Diagnosis and treatment of esophageal foreign body: Operation or endoscopy? / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To summarize our experience in the treatment of esophageal foreign bodies. Methods    A retrospective analysis of 149 patients of esophageal foreign bodies in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from December 2011 to May 2019 was carried out, including 75 (50.3%) females and 74 (49.7%) males with an average age of 57 (2-85) years. Results    There were 146 patients confirmed by endoscopy, and 3 patients were not found foreign body. Among the confirmed patients, 127 patients were removed by gastroscope and 19 patients were treated by operation. Esophageal foreign bodies are mainly related to the types of food. Jujube seed is the most common food foreign body in the northwest China. The injury rate of mucosal was 47.54% within 48 hours. The complication rate of taking out the foreign body after 48 hours was 100.0%. The success rate by endoscopy decreased (P=0.005), if the foreign body combined perforation. There was no statistical difference between the neck and other parts when using ultra-fine gastroscope (P=0.157). Conclusion    The sharper the foreign body is, the easier the perforation is. The earlier the foreign body is removed, the less complications are. The size of the foreign body determines the difficulty of endoscopic removal. Gastroscopy is the first choice for diagnosis and treatment, especially ultra-fine gastroscopy, and the foreign bodies that cannot be removed by endoscopy need surgical treatment.

Clinical Application of Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy on the Diagnosis of Peripheral Lung Lesions / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy is a tool that can accurately navigation peripheral lung lesions. Because of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) is too expensive, it has not been widely used in China. It is urgent for us to summarize experience in clinical application, especially in the diagnosis of pulmonary nodules.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of patients with pulmonary peripheral lesions (PPLs) in our department undergoing ENB biopsy between July 2017 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.@*RESULTS@#There were 18 patients with 21 PPLs (10 males and 8 females). Among them, 11 patients got the final pathological diagnosis, 8 cases were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma lung cancer, 1 case was diagnosed with tuberculosis and 2 cases were diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. The positive rate of diagnosis was 61.1%. The sensitivity was 73.3%. The positive diagnosis rate is related to the size of the lesion, the positive diagnosis rate for lesions >2 cm is 100.0% (P=0.04).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscope is safe and effective in clinic. It has a high positive rate for the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions larger than 2 cm, ENB has broad clinical application prospects.

Decursin inhibits EC109 cells proliferation via suppression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To investigate whether decursin(Dec) could inhibit EC109 cells proliferation by suppression of janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods The EC109 cells were treated with Dec(20,40,and 80 pmmol/L) for48 h.The cell viability was evaluated by MTT;the apoptotic cells was labelled by TUNEL;the mitochondrial oxidative stress level was detected by fluorescent staining;and western blotting was used to analyze the proteins of JAK2/STAT3 signaling and apoptosis in EC109 cells,respectively.After co-application of JAK2 / STAT3 antagonist(AG490),the inhibitory ability of Dec to EC109 was observed from the in vivo and in vitro levels.Results Compared to the control group,different concentrations of Dec dose-dependently down-regulated expressions of p-JAK2 [(55.89 ± 6.04) ％] and p-STAT3 [(45.27 ± 8.65) ％],repressed EC109 cell activity(0.43 ± 0.078),increased apoptotic rate[(35.31 ± 8.41)％],reduced MMP levels[(37.23 ± 6.89)％],promoted reactive oxygen species(ROS) [(231.81 ± 19.63)％],decreased glutathione (GSH) activity [(46.78 ± 6.91)％,P＜0.05].However,Dec did not significantly affect the activity of the normal esophageal epithelium HET-1A cells(P ＞0.05).Meanwhile,Dec obviously leaded to reduction of Bcl2,increment of Bax,and augment of Caspase-3 cleavage (P ＜0.05).Additionally,the inhibitory effect of Dec on EC109 was specifically intensified after co-application of AG490 in vivo and in vitro levels(P ＜0.05).Conclusion Dec can fight against human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo via activation of mitochondrial oxidative stress-induced apoptosis which was mediated by JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Ambulatory heart rate of professional taxi drivers while driving without their typical psychosocial work stressors: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined ambulatory cardiovascular physiological parameters of taxi drivers while driving in relation to their occupational hazards. This study aims to investigate and quantify the impact of worksite physical hazards as a whole on ambulatory heart rate of professional taxi drivers while driving without their typical worksite psychosocial stressors. METHODS: Ambulatory heart rate (HRdriving) of 13 non-smoking male taxi drivers (24 to 67 years old) while driving was continuously assessed on their 6-hour experimental on-road driving in Los Angeles. Percent maximum HR range (PMHRdriving) of the drivers while driving was estimated based on the individual HRdriving values and US adult population resting HR (HRrest) reference data. For analyses, the HRdriving and PMHRdriving data were split and averaged into 5-min segments. Five physical hazards inside taxi cabs were also monitored while driving. Work stress and work hours on typical work days were self-reported. RESULTS: The means of the ambulatory 5-min HRdriving and PMHRdriving values of the 13 drivers were 80.5 bpm (11.2 bpm higher than their mean HRrest) and 10.7 % (range, 5.7 to 19.9 %), respectively. The means were lower than the upper limits of ambulatory HR and PMHR for a sustainable 8-hour work (35 bpm above HRrest and 30 % PMHR), although 15–27 % of the 5-min HRdriving and PMHRdriving values of one driver were higher than the limits. The levels of the five physical hazards among the drivers were modest: temperature (26.4 ± 3.0 °C), relative humidity (40.7 ± 10.4 %), PM2.5 (21.5 ± 7.9 μg/m3), CO2 (1,267.1 ± 580.0 ppm) and noise (69.7 ± 3.0 dBA). The drivers worked, on average, 72 h per week and more than half of them reported that their job were often stressful. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of physical worksite hazards alone on ambulatory HR of professional taxi drivers in Los Angeles generally appeared to be minor. Future ambulatory heart rate studies including both physical and psychosocial hazards of professional taxi drivers are warranted.

Effects of acupuncture at left and right Hegu (LI 4) for cerebral function laterality / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the cerebral function laterality of acupuncture at left and right Hegu (LI 4) by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and provide objective evidences for side selection of Hegu (LI 4) in the clinical application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into a left-acupoint group and a right-acupoint group, and they were treated with acupuncture at left Hegu (LI 4) and right Hegu (LI 4) respectively. After the arrival of qi, the task-state fMRI data in both groups was collected, and analysis of functional neuroimages (AFNI) software was used to perform intra-group and between-group comparisons. After acupuncture, acupuncture feelings were recorded and MGH acupuncture sensation scale (MASS) was recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The difference of MASS between the two groups was not significant (P>0. 05). The result of left-acupoint group showed an increased signal on right cerebral hemisphere, while the right-acupoint group showed extensive signal changes in both cerebral hemispheres. The analysis between left-acupoint group and retroflex right-acupoint group showed differences in brain areas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The central effect of acupuncture at left and right Hegu (LI 4) is dissymmetry, indicating right hemisphere laterality. The right lobus insularis and cingulate gyrus may be the key regions in the acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4).</p>

Inhibition of valproic acid sodium on proliferation of acute T lymphoblastic leukemia cell line Jurkat / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective To investigate the inhibition of proliferation and the regulation of histone acetylation modification in Jurkat cells treated by sodium valproate(VPA). Methods Jurkat cells were treated with VPA.Cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8 assay, and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). mRNA of HDAC1 was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and protein expression of HDAC1 and acetylation of histone H3, H4 was examined by Western blotting. Results VPA inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells in concentration-and time-dependent manners. After exposure to VPA in different concentrations for 48h,cell cycle was arrested obviously at G0/G1 phase (P <0.05), and with increasing concentration, the percentage of G0/G1 phase cells was increased and that of S phase were decreased. HDAC1 mRNA expression were inhibited with the increasing concentration of VPA. The protein level of HDAC1 was down-regulated, while acetylation of histone H3、H4 was up-regulated in Jurkat cells by VPA. Conclusion VPA can inhibit proliferation of Jurkat cells and induce G0/G1 phase arrest. The mechanism may be that VPA increase acetylation of histone H3/H4 by inhibiting expressions of HDAC1 gene.

The significance of methylation status of secreted frizzled-related protein gene promoter in acute leukemia / 中华内科杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between promoter hypermethylation of secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) gene and acute leukemia (AL). Methods We examined the promoter methylation starus of SFRP1, 2, 4 and 5 in primary or relapsed AL patients, cell lines ( HL60,NB4, Molt-4 and Jurkat) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy people with methylationspecific PCR (MSP). Results None of the normal mononuclear cells showed methylation of any SFRP genes. The frequencies of aberrant methylation among the samples were 33.9% (20/59) for SFRP1,23.7%(14/59) for SFRP2, 6. 8% (4/59) for SFRP4 and 10. 2% (6/59) for SFRP5 in acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), and 39.3% (11/28) for SFRP1, 28.6% (8/28) for SFRP2, 25.0% (7/28) for SFRP4 and 32. 1% (9/28) for SFRP5 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Hypermethylation of SFRP1, 2, 5genes were present in the 4 AL cell lines. SFRP4 was methylated in NB4, Molt-4 and Jurkat cell lines.However, methylation and unmethylation of SFRP4 were both detected in HL60. Conclusions Hypermethylation of SFRP genes is a common event in the evolution of AL. Methylation of SFRP genes might serve as potential independent biomarkers for early detection of AL.

Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Dysphagia after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To investigate the effects of electrical stimulation on dysphagia after stroke.Methods 40 patients with dysphagia after stroke were divided into control group and research group randomly.Both groups were treated with rehabilitation training and medicine.Research group was managed with electrical stimulation in addition.They were assessed with the classification of dysphagia.Results Dysphagia was reduced in both groups,but was better in the research group than in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Electrical stimulation can improve the recovery of deglutition.

Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in human lung cancer tissue / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Elevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been found to be a feature of tumors recently. In this study, the expression and significance of COX-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were explored in the cancer tissues of patients with lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expression of COX-2 and VEGF in cancer tissues of 126 lung cancer patients were detected by tissue chip and immunohistochemical methods. The relationships among COX-2 expression, survival time and the biology beha- vior of lung cancer were analyzed by retrospective cohort study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expression of COX-2 was positive in 86 cases (68.25%). The correlation between COX-2 expression and some biology behaviors of lung cancer (T stage, N stage and P-TNM stage) was significant in statistics (P < 0.05). High expression of VEGF was also found in cancer tissues (98/126, 77.78%). The correlation between COX-2 expression and VEGF expression was significant in statistics (Chi-Square=6.72, P < 0.05). The survival time of patients with positive COX-2 expression and VEGF expression was significantly shorter than that without expression (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>High COX-2 and VEGF expressions are detected in lung cancer tissue. Each of them is suggested to be an independent predictor of survival in survival analysis. COX-2 and VEGF are significant poor prognostic factors in the surgically resected lung cancer.</p>

Studies on anti-ageing effect of elk antlers ethanolic fluidextracr / 中成药

AIM: To study the anti ageing effect of elk antlers ethanolic fluidextract. METHODS: The subacute ageing model mice induced by D galactose was established and was given elk antlers ethanolic fluidextract for 30 days. SOD and MDA activity of the blood in the mice was determined at the end of experiment. The anti stress action and the immunomodulation were measured by determining the surviving time under hypoxic condition and swimming time and by determining the immune organ index, respectively. RESULTS: Elk antlers ethanolic fluidextract could raise SOD activity and reduce MDA content of the blood in subacute ageing model mice. It could prolong the surviving time under hypoxic conditon and swimming time in mice. It could also increase spleen index and reduce thymus index in mice. CONCLUSION: Elk antlers ethanolic fluidextract has anti oxidation action. It can strengthen the ability to bear hypoxic condition and tiredness in mice.It has certain action to regulate immune function.