Association between perfluorinated alkyl substances and depression / 环境与职业医学

Background Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic organic fluorides, which have adverse health effects on brain function, and limited research has been conducted on their effects on depression. Objective To assess potential correlation between serum PFAS and depression. Methods Using the 2015—2016 and 2017—2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets, 2626 subjects with complete relevant information in people ≥20 years old were selected. Logistic regression and restricted cubic splines were used to analyze the association and dose-response relationship between serum PFAS concentration and depression. Subgroup analysis was performed on sex, age, race, education level, marital status, family income to poverty ratio, moderate exercise, body mass index, and drinking status. Results Among the 2626 subjects, there were 666 patients (25.4%) with mild or above depression. After adjusting for race, education level, marital status, body mass index, moderate exercise, drinking history, cotinine, and other types of PFAS, serum perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was positively associated with the risk of depression (OR=1.85, 95%CI: 1.14, 3.02), and showed a nonlinear dose-response relationship (χ2=6.37, Pnonlinear=0.012). Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) was inversely associated with the risk of depression (OR=0.23, 95%CI: 0.14, 0.39), and showed a linear dose-response relationship (Ptrend<0.001, χ2=35.13, Poverall<0.001). After subgroup analysis, it was found that males, 20-39 year-olds and 40-64 year-olds were more sensitive to PFNA exposure (OR=0.15, 95%CI: 0.06, 0.37; OR=0.16, 95%CI: 0.06, 0.40; OR=0.18, 95%CI: 0.08, 0.39). PFOS only showed a statistically significant health effect in people aged 20-39 years (OR=3.00, 95%CI: 1.14, 7.94). In addition, among subgroups of non-Hispanic blacks, cohabitants, current drinkers, high school graduates, and obese patients, exposure to PFAS was significantly associated with the risk of depression. Conclusion PFOS exposure may be associated with increased levels of depression, whereas PFNA exposure may be protective.

Research progress in the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the treatment of cervical cancer / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Cervical cancer is the fourth-ranked malignant tumor of female cancer in the world, and it seriously threatens women’s health. The main treatment options for patients with cervical cancer are surgery or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. With the development of medical research, researchers are committed to exploring more effective and specific treatment options in order to increase the treatment options for cervical cancer and improve the treatment effect. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) technology is a method in which the Cas9 protein uses guide RNA (gRNA) to target the target gene and achieve precise editing of the target gene. At present, CRISPR/Cas9 technology has become a promising and powerful gene editing tool, a new and effective targeted therapy that has been applied in the treatment of various tumors. The research progress of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the treatment of cervical cancer is mainly reviewed in terms of action targets, combination therapy strategies, and related drug resistance gene screening in order to provide new strategies for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Cardiac magnetic resonance-feature tracking technique can assess cardiac function and prognosis in patients with myocardial amyloidosis / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To quantitatively assess cardiac functions in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance-feature tracking (CMR-FT) technique and evaluate the prognostic value of CMR-FT in patients with CA.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively collected the data from 31 CA patients with systemic amyloidosis confirmed by Congo red staining and serum immunohistochemistry after extracardiac tissue biopsy undergoing CMR at our hospital from March, 2013 to June, 2021.Thirty-one age and gender matched patients with asymmetric left ventricular wall hypertrophy and 31 healthy individuals without organic or functional heart disease served as the controls.Radial, circumferential and longitudinal strains and strain rates of the left ventricle at the global level and in each myocardial segment (basal, middle and apical) were obtained with CMR-FT technique and compared among the 3 groups.The predictive value of myocardial strains and strain rates for all-cause mortality in CA patients was analyzed using a stepwise COX regression model.@*RESULTS@#The left ventricular volume, myocardial mass, ejection fraction and cardiac output differed significantly among the groups (P < 0.05).Except for apical longitudinal strain, the global and segmental strains were all significantly lower in CA group than in HCM group (P < 0.05).The global and segmental strains were all significantly lower in CA group than in the healthy individuals (P < 0.05).The basal strain rates in the 3 directions were significantly lower in CA group than in the healthy individuals (P < 0.05), but the difference in apical strain rates was not statistically significant between the two groups.Multivariate stepwise COX analysis showed that troponin T (HR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.01-1.10, P=0.017) and middle peak diastolic circumferential strain rate (HR=6.87, 95%CI: 1.52-31.06, P=0.012) were strong predictors of death in CA patients.@*CONCLUSION@#Strain and strain rate parameters derived from CMR-FT based on cine sequences are new noninvasive imaging markers for assessing cardiac impairment in CA and cardiac function changes in HCM, and provide independent predictive information for all-cause mortality in CA patients.

Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus: a case report / 中华神经科杂志

Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) is a specific subtype of the stiff-person syndrome, which is rare and difficult to diagnose clinically. A case of PERM in a 66-year-old female with a fluctuating progressive course was reported in this article. She had increased facial muscle tone, pruritus and sensory hypersensitivity mainly in the head and neck, medullary involvement syndrome and bilateral lower limb rigidity as the main clinical manifestations, and a previous history of pulmonary malignancy, thymoma, typeⅠ diabetes and Hashimoto′s thyroiditis. The patient′s serum and cerebrospinal fluid were positive for anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody. The electromyogram showed a large number of motor unit potentials in the trunk and proximal extremities in the quiet state, which were significantly enhanced during spastic episodes, consistent with the electromyographic manifestations of stiff-person syndrome. The final diagnosis was PERM, and immunotherapy including gamma globulin and hormone responded well. PERM is a rare neurological autoimmune disease with atypical early symptoms, which can be easily misdiagnosed, and it requires attention to avoid delaying the diagnosis.

Safety and efficacy of C-arm CT laser-guided percutaneous renal pelvic catheter drainage under DSA in the treatment of hydronephrosis caused by pelvic malignancy / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of C-arm CT laser-guided puncture combined with digital subtraction angiography (DSA)for percutaneous renal pelvic catheter drainage in the treatment of hydronephrosis caused by pelvic malignancy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 56 patients with ureteral obstruction caused by pelvic malignancy admitted to the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February 2020 to August 2021, including 10 males and 46 females. The mean age of the patients was (54.0±10.1)years old. The causes were colorectal cancer (7 cases), bladder cancer (3 cases), cervical cancer (36 cases), endometrial cancer (3 cases), ovarian cancer (2 cases), pelvic metastasis of gastric cancer (4 cases) and pelvic sarcoma (1 case). There were 71 sides of renal pelvis dilation in 56 patients, with the degree of dilation ranging from 1.2cm to 5.0cm.The degree of hydronephrosis was mild on 36 sides, moderate on 27 sides, and severe on 8 sides. Preoperative blood urea nitrogen(9.90±6.22)mmol/L and creatinine (155.80±146.83)μmol/L.During the puncture and catheter drainage, the patient was placed in the prone position, the C-arm CT scan was used to plan the puncture path, and the laser positioning of the DSA flat panel detector was used to determine the skin puncture point. With local anesthesia, the puncture direction of the puncture needle was adjusted to make the skin puncture point, the tail of the puncture needle, and the laser fixation point present a state of "three-points in one-line" when the patient stopped breathing temporarily at the end of expiratory breath in a non-fluoroscopic state, so as to achieve the preset puncture angle. Subsequently, pyelocentesis was completed according to the planned puncture depth. After successful pyelocentesis, percutaneous external renal drainage tube insertion or ureteral stents were performed under DSA. The number of renal pelvis puncture, puncture time, radiation dose, deviation of external renal drainage tube insertion angle from puncture angle, as well as postoperative hemoglobin changes, renal function recovery and complications were recorded.Results:In this group, 56 cases of 71 sides of renal pelvis puncture and catheter drainage were successfully completed, and the success rate of the operation was 100.0% (71/71). The success rate of the first needle puncture was 97.2% (69/71). Those who failed the first needle puncture succeeded in the second puncture during the operation. The puncture time of renal pelvis was (1.9±1.8) min.The intraoperative radiation dose was (2.7±1.5) mSV. The external drainage tube of the renal pelvis was placed on 53 sides, and the external drainage tube was placed on 29 sides with the same angle as the preset angle, and 24 sides with a deviation within 3°.On the first day after operation, there was no significant difference in hemoglobin compared with that before operation, urea nitrogen (5.31±1.99) mmol/L and creatinine (62.25±16.72) μmol/L were re-examined after operation, and the differences were statistically significant compared with those before operation ( P=0.008, P=0.002). No serious surgery-related complications occurred in any patient. Conclusion:C-arm CT laser-guided puncture combined with DSA percutaneous renal pelvic catheter drainage could be safe and effective in the treatment of ureteral obstruction caused by pelvic malignancy.

