The effect and safety assessment of monitoring ethanol concentration in exhaled breath combined with intelligent control of renal pelvic pressure on the absorption of perfusion fluid during flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy.

PURPOSE: Previously, we designed a ureteral access sheath with the capability of renal pelvic pressure (RPP) measurement and a medical perfusion and aspiration platform, allowing for the intelligent control of RPP. However, the effect of different RPP levels on perfusion fluid absorption remains unclear. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of exhaled ethanol concentration monitoring and intelligent pressure control on perfusion fluid absorption during flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy. METHODS: Eighty patients scheduled for flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy were randomly divided into four groups. In groups A, B, and C, the RPPs were set at 0, - 5, and - 10 mmHg, respectively. Group D was regarded as the controls with unfixed RPP. Isotonic saline containing 1% ethanol was used as the irrigation fluid, with an average irrigation flow rate of 100 mL/min. The primary outcome of this study was the absorption of perfusion fluid that was calculated based on the exhaled ethanol concentration. The secondary outcomes included duration of operation and amounts of perfusion fluid used. Postoperative complications, pre- and postoperative renal function, infection markers, and blood gas analysis were also recorded for safety assessment. RESULTS: In all, 76 patients were involved in this study, whose demographic characteristics and preoperative conditions were comparable among groups. Under the same perfusion flow rate, the groups with fixed RPP exhibited reduced absorption of perfusion fluid, duration of operation, and perfusion volume. In particular, the lowest values were observed in group C (RPP = - 10 mmHg). In contrast to the unfixed RPP group, no considerable difference were observed in levels of BUN, Scr, WBC, CRP, and blood gas values among the fixed RPP groups. Moreover, postoperative complications showed no significant difference among groups. CONCLUSION: In flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy, the groups with fixed RPP had less absorption of perfusion fluid and perfusion volume, shorter duration of surgery, and higher safety than the unfixed group.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking to scientifically validate the potential mechanism of Lonicerae japonicae flos in the clinical treatment of COVID-19.

Using network pharmacology and molecular docking, we predicted the potential mechanisms of Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJF) therapy for COVID-19. A total of 493 component-related targets and 6,233 COVID-19-related genes were identified, and 267 core genes with overlapping of the two types of genes were identified. The target AKT1, CASP3, IL1B, IL6, PTGS2, TNF and JUN were the hub genes in PPI network according to MCODE score. Component-Target analysis showed the close relationship between targets and components. The results of functional enrichment analyses revealed that LJF exerted pharmacological effects on COVID-19 by regulating IL-17 signalling pathway, TNF signalling pathway, AGE-RAGE signalling pathway in diabetic complications, and Toll-like receptor signalling pathway. Finally, molecular docking confirmed a strong binding affinity between the 7 main active components with the hub genes. The findings suggested that beta-sitosterol, kaempferol and luteolin might be the promising leading components due to their good molecular docking scores.

miR-301b and NR3C2 co-regulate cells malignant properties and have the potential to be independent prognostic factors in breast cancer.

This study intends to address the function of miR-301b/nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 2 (NR3C2) in breast cancer. The Cancer Genome Atlas database was processed to investigate the expression of miR-301b/NR3C2 in breast cancer samples, as well as the relationship between their expression and the prognosis of the patients. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine whether miR-301b/NR3C2 was an independent predictor of the patient's prognosis. Associations between miR-301b and NR3C2 were analyzed by prediction website, dual-luciferase assay, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses were implemented to detect gene expression. The relevant biological characteristics of MCF7 and BCAP-37 cells were tested by cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and transwell assays. Lower expression of NR3C2, which was closely related to the bad prognosis of breast cancer patients, was presented in breast cancer samples and can be used as an independent predictor. miR-301b, as an upstream regulator of NR3C2, was highly expressed in breast cancer samples and can be used as an independent predictor as well. Notably, a higher level of miR-301b and lower level of NR3C2 were related to the reduced overall survival in patients with breast cancer. The proliferative and migratory behaviors of cells were elevated or blocked after overexpression of miR-301b or NR3C2, respectively. However, the above situation was attenuated after together upregulation of miR-301b and NR3C2. The present data afforded evidence that miR-301b may be a tumor-promoting miRNA in breast cancer, and that miR-301b/NR3C2 axis mediated tumor development from cell proliferation and migration.

Measurement of human CYP1A2 induction by inhalation exposure to benzo(a)pyrene based on in vivo isotope breath method.

Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) is an enzyme involved in the metabolic activation of certain carcinogens, and inducible by toxic substrates. To date, few studies have investigated in vivo CYP1A2 induction in humans and its relationship to polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Non-smoking healthy male coke-oven workers (n = 30) were recruited as 'exposure' group, and non-smoking healthy office workers in the same city (n = 10) were selected as 'control' group, to test whether high inhalation exposure to PAHs can induce CYP1A2 activity in human livers. Significantly higher inhalation exposure of PAHs were found among the exposure group compared to the control. Inhalation BaP exposure concentration in the exposure group was more than 30 times higher than the control group (p < 0.001). However, the exposure group did not exhale significant higher levels of (13)CO2/(12)CO2 in breath samples (p = 0.81), and no significant relationship was found between the inhaled BaP concentration and the (13)CO2/(12)CO2 ratio (p = 0.91). A significant association was found between the (13)CO2/(12)CO2 exhalation and dietary BaP intake level. Hepatic CYP1A2 activity/induction level was not effected by inhaled BaP but was altered by ingestion of BaP.

Dietary intake polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and associated cancer risk in a cohort of Chinese urban adults: Inter- and intra-individual variability.

Dietary intake is one of the major exposure pathways of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially in Chinese people because foods are often prepared with grilling and/or frying that would produce high levels of PAHs. In this paper, we assessed daily dietary intakes (DDI) of PAHs, using a "duplicate plate method", among 100 Chinese urban residents. The DDI of benzo(a)pyrene ranged from 0.06 µg per day to 13.5 µg per day with a median of 0.69 µg per day, varying largely across subjects. The median Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) attributable to PAH dietary intake was 6.65 × 10(-5) (4.41 × 10(-5) to 1.02 × 10(-4) as inter-quartile range). The contribution of several high-PAH containing foods like barbecued, smoked or deep-fried meats to the overall DDIs was about 13%. The use of raw foods may underestimate dietary intake of PAHs and associated exposure risk considerably. Results from foods sampled in different seasons suggested that seasonal variability within an individual may contribute notably to overall variability measured in a population and more future studies with longer-term investigation on food ingestion and pollutant exposure are needed. The study indicates that measuring actually consumed foods is more appropriate for dietary intake exposure assessment, and intra-individual variance should be taken into account during study design and data analysis.

Evaluation of atmospheric sources of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs around a steel industrial complex in northeast China using passive air samplers.

The concern about emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from steel industrial parks has increased in the past decades. In this study, polyurethane foam (PUF)-disk based passive air samples were collected in and around a big steel industrial park of Anshan, Northeast China from June 2008 to March 2009. The levels, seasonal variations and potential sources of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs in the atmosphere around the steel industrial complex were investigated, and potential contribution of these three groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from iron and steel production was also assessed. The air concentrations of ∑(17)PCDD/Fs (summer: 0.02-2.77 pg m(-3); winter: 0.20-9.79 pg m(-3)), ∑(19)PCBs (summer: 23.5-155.8 pg m(-3); winter: 14.6-81.3 pg m(-3)) and ∑(13)PBDEs (summer: 2.91-10.7 pg m(-3); winter: 1.10-3.89 pg m(-3)) in this targeted industrial park were relatively low in comparison to other studies, which implied that the industrial activities of iron and steel had not resulted in serious contamination to the ambient air in this area. On the whole, the air concentrations of PCDD/Fs in winter were higher than those of summer, whereas the concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs showed opposite trends. The result from principal component analysis indicated that coal combustion might be the main contributor of PCDD/F sources in this area.

[Case study of detecting and maintenance of AB 7300PCR].

The AB 7300 Real-time PCR Systems in our hospital have been detected malfunction for three times in a short term. The detection indicated the major reason for the malfunction attributed to the fuse of the solder of the COVER at the same position with the serial number 4344490 D1. This article explicitly introduces how to detect and maintain this equipment. It serves as a good reference for colleagues. Meanwhile the author raises five issues for further exploration and discussion.

Atmospheric distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls around a steel plant area, northeast China.

Air monitoring of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was carried out in June 2008 and January 2009 to investigate the concentrations, profiles and estimating potential inhalation risks to the local residents around a steel plant area in northeast China. The air concentrations and WHO-TEQs of PCDD/Fs ranged 94-4944fgm(-3) (average 1352fgm(-3)) and 3-247fgm(-3) (average 81fgm(-3)), respectively. The WHO-TEQ concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs ranged 1-18fgm(-3) (average 5fgm(-3)), contributing to 3.6-26% of the total TEQ. Higher PCDD/F concentrations were observed in the winter, whereas higher dioxin-like PCB concentrations were found in the summer. The seasonal trend can be related to the significant correlation between the concentrations of dioxins and the reciprocal of temperature (positive for PCDD/Fs, P<0.01; negative for dioxin-like PCBs, P=0.05). A significant positive correlation (P<0.0001) was found between the concentration of total suspended particulate (TSP) and PCDD/F concentrations, but not for PCB congeners. Although the steel plant sites showed higher dioxin levels than the residential and background areas, the PCDD/F levels in the atmosphere of the steel plant area was at a relatively low level. The results from this study provides further aid in evaluating the impact of steel plants as PCDD/Fs emission sources to the ambient air in China.

1-Hydroxypyrene concentrations in first morning voids and 24-h composite urine: intra- and inter-individual comparisons.

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) has been suggested as an exposure biomarker for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, it remains unknown whether a first morning urine sample can be used to reflect average exposure. In this paper, we examine intra-individual differences and inter-individual associations between first morning voids and 24-h composite urine samples. The analysis was performed using data collected from 100 adults who had a wide range of PAH exposure due to differences in their occupation, e.g., coke oven workers vs. non-coke oven workers. For each subject, all the urine voids within each of two 24-h measurement periods were collected. Results showed a significant (40% to 62%) intra-individual difference between first morning voids and 24-h urinary 1-OHP concentrations (in ng/ml urine). Creatinine adjustments of 1-OHP concentrations (in micromol/mol urinary creatinine) reduced the intra-individual difference by approximately 10%. Across all the subjects, a high overall correlation (r=0.76) was observed between first morning and 24-h average 1-OHP concentrations. Work environment and sampling season were found to significantly affect the relationship between first morning and 24-h 1-OHP concentrations. An increase of 1 ng/ml of first morning urinary 1-OHP predicted an increase of 0.5 and 0.25 ng/ml of 24-h urinary 1-OHP for coke oven workers and non-coke oven workers, respectively. Data collected in a winter season showed a higher correlation between first morning and 24-h concentrations than data collected in a fall season. Creatinine adjustments did not significantly improve overall correlations between first morning void and 24-h measurements, but increased total variances for 24-h urines explained by first morning urines in coke workers.