Healthcare big data based visual analysis of research hotspots and trends on global uveitis / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To explore the current status, research hotspots, and trends of global uveitis research to provide a theoretical basis and references for researchers in the field of uveitis, and promote further development in this area.METHODS: Relevant literatures on uveitis were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)database, Wanfang database, and Web of Science core collection database since their establishment until 24 August 2023. The country/publishing institutions, research authors, high-frequency keywords, and burst keywords were visual analyzed by using software such as GraphPad Prism 9, CiteSpace 6.2. R2, and VOSviewer.RESULTS: Research teams for uveitis have been formed in various countries globally. The top three countries in terms of publications are the United States of America(7 585 papers), the United Kingdom(2 412 papers)and Germany(1 679 papers). The top three foreign institutions in terms of publications are Harvard University, Oregon Health & Science University, and Moorfields Eye Hospital, while the top three domestic institutions are Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, and Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University. The analysis of high-frequency keywords and burst keywords in Chinese and English shows that research hotspots mainly focus on exploring pathogenesis and different treatment methods for uveitis. The research hotspots related to uveitis treatment are transitioning to molecular biology-related research topics, such as molecular biological signaling pathways(NF-κB signaling pathway with a strength value of 22.89), biological agents(adalimumab with a strength value of 32.21), and tumor necrosis factor(with a strength value of 48.44). Related research is also expanding to basic experiments on relevant rats.CONCLUSIONS: In recent years, the research hotspots and trends of global uveitis mainly focus on precise diagnosis, pathogenesis, and more effective treatment methods. It is important for more scholars to dedicate themselves to uveitis-related research in the future to make breakthroughs and progress in the field. More large-scale and multicenter clinical studies on uveitis can provide high-quality research evidence.

Pigtail catheter exchange technique for the Simmons catheter formation in transradial cerebral angiography.

BACKGROUND: The transradial approach (TRA) has become popular for diagnostic cerebral angiography. However, this approach is still used less often because of problematic formation of the Simmons catheter. The purpose of this study was to introduce a pigtail catheter exchange technique for Simmons catheter formation to improve the success rates with a shorter operation time and without increasing complications. METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients eligible for right TRA cerebral angiography at our institution from 2021. To introduce the technique, the cerebral angiogram of formation of the Simmons catheter in the type II aortic arch was constructed. Patient demographic and angiographic data were collected. RESULTS: In total, 295 cerebral angiographies were evaluated. There were 155 (52.5 %), 83 (28.1 %), 39 (13.2 %), and 18 (6.1 %) patients with types I, II, and III aortic arches and bovine arch, respectively. The total fluoroscopy time, operation time and radiation exposure were 6.3 ± 4.4 min, 17.7 ± 8.3 min and 559.2 ± 197.3 mGy, respectively. The Simmons catheter was successfully formed in 294 of 295 patients, with a success rate of 99.6 %, confirming an effective technique for right TRA cerebral angiography. No severe complications were observed in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Pigtail catheter exchange may be an effective and safe technique for right TRA cerebral angiography. The findings of this report prompted institutions to apply this technique clinically and can serve as a basis for future trials focused on TRA cerebral angiography.

Visualized analysis of research hotspots of the treatment of diabetic retinopathy based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To analyze the current status, hotspots and trends of studies on the treatments of diabetic retinopathy.METHODS: Relevant literatures on diabetic retinopathy in Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and Web of Science core collection database were retrieved from creation to June 15, 2023, and CiteSpace 6.2.R2 and VOSviewer were used to conduct visualized analysis with the country/issuing institution, research author and keywords.RESULTS: A total of 5 919 Chinese literatures and 11 475 English literatures were included. The top three countries with global publications are the United States, China and the United Kingdom, respectively. The top three institutions for issuing articles at abroad are Harvard Medical School, Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University, while the top three institutions for issuing articles in China are the Eye Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, and Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University. The research results of high-frequency keywords in both Chinese and English show that the laser photocoagulation, vitrectomy, traditional Chinese medicine therapy, vascular endothelial growth factor and ranibizumab are research hotspots.CONCLUSIONS: In recent years, the research hotspots of diabetic retinopathy mainly focus on surgery, vascular protective agents, traditional Chinese medicine therapy, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, etc., and the research trend mainly focuses on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs.

