Incidence and outcomes of secondary infections in septic patients with cancer / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#Secondary infections, also called intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired infections, are defined as infections occurring 48 h after admission to the ICU.[1] Critically ill patients are at a high risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and bloodstream infections (BSIs), which are associated with increased ICU mortality.

Differental long non-coding RNA expression profiles in mice kidney during aging / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To analyze the differentally expressed long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) among mice of different ages and explore the mechanism of kidney aging.Methods:Male C57BL/6 mice aged 3-month-old ( n=5), 12-month-old ( n=5) and 24-month-old ( n=5) (each weighting about 25 g) were randomly selected. PAS staining, Masson staining and senescence associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining were used to detect the pathology and cell senescence of mice kidney. High throughput sequencing was performed to detect the differentially expressed lncRNA and their fragments per kilobase million. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to verify the differentially expressed lncRNA. Competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, which consisted of lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA was built. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis method were used to predict the biological function of differentially expressed lncRNA. Results:PAS staining and Masson staining showed the development of kidney fibrosis, and SA-β-gal staining positive region was increased significantly as age increased. There were 938 known lncRNA and 542 novel lncRNA differentially expressed among different ages' mouse kidney. Compared with 3-month-old mice, 33 lncRNA were up-regulated and 43 lncRNA were down-regulated in 12-month-old mice. Compared with 3-month-old mice, 130 lncRNA were up-regulated and 91 lncRNA were down-regulated in 24-month-old mice. Compared with 12-month-old mice, 36 lncRNA were up-regulated and 22 lncRNA were down-regulated in 24-month-old mice. The results of qRT-PCR about verified 10 lncRNAs with larger differential expression multiples and higer expression levels were consistent with the sequencing data. GO enrichment analysis showed that the target genes of lncRNA differentially expressed in the three groups were mostly located in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and might play a role by binding to proteins or participate in various protein phosphorylation, cell cycle, transcription, transcription regulation and other processes. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the target genes of lncRNA differentially expressed in the three group were significantly enriched in Rap1 signaling pathway, FOXO signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway, which were closely related to kidney aging.Conclusion:There are significant differences in expression of lncRNA among the kidney of different ages mice, which are involved in the occurrence of renal senescence.

Calculation of Likelihood Ratio for Identifying Half Sibling Relationship When Both Biological Mothers Participate / 法医学杂志

Objective To derive the formulae for likelihood ratio （LR） calculation of half sibling relationships when both mothers participate. Methods Based on the fact that both biological mothers participate in the identification of half sibling relationship between the two individuals, test hypothesis for the identification of half sibling relationship was established. Conditional probability ratios of genetic evidence under null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis conditions were simplified, and then applied to a real case of half sibling relationship identification. At the same time, the LR of half sibling relationships under the assumption that only a single biological mother or none of the biological mothers participate were respectively calculated. Results In the cases of identification of half sibling relationship from same fathers, with no biological father involved, after the same genetic indicator test analysis, when both biological mothers participate in the identification, the accumulated LR value was higher than that of accumulated LR with only a single biological mother or no parents participating. Conclusion When the autosome STR test is used for the identification and analysis of half sibling relationship between two individuals, the calculation of LR is more simple, intuitive and operable with both mothers participating. The biological mothers should participate in the test as much as possible, otherwise the number of STR loci would need to be increased for a more specific conclusion.

Preventable readmission to intensive care unit in critically ill cancer patients / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND:Readmission to intensive care unit (ICU) after discharge to ward has been reported to be associated with increased hospital mortality and longer length of stay (LOS). The objective of this study was to investigate whether ICU readmission are preventable in critical y il cancer patients. METHODS:Data of patients who readmitted to intensive care unit (ICU) at National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) between January 2013 and November 2016 were retrospectively collected and reviewed. RESULTS:A total of 39 patients were included in the final analysis, and the overall readmission rate between 2013 and 2016 was 1.32％ (39/2,961). Of 39 patients, 32 (82.1％) patients were judged as unpreventable and 7 (17.9％) patients were preventable. There were no significant differences in duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU LOS, hospital LOS, ICU mortality and in-hospital mortality between patients who were unpreventable and preventable. For 24 early readmission patients, 7 (29.2％) patients were preventable and 17 (70.8％) patients were unpreventable. Patients who were late readmission were all unpreventable. There was a trend that patients who were preventable had longer 1-year survival compared with patients who were unpreventable (100％ vs. 66.8％, log rank=1.668, P=0.196). CONCLUSION:Most readmission patients were unpreventable, and all preventable readmissions occurred in early period after discharge to ward. There were no significant differences in short term outcomes and 1-year survival in critically ill cancer patients whose readmissions were preventable or not.

