Radioactivity and elemental oxidation composition in soil from Yangjiang, a high background natural radiation area, China.

Soil is an important source and medium of radionuclides, and the content of radioactivity in soil is crucial for radiological impact evaluation. In this study, twenty soil samples in the high background natural radiation area of Yangjiang, China were collected and analyzed for 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs concentrations in order to evaluate the radiological health risk in the area. Results showed that the average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 66 Bq/kg, 109 Bq/kg and 211 Bq/kg, respectively. The calculated radiological parameters of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), internal and external hazard indices (Hin and Hex) show a large variation at different sampling sites. Additionally, the elemental oxidation composition and 40K/K mass ratio in the soil were analyzed to further augment the background information of the high background radiation area in Yangjiang.

Hsa_circ_0001658 accelerates the progression of colorectal cancer through miR-590-5p/METTL3 regulatory axis.

BACKGROUND: As reported, multiple circular RNAs (circRNAs) interfere with colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Here, circRNA_0001658 (circ_0001658) is focused on studying how it works in CRC. AIM: Clarify the expression pattern, biological function, and underlying mechanism of circ_0001658 of CRC tumorigenesis. METHODS: In CRC-related chip data retrieved using the database named Gene Expression Omnibus, different expressions of circRNAs between CRC and normal tissue samples were identified. Quantitative Real-time PCR and Western blot ensured the analysis on circ_0001658, microRNA-590-5P (miR-590-5p), and methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) mRNA expressions in tissues and cells. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration. The targeting relations between circ_0001658, miR-590-5p, and METTL3 mRNA 3'-untranslated region were under the verification of bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase-based reporter gene assays. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis were employed on the downstream targets of miR-590-5p using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery database. RESULTS: Circ_0001658 and METTL3 mRNA was elevated in CRC tissues and cells, whereas miR-590-5p was decreased. Circ_0001658 overexpression promoted the proliferation of HT29 cells, inhibited apoptosis, and accelerated the cell cycle. In SW480 cells, knocking down circ_0001658 had the opposite effect. Circ_0001658 could specifically bind to miR-590-5p and negatively modulate its expressions; METTL3 is a miR-590-5p target that can be positively regulated by circ 0001658. Circ 0001658 was inversely associated with miR-590-5p expression while positively with METTL3 expressions. CONCLUSION: Circ_0001658 regulates the miR-590-5p/METTL 3-axis to increase CRC cell growth and decrease apoptosis.

Dietary exposure of radionuclides and heavy metals in adult residents in a high background natural radiation area using duplicate diet method.

Intake of radionuclides and heavy metals through food consumption is one of the important pathways for long-term health considerations. In this paper, the dietary exposure to radionuclides (210Pb, 210Po, 226Ra, 228Ra, 40K, 137Cs and 129I) and heavy metals (As, Hg, Pb, Cd and U) of adult residents in the high background natural radiation area (HBNRA) in Yangjiang, China, was comprehensively assessed using duplicate diet method. The estimated effective dose received by the inhabitants in HBNRA from ingestion of radionuclides was 0.33 mSv/y, and the associated lifetime cancer risk was 1.1 × 10-3. Both the dose and cancer risk to humans were at the acceptable range, and showed no difference between the HBNRA and the control area. With respect to heavy metals, the estimated daily intake of heavy metals (DIM) values for As, Hg, Pb, Cd and U in HBNRA were 0.47, 0.03, 15.0, 0.26 and 0.04 µg/kg bw/d, respectively, and the corresponding target hazard quotient (THQ) were 1.58, 0.09, 3.7, 2.56, 0.18. The DIM and THQ of Cd and U in HBNRA were similar to the control area, but the DIM and THQ of Pb were much higher than the corresponding values of 0.39 and 0.03 in the control area. The hazard index (HI) value of heavy metals in HBNRA was almost twice that of the control area. This suggests that the inhabitants in the HBNRA may have a health risk associated with the heavy metals.

Abnormal drainage of inferior vena cava to left atrium combined with atrial septal defect: A case report.

Systemic venous anomaly is less common clinically, and ectopic connection of inferior vena cava is less common clinically than ectopic connection of superior vena cava. When the inferior vena cava is abnormally connected to the left atrium, a low atrial septal defect can be combined. It is difficult to make preoperative diagnosis of this kind of disease clinically. Blind occlusion of the ASD (atrial septal defect) will cause the iatrogenic inferior vena cava flowing back to the left atrium completely or partially. Conventional median thoracotomy for repair of such an atrial septal defect should be performed with more caution. It has been reported that after repair of an atrial septal defect, the inferior vena cava was mistakenly separated into the left atrium. Therefore, we suggest that preoperative evaluation of inferior atrial septal defect should be with more cautious. When transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) cannot fully explain the clinical symptoms, Ultrasound contrast may be considered. During the repair of the inferior vena cava ASD, it is not only necessary to find the location of Euclidean valve, but also to accurately explore the inferior vena cava opening so as to avoid the iatrogenic inferior vena cava being separated into the left atrium.

Patency of individual and sequential coronary artery bypass in patients with ischemic heart disease: a meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the patency of individual and sequential coronary artery bypass in patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for controlled trials. Endpoints included graft patency, anastomosis patency, occluded rates in left anterior descending (LAD) system and right coronary artery (RCA) system, in-hospital mortality, and follow-up mortality. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean difference (SMD) were used to assess the relative data. Results: Nine cohorts, including 7100 patients and 1440 grafts under individual or sequential coronary artery bypass. There were no significant differences between individual and sequential coronary artery bypass in the graft patency (RR=0.96; 95% CI=0.91-1.02; P=0.16; I2=87%), anastomosis patency (RR=0.95; 95% CI=0.91-1.00; P=0.05; I2=70%), occluded rate in LAD system (RR=1.03; 95% CI=0.92-1.16; P=0.58; I2=37%), occluded rate in RCA system (RR=1.36; 95% CI=0.72-2.57; P=0.35; I2=95%), in-hospital mortality (RR=1.57; 95% CI=0.92-2.69; P=0.10; I2=0%), and follow-up mortality (RR=0.96; 95% CI=0.36-2.53; P=0.93; I2=0%). Conclusion: No significant differences on clinical data were observed regarding anastomosis patency, occluded rate in LAD system, occluded rate in RCA system, in-hospital mortality, and follow-up mortality, indicating that the patency of individual and the patency of sequential coronary artery bypass are similar to each other.

Patency of Individual and Sequential Coronary Artery Bypass in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the patency of individual and sequential coronary artery bypass in patients with ischemic heart disease. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for controlled trials. Endpoints included graft patency, anastomosis patency, occluded rates in left anterior descending (LAD) system and right coronary artery (RCA) system, in-hospital mortality, and follow-up mortality. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean difference (SMD) were used to assess the relative data. RESULTS: Nine cohorts, including 7100 patients and 1440 grafts under individual or sequential coronary artery bypass. There were no significant differences between individual and sequential coronary artery bypass in the graft patency (RR=0.96; 95% CI=0.91-1.02; P=0.16; I2=87%), anastomosis patency (RR=0.95; 95% CI=0.91-1.00; P=0.05; I2=70%), occluded rate in LAD system (RR=1.03; 95% CI=0.92-1.16; P=0.58; I2=37%), occluded rate in RCA system (RR=1.36; 95% CI=0.72-2.57; P=0.35; I2=95%), in-hospital mortality (RR=1.57; 95% CI=0.92-2.69; P=0.10; I2=0%), and follow-up mortality (RR=0.96; 95% CI=0.36-2.53; P=0.93; I2=0%). CONCLUSION: No significant differences on clinical data were observed regarding anastomosis patency, occluded rate in LAD system, occluded rate in RCA system, in-hospital mortality, and follow-up mortality, indicating that the patency of individual and the patency of sequential coronary artery bypass are similar to each other.

Radionuclides in mushrooms and soil-to-mushroom transfer factors in certain areas of China.

Activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 228Ra, 137Cs and 40K in 64 mushroom samples collected in China from Yunnan, Fujian and Heilongjiang Provinces, were measured. Gamma-ray emissions were determined by using high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ spectrometry. The range of concentrations (Bq kg-1 dry weight) for 238U, 226Ra, 228Ra, 137Cs and 40K in all investigated mushroom samples were from 0.12 to 12, 0.05 to 7.5, 0.14 to 14, MDC(<0.01) to 339, and 396 to 1880, respectively. Activity concentrations of 137Cs in mushrooms showed some variation between species sampled at the same site. To calculate soil to mushroom transfer factors, levels of radionuclide in 15 paired soil samples and mushrooms were also investigated. The median transfer factors for 238U, 226Ra, 228Ra, 137Cs and 40K were 8.32 × 10-2, 3.03 × 10-2, 6.69 × 10-2, 0.40 and 1.19, respectively. The results were compared with values of other areas.