Objective To investigate the relation between the changes d myocardial collagen content before and after ventricu-lar assist device (LVAD) application and the prognosis in dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Patients was divided to two groups ac-cording to the prognosis (weaning or transplantation) after LVAD application. Left ventricular samples were collected from the patients (weaning group n= 10, transplanted group n=8) at the time the LVADs were implanted, and again during cardiac transplantation ( n = 8 ). The content of neutral salt soluble collagen (NSC) and acid soluble collagen (ASC) were measured by Sired collagen assay and total collagen and insoluble collagen (ISC) by quantification of hydroxyproline. Moreover, protein quantification of each collagen fraction was performed simultaneously. Results Before LVAD implantation all collagen fraction and their protein contents were higher in the weaning group than that in the transplanted group ( P <0.05), but the difference in the collagen fraction disappeared after LVAD support. Comparison of the pre- and post-LVAD subgroups of the transplanted group showed an increase of NSC and its protein content and total hydroxyproline after LVAD support (P<0.05). Conclusion The significances of myocardial intersititial remodeling in DCM are not identical. Some myocardial collagen and protein content increases may be related to good prognosis. The mechanism of LVAD improving cardiac function may be related to the changes of myocardial intersitial collagen.

BACKGROUND:Whether a long-term use of acid-suppressive medication for over 3 years can increase the risk of fractures, remains controversial.
OBJECTIVE:To systematical y review the effect of acid-suppressive medication on fracture risk.
METHODS:Clinical trials about the relationship of acid-suppressive medication use and risk of osteoporosis-related fractures were searched in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMbase, and CNKI database. We also manual y searched some published and unpublished references. Study selection and assessment, data col ection and analyses were undertaken by two reviewers independently. The Cochrane Col aboration’s RevMan 5.0 software was used for data analyses.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After a comprehensive search, 11 original clinical trials were included in this meta-analysis, including 3 nested case-control studies, 5 case-control studies, and 3 cohort studies. Patients with fractures were more likely than controls to have previously received supply of proton pump inhibitors [odds ratio (OR)=1.29, 95%confidence interval (CI) (1.18-1.41), P<0.001]. The meta-analysis did not find a significant difference in the patients who received H2 receptor antagonists [OR=1.10, 95%CI (0.99-1.23), P=0.34]. A long-term use of proton pump inhibitors is associated with an increased risk of fracture in elderly persons already at a risk for osteoporosis.

Objective To investigate the significance of changes in serum uric acid levels in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea hyponea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods The study recruited elderly patients aged 60 years and over undergoing polysomnography (PSG) at the Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disorders of our hospital from January 2012 to December 2014.According to the diagnostic criteria established by the Group of Sleep and Breathing Disorders,Respiratory Diseases Branch,Chinese Medical Association (2011),patients were divided into the simple snoring group,the mild OSAHS group,the moderate OSAHS group and the severe OSAHS group.Levels of serum uric acid,blood glucose,blood lipids and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were compared between all groups after adjusting for age,gender and underlying diseases.Independent risk factors associated with serum uric acid were analyzed using Spearman' s rank correlation and stepwise multivariate analysis.Results A total of 129 elderly subjects including 100 males and 29 females,with a mean age of (63.6±2.25) years,were enrolled.Of these subjects,23 were grouped as simple snoring,24 as mild OSAHS,39 as moderate OSAHS and 43 as severe OSAHS.Serum uric acid and hs-CRP levels were increased in the severe OSAHS group as compared with the simple snoring group (both P＜0.05).Spearman's rank correlation analysis showed that the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the oxygen desaturation index (ODD were positively correlated with the serum uric acid level (r =0.251 and 0.210,P =0.004 and 0.018,respectively).Stepwise multivariate analysis showed that,with serum uric acid level as the dependent variable,AHI was an independent risk factor for increased serum uric acid levels (β=0.354,P =0.000).Conclusions Serum uric acid levels are elevated in elderly patients with severe OSAHS,and AHI is an independent risk factor for the increased serum uric acid levels.

Objective To investigate the change of serum cystatin C (CC) level and its clinical significance in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS),and to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum CC for renal impairment in elderly OSAHS patients.Methods Elderly snoring subjects (age ≥60 years) undergoing sleep apnea monitoring in our sleep laboratory were recruited.Patients were divided into simple snoring group,mild OSAHS group,moderate OSAHS group and severe OSAHS group according to the diagnostic criteria of American academy of sleep medicine.Anthropometric characteristics,lipid profiles,blood glucose,creatinine,estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum CC were compared between groups after age,gender and basic diseases were adjusted.The independent risk factors associated with serum CC were analyzed by Spearman's rank correlation and stepwise linear regression.Results Totally 89 elderly patients [70males and 29 females,aged (68.4±6.3) years in average] were collected.21 subjects were grouped as simple snoring,14 subjects as mild OSAHS,21 subjects as moderate OSAHS and 33 subjects as severe OSAHS.There were no differences in age,gender,basic diseases (hypertension and diabetes),lipid profiles,creatinine and eGFR among groups.The levels of body mass index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and serum CC were higher in severe OSAHS group than in simple snoring group [(28.3±3.9) vs.(24.6±5.9),(136.55±16.14) mm Hgvs.(122.43±16.64) mm Hg,(89.18±11.92) mm Hgvs.(78.10±9.55) mm Hg,(0.95±0.22) mg/L vs.(0.76±0.13)mg/L,respectively,all P＜0.05].Serum CC was significantly correlated with apnea hypopnea index (AHI),oxygen desaturation index,creatinine,eGFR,high sensitive C reactive protein (r=0.397,0.347,0.275,－0.354,0.254 respectively,all P％0.05).Regression analysis showed that AHI was an independent factor for serum CC (β=0.449,P＜ 0.001).Conclusions Serum CC level is increased in elderly patients with severe OSAHS.AHI is an independent factor for the increase of serum CC.Serum CC can be as an index for the early impairment of renal function in patients with OSAHS.

Objective To investigate the effect of β-lactam antibiotics on the false positive rate of the serum Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) assay in patients with lung diseases.Methods We selectively recruited 77 lung disease patients who did not meet the diagnostic criteria of invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis (IPA) and received different β-lactam antibiotics,while 41 patients without IPA who did not receive any antibiotic treatment were recruited as the control group.Serum samples for GM detection were collected from all participants.The rate of false-positive Aspergillus galactomannan was compared between the two groups.Results False-positive serum results were found in patients who received piperacillin-tazobactam (30.8％ or 8/26) and cefoperazone sulbactamand (27.8％ or 5/18).The rate of false-positive Aspergillus galactomannan in patients who receive β-lactam antibiotics were significantly higher than that in the control group (24.7％ or 19/77vs.7.3％ or 3/41,x2 =5.315,P=0.025).Taking false-positive serum Aspergillus galactomannan as the dependent variable and β-lactam antibiotic treatment as the independent variable,univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the rate of false-positive Aspergillus galactomannan in patients who received β-lactam antibiotics were 4.149 times more than that in the control group (OR=4.149,P=0.030).Conclusions The administration of β-lactam antibiotics may increase the occurrence of false-positive serum Aspergillus galactomannan,and physicians should be aware of this possible interference.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in combination with mammography for breast cancer within 2 cm.

METHODSThe PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM and Wanfang databases (2003/01/01-2013/04/30) were searched for studies of the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in combination with mammography for breast cancer within 2 cm. The quality of the included studies was evaluated according to QUADAS items. The pooled sensitivity (SEN), pooled specificity (SPE), pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated using Review Manager 5.2 and Meta-DiSc 1.4 software.

RESULTSNine articles were included in the final analysis. The pooled SEN of ultrasonography, mammography and their combination were 0.75, 0.66, and 0.92, the pooled SPE 0.75, 0.83, and 0.82, the pooled DOR 7.11, 8.67, and 60.82, and the AUC 0.7902, 0.8120, and 0.9469, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of ultrasonography and mammography can increase the diagnostic accuracy for breast cancer within 2 cm.

Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; instrumentation ; methods ; Molybdenum ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes of finger skin temperature in cold provocation test( CPT) in workers with vibration white finger( VWF). METHODS: A total of 245 male workers engaged in hand arm vibration operation was selected as study subjects using random number table method. All subjects were divided into VWF group( 73 persons) and control group( 172 persons). CPT( 10 ℃,10 min) was performed and the skin temperature of 6 fingers( index finger,middle finger and ring finger of both hands) was measured at pre-CPT adaptation period( 0,10,20,30 min) and after CPT period( 0,5,10,15,20,25,30 min). RESULTS: The effect of interaction between grouping and observe time was statistically significant on finger skin temperature( P < 0. 01). In the pre-CPT adaptation period,there was no statistically significant difference on skin temperature between 10 and 30 min time point in the two groups( P > 0. 05). After CPT,the fingers skin temperature of VWF group was lower than that of control group at 5 min time point( P < 0. 05),but there were no statistically significant differences on fingers skin temperature of other time points between the two groups( P > 0. 05).In both groups,the finger skin temperature at 0 min time point after CPT were lower than other time points in the same group( P < 0. 05),and the finger skin temperature increased with time( P < 0. 01). However,the finger skin temperature at 30 min after CPT did not restore to that at 30 min time point of pre-CPT. Except the VWF group,the abnormal rewarming temperature at 5 min time point after CPT of left index finger,the right index finger and the right ring finger were higher than that of the control group( 72. 6% vs 56. 4%,75. 3% vs 57. 6%,86. 3% vs 65. 1%,P < 0. 05),but there were no statistically significant differences on the abnormal rewarming temperature at 10,30 min time points of the six fingers in the two groups( P > 0. 05). There were no statistically significant differences on the detection rate of abnormal rewarming temperature between left index finger and the right index finger,or the right index finger and the right ring finger in the VWF group( 72. 6% vs 75. 3%,75. 3% vs 86. 3%,P > 0. 05). CONCLUSION: When CPT( 10 ℃,10 min) was performed in workers engaged in hand arm vibration operation,it is recommended to measure the finger skin temperature of index finger,and adaptation time before CPT can be adjusted to 10 min.

Objective To analyze the current status and influencing factors of occupational stress among medical staff during major public health emergencies. Methods A total of 491 medical staff in Guangzhou City was selected as the research subjects using a convenient sampling method. The Job Content Questionnaire and Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire were used to evaluate the occupational stress level in the job demand-control (JDC) and effort-reward imbalance (ERI) models among the staff. Results Among the research subjects, the detection rates of occupational stress in JDC and ERI models were 50.1% and 52.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the detection rates of occupational stress between the two models (P>0.05). The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that individuals with lower monthly income and longer weekly working hours had a higher risk of occupational stress in both JDC and ERI models (all P<0.05). Staff with night shift, daily sleep time less than six hours, and dissatisfaction with the protective measures provided by the hospital had higher risk of occupational stress than those with no night shift, daily sleep time at least six hours, and satisfaction with the protective measures provided by the work place in JDC and ERI models (all P<0.01). The risk of ERI model occupational stress of personnel who had been exposed to COVID-19 cases or suspected cases was higher than that in those who had not been exposed (P<0.05). Conclusion Medical staff experience a certain level of occupational stress, characterized by both JDC and ERI models, during major public health emergencies. The main influencing factors included personal monthly income, weekly working hours, night shift, sleep time, satisfaction with protective measures and occupational exposure.

Objective To construct N6-methyladenosine related long non-coding RNA(LncRNA)pairing model for renal cell carcinoma based on bioinformatics analysis of the cancer ganome atlas(TCGA)database and to explore its prognosis value.Methods Transcriptome data of RNA-sep for renal cell carcinoma and its related clinical information were downloaded from the TCGA database.Perl software was used to organize and separate LncRNA and messenger RNA(mRNA)from the transcriptome data.A total of 564 tissues from renal cell carcinoma cases and 72 normal tissues were obtained,and thus 540 renal cancer patients were eventually included.Random data table method was used to divide 540 patients with renal cancer into a training group(n=275)and a validation group(n=265)by caret.M6A related LncRNA pairing models were established based on the single factor and multivariate COX regression analysis.The risk assessment equation was obtained using the LASSO regression algorithm.The risk scores were calculated based on this equation,and the optimal critical point of the median risk value was applied to divide all patients into high-risk and low-risk groups.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to make a survival curve for the differences between high and low risk groups in the overall sample.The gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using the Cluster Profiler software package.The relationship between N6-methyladenosine related LncRNA pairing model and immune cell infiltration was analyzed by R software.Results Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the total survival time of patients in the low-risk group was significantly higher than that of patients in the high-risk group of the training group(P<0.05).Compared with high risk group,the overall survival time of patients(G1～2,G3～4,Ⅰ～Ⅱ,or Ⅲ～Ⅳ,age≤65 years,or patients>65 years old)in low risk group was higher(P<0.05).Differential gene enrichment analysis was obtained for high and low risk groups,which mainly enriched with many differential genes such as muscle contraction,rhabdomytic cell differentiation,myofibril,receptor activation activity,and vascular smooth muscle contraction.The highest driver genes in high risk group and low risk group exhibited mutation frequency and mutation information,and their risk score was positively correlated with the degree of T cell and plasma cell infiltration(r=0.638,P=0.001).Conclusion Bioinformatics-based analysis of the N6-methyladenosine related LncRNA pairing models can be helpful to predict the prognosis of patients with renal cancer.It provides new ideas for the prognosis evaluation and optimal treatment strategy of renal cancer,and contributes to further analyzing the molecular mechanism of the occurrence and development of gastric cancer in the future.

ObjectiveTo explore the influencing factors of occupational hand-arm vibration disease (OHAVD) caused by handheld workpiece polishing. Methods A total of 222 OHAVD patients (case group), 275 hand-transmitted vibration-exposed workers (exposed group) and 243 healthy workers without hand-transmitted vibration exposure (control group) in a sports equipment manufacturing enterprise were selected as the study subjects using the convenience sampling method. Worksite survey of occupational health was conducted on these three groups, and the human vibration measurement equipment was used to measure the vibration exposure level of handheld vibration among the study subjects. The 8-hour energy equivalent frequency-weighted vibrating acceleration ［A(8)］ and cumulative vibration exposure level (CVEL) were calculated. Results The prevalence of coldness, numbness, tingling fingers, and vibration-induced white finger was higher in the exposed group and the case group compared with the control group (all P<0.05). The prevalence of the above-mentioned hand symptoms was higher in the case group compared with the exposed group (all P<0.05). The A(8) and CVEL levels of the study subjects in the case group were higher than those in the exposed group (all P<0.05). Binary logistic analysis result showed that age and CVEL were both influencing factors of OHAVD (all P<0.05). According to the restricted cubic spline models, CVEL of the study subjects in the exposed group had a positive nonlinear dose-response relationship with the risk of OHAVD (overall trend P<0.01, nonlinear P<0.01), indicating an increasing risk of OHAVD with increasing CVEL. Conclusion Hand-transmitted vibration exposure is a risk factor for OHAVD. Early intervention should be carried out for hand-transmitted vibration-exposed individuals to reduce vibration-exposed levels and control vibration exposure time.