Ultrasonographic characteristic influencing of non-diagnostic results for ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To explore the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics leading to non-diagnostic results after ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration ( US-FNA) in patients with thyroid nodules . Methods One thousand and thirty-four thyroid nodules of 1009 patients who underwent US-FNA from June 2013 to September 2015 in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were included in this study . The ultrasonographic characteristics , cytological and histological diagnosis were collectecl . Univariate and multivariate logistic methods were applied to analyze the factors bringing about non-diagnostic results . Results Of the 1034 nodules ,174 ( 16 .8％ ) had non-diagnostic results and 860 ( 83 .2％ ) had diagnostic results . Age ,echogenicity ,anteroposterior/transverse diameter ratio ( AT ) ,calcification ,margin and depth were associated with nondiagnostic results . Age ≥45 years ,the largest diameter ≤10 mm ,AT <1 ,located at the middle 1/3 and dorsal 1/3 in the cross section of nodules , macrocalcification were proved as independent influencing factors for non-diagnostic results of FNA . Conclusions Age≥45 years ,the largest diameter ≤10 mm ,AT < 1 ,located at the middle 1/3 and dorsal 1/3 in the cross section of nodules , macrocalcification are independent influencing factors of non-diagnostic results . As a result ,for nodules with the characteristics above it may recommend follow up instead of FNA . During follow-up ,it may recommend surgery if the nodule has progressed .

Risk for metastasis of lymph node between sternocleidomastoid and sternohyoid muscle in papillary thyroid cancer / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To analyze the risk factors for metastasis of lymph nodes between sternocleidomastoid and sternohyoid muscle (LNSS) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).@*Methods@#Papillary thyroid cancer patients with clinically positive lateral lymph node metastasis (cN1) who underwent surgery including LNSS dissection between May 1, 2013 and May 31, 2016 at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were retrospectively studied. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate possible clinicopathological factors related to LNSS metastasis.@*Results@#In 85 patients, 54 patients (63.5%) showed LNSS in their surgical specimen, and 20 patients (23.5%) had pathologically positive LNSS metastasis. Patients with LNSS showed preoperatively higher levels of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) compared to patients only with fibrofatty tissues between sternocleidomastoid and sternohyoid muscle (P<0.05), and they also displayed a higher proportion of multifocality in ipsilateral thyroid lobe (P<0.05). Multi-factor analysis indicated that LNSS metastasis was correlated with original tumor size (OR=1.819, 95%CI 1.050-3.850, P=0.002) and Level Ⅳ lymph node metastasis (OR=2.190, 95%CI 1.132-2.334, P=0.005). Furthermore, the number of positive LNSS was tightly correlated to that of level Ⅳ lymph node metastasis(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#LNSS metastasis is occult but not quite rare in PTC. Patients with extensive lymph node metastasis in Level Ⅳhave a higher risk for metastasis of LNSS.

Review in the surgical management for residual and recurrent neck lymph node of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy and chemotherapy / 中国癌症杂志

Metastasis is one of the main complaints of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, residual and recurrent lymph nodes in the neck are still partially seen. Neck dissection is an important salvage treatment to improve survival and life quality. The present review summarizes the distribution of residual and recurrent lymph nodes, the applications of different salvage surgeries and outcomes.

