Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; prevention & control ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; poisoning

Objective To elevate the efficacy and safety of descending neurogenic evoked potentials (DNEP) monitoring during severe rigid spinal deformity surgery.Methods All of 108 patients (43 males,65 females) who underwent surgical treatment for spinal deformity in our spinal center from July 2010 to August 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.The average age (17.5±5.8) ys(range 12-50 ys),the average following period is 38.6 months(range 24-52 months).Combined monitoring of SEP,MEP and DNEP model were used during surgery.All subjects with no neurological deficits preoperatively and got satisfied outcomes.Respectively evaluate the results of neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring (IOM).Data were collected to elevate the efficacy and safety of DNEP monitoring.Results All of 108 patients,15 patients (13.9％,15/108) showed significant changes of neurophysiological parameters,of which 9 cases (60％,9/15) were identified as true positive and 6 cases (40％,6/15) were identified as false positive.During the following-up period,2 patients developed permanent neurological deficit,and 3 patients showed transient neurological deficit who got fully recovered within 6 months after operation.DNEP showed alert in all 5 patients with truepositive alarm,of which 2 patients developed permanent neurological dysfunction and 3 cases showed postoperative short nerve dysfunction that got fully recovery within 6 months after operation.The sensitivity and specificity of SEP+MEP and DNEP were 100％ and 97.98％,100％ and 98.99％,respectively.Conclusion Combining use of MEP+SEP+DNEP monitoring during surgical treatment of spinal deformities presented to be a highly reliable method for the detection and prevention of iatrogenic injury.The results confirmed a high efficacy and safety of DNEP monitoring during spinal surgery.

Objective To investigate the effects of immune system and immuno-related miRNAs expression in low-dose benzene and its homologue mixed-exposed workers in a short time. Methods A total of 40 workers were recruited from a petrochemical factory ,and their blood samples were collected before and after work to detect the levels of IgA,IgG,IgM,IFN-γ,IL-1β,IL-2,IL-8,TNF-αin serum and miRNA-146a,-155 expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell. In the meanwhile ,we measured the individual benzene and its homologue exposure level of recruited workers. Results According to the concentration of benzene ,the subjects were divided into benzene-exposed group(20 workers)and control group(20 workers). And toluene exposure level in benzene-exposed group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05). Significant decrease of IgG was found in benzene-exposed workers after one work shift,compared with control group(P<0.05). Moreover,the interaction between benzene and toluene was significant correlated with the decrease of IL-1β and TNF-α(P < 0.05). Additionally,the interaction between miRNA-155 and miRNA-146a was significant correlated with the decrease of TNF-α(P<0.05). Conclusions:Occupational exposure to low-dose benzene and toluene in a short time could decrease immune function. And there may be an effect of miRNAs in the regulation of cytokine.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of urethral plate combined with unilateral crescent flap in the treatment of hypospadias in children.Methods The clinical data of 14 cases of hypospadias treated from March 2017 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed,with average age of (3.3 ± 2.1) years.The external urethral orifice was located in the middle and distal part of the ventral side of the penis,with mild and moderate bends of the penis.The prepuce was piling up on the penile dorsal side,the ventral skin was deficient,and there was no concomitant disease such as penis scrotum transposition or cryptorchidism.All children were primarily treated with urethroplasty with urethral plate and one crescent flap.One side of the free urethral plate had a crescent superficial fascia,which was used as the new urethral material together with the urethral plate.By design,the urethra sutured deviating from the midline.The external urethral orifice was formed by trimming the anterior opening of urethra in the form of shallow "V" shape,and the new urethra was covered with the dorsal fleshy vascular pedicle.The pterygoid flap of the penis was sutured to form the penile head,and the foreskin was cut to cover the body of the penis.The specimens were taken for HE staining.Results The operation was successfully completed in 14 children.The length of the penis was measured before it is stretched out.The penile length was(3.5 ±0.5)cm,the penile diameter was(1.2 ±0.3) cm at the coronal sulcus,and the diameter of the tortoise head was (1.5 ± 0.3) cm at the pterygoid.The width of urethral plate was (0.6 ± 0.1) cm.Remeasurement was performed after complete correction of penile bending deformity.The length of the penis was (3.5 ± 0.5) cm,and the urethral defect was (1.7 ± 0.7)cm.According to Barcat method,there were 2 cases of coronal sulcus type,7 cases of anterior penile type and 5 cases of middle penile type.The results of HE staining showed that the number of blood vessels in the dorsal prepuce and fascia was (8.5 ± 2.1),dorsal foreskin plate was (5.1 ± 1.6),ventral prepuce internal plates was (7.6 ± 1.8),and ventral outer prepuce plates was (4.8 ±1.6).The number of superficial fascia vessels and deep fascia vessels were (10.3 ± 1.4) and (4.2 ± 1.7).The analysis of variance showed that there was significant difference in the mean number among groups(P =0.036),which was compared with each other by SNK-q test.The number of fasciae in dorsal prepuce was the most abundant,there was significant difference between dorsal and outer prepuce(P =0.033),and there was also significant difference with ventral prepuce(P =0.047).But there was no significant difference between the two groups(P =0.326).There was no significant difference in the number of blood vessels between the dorsal and ventral prepuce (P =0.682).The number of superficial fascia vessels near the skin was significantly more than that of deep fascia(P =0.037).On the transverse plane,there are more branches of the superficial fascia to the urethral plate at the junction of the ventral external plate and the urethral plate.All 14 cases were followed up for 3 to 9 months with an average of(5.4 ± 2.1) months.The penis was straight and satisfactory,urethral orifice was not cracked,urination was laborious and not forked,and there was no fistula.One patient with middle penile type developed postoperative infection and was controlled after antiinfective treatment.One patient with anterior penile type had slight urination after operation,but had no difficulty in urination.F6 metal urethral dilator was used to dilate for 2 months,and the urination was normal.Conclusion Urethral plate combined with crescent flap urethroplasty for hypospadias has a satisfactory appearance and fewer complications.It provides an optional operative method for the children who need no transection of urethra plate to straighten the penis,especially for the poor development of the penis and the insufficiency of the new urethral materials.The superficial fascia tissue on both sides of the urethral plate is an ideal material for the new urethra because of its abundant blood supply adjacent to the urethral plate and direct vascular connection.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and serum uric acid levels in coke oven workers and to provide new clues to the pathogenic mechanism of PAHs.

METHODSA total of 1302 coke oven workers were divided into four groups, namely control group and low-, intermediate-, and high-dose exposure groups. The concentrations of ambient PAHs at each workplace were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The detailed information on the occupational history and health of workers was collected by questionnaire survey and physical examination, and so were their blood and urine samples. Serum uric acid and creatinine levels were measured using a Hitachi 7020 automatic biochemical analyzer. Ten urinary PAH metabolites were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTSSerum uric acid levels were the highest in the high-dose exposure group, followed by the intermediate- and low-dose exposure groups, and were the lowest in the control group. There were significant correlations between serum uric acid levels and the quartiles of 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (P < 0.05). After adjustment for PAH metabolite-related relationship, only urinary 1-hydroxyphenanthrene was significantly correlated with serum uric acid levels (P = 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors and using the 1st quartile of 1-hydroxyphenanthrene as a reference, the odds ratio for hyperuricemia in subjects with the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles of 1-hydroxyphenanthrene were 1.55, 1.57, and 2.35, respectively.

CONCLUSIONUrinary 1-hydroxyphenanthrene is associated with a dose-response increase in serum uric acid levels in coke oven workers, and exposure to phenanthrene in PAHs may be a risk factor for hyperuricemia.

Adult ; Coke ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; urine ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective: To investigate the value of DNA content in comet tail (TailDNA) in predicting the changes in peripheral blood cell counts in workers exposed to benzene. Methods: In 2011, cluster sampling was used to select 150 male workers exposed to benzene in a petrochemical factory. Cubital venous blood and urine samples were collected for routine blood rest, comet assay, and measurement of s-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) and urine creatinine. The population was divided into groups according to urinary SPMA or TailDNA, and routine blood test results within 3 years were collected to analyze the changes in blood cell counts. Results: The low-SPMA group had significantly higher white blood cell and neutrophilcounts in all years than the high-SPMA group (P<0.05) . The low-Tail DNA group had a significant increase in platelet count from 2012 to 2014 (P<0.05) , while the high-Tail DNA group had no significant change (P>0.05) . During the 4-year period, the high-TailDNA group had a significantly lower red blood cell count than the low-TailDNA group (P<0.05) . The high-TailDNA group showed a gradual reduction in white blood cell count over time (β=-0.113, P<0.05) , and the low-TailDNA group showed no trend of the reduction in white blood cell count (P>0.05) . Conclusion TailDNA can be used to predict the changes in blood cell counts in workers exposed to benzene.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of pneumovesicoscopic Cohen and Politano-Leadbetter procedures in the treatment of vesicoureteral junction obstruction (VUJO) in children.Methods:The data of 48 children with VUJO who underwent operations in the Department of Urology, Anhui Provincial Children′s Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the operation time, the patients were divided into the pneumovesicoscopic Cohen group(group C) (28 cases) and pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter group(group P) (20 cases). The operation time, postoperative urinary catheterization duration, hematuria duration, hospitalization time, and the improvement of hydronephrosis, ureteral dilatation, and renal function after surgery were compared between the 2 groups.The enumeration data were compared by the χ2 test or Fisher′ s exact probability method.The measurement data were compared by the t-test. Results:All the 48 children were successfully operated on by the same surgeon, without conversion to open surgery.Six cases in the group C had a megaureter and underwent ureter tailoring.Two cases in the group P had calyceal and ureteral calculi, which were all removed after operation.There was a statistically significant difference in the operation time between group C and group P[(136.5±35.4) min vs.(165.8±33.2) min, t=-3.154, P=0.002]. The patients were followed up for (10.3±2.6) months after operation.There were 8 cases and 6 cases of urinary tract infection in group C and group P within 2 months after the operation, respectively.They all improved after conservative anti-infection treatment, and the infection was well controlled after removal of the D-J tube.Besides, their intravenous pyelography 6 months after operation showed that the ureter was unobstructed.In group C, 6 months after the operation, the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis [(1.62±0.54) cm vs.(2.55±1.24) cm, t=-5.027, P=0.001] and the largest diameter of the ureter [(0.95±0.27) cm vs.(1.51±0.52) cm, t=-8.495, P<0.001] were significantly decreased, compared with those before operation.However, the renal cortex thickness was increased significantly [(1.47±0.25) cm vs.(0.86±0.46) cm, t=2.028, P=0.004], and the renal function (as indicated by the diuretic nephrogram) was notably improved [(46.27±2.16)% vs.(41.83±3.04)%, t=1.647, P=0.030]. In group P, 6 months after operation, the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis[(1.48±0.82) cm vs.(2.68±1.41) cm, t=-2.740, P=0.003] and the maximum diameter of the ureter [(1.05±0.46) cm vs.(1.36±0.27) cm, t=-1.635, P=0.040] were significantly smaller than those before operation.However, the renal cortical thickness was increased [(1.38±0.33) cm vs.(0.74±0.39) cm, t=9.073, P<0.001], and the renal function (as indicated by the diuretic nephrogram) was significantly improved [(45.18±3.35)% vs.(39.55±2.49)%, t=1.277, P=0.030]. Politano-Leadbetter surgery outperformed Cohen surgery in promoting the recovery of the anterior and posterior diameters of the renal pelvis [(1.48±0.82) cm vs.(1.62±0.54) cm, t=-1.748, P=0.030]. Conclusions:Pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation can establish a longer submucosal tunnel without changing the ureteral shape and opening position, having good effects in treating VUJO combined with calyceal and ureteral calculi.Pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation can also better improve postoperative recovery from hydronephrosis than Cohen operation.However, the pneumovesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter operation is more difficult and requires longer time.The surgeon should choose a reasonable operation based on his/her own experience.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of rs10916581, a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the promoter region of pre-miR-320b-2, on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and circulating microRNA-320b (miR-320b) level. To explore potential factors influencing circulating miR-320b level.

METHODSRs10916581 was genotyped in a case-control study with 1 507 CHD cases and 1 379 age- and sex-frequency-matched controls. The cases were consecutively recruited from 3 hospitals (Tongji Hospital, Union Hospital, and Wugang Hospital) in Wuhan city (Hubei, China) between May 2004 and October 2009 and all the controls resided in Wuhan communities. A subgroup of 174 CHD cases and 181 non-diabetes controls without acute infection were randomly selected and their circulating miR-320b levels were detected using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays. The association of rs10916581 with CHD susceptibility was analyzed with multivariable logistic regression model. Generalized linear regression model was used to explore the associations of rs10916581 and some other factors with circulating miR-320b level.

RESULTSIn single-factor logistic regression analysis, no association was found between rs10916581 and CHD risk. After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, total triglyceride, total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (TC/HDL-C), the result did not materially alter(compared with CC genotype, the OR (95%CI) of CHR in the subjects carried CT, TT, CT+TT genotypes were 0.94 (0.76-1.15), 0.99 (0.74-1.33) and 0.95 (0.78-1.16) ). No significant interactions were observed between the conventional risk factors of CHD (age, gender, smoking status, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, CHD family history) and rs10916581 on CHD risk (P > 0.05). Rs10916581 showed no significant association with circulating miR-320b level in cases, controls or total population (β(95%CI) was -0.028 (-0.495-0.440), 0.250 (-0.226-0.727) and 0.134 (-0.218-0.486) respectively, P > 0.05). However, circulating miR-320b level was negatively associated with BMI (β (95%CI) was -0.140 (-0.261--0.020), P = 0.022) while positively associated with TC/HDL(β (95%CI) was 0.620 (0.261-0.979), P = 0.001) in cases, and in total population, its circulating level tended to be lower in diabetes or hypertension patients (β(95%CI) was -1.025 (-1.696--0.354) and -0.594 (-1.138--0.049) respectively, P = 0.003, 0.033 respectively) and was positively associated with TC/HDL-C (β(95%CI) was 0.108 (0.027-0.190), P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONThe common SNP (rs10916581) in the promoter region of pre-miR-320b-2 might have little contribution to the CHD predisposition in Chinese Han population, and it might not affect circulating miR-320b level. Conventional CHD risk factors (BMI, TC/HDL-C, hypertension and diabetes) might have effects on its circulating level.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Coronary Disease ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; MicroRNAs ; adverse effects ; blood ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides