Bibliometric analysis and global trends in uterus transplantation.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to characterize publication patterns, academic influence, research trends, and the recent developments in uterus transplantation (UTx) across the globe. METHODS: The Web of Science Core Collection database was searched for documents published from the time the database began to include relevant articles to December 15, 2023. With the use of VOSviewer, Citespace, BICOMB, and Incites, a cross-sectional bibliometric analysis was conducted to extract or calculate the evaluative indexes. Publications were categorized by country, institution, author, journal, highly cited papers, and keywords. The variables were compared in terms of publication and academic influence, which further included citation count, citation impact, Hirsh index, journal impact factor, total link strength, collaboration metrics, and impact relative to the world. RESULTS: A total of 581 papers concerning UTx were initially identified after retrieval, and 425 documents were included. Of the 41 countries participating in relevant studies, the USA and Sweden were in leading positions in terms of publications, citations, and academic influence. The most versatile institution was the University of Gothenburg, which is followed by Baylor University. The most productive scholars and journals were Brännström M. and Fertility and Sterility, respectively. Five groups of cutting-edge keywords were identified: venous drainage, donors and donation, women, fertility preservation, and fertility. Topics about surgery, first live birth, risk, and in vitro fertilization remain hot in this field. CONCLUSIONS: UTx is anticipated to enter a golden era in the coming years. This study provides some guidance concerning the authors involved in promoting UTx research, the current development of UTx, and journals to submit their innovative research. This also helps to reach a comprehensive insight and prospect in the near future. In order to establish recognized standards and benefit more patients who are disturbed by uterine infertility, large-scale and well-designed clinical trials are required.

Microfluidic chip as a promising evaluation method in assisted reproduction: A systematic review.

The aim of assisted reproductive technology (ART) is to select the high-quality sperm, oocytes, and embryos, and finally achieve a successful pregnancy. However, functional evaluation is hindered by intra- and inter-operator variability. Microfluidic chips emerge as the one of the most powerful tools to analyze biological samples for reduced size, precise control, and flexible extension. Herein, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and IEEE Xplore databases until March 2023. We displayed and prospected all detection strategies based on microfluidics in the ART field. After full-text screening, 71 studies were identified as eligible for inclusion. The percentages of human and mouse studies equaled with 31.5%. The prominent country in terms of publication number was the USA (n = 13). Polydimethylsiloxane (n = 49) and soft lithography (n = 28) were the most commonly used material and fabrication method, respectively. All articles were classified into three types: sperm (n = 38), oocytes (n = 20), and embryos (n = 13). The assessment contents included motility, counting, mechanics, permeability, impedance, secretion, oxygen consumption, and metabolism. Collectively, the microfluidic chip technology facilitates more efficient, accurate, and objective evaluation in ART. It can even be combined with artificial intelligence to assist the daily activities of embryologists. More well-designed clinical studies and affordable integrated microfluidic chips are needed to validate the safety, efficacy, and reproducibility. Trial registration: The protocol was registered in the Open Science Frame REGISTRIES (identification: osf.io/6rv4a).

RNF115 aggravates tumor progression through regulation of CDK10 degradation in thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: RING Finger Protein 115 (RNF115), a notable E3 ligase, is known to modulate tumorigenesis and metastasis. In our investigation, we endeavor to unravel the putative function and inherent mechanism through which RNF115 influences the evolution of thyroid carcinoma (THCA). METHODS: We analyzed RNF115 expression in THCA using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The influence of RNF115 on the progression of THCA was evaluated using both in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. The protein regulated by RNF115 was identified through bioinformatics analysis, and its biological significance was further explored. RESULTS: In both THCA tissues and cells, RNF115 showed elevated expression levels. Enhanced expression of RNF115 fostered cell proliferation, tumor growth, and the exacerbation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in THCA, while also promoting tumor lung metastasis. Bioinformatics analysis identified cyclin-dependent kinase 10 (CDK10) as a downstream target of RNF115, which was found to be ubiquitinated and degraded by RNF115 in THCA cells. Functionally, overexpression of CDK10 was found to counteract the promotion of malignant phenotype in THCA induced by RNF115. From a mechanistic perspective, RNF115 activated the Raf-1 pathway and enhanced cancer cell cycle progression by degrading CDK10 in THCA cells. CONCLUSION: RNF115 triggers cell proliferation, EMT, and tumor metastasis by ubiquitinating and degrading CDK10. The regulation of the Raf-1 pathway and cell cycle progression in THCA may be profoundly influenced by this process.

Estimation of the Ecosystem Service Value of the Yellow River Delta-Laizhou Bay Coastal Zone Considering Regional Differences and Social Development.

With economic and societal development, the ecological environment of the Yellow River Delta-Laizhou Bay coastal zone has been seriously damaged. Exploring the changes in land use and ecosystem service value (ESV) is essential to ecological construction of the region. The random forest classification method was used for land cover interpretation of the four periods of remote sensing images in the study area from 1990 to 2020. Newly calculated regional difference coefficients and social development coefficients were used to construct a dynamic ESV assessment model and to study its changes from overall and sea‒land gradient perspectives. The results showed that construction land, salt pans, aquaculture ponds, and inland water masses expanded rapidly, while cropland, tidal flats, and shallow waters shrank sharply over the past 30 years. The ESV in the study area has continued to decrease from 34.47 billion yuan in 1990 to 25.23 billion yuan in 2020, a total decrease of 9.23 billion yuan. This is mostly due to the encroachment of construction land, salt pans, and aquaculture ponds, and the flow of ecosystem services from high-value land cover types (tidal flats, herbaceous wetlands, and cropland) to medium- and low-value land cover types. Moreover, the land cover transfer and ESVs exhibited a decreasing trend from sea to land, with significant sea-land gradient differences. Land conversion is most common in the 0-15 km coastal zone, mainly from natural wetlands to artificial wetlands, where the ESV also decreases rapidly. Considering the regional differences and social development in this paper, the ESV of small-scale areas can be reasonably evaluated to explore the characteristics and causes of changes in land use and ESVs, which can provide an important reference for ecological protection and land use management in the region.

Revolutionizing the female reproductive system research using microfluidic chip platform.

Comprehensively understanding the female reproductive system is crucial for safeguarding fertility and preventing diseases concerning women's health. With the capacity to simulate the intricate physio- and patho-conditions, and provide diagnostic platforms, microfluidic chips have fundamentally transformed the knowledge and management of female reproductive health, which will ultimately promote the development of more effective assisted reproductive technologies, treatments, and drug screening approaches. This review elucidates diverse microfluidic systems in mimicking the ovary, fallopian tube, uterus, placenta and cervix, and we delve into the culture of follicles and oocytes, gametes' manipulation, cryopreservation, and permeability especially. We investigate the role of microfluidics in endometriosis and hysteromyoma, and explore their applications in ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and cervical cancer. At last, the current status of assisted reproductive technology and integrated microfluidic devices are introduced briefly. Through delineating the multifarious advantages and challenges of the microfluidic technology, we chart a definitive course for future research in the woman health field. As the microfluidic technology continues to evolve and advance, it holds great promise for revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of female reproductive health issues, thus propelling us into a future where we can ultimately optimize the overall wellbeing and health of women everywhere.

Extracellular matrix-derived scaffolds in constructing artificial ovaries for ovarian failure: a systematic methodological review.

STUDY QUESTION: What is the current state-of-the-art methodology assessing decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM)-based artificial ovaries for treating ovarian failure? SUMMARY ANSWER: Preclinical studies have demonstrated that decellularized scaffolds support the growth of ovarian somatic cells and follicles both in vitro and in vivo. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Artificial ovaries are a promising approach for rescuing ovarian function. Decellularization has been applied in bioengineering female reproductive tract tissues. However, decellularization targeting the ovary lacks a comprehensive and in-depth understanding. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception until 20 October 2022 to systematically review all studies in which artificial ovaries were constructed using decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds. The review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: Two authors selected studies independently based on the eligibility criteria. Studies were included if decellularized scaffolds, regardless of their species origin, were seeded with ovarian cells or follicles. Review articles and meeting papers were removed from the search results, as were articles without decellularized scaffolds or recellularization or decellularization protocols, or control groups or ovarian cells. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The search returned a total of 754 publications, and 12 papers were eligible for final analysis. The papers were published between 2015 and 2022 and were most frequently reported as coming from Iran. Detailed information on the decellularization procedure, evaluation method, and preclinical study design was extracted. In particular, we concentrated on the type and duration of detergent reagent, DNA and extracellular matrix detection methods, and the main findings on ovarian function. Decellularized tissues derived from humans and experimental animals were reported. Scaffolds loaded with ovarian cells have produced estrogen and progesterone, though with high variability, and have supported the growth of various follicles. Serious complications have not been reported. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: A meta-analysis could not be performed. Therefore, only data pooling was conducted. Additionally, the quality of some studies was limited mainly due to incomplete description of methods, which impeded specific data extraction and quality analysis. Several studies that used dECM scaffolds were performed or authored by the same research group with a few modifications, which might have biased our evaluation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Overall, the decellularization-based artificial ovary is a promising but experimental choice for substituting insufficient ovaries. A generic and comparable standard should be established for the decellularization protocols, quality implementation, and cytotoxicity controls. Currently, decellularized materials are far from being clinically applicable to artificial ovaries. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 82001498 and 81701438). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This systematic review is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, ID CRD42022338449).

The Feasibility Study of Intraoperative RLN Monitoring Using Cricothyroid Membrane-Inserted Needle Electrodes During Thyroid Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the feasibility, stability, safety, and economy of cricothyroid membrane (CM)-inserted needle electrodes for recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring. STUDY DESIGN: Parallel and controlled study. SETTING: Clinical research center for thyroid diseases of Shaanxi province. METHODS: A total of 64 patients in the needle electrodes group (104 recurrent laryngeal nerves [RLNs]) and 44 patients in the endotracheal tube (ETT)-based electrodes group (80 RLNs) underwent monitored thyroidectomy. The evoked electromyography (EMG) signals detected by the 2 electrodes were recorded and analyzed. The changes in EMG during Berry's ligament traction and tracheal displacement were compared. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative laryngoscopy within 1 week. RESULTS: Both electrodes successfully recorded typical evoked laryngeal EMG waveforms from RLNs. The needle electrodes recorded relatively higher amplitudes and similar latencies compared to ETT-based electrodes. The evoked EMG signals attributed to needle electrodes could accurately predict the function of RLNs with 100% sensitivity and specificity. The reduction in the recorded amplitudes attributed to needle electrodes was higher than that observed with ETT-based electrodes during Berry's ligament traction or trachea displacement, whereas a similar increase in the latencies was recorded in the 2 groups. Particularly, Berry's ligament traction was more likely to lead to EMG amplitude reduction and latency prolongation. The needle electrodes group recorded 2 cases of minor bleeding on the CM. The needle electrodes were more cost-effective than ETT-based electrodes. CONCLUSION: The CM-inserted needle electrodes are feasible, stable, safe, and economical for RLN monitoring, and they provide an alternative novel intraoperative neural monitoring format for thyroid surgeons.

Reclamation and Ecological Service Value Evaluation of Coastal Wetlands Using Multispectral Satellite Imagery.

There are special locational value and natural resources in coastal wetlands. Studying their changes and evaluating their ecosystem service value (ESV) is beneficial for protecting the ecology of coastal wetlands and for maintaining sustainable human development. In this paper, the coastal wetland of Jiaozhou Bay is selected as the research area, an object-oriented method is used to extract shoreline and wetland information, and the coastal wetland reclamation process in Jiaozhou Bay is evaluated. The value equivalent method and market value method are used to evaluate the service value of wetland ecosystems from the perspective of ecological economics. The results show that the reclamation area of Jiaozhou Bay reached 75.2 km2 in 40 years, with nearly 23% of the bay area eroding. Reclamation engineering, estuary engineering, policy implementation and urbanization are the main factors affecting the changes in the Jiaozhou Bay wetland, and the main direction of wetland succession is natural wetlands→artificial wetlands→nonwetlands. Wetland reclamation in Jiaozhou Bay has led to the continuous extension of the coastline to the sea, especially during the 2005-2020 period, and the wetland area has declined in area by 116 km2. The changes in the wetland in the past 40 years have affected the changes in the ESV of Jiaozhou Bay, and there have been different synergistic/trade-off relationships in different periods. This research provides data to support the comprehensive ecological management of coastal areas, which is conducive to maximizing the utilization value of wetlands and promoting wetland protection.

Long non-coding RNA AGAP2-AS1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion through regulating miR-193a-3p/LOXL4 axis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is an aggressive malignancy with highly mortality rate. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) AGAP2-AS1 is an identified oncogene in several types of cancers. However, the role of AGAP2-AS1 in LSCC remains unclear. The expression levels of AGAP2-AS1 in LSCC tissues and cell lines were measured using qRT-PCR. AGAP2-AS1 was knocked down in LSCC cells through transfection with siRNA-AGAP2-AS1. Cell proliferation and invasion were detected using MTT and transwell assays. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to confirm the interaction with AGAP2-AS1 and downstream genes. Our results showed that AGAP2-AS1 expression was remarkably increased in human LSCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of AGAP2-AS1 significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of LSCC cells. In addition, AGAP2-AS1 sponged miR-193a-3p and regulated its expression in LSCC cells. Inhibition of miR-193a-3p reversed the effects of AGAP2-AS1 knockdown on LSCC cells. Furthermore, Lysyl oxidase-like 4 (LOXL4) was a target gene of miR-193a-3p and the role of miR-193a-3p was mediated by LOXL4. In conclusion, these findings suggest that knockdown of AGAP2-AS1 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of LSCC cells through regulating the miR-193a-3p/LOXL4 axis.

Genetic polymorphisms in the PCNXL2 gene are risk factors for thyroid cancer in the Chinese population.

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and the fastest growing cancer worldwide. Thyroid cancer has the largest genetic component of all cancers. Previous genome-wide association studies indicated that genetic polymorphism in PCNXL2 is related to thyroid cancer susceptibility in European populations. This study aims to determine the influence of PCNXL2 polymorphisms on thyroid cancer risk in Chinese individuals. Methods: This case-control study identified four polymorphisms in PCNXL2 among 510 thyroid cancer cases and 509 healthy controls. The associations of PCNXL2 polymorphisms with thyroid cancer susceptibility were detected by calculating odds ratios. Multifactor dimensionality reduction was performed to detect the impact of SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism)-SNP interactions on the risk of thyroid cancer. Results: The study showed that rs10910660 in PCNXL2 was related to thyroid cancer susceptibility. Rs12129938 played a protective role in thyroid cancer susceptibility. Stratification analysis indicated that rs10910660 increased thyroid cancer risk at age >45 years. Rs12129938 enhanced susceptibility to thyroid cancer at age >45 years, while this SNP decreased thyroid cancer risk at age ≤45 years. Rs4649295 was associated with lower susceptibility to thyroid cancer at age ≤45 years. An association was observed between rs6424270 and rs12129938 with decreased susceptibility to thyroid cancer in women. Rs10910660 was related to thyroid cancer risk in men. The combination of rs6424270, rs10910660, rs12129938 and rs4649295 was the best model to predict thyroid cancer. Conclusion: This study suggests that PCNXL2 polymorphisms are risk factors for thyroid cancer in the Chinese population.

Acupuncture Delays Cartilage Degeneration through Upregulating SIRT1 Expression in Rats with Osteoarthritis.

Silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) has been reported to inhibit osteoarthritic gene expression in chondrocytes. Here, efforts in this study were made to unveil the specific role of SIRT1 in the therapy of acupuncture on cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis (OA). Specifically, OA was established by the anterior cruciate ligament transection method in the right knee joint of rats, subsequent to which acupuncture was performed on two acupoints. Injection with shSIRT1 sequence-inserted lentiviruses was conducted to investigate the role of SIRT1 in acupuncture-mediated OA. Morphological changes and cell apoptosis in rat OA cartilages were examined by safranin-O staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, respectively. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-2 in OA rats were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of SIRT1, cartilage matrix degradation-related proteins (matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and ADAMTS5), NF-κB signaling-related markers (p-p65/p65 and p-IκBα/IκBα), and cartilage matrix synthesis-related proteins (collagen II and aggrecan) in the OA cartilage were analyzed by western blot. As a result, acupuncture counteracted OA-associated upregulation of TNF-α, IL-2, cartilage matrix degradation-related proteins, and NF-κB signaling-related markers, morphological damage, apoptosis, SIRT1 downregulation, and loss of cartilage matrix synthesis-related proteins in rat articular cartilages. SIRT1 silencing reversed acupuncture-induced counteractive effects on the aforementioned OA-associated phenomena (except apoptosis, the experiment regarding which under SIRT1 silencing was not performed). Collectively, acupuncture inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis, inflammation, NF-κB signaling activation, and cartilage matrix degradation by upregulating SIRT1 expression to delay OA-associated cartilage degeneration.

Spatial-temporal changes of forests and agricultural lands in Malaysia from 1990 to 2017.

Forests and agricultural lands are the main resources on the earth's surface and important indicators of regional ecological environments. In this paper, Landsat images from 1990 and 2017 were used to extract information on forests in Malaysia based on a remote-sensing classification method. The spatial-temporal changes of forests and agricultural lands in Malaysia between 1990 and 2017 were analyzed. The results showed that the natural forests in Malaysia decreased by 441 Mha, a reduction of 21%. The natural forests were mainly converted into plantations in Peninsular Malaysia and plantations and secondary forests in East Malaysia. The area of agricultural lands in Malaysia increased by 55.7%, in which paddy fields increased by 1.1% and plantations increased by 98.2%. Paddy fields in Peninsular Malaysia are mainly distributed in the north-central coast and the Kelantan Delta. The agricultural land in East Malaysia is dominated by plantations, which are mainly distributed in coastal areas. The predictable areas of possible expansion for paddy fields in Peninsular Malaysia's Kelantan (45.2%) and Kedah (16.8%) areas in the future are large, and in addition, the plantations in Sarawak (44.7%) and Sabah (29.6%) of East Malaysia have large areas for expansion. The contradiction between agricultural development and protecting the ecological environment is increasingly prominent. The demand for agriculture is expected to increase further and result in greater pressures on tropical forests. Governments also need to encourage farmers to carry out existing land development, land recultivation, or cooperative development to improve agricultural efficiency and reduce the damage to natural forests.

K-3-Rh Protects Against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Anti-Apoptotic Effect Through PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway in Rat.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemic stroke is the main cause of nerve damage and brain dysfunction, accompanied by strong brain cell apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside (K-3-rh) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A rat model of cerebral I/R injury was established. The effects of K-3-rh on cerebral infarction size, brain water content and neurological deficits in rats were evaluated. Apoptosis of ischemic brain cells after mouse I/R was observed by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the effect of K-3-rh on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. RESULTS: K-3-rh can improve the neurological deficit score, reduce the infarct volume and brain water content, and inhibit cell apoptosis. In addition, K-3-rh significantly downregulated the expression of Bax and p53 and upregulated the expression of Bcl-2, and the phosphorylation level of Akt. Blockade of PI3K activity by the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin not only reversed the effects of K-3-rh on infarct volume and brain water content but also reversed the expression level of p-Akt. CONCLUSION: K-3-rh had obvious neuroprotective effects on brain I/R injury and neuronal apoptosis, and its mechanism may be related to activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Numerical Study on the Fatigue Limit of Metallic Glasses under Cyclic Tension-Compression Loading.

Numerical study was performed to determine the fatigue limit of metallic glass under tension-compression cyclic loading. A revised free-volume theory which considers the hydrostatic stress was utilized to make the predictions. Systematical simulations showed that a higher strain amplitude is prone to making the sample completely damaged earlier. However, lower strain fluctuations could result in a longer fatigue life. Shear banding evolution history described by free-volume localization could reasonably explain the mechanical responses of different samples. In addition, compressive loading could give rise to a higher stress than that under tensile loading because of hydrostatic stress contribution. In the end, a correlation between fatigue life and applied strain amplitude was plotted which could supply a guidance for designing the engineering application of metallic glass under periodic loading.

Polypyrrole-MXene coated textile-based flexible energy storage device.

Recently, more and more researchers have devoted their efforts to developing flexible electrochemical energy storage devices to meet the development of portable and wearable electronics. Among them, supercapacitors (SCs) have been widely studied due to their high specific capacitance and power density. However, most flexible SCs often use traditional carbon materials and transition metal oxides as electrode materials. In this paper, we used an easy and low-cost way to fabricate a flexible supercapacitor based on a new type of two-dimensional material, transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides (MXenes). By taking full advantage of the hydrophilicity and metal conductivity of MXene nanosheets, an extremely simple "dipping and drying" method was used to achieve conductive textile electrodes with a specific capacitance of 182.70 F g-1, which is higher than reported for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and active carbon. To further improve the capacitive performance of the MXene-based electrode and avoid the poor oxygen oxidation of MXene, polypyrrole (PPy) was electrochemically deposited on the surface of MXene textiles, thus producing a PPy-MXene coated textile electrode with a specific capacitance of 343.20 F g-1. In addition, a symmetrical solid-state supercapacitor based on MXene-PPy textiles was assembled, which achieved an energy density of 1.30 mW h g-1 (power density = 41.1 mW g-1). This work introduces a new type of MXene-based textile SC, which provides a promising candidate for flexible and wearable energy storage devices.

[Endoscope thyroid lobectomy through subclavicular approach].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical applications of endoscopic thyroid lobectomy through subclavicular approach and to summarize the surgical experiences. METHOD: Thirty-five cases were subjected to endoscopic thyroid lobectomy through subclavicular approach. Briefly, operative cavities were established by automatic retractors and the affected lobes were dissected and removed using suction dissectors combined with the harmonic scalpels. The inferior thyroid artery was used as the mark to locate the recurrent laryngeal nerve. RESULT: All the operations achieved successfulness with no complication. 33 out of 35 were intraoperatively diagnosed by frozen-pathology as goiter and the last two cases were diagnosed as papillary thyroid carcinoma. There were no postoperative swelling, numbness or other kinds of uncomfortableness with benign patients and they were satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic thyroid lobectomy through subclavicular approach for thyroid benign lesions has the advantages of minimal invasion, high safety, easy manipulation and good cosmetic outcomes, which are worth of wide applications.

[Bone mineral density changes in coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Two and Triple stages with increasing ages].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the bone mineral density changes in coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Two and Triple stages with increasing ages. METHODS: Chose 70 cases of coal workers pneumoconiosis in Two and Triple stages in Jincheng Coal Mining Group, all of workers were male, of 55-years old-80 years old, an average of 67 years old. 10 years of ages to grouping, whole body bone mineral densities were measured by body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We analyzed the BMD changes bone loss, osteoporosis occurrence. RESULTS: Chest bone, pelvis, spine bone mineral densities of coal workers pneumoconiosis in Two and Triple stages were significantly decreased. We found that the rate of Pelvic BMD decline of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients in Two stage was significantly faster after 65 years of age. In Different age groups of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients in Two and Triple stages, incidence of bone loss and osteoporosis were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: With the age increasing, Coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Two and Triple stages significantly accelerated the speed of the rate of BMD decline. This phenomenon was most obvious in the chest bone, pelvis, and spine.

[Bone mineral density changes in coal workers' pneumoconiosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the bone mineral density changes of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. METHODS: We chose 150 cases of One-Triple coal workers pneumoconiosis in Jincheng Coal Mining Group, all of workers were male, of 55-years old-80 years old, an average of 67 years old. 10 years of age to grouping, Whole body bone mineral density and T value were measured by body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We analyzed the BMD changes bone loss, osteoporosis occurrence. RESULTS: The BMD of six parts were not declined obviously in One stage of coal workers' pneumoconiosis; the BMD of Chest bone, pelvis and spine were declined obviously in two stage of coal workers' pneumoconiosis; the BMD of six parts were declined obviously in Triple stage of coal workers' pneumoconiosis; The occurrence rate of bone loss was significantly higher in Two and Triple coal workers pneumoconiosis. The occurrence rate of osteoporosis was significantly higher in Triple coal workers pneumoconiosis. CONCLUSION: With the increase in the severity of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, the BMD of six parts were declined, The occurrence rate of bone loss osteoporosis was significantly higher.

KDR expression is associated with the stage and cigarette smoking of the patients with lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) is one of the molecular targets used in cancer therapy. We studied the KDR expression characteristics and the relationship with the clinical parameters of the patients with lung cancer, to give the basic evidence and clue for tailoring therapy. METHODS: Reverse transcriptase and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the KDR mRNA expression levels in 222 tissue samples (106 tumor tissues, 106 matched normal tissues obtained from the same patients with lung cancer, and 10 normal lung specimens from individuals without lung cancer). The KDR mRNA expression level and clinical parameters were analyzed by paired-sample t test, ANOVA and linear regression, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were used for survival analysis. Expression of KDR protein was also examined immunohistochemically in 15 tumor samples and 15 matched normal lung specimens. RESULTS: The KDR mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in normal tissues (mean 4.50 +/- 0.51) than that in the carcinoma tissues (mean 4.12 +/- 0.50, P < 0.0005). KDR expression in tumor tissues is associated with the histological status, tumor stage, cigarette smoking, and N stage of the patients with lung cancer (P < 0.05) analyzed by using ANOVA methods. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor stages and cigarette smoking status were the two most important independent predictors for the KDR expression levels in tumor tissues (R = 0.415, R (2) = 0.172, F = 10.694, P < 0.0005). Tumors with KDR mRNA expression levels above the mean had a shorter survival (466 +/- 313 days) than did patients with KDR expression levels below the mean (671 +/- 264 days), whereas Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test showed no significant difference in the overall survival between the patients (P = 0.2055). All the 15 normal lung tissues detected showed scale 2 KDR immunostaining. The intensity of immunostaining for KDR in tumor specimens varied from negative (scale 0) to strongest (scale 3) staining. CONCLUSIONS: Locally advanced and non-cigarette smoking patients with lung cancer may be the two valuable surrogate markers for KDR mRNA higher levels. Non-squamous lung cancer, N 2 stage may be the secondary markers for that. The KDR expression level in normal lung tissue is stable, but varied in tumor tissues. Targeting KDR therapy in lung cancer might considerate these clinical and KDR expression information. Further confirmation study must be needed.