Assessment of a predictive score for pulmonary complications in cancer patients after esophagectomy / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND:Esophagectomy is a very important method for the treatment of resectable esophageal cancer, which carries a high rate of morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to assess the predictive score proposed by Ferguson et al for pulmonary complications after esophagectomy for patients with cancer. METHODS:The data of patients who admitted to the intensive care unit after transthoracic esophagectomy at Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between September 2008 and October 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS:Two hundred and seventeen patients were analyzed and 129 (59.4％) of them had postoperative pulmonary complications. Risk scores varied from 0 to 12 in all patients. The risk scores of patients with postoperative pulmonary complications were higher than those of patients without postoperative pulmonary complications (7.27±2.50 vs. 6.82±2.67;P=0.203). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications as well as in the increase of risk scores (χ2=5.477,P=0.242). The area under the curve of predictive score was 0.539±0.040 (95％CI 0.461 to 0.618;P=0.324) in predicting the risk of pulmonary complications in patients after esophagectomy. CONCLUSION:In this study, the predictive power of the risk score proposed by Ferguson et al was poor in discriminating whether there were postoperative pulmonary complications after esophagectomy for cancer patients.

Effect of sedation on short-term and long-term outcomes of critically ill patients with acute respiratory insufficiency / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to determine the short-term and long-term outcomes of critically ill patients with acute respiratory insufficiency who had received sedation or no sedation. METHODS: The data of 91 patients who had received mechanical ventilation in the first 24 hours between November 2008 and October 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: a sedation group (n=28) and a non-sedation group (n=63). The patients were also grouped in two groups: deep sedation group and daily interruption and /or light sedation group. RESULTS: Overall, the 91 patients who had received ventilation ≥48 hours were analyzed. Multivariate analysis demonstrated two independent risk factors for in-hospital death: sequential organ failure assessment score (P=0.019, RR 1.355, 95％CI 1.051–1.747, B=0.304, SE=0.130, Wald=50483) and sedation (P=0.041, RR 5.015, 95％CI 1.072–23.459, B=1.612, SE=0.787, Wald=4.195). Compared with the patients who had received no sedation, those who had received sedation had a longer duration of ventilation, a longer stay in intensive care unit and hospital, and an increased in-hospital mortality rate. The Kaplan-Meier method showed that patients who had received sedation had a lower 60-month survival rate than those who had received no sedation (76.7％ vs. 88.9％, Log-rank test=3.630, P=0.057). Compared with the patients who had received deep sedation, those who had received daily interruption or light sedation showed a decreased in-hospital mortality rate (57.1％ vs. 9.5％, P=0.008). The 60-month survival of the patients who had received deep sedation was significantly lower than that of those who had daily interruption or light sedation (38.1％vs. 90.5％, Log-rank test=6.783, P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Sedation was associated with in-hospital death. The patients who had received sedation had a longer duration of ventilation, a longer stay in intensive care unit and in hospital, and an increased in-hospital mortality rate compared with the patients who did not receive sedation. Compared with daily interruption or light sedation, deep sedation increased the in-hospital mortality and decreased the 60-month survival for patients who had received sedation.

Analysis of Relationship between Homocysteine and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Cerebral Infarction / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To study the relationship between homocysteine (Hcy)and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with cer-ebral infarction.Methods During January and November 2013,281 patients with cerebral infarction from Affiliated Hospital of Yan’an University were provided the blood samples as cerebral infarction group,140 healthy volunteers served as control group.Serum Hcy was detected by enzymatic cycle assay.According to the results of carotid artery ultrasonography,cerebral infarction group was divided into five groups:artery normal group,intimal thickening group,soft plaque group,mixed plaque group and hard plaque group.The statistically significance was analyzed by SPSS 19.0.Results The serum Hcy level of cer-ebral infarction group was 19.78 ± 5.21 μmol/L,significantly higher than the control group 10.24 ± 3.33 μmol/L (P <0.001).The serum Hcy levels of control group,artery normal group,intimal thickening group,soft plaque group,mixed plaque group and hard plaque group were 10.24±3.33,15.20±2.99,17.03±1.85,25.44±4.24,19.65±4.74 and 18.31 ±3.67 μmol/L respectively.The differences between groups were statistically significant in addition to intimal thickening group and hard plaque group (P =1.106).The positive rates were 16.4%,53.7%,87.1%,95.7%,83.1% and 77.3% re-spectively,the groups which in cerebral infarction group compared with control group,the differences were statistically sig-nificant (P <0.001).Conclusion Hcy played an important role in the occurrence and development of cerebral infarction. Lower serum Hcy concentration,may be an effective way to prevent carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction.

Risk factors and prognosis of critically ill cancer patients with postoperative acute respiratory insuffi ciency / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and outcome of critically ill cancer patients with postoperative acute respiratory insuffi ciency.METHODS: The data of 190 critically ill cancer patients with postoperative acute respiratory insuffi ciency were retrospectively reviewed. The data of 321 patients with no acute respiratory insuffi ciency as controls were also colected. Clinical variables of the fi rst 24 hours after admission to intensive care unit were colected, including age, sex, comorbid disease, type of surgery, admission type, presence of shock, presence of acute kidney injury, presence of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute physiologic and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score, sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA), and PaO2/FiO2 ratio. Duration of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit stay, intensive care unit death, length of hospitalization, hospital death and one-year survival were calculated.RESULTS: The incidence of acute respiratory insufficiency was 37.2% (190/321). Multivariate logistic analysis showed a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (P=0.001), surgery-related infection (P=0.004), hypo-volemic shock (P<0.001), and emergency surgery (P=0.018), were independent risk factors of postoperative acute respiratory insufficiency. Compared with the patients without acute respiratory insuffi ciency, the patients with acute respiratory insuffi ciency had a prolonged length of intensive care unit stay (P<0.001), a prolonged length of hospitalization (P=0.006), increased intensive care unit mortality (P=0.001), and hospital mortality (P<0.001). Septic shock was shown to be the only independent prognostic factor of intensive care unit death for the patients with acute respiratory insufficiency (P=0.029, RR: 8.522, 95%CI: 1.243-58.437, B=2.143, SE=0.982, Wald=4.758). Compared with the patients without acute respiratory insufficiency, those with acute respiratory insuffi ciency had a shortened one-year survival rate (78.7% vs. 97.1%,P<0.001).CONCLUSION: A history of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, surgery-related infection, hypovolemic shock and emergency surgery were risk factors of critically ill cancer patients with postoperative acute respiratory insuffi ciency. Septic shock was the only independent prognostic factor of intensive care unit death in patients with acute respiratory insufficiency. Compared with patients without acute respiratory insufficiency, those with acute respiratory insufficiency had adverse short-term outcome and a decreased one-year survival rate.

Prognosis of patients with shock receiving vasopressors / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND: Consensus guidelines suggested that both dopamine and norepinephrine may be used, but specific doses are not recommended. The aim of this study is to determine the predictive role of vasopressors in patients with shock in intensive care unit.METHODS: One hundred and twenty-two patients, who had received vasopressors for 1 hour or more in intensive care unit (ICU) between October 2008 and October 2011, were included.There were 85 men and 37 women, with a median age of 65 years (55-73 years). Their clinical data were retrospectively collected and analyzed.RESULTS: The median simplified acute physiological score 3 (SAPS 3) was 50 (42-55). Multivariate analysis showed that septic shock (P=0.018, relative risk: 4.094; 95% confi dential interval: 1.274-13.156), SAPS 3 score at ICU admission (P=0.028, relative risk: 1.079; 95% confidential interval: 1.008-1.155), and norepinephrine administration (P<0.001, relative risk: 9.353; 95% confidential interval: 2.667-32.807) were independent predictors of ICU death. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that administration of norepinephrine ≥0.7 μg/kg per minute resulted in a sensitivity of 75.9% and a specifi city of 90.3% for the likelihood of ICU death. In patients who received norepinephrine ≥0.7 μg/kg per minute there was more ICU death (71.4% vs. 44.8%) and in-hospital death (76.2% vs. 48.3%) than in those who received norepinephrine <0.7 μg/kg per minute. These patients had also a decreased 510-day survival rate compared with those who received norepinephrine <0.7 μg/kg per minute (19.2% vs. 64.2%).CONCLUSION: Septic shock, SAPS 3 score at ICU admission, and norepinephrine administration were independent predictors of ICU death for patients with shock. Patients who received norepinephrine ≥0.7 μg/kg per minute had an increased ICU mortality, an increased in-hospital mortality, and a decreased 510-day survival rate.

