessels using the 5-point method, and the χ² test assessed the consistency between observers. In addition, virtual imaging and real anatomy of pulmonary vessels on the operative side were performed during the operation, and the involved pulmonary vessels were finally determined by 2 chief physicians of thoracic surgery.@*RESULTS@#There were no statistically significant differences between the number and spatial anatomy of the vessels involved in the pulmonary virtual imaging using DeepInsight software before operation and the number of vessels involved during operation in 1,020 patients. And the consistency among observers is quite satisfactory.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The DeepInsight software virtual imaging of pulmonary bronchial vessels can accurately reconstruct the actual pulmonary vessels and assist the completion of pulmonary segmental resection.

Identification of pulmonary nodule location in three dimensional images and its clinical significance / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To analyze the difference of location identification of pulmonary nodules in two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) images, and to discuss the identification methods and clinical significance of pulmonary nodules location in 3D space. Methods    The clinical data of 105 patients undergoing sublobectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from December 2018 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 28 males and 77 females, with an average age of 57.21±13.19 years. The nodule location was determined by traditional 2D method and 3D depth ratio method respectively, and the differences were compared. Results    A total of 30 nodules had different position identification between the two methods, among which 25 nodules in the inner or middle zone of 2D image were located in the peripheral region of 3D image. The overall differences between the two methods were statistically significant (P<0.05). The diagnostic consistency rates of two methods were 66.67% in the right upper lung, 83.33% in the right middle lung, 73.68% in the right lower lung, 75.76% in the left upper lung, and 64.71% in the left lower lung. In each lung lobe, the difference between the two methods in the right upper lung (P=0.014) and the left upper lung (P=0.019) was statistically significant, while in the right middle lung (P=1.000), right lower lung (P=0.460) and left lower lung (P=0.162) were not statistically significant. Conclusion    The 3D position definition of lung nodules based on depth ratio is more accurate than the traditional 2D definition, which is helpful for preoperative planning of sublobectomy.

Efficacy comparison of robotic and laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer for overweight and obese patients / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: During laparoscopic pelvic operational procedure for obese patients with rectal cancer, the large amount of fat in the abdominal cavity often impairs the exposure of the surgical field, resulting in technical difficulty. In contrast, robotic surgery has the advantages of being more minimally invasive, precise, and flexible. This study compared the clinical efficacy of robotic and laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer for overweight and obese patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data of 173 patients with rectal cancer and a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m(2) who received robotic or laparoscopic radical rectal resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2015 to February 2019 were retrospectively collected. Of 173 patients, 90 underwent robotic surgery and 83 underwent laparoscopic surgery. The intraoperative parameters, postoperative short-term and follow-up status were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The follow-up ended in December 2019. Results: Of 173 patients, 103 were male and 70 were female with a median age of 62 (range 29 to 86) years. The average BMI was (27.2±1.6) kg/m(2) in the robotic group and (27.3±1.5) kg/m(2) in the laparoscopic group. No significant differences in baseline data were observed between two groups (all P>0.05). As compared to the laparoscopic group, the robotic group had less intraoperative blood loss [(73.0±46.8) ml vs. (120.9±59.9) ml, t=-5.881, P<0.001] and higher postoperative hospitalization expense [(61±15) thousand yuan vs (52±13) thousand yuan, t=3.468, P=0.026]. The conversion rate in the robotic group was 1.1% (1/90), which was lower than 6.0% (5/83) in the laparoscopic group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.106). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operative time, number of intraoperative blood transfusion, number of harvested lymph nodes, time to the first flatus, postoperative hospital stay and morbidity of total postoperative complications (all P>0.05). Five (6.0%) patients in the laparoscopic group developed urinary dysfunction, while no case in the robotic group developed postoperative urinary dysfunction (P=0.024). The 173 patients were followed up for 8-59 months, with a median follow-up of 36 months. The 3-year overall survival rate of robotic group and laparoscopic group was 89.8% and 86.6%, respectively without significant difference between the two groups (P=0.638). The 3-year disease-free survival rate of the robotic group and the laparoscopic group was 85.6% and 81.5%, respectively without significant difference as well (P=0.638). Conclusions: Robotic radical surgery is safe and feasible for overweight and obese patients with rectal cancer. Compared with laparoscopic radical surgery, it has advantages of clear vision of surgical exposure, less intraoperative blood loss, less pelvic autonomic nerve damage, and operation in a narrow space.

Development of a Lateral Flow Strip-Based Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay for the Detection of Haemonchus contortus in Goat Feces

Haemonchosis remains a significant problem in small ruminants. In this study, the assay of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with the lateral flow strip (LFS-RPA) was established for the rapid detection of Haemonchus contortus in goat feces. The assay used primers and a probe targeting a specific sequence in the ITS-2 gene. We compared the performance of the LFS-RPA assay to a PCR assay. The LFS-RPA had a detection limit of 10 fg DNA, which was 10 times less compared to the lowest detection limit obtained by PCR. Out of 24 goat fecal samples, LFS-RPA assay detected H. contortus DNA with 95.8% sensitivity, compared to PCR, 79.1% sensitivity. LFS-RPA assay did not detect DNA from other related helminth species and demonstrated an adequate tolerance to inhibitors present in the goat feces. Taken together, our results suggest that LFS-RPA assay had a high diagnostic accuracy for the rapid detection of H. contortus and merits further evaluation.

Prevalence and Subtypes of Blastocystis in Alpacas, Vicugna pacos in Shanxi Province, China

Blastocystis, an enteric protist, has been reported to be an important cause of protozoal gastrointestinal manifestations in humans and animals worldwide. Animals harboring certain Blastocystis subtypes (STs) may serve as a potential source of human infection. However, information about the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis in alpacas is limited. In the present study, a total of 366 fecal samples from alpacas in Shanxi Province, northern China, were examined for Blastocystis by PCR amplification of the small subunit rRNA gene, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The prevalence of Blastocystis in alpacas was 23.8%, and gender difference in the prevalence of Blastocystiswas observed. The most predominant Blastocystis ST was ST10, followed by ST14 and ST5. The detection of ST5, a potentially zoonotic genotype, indicates that alpacas harboring ST5 could be a potential source of human infection with Blastocystis. These data provide new insight into the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis in alpacas.

Prevalence and Multilocus Genotyping of Giardia lamblia in Cattle in Jiangxi Province, China: Novel Assemblage E Subtypes Identified

Giardia lamblia is a common enteric pathogen associated with diarrheal diseases. There are some reports of G. lamblia infection among different breeds of cattle in recent years worldwide. However, it is yet to know whether cattle in Jiangxi province, southeastern China is infected with G. lamblia. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence and examine the multilocus genotypes of G. lamblia in cattle in Jiangxi province. A total of 556 fecal samples were collected from 3 cattle breeds (dairy cattle, beef cattle, and buffalo) in Jiangxi province, and the prevalence and genotypes of G. lamblia were determined by the nested PCR amplification of the beta-giardin (bg) gene. A total of 52 samples (9.2%) were positive for G. lamblia. The highest prevalence of G. lamblia was detected in dairy cattle (20.0%), followed by that in beef cattle (6.4%), and meat buffalo (0.9%). Multilocus sequence typing of G. lamblia was performed based on sequences of the bg, triose phosphate isomerase and glutamate dehydrogenase loci, and 22, 42, and 52 samples were amplifiable, respectively, forming 15 MLGs. Moreover, one mixed G. lamblia infection (assemblages A and E) was found in the present study. Altogether, 6 novel assemblage E subtypes (E41*-E46*) were identified for the first time. These results not only provided baseline data for the control of G. lamblia infection in cattle in this southeastern province of China, but also enriched the molecular epidemiological data and genetic diversity of G. lamblia in cattle.

A Retrospective Study of Microporous Polysaccharide Hemostatic Powder Combined with Other Repair Materials for Reducing Postoperative Pulmonary Air Leakage during Pulmonary Segmentectomy / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Anatomical segmentectomy is more and more widely used in lung nodules and early stage lung cancer. Postoperative lung air leakage is one of the common complications after surgery. This study aimed to explore the effect of the application of repair materials in precise segmentectomy under thoracoscopy in reducing postoperative lung air leakage.@*METHODS@#This study included patients admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital who were scheduled to undergo thoracoscopic segmentectomy from August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019. According to the difference of the materials used in the treatment of the inter-segment interface during the operation: patients who used microporous polysaccharide hemostatic powder+fibrin adhesive glue+absorbable polyglycolic acid patch were divided into group A, and the patients with fibrin adhesive+absorbable polyglycolic acid patch were divided into group B. The preoperative basic information of all patients and the daily postoperative chest drainage volume, the indwelling time of the chest drainage tube, the chest radiograph before the chest drainage tube is removed, the chest radiograph after the chest drainage tube is removed, blood routine and postoperative hospital stay were collected and recorded, and the effect of the application of intraoperative repair materials on postoperative lung air leakage was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#There were statistically significant differences in the indwelling time of thoracic drainage tube (P=0.019) and postoperative hospital stay (P=0.017) between the two groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Compared with the use of the fibrin glue+absorbability polyglycolic acid patch, the use of microporous polysaccharide hemostatic powder+fibrin glue+absorbability polyglycolic acid patch in the treatment of the inter-segment interface during segmentectomy can better reduce the incidence of postoperative air leakage and shorten the postoperative hospital stay.

Prevalence and Multilocus Genotyping of Giardia lamblia in Cattle in Jiangxi Province, China: Novel Assemblage E Subtypes Identified

Giardia lamblia is a common enteric pathogen associated with diarrheal diseases. There are some reports of G. lamblia infection among different breeds of cattle in recent years worldwide. However, it is yet to know whether cattle in Jiangxi province, southeastern China is infected with G. lamblia. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence and examine the multilocus genotypes of G. lamblia in cattle in Jiangxi province. A total of 556 fecal samples were collected from 3 cattle breeds (dairy cattle, beef cattle, and buffalo) in Jiangxi province, and the prevalence and genotypes of G. lamblia were determined by the nested PCR amplification of the beta-giardin (bg) gene. A total of 52 samples (9.2%) were positive for G. lamblia. The highest prevalence of G. lamblia was detected in dairy cattle (20.0%), followed by that in beef cattle (6.4%), and meat buffalo (0.9%). Multilocus sequence typing of G. lamblia was performed based on sequences of the bg, triose phosphate isomerase and glutamate dehydrogenase loci, and 22, 42, and 52 samples were amplifiable, respectively, forming 15 MLGs. Moreover, one mixed G. lamblia infection (assemblages A and E) was found in the present study. Altogether, 6 novel assemblage E subtypes (E41*-E46*) were identified for the first time. These results not only provided baseline data for the control of G. lamblia infection in cattle in this southeastern province of China, but also enriched the molecular epidemiological data and genetic diversity of G. lamblia in cattle.

Tim-3 expression in glioma cells is associated with drug resistance

Objective: T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (Tim-3) has been widely recognized as a negative regulator of antitumor immunity. However, the mechanism by which Tim-3 suppresses antitumor treatment in gliomas remains unclear. This study aims to explore whether Tim-3 is expressed and to evaluate its effect in drug-fasted glioma cells. Subjects and Methods: U87 and U251 glioma cell lines were tested. Cell proliferation activity, cell viability, and the protein and mRNA levels of Tim-3 were detected using CCK-8, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Enhancement of the sensitivity of glioma cells to chemotherapeutic agents was tested after inhibiting Tim-3 expression using Tim-3 small interfering RNAs (siRNA). Results: As temozolomide (TMZ) concentration increased, the ratio of apoptotic cells also increased accordingly. However, the level of Tim-3 expression in living cells from the high-dose group was higher than in the low- and middle-dose groups. After interfering with the expression of Tim-3 using siRNA against Tim-3, the killing effect of TMZ rose through an increase in apoptosis. Conclusions: The presence of Tim-3 mRNA and protein in glioma cells was detected. Significantly, knocking down Tim-3 expression improved the potential of TMZ treatment.

Ligustrazine regulates LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response of osteoarthritis chondrocytes via inhibiting phosphorylation of NF-κB P65 / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective: To explore the effect of ligustrazine on the LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response of osteoarthritis chondrocytes. Methods: Osteoarthritis model was induced by LPS. Chondrocytes were divided into four group: control group, ligustrazine ( 20 μmol/L) group, LPS ( 100 ng/ml) group and ligustrazine ( 20 μmol/L) +LPS ( 100 ng/ml) group. Apoptosis was measured by Hoechst33258 staining. The levels of nitric oxide ( NO), tumor necrosis factor α ( TNF-α) and interleukin ( IL) -6 were detected by ELISA. The protein levels of collagenⅡ, aggrecan, matrix metalloproteinase 13 ( MMP-13), NF-κB P65 and p-NF-κB P65 were tested by Western blot. Results: The LPS-induced abnormal cell morphology and decreased number of cells were ameliorated by ligustrazine ( 20 μmol/L). The apoptosis in LPS group was higher than control group ( P＜0. 05). The LPS-induced enhancive apoptosis was reduced by ligustrazine ( P＜0. 05). Compared with control group, the expression of collagenⅡ and aggrecan was alleviated with increased expression of MMP-13 ( P＜0. 05). The LPS-induced declined expression of collagenⅡ and aggrecan and elevated expression of MMP-13 was inhibited by ligustrazine ( P＜0. 05). The levels of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS group were higher than control group ( P＜0. 05). The levels of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS+ligustrazine group were lower than LPS group ( P＜0. 05). Compared with control group, the rate of pP65/P65 in LPPS group was enhanced ( P＜ 0. 05). The LPS-indiced increased rate of p-P65/P65 was decreased by ligustrazine ( P ＜0. 05). Conclusion: Ligustrazine alleviates the LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response of osteoarthritis chondrocytes via inhibiting phosphorylation of NF-κB P65.

Simultaneous determination of 8 bioactive isoflavonoids in Astragali Radix by UHPLC equipped with core-shell column / 中国中药杂志

This research aims to develop an UHPLC method, based on core-shell column(i.e. superficially porous particles), for simultaneous determination of eight isoflavonoids including formononetin,(6αR,11αR)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,(3R)-7,2-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyisoflavone, calycosin, ononin,(6αR,11αR)-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and(3R)-7,2-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside in Astragali Radix. The analysis was performed on an Agilent Poroshell EC-C_(18 )column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 2.7 μm) with 0.2% formic acid solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) as mobile phase for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.5 mL·min~(-1), with column temperature of 40 ℃ and the wavelengths were set at 260 and 280 nm. According to the results, all calibration curves showed good linearity(R~2>0.999 8) within the tested concentration ranges. Both the intra-and inter-day precisions for 8 isoflavonoids were less than 0.80%, with the mean recovery at the range of 94.71%-104.6%. Thus, the newly developed UHPLC method using core-shell column owned the advantages in terms of rapid analysis, low column pressure and less solvent consumption, thus enabling the usage of conventional HPLC systems. Meanwhile, quantitative evaluation was carried out for 22 batches of commercial Astragali Radix. It has been found that great variations occurred for the content of the individual isoflavonoids among different batches; in contrast, the total content of total 8 isoflavonoids(>0.1%) was stable in most samples, indicating that it was reasonable to involve all isoflavonoids as the chemical markers for the quality control of Astragali Radix.

Lumbar facet joint degeneration contributes to degenerative lumbar scoliosis induced by asymmetric stress in rabbits / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of lumbar facet joint degeneration in the development of degenerative lumbar scoliosis caused by asymmetric stress.@*METHODS@#Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=12): Group A with aspiration of the nucleus pulposus to induce disc degeneration; Group B with removal of the left capsule from the facet joints at L3/4 to L5/6 to induce degeneration; and Group C with both treatments. Springs were deployed on the left adjacent facets at L3/4, L5/6 and L5/6 to stress the facet joints. Serial radiographs were taken at 3 and 6 months, and the facet joint tissues were sampled at 6 months for Safranin O-fast green staining to assess the severity of cartilage degeneration based on the Mankin score.@*RESULTS@#The Cobb angle differed significantly among the 3 groups (=24.865, =0.000). In all the groups, the Cobb angles at 6 months increased significantly as compared with that at 3 months ( <0.05). The Cobb angles were significantly greater in group C than in the other 2 groups at both 3 and 6 months ( <0.05) but showed no significant difference between Groups A and B (>0.05). The severity of facet joint degeneration also differed significantly among the 3 groups (= 22.009, =0.000), and was the most severe in group C ( <0.05); facet joint degeneration was more severe in group B than in group A ( <0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Facet joint degeneration is an important factor that contributes to the development of degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Disc degeneration and facet joints degeneration can lead to lumbar scoliosis, which in turn aggravates disc degeneration, facet joints degeneration and asymmetric stress, thus forming a vicious circle to further exacerbate lumbar scoliosis.

Effect of Taiji Quan on Sleep Quality of Patients with Chronic Insomnia Disorder / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To explore the effect of Taiji Quan on the sleep quality of patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID) and its mechanism. Methods:From January, 2015 to December, 2017, 31 patients with CID were enrolled in the sleep disorder clinic. Before and 24 weeks after Taiji Quan exercise, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess their sleep quality, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, TNF-β, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R)1 and sTNF-R2 were detected with protein chip, and the correlation between the total score of PSQI and the serum levels of TNF-α, TNF-β, sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 were analyzed after exercise. Results:After Taiji Quan exercise, the scores of PSQI factors (subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction) and the total score of PSQI decreased (t > 4.080, P < 0.05). The serum levels of TNF-α and TNF-β decreased (t > 13.580, P < 0.01), however, the serum levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 significantly increased (t > 160.189, P < 0.001). The serum levels of TNF-α and TNF-β were positively correlated with the total score of PSQI (r > 0.638, P < 0.001), while the serum levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 were negatively correlated with the total score of PSQI (r > 0.532, P<0.001). Conclusion:Taiji Quan exercise could help to improve the sleep quality of patients with CID. The mechanism may be related to the decrease of the serum levels of TNF-α and TNF-β, and the increase of the serum levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2.