Climate-adaptive crop distribution can feed food demand, improve water scarcity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Optimizing crop distribution stands as a pivotal approach to climate change adaption, enhancing crop production sustainability, and has been recognized for its immense potential in ensuring food security while minimizing environmental impacts. Here, we developed a climate-adaptive framework to optimize the distribution of staple crops (i.e., wheat, maize, and rice) to meet the multi-dimensional needs of crop production in China. The framework considers the feasibility of the multiple cropping systems (harvesting more than once on a cropland a year) and adopts a multi-dimensional approach, incorporating goals related to crop production, water consumption, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By optimizing, the total irrigated area of three crops would decrease by 7.7 % accompanied by a substantial 69.8 % increase in rain-fed areas compared to the baseline in 2010. This optimized strategy resulted in a notable 10.0 % reduction in total GHG emissions and a 13.1 % decrease in irrigation water consumption while maintaining consistent crop production levels. In 2030, maintaining the existing crop distribution and relying solely on yield growth would lead to a significant maize production shortfall of 27.0 %, highlighting a looming challenge. To address this concern, strategic adjustments were made by reducing irrigated areas for wheat, rice, and maize by 2.3 %, 12.8 %, and 6.1 %, respectively, while simultaneously augmenting rain-fed areas for wheat and maize by 120.2 % and 55.9 %, respectively. These modifications ensure that production demands for all three crops are met, while yielding a 6.9 % reduction in GHG emissions and a 15.1 % reduction in irrigation water consumption. This optimization strategy offers a promising solution to alleviate severe water scarcity issues and secure a sustainable agricultural future, effectively adapting to evolving crop production demands in China.

The heat stress during anthesis and the grain-filling period of spring maize in Northeast China is projected to increase toward the mid-21st century.

BACKGROUND: Against the background of global warming, heat stress has become more frequent, which adversely affects the growth and development of spring maize plants in Northeast China. To adapt the regional maize production to climate change, it is imperative to understand the spatio-temporal characteristics of heat stress. In the present study, we analyzed three of the indices for heat stress, including the number of heat stress days, heating degree days (HDD, the total heat degree-days during critical stages), and the percentage of stations with heat stress. RESULTS: From 1981 to 2019, the number of heat stress days varied greatly among the study years, ranging from 0 to 14 and 27 days, respectively. The average HDD was 7.8 and 5.0 °C day from 1981 to 2000, respectively, and the main hot-spots of heat stress occurred in the southwest regions. Moreover, compared with 1981-2000, the region of HDD during anthesis higher than 10 °C day in 2041-2060 under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios increased by 9.1-50.1% and 0.1-28.6%. The average HDD during the critical stages from 2041 to 2060 increased under the SSP5-8.5 climate scenario, being 1.5 times higher than that during 1981-2000. HDD during maize anthesis and the grain-filling period showed an overall increasing trend with years. About 19% and 58% of the study locations showed heat stress during the past 39 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Heat stress during anthesis and the grain-filling period for spring maize in Northeast China is projected to increase toward the mid-21st century. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Photolysis frequency of nitrophenols derived from ambient measurements.

Nitrophenols, a class of important intermediate products from the oxidation of aromatics, can participate in photochemistry and influence the atmospheric oxidative capacity. However, the reported photolysis frequencies of nitrophenols show considerable discrepancies. Here, measurements of nitrophenol, and methyl nitrophenol using a proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) at both urban and regional sites in southern China are used to constrain photolysis frequencies of nitrophenols. Considerable concentrations with a campaign average of 58 ± 32 ppt for nitrophenol and 97 ± 59 ppt for methyl nitrophenol were observed at the regional site. Based on the in-situ measurement dataset, a steady-state calculation was performed along with a zero-dimensional box model to analyze the budgets of nitrophenols. The result indicates that both primary emission and photolysis have significant impacts on nitrophenols. Primary emission contributes up to 88 % of the total nitrophenols production while photolysis accounts for up to 98 % of the total removal rate. The dominant sink of nitrophenols is photolysis with a rate of about 3.5 % ± 1.3 % of jNO2 for nitrophenol and 2.4 % ± 1.0 % of jNO2 for methyl nitrophenol. The results of this study suggest that using advanced mass spectrometry to accurately measure ambient nitrophenols, supplemented by an observation-based box model for budget analysis, provides an important indication for determining photolysis rate constants of nitrophenols.

Validation of a modified Caprini risk assessment model in lung cancer patients undergoing surgery: Results of a multicenter cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lung cancer patients slated for surgery are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Precise risk assessment is necessary for providing proper thromboprophylaxis and reducing morbidity and mortality of VTE. METHODS: A multicenter, observational, cross-sectional cohort study, involving patients with primary lung cancer undergoing surgery, was carried out from August 2016 to December 2019. All patients were assessed according to the Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) and a modified scoring system incorporating elevated D-dimer and new stratification of surgical time. The endpoint was confirmed VTE or patient discharge. RESULTS: Out of 1205 patients, 87 (7.2%) were diagnosed with VTE. The area under the curve of modified scores for VTE was 0.759, which was larger than that of the original one (0.589) (p < 0.05). By modified Caprini scoring system, a higher score was associated with increased VTE risk (odds ratio [OR], 1.345; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.197-1.512; p < 0.001), and there was an increased OR of 4.090 (95% CI, 2.472-6.768, p < 0.001) for VTE in high-risk category patients. CONCLUSION: Modified Caprini RAM showed an improved prediction of high-risk patients with an elevated likelihood of postoperative VTE compared to the original one.

A large-scale genome-wide association analysis reveals QTL and candidate genes for intramuscular fat content in Duroc pigs.

This study aimed at identifying genomic regions and genes associated with intramuscular fat content (IMF) in Duroc pigs using a weighted single-step GWAS. Data from 3912 pigs, of which 3770 animals were genotyped with GeneSeek Porcine 50K Bead chip, were used for the association analysis. We identified 19 genomic regions that each explained >1% of the additive genetic variance associated with IMF. Notably, a consistent QTL on SSC7 (117.42-117.92 Mb) was confirmed, explaining 3.70% of the additive genetic variance, and two genes, BDKRB2 and ATG2B, were highlighted as promising candidates for IMF. Two QTL (SSC7, 94.19-94.64 Mb; SSC14, 123.25-123.75 Mb), which harbored MED6 and MAP3K9 genes and TCF7L2 gene respectively, were newly identified as associated with IMF. In conclusion, we identified a consistent QTL and additional genomic regions and genes that contributed to the genetic variance of IMF using a large-scale sample size of genotyped pigs and genealogical information.

Knockout of the NONO Gene Inhibits Neointima Formation in a Mouse Model of Vascular Injury.

[Figure: see text].

Highly expressed lncRNA FOXD3-AS1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression via regulating miR-127-3p/mediator complex subunit 28 axis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) FOXD3 antisense RNA 1 (FOXD3-AS1) in lung cancer tissues and to explore its underlying mechanisms in mediating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gene expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR; lung cancer cell proliferation and invasion were determined by in vitro functional assays; protein levels were determined by Western blot assay; xenograft nude mice model was used to evaluate the in vivo tumor growth of lung cancer cells; Luciferase reporter assay determined the interactions among FOXD3-AS1, miR-127-3p, and mediator complex subunit 28 (MED28). RESULTS: Data mining and analysis of the clinical sample showed that FOXD3-AS1 expression was significantly up-regulated in lung cancer tissues. In vitro functional assays demonstrated that FOXD3-AS1 overexpression promoted NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion, while FOXD3-AS1 knockdown exerted tumor-suppressive effects on NSCLC cells. Moreover, FOXD3-AS1 interacted with miR-127-3p by acting as a competing endogenous RNA to suppress miR-127-3p expression, while miR-127-3p repressed MED28 expression by targeting MED28 3' untranslated region in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, the oncogenic effects of FOXD3-AS1 overexpression were significantly attenuated by miR-127-3p overexpression and MED28 knockdown in NSCLC cells. In the xenograft mice model, FOXD3-AS1 knockdown suppressed in vivo tumor growth of A549 cells, and also up-regulated miR-127-3p expression and repressed MED28 expression in the xenograft tumors. In the clinical aspect, the downregulation of miR-127-3p and up-regulation of MED28 were respectively detected in lung cancer tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provided new evidence that the FOXD3-AS1 regulated NSCLC progression via targeting the miR-127-3p/MED28 axis.

Management strategies in a thoracic surgery ward during COVID-19 pandemic: Experience from West China Hospital.

