Objective To explore the changes and clinical significances of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin concentrations for early detection of lung cancer in elderly long-term smokers. Methods Serum VEGF and endostatin concentrations were determined in 52 elderly long-term smokers and 20 elderly non-smokers by enzyme linked immunoabsent assay (ELISA) or competitive enzyme immunoassay. The 52 elderly long-term smokers were divided into lung cancer group (n = 32) and non-lung cancer group (n = 20). Results The concentration of serum VEGF was markedly higher in lung cancer group [(15. 7±8. 0) ng/L] than in non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 13. 681, t= 9. 372, respectively, both P＜0. 01). And the level of serum VEGF was significantly higher in non-lung cancer group than in normal control group (t=5. 250, P＜0. 05). The level of serum endostatin was significantly higher in elderly long-term smokers with or without lung cancer than in normal control group (t=5. 332, t=3. 700, respectively, P＜0. 01 and P＜0.05). But there was no statistic difference between non-lung cancer group and lung cancer group (t = 0. 814, P＞ 0.05 ). Notably, the endostatin/VEGF ratio was lower in lung cancer group than in non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 6. 270, t= 7. 138, respectively, both P＜0.01), while there was no significant difference between non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 1. 022, P＞0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that the periodic detection of serum VEGF and endostatin and endostatin/VEGF ratio, especially endostatin/VEGF ratio, is of clinical importance and can be used as an early diagnostic marker of lung cancer in elderly long-term smokers.

Aptamers are a group of artificial oligonucleotides identified by exponential enrichment system evolution technology (Selective expansion of ligands by exponential enrichment, SELEX). Aptamers have been widely used in basic research, clinical diagnostics, and nano-technology. In this article we will introduce the technology of aptamer and summarize its applications in medical microbiology.
Aptamers, Nucleotide ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Microbiological Techniques ; methods ; Microbiology ; SELEX Aptamer Technique ; methods ; trends

Objective:To explore the effect path of death attitude and purpose in life on attitude toward hospice care of undergraduate intern nursing students.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 229 undergraduate intern nursing students from two schools in Hefei, Anhui Province were selected as the research objects from October to December 2022. General data questionnaire, Chinese Version of Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale Form B (FATCOD-B-C), Chinese Version of Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) Scale and Chinese Version of Purpose in Life Test (PIL-C) were used to investigate. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between death attitudes, purpose in life and attitude toward hospice care among undergraduate intern nursing students. Structural equation model was used to examine the path relationship between attitude towards death and purpose in life on attitude toward hospice care.Results:A total of 229 questionnaires were sent out in this study, and 214 were effectively recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 93.45% (214/229). Among 214 undergraduate intern nursing students, the scores of FATCOD-B-C, Chinese Version DAP-R Scale, and PIL-C were (101.06±8.16), (91.21±12.13) and (94.45±11.90), respectively. The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the purpose in life was positively correlated with attitude toward hospice care ( r=0.290, P<0.01), while the attitude to death was negatively correlated with attitude toward hospice care ( r=-0244, P<0.01). The results of structural equation model path analysis showed that the purpose in life (life goal, life attitude) can affect attitude toward hospice care through death attitude (escape acceptance, natural acceptance, fear of death) . Conclusions:Effective interventions on purpose in life and attitude towards death of undergraduate intern nursing students can improve their attitudes toward hospice care .