Medical image instance segmentation: from candidate region to no candidate region / 生物医学工程学杂志

In recent years, the task of object detection and segmentation in medical image is the research hotspot and difficulty in the field of image processing. Instance segmentation provides instance-level labels for different objects belonging to the same class, so it is widely used in the field of medical image processing. In this paper, medical image instance segmentation was summarized from the following aspects: First, the basic principle of instance segmentation was described, the instance segmentation models were classified into three categories, the development context of the instance segmentation algorithm was displayed in two-dimensional space, and six classic model diagrams of instance segmentation were given. Second, from the perspective of the three models of two-stage instance segmentation, single-stage instance segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) instance segmentation, we summarized the ideas of the three types of models, discussed the advantages and disadvantages, and sorted out the latest developments. Third, the application status of instance segmentation in six medical images such as colon tissue image, cervical image, bone imaging image, pathological section image of gastric cancer, computed tomography (CT) image of lung nodule and X-ray image of breast was summarized. Fourth, the main challenges in the field of medical image instance segmentation were discussed and the future development direction was prospected. In this paper, the principle, models and characteristics of instance segmentation are systematically summarized, as well as the application of instance segmentation in the field of medical image processing, which is of positive guiding significance to the study of instance segmentation.

Study on the correlation between platelet distribution width and cerebral microbleeds in the middle-aged and elderly population / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the correlation between platelet distribution width(PDW)and cerebral microbleeds(CMB)in the middle-aged and elderly population.Methods:A total of 2 839 subjects who underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)examination at Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University from May 2016 to December were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.According to MRI results, subjects were divided into the CMB group(n=525)and the non-CMB group(n=2 314). Clinical data and PDW levels were compared between the two groups.CMB-related factors were analyzed by using a logistic regression equation.A receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curve was drawn to analyze the value of PDW levels in predicting the incidence of CMB.Results:The percentage of males, the proportion of smokers, the number of subjects with diabetes and serum creatinine levels were higher in the CMB group than in the non-CMB group[(55.05%(289/525) vs.45.12%(1 044/2 314), 42.67%(224/525) vs.34.67%(802/2 314), 12.76%(67/525) vs.9.51%(220/2 314), (68.91±21.38)μmol/L vs.(66.45±15.40)μmol/L, all P<0.05]. PDW levels were higher in the CMB group than in the non-CMB group(15.52±2.49)% vs.(14.67±2.90)%, χ2=93.75, P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the PDW level was an independent risk factor for CMB in the middle-aged and elderly population( OR=1.13, P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve(AUC)of PDW in predicting the incidence of CMB was 0.582, and with 15.95% as the optimal threshold value, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.0% and 41.8%.Patients were divided into the high PDW sub-group(n=1 691)and the low PDW sub-group(n=1 083)based on the PDW cutoff at 15.95%.The number of CMB and the incidence of CMB were higher in the high PDW group than in the low PDW group(0.75 vs.0.48, 23.3% or 394/1 691 vs.12.1% or 131/1 083, χ2=30.37 and 51.28, P<0.05). Conclusions:PDW levels are high in middle-aged and elderly patients with CMB, and elevated PDW levels are an independent risk factor for CMB.

Effects of intervention based on self-regulation mode in patients with psoriasis / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To observe the effects of intervention based on self-regulation mode on illness perception, medical coping styles and quality of life of patients with psoriasis.Methods:Eighty patients with psoriasis from February 2018 to August 2019 in Qinhuangdao First Hospital were selected and divided into two groups by random digits table method, 40 patients in each group. The control group was given routine intervention, and the experimental group was given intervention based on self-regulation mode. The Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) scores, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ) scores, dermatologylifequalityindex (DLQI) scores and compliance of the two groups were compared before and after intervention.Results:There was no significant difference in the score of IPQ-R, MCMQ, DLQI before intervention between the two groups( P>0.05). After intervention, scores of symptoms, disease perception and causes of the disease in IPQ-R were (7.24±0.75), (162.34±20.35), (76.23±8.65) points in the experimental group and (6.08±0.72), (123.26±18.57), (52.79±7.84) points in the control group, there were significant differences between the two groups ( t values were 7.057, 8.972, 12.699, P<0.01). In the MCMQ, facing score,avoidance score and yielding score were (25.67±2.83), (12.26±1.84), (9.12±1.24) points in the experimental group, (21.76±3.89), (14.35±2.48), (10.45±1.68) points in the control group, there were significant differences between the two groups ( t values were 5.141, -4.280, -4.028, P<0.01). The DLQI scores of experimental group were significantly higher than those of control group ( t values were 2.648-8.244, P<0.05 or 0.01), and compliance of experimental group (97.5%, 39/40) was significantly better than control group (80.00%, 32/40) with statistically significant( Z value was 40.000, P<0.01). Conclusions:Intervention based on self-regulation mode can effectively reduce negative emotions of patients with psoriasis, increase their illness perception and compliance, improve their medical coping styles, self-management ability and quality of life, with positive application value.

Recurrent or refractory childhood B cell lymphoblastic lymphoma:A case report and literature review / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics,the diagnostic framework,and the treatment methods of B cell lymphoblastic lymphoma(B-LBL),and to clarify the progress of diagnosis and treatment of B-LBL to improve the clinician's understanding of the disease and provide the guidance for prognostic evaluation and therapeutic options.Methods:The clinical data including symptoms,physical signs,ancillary testings,diagnosis, treatment and disease prognosis of a child suffered from B-LBL were retrospectively analyzed;in the meantime,the relative literatures were reviewed.Results:The patient was definitly diagnosed as B-LBL according to the clinical characteristics and received combination therapy with vincristine,daunorubicin,L-asparaginase,and prednisone as the first course,along with the intrathecal injection of methotrexate and dexamethasone to prevent central nervous system leukemia(CNS-L).The patient achieved complete remission(CR)25 d after the first circle chemotherapy but was diagnosed as degree 4 myelosuppression.Therefore,the second cycle combination therapy was adjusted with cyclophosphamide,cytarabine and 6-MP,and the intrathecal injection to prevent CNS concomitantly.DegreeⅣ myelosuppression appeared repeatedly after 2 cycles and the combination chemotherapy was reajdusted. So mercaptopurine and high dose of methotrexate were given as the 4th cycle,and CNS was prevented continously. The patient kept CR until the second cycle finished but get recurrence after the third chemotherapy(prolymphocytes 10%).Then remission and recurrence were found in the disease counrse during which mary chemotherapy methods were attempted until the patient got stable CR after treatment for 31 months.Then the patient was treated with oral mercaptopurine(50 g·d-1)and methotrexate(25 mg per week)and kept disease-free survival for more than 3 years.Conclusion:B-LBL is a rapidly developed disease with the bone marrow involvement occurring in the short term and easy to relapse during treatment.However,it is extremely easy to transform to recurrent and refractory B-LBL after the first remission.It is of great importance to estimate the risk stratification and to evaluate the prognosis of LBL patients in order to treat as soon as possible for the improvement of one's life quality and the prolongation of survival.

Evaluation stiff rim sign in breast lesions by shear wave elastography with quantative values / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography ( SWE) with quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis of stiff rim sign between benign and malignant breast lesions . Methods Sixty-five female patients(65 lesions) underwent breast surgery or aspiration biopsy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University were included . Elastic modulus of breast lesions and its rim in 1 mm ,2 mm ,3 mm were quantitive analyzed by SWE before surgery or aspiration biopsy ,Stiff rim sign was observed at the same time . Then ,the areas of receiver operating characteristic curves( AUC) of quantitative parameters of SWE and stiff rim sign were calculated to assess their clinical values in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions ,and the correlation between them was evaluated . Afterwards , BI-RADS category was adjusted according to the optimal parameters combining the performance of SWE feature and conventional US features ,which could be used to evatulate the diagnostic effectiveness in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions . Results The pathological results demonstrated 32 benign cases and 33 malignant cases in all patients .The maximum cut-off point of BI-RADS category was set between 4a and 4b .AUC value was 0 .935(0 .845-0 .981) ,while the sensitivity and specificity were 84 .8％ and 90 .6％ ,respectively .Maximum elasticity of 2 mm(E2Smax) area surrounding the malignant lesions were significantly higher than those in benign lesions ( P = 0 .001 ) . Among all quantitative SWE features ,E2Smax showed the highest AUC ( 0 .773) ,with sensitivity of 78 .8％ and specificity of 71 .9％ . In addition ,the stiff rim sign as qualitative parameter showed the highest AUC (0 .800) ,with sensitivity 81 .8％ and specificity 78 .1％ . The correlation coefficient between E2Smax and stiff rim sign was 0 .63 ,which was regarded as moderate correlation . the AUC of combination of stiff rim sign or E2Smax and conventional US features was 0 .937 and 0 .902 ,and the sensitivities were 81 .8％ , 93 .9％ ,the specificities were 90 .6％ and 75 .0％ . Conclusions SWE features ,especially E2Smax and hard rim sign are found moderate correlation ,and can improve a more accurate diagnosis in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions combining with conventional US features .

Study on the Migration of Residual Styrene to Moxifloxacin Hydrochloride and Sodium Chloride Injection from Five-layer Co-extrusion Bags / 中国药师

Objective:To establish a monitoring method for the detection of styrene monomer migration to moxifloxacin hydrochlo-ride and sodium chloride injection. Methods:A GC-MS method with a DB-5MS (30 m×0.25 mm,0.25 μm) column was used to determine styrene by the manner of large volume headspace purge-trap. Results:The linearity of styrene was good within the range of 0.009 1-0.364 μg·ml-1(r=0.999 9),and the average recovery of styrene in moxifloxacin hydrochloride and sodium chloride injec-tion was 99.4%(RSD=1.1%,n=9). After the detection of several batches of samples,the amount of styrene migration was all be-low the detection limit.Conclusion:The method can be used to measure the migration of styrene remained in five-layer co-extrusion in-fusion bags to moxifloxacin hydrochloride and sodium chloride injection.

Polymorphism of Helicobacter pylori′s cagA gene and EPIYA motifs in Changchun area of China / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution of cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and the polymorphism of EPIYA motifs in patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases in Changchun area of China and to evaluate the association between EPYIA motifs patterns and gastrointestinal diseases.Methods Hp strains were isolated from clinical samples.Their cagA gene was analyzed by PCR and sequencing analysis.Nucleotide sequence of cagA gene was translated into amino acid sequence by using DNAMAN software,and then the amino acid sequence was imported into software MEGA6.0 for multiple comparisons and construction of a phylogenetic tree.Results A total of 60 Hp strains were isolated and identified from gastric mucosa specimens collected from 298 patients.Hp infection was not correlated with patient's age or sex (P>0.05).The isolation rate of Hp in peptic ulcer disease (PUD) group was higher than that in non-peptic ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) group (P<0.05).Of the 60 Hp strains,90% (54/60) carried cagA gene.Twenty-three out of 26 successfully sequenced strains (88.4%) were East Asian-type including 22 containing EPIYA-ABD motif and one containing EPIYA-ABBD motif.The other three strains (11.6%) were Western type including two carrying EPIYA-ABC motif and one carrying EPIYA-BC motif.Results of the phylogenetic tree showed that the sequences of cagA gene were clustered into two groups,East Asian-type and Western-type groups.East Asian-type strains caused no disease cluster of statistical significance.All Western-type Hp strains were isolated from patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD).Four mutant Hp strains were detected in the PUD group and the amino acid mutations preferentially occurred in the EPIYA-B segment.Conclusion The positive rate of Hp cagA gene is 90% in this region.Its distribution is not related to the type of gastrointestinal diseases.EPIYA-ABD (84.6%,22/26) is the predominant EPIYA motif.The amino acid mutation of EPIYA-B segment is closely related to peptic ulcer disease.Neither significant change in the sequence of 3' region of Hp cagA gene nor regional difference is observed in those Hp strains circulating in Changchun area of China.

A comparative study of four methods of establishing orthotopic human renal cell carcinoma models in nude mice / 中国癌症杂志

Background and purpose: Renal cell carcinoma is the most common form of kidney cancer, characterized by lack of early symptoms and high malignancy. This study aimed to establish orthotopic nude mice models of human renal cell carcinoma with high success rate and good repeatability. Methods: The four types of methods which were adopted to establish the orthotopic models of renal cell carcinoma were orthotopic injection of 786-0 and ACHN cell suspensions, orthotopic injection of primary cell suspensions obtained from the subcutaneous tumor tissues, renal subcutis orthotopic implantation into renal capsule and surgical subcutis orthotopic implantation into renal fascia. To gain insights into the tumorigenicity and the growth of transplantation tumors, the imageological examination (PET/CT), histological examination (H-E staining, immunohistochemistry staining) and biochemical analysis of blood were carried out. Results: In terms of the subcutaneous transplantation of human renal cell carcinoma models in nude mice, tumorigenic rate of ACHN cells (90%) was higher than that of 786-0 cells (30%). The tumorigenic incidences of 786-0 cell suspensions orthotopic injection, ACHN cell suspensions orthotopic injection, ACHN subcutis cellular suspensions orthotopic injection, ACHN subcutis orthotopic implantation into renal capsule and renal fascia were 33%, 80%, 90%, 100% and 20%, respectively. ACHN subcutis orthotopic implantation into renal capsule was the most effective approach. Imageological and histological results accorded with poorly differentiated renal cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Four orthotopic nude mice models of human renal cell carcinoma were successfully established. Among these methods, ACHN subcutis orthotopic implantation into renal capsule is the most effective approach, which provides an ideal model for the research on biological behavior of human renal cell carcinoma and its treatment.

Hip dysfunction-associated factors after total hip arthroplasty for ankylosing spondylitis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasy is an effective method to treat hip disease caused by ankylosing spondylitis. Long-term fol ow-up studies have shown that there have been hip function problems after total hip arthroplasy, and it stil lacks of perfect rehabilitation programs. OBJECTIVE: To systematical y review the influential factors for dysfunction after total hip arthroplasy in ankylosing spondylitis patients. METHODS: The first and second authors retrieved PubMed and Sciencedirect Databases, CNKI, and Wanfang digital database for relevant articles published from January 1970 to July 2015. The key words were “arthroplasty, replacement, hip, spondylitis, ankylosing, function”. Final y, relevant articles were included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 40 articles were summarized, including 8 Chinese articles and 32 English articles. After total hip arthroplasy, hip function problems were mainly associated with patient’s factors, disease, surgery, prosthesis, postoperative recovery and postoperative complications. Avoiding above relevant factors can improve joint function after total hip arthroplasy for ankylosing spondylitis patients, and improve patient’s quality of life.

Effects of metformin on inflammation and oxidative levels in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of salt-sensitive hypertensive rats / 中国基层医药

Objective To explore central mechanism of metformin(MET)in salt -sensitive hypertensive rats by assessing the effect of metformin on inflammation and oxidative stress in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN),sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure.Methods Eight -week -old male Dahl salt -sensitive rats were divided into 4 groups:the normal -salt diet control group[0.3% NaCl +intracerebroventricular(ICV)artificial cerebrospinal fluid(aCSF)],the normal -salt diet with MET group(0.3% NaCl +ICV MET 25μg/d],the high -salt diet control group (8% NaCl +ICV aCSF),the high -salt diet with MET group (8% NaCl +ICV MET 25μg/d). Mean arterial pressure(MAP)was determined every week by a tail -cuff occlusion.After 6 weeks,all rats were eutha-nized,and blood and brain tissues were collected.Then,the plasma norepinephrine(NE,an indicator of sympathetic activity)was detected by enzyme linked immune sorbent assay(ELISA).The expression levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL -10 and NOX -2[a subunit of NAD(P)H oxidase],superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the PVN were detected by immunofluorescence,immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)was detec-ted by dihydroethidium(DHE)staining.Results The MAP level of high -salt diet with metformin group was attenu-ated compared with that of the high -salt diet control group[(129.55 ±6.52)mmHg vs.(154.47 ±6.57)mmHg, F =121.90,P <0.05].The change of plasma NE level of high -salt diet with metformin group was lower compared with that of the high -salt diet control group[(364.57 ±30.73)pg/mL vs.(547.68 ±25.08)pg/mL,F =179.24, P <0.05].The expression levels of IL -1β,IL -6,NOX -2 and ROS were markedly higher in high -salt diet with metformin than those of the high -salt diet control group(F =27.80,21.20,22.48,31.99,all P <0.05),which of IL -10 and SOD was lower(F =17.69,23.69,all P <0.05).Conclusion Metformin may attenuate blood pressure in salt -sensitive hypertensive rats,at least partly via decreasing inflammatory molecules and inhibiting oxidative stress in the PVN,subsequently inhibiting sympathoexcitation.

Measurement of elasticity of normal placenta using the Virtual Touch quantification technique

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the elasticity of normal placentas using the Virtual Touch quantification (VTQ) technique. METHODS: This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Fifty randomly selected, healthy pregnant women in their second trimester and 50 randomly selected, healthy pregnant women in their third trimester with a single fetus were included, and their placentas underwent VTQ through shear wave velocity (SWV) measurements. The measurements were performed at different locations to sample different areas of the placenta. Measurements were performed 3-4 times in each location, the mean shear wave velocities were calculated without the highest and lowest values of measurements in each region, and the results were compared. RESULTS: The SWV of the placenta was 0.983±0.260 m/sec, and the minimal and maximal speed was 0.63 m/sec and 1.84 m/sec, respectively. There was no significant difference between the second and third trimester of VTQ of the placenta in terms of SWV (0.978±0.255 m/sec vs. 0.987±0.266 m/sec, P=0.711). The maternal age between second and third trimester was 27.9±4.3 years and 29.2±4.4 years, respectively; there was no significant difference between them (P=0.159). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the SWV of normal placenta tissue is 0.983±0.260 m/sec, it has little variation between the second and third trimesters, and the VTQ technique may potentially play an additional role in placenta evaluation.

Differences in Functional Fitness Among Older Adults With and Without Risk of Falling

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the differences in functional fitness between older adults who were at risk of falling and those who were not. METHODS: A total of 104 older adults aged 65-74 years were recruited from a local community senior center. They were independent older adults without a history of falls in the preceding 12 months. Falling risk status was assessed using the Fall Risk Test. Five dimensions of functional fitness with seven testing parameters (i.e., 30-second chair stand test, 30-second arm curl test, 2-minute step test, chair sit and reach test, back scratch test, 8-foot up and go test, and body mass index) were evaluated by the Senior Fitness Test. RESULTS: Only 78 participants completed all the tests, of which 48 participants were identified with risk of falling, and 30 participants were free from risk of falling. Results from multivariate analysis of variance found significant differences on the combined outcome variables, especially in the 8-foot up and go test, 2-minute step test, and 30-second arm curl test. Results from discriminant analysis found a significant discriminant function among all the seven testing parameters, where the 8-foot up and go test, and the 2-minute step test contributed most. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults who are at the early stage of risk of falling tend to have lower functional fitness capacities, especially in agility and dynamic balance, aerobic endurance as well as in a combined relationship among all the testing parameters.

Detection and homology analysis on metallo-β-lactamases gene in clinically isolated gram-negative bacteria / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To investigate the detection of IMP andVIM metallo-β-lactamases (MβLs)genes in clinically iso-lated gram-negative bacteria as well as bacterial resistance toβ-lactam antimicrobial agents.Methods 113 clinically isolated bacteria were performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Kirby-Bauer method ,drug-resistant genes IMP and VIM were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR),PCR products were sequenced and aligned with BLAST software. Results VIM gene was detected in 1 Pseudomonas fluorescens strain ,IMP gene was detected in 15 strains ,they were Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=6),Acinetobacter baumannii (n=3),Escherichia coli (n=2),Ralstonia picket-tii (n=1),Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=1 ),Citrobacter amalonaticua (n=1 ),and Enterobacter cloacae (n=1 ). BLAST results showed that VIM gene was VIM-2 subtype,similarity with gene bank was 99%;all IMP genes were IMP-1 subtype,which were highly homologous ,similarity was 98%-99%.Resistant rates of IMP positive strains to ceftriaxone,cefotaxime,cefoxitin,aztreonam and imipenem were all significantly higher than negative strains (all P <0.05).Conclusion IMP genes of different strains are highly homologous,all are IMP-1 type,indi-cating that IMP genes are highly transmissible and can spread among different species of bacteria.IMP genes are related with resistance ofβ-lactam antimicrobial agents.

Expression changes of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in diabetic ulcer / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To observe the effect of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on diabetic ulcer.METHODS:Diabetic animal model was established in the female Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin fol-lowing high-fat diet feeding.A circular wound was made on the dorsum of the rats in both control group and diabetic group. The condition of wound healing was recorded and the structures of the wound tissues were observed by HE staining in the 2 groups at 3, 7 and 14 d after wounding.The expression ofβ-catenin, GSK-3βand Rspo-3 at mRNA and protein levels in the wound tissues was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA.RESULTS:In diabetic group, the wound healing rate was lower (P<0.05), and the inflammatory cells, fibroblast cells and new capillaries in the wound tissues were fewer than those in control group.The expression of β-catenin and Rspo-3 at mRNA and protein levels in the wound tissues in control group was significantly higher than those in diabetic group, and the expression of GSK-3βwas exactly the opposite (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The down-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin probably resultes from the decreased level of Rspo-3, which may be one of the reasons for delaying the diabetic ulcer healing.

Antitumor efficacy of irinotecan-loaded galactosyl modified lipid bilayer-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles against hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 药学学报

The purpose of this study is to prepare galactosyl modified lipid bilayer-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (GPEM) to enhance the antitumor efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The irinotecan (CPT-11) loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) was coated with the Gal-P123 modified functional lipid bilayer by thin-film dispersion method. Nanoparticles were characterized with particle size, zeta potential, morphology and drug release in vitro. Afterwards, the cell uptake, intracellular concentration of CPT-11, cell apoptosis rate and cytotoxicity were evaluated on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh-7. The results showed that MSNs were coated with intact lipid bilayers and the nanoparticles had clear core-shell structure. GPEM is stable with the mean particle size of (78.01 +/- 2.04) nm. The low leakage rate in normal physiological conditions in vitro is contributed to the protection of stable lipid bilayer, and the fast drug release in acid environment due to the destruction of the lipid bilayer. On the cell level, the vector could improve the intracellular CPT-11 concentration by 4 times because of the functional lipid bilayer. The high CPT-11 concentration led to the increasement of apoptosis rate by 48.6%, and the reduction of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of CPT-11 by 2 times, indicating stronger cell cytotoxicity.