The coronavirus disease 2019 was first reported in Wuhan in December 2019 and then spread rapidly throughout the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 a pandemic. In response to the pandemic, the management division of West China Hospital oversaw the implementation of hospital-wide emergency measures. In accordance with these measures, the hospital's thoracic surgery ward implemented a new management system by reformulating staff training plans, patient admission procedures, and other systems for managing the ward and protecting perioperative patients. Overall, the ward was successful in restoring normal working order, protecting all staff from occupational exposures, and ensuring the safety of inpatients and their families.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through regulating lactate signaling cascade in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of dexmedetomidine (Dex) in lactate signaling cascade and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The left anterior descending of the coronary artery was ligatured for 30 min and then reperfused for 6 h to induce myocardial I/R injury in mice. Heart samples were collected and the levels of lactate, SOD and MDA were measured. Infarct size and myocardium were stained with triphenyltetrazolium chloride and TUNEL, respectively. In addition, the expression levels of MCT1, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-9 and -3 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The myocardial infarct size, lactate and MDA levels of the I/R group were significantly increased, whereas the SOD activity was decreased. However, Dex significantly reduced the myocardial infarct size, as well as lactate and MDA levels in contrast to the I/R group. Meanwhile, the SOD activity was remarkably increased. The expression levels of MCT1, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-9 and -3 were significantly increased in the I/R group. In addition, Dex administration further increased the expression of MCT1, whereas decreased the expressions of cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-9 and -3 in contrast to the I/R group. CONCLUSIONS: Dex elevated the expression of mitochondrial MCT1 and inhibited oxidative stress and the activation of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in mice. This indicated that Dex attenuated myocardial I/R injury by regulating lactate signaling cascade.

[Epidemiological characteristics of imported acute infectious diseases in the border areas of Yunnan province, 2008-2017].

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of imported acute infectious diseases between 2008 and 2017 in the border areas of Yunnan province. Methods: All the cases occurred between January 2008 and December 2017 and related information was from the Chinese CDC infectious disease report information management system, according to definition of imported cases diagnosed by clinicians. Epidemiological characteristics of the imported cases of related information were gathered. Results: A total of 13 157 imported acute infectious diseases were reported from the border areas of Yunnan province, which accounted for 6.03% (13 157/218 284) of the total number of acute infectious diseases in the same areas from 2008 to 2017. Malaria, dengue fever and hand-foot-mouth disease were accounted for 56.05% (7 374/13 157), 21.82% (2 871/13 157) and 4.62% (608/13 157), of all the case, respectively. The number of imported malaria cases decreased annually. However, dengue fever showed a sharp increase. Peaks of the epidemics appeared as: May for malaria and October for dengue fever. Male patients were accounting for the majority (73.22%, 9 634/13 157), so as the patients with Chinese nationality (54.91%, 7 225/13 157). The age distribution appeared as: 67.12% (8 829/13 157) for the 15-44 year olds and 19.26% (2 535/13 157) were children below 14 years of age. Proportions of occupation appeared as: farmers (45.23%, 5 596/13 157), migrant workers (21.30%, 2 802/13 157) and children living at home (11.12%, 1 463/13 157). Most of the imported cases were coming from Myanmar and appearing in the following three counties: Ruili city, Tengchong city, and Yingjiang of Yunnan province. Cities/counties that with number of imported cases more than 10% of the local reported cases, would include Ruili city, Tengchong city, Zhenkang county and Mangshi of Yunnan province. Conclusions: Imported acute infectious disease was a serious public health problem in Yunnan province, 2008-2017. The main imported acute infectious diseases were malaria, dengue fever and hand-foot-mouth disease. The majority imported cases were accounting for Chinese, male, young adults and farmers. It is also important for immigration workers to carry out surveillance, prevention and control programs on infectious diseases when working in neighboring countries.

The status quo of postoperative pain management in patients with pulmonary disease after discharge / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To investigate the current status of outpatient pain management in patients with pulmonary disease after surgery by WeChat and to provide a basis for postoperative pain management. Methods A total of 449 patients who underwent thoracic surgery in our hospital from December 2017 to May 2018 were enrolled, including 156 males and 293 females with an average age of 22-83 (55.54±11.17) years. Brief Pain Inventory was adopted for pain assessment in 24-48 hours after discharge and 24 hours after removal of from the wound. Results Totally 98.22% of the patients reported that they suffered from pain in 24-48 h after discharge, most pain position was still at drainage port (45.21%), the overall pain score was 2.75 (2.00, 3.25) points, and 82.85% of patients adopted physical methods to relieve pain. After removal of stitches at the drainage port, 79.29% of the patients suffered from pain, the pain site was mainly at the drainage port (47.88%), and the overall pain score was 1.75 (1.25, 2.25) points, and 73.94% of patients adopted physical methods to relieve pain. The score of the overall influence degree of pain on patients was 2.29 (1.86, 2.86) points and 1.86 (1.29, 2.43) points, while pain had the greatest influence on sleep and mood. The scores were 4.00 (3.00, 5.00) points, 3.00 (2.00, 4.00) points and 2.00 (1.00, 4.00) points, 3.00 (2.00, 4.00) points, respectively. Conclusion Under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery, the overall pain level of patients with pulmonary disease after discharge is mild pain, but the application rate of drug analgesia in patients is low. The overall effect of pain on postoperative patients with lung cancer is low, but it has a great impact on sleep and mood. Medical staff should strengthen the pain education for patients in order to improve their pain self-management ability.

Status quo and correlation between readiness for discharge and quality of discharge teaching in lung cancer patients based on enhanced recovery after surgery / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To explore the current situation of the readiness for hospital discharge and the quality of discharge teaching in lung cancer patients based on enhanced recovery after surgery, and to analyze their correlation. Methods    We conducted a cross-sectional study and 141 postoperative patients with lung cancer in our hospital from July to August 2018 were investigated by general information questionnaire, readiness for hospital discharge scale and quality of discharge teaching scale. There were 65 males and 76 females at age of 18-85 (55.35±12.15) years. Results    Totally 88.65% of postoperative patients with lung cancer reported that they were ready for discharge, and the total score of readiness for hospital discharge was 78.36±16.48, and the total score of quality of discharge teaching was 90.94±18.62. There was a positive correlation between the readiness for hospital discharge and the quality of discharge teaching in postoperative patients with lung cancer (r=0.57, P<0.01). Conclusion    The readiness for hospital discharge of postoperative patients with lung cancer keeps in medium level, while the quality of discharge teaching is good, and the readiness for hospital discharge is positively correlated with the quality of discharge teaching. Medical staff should pay more attention to the cognitive level of lung cancer patients' disease-related information and their physical function recovery, and enrich the discharge guidance content, in order to improve the readiness of postoperative patients with lung cancer.

Molecular mechanisms underlying catalytic activity of delta 6 desaturase from Glossomastix chrysoplasta and Thalassiosira pseudonana.

Delta 6 desaturase (FADS2) is a critical bifunctional enzyme required for PUFA biosynthesis. In some organisms, FADS2s have high substrate specificity, whereas in others, they have high catalytic activity. Previously, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms underlying high FADS2 substrate specificity; in this study, we assessed those underlying the high catalytic activity of FADS2s from Glossomastix chrysoplasta and Thalassiosira pseudonana To understand the structural basis of this catalytic activity, GcFADS2 and TpFADS2 sequences were divided into nine sections, and a domain-swapping approach was applied to examine the role of each section in facilitating the catalytic activity of the overall protein. The results revealed two regions essential to this process: one that extends from the end of the fourth to the beginning of the fifth cytoplasmic transmembrane domain, and another that includes the C-terminal region that occurs after the sixth cytoplasmic transmembrane domain. Based on the domain-swapping analyses, the amino acid residues at ten sites were identified to differ between the GcFADS2 and TpFADS2 sequences, and therefore further analyzed by site-directed mutagenesis. T302V, S322A, Y375F, and M384S/M385 substitutions in TpFADS2 significantly affected FADS2 catalytic efficiency. This study offers a solid basis for in-depth understanding of catalytic efficiency of FADS2.

Status quo of enhanced recovery after surgery in different regional thoracic surgery in the mainland of China / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To analyze the current status and difficulties of ERAS applicated in thoracic surgery in different regional hospitals. Methods A total of 773 valid questionnaires were collected during the First West China Forum on Chest ERAS and analyzed by geographical distribution. The content of the questionnaire was divided into two parts, including the respondents’ institute and personal information, as well as 10 questions about ERAS. Results There were 83.57%, 83.82%, 89.58%, 93.75%, 94.74% and 92.86% of surgeons and nurses in Sichuan province, municipalities, the eastern, western, southern and northern respectively who believed that ERAS in all surgeries should be used. There were 61.84%, 60.29%, 65.97%, 81.25%, 73.68% and 75.00% of surgeons and nurses who thought that the concept of ERAS was more in the theory than in the practice; 77.99%, 80.88%, 74.31%, 78.13%, 83.33%and 69.64% of respondents agreed that average hospital stay, patients’ experience and social satisfaction should be the evaluation standard of ERAS practice while 58.50%, 63.24%, 54.86%, 62.50%, 70.18% and 58.93% of respondents believed that immature procedure, lack of consensus and specifications and insecurity for doctors were the reasons for poor compliance of ERAS; 63.23%, 67.65%, 59.72%, 68.75%, 72.81% and 67.86% of respondents thought that the best team of ERAS should be based on the combination of subject integration, surgery orientation and surgeon-nurse teamwork; 43.73%, 44.12%, 43.75%, 46.88%, 59.65% and 41.07% of respondents thought that multidisciplinary cooperation, multi-modality conducted and surgical programming should be the best way for ERAS implementation; 72.98%, 69.12%, 62.50%, 65.63%, 80.70% and 55.36% of responders agreed that the ERAS forum or conference should include the norms and consensus, analysis and implementation of projects and the status and progress of ERAS. Conclusion There are more consistent views on the clinical application of ERAS in all regions. The subject integration, surgeon-nurse teamwork and multidisciplinary, multi-modality cooperation are the best team and best way for ERAS program implementation.

A study on the status quo and its influencing factors of depression and anxiety in postoperative patients with thoracic neoplasms / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the status quo and influencing factors of depression and anxiety in postoperative patients with thoracic neoplasms. Methods    The general information questionnaire and Huaxi emotional-distress index scale (HEI) were adopted to survey 70 patients after surgery of thoracic neoplasms at the thoracic nursing outpatients from September to November 2016. There were 43 males and 27 females with age of 18-78 (56.20±11.34) years. Results    The prevalence rate of depression and anxiety among postoperative patients with thoracic neoplasms was 50.0%, and moderate to severe negative emotions predominated. There was significant difference in educational levels, postoperative hospitalization and postoperative complications (P<0.05), while no significant difference in age, gender, disease types, complicated diseases, surgical procedures, pathological stages and hospitalization expenditures between patients with unhealthy emotions and normal emotions (P>0.05). Conclusion    There is a high prevalence rate of negative emotion among postoperative patients with thoracic neoplasms. Educational levels, postoperative hospitalization and postoperative complications are important factors for negative emotion.

[Current Status of Prevention and Nursing on Venous Thromboembolism among Perioperative Patients with Lung Cancer].

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the status of prevention and nursing on venous thromboembolism (VTE) among perioperative patients with lung cancer in Chinese hospital. METHODS: A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate 108 head nurses from tertiary hospitals during the first West China Forum on Chest Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). RESULTS: (1) Current status of assessment tools and prevention guidelines: 97.22% of the hospitals have carried out VTE risk assessments for surgical patients with lung cancer, 67.59% of the hospitals have established the nursing prevention specifications of VTE. (2) Current status of screening, precaution and follow-up: 56.48% of the hospitals have taken different approach to screen VTE for lung cancer patients in pre-operative period. 90.74% of the hospitals and 52.78% of the hospitals had VTE prophylaxis for hospitalized and discharged patients, but only 17.59% of hospitals were followed up on the incidence of VTE for discharged patients. (3) There was no statistically significant difference in VTE prevention between different type hospitals (P>0.05). But, all patients in the specialist hospital have been fully implemented on VTE risk assessment and VTE prevention (100.00%). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical staff have already realized the importance of VTE prevention, and the VTE prevention in perioperative patients with lung cancer has received extensive attention. But there is still lack of effective risk assessment tools and standardized guidelines of VTE prevention.

Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction is often associated with coexistent abnormal esophageal body motility and abnormal bolus transit.

Currently, the diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders is in part based upon a hierarchical algorithm in which abnormalities of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is prioritized. An important metric in evaluating the EGJ is the integrated relaxation pressure (IRP). Patients who do not have achalasia but are found to have an elevated IRP are diagnosed with EGJ outflow obstruction. It has been our observation that a subset of these patients also has a second named motility disorder and may also have abnormal bolus transit. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of abnormal body motility and or abnormal bolus movement in patients with EGJ outflow obstruction. Further, in an effort to evaluate the potential clinical value in measuring bolus transit as a complement to esophageal manometry, specifically in patients with EGJ outflow obstruction, we analyzed the presenting symptoms of these patients. A total of 807 patients with a mean age of 53 years completed esophageal function testing with impedance monitoring and high-resolution manometry between January 2012 and October 2016. There were 74 patients with achalasia who were excluded from the study. Of the remaining 733 patients, 138 (19%) had an elevated IRP and were given a diagnosis of EGJ outflow obstruction. Among these patients, 56 (40%) were diagnosed with an abnormal motility pattern to liquids (ineffective esophageal motility = 28, distal esophageal spasm = 19, Jackhammer = 6), of which 44 (76%) had abnormal bolus transit to liquids, viscous, or both. In contrast, there were 82 patients with EGJ outflow obstruction and normal esophageal motility, of which 33 (40%) had abnormal bolus transit. Patients with preserved esophageal motility and EGJ outflow obstruction were then evaluated. Of the 733 patients, 299 (40%) had intact esophageal motility. Of the 299 patients with normal esophageal motility, 56 patients had an elevated IRP, of which 16 (28%) had abnormal bolus transit. There were 243 (33%) patients with intact esophageal motility and normal IRP. Of these, 56 (23%) patients had abnormal bolus transit. Among patients with abnormal bolus transit, the two most commonly presenting symptoms were dysphagia and heartburn. A substantial percentage of patients with EGJ outflow obstruction have abnormal esophageal body motility and or abnormal bolus transit. The clinical implications of EGJ outflow obstruction need to be further elucidated as current criteria do not allow for the description of other abnormalities in esophageal motility and bolus transit among patients who are given the diagnosis of EGJ outflow obstruction.

Investigation of depression and anxiety emotion in perioperative patients with thoracic neoplasms / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To understand the status quo of depression and anxiety emotion in perioperative patients with thoracic neoplasms under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery. Methods    Huaxi emotional-distress index scale (HEI) was adopted to investigate the mental status of 195 patients with thoracic neoplasms in Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, and the nursing outpatients between September and November in 2016. There were 118 males and 77 females at age of 17–80 (55.72±12.66) years. Results    There was significant difference in mental health level between the preoperative patients and the postoperative patients (3.70±3.41 vs. 11.01±9.78, P<0.001). The incidence of depression and anxiety emotion in the postoperative patients was significantly higher than that in the preoperative patients (50.00% vs. 9.60%, P<0.001). Besides, there was significant difference of depression and anxiety degree between the preoperative patients and postoperative patients (P<0.001). Moderate to severe depression and anxiety were mostly found in the postoperative patients while mild to moderate depression and anxiety in the preoperative patients. Conclusion    Patients with thoracic neoplasms have much emotional obstacle in perioperative period. The incidence and severity degree of depression and anxiety emotion in postoperative patients are higher than those in preoperative patients.

Male hormonal contraception: suppression of spermatogenesis by injectable testosterone undecanoate alone or with levonorgestrel implants in chinese men.

Monthly injections of testosterone undecanoate (TU) act as a male contraceptive by reversibly suppressing spermatogenesis to azoospermia or severe oligoazoospermia in 95% of Chinese men. In 5% of Chinese men, however, monthly TU administered alone fails to suppress spermatogenesis into contraceptive ranges, or sperm "rebound," leading to occurrences of pregnancy during treatment. Since combinations of progestins and androgens are associated with greater degrees of sperm suppression in white men, we hypothesized that the combination of TU and the progestin levonorgestrel (LNG) would result in improved spermatogenic suppression in Chinese men. Sixty-two healthy Chinese men were randomly assigned to one of the following 3 regimens: group I (n = 21) received 4 LNG rods (75 mg each), which were followed 4 weeks later by 500 mg of TU by intra-muscular (IM) injection every 8 weeks for 24 weeks; group II (n = 20) received 4 LNG implants, which were followed 4 weeks later by 1000 mg of TU by IM injection every 8 weeks for 24 weeks; and group III (n = 21) received TU 1000 mg by IM injection every 8 weeks for 24 weeks. Sperm counts, serum testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and LNG were measured every 2 weeks before, during, and after treatment. During treatment, group II demonstrated a trend toward a greater attainment of azoospermia than groups I and III (90% vs 62% [group I] vs 67% [group III]; P =.09). Attainments of either azoospermia or oligozoospermia (sperm density, <3 x 10(6)/mL) were 95%, 100%, and 86% for groups I, II, and III, respectively (P >.05 for comparisons between groups). Spermatogenesis in all subjects returned to the normal range after the implants were removed. No serious adverse events and no significant changes in serum chemistry occurred during the study. These results demonstrate that the combination of IM injections of high-dose TU every 2 months and LNG implants is associated with marked suppression of spermatogenesis in Chinese men. The combination of high-dose TU every 2 months and LNG implants is a promising candidate for future large-scale efficacy studies of hormonal male contraception in Chinese men.