Two acute kidney injury risk scores for critically ill cancer patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND: Several risk scoures have been used in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) of patients undergoing general or specific operations such as cardiac surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the use of two AKI risk scores in patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery but required intensive care. METHODS: The clinical data of patients who had been admitted to ICU during the first 24 hours of ICU stay between September 2009 and August 2010 at the Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College were retrospectively collected and analyzed. AKI was diagnosed based on the acute kidney injury network (AKIN) criteria. Two AKI risk scores were calculated: Kheterpal and Abelha factors. RESULTS: The incidence of AKI was 10.3％. Patients who developed AKI had a increased ICU mortality of 10.9％ vs. 1.0％ and an in-hospital mortality of 13.0 vs. 1.5％, compared with those without AKI. There was a significant difference between the classification of Kheterpal's AKI risk scores and the occurrence of AKI (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the number of Abelha's AKI risk scores and the occurrence of AKI (P=0.499). Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.655±0.043 (P=0.001, 95％ confidence interval: 0.571–0.739) for Kheterpal's AKI risk score and 0.507±0.044 (P=0.879, 95％ confidence interval: 0.422–0.592) for Abelha's AKI risk score. CONCLUSION: Kheterpal's AKI risk scores are more accurate than Abelha's AKI risk scores in predicting the occurrence of AKI in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery with moderate predictive capability.

The investigation and evaluation of bone mineral density in type 2 diabetic women / 中国糖尿病杂志

Objective To observe the bone mineral density(BMD)in type 2 diabetic women and discuss the methods for evaluation of BMD.Methods BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA)at skeletal regions of supine and lateral spine,left femur neck and left hip in 484 type 2 diabetic women and 868 healthy women.The relation of BMD of healthy women in skeletal regions with age changes was found to fit a cubic regression model.Results The peak BMD of lateral spine and hip appeared at 25-34 and 35-44 years old respectively.BMD in diabetic women was not different from age-matched healthy women.The BMD values of the different age stages in diabetic women showed no difference(P>0.05)as compared with healthy women,and decreased with the age increase.The numbers of damaged bone sites were increased with the age increase.The BMD difference values between peak value and values of different age stages showed no difference between diabetic and healthy women groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The changes of BMD in type 2 diabetic women show no difference from age-matched healthy women.And in both diabetic and healthy women,BMD decreases with age increasing.

Short-term effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on testes, liver, kidneys and pancreas in mice / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To determine the biochemical effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on testes, liver, kidneys and pancreas on day 10 in the process of degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diets containing 2% DEHP were given to male Crlj:CD1(ICR) mice for 10 days. The dose of DEHP was 0.90 +/- 0.52 mg/mouse/day. Their testes, livers, kidneys and pancreata were examined for detection of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), nitrogen oxides (NOx) produced by peroxidation of nitric oxide (NO) with free radicals, and lipid peroxidation induced by the chain reaction of free radicals.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Histological observation and serum analysis showed the presence of severe spermatogenic disturbance, Leydig cell dysfunction, liver dysfunction and dehydration. Unexpectedly, the concentration of MEHP in the testes was extremely low compared with that in the liver. However, the concentration of the NOx in the testes was as high as the hepatic concentration. Furthermore, free radical-induced lipid peroxidation was histochemically detected in the testes but not in the liver.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results indicate that DEHP-induced aspermatogenesis is caused by the high sensitivity of the testicular tissues to MEHP rather than the specific accumulation or uptake of circulating MEHP into the testes.</p>

Association between genetic polymorphism in STK15 and risk of colorectal cancer in a Chinese population / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This case-control study was designed to detect the association between STK15 Phe31Ile polymorphism and colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genotypes were determined in 283 patients with colorectal cancer and 283 controls. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of the STK15 Ile/Ile genotype was significantly higher in cancer cases than in controls (50.2% vs. 36.8%; P = 0.02). Subjects with the Ile/Ile genotype had an increased risk for the occurrence of colorectal cancer compared with those with the STK15 Phe/Phe genotype (adjusted OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.13 - 3.27). No significant association was observed between this STK15 polymorphism and risk of metastasis of the cancer.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings suggest that STK15 Phe/Ile polymorphism may be a genetic susceptibility factor for colorectal cancer among Chinese.</p>

Clinical manifestation and laryngoscopic characteristics of laryngeal tuberculosis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical manifestations of laryngeal tuberculosis and its laryngoscopic characteristics.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Clinical analysis of 36 laryngeal tuberculosis cases confirmed pathologically was carried out retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients' ages ranged from 19 to 78 years old (median 39.5 years old). The male to female ratio was 1.8 to 1. The most frequent chief complaint was hoarseness (83.3%). The true vocal cord and the false vocal cord were usually found involved by fibrolaryngoscope observations. The lesions appearances were mainly the proliferation such as nodules or granules. The laryngostroboscopy demonstrated that the wave of the mucosa and vibration of the involved vocal cords were markedly reduced or disappeared. Among 24 patients with multiple lesions in the larynx, 19 (79.2%) had active pulmonary tuberculosis,while 9 (75.0%) had normal lung status among 12 patients with single lesions in the throat. All the patients received a full course of antituberculosis treatment. The results of the antituberculous medication was satisfactory in all 26 cases patients who can be followed up, while 10 cases were lost for the follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The local clinical manifestations of laryngeal tuberculosis is nonspecific, while the whole manifestation is not apparent. The lesions commonly involve the true vocal cord and the false vocal cord. It can even occur without pulmonary tuberculosis.</p>

Association between genetic polymorphisms in methylentetrahydrofolate reductase and risk of lung cancer / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and risk of lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 505 cases with lung cancer and 500 frequency-matched controls were genotyped for the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression model. Haplotype frequency was estimated using EH software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of the MTHFR C677T allele in cases was significantly higher than that in controls (53.5% vs 44.9%, P < 0.001). Compared with the 677CC genotype, the 677CT and 677TT genotypes were associated with increased risk of lung cancer, with the OR being 1.43 (95% CI, 1.04-1.95) and 2.40 (95% CI, 1.61-3.59), respectively. In addition, a significant difference in the distribution of haplotype frequencies between cases and controls was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Functional polymorphism in MTHFR is associated with increased risk of lung cancer in Chinese population.</p>

Study on the reliability and validity of international physical activity questionnaire (Chinese Vision, IPAQ) / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the reliability and validity of Chinese version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and to provide an instrument for physical activity measurement in Chinese-spoken population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Test-retest reliability was systemically assessed in 94 participants sampled from college students. Questionnaires were completed twice with a three-day interval. The validity was established in 39 volunteers by Caltrac accelerometer monitoring and 24-hour activity recording for seven consecutive days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both long vision (LV) and short vision (SV) had intraclass correlation coefficients above 0.7 for physical activity. The total energy expenditure measured by LV, SV and PA records were 264.5 +/- 260.9, 185.4 +/- 128.9 (compared with activity records, P < 0.05) and 250.5 +/- 141.2 MET-min/d respectively. Energy expenditure of moderate physical activity were 81.7 +/- 165.4, 32.0 +/- 42.5 (compared with activity record, P < 0.05) and 61.3 +/- 72.0 MET-min/d. Caltrac accelerometer was moderately correlated with LV (r = 0.50) and SV (r = 0.63) while SV measured total daily energy expenditure was lower than activity records. When participants were categorized into two groups according to their time spent in physical activity above or below the target level, proportions of agreement of questionnaires and 24-hour activity records were high, including vigorous physical activity above 90% and moderate physical activity above 70%. LV, SV and activity records were measured during sedentary condition at an approximate level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both LV and SV of IPAQ appeared to have acceptable reliability and validity, compared to other physical activity instruments that were used in various large epidemiological studies. The total or physical energy expenditures were similar between LV and activity records. For activity levels, the proportion of agreement were similar between activity records and LV or SV. However, SV underestimated the energy expenditure of total and moderate physical activity.</p>

Capillary zone electrophoresis for determination of thymulin in human plasma / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To establish a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for determination of thymulin in human blood plasma. Thymulin is a nonapeptide produced by the thymic epithelium.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The uncoated capillary used was 75 microns ID x 57 cm (50 cm effective length). The experimental conditions were as follows: the running buffer was phosphate-borate buffer containing 50 mmol.L-1 Na2B4O7-10 mmol.L-1 Na2HPO4 (pH 9.10); running voltage was 12 kV; operated temperature was 25 degrees C; running time was 13 minutes, detective wavelength was 200 nm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The linear range of the thymulin standard curve was 1-10 micrograms.mL-1, gamma = 0.9990, the average recovery was 70.97% with RSD of 3.32%, the RSD of reproducibility was 3.05%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method of CZE for determination of thymulin in human plasma is simple and reliable.</p>