Seven trace elements (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cr, Se, Cd) and Mg contents in hair and serum of 210 healthy school children in wuhan were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry except that Se content was determined by cathodic stripping voltammetry. Hair Cu content of males was Lower than that of females significantly. There were significant positive correlation between hair Zn or Mn content and age, and negative correlation between hair Cd content and age, respectively. These demonstrated that the requirements for tract elements were different with age. By comparing the school-aged group with the preschool-aged group and the adolescent group, the hair Zn content was related positively, and Cr and Se negatively, to age. The results by step-wise regression analyses showed that trace elements in hair and serum interacted each other, of which hair Zn content correlated posititvely to serum Zn content. There were correlations among height and hair Mn, Fe, and Zn contents, and between weight and serum Cu content. The results suggested that these elements could influence the developments of height and weight in some degree.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Varenicline combined with MEDCHART application software for health education and follow-up in patients at smoking cessation clinic.Methods A total of 104 cases who had smoking cessation counseling and intervention at smoking cessation clinic from February 2014 to January 2015 were divided randomly into MEDCHART APP group (n=51) and conventional group (n=53).Both groups were intervened by brief admonishment and given Varenicline.The 9-12 weeks and 26th week protracted continuous abstinence rates were observed.Results There were no significant difference in 9-12 week protracted withdrawal rate between 26th week APP and conventional groups (56.9％ vs.45.3％),the 26th week abstinence rates in group MEDCHART APP (41.2％) were significantly higher than the conventional group (20.8％)(x2=5.088,P＜0.05).There was significant difference in full course completion rates between the two groups;15 cases (29.4％) completed the course in group MEDCHART APP,whereas 5 cases (9.4％) did so in conventional group (x2=4.405,P＜0.05).Conclusion MEDCHART APP can strengthen health education and follow-up,which helps extend the time for Varenicline,increase 26th week smoking cessation withdrawal rate.It is a useful tool for smoking cessation education and follow-up.

Objective: To delineate the variants spectrum of phenytalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene among 78 unrelated patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) from Jiangxi province. Methods: The 13 exons and flanking intronic regions of the PAH gene were subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing. Results: A total of 143 variants were detected among the 156 alleles, which included 54 types of variants, which yielded a detection rate of 91.7%. Common variants have included R243Q (26/143, 18.2%), R408Q (10/143, 7.0%), EX6-96A>G (8/143, 5.6%), IVS4-1G>A (7/143, 4.9%), R241C (7/143, 4.9%) and V399V (7/143, 4.9%). In addition, 6 novel variants were detected, which included IVS4-3T>G, Q172H, C284Y, V291L, V329del, and L430R. The variants consisted of missense, splicing, nonsense and deletion variants, which have mainly located in exons 7 (45, 31.5%), 12 (17, 11.9%), 11 (16, 11.2%) and 6 (14, 9.8%). Conclusion Variants of the PAH gene identified in Jiangxi province mainly involve exons 7, 12, 11 and 6, with the most common variants being R243Q and R408Q. Six novel variants were identified.

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of CXCL14 in human osteosarcoma cell lines and tissues and investigate its association with the prognosis of the patients.

METHODSRT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of CXCL14 in 4 osteosarcoma cell lines and in 40 pairs of osteosarcoma tissues and adjacent muscular tissues. CCK8 assay and colony formation assay was used to assess the effect of CXCL14 suppression mediated by two specific siRNAs on the proliferation of U2OS osteosarcoma cells. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of CXCL14 in 58 osteosarcoma tissues, and Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were performed for survival analysis of the patients.

RESULTSSignificant up-regulation of CXCL14 expression was found in the osteosarcoma cell lines and in osteosarcoma tissues compared with the adjacent muscles (P<0.01). In U2OS cell, suppression of CXCL14 expression by siRNA significantly inhibited the cell proliferation (P<0.01) and colony formation rate (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that patients with high CXCL14 expression had worse prognosis than those with low CXCL14 expression (P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONCXCL14 is up-regulated in both osteosarcoma cell lines and primary osteosarcoma tissues to promote the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells. A high CXCL14 expression in osteosarcoma tissues is associated with a poor prognosis, suggesting the that CXCL14 serve as a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokines, CXC ; metabolism ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of roxadustat in the treatment of renal anemia in calciphylaxis dialysis patients who had poor response to recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO).Methods:This study was a prospective cohort study. The dialysis patients who were diagnosed with calciphylaxis and had previous regular use of rHuEPO≥3 months with hemoglobin (Hb) levels<110 g/L in the Department of Nephrology of Zhong Da Hospital affiliated to Southeast University from January 1, 2019 to March 28, 2021 were recruited. The effect of oral roxadustat in calciphylaxis dialysis patients with renal anemia was analyzed by self-comparison method.Results:There were totally 18 calciphylaxis dialysis patients with renal anemia enrolled in the study and the age was (49.7±16.2) years old, including 11 males and 7 females, and 14 cases on hemodialysis and 4 cases on peritoneal dialysis. The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 27.3(15.6, 48.5) mg/L(reference value 0-3 mg/L) at baseline. The baseline Hb level was (85.4±11.6) g/L, and after 3 months of oral roxadustat, the Hb level was (105.8±15.2) g/L ( t=-9.282, P<0.001). The Hb compliance rate was 44.4%(8/18). Ferritin decreased significantly at 3 months compared with the baseline level [208.0(59.0, 306.3) μg/L vs 229.0(127.3, 385.2) μg/L, Z=-3.637, P<0.001]. The total iron binding capacity level increased significantly compared with the baseline level [127.0(65.0, 211.5) μmol/L vs 105.5(43.8, 153.7) μmol/L, Z=-2.156, P=0.031]. Transferrin saturation level at 3 months was lower than that at baseline, but there was no significant difference [20.2%(14.2%, 27.7%) vs 20.5%(18.7%, 34.9%), Z=-1.546, P=0.122]. No adverse reactions occurred during the observation period. Conclusion:The application of roxadustat can effectively correct Hb level and improve iron metabolism with high safety in calciphylaxis dialysis patients with renal anemia under inflammatory status.