Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Shaanxi Province from 2016 to 2021, so as to provide the basis for improving PTB prevention and control strategies. Methods: The incidence data of PTB cases in Shaanxi Province were collected from the Tuberculosis Information Management System of the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System from 2016 to 2021. The temporal, geographical, and demographic distribution characteristics of PTB were described. Results: A total of 121 280 PTB cases were reported in Shaanxi Province from 2016 to 2021, with the reported incidence rate decreasing from 56.30/105 in 2016 to 40.98/105 in 2021 (P<0.05). The etiological positivity rate increased from 16.61% in 2016 to 54.37% in 2021 (P<0.05). The average annual number of reported cases peaked in March (1 984.67 cases, accounting for 9.81%), followed by January (1 885.50 cases, accounting for 9.33%), and hit its lowest in October (1 458.50 cases, accounting for 7.22%). The incidence of PTB was relatively high in northern Shaanxi and southern Shaanxi, at 67.99/105 and 64.05/105, respectively, while it was relatively low in Guanzhong Region, at 44.83/105. The incidence rates of Ankang City (85.81/105), Fugu County (73.92/105), and Yulin City (72.20/105) ranked the top three. There were 80 111 male cases and 41 169 female cases of PTB, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.95︰1. The reported incidence rate of males (67.38/105) was significantly higher than that of females (36.61/105), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Among males, the highest average reported incidence rate was found in the 80 to <85 age group (179.46/105), while among females, the highest was in the 75 to <80 age group (104.38/105). The main occupations were farmers, accounting for 68.87% (83 526 cases). Conclusions The reported incidence rate of PTB in Shaanxi Province showed an overall downward trend from 2016 to 2021, with a high incidence in winter and spring. The epidemic in southern Shaanxi and northern Shaanxi is more severe than in Guanzhong Region of Shaanxi Province. The incidence of PTB is predominantly found among males, the elderly, and farmers.

Objective To explore the clinical features and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with rare etiologies.Methods A total of 45 cases with rare etiologies was selected from a group of 1200 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding admitted from January 2012 to December 2015.Results The incidence of gastric stromal tumor (24.4％) and Dieulafoy's lesion (20.0％) was the highest.Among rare etiologies of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were Mallory-Weiss syndrome (17.8％) and stomal ulcer and hemorrhage of efferent loops after subtotal gastrectomy (17.8％),as well as left-side portal hypertension (6.7％),liver cirrhosis complicated with variceal bleeding in the descending part of the duodenum (2.1％),esophageal hematoma (2.1％),esophageal mucosa avulsion (2.1％),P-J syndrome (2.1％),duodenal adenocarcinoma (2.1％),and cutaneous malignant melanoma with duodenal metastasis (2.1％).Conclusions Gastroscopy in early stages played a role in etiologies identification,while etiological treatments could substantially reduce recurrent bleeding rate,thus enhanced cure rate.Analysis on rare etiologies promoted the medical understanding,with clinical diagnosis and treatment improved.

AIM:To investigate the effects of high plasma triglyceride (TG) caused by apolipoprotein C Ⅲ( ApoC Ⅲ) transgene on the occurrence and development of abdominal aortic aneurysm ( AAA) .METHODS:The animal models of hypercholesterolemia and hypercholesterolemia combined with hypertriglyceridemia were established by feeding high-fat diet to LDLR-/-and ApoC Ⅲ+LDLR-/-mice, respectively.AAA was induced in these mice by pancreatic elastase. By evaluating the incidence of AAA, relative maximal abdominal aortic diameter, disruption of the elastic lamellar structure and expression of matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs) in the aorta walls of the AAA, the occurrence and development of AAA were compared in LDLR-/-and ApoC Ⅲ+LDLR-/-mice fed with either chow diet or high-fat diet.In addition, an in vitro TNF-α-induced aneurysmal microenvironment model on vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMC) was used to study the impact of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins ( TRLs) from mice with normal or high contents of ApoCⅢon elastin protein expres-sion.RESULTS:Feeding the high-fat diet aggravated the severity of AAA in the LDLR-/-mice.ApoC Ⅲ+LDLR-/-mice fed with high-fat diet had less severe AAA than LDLR-/-mice fed with high-fat diet.TRLs inhibited degradation of VSMC elas-tin protein induced by TNF-α, and in vitro TRLs from the mice with high content of ApoC Ⅲ, compared to those with nor-mal content of ApoC Ⅲ, had better inhibitory effect on the degradation of elastin.CONCLUSION:High plasma TG caused by ApoC Ⅲtransgene alleviates AAA of the LDLR-/-mice induced by elastase and high-fat diet.The effect is probably attrib-uted to the hypertriglyceridemia caused by ApoC Ⅲtransgene.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) receiving haploidentical donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HID HSCT).Method We retrospectively reviewed 20 adult patients with HLH from August 2009 to August 2014.The clinical features and outcome were analyzed.Results Conditioning regimens consisted of total body irradiation/etoposide/cyclophosphamide (TBI/VP-16/CTX) and busulfan (Bu)/VP-16/CTX in HLH with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) 8 mg/kg.The stem cells were mobilized from donors' peripheral blood.Median time to white blood cell engraftment was 13 (9-27) days.Median time to platelet engraftment was 14 (10-28) days.Mixed chimerism after transplantation developed in 4 patients and no patient presented graft failure.Eight patients developed grade Ⅱ to Ⅲ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD),while as chronic GVHD occurred in 9 patients.Among 12 patients with EB virus (EBV) reactivation,2 patients developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD),7 were suspected as PTLD and 3 were considered as relapse of primary disease.With a median follow-up of 20 months (range:0.5-108 months) after transplantation,the estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was (60.0 ± 11.0) ％ in all patients.During the follow-up,12 patients survived,8 died including 5 within 100 days after HSCT.Among 5 non-remission patients before HSCT,4 patients died within 100 days after HCT.Conclusions HID HSCT is an effective treatment for adult patients with HLH to achieve remission and long-term survival.High proportion of mixed chimerism has been seen at early stage after transplantation.EBV reactivation and early transplant-related mortality are common.

AIM:To investigate the dependence of the adrenoceptor regulation on oxidative stress in the rats with cardiac injury induced by high sympathetic activity .METHODS: Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 7 groups:control, model, propranolol (Pro), prazosin (Praz), Pro+Praz, vitamin E (VE) and Pro+Praz+VE.The rats were intraperitoneally injected with norepinephrine ( NE) for continuous 16 d to reproduce cardiac injury , and treated with the respective drugs .During the experimental process , the body weight was recorded .At the end of the experiments , the following parameters were measured:the ventricular remodeling indexes ( cardiac index and hydroxyproline of the left ven-tricle), histopathologic examination , oxidative/antioxidative indexes [MDA, SOD, catalase (CAT), GSH-Px and total an-tioxidant capacity (T-AOC)], and energy metabolism (Na+-K+ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+ATPase).RESULTS: The in-crease of body weight in model group was significantly slower than that in control group after 9 d of treatment (P<0.05). The cardiac index and left ventricular hypertrophy were significantly increased .Oxidation/antioxidation and energy metabo-lism were disturbed.In Pro, Praz, Pro+Praz and VE groups, the body weight, cardiac index, left ventricular fibrosis and oxidative/antioxidative dysfunction were ameliorated .Pro, Praz and Pro +Praz increased the activity of Na +-K+ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+ATPase.Treatment with Pro+Praz showed the best result in all of the indexes (P<0.05).CONCLU-SION:The dependence of adrenoceptor regulation plays an important role in the formation of oxidative stress in the process of rat cardiac injury induced by high sympathetic activity .

OBJECTIVETo construct a small interfering RNA (siRNA) vector targeting p63 and observe its effect on the proliferation and invasiveness of human cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro.

METHODSReal-time PCR was used to examine the expression of p63 in human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells. The recombinant lentivirus shRNA-p63 vector was constructed and transfected into QBC939 cells via Lipofectamine 2000 to establish a cholangiocarcinoma cell line with stable expression of siRNA-p63. The interfering efficiency of the siRNA targeting p63 was assessed using Western blotting. MTT and soft agar colony formation assays were used to evaluate the changes in the cell proliferation, and Boyden test was employed to observe the cell invasiveness after the transfection.

RESULTSQBC939 cells showed a high expression of p63. The recombinant lentivirus shRNA-p63 vector was successfully constructed as verified by sequencing. Transfection with the vector significantly suppressed the proliferation and invasiveness of QBC939 cells.

CONCLUSIONDown-regulation of p63 can inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells in vitro.

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of emodin on acute cholestatic hepatitis and mec-hanism thereof. Methods Fifty Sprague - Dawley (SD)rats were randomly divided into 5 groups and were treated with emodin,ursodeoxycholic acid,dexamethasone,or normal saline respectively for 4 days. On the fifth day gastric perfusion of alpha - naphthylisothiocyanate(ANIT)was performed to establish models of choiestatic hepatitis. Four to six hours after the establishment of model the above mentioned agents were given continuously. Forty - eight hours after the model establishment blood samples were collected from abdominal aorta to examine the total bilirubin(TB),direct bilirubin (DB),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),total bile acid(TBA),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase (ALP),gamma glutamine transferase(GGT). Specimen of liver was collected to undergo pathological examination. Real - time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of farnesoid X receptor(FXR),small heterodimer partner (SHP ),bile salt export pump (BSEP ),uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 2 family polypeptide B4 (UGT2B4). Results The serum levels of total bilirubin (TB),direct bilirubin (DB),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),total bile acids (TBA),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)of the model group were respectively (68. 1 ± 26. 1)μmol/ L,(46. 3 ± 20. 1)μmol/ L,(483 ± 228)U/ L,(159. 1 ± 57. 9)μmol/L,(2. 0 ± 0. 5)U/ L,(996 ± 382)U/ L,(324 ± 120)U/ L. The levels of TB,DB,ALT,TBA,AST,ALP of the emodin group were respectively (15. 0 ± 8. 7)μmol/ L,(10. 8 ± 3. 9)μmol/ L,(147 ± 71)U/ L,(60. 1 ± 22. 7)μmol/ L, (295 ± 104)U/ L,(222 ± 59)U/ L,and were all significantly lower than those of the model group (all P < 0. 05). The levels of TB,DB,ALT,TBA,AST,GGT,ALP of the emodin group were all significantly lower than those of the ursode-oxycholic acid group (all P < 0. 05). The levels of TB,DB,ALT,TBA,GGT,AST were all significantly lower than those of the dexamethasone group (all P < 0. 01). The expression levels of FXR,SHP,BSEP,UGT2B4 mRNA in the emodin group (1. 087 ± 0. 285,0. 892 ± 0. 390,0. 902 ± 0. 149,1. 785 ± 0. 403)were all significantly higher than those of the model group (0. 152 ±0. 088,0. 559 ±0. 194,0. 561 ±0. 123,0. 177 ±0. 039,all P <0. 05). Conclusions By decreasing the levels of TB,DB,ALT,TBA,AST,ALP and reducing pathological changes,emodin has a protective effect on cholestatic hepatitis. It has better effects than ursodeoxycholic acid and dexamethasone. These effects may be due to promoting FXR,SHP,BSEP and UGT2B4 expression.

After freeze-drying, the ultrastructure of boar sperms was observed by optical and electron microscopy. The in vitro development ability of the sperm was also examined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The rate of male pronuclear formation was (68.52%), for cleavage (59.17%) and for blastocyst formation (19.16%) of the trehalose group (0.2 mol/L), significantly higher than those of the 50 mmol/L EDTA group (64.59%, 56.26% and 15.62%) and the control group (35.36%, 52.33% and 8.60%) (P < 0.05). After storage for 60, 120 and 180 d at 4 degrees C, no significant difference in the in vitro development was observed (P > 0.05). The male pronuclear, cleavage and blastocyst formation after ICSI with freeze-dried spermatozoa incubated for 1 h was superior than those incubated for 2 h (P < 0.05). No significant differences in the structures after stored at 4 degrees C or -20 degrees C (P > 0.05) were observed between the trehalose group and EDTA group. The percent of B grade freeze-dried boar spermatozoa in the trehalose group was higher than that of the EDTA group (P < 0.05). Based on the ultrastructure observation, main cryogenic damage in freeze-dried boar spermatozoa was swelling, damage or rupture in the sperm acrosome, neck and tail.
Animals ; Freeze Drying ; Male ; Semen Preservation ; methods ; veterinary ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; veterinary ; Spermatozoa ; Swine ; Trehalose ; pharmacology

Objective:To prepare a drug release system of drug-loaded cross-linked decellularized corneal stromal lenticules and evaluate its drug release characteristics in vitro. Methods:Lenticules were obtained during femtosecond laser-assisted small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery in Chongqing Aier Ophthalmology Hospital.Decellularized corneal stromal lenticules were prepared using high concentration sodium chloride (NaCl) combining nuclease.The decellularized corneal stromal lenticules were randomly divided into normal group, 0.5% levofloxacin group, 3% levofloxacin group and 5% levofloxacin group, with 4 lenticules in each group.The lenticules did not receive any treatment in the normal group, and drug-loading those were soaked in different doses of levofloxacin solution for three hours according to grouping.In the crosslinking test, 12 decellularized corneal stromal lenticules were randomly divided into non-crosslinking group, 0.01 mmol 1-(3-dimethylamino) propylimine (EDC) group, 0.05 mmol EDC group and 0.25 mmol EDC group.The lenticules for cross-linking were soaked in different contents of mixed solution of EDC with N-hydroxysuccinyl (NHS) for four hours respectively according to grouping, and then in 3% levofloxacin solution for three hours.Only 3% levofloxacin solution soaking was carried in the non-crosslinking group.High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to detect the drug release concentration of the lenticules, and spectral scanning method was performed to measure light transittance of the lenticules.The surface ultrastructure of the decellularized lenticules among different cross-linking groups was examined and compared with scanning electron microscope.The use of the human corneal lenticules was approved by an Ethics Committee of Chongqing Aier Ophthalmology Hospital (No.2019012). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient before surgery.Results:The release concentrations of decellularized corneal stroma lenticules were significantly different at 1 day, 7, 14, and 21 days among 0.5%, 3%, and 5% levofloxacin group ( P<0.05) or also among the 0.01 mmol EDC, 0.05 mmol EDC, and 0.25 mmol EDC cross-linked groups ( P<0.01). The drug release concentrations in 0.05 mmol EDC group were the highest at various time points, and the release time of the three cross-linked groups lasted until 21 days after release concentrations of decellularized corneal stroma lenticules.The drug release concentrations in cross-linked groups and non-crosslinking group were gradually declined with the prolong of drug-loading time, showing a significant difference at different time points ( P<0.05). The transmittance of the lenticules was (88.68±1.19)% and (91.55±1.16)% in the non-crosslinking group and normal group, respectively, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). The average transmittance of the lenticules was significantly reduced in the drug-loaded groups compared with the normal group ( P<0.05). The smaller collagen fiber voids and closely arranged collagen fibers were displayed in the cross-linking groups under the scanning electron microscope with the best effect in the 0.25 mmol EDC group. Conclusions:EDC/NHS cross-linking can improve the drug-loading effect of decellularized corneal stromal lenticules probably by lessening collagen fiber voids.The drug-loaded cross-linked decellularized corneal stromal lenticules have a good drug release effect in vitro.

Area Under Curve ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Population Characteristics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Receptors, Progesterone ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography