Tissue factor positive microparticle(TF-MP)plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of tumor by promoting the formation of the vessels around the tumor. At present a number of studies suggest that TF-MP is associated with thrombosis in tumor,but the relevant mechanism is still not fully clear. TF-MP is extremely important for the prevention of tumor progression and thrombosis.

Objective To measure the prevalence and analyzed associated factors of medical adhesive-related skin injuries (MARSI) at PICC insertion site in patients with hematologic malignancies. Methods A cross- sectional observational study lasting two weeks was carried out in Department of Hematology. Skin assessment data and photographs of skin were collected during PICC maintenances by the same investigator. The related information was got out from the medical record. The observed skin injuries were classified by the dermatologist and PICC specialized nurse together. MARSI prevalence was calculated. The associated factors were analyzed statistically. Results All of the 153 patients with hematologic malignancies were included. The prevalence of total MARSI at PICC insertion site was 33.99%(52/153), including mechanical skin injury (22.87%,35/153), contact dermatitis (CD) ( 9.80%,15/153), moisture-associated skin damage (0.65%,1/153), folliculitis(0.65%,1/153), respectively. Multivariate analysis identified two independent risk factors for mechanical skin injury including age≥50 years old, P=0.016, odds ratio (OR)=5.919, 95%CI 1.389-25.220 and non-specialist nurses in PICC maintenance, P=0.013, OR=8.333,95%CI 1.566-44.360. History of skin allergies (P=0.000,OR=12.333,95%CI 3.669-41.454) and arsenic trioxide infusion through PICC(P=0.003,OR=4.565,95%CI 1.661-12.547) were associated with CD. Conclusions MARSI at PICC insertion site is a prevalent event in the patients with hematologic malignancies. Epidemiological data and independent risk factors are presented in our study, which provide a basis for future study in this area.

Objective To explore the relationship between serum magnesium level,abdominal aortic calcification(AAC) and mineral metabolism in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysispatients.Methods Sixty-two cases patients who were on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis in Pritoneal Dialysis Center of Qingdao Municipal Hospital were enrolled prospectively.The AAC was detected by abdomen lateral plain radiographs,and the AAC score(AACs) was calculated.According to the AACs,the patients were divided into group A(AACs≤4 points) and group B(from >4 point to ≤15 point) and group C(AACs>15 point).And collected the patient′s clinical data and blood biochemical indicators.The serum magnesium levels of 3 groups were observed,and explored the relationship of serum magnesium and intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH),serum calcium,serum phosphorus.Results There were 41 cases of vascular calcification in 62 cases maintenance ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients,and its incidence was 66.13%.Group levels of serum magnesium were in group A was (1.00±0.18) mmol/L,(0.89±0.10) mmol/L of group B,and (0.75±0.13) mmol/L of group C,the mean differences were significant(F=11.99,P<0.05),and the group A was significantly higher than the group B and C,the differences were significant(P<0.05),the group B was significantly higher than the group C,the difference was significant(P<0.05).There was negatively correlation between serum magnesium and iPTH(r=-0.288,P<0.05),serum phosphorus(r=-0.272,P<0.05) and AACs(r=-0.610,P<0.01).While there was no significant correlation of serum calcium(r=0.174,P>0.05).Conclusion Vascular is the calcification frequent complications in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.The serum level of serum magnesium may be correlated with the AAC,iPTH,serum phosphorus.

Objective To explore the effect of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] on in-stent restenosis and non-target coronary lesions in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients implanted with drug-eluting stents. Methods One hundred and seventy-four patients, diagnosed as CAD and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES), were enrolled in present study; all of them were performed another elective PCI or revascularization within 1-4 years after their previous procedures. Thirty-one of enrolled patients were discovered to have in-stent restenosis. The relationship between Lp(a) and in-stent restenosis and the development of non-target coronary lesions were analyzed in groups stratified by the presence of in-stent stenosis or Lp(a) levels, and the independent risk factors of both in-stent restenosis and non-target lesions were also analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results In CAD patients with DES, Lp(a) level in patients with in-stent restenosis showed a significant increase than those with the Lp(a) level non-restenosis [(437.57±391.60) mg vs. (279.46±288.06) mg, P=0.04]. In following analysis comparing lipid profiles and coronary angiography results between low and high Lp(a) groups, the percentage of triple-vessel disease and left main plus triple-vessel disease appeared to be statistically higher in high Lp(a) group than those in low Lp(a) group (P=0.022). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that high level of Lp(a) and much number of stents implanted were the independent risk factors for in-stent restenosis of DES. In comparing the characteristics of coronary angiography and results of quantitative coronary angiography, number of cases with non-target lesions, presence of in-stent restenosis, minimal lumen diameter and in-stent late lumen loss were all significantly higher in high Lp(a) group than those in low Lp(a) group (P<0.05), and high level of Lp(a) was again proved to be an independent risk factor for non-target lesions in patients with DES (P=0.001). Conclusion Elevated Lp(a) level is an independent risk factor for both in-stent restenosis and the development of non-target coronary lesions, and is closely related to the relapse and aggravation of coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression patterns of transcription factor SOX12 in lung adenocarcinoma and its significance in the diagnosis and prognosis of the malignancy. METHODS: Large cancer genome databases were used to analyze SOX12 expression level in lung adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and semiquantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of SOX12 in 36 specimens of lung adenocarcinoma tissues, 15 adjacent tissues and 21 normal lung tissues. The prognostic value of SOX12 in lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier Plotter database, and the relationship between SOX12 expression and the overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PPS) of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Analysis of TCGA database and GEO (GSE40419) database showed that SOX12 expression levels were significantly higher in in lung adenocarcinoma than in normal lung tissues ( < 0.001). The results of IHC and semiquantitative PCR revealed that SOX12 was expressed at significantly higher levels in lung adenocarcinoma than in normal lung tissues ( < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with lung adenocarcinoma positive for SOX12 had a significantly shorter OS and PPS time than those negative for SOX12 ( < 0.05), but SOX12 positivity did not significantly affect OS and PPS of patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS High expression levels of SOX12 in lung adenocarcinoma are significantly associated with a poor OS of the patients, suggesting the value of SOX12 to assist in early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of lung adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; metabolism ; mortality ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; mortality ; Databases, Factual ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; Prognosis ; SOXC Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors

OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model of diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) with streptozotocin (STZ) injection.

METHODSThirty male rats were randomized equally into 5 groups (control group and STZ 40 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg groups). All the rats were examined at 4 days and 1, 2, and 3 weeks after STZ injection for fasting blood glucose, erectile frequency induced by apomorpHine (APO) and body weight changes.

RESULTSSignificant difference occurred in the fasting food glucose among the groups at different time points (P=0.001), and also in APO-induced erectile frequency, fasting blood glucose and body weight between the groups with STZ injection at different doses (P<0.001, P=0.045 and P<0.001, respectively). No significant difference was found in induced erectile frequency and body weight between different time points (P=0.306 and P=0.628).

CONCLUSIONThe optimal dose of STZ for establishing diabetic ED model is 60 mg/kg, and two weeks after the injection can be the optimal time for evaluating model establishment by means of APO-induced penis erection.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; chemically induced ; complications ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of elastic fiber alterations in the tunica albuginea of the penis on erectile function of diabetic rats.

METHODSStreptozotocin (STZ) injection was adopted to produce rat models of diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction. Forty rats were randomized equally into two groups according to the time after streptozotocin (STZ) injection, namely 4 week group and 7 week group. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups, including a control group (n=5, without STZ injection), diabetic with erectile dysfunction group (DM and ED group), diabetic without erectile dysfunction group (DM group) and group with neither diabetes mellitus or erectile dysfunction after STZ injection (None group). Victoria blue/Ponceau red staining and color image analysis were used to observe the content of the elastic fibers in the tunica albuginea, which was quantified by means of integrated optical density (IOD) readings.

RESULTSignificant difference in the IOD was observed between different groups (F=10.433, P<0.001). The content of elastic fibers in the tunica albuginea was the lowest in DM and ED group among the 4 groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between 7-week and 4 week groups (F=0.685, P=0.415), nor was any interaction observed (F=0.905, P=0.452).

CONCLUSIONSDecreased elastic fibers in the tunica albuginea can result from diabetes mellitus. Elastic fibers in the tunica albuginea play an important role in the course of erection, and erectile dysfunction may result from decreased elastic fiber content.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; chemically induced ; complications ; physiopathology ; Elastic Tissue ; metabolism ; Erectile Dysfunction ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Penis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies.

METHODSA retrospective case-controlled study was conducted to analyze the patients with pulmonary fungal and bacterial infections in association with hematologic malignancies. The risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies were identified.

RESULTSThree hundred and four cases (194 of pulmonary fungal infections and 110 of pulmonary bacterial infections) were enrolled in this study. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression show that such factors as corticosteroid, halo sign, previous fungal infections, ANC lower than 0.5 x 10(9)/L for over 10 days, nodus near pleura, transplantation (immunodepressant use), chemotherapy, and broad spectrum antibiotics were all the independent risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies.

CONCLUSIONThere are many risk factors for pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies, and early identification of these factors for timely antifungal treatment is of much clinical significance.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; complications ; microbiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Gentianopsis paludosa xanthone(GPX)combined with probiotics in the intervention of colon inflammation-tumor transformation in rats by regulating TGF-β1/Smads pathway and inflammatory factors.Methods Ninety rats were divided into the normal group,the model group[drinking sodium dextran sulfate(DSS)for 3 days]and the intervention group by random number table method.The model group was subdivided into the inflammatory stage group,the pre-inflammatory cancer group(DMH injection for 4 weeks),the intermediate inflammatory cancer group(DMH injection for 13 weeks)and the advanced inflammatory cancer group(DMH injection for 21 weeks).The administration group was subdivided into the groups(after the first day of drinking DSS,drugs for each group were given by gavage once a day for 8 weeks)on the basis of the advanced inflammatory cancer group,including the GPX group(GPX 69.3 mg/kg),the probiotic group,the combined group(GPX+probiotics 400 mg/kg)and the thalidomide group(thalidomide 13.5 mg/kg).The disease activity index(DAI),colon length and wet mass index were compared between all groups.Characteristics of colon tumors were observed,and pathological changes of colon were observed by HE staining.The expression levels of transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1,Smad4,Smad7,interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were detected by Western blot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,respectively.Results Compared with the advanced inflammatory cancer group,the administration groups showed an increase in colon length,the expression levels of TGF-β1 and Smad4 protein,a decrease in colon wall thickness,wet mass index,maximum tumor diameter,the levels of Smad7,IL-6,TNF-α,and DAI score decreased in the GPX group and the combined group(P＜0.05).The structure and morphology of intestinal mucosa were improved in the GPX group,the probiotic group and the combination group,and the structure of colonic crypt and goblet cell number were increased.Compared with the probiotic group and the GPX group,the colon wall thickness,colon wet mass index and tumor number were decreased,the protein expression levels of TGF-β1 and Smad4 were increased,and levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased in the combination group(P＜0.05).Conclusion GPX combined with probiotics could inhibit the transformation of colon inflammation-tumor,and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of TGF-β1/Smads pathway and the inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors of IL-6 and TNF-α.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role and value of Changhai fulcrum bending radiograph(CH-FBR) in curve flexibility assessment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS) patients.

METHODSThirty-seven AIS patients treated between June 2012 and August 2013 were enrolled, including 31 female and 6 male patients whose age ranged from 10 to 19 years, averaged of 15.0 years. The assessment of radiographs included preoperative standing posterior-anterior radiograph, supine side-bending radiograph, traditional fulcrum bending radiograph, Changhai fulcrum bending radiograph and postoperative standing posterior-anterior radiograph. Postoperatively, radiographs were assessed at one week. The CH-FBR was performed at the lowest height and the optimized height which means the weight on the fulcrum touch the maximum. All measurements of angle were made with use of the Cobb method. The flexibility of the curve as well as the correction rate and fulcrum bending correction index (FBCI) were calculated for all patients. The maximum height of CH-FBR, basic weight and maximum weight were measured for all AIS. Paired t-tests were used to assess differences between preoperative and postoperative curves within group samples. The Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated using bivariate analysis between CH-FBR flexibility rate and correction rate, the maximum height of CH-FBR and maximum weight, the height changes of CH-FBR and weight changes.

RESULTSA total of 46 curves were involved in this study, including 28 thoracic and 18 thoracolumbar/lumbar curves. Preoperatively, the mean Cobb angle of the 46 structural curves was 47° ± 11°. Postoperatively, the mean Cobb angle was 11° ± 5°. Cobb's angle in supine side-bending(t = 7.2, P = 0.001), traditional fulcrum bending (t = 7.1, P = 0.001) and lowest height of Changhai fulcrum bending (t = 6.5, P = 0.001) were significantly different from the postoperative Cobb angle; Cobb's angle in traditional FBR (t = 11.0, P = 0.001) and lowest height of Changhai fulcrum bending (t = 13.6, P = 0.001) were significantly different from the optimized height CH-FBR Cobb angle. There was no significant difference found between traditional FBR Cobb angle and lowest height CH-FBR Cobb angle (t = 2.0, P = 0.051), optimized height CH-FBR Cobb angle and postoperative Cobb angle (t = 0.9, P = 0.36), lowest height CH-FBR Cobb angle and traditional FBR Cobb angle(t = 2.0, P = 0.051). The maximum height of CH-FBR, basic weight and maximum weight were (29.6 ± 1.4)cm,(20 ± 6)kg, and (40 ± 6) kg. Preoperatively, the mean Cobb angle of the 28 structural curves(main thoracic curves) was 46° ± 11°. Postoperatively, the mean Cobb angle was 12° ± 6°. Preoperatively, the mean Cobb angle of the 18 structural curves(thoracolumbar/lumbar curves) was 49° ± 12°. Postoperatively, the mean Cobb angle was 10° ± 5°. The results were same in 28 structural curves, 18 structural curves as well as 46 curves. Correlation analysis of 46 curves indicated that the maximum height of CH-FBR positively correlated with maximum weight (r = 0.69, r(2) = 0.47, P = 0.001), the height changes of CH-FBR positively correlated with weight changes on CH-FBR (r = 0.62, r(2) = 0.38, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSCH-FBR is a more reliable and effective method than traditional FBR and supine side-bending for curve flexibility evaluation in AIS patients. Moreover, compared to the traditional FBR and side-bending radiograph, the flexibility suggested by the optimized height CH-FBR more closely approximates the postoperative result made by pedicle screws fixation and fusion.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Radiography ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Scoliosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Young Adult