Network meta-analysis of SGLT-2 inhibitor-induced hypoglycemia risk in type 2 diabetes patients / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the risk of hypoglycemia caused by sodium-glucose co-transporter protein 2 （SGLT-2） inhibitors in type 2 diabetes （T2DM） patients. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， Web of Science， Cochrane Library， CNKI， VIP， Wanfang Data and CBM， randomized controlled trials （RCTs） about SGLT-2 inhibitors in the treatment of T2DM were collected from the inception to Oct. 15th， 2022. After literature screening， data extraction and quality evaluation of included literature with bias risk assessment tool recommended by the Cochrane system evaluator handbook 5.1.0， Stata 15.1 software was used for network meta-analysis and publication bias analysis. RESULTS A total of 22 RCTs were included， with a total of 18 734 patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with ertugliflozin 15 mg [RR＝3.26， 95%CI （1.13， 8.11）， P＜0.05] and ertugliflozin 25 mg [RR＝3.08， 95%CI （1.12， 6.34）， P＜0.05]， the incidence of hypoglycemia was significantly increased in patients using canagliflozin 300 mg. Compared with ertugliflozin 15 mg [RR＝1.48， 95%CI （1.24， 6.93）， P＜0.05] and ertugliflozin 25 mg [RR＝6.74， 95%CI （1.33， 9.34）， P＜0.05]， the incidence of hypoglycemia in patients treated with canagliflozin 100 mg was significantly increased. There was no statistically significant difference between other groups （P＞0.05）. The ranking results of the network meta-analysis showed that the incidence of hypoglycemia was from low to high， ie. ertugliflozin 15 mg＞placebo＞ertugliflozin 25 mg＞empgaliflozin 25 mg＞empgaliflozin 10 mg＞empgaliflozin 1 mg＞dapagliflozin 5 mg＞ dapagliflozin 10 mg＞dapagliflozin 2.5 mg＞canagliflozin 300 mg＞ertugliflozin 10 mg＞ertugliflozin 5 mg＞empgaliflozin 50 mg＞canagliflozin 200 mg＞canagliflozin 100 mg＞canag-liflozin 50 mg＞ertugliflozin 1 mg＞empgaliflozin 5 mg. Results of publication bias analysis showed that there was little possibility of publication bias in this study. CONCLUSIONS When SGLT-2 inhibitors are used in patients with T2DM， the incidence of hypoglycemia is the lowest when using ertugliflozin 15 mg， and the incidence of hypoglycemia is the highest when using empagliflozin 5 mg.

DI-3-n-butylphthalide mitigates stress-induced cognitive deficits in mice through inhibition of NLRP3-Mediated neuroinflammation.

Our previous study has demonstrated that chronic stress could cause cognitive deficits and tau pathology. However, the underlying mechanism and whether/how DI-3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) ameliorates these effects are still unclear. Here, Wild-type mice were subjected to chronic unpredictable and mild stress (CUMS) for 8 weeks. Following the initial 4 weeks, the stressed animals were separated into susceptible (depressive) and unsusceptible (resilient) groups based on behavioral tests. Then, NBP (30 mg/kg i.g) was administered for 4 weeks. Morris water maze (MWM), Western-blot, Golgi staining, immunofluorescence staining and ELISA were used to examine behavioral, biochemical, and pathological changes. The results showed that both depressive and resilient mice displayed spatial memory deficits and an accumulation of tau in the hippocampus. Activated microglia and NLRP3 inflammasome were found after 8-week chronic stress. We also found a decreased level of postsynaptic density (PSD) related proteins (PSD93 and PSD95) and decreased the number of dendritic spines in the hippocampus. Interestingly, almost all the pathological changes in depressive and resilient mice previously mentioned could be reversed by NBP treatment. To further investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in chronic stress-induced cognitive deficits, NLRP3 KO mice were also exposed to chronic stress. And these changes induced by chronic stress could not be found in NLRP3 KO mice. These results show an important role for the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1ß axis in chronic stress-induced cognitive deficits and NBP meliorates cognitive impairments and selectively attenuates phosphorylated tau accumulation in stressed mice through regulation of NLRP3 inflammatory signaling pathway.

Exploratory screening of potential pan-cancer biomarkers based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To screen potential pan-cancer biomarkers based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and to provide help for the diagnosis and prognosis assessment of a variety of cancers.@*METHODS@#"GDC Data Transfer Tool" and "GDCRNATools" packages were used to obtain TCGA database. After data sorting, a total of 13 cancers were selected for further analysis. False disco-very rate (FDR) < 0.05 and fold change (FC) >1.5 were used as the differential expression criteria to screen genes and miRNAs that were up- or down-regulated in all the 13 cancers. In the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve), the area under the curve (AUC), the best cut-off value and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were used to reflect diagnostic significance. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival probability and then the log-rank test was performed. Hazard ratio (HR) was calculated to reflect prognostic evaluation significance. DAVID tool were used to perform GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analysis for differentially expressed genes. STRING and TargetScan tools were used to analyze the regulatory network of differentially expressed genes and miRNAs.@*RESULTS@#A total of 48 genes and 2 miRNAs were differentially expressed in all the 13 cancers. Among them, 25 genes were up-regulated, 23 genes and 2 miRNAs were down-regulated. Most differentially expressed genes and miRNAs had good ability to distinguish between the cases and controls, with AUC, sensitivity and specificity up to 0.8-0.9. Survival analysis results show that differentially expressed genes and miRNAs were significantly associated with patient survival in a variety of cancers. Most up-regulated genes were risk factors for patient survival (HR>1), while most down-regulated genes were protective factors for patient survival (0 < HR < 1). The enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG showed that the differentially expressed genes were mostly enriched in biological events related to cell proliferation. In the regulatory network analysis, a total of 13 differentially expressed genes and 2 differentially expressed miRNAs had regulatory and interaction relationships.@*CONCLUSION@#The 48 genes and 2 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in 13 cancers may serve as potential pan-cancer biomarkers, providing help for the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of a variety of cancers, and providing clues for the development of broad-spectrum tumor therapeutic targets.

Complete plastome sequence of Mallotus peltatus (Geiseler) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae): A beverage and medicinal plant in Hainan, China.

Mallotus peltatus is a tropical plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, which could be used as a beverage and medicine in Hainan, China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of M. peltatus. The complete plastome is 163,304 bp in length and contains a typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,112 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,886 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,840 bp. The plastome contains 131 genes, consisting of 78 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene, four unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S rRNA), and eight pseudogenes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of M. peltatus is 64.02%. The complete plastome sequence of M. peltatus will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Euphorbiaceae.

The mediating effect of hope between psychological distress and quality of life in radiotherapy patients with cervical cancer / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective@#To investigate the relationship between hope, mental suffering and quality of life in radiotherapy patients with cervical cancer, to provide the basis for the cancer patient′s psychological intervention.@*Methods@#A cross-sectional study of 120 cases of radiotherapy cervical cancer patients was conducted, using the psychological distress thermometer, Herth Hope Scale, Life Quality Measurement Scale for patients with cervical cancer to evaluate patients′ hope, quality of life and psychological distress.@*Results@#Radiotherapy cervical cancer patients′ psychological distress and hope were negatively correlated (r=-0.385, P <0.01), psychological distress and quality of life were negatively correlated (r=-0.602, P <0.01), hope and quality of life were positive correlation (r=0.711, P <0.01). Patients′ hope played partially mediated effect between psychological distress and quality of life, emotional status, functional status, played fully mediated effect between psychological distress and social family status. The Mediated effect sizes were 35.9%, 36.3%, 55.9% and 100.0%.@*Conclusions@#Psychological distress has not only a direct negative effect on the quality of life of cancer patients, but also an indirect negative effect through hope. During the Medical care, we should accurately assess of patient's psychological distress and hope, and take measures to help improve patients' hope and alleviate psychological distress, so as to improve patients′ quality of life.

Dynamic scalp acupuncture combined with PNF therapy for upper limb motor impairment in ischemic stroke spastic hemiplegia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>On the basic therapy, to assess the clinical effects of dynamic scalp acupuncture, scalp acupuncture combined with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) therapy and simple PNF therapy for upper limb motor impairment in ischemic post-stroke spastic hemiplegia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 90 cases were randomly assigned into a PNF group, a dynamic scalp acupuncture group and a scalp acupuncture group, 30 cases in each group. Basic therapy and PNF therapy were applied in the three groups. PNF therapy was used during scalp acupuncture in the dynamic scalp acupuncture group. PNF therapy was applied after scalp acupuncture in the scalp acupuncture group. The points were the upper 1/5 and middle 2/5 of (MS 6) and (MS 7) at the lesion side, the hemiparalysis contralateral side. The treatment was given for 6 months, once a day and 1 month as a course. The modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) were observed before treatment and 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The MAS 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment were improved compared with those before treatment in the three groups ( all <0.05), and the MAS results in the dynamic scalp acupuncture group were better than those in the PNF and scalp acupuncture group (all <0.05). The FMA and BI scores 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment were higher than those before treatment (all <0.05). The FMA Scores in the 3 time points and after treatment in the dynamic scalp acupuncture group were higher than those in the other two groups (all <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PNF therapy during scalp acupuncture can relieve the spasmodic condition of patients with upper limb motor impairment in ischemic post-stroke spasmodic hemiplegia, and improve the limb function and life activity, which is better than PNF therapy after scalp acupuncture and simple PNF therapy.</p>

Determination of Seven Urinary Metabolites of Organophosphate Esters Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry / 分析化学

A simple method was developed for simultaneous determination of seven urinary metabolites of organophosphate esters by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS / MS). Based on different physical and chemical properties of these OPs metabolites, the solid phase extraction cartridges and the washing and eluting solvents were optimized in details. Furthermore, the mobile phase and mass spectrometric parameters were also investigated. The results showed that Oasis WAX cartridge was the best SPE column in this study, and 2 mL of NH3 ·H2 O (5% ) in methanol and 2 mL of methanol were chosen as the eluting solvents. The recoveries of six analytes were ranged from 60. 5% to 104. 0% , whereas DEP ranged from 17. 8% to 36. 2% . Seven analytes could be baseline separated from each other under the optimized chromatographic conditions. The limits of detection and quantification of seven analytes ranged from 0. 005 to 0. 2 μg / L and 0. 02 to 0. 5 μg / L, respectively. The standard deviations of response repeatability for intra-day and inter-day period were lower than 15. 4% . This method was finally applied to determination of metabolites of OPs from 10 urines from general population in Guangzhou city. The concentrations of total OPs metabolites in urine samples ranged from 0. 5 to 6. 7 μg / L.

Autophagy Attenuates MnCl2-induced Apoptosis in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of autophagy in MnCl2-induced apoptosis in human bronchial epithelial 16HBE cells. METHODS: Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Autophagic vacuoles were detected by fluorescence microscopy. Cellular levels of apoptosis and autophagy-related proteins were measured by western blotting. RESULTS: 16HBE cell proliferation was inhibited by MnCl2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. MnCl2-induced 16HBE cell growth inhibition was related to MMP depolarization prior to the induction of apoptosis. Our data revealed that MnCl2-induced apoptosis in 16HBE cells was mediated by decreased expression of Bcl-2 and increased levels of cleaved caspase-3. It was observed that when we exposed 16HBE cells to MnCl2 in a dose-dependent manner, the formation of autophagic vacuoles and the levels of LC-3B-II were elevated. RNA interference of LC3B in these MnCl2-exposed cells demonstrated that MMP loss and apoptosis were enhanced. Additionally, the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK increased the cellular levels of Bcl-2 and decreased apoptosis, but did not affect the cellular levels of LC3B in MnCl2-treated 16HBE cells. CONCLUSION: MnCl2 dose- and time-dependently inhibits 16HBE cell proliferation and induces MMP loss and apoptosis. Autophagy acts in a protective role against MnCl2-induced apoptosis in 16HBE cells.

PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy play a protective role in manganese induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells.

Manganese (Mn) as an environmental risk factor of Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered to cause manganism. Mitophagy is thought to play a key role in elimination the injured mitochondria. The goal of this paper was to explore whether the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy is activated and its role in Mn-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in SH-SY5Y cells. Here, we investigated effects of MnCl2 on ROS generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP/ΔΨm) and apoptosis by FACS and examined PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy by western-blotting and the co-localization of mitochondria and acidic lysosomes. Further, we explore the role of mitophagy in Mn-induced apoptosis by inhibition the mitophagy by knockdown Parkin level. Results show that MnCl2 dose-dependently caused ΔΨm decrease, ROS generation and apoptosis of dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, Mn could induce mitophagy and PINK1/Parkin-mediated pathway was activated in SH-SY5Y cells. Transient transfection of Parkin siRNA knockdown the expressing level of parkin inhibited Mn-induced mitophagy and aggravated apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that Mn may induce PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, which may exert significant neuro-protective effect against Mn-induced dopaminergic neuronal cells apoptosis.

Autophagy Attenuates MnCl2-induced Apoptosis in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of autophagy in MnCl2-induced apoptosis in human bronchial epithelial 16HBE cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Autophagic vacuoles were detected by fluorescence microscopy. Cellular levels of apoptosis and autophagy-related proteins were measured by western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>16HBE cell proliferation was inhibited by MnCl2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. MnCl2-induced 16HBE cell growth inhibition was related to MMP depolarization prior to the induction of apoptosis. Our data revealed that MnCl2-induced apoptosis in 16HBE cells was mediated by decreased expression of Bcl-2 and increased levels of cleaved caspase-3. It was observed that when we exposed 16HBE cells to MnCl2 in a dose-dependent manner, the formation of autophagic vacuoles and the levels of LC-3B-II were elevated. RNA interference of LC3B in these MnCl2-exposed cells demonstrated that MMP loss and apoptosis were enhanced. Additionally, the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK increased the cellular levels of Bcl-2 and decreased apoptosis, but did not affect the cellular levels of LC3B in MnCl2-treated 16HBE cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MnCl2 dose- and time-dependently inhibits 16HBE cell proliferation and induces MMP loss and apoptosis. Autophagy acts in a protective role against MnCl2-induced apoptosis in 16HBE cells.</p>

[A review of drug metabolism under hypoxia environment at high altitude].

The special environmental features of high altitude, such as hypobaric hypoxia, low temperature, arid, high solar radiation, variable climate and geochemical anomaly, cause great effects on human physiology and health. It will provide valuable references and new ideas to study drug's metabolism in special environment of high altitude hypoxia, and give the guidance to clinical reasonable medication, avoiding adverse reactions and personalized medicine in plateau areas. This article reviewed the effect of high altitude hypoxia on drug metabolism, elaborated metabolic characteristics of some drugs and the activity and expression of drug metabolism enzymes under hypoxia environment at high altitude, and discussed related mechanism.

[Protective Effect of Lycium ruthenicum on Peripheral Blood System Against Radiation Injury in Mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of Lycium ruthenicum on peripheral blood system against radiation injury in mice. METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive group and Lycium ruthenicum high dose (8 g/kg), middle dose (4 g/kg) and low dose (2 g/kg)treatment groups that experimented three days after irradiation. In the same way, groups were set at 7 days and 14 days after irradiation respectively. Lycium ruthenicum extract were administered orally to the mice in the three Lycium ruthenicum treatment groups and normal saline were administered orally to the mice in control group and model group for 14 days. Positive group were treated with radioprotective agent amifostine (WR-2721) at 30 min before irradiation. Except control group, mice in other groups received quantity of 5 Gy X-radiation whole body evenly with one time. Hemogram, organ index, DNA, Caspase-3, Caspase-6 and P53 contents were observed at the 3rd, 7th and 14th day after irradiation. RESULTS: Lycium ruthenicum significantly increased the total red blood cell count, hemoglobin count, the indexes of spleen and thymus and bone marrow DNA contents (P < 0.05), as well as decreased Caspase-3 and Caspase-6 contents in serum and the expression of P53 in intestinal crypt epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: The results showed that Lycium ruthenicum had protective effects on peripheral blood system against radiation injury in mice.

A review of drug metabolism under hypoxia environment at high altitude / 药学学报

The special environmental features of high altitude, such as hypobaric hypoxia, low temperature, arid, high solar radiation, variable climate and geochemical anomaly, cause great effects on human physiology and health. It will provide valuable references and new ideas to study drug's metabolism in special environment of high altitude hypoxia, and give the guidance to clinical reasonable medication, avoiding adverse reactions and personalized medicine in plateau areas. This article reviewed the effect of high altitude hypoxia on drug metabolism, elaborated metabolic characteristics of some drugs and the activity and expression of drug metabolism enzymes under hypoxia environment at high altitude, and discussed related mechanism.

S phase cell percentage normalized BrdU incorporation rate, a new parameter for determining S arrest.

In this study, a new parameter, S phase cell percentage (S fraction) normalized BrdU (SFN-BrdU) incorporation rate, was introduced to detect S arrest. The results showed a positive linear correlation between the BrdU incorporation rate and the S fraction in unperturbed 16HBE cells. Theoretical analysis indicated that only S arrest could result in a decrease in the SFN-BrdU incorporation rate. Additionally, the decrease in SFN-BrdU incorporation rate and the activation of DNA damage checkpoints further demonstrated that S arrest was induced by diethyl sulfate treatment of 16HBE cells. In conclusion, SFN-BrdU incorporation rate can be used to detecting S arrest.

S phase cell percentage normalized BrdU incorporation rate, a new parameter for determining S arrest / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

In this study, a new parameter, S phase cell percentage (S fraction) normalized BrdU (SFN-BrdU) incorporation rate, was introduced to detect S arrest. The results showed a positive linear correlation between the BrdU incorporation rate and the S fraction in unperturbed 16HBE cells. Theoretical analysis indicated that only S arrest could result in a decrease in the SFN-BrdU incorporation rate. Additionally, the decrease in SFN-BrdU incorporation rate and the activation of DNA damage checkpoints further demonstrated that S arrest was induced by diethyl sulfate treatment of 16HBE cells. In conclusion, SFN-BrdU incorporation rate can be used to detecting S arrest.

Role of procalcitonin in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a diagnostic challenge. We aimed to systemically summarize the current evidence on the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) in identifying IE. METHODS: We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane database, and reference lists of relevant articles with no language restrictions through September 2012 and selected studies that reported the diagnostic performance of PCT alone or compare with other biomarkers to diagnose IE. We summarized test performance characteristics with the use of forest plots, hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves, and bivariate random effects models. RESULTS: We found 6 qualifying studies that included 1006 episodes of suspected infection with 216 (21.5%) confirmed IE episodes from 5 countries. Bivariate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios, and negative likelihood ratios were 64% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52%-74%), 73% (95% CI 58%-84%), 2.35 (95% CI 1.40-3.95), and 0.50 (95% CI 0.35-0.70), respectively. Of the 5 studies examining C-reactive protein (CRP), the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios, and negative likelihood ratios were 75% (95% CI 62%-85%), 73% (95% CI 61%-82%), 2.81 (95% CI 1.70-4.65), and 0.34 (95% CI 0.19-0.60), respectively. The global measures of accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and diagnostic odds ratio (dOR), showed CRP (AUC 0.80, dOR 8.55) may have higher accuracy than PCT (AUC 0.71, dOR 4.67) in diagnosing IE. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence does not support the routine use of serum PCT or CRP to rule in or rule out IE in patients suspected to have IE.

Recent research advance on bone marrow microenvironment-mediated leukemia drug resistant mechanism / 中国实验血液学杂志

The bone marrow microenvironment consists of bone marrow stromal cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts which facilities the survival, differentiation and proliferation of hematopoietic cells through secreting soluble factors and extracellular matrix proteins that mediate these functions. This environment not only supports the growth of normal and malignant hematopoietic cells, but also protects them against the damage from chemotherapeutic agents through the secretion of soluble cytokines, cell adhesion, up-regulation of resistant genes and changes of cell cycle. In this review, the research advances on drug-resistance mechanisms mediated by bone marrow microenvironment are summarized briefly, including soluble factors mediating drug resistance, intercellular adhesion inducing drug resistance, up-regulation of some drug resistance genes, regulation in metabolism of leukemic cells, changes in cell cycles of tumor